Sunday, December 18, 2011

Broken

Yes my silly sewing machine is already broken. 
I had all my pattern pieces cut/interfaced/pinned together ready to go, but the bobbin and top threads just wouldn't connect. So hubby had a fiddle and we came to the conclusion it needs a new bobbin case. 

So this morning Summer and I went to a sewing store and got a replacement. I haven't put it in yet....can't be bothered yet lol.

Then we went and did a little grocery shop. I am going to make a nice big lasagne and salad for dinner - I don't make lasagne often, cause it takes so long. But my hubby deserves something extra yummy this evening, as he upgraded my earrings yesterday! Yes! It was all his idea. I so loved the ones he got me already, but he decided that he wanted me to have bigger ones and so he rang the store he purchased them from and they said it was okay to bring the original ones back to upgrade them!

So yesterday afternoon that is what we did. He's always been a freaking awesomely generous man, I totally hit the jackpot with him! But again, this pressie takes the cake. I'm not normally one to boast about things like this - but I can't help myself. I just want to share how damn good this man is to me!

Anywho, Summer is eating some lunch and I should probably have mine soon and then get on with dinner.

I made myself another chan luu inspired leather wrap bracelet, but after wearing it 2 times, I've decided to pull it apart. Whiteish leather is not really a great choice, it gets grubby very quickly. And the beads - chalk turquoise - have marks on them already...I should probably get better quality ones next time....So I am going to hunt down some new beads and make another wrap for myself with better colour leather - maybe dark brown or black perhaps and better beads. The button I made for this one turned out lovely too! 

 Below is a picture of Summer I took the other afternoon, I got about 40 shots of her in many different poses that she was making up herself, including this one.
She is sooo cute ♥


And below is a pair of Agate earrings that I finally got around to finishing off.

I still haven't been at the bench much. Yesterday Summer went to her Grandies for the day, so I got to the bench and finished these off and then got started on a simple but largish ring for the shop. I have been still having fun with some pmc3 making some little owl charms for my shop


Well I hope that my silver mojo returns soon. I really want to make a go of it for real in the new year, filling my etsy shop up and finally getting myself to a market. Sales have been terrible this month so far and it's really disappointing, which has that terrible knock on effect of not motivating me to make new work. I don't know how you guys are fairing in your Etsy sales, but it's making me question my future in silver :(

Have a wonderful week everyone
Em ♥


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Other things to do...

Since my metal muse has taken a vacation (with no indication of return date), my trusty backup muse has stepped in. Yes my sewing side has returned. It's been some time since I spent time with her.....prob over a year or so now. 

So I was browsing the handmade bag section on Etsy and found a few lovely bags that inspired me to make myself a new bag. I am not in any way skilled at sewing. I'm very much beginner. I've always had a 'thing' for bags and my last one cost a pretty penny (I've expensive taste lol). So I decided to make myself one instead of buying one. It gives me something to work on, since I'm not at the bench. And since I have possibly thousands of dollars of fabric stashed away, I get to enjoy using some :)

This bag is what got me going:



I have even got myself some jute to do the handles like this one.

I've seen a couple of different styles using the jute as handles and I think it's great for making a quick tote. Sewing handles for a bag is not the most favourite part for me.

Mine of course will end up nothing like this haha...but I just wanted a nice tote for going to the post office and corner shops with, something not too serious, like the bag I already use.

Ugh this is all I can write for now....daughter is jumping all over the back of me and on my chair and I can't hear myself think....might be back with a finished bag next time...maybe.

Em

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

She's gone again!

My creative muse/mojo. 
Gotta say, I'm getting a bit tired of her disappearing on me.
I have tried to make my first bezel setting for a faceted gemstone, it's sitting in the pickle right now and if it works out, it'll be a miracle. I've got some earrings in the pickle too, they've been sitting on my bench for some time now.

As I wrote in my last blog, the weather has been 'bench' friendly lately. So this afternoon, I thought I would take advantage of it and see what I can do...but I'm just not feeling it. And when I don't feel it, negativity starts to creep in....thoughts like 'oh no, am I just not into this anymore??' - 'my designs suck and I'm not advancing enough'.

None of those kind of thoughts help.
But how do you stop them creeping in??
I'm wondering if a batch of nice new stones would help some. I haven't bought any cabs in a while now and I'm a bit sick of looking at my old ones lol.
Probably should be at the bench more.
I wonder if trolling the internet for inspiration will perk up the creative juices....or will it just hinder me?

There has been something on my mind the past couple of weeks too that isn't helping, but I can't really do anything about that right now.

Does this happen to you often?
What do you do to combat it?

I've walked away from the bench for now. Let the things in the pickle sit a while and I'll get them out and take it from there. Maybe finishing a simple piece will help some. I don't know.

Maybe I'm forcing myself to be something I'm not....

Em.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A little rain & some Beads

It's raining! 
I absolutely love cold rainy days. And today is lovely. The last few days in fact have been on the cooler side, considering it's been really hot lately, it's a welcome change for me.

So this morning I need to finish up a custom ring. Since working on custom orders, I haven't really made anything new for my shop. I should be at the bench right now really...since the weather is perfect for it....but instead I am here at the computer blogging and pinning.

Oh last night I did make this:



Above are the beads and leather I have been collecting the last couple of weeks. I want to make a nice loooong wrap bracelet with the white leather and chalk turquoise beads for myself :) The hard part is trying to find decent beading thread. Everywhere I go either has the right colour, but not thickness, or the right thickness and not colour.....or practically nothing at all hahaha.

I still love beads. After all these years. 

I'm having a 20% off sale in my shop :)

Well I had a terrible nights sleep, think I have hayfever...or a cold...either way I feel pretty rubbish this morning. It's only 8:30am. Best go and put out the birdies and feed the animals and then get about my 'stuff'.

Hope all is well with you dear readers
Em ♥