My Metal Clay

Hi Everyone
Yesterday was not a productive day ! I was involved in volunteer work most of the day so it was never going to be busy with work. I did think I may achieve something - not the case ! Anyway, I'm 'on to it' today.
My plans include my much talked about 'metal clay'. I see this as a few experiments developing some form of metal coloured clays which I want to mimic metals.
I'd like to try and make some clay to repeat the jewellery I created before Christmas. Here is the piece I'm referring to. The gold beads in these items are gilded.



My ideas will probably develop as I go but the plan is to make some small beads for earrings and perhaps a bracelet. I'm keeping the plan minimal - if I can manage that today, I will be very pleased.
Ive been spending some time looking for inspiration on Pinterest. I tend to go to this site first these days. There are some amazing designs I'd love to try. This is my favourite (for today)


When I get my metal clay sorted I'm going to have a go at this sort of thing. It's also a design I can create with my true metal skills and it will help me to develop those skills. Without further ado, I must get on.

Thanks for reading.

Little Houses

Hi Everyone
Not much to report - I did try and get my jobs done yesterday but only finished three bits of jewellery. Very poor progress - my excuse is getting involved in home jobs ........ and then they took over !

Genervieve (the painting) did get a little work.




The obvious bits are the roof shapes and the extra trees but I did spend time on the hair and face. I'm considering what to do with the dress ? No ideas at the moment. I need to keep looking.


I think I would like to get some fine plasterwork going on and I like the idea of some metal. I'm going to try some gilding to start the metal theme going.

On another matter, I wanted to make up some golden and silver clay too. This job has been on my list for quite a while, however ......... ! maybe today ? This job is now top of my list.

Another thing on my list is earring display. My usual little package is similar to these :




I think it's time for a revamp. I'd like to develop some new versions which includes a fabric element. I found this example on Pinterest which I really like.


I'm not entirely sure about my choice of card but I do like the idea of some kind of brown cardboard material which will need a branded something as well as (the very important) the fabric to make the earrings look great. Ive often used grey/brown card in other projects and will develop some ideas to try out. I'm quite taken with an idea inspired by Genervieve's little houses, taking the simple house shape on the paintings and turning them into a label - somehow ? Watch this space.

Thanks for reading.
Bye for today.

Packaging Chat

Hi Everyone
Here we are another another week starting. It's a lovely day outside, Ive just been for a run with my beast friend. I feel temporarily great ! - I will tire soon and then be glad Ive been out, later. The weekend has gone with a bang ! We did lots of chucking out and reorganising. Loads more to go but we have started. The house is probably more disorganised than last week but it feels better. 'One day at a time' - needs to be my mantra !

Back to to work matters ...... loads of catching up to do and more stock to get ready. All my shops need stock and I'm thinking new repeat stuff too. All my things are originals because they are handmade but I am going to develop a core design range which can be adapted to lots of colours and textures. That's my focus for today.

I'm also thinking about packaging. I like my stuff to look good and think special packaging enhances how they look. I like a few ideas Ive had which combine little paper and wooden boxes lined with fabric. Ive seen examples of this style done really well in shops and am working on a similar approach. The little boxes add value to the jewellery items and can be used as a jewellery box. Ive also been working on a little paper sack/bag which fits with my brand name : thepapersac. Ive always made versions of this but have bought a Sizzix die which should help me with a new version.
This is a constructed version using some wrapping paper.


The bag is a good shape. I think it needs an inner piece to provide strength to the base of the bag, so will try this out. I like the wavy top feature.


This is the flat cut as it comes out of the die.


The finished bag measures 9 x 7.5 cms (when the top is turned over). It's small but fine for small items of jewellery. I will play around with some other embellishments to dress it up and a few paper samples. I like the idea of adding a string tie or some handles ?

If I manage all that - Genervieve may get some time today. Will share any development tomorrow.

Bye for today
Thanks for reading.

Genervieve and her trees.

Hi Everyone
My world is good again, today. I had a lovely day yesterday - I met up with my Dad for a shopping trip. Not much shopping but lots of coffee and chat. Great boost and a change from everyday things.
Everything is now back on track - sort of !! The 'wobble' has gone and Ive got a plan. It's going to be a big job. The plan is to organise our home at the weekend ! Wow ....... It's sounds as if it should be so easy ! I'll let you know how it goes. I think, I work well in an ordered space where my everyday activity can flow (literally and conceptually). This order thing is all in my head but it does help if my surroundings and my life can be described as being 'organised'. The 'order' needs to be a broad definition and I do have an ability to accept a wide spectrum !

In the meantime, I'm having a little time with Genervieve. She's had a bit of blue added to her world and a few trees.






I like the effect and will add more trees. I ended up just drawing the trees directly onto the canvas after this practice sketch. Earlier this week - I hade more elaborate plans for making the trees. Read back for details.





My initial idea was to have very small versions of the same tree but I quite like having the similar central shape and have made slightly different sizes to fit the space. The added branches can reach out to fill the white areas.
Here are the first few trees on the painting. Lots more layers to go but I feel it's taking shape.






I'm beginning to see tree roots reaching down towards Genervieve and layers of substrata in the pink/orange area. Will just go with my instinct. The patterned squares are suggesting little houses ? I will keep looking and will see what needs to be done.

Yet again, Friday has arrived as a bit of a shock ! Where has the week gone ? Have a great weekend.

Bye for now.

Thanks for reading

Even more metal talk

Hi Everyone
I'm at the point where I realise just how much I don't know about working with metal and a bit 'down'. I felt more confident a few days ago, now I'm coming across things I thought I could do (not brilliantly but I could do them). I assumed if I worked hard with a bit of practice, all would be well ! Im having a bit of a wobble. I need to keep my nerve. I'm learning and it's good but quite frustrating too.
I managed to break a blade on my saw today. I know why it happened so I guess, that's a plus !
I mentioned yesterday, I was going to try and make something from a very small piece of scrap. Well, I did cut up the bits (this is where the saw blade snapped) and have two bits of brass which could look like a small earring.
This is the scrap - front and back.





This is what has happened. I cut the 'posted' piece first and then the second earring (still awaiting a post).






The photo with the coin shows how small the pieces are and the scrap that's left. I was going to add some small pieces on top of the square-ish bit but I was reminded that soldering would be almost impossible without grading the soldering and probably a waste of time ! So - I will reconsider and perhaps stick with trying something else on the surface design front.


The experiment started well (other than the saw blade break). But ...... as previously mentioned I am feeling vulnerable.

Other news - I did complete a little work on stock - I have a list and need to keep working at it, so that's my work focus for the rest of the week. I'm good with clay - so I know I can achieve whatever. I will have to wait for more metal play.
But ... I'm not 'at one' with myself - everywhere I look in the studio, there is a 'mess'? My solution - spent most of my evening (last night) reorganising my workbench to accommodate all my new stuff. It's not there yet and still feels disorganised and cluttered. I will try and get that organised today - I am unable to work without 'order'. I think, this is part of my 'wobble'.

On a brighter note (I like to find a positive from everything !) While sorting, I came across a lovely image of a potential bead. You can find the image details on my Pinterest board - Beads.



I love the link between the shape and the surface texture. I've started a 'thinking job' to find a way to make one !

Bye for now.
Thanks for reading.