Little Cherry Hill - Handmade Jewellery

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2012-01-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

For nearly 2 days now, it has been raining heavily.

This time last year, there were awful flash floods over Brisbane (Queensland) and sadly there have been some yesterday. Not to the extent of the 2011 floods, but it's still disconcerting.

We have a lot of creeks around where I live, especially on the way into Town. About 20 meters away we have a creek that runs under our road out of our estate. It flooded our road yesterday....fortunately we have a small SUV and we were able to get through about 3 flooded roads yesterday on our way to Town.

Right now, the rain isn't as it was yesterday. I just stepped outside to see how our creeks looking....it's okay. Checked out the local rainfall radar to see whats coming and it's only light rain. The heavy stuff is headed out to sea and some down south.

I used to absolutely adore rainy days like today. But since those floods last year, it tends to leave me feeling a little freaked out, when it rains like it has been.

Enough of the depressing stuff for now.....

Here is my little delivery of stones I received Friday:

Some plume/riviara/moss agates and chrysoprase.

I want to get my hands on some Dendritic Opals and some Priday plume as well as a million others lol...but that will have to wait. The silversmithing funds are kinda dry right now :(

Oh and if I haven't mentioned this already...I am a very indecisive person and I change my mind a lot.

I know I just changed all of my backdrops for my Etsy store jewellery, but I've gone and done it again haha.

I LOVED the turquoise box. LOVED it.

But, if I am completely honest, it took focus away from the jewellery. Some of the pieces didn't stand out as well as they do on their own as the colour of the stones were so similar.

So I changed a heap of my pictures again.

Here is a before and after shot of one item...

As boring as the new background is.....the jewellery takes the spotlight perfectly. In the old picture, it still looks good....but it sort of melts into the box a little. If you have time, please take a quick peek at my shop and tell me if you like the new background??

Em ♥

Lunch time :)

2012-01-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

and I am making myself a lovely Triple smoked ham toasted sandwich with cheese and onion, with a nice iced bottle of water on the side. Yum ♥

Well I haven't made anything since my last post.

I did however buy up some gorgeous stones, this time though they weren't all colourful, they're more on the natural side. I bought some nice Moss Agate and some Plume Agate. I can't wait to get them...they looked pretty damned nice.

I had started to make a few little loveheart charms for Valentines, but haven't had the energy to go and finish them up. The weather has been so all over the place, I don't know if I'm coming or going!

My head is full of other nonsense at the moment..but I am hoping that when my new stones arrive, I will be inspired to make some new pieces. I want to get my hands on a couple of new tools, but stupid me went and bought some shoes in the sales and now those tools will have to wait.....why did those nice shiny new shoes have to look so good??!!!

We have been hiring a couple of cars out lately to test drive them for a day to see how they go on petrol and comfort etc....who knew choosing a new car would be so difficult. We both thought we had chosen what we were going to save for.....but for some reason we are back at square one. Sigh.

lol well this was a boring post...nothing really interesting to write about.

hope you are all having a wonderful week thus far

Em ♥

A Good Start.

2012-01-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

It's Friday morning and I've just finished all of my housework.

Typically I went and put on Summers washing and it started to rain.

It's been terribly hot here the last 3 days and just yesterday the heat started to dissipate and we got a bit of relief and today it's not too bad again. So I haven't really gotten to the bench - except to finish things off and photograph them ready to list in my shop:

I think I'm getting a bit sick of seeing the blue box in my background lol.....

It's lovely, but I think it's a bit overpowering to have in every single picture....I may have to start putting pictures like the 2 above in as the first picture of my listing, just to keep it looking different?? I dunno haha.

I've only sold 1 thing in the last month and it's getting hard for me to be upbeat about making things. I really really want to keep making things, but I don't know if I am prepared to have sales anymore to get sales. It's hard. I keep getting faves for my shop and items and I get added to circles and sometimes I am in treasuries. If I'm honest, I don't really promote my work. I guess that's something I will have to work on this year. And I really should be spreading the love on Etsy with others more, by making my own treasuries and promoting others work - but it's just so time consuming. I hope things pick up soon :(

Well the hubby has just arrived home, so I will leave it here.

I hope you've all had a great month so far!

Em ♥

Day 3 Already...

2012-01-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

I'm just hoping this year doesn't go as fast as last year did.

I have made no resolutions. They never stick.

But I have made some goals. And those I will be seeing through.

The Hubs and I spent New Years Day doing loads of housie things that needed to be done. I used his big surface cleaning machine on our back tiled patio and cleaned it right up...it looks great out there! Just need a nice set of chairs now :)

Then hubs water blasted all the windows/screens of the house. One of those ended in disaster as it was a louvered window that wasn't quite shut (in our ensuite) and sadly it was the dirtiest window in the entire house (we have LOTS of windows). So cutting a long story short, approx half of that bathroom was covered in wet clumps of dust/dirt and I'm talking everything, from ceiling to floor. Fortunately it cleaned up relatively easily and you wouldn't know it happened now......but making a note for the future lol

I haven't been at the bench in weeks now. I just really haven't felt it. In my head I have all these ideas and things I want to try - you know...the usual. But I just haven't felt the connection with my hands and metal to bother.

This morning I went out there and cleaned up cobwebs and dead flies and tiny strips of discarded sandpaper (it is the garage remember) and now it's looking okay and I've been sort of feeling the itch to get out there and make things again....so hopefully soon that will happen?...

Summer has a cold :(

Dog was sick for a couple of days, but is now over it thank goodness!

Other than that, all is well with our little piece of the world.

How was your beginning to the new year??

Hope it was nice :)

Em ♥

Broken

2011-12-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

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 ♥

Other things to do...

2011-12-15T20:54:00.000-08:00

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:

Madebynanna

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.

She's gone again!

2011-12-07T21:20:00.001-08:00

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.

A little rain & some Beads

2011-12-06T14:23:00.001-08:00

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 ♥

Summer and Anniversaries

2011-12-01T16:51:00.001-08:00

Yesterday (well today if you're in USA) was officially the first day of Summer...and it was kinda on the cold side and wet and windy. LOVED it!!

AND it was my 10th wedding anniversary!!

It's gone by so fast :(

But....Hubby outdid himself with this pressie......

YES!! Lucky me!!! Real Diamond Earrings!!! Woohoo!

They're gorgeous!!!

Isn't he just the AWESOMESAUCE of AWESOMENESS???!!!

I think so....but not just because of the earrings lol.

I love him.

He has been the most supportive husband I could have ever wished for.

Honestly there have been super super hard times. Marriage is a work in progress...always.

But still now after all these years I think he's more than I deserve.

So this is for you my sweetiepie.

I love you. Love you. Love you.

And here's to another 10years and then some!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

Procrastination

2011-11-20T17:53:00.001-08:00

Yes. That title describes me down to a tea at this point in time.

I have pieces I need to get finished.

It's too hot.

I've some new materials I want to try and techniques.

It's too hot.

The days are going by too fast.

And it's too hot.

Did I mention it's hot??? lol

Yeah it's getting pretty gross out by my bench. Like I said in my last post, I really need that screen door. Last night hubby found a small toad hopping around in the lounge room....YUCK!!!!! And it probably came from the garage :(

So now we need to be extra careful. I've no idea how it got in the lounge room unseen though.....

I woke up to a sale this morning :)

I am working on something beaded for myself....I haven't beaded in years. I'm not really enjoying it either haha. But I know it'll look nice when I'm done, I've been working on it in the evenings whilst watching the idiot box. It looks so simple, but it's been a bit of a pain in the bum to make - for me anyway.

The desire to buy new stones is scratching away in the back of my head. It's been a while since I really bought any - if you don't count my stash of little faceted stones...I have bought quite a lot of those. And I do have a lovely larger faceted stone on it's way to me.....actually it should have been here by now, so kinda getting worried about that.

Anyways I haven't really purchased any cabochons in a while. I do not need them. Not at all. But I fancy looking at new stuff. As much as I love the bright coloured stuff, I fancy some more natural stones now. Though to be honest, right now is probably not the best time of year to be waiting on parcels from overseas as it tends to get slowish.

Well that's about it I guess. I'm so grateful for the airconditioning we have in this place and the great insulation and extra high ceilings!!

Have a wonderful day all

Em ♥

Muggy Much?

2011-11-14T16:40:00.001-08:00

Feels like it was just Summer time only a moment ago and here it is upon us already. And I already hate it lol....but whats new???

I am not overly looking forward to the new year. There is a new law that the government here are supposedly bringing in and it will affect my husbands job. His work situation has already become a bit sketchy of late and I've been pretty stressed about it all.

Anyways - my daughter is now starting to play with her toys properly and interact with them and I love hearing her!! It brings me back to when I was a little girl, playing with my toys and how I used to use my imagination to have fun. I love my little girl so much it makes my heart ache!

Because of the humid weather we have had, we've been getting more and more ants in our house. Ants are fine...when they're outside...but when I start getting lots of them walking around my kitchen bench and random areas around the house, I start to get pretty annoyed. I spent most of yesterday afternoon spraying them and wiping them up. And just when you think they're gone, a new little trail of them appears. Sigh.

Well here are the latest pieces I finished up last week:

I've already listed them in my shop, which I am usually pretty lazy doing.

I am still digging my backgrounds. I love seeing my shop all fresh and colourful. I did try my background out with another coloured box, but it just didn't look right, it looks better when it's all the same background, but just alternating the positions and bokeh etc, makes it not look too samey same for every shot. You are right Amy, Turquoise really does work :)

Well it's hot and I don't feel like working at the bench, I desperately need a screen door (which I'm still trying to get the hubs to see to). Way too many flies and mosquito's and wasps get in when I have the doors up, but it's so hot in there really need the breeze (something we get a lot of at this house!!).

Hope you are having a wonderful week thus far

Em ♥

Start of the Week

2011-11-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

These are some unfinished pieces on my bench from last week...I really really need to get off my backside and get them finished and listed ASAP.

But I just don't feel like it.

It's a bit muggy already this morning.

I have gotten loads done already this morning of the house work variety.....still have to hang out washing and dust and I really should mop (oh there goes the washing machine...time to stop for a bit and get it hung out...)

BBS

Done...yay. And it's only 9:20am, so I have the whole day ahead of me!

I'm already tired haha...

Why do grandparents always insist on buying grandchildren the most noisiest and battery sucking toys?!!!

Last week Summer had a really bad reaction to some Mosquito bites she'd gotten from out in the back yard. They had puffed up so much! When I first noticed the one on the inside of her arm, right above her inner elbow area, I thought she'd dislocated her arm for a few seconds, because it looked so big...but of course she wouldn't have been running around if that was the case! Anyways after several calls to several doctors I got her an appointment. She'd had an allergic reaction to the bites and was given some antibiotic cream. They've returned to 'normal' now thank goodness. If it's not one thing it's another...am I right? Or am I right?!

I've really got to get to finishing those pieces lol....and I desperately need a screen door for my bench area so I can have some breeze without all the wasps/mosquito's and flies etc!

Hopefully soon.

Em ♥

Working Hard....

2011-10-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am trying really hard to promote my Etsy store/work.

The last couple of months have been almost dead as far as sales go. Only just this past week I have sold a few things and it's certainly brightened me up!

I want to get my shop with at least 2 pages full by the time I have my Christmas sale, but it's hard to get going (nothing new there!). Just last week Summer had a super bad fever reaching temps that were going to make us head to hospital. Fortunately she got over it after a few days and then hasn't come down with anything since. So we're not really sure what was wrong.......

I am so glad for modern science and remedies.

Summer and I spent the day at my Mothers yesterday. It takes me about 2 hours to drive there and then 2 back.....so it's a big day out for us. But it gets us out and I get to spend some much needed time with my mum and Summer gets to play with the parrots and see her gram & pops. It's worth that long ride.

This is my latest piece:

I am still enjoying my new background and look of my shop.

Still wasting time on Pinterest lol....

It's been overcast here for days now....humid and no rain.....well there was a little rain the other evening, actually it looked like it would storm, but it didn't. It's great for my photography!!

Going through some stresses at the moment, but I have to remind myself that we are fed, clothed and have a roof over our heads and we have each other and that is a heck of a lot to be happy about! And I get to have a hobby like this. It's hard sometimes to not get caught up in a bubble of my own trouble. Thinking of Jo right now .... hope you get better hun ♥

And I hope everyone else is well too!! Sending out much love to you all

Em ♥

New Background & Jewellery

2011-10-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those of you who gave me your opinion on my background choices...I finally redid all the photography for my shop and I love my new background. I didn't end up going with what I posted about, but it got me to the choice I eventually made.

It's cohesive, fresh and bright and I love how my shop looks now :)

As much as I thought the grey was for me, I was tired of it. Yes it helped my silver work stand out, but it was kinda lacking that certain something...

I have been trying really hard not to let the lack of sales get me down and stop me from making new pieces. It's damn hard though. When I make a sale it kinda motivates me to make more jewellery......when those sales completely vanish into thin air....well my desire to create kinda goes with it - as I'm sure is the case for many creators out there.

Now I just figure that, I have the supplies there, so I may as well use them and enjoy myself!! And I am definitely working on stocking up to do my first market someday soonish. I think I have an idea how I want to make my set up and once I have that figured, I will be able to see how much stock I need.

Next is a picture of a ring I just finished up this morning:

Yes I have been incorporating my latest skill with my new work lol...so I guess there will be a heap of work with tube set gemstones. I'm also working on my plain bezel settings - I find them the hardest to make look nice as there really is no forgiveness in the edge, not like scalloped or sawtooth or like those fancy bezel wires...you can kinda get away with all sorts when you use those settings, but with plain bezel.....well you can't get away with much at all! The reason I want to do more with this bezel type is I think it gives a more finished look to my work, as much as I enjoy using the fancy bezels, I want the stones to stand out more and the embellishments I use around the stones. I'll still use the other wire...but I want to get this wire perfected!

Apparently it's going to start heating up here this week....not happy....not happy at all. I still hate the heat, as much as I did last time it was hot. I can forsee a huuuuuge power bill at the end of the year :(

Well that is it for now....I have a couple of pieces I need to finish up and photograph and list over the next few days. Oh and I did a treasury this morning...first I've done in aaages. It was fun though and I tried to stick to a colour theme (which I find hard).

Have a great day :)

Em ♥

Changes

2011-10-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

I'm no further with my pieces from my last post lol.

Summer is sitting on the desk next to me chatting away, whilst flicking through a catalogue, most of what she says I can't understand, but it's cute all the same :)

Well I have been changing the photo's of my jewelry for my Etsy shop.

I am undecided if I am happy with the new shots or not, I don't really have many people to ask opinions of either.....so I'm asking you guys for your opinion.

Which do you prefer?? As much as I like the grey, I think I find it boring. It does help the ring stand out, but the picture itself doesn't draw me in particularly. And now I've changed a heap of pictures in my shop, I'm not sure that having the exact same background for every piece is the way to go either. I don't want to clutter up my shop by having all different pictures, I like to keep it sameish. I dunno...I hate making these kind of decisions :( It's lots of work to change everything, but I want it to look right.

Thanks for your help guys :)

Em♥

On The Bench

2011-10-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

I think I am slowly coming out of my creative block.

It's been a few weeks since I have made something decent - i.e non little instant gratification (kinda) pmc things. And I have been really down lately about where Etsy is taking me. I know that the Economy has taken it's toll...and the changes Etsy have made, have only made things harder for me.

Still getting favourites......but no sales...not even with a 15% off sale in my shop :(

I am over it though.

For now I am trying to work towards my goal of stocking up for the Markets.

There really isn't much else I can do. I will still list all my new work in my shop, but I won't relist much anymore. I really haven't seen much return for bothering, though I know they still recommend you do (of course they do!).

This morning I have played a little at my bench on these things:

Then after house work and washing etc, I made these yummy yums:

Then...thanks to Jo from Gemhaven, I have been wasting time doing this

lol

All the time I waste at this computer could be put to Much! better use....

but nah. I love the internet. I've learnt sooo much from the internet over the years, it's gotten me where I am today and I'm happy for that...cept for the big butt haha.

Well I am about to make some curried egg sandwiches for lunch and then hopefully get back to the bench before making Spaghetti Bol for dinner :)

How is Etsy and it's changes working for you now?? Do you think you have it sorted? I don't :(

Em ♥

Bah Humbug...

2011-10-10T16:59:00.000-07:00

I'm tired.

Tired of Etsy and tired of trying to figure out how to make it work for me and my teeny tiny shop. Just as I felt I had a little itty bitty future there, it all comes to a screeching halt.

I am fully aware that I am not the only one .....

There are sellers there, that are in a much bigger predicament than I.

Fortunately for me this is only a hobby.

I feel bad for those who need to make a living from Etsy and are now struggling.

I've tweaked and retweaked and fiddled and fumbled with my tags and titles.

No idea if what I am doing is doing me any good.

Just confused.

Frustrated.

Irritated.

Pessimistic.

Now I wonder if even having a sale is worth it. Would anyone even find me to bother buying? Do I have to always have a sale to make a sale?? Yes, I still get favourites....but not as many as I did when relisting was the key to it all.

More and more the markets are calling my name. But sadly as a side effect of Etsy's Relevancy change, I've been super unproductive. Unmotivated. Sure, I've tried a new technique out and succeeded. And I want to do more with it. But as for making things for my shop, I've made about 1 pair of earrings :(

I know I need to get making and stocking my shop if I want to be more successful, to reach a broader audience, to keep people coming back. But now in the back of my mind is 'is it worth it'?? If big shops can't be seen, how will mine? I will NOT sell on the other E. No Siree. And there really isn't any other avenue for me to sell through online.

Sigh. . . not upbuilding I know.

But sometimes it helps me to write it down and put it out there.

Any advice?? Tips??

Em ♥

Having Fun With PMC

2011-09-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, lately I have been having fun with mold making and PMC3. I would love one day to be able to cast my own things, but that is far off down the track in the future, so for now, I can get my fill with a little bit of pmc :)

As I've previously blogged, I have made molds from shells from my personal collection. This week I have some other little things I have been making molds of. It's lots of fun.

I also have a little copper in the pickle pot....

Trying to make something for myself.....dunno if it'll work out or not....but it's only copper so it's not a real worry if it doesn't turn out.

I've gotten loads done this morning already. Cleaned the house, weeded, washed and I got a little tid bit of time at the bench whilst Summer went out and played in the back garden. Now I'm back at the puter blogging and chatting on msn with my mum :)

Tomorrow there is a little gem show on........I want to check it out, but it means taking Summer with me and I'm not even sure it's going to be worth the hassle and travel. But there isn't much in the way of gem shows on around here, so I guess I will take the risk and go. I don't have much else on, since hubs will be working. I get so jealous when I read others blog posts about the luscious gem shows they have visited and all the goodies they had to choose from and brought home.

I put in my Rio order and managed to get my silver at $29.84. I am so happy with that price! It has risen since, but not past $32. But hey I nearly purchased it at $36, so I am pretty chuffed :) I am getting a couple of new tools too. I cracked open a new pot of flux today......it stinks.

Here are a couple of pics of some jewelry I made this week with pmc :)

And a new turquoise ring :)

Till next time.

Em ♥

I've learnt something new :)

2011-09-26T04:22:00.000-07:00

And it's about time too.

I have been wanting to learn something new for ages and ages. I get new tools, then don't use them. Or I don't get all the new tools for a particular technique and so I don't bother learning anything at all.

Well today I decided that I wouldn't bother with house work and I would just go to the bench and play. Then the post lady came and brought me my little parcel of 3mm Faceted Amethyst Gemstones and I was sooo excited. It meant I could try my new technique out.

And so below this is what I made :)

Yes, a tube setting!

I have been slowly collecting all the tools this past week or so. I already had a huge long piece of tube, so I just needed the burrs and stones.

I made the setting over the weekend as my burrs had arrived on Friday.

I went a little mad on last week and ordered a few more gemstones in 4mm and 5mm size, as I'd already ordered the burrs to match. So it wasn't as hard as I ended up anticipating it to be. Which is a good thing. But me being me, I wasn't patient and I ended up setting the stone before making sure the tubing was perfectly flat. So the tube sort of goes up a teeny weeny little bit on one end.

But as it was a practice setting I didn't care. What matters is that I can do it!!!

I hope to add some lovely little tube set stacking rings into my shop with some PMC pieces I am making as well.

I'm starting to get my mojo back.......just a little bit mind.

OH and silver has dropped heaps over the last few days!!!!! As I am sure all of you have noticed!! I put in an order on Thursday, but then decided to cancel it as silver dropped again. So I'm hoping to put in a new one (with Rio of course) and I hope to include a tube cutting jig thingy so I can saw straight bits of tube for my settings.

Well I think that's all for now. It's almost 9:30pm and Summer is sleeping soundly and hubby is fixing things and I thought I would make a little post before I have my nightly cup of tea to relax.

I've changed my font on my posts too.....is it easy to read?? Be honest....please. I want it to look pretty and fresh, but it obviously has to be readable.

Love the new posting layout too...it's great!!!

Em ♥

Spring In Full Swing.

2011-09-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

It's a lovely day.

Breezy, sunshiny and new tools have arrived!! ♥

I have finally got a new pot of flux - was tempted to buy the borax cone/dish...but it cost another $10 or so. I have always been happy with this flux, so I figured I would stick with it. I got a new firebrick, new sparex pickle, new crosslock tweezers etc. I can't to use one new particular tool that I got to teach myself something new.

Below are pictures of my latest PMC3 experiments. I purchased some cold mold putty to make my own molds and it is such great stuff. So below are pieces I made with shells from my own collection, I am sure I have more somewhere, but don't quite know where......

This picture is of my work area. Not sure that I have shown a picture of it before (cept for the view). It's a bit chaotic at the moment, because I am trying to sort out stuff since the arrival of the mill - speaking of which, Hubs bolted it down for me on the weekend and I have barely tried it out yet...not in the mood to yet. . .

I like to work in a pretty clean area...I'm a bit anal when it comes to organisation and work...I can't really do one without the other. I hope to make a proper bench soon too...we have found the timber, just have to find the time and money, everything is about time and money isn't it?! :(

There is so much I would like to write here. This past week has been a very stressful one, my emotions are on a roller coaster, but I want to try and keep this blog solely about my hobby. Apart from the obvious (my little family) this hobby is the only thing that gives me any joy and I'd like it to continue for as long as possible....I'm sure you other smithers out there can relate :)

By for now
Em ♥

Blah....

2011-09-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

I have just spent the best part of an hour reading in the forums on Etsy about this whole Relevancy vs Renewing saga and how it's affecting high selling stores big time.

I am going to be honest and admit I'm confused with it all. I have made my titles and listings and tags all relevant with what I sell. I haven't really been the type to look at shop stats, in fact today was the first time I have bothered.

I feel for those shops who are being hurt by this change, spesh when I read that half of the things at the top of the list of searched items aren't even relevant to that particular search at all. I felt that the renewing/relisting thing was pretty good myself. Some on the forums have stated that it made it hard for those who don't relist/renew and so the change is a good thing. But I feel that generally spending money, makes money. So relisting & renewing seemed fair and good to me. After all we're all on Etsy to make money are we not?!

I want to get somewhere with this hobby....one day....I cannot commit the time that it would take though, at least not right now. Basically all my energy goes into being a mummy and I barely get a break from it, so I cannot commit my brain space fully to making something. I'm always interrupted and am always needed and I only have one child....lord knows how you other women folk do it when you have more than 1 child?!

I am so full of inspiration/ideas/dreams. One of those is to get my ass and my jewellery to a market! I know which one I want to go to (visited another creative market yesterday and it was pretty lame - though maybe my style of work would be welcomed there, as I've not seen any like mine at any markets anywhere in the greater area) and I know where I can get my set up from and how much stock I would need and blah blah. But I can't get to that damned bench and make anything new. I don't think I would be a success with only 22 items, do you? Nope.

So how are you going with the new Etsy search stuff??

I haven't been one to relist heavily...just a couple of things a couple of times a week. Since looking at my stats I have noticed a big spike in faves to both shop and items when I've listed a new item....I will have to just keep an eye on the stats to see how I go.

Any tips? Advice?

yawn....dead tired....and it's cold today? it's Spring?!

Em.

Tools, New Moo Cards, No Mojo...oh my!

2011-09-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have some new tools, moo cards and Zero Smithing Mojo :(

If anything would normally kick my butt into creative gear it would have to new tools....but no....not this time.

Below are pictures of my new matching Moo cards and stickers.
I spent ages designing these and am very happy with how they turned out. And they are such good quality! So now the hubs has decided he wants me to make some cards for him from Moo. Oh and they also came like 2 weeks earlier than I was expecting them, so Woohoo!!

Below is my first print I have purchased from Etsy. I have been lusting after several artists pictures for a long time now and then decided I would get on with it finally and just buy one! And I love it! So does my hubby. I think he even approves me collecting more of them :)

This print is by janethillstudio

And this is a picture of some new stamping tools I purchased from 2moontools

I received them this morning and hope to use them on some new pieces.....eventually......if my mojo returns :(

lol I know that I will.
This is not the first time I have encountered the creative block, nor will it be my last.
What's strange is that my head is just absolutely choc full of stuff, but I can't seem to put it to actual physical work. Maybe my head is in overload?? I'm hoping to get a break sometime this weekend and maybe I'll be able to remove this block. I can only hope.

Yesterday I took my daughter with me to a big hardware store to look for some new tin snips etc and I came across a work bench for $100....it's not too big and it has peg board and a shelf underneath and an extra area to hang hammers etc. I'm hoping to take hubs to see this bench and talk him into buying it for me haha....it would be a spot I could bolt my Rolling Mill to as well. So it's kind of necessary. I can't wait to get the mill bolted down so I can try it out.

Alrighty I must go. Daughter is talking non stop and I can't type anymore as I can't hear myself think, think that is half the reason I struggle at the bench these days :(

Em

It has sprung!

2011-08-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

Spring that is!!
Today is the first day of the new season.
I am going to miss good ole Winter :(

At least this year we have a lovely new airconditioner. Not that we can go crazy with it considering how much power has gone up! But at least it's there for the unbearable days we get in the Summer time.

Anywhoo...below is a picture of my latest tool! Yes A Rolling Mill. Finally!
I have been planning on getting one since I moved into this house over a year ago...but it never happened. Then when I had money, it always went to other tools/supplies etc. I have been watching this rolling mill for a long time and finally the price dropped to a price I couldn't ignore and I jumped in and bought it. I received it yesterday and it is now in my work area ready to go....I just have to chop up copper sheets to fit and play.

I have some other tools on their way to me for stamping. I hope to get those next week :) and then finally I need to get some crucibles and ingots so I can try and smelt my scrap silver and roll it myself....that part is going to be the hard part...but hopefully the best skill for me to learn, considering how unstable silver prices are. If I can smelt and roll my scrap silver out, it will keep me going in the 'can't buy silver sheet just now' times....kinda like now lol. Silver seems to be staying at the $40 mark right now and I am skeptical that it's going to drop under that any time soon. As soon as it does though, I am going to stock up big time!

Below is a ring I made for myself. I wear the same 2 rings all the time and have been eying this stone up for a while and decided to make it into a simple piece, as I feel the stone is gorgeous, it didn't need anything fancy doing to it. I still have some burnishing to do on it, as I am not well practiced at plain bezel wire...even after all this time. I don't tend to use it much. But I want to start using it more now. I like the clean line it gives and how it frames a stone well.

I have been playing a bit more with the metal clay (which I need lots of practice with still!) I have made a piece with it yesterday and have used a fern stem/leaf?? to imprint it with. I just need to smooth it out and sand it down and fire it etc, I have high hopes for how it turns out.....

Paypal.
When it was a new avenue for paying for things, I was excited. Now, the word fills me with frustration. They are putting up the fees on International transactions. For those of us on Etsy or Ebay or the like, this means loosing more money....or charging the customer more money. I don't know how I am going to go about paying the extra, which is 6% I think, but I am going to have to figure it out. With the price of silver up again and fees going up...I often wonder how long left I have on Etsy before I have to let it go. Oh and the exchange rate of Aus dollars to US dollars really digs the knife in too.

I feel as though I might just have to kick myself in the bum and get to the bench and work like an animal and get to those markets I've been dreaming of. At least there, there will only be 1 fee each time and no postage/packaging/conversion fees etc.

Guess I have to work it out and soon.

Oh I have made my first ever order with moocards.com
I had to place my order with the UK site, but they are already out and on their way to me and I can't wait to see how they turned out!! I designed them myself. I didn't use pictures of my jewellery though. I also made some matching round sticker/labels for my packaging. I hope to get them in the next couple of weeks.

Alrighty. That's all for this post.
Take care all :)
Em.

Show Holiday.

2011-08-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

It's the annual show this month and today is one of the show days that the city gets as a holiday, the other is on Wednesday. So I thought today would be a nice relaxing day to do a blog post :)

Below is around 50% of my cab collection...

And of course I am still buying more..as you do. Though it's evident to me since putting these cabs in this lovely box, that I really should start using some of these up...they're quite lovely.

Saturday afternoon, the hubby and I took a trip to the local hardware store and I came home with a lovely new hammer - cross peen.

And below is some PMC3 that I have been playing with. I want to add some more into my pieces, it's just fun to work with.
My head is filled with ideas at the moment...but I just can't seem to rustle up the energy to get to the bench. I have a few pieces that are halfway done too and it wouldn't take much to get them finished. I might attempt it this afternoon. In fact I should probably pull myself away from the computer and go in there now whilst Summer has lunch....

:)

To Roll With The Mill.

2011-08-09T21:31:00.001-07:00

(for some reason, everything I write is going to be underlined and I have nooo idea how to remove it)

Well it seems like everyone is getting a rolling mill lately! I've been talking about buying one for ages now. My Etsy sale went so much better than I expected it to and now that I have funds again, I am pondering the ever pondered question in my brain...to buy or not to buy. I'm hesitant only because it's a largish sum of money to spend on one tool and not knowing what the future brings financially/hobbywise I am in 2 minds about it (as I am about pretty much everything in my life lol).

So I will think about it this week and hopefully make my mind up quick smart.

In the meantime, below are pictures of what I have made lately:

And below is a picture of a gorgeous tree stump my hubs surprised me with last week. I love it! It needs a bit of work to flatten and smooth down the top to make it completely steady, I am starting to think I might like it for photography lol and not for hammering on. I hope to have a proper blacksmiths anvil one day :) I've found the perfect one....and it would look so pretty on the stump :P

The weather is all over the place lately. It's been quite Spring like in the day time. And the night time hasn't been quite as cold, but it has been a bit more windy than normal. I am not looking forward to the Summer. Really not.

I have a lot of family in the U.K so I'm

sending out 'keep safe' vibes to those in the U.K who are affected by the riots.

Silver Smells....

2011-07-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well the price of it does at least! I don't regularly check the price of silver, but every now and again I do and I couldn't believe it was at $40 again last night. I don't want to get all flustered again and go and buy a whole heap, for the 'just in case it rises' situation, but I can feel the pressure mounting again...as I am sure every other person who works with this metal feels.

Enough of that depressing chatter ....

So I went with the hubby and child to the Markets I wrote about in my last post. And to be honest and to the point....they STANK. Really. Yes they were very large markets, but they were not what I am looking for. They were great if you like inexpensive jewellery or knick knacks, clothes and so on. But it wasn't a 'craft/handmade' type market. I had to go and see, as you never know and it gave us a reason to get out of the house and go somewhere new. I was terribly disappointed.

Anyway, it has helped me make up my mind what I want to do. There are some actual craft markets about 10 minutes from where I live. They are held on Sundays only and I think I am going to give them a shot. Right now I don't have anywhere near enough inventory, so I am going to have to work on that first and foremost. I contacted the market people last night and they said you basically have to supply everything yourself and you just pay for the space allocated, which was about $33...not too bad. This of course means now I have to buy a tent/marquee, table, display stuff, a sign, table cloth and you get the idea :) Gotta spend money to make it huh.

I can't, unfortunately, get away without a tent as the sun here can get too hot and I don't want my jewellery to get really hot and burn someone and I don't fancy sitting out in it either (even though it's Winter still). So I have a lot to sort out if I want to go to these markets. There are some other markets about 15 minutes away from here too...so they are always another option if this place doesn't work out :)

So I have lots to plan for.

My custom order was received this morning and the lady was very happy, which has made me happy in return. She now wants to commission me for 2 more pieces!! I've also finished a few new things for my shop, will have to wait for the sale to be over before I list them.

That's all folks....

Em

Woohoo! It's Friday :)

2011-07-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

It's an absolutely gorgeous day again today. I adore Winter time for days like this. If it were to stay like this forever I would be so content.

But if you know me, then you already know this and know it well haha.

It's almost 11am and I've finished all my housework, I have washing in the machine and my daughter is making an awful racket out in the lounge room and it's driving me CRAZZZZY!!!!!!!!!

:s

Below is what's on my bench today:

The ring at the back is my first custom order, it's almost finished.

I finally got my parcel of Turquiose cabochons. I am never going to get things posted with USPS Priority again if I can help it. It took almost 2 weeks more to get it and the tracking they do is DREADful. So I am going to get things sent with Express like I was going to initially. It costs more, obviously, but it's peace of mind and reassuring. I love the stones :) I got some Kingman, #8, Crow Spring and Pilot Mt. And I think I am going to get some more lol. You all know the disease that seeps in when you buy stones hahaaha.

Below is a pair of mismatched earrings that my mother generously gave to me. They are natural Emerald and Rubies set in sterling from India. I have already popped them out of their settings and am realising I will probably need to teach myself a pronged setting for them. They're gorgeous :)

And below is a little glass/wooden case that I purchased at a furniture shop last weekend, whilst browsing for a bed for Summer.
It needs dusting out and I am thinking of putting in some felt on the bottoms of each square.....if I ever get round to it!

I ordered myself some new packs of PMC3 yesterday, which I probably wont' get until Monday now, but I am looking forward to making some new embellishments with it for my jewellery. Hubby told me to get some as he thinks it's a nice touch to make the little decorations by hand as well :)

On a completely random note, my birdie is having a yawning attack out in his aviary and it looks so funny (that's if birds yawn?) lol he's still going....
We bought him and his little girlfriend a new cage this week and we put it together last night. I was afraid he wouldn't take to his new surroundings considering he's had the other one for his whole life with us....like 10 years now. It's his bed cage. He comes in every single night and he sleeps in it till morning, when I put him back outside in his aviary...spoilt much? His girlfriend is a bright yellow budgie - he is an Indian Ringneck Lutino (bright yellow). Strange friendship I know, but it works so well. They're just like a little married couple :) Anyway, they were a bit bewildered in the new cage at first, but by the time morning came, they were loving it!

Okay, I think Summer and I are going to go and get some lunch as a treat and sit at our new fave spot at the duck pond to eat it as it's such a nice day in the Sun. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! :)

Em

Beautiful Day.

2011-07-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day, shame the same can't be said about my mood.
Summer is driving me crazy today. I've got my first custom order for an older lady in Brisbane and I just can't see me getting a chance to get it started till Summer goes to bed....but by then I'll be too tired. Woe is me. lol.

My sale is going okay. I hardly get to the bench anymore now though so I barely am able to add any new work to my shop. Everytime I see someones blog post/fb post about how much jewellery they have in the works I get kinda envious. I would give anything to have a regular day once a week just to work selfishly at the bench without any issues/interruptions.

Below is our latest antique we are going to restore to put under our new mirror in the dining area. We are having troubles deciding the finish we want on it though, we both have different ideas.

I have a busy busy week ahead of me, but on Saturday I am hoping to go and visit some markets, as a potential place for me to have a stall there. They're the biggest markets around, having approx 25000 visitors per weekend (it's near a big tourist area/beach). They apparently supply you a table and tent and the prices are pretty reasonable considering. So hopefully the weather holds out and I can give it a look see. Hubs and I have an idea of how I can display my works without anyone being able to pocket anything, so if all goes well, that will be our next project.

I am going to attempt to make my first ever batch of Cheese & Onion Scones soon. A recipe that my mother used to use when I was a kiddo, from my grandmothers recipe book that must be over 50 years old.
And I am going to attempt my first ever meat pie on Friday...yep you heard right...I've never made a meat pie before lol.

Well I am going to prob do another post on Thursday as I have some nice bits n pieces to blog about. So take care all till then :)

Got My Mask On......

2011-06-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

Not the kind you are probably thinking of.
I have a nice peel off face mask on.
It's Winter and I have to keep my skin fresh and I enjoy a good face mask :)
More so I enjoy peeling one off lol.

Tomorrow it's the 1st of July. I am having my first sale of the year.

I have no idea how well it will go.
But I'm hoping after the recent 'Etsy Finds' plug I will do okay.
It doesn't help that the Australian dollar is more than the US dollar. I haven't sold a piece in a while now and it's very crushing to my creativity.

The weather here is so strange today. It will get all gloomy and then rain for a few minutes and then the Sun will show and it looks all blue skies for miles and then back to the gloomy weather all over again. In fact it's been like that for a couple of days. We just bought Summer a new Trampoline, but she can't get a break in the weather to get outside to use it lately.

I got to the bench last week and made myself a new ring and made a pair of earrings for my Etsy store. I am halfway through a few other pieces, but I am finding it extremely hard to get there and stay there....for many reasons.
I think I need to learn new things and I need new tools to open that opportunity up to me, but that has to wait for the time being.

Well I'm off to read some blogs and make some lunch for the kiddie. I wish it would rain all day.....

:)

Brrrr

2011-06-22T19:00:00.001-07:00

Yes it's certainly Winter here now and I'm loving it!
There is nothing nicer than being able to be in the full sun at the park or outdoors somewhere nice, without breaking out in a sweat or getting super burnt and dehydrated. I love being able to take Summer to the Park or Beach and rug up in a nice warm Cardi or Jacket.

I can't seem to keep up with my blogging these days :( I don't have a lot more on in my day, but Summer is a very full on little girl and constantly demands attention. It's making it hard for me to get to the bench too, as I don't want to plonk her down in front of the t.v (not that it holds her attention much anyways).

We just had 3 tradesmen in our house for the morning, finally installing 2 air conditioners :) That is hopefully going to make Winter/Summer much more comfortable around here! Though our Electricity bills are getting bigger and bigger....which kinda makes me hesitant to use heaters etc. So I try to use them only when I'm desperate.

Below is a piccie of the little Deco cabinet I blogged about some while back. It's not actually Turquoise in colour, it's Teal. My camera won't pick it up :( But it's gorgeous and I love it to bits!

Below is a piccie of a new mirror I got a hold of last week. I LOVE IT! I have been searching for something very ornate to go in our dining area and when this came up on Ebay, I knew I was going to make it mine. I almost didn't get it into my car....but I would have found a way to get it home no matter what. I am now searching for an antique sideboard to put it on to finish the area off nicely. I'm watching one that needs a resto, hopefully it will go for a decent price, as I'm noticing more and more antiques being snapped up here.

And below again are pictures of jewellery that I made a couple of weeks back. Some shoulder dusters (name??) and a pendant.

Whilst the tradesmen were here, I took advantage of getting to the bench whilst Summer followed them around and chatted with them. So I have a few pieces I am currently half way through. Oh and I have purchased some gorgeous pieces of Turquoise and I cannot wait! to get a hold of them! Yum!!

That's about it for now. My floors are a mess from the guys coming in and out of my house and my hubby is on his way home and it's lunch time. I had a pendant featured in the Etsy Finds Email too :) Thanks Amy for letting me know :)

Have a wonderful day all!

2011-05-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Wow time has flown by since my last post.
I have been busy I guess, which is never a bad thing in my book. I have just started to get back to the bench this past week and have gotten a few things done.

There has been a lot of light showers this morning already, it's a bit gloomy outside too...I don't mind that though :) Below are pictures of what I have completed this week from the bench:

2 Rings. I find making the ring bands a bit of a pain in the butt, but I really need the practice, so better late than never!! I do have 2 necklaces waiting to be oxidized yet, but I probably won't get to them till this afternoon. I am working on a few other pieces too, it's just finding the time and getting the creative juice hit that I have to wait around for sometimes.

I ended up ordering some silver sheet when the Silver Price was sky rocketing towards the predicted $50 mark.......it took the company 2 weeks to send it to me and by then, the price had dropped by $50 on the order I had made.....so I wasn't very pleased, especially when the company didn't honour current silver prices. To be honest with you, I hate the customer service, or rather lack thereof that this company gives. I am not the only one here in Australia that dislikes their incompetency and lack of supply in stock too. It's really frustrating that I don't have a choice of people to deal with like in the USA. I could go on and on bagging them out, but the fact remains, I still have to deal with them. Next time though, I won't be so naive. I should have cancelled that order and saved myself the money. But what's done is done and I have learned from it :)

On to a whole other subject, below is a picture of the new look dining room. Complete with the new colour feature wall and dining furniture that we have painted up. I spent over a week painting the dining chairs, hence not working at the bench as my time was wrapped up in this project. I am on the lookout for a little dresser or sideboard that I can do up to put where the dark timber table is at the moment, which I will be selling on. I really love the 'fresh' feel/look that the dining room now has. And having a smaller table and chair setting has given us even more room, not that we needed it lol, but it looks nicer and cleaner and I'm happy with that! We are going to move the freezer into the garage soon too, so I hope to get a nice floor lamp for that corner and perhaps a chair.

I will try and get a picture of the deco cabinet soon as it's been finished up and is living in it's new spot in the house......just waiting for the sun to come out :)

That's it for this post, hope you are all well and having a great week! It's lovely and cool weather here now and I love it!!!!

I hear the rain.........lots of blah ahead

2011-04-26T04:12:00.000-07:00

and it's lovely.
Everyone is in bed and I thought I would take this 'quiet time' to write a post.

The price of silver......well, those of you who read my blog probably already know about it. I almost feel as though my hobby will be over before it's barely begun....and I shudder to think about what the price will be a few months from now. I don't need any silver right now, but I feel pressured to buy some, before it gets seriously out of control. It's so depressing. I can only imagine how it feels for those who do silver work for a living.

I wanted to get a repousse set and a rolling mill, but I'm no longer sure that would be a wise investment. Working with copper is obviously an option, or brass as many are starting to do and I feel that if I were to work with those metals more, I would need a rolling mill and repousse set to keep things interesting. It's so hard to know what route to take. Right now I think one thing I can do is work with smaller stones and designs. That way I can continue to work in Silver....for the time being.

As I wrote in my previous post, we had the inspection and all went well. The owners were quite nice and that afternoon, the new lease was in the letterbox, which we weren't yet expecting. And the nice surprise was, they only increased the weekly rent by $5. It doesn't get much better than that. Oh and there is an airconditioning quote guy coming tomorrow morning. So hubs and I have mulled it over and decided that if they are going to put in the airconditioning, we will stay here for another year. I was originally all for moving, but as we only just did that 10 months ago, I don't really fancy doing it again now......I think I will just try and make this place more like a home and put my own stamp on it, as far as I can anyways seeing as we only rent it.

We finally got my little deco cabinet finished. I will put up a piccie next post and we are half way through our new dining chairs and almost done with the dining table. I cannot wait to get it all together and brighten this place up. I have been buying up little things here and there to decorate the house with. Today we went to Freedom (a big furniture store) and I impulse bought a new big clock and a lovely green vase kinda thing. And a couple of weeks ago I was at Target and I picked up a gorgeous big white picture frame, with places for about 6 photos, which I will most likely fill with pictures of Summer. And I have a few other things I've bought too. The revamped deco cabinets colour now means that we will need new cushions (or cushion covers) and a new rug in the lounge room. If I had my way I would get a new lounge suite. I hate the one we have...and I mean HATE lol.

On the jewellery front, I haven't really gotten much made. I have a few pieces I am working on, but since all this painting and moving business, I haven't had much space in my head for creating.

Well that's enough for now. It's nice n cool and I very much want a hot hot hot cup of tea now :) Thanks for reading :)

I hate renting.

2011-04-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was getting myself and Summer ready to go to the shops to buy some things for Winter, when there was a knock at the front door.

It was the Manager of the Real Estate we rent our home through. And he had an older couple with him. To cut a long story short, he was here to show them through the house and he made out that there had been a letter (notice of entry) sent out to us. But I haven't had any such letter. So I basically said they couldn't come through because I wasn't ready for any 'inspection'. So they are coming back on Thursday morning. Turns out, if I didn't get 1 weeks written notice, I didn't have to let anyone in at all this week. But I didn't know that either.

I figure that he never sent a letter out at all. (The couple were here from the UK and only were going to be down here for a few more days) And I think he was hoping I wasn't going to be home or that he could just push his way in here thinking I wouldn't say anything.

I originally thought he was bringing a couple through the house because he had put the house up for sale. When my husband called him to find out what was happening, the Manager said that it was the actual Owners of the property coming to do an inspection and apparently they do it every year!!!! Well in all the 9+ years my husband and I have been renting, we haven't ever heard of such a thing!!! I am furious to say the least. I think when the renter is still in the property it's rude and intimidating for them and the manager to come through and pick on everything!!!!!!! Besides only a couple of months ago (if that) we had our quarterly inspection with the real estate. So I am stressed out since that visit as I know that they are going to be super fussy and forget that this house was left in an absolute state when we moved in.

The lawn was not mowed and the manager at the time didn't send anyone out to do it till weeks later. The house was covered in fleas the day we moved in and it had to be sorted by pest control. The window panes were filthy, the security screens were filthy, the window tracks were caked in black gunk. The floors were filthy, there were cobwebs everywhere all over the house in every room. I could go on and on with what state this place was like...but I'm sure you get the picture.

I can just see tomorrow morning when they come, they are going to gang up on me and start questioning things and picking on things. And if they do...they'd better watch out. I'm ready for them...picture proof and all!

Sigh.....

Boring post, I know...but I had to get it off my chest a bit more. Only cause I am so frustrated and wary of the visit ahead.

So aside from all that drama, below is a picture of our dining setting we are trying to sell....It's not gross. It's just boring and too big. On Saturday we picked up our new dining table (thanks Ebay) and on Sunday morning we got our new dining chairs (thanks Gumtree). The table and chairs need doing up and I want to paint the setting too. I still haven't painted my little deco cabinet. But I at least have decided on a colour now :) I can't wait to get this inspection done with so I can spend the Easter holidays making over the new furniture.Again, if you got this far..great!! :)
Thanks for stopping by! :)

Things to do...things to do....long post ahead.

2011-04-15T16:11:00.001-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, not a whole lot has been going on.
I have rejoined 'Twitter' this past week...I tried a long time ago, but didn't really click with it, so I'm trying again under 'littlecherryhil'.

I have a busy weekend ahead of me. My hubby and FIL are clearing out 'stuff' from our garage and we are having a bit of a 'throw out' session and taking some rubbish to the dump. Then we are going to reorganise the garage and then I want to start on my new antique/deco cabinet (pictured below)

I have no idea what colour I am going to do it yet....I am leaning towards a duck egg grey kind of colour. I'm not one for making quick decisions :(

I am getting a new table today that I want to do up. I will do a post on that another time. And then I have to find some new dining chairs to go with it...I sometimes love Ebay!

Only 2 months now till our lease here is up. That will go quickly! So in the meantime I have to pack and replace some furniture and have big clear outs and find a new place to move to!! Some of the reasons we want to move are, it's a 2 story house and there are only 3 of us...it's too big. It's high maintenance because of it's size...and I just don't want to waste time looking after space we don't use, I can think of many things I would rather be doing :)
I hate the tiles!
I hate the carpet!
And because we rent, we cannot change those things. (I'm not fussy, I just want both the tiles and carpet to look clean...and they don't.....ever....no matter how many times a week I clean them)
And last but not least, the main reason is money. I don't think we have ever had a year since we have been married that rent hasn't gone up. And I'm sure this year will be no exception. So we want to downsize and save some money to boot! Trouble is...I'm kinda picky with lots of things, like I said before, I'm not fussy, but I do like things to be a certain way. So it's not going to be easy to tick all the boxes for the price we want to pay. Another reason we need to move is petrol. Petrol is going up allll the time and we live out of town. Not super far out, but far out enough that if we moved closer, we could save more money just from not using so much petrol.
I will miss it here. I love the high ceilings and the ensuite and the indoor laundry and the bush/rainforest across the street and the space we have downstairs and many other things, but I would be happier to simplify my life.

Below are a few things I have made this past fortnight...I'm not sure of the second piece...I think I might scrap it, I'm undecided. And the last picture is of some of the cabochons I just received yesterday. I have a few more to come and I want to buy more again, but am going to wait....

Well I guess I will leave it here for now. If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading :)
Have a great weekend everyone!

A Lovely Day...

2011-03-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

Or at least I think it is. It's certainly not as humid as it was a couple of weeks ago. And the nights are cooling down enough to need to wear a light cardi, so I'm happy :)

It's been raining a bit today, though the Sun is out right now.

I am working on a couple of new pieces at the moment. But I've kinda lost my mojo again. I need to learn new things, but trying to get a hold of the supplies to do so (at a reasonable price) is a little more challenging. As I've written before, we kind of get ripped off for things over here. I don't know if it's because of supply/demand issues or because that's just how it is. Either way it's frustrating.

I want to get a repousse set, which seems to be cheaper to get from the USA and I seriously need to source some nicer new stones. It is super hard to find any here. There are a couple of gem shows coming up I think, so I might try and get to one of them to see what's available. Right now, Etsy/Ebay is my only supplier, which sucks because of the wait time and the cost of postage.

I found out this week that I can't post to the Czech Republic. I've had someone ask me if I could send a particular piece to them and when I looked up online, "Precious Metals" was on the prohibited list....

I am having a hard time sawing things lately. I don't know if it's my blades, or me?? But it just doesn't seem to happen smoothly anymore. I've never used any type of bur stuff and it used to be just fine...but lately it's harder and it puts me off. I want to get a decent saw, like one of those big red ones I've seen on a few other's blogs recently. I am pondering a decent size disc cutter and a rolling mill and a new bench. Want much???? LOL :)

There's a lot on my mind lately too. We are moving again when our lease comes up for renewal in June. Not far to go now. As great as this house is, I'm over it, for lots of reasons, which I'll blog about another time. I also want to bring more colour to my home. If you were to walk into my home now, you would think I was boring (till you saw my shoe collection lol) I don't really like our furniture. So I am on a quest to sell on what we have and replace it with stuff that I actually like. I won a nice deco cabinet on the bay last night and I have a nice colour in mind to redo it with. It's going to be a lamp table.

Wow that's been a long talky blog....
Potty training has been going well.....ish.
Time to get back to looking at cabochons :)

100th Post!

2011-03-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

So I've finally written 100 posts!! It took me a little over a year to do it, though it feels like I've been blogging here for a lot longer than that.

Sadly the weather is rubbish here again and it feels like Autumn will never come...nor Winter for that matter. But I am fortunate and grateful that we aren't experiencing what the rest of the world has been. As everyone knows the latest - Japan and now Libya. Things are terrible for a lot of people out there and I can't even imagine what they are all going through. But my heart goes out to them!

Below is my latest work:

The Summer ring is mine. I haven't worn a thumb ring for a loooong time and I felt like making something rustic looking...not pretty...but hard wearing. I am wearing it now and enjoying it..it's quite comfy :)

I have a few other pieces on my desk that just need stones setting and then polishing up.

It's been a tough week and a half.
I started toilet training my daughter.
I tried once before a few months back, but it didn't feel right, so I postponed it and now we are in it for the long haul. It's been hell on earth on and off, but I know she knows what she has to do...she just has to get on with it now...we have given her the tools, the incentives/rewards and now it's up to her to let it 'click'.

I had some trouble with an online service this month and the last couple of days I was trying do sort it out and not getting much help from them AT ALL. Fortunately my parcel has arrived, be it over 6 days late ( it was EMS International) and I am relieved to put it behind me. I don't think I will be using the service again, I don't think the owner will want me to either lol...but I don't really care :)

How has your week been?? I hope no one has any family/friends who've been affected by the disaster in Japan.

A little Change

2011-03-07T16:54:00.001-08:00

Yay! The weather has finally taken a little turn towards Autumn! I am so happy and so looking forward to the months that come. For some reason I always feel like I can do anything when the cooler weather comes along.

I have taken a small advert out with a little handmade directory at mumswhomake
it's only for 1 month, but I thought it's time to start spending a little on getting my work 'known'. Now with the weather changing for the better, I should be able to get more things into my shop soon. Below are the 2 latest pieces I have listed this week...

I would like to make more sawn out pieces like my bird and the Silhouette pendant I sold. I like solid silver pieces that can go with anything you want to wear.
I have had a couple of lovely messages to my Etsy Inbox about my work...it's nice to know people can see the love and effort that goes into it.

There are a couple of pieces on my bench right now. One I'm almost finished with and another I'm half way through. I can't wait till I can afford some new stones. I'm bored with what I have (not all...but quite a few). I bought them hastily when I was new to cabochons and got carried away and bought stuff I know I will never use.
Not sure what I will do with them...maybe I will give them away.

That's all I have to write about for now...thanks to everyone who replied to the question I asked in my last post. Sometimes, if someone compliments me on my jewellery I will tell them 'thank you' and 'I made it myself'. Sometimes I end up having big long convo's about jewellery making with that person...sometimes I end up feeling like a total tool having said I made them myself...I am not sure if people believe me or what?! Other times I just thank them and go about my business. I figure that you only have one life and so you may as well get your work out there anyway you can when the opportunity presents itself and sometimes that has to be through self promotion I guess.

2011-03-02T22:03:00.000-08:00

My posts lately seem to be all about the Summer weather and how much I hate it. Unfortunately this post will be much the same.
It's now Autumn and has been for 3 days...but you wouldn't know it from the weather we are still having. It's as hot as an oven. Well maybe not quite that hot....but sometimes it's all I can think of to liken it too.

Right now I am hiding away in our bedroom, with the air conditioning on and a fan and I am on my laptop, whilst chatting to my mum on msn. I really really want to get to my bench to make stuff, but it's not going to happen. Oh and I stuffed my torch up already. I am going to clean it out and change the head and see what comes of it.....it's my own fault too. I just hope I can fix it, seeing as I have hardly used it.

I sold my 'Flowers in Her Hair' silhouette pendant to a lady in France. I was so excited!! I have only sent to USA and within Australia thus far, so it was nice to know a piece was going somewhere different. I can't wait till she gets it. And I hope she leaves me feedback, cuz no one else is...

I have a few pieces in the works at the moment...as I said before it's just too hot to create..so they will have to stay in their half done state for a bit longer. Though tomorrow supposedly, we are going to have heavy rain all day long. So maybe I will get to finish them sooner than I think?? I can only hope.

A question for you......
When someone compliments you on your jewellery (if you wear pieces you've made yourself as I do) do you tell them that you made them yourself?? Or do you just thank them for their compliment and leave it as that??

Broken Record.

2011-02-20T15:13:00.001-08:00

It seems that all I ever do is write about the hot weather on my blog these days.
Well the weather is still absolutely horrid. It's so humid I am struggling to get absolutely anything normal done, let alone jewellery making.

It's driving me CRAZY!!! It is s'posed to rain this afternoon and start to cool down....yeah I will believe it when I feel it. Till then I am just sitting at the computer scrolling through a million bags on Ebay, as it's time I bought one that was a decent size (I have only got smallish bags), enough to fit things in without them spilling out each time I open my bag cuz it's too small.

I am just going to try and get all my washing done today and not worry about the rest of the housework. It's too hot to vacuum and my mop broke again, I'm on the second one at this house.

Anyways, here is what I have finished up lately in the jewellery department:

My first saw pierced and riveted pendant. It turned out okay. I am not super impressed by it, riveting is kinda tricky (for me) at the moment, having only ever done it this one time. I am not sure I want to continue doing it either. Hubby thought it turned out quite good (bless his cotton socks), but quite honestly it was a pain in the a** and I don't think I have the right hammer for it. But I did buy myself a tiny little riveting plate/stake thingy, so I might give it a go again. I did like how the pattern I sawed out looks.

This ^ is more my thing as far as sawing out is concerned. I love this piece. It looks awesome in real life, very vintage. I haven't put it up in my Etsy shop yet, but I will try and get around to it this week. I have plans to do more of her, but will have to wait and see if this one finds a new home first. I want to do a nice bird like this too. .. .. if only it would cool down enough....

I am so very pleased to see that Kim from KSK
is back on the Blogging Wagon! I can't wait to hear what she has been up too! Welcome back Kim!

That's all I have to write about ... boring huh!

Hope you are all enjoying lovely weather.

Come Back Winter!!!

2011-01-30T21:54:00.000-08:00

I can't stand this muggy weather.....as I am sure I have told you that mannnny millions of times before lol. It's muggy/humid right now, but I know that down south they are getting it much worse than us. So I am grateful that we don't have a heatwave.

It 4pm and I am in the middle of making Bolognaise for dinner with Garlic Bread. I was going to cook a meat pie with mash n veg, but it's too hot to be hovering round a stove/oven, so I took the simple option.

I sent in my silver scrap to my metal supplier just before Christmas and it took soooo long to get it processed and for me to get new silver supplies (I received them this afternoon). So now I have loads of silver sheet, but no mojo haha...again.

I don't push myself when it gets like that tho...cuz that's how I end up making mistakes or making something I don't particularly like, so it ends up a waste and we all know that mistakes/waste is too expensive nowadays. Below is a picture of what I have made so far this year...it's not much.

I haven't listed any of them yet...but hope to soon, just have to pay my fees tomorrow and then I will. One thing I am finding frustrating about Etsy, is the lack of feedback I am getting from customers. I need that feedback. But I don't want to push people to leave it for me either :(

Below is the cabinet that my hubby and I finally finished a few weeks back. We love it. I am on the lookout now for a dining table and chairs (don't have to be a set) that I can do up for when we move this year. I am hoping for a dining table with Queen Anne legs and dining chairs that I can reupholster the seat part.

I am also on the hunt for a proper but basic jeweller's workbench. I know that RioGrande have them on sale right now, but I don't know if they will post it to me and how much it would cost if they do....so I've emailed, just waiting for a reply. I emailed a Jeweller's Supply shop in my local city too...I hope that they get back to me with something reasonable.

Well that's all for now. I really would like to go and play with my new supplies, but it's too darned hot and it makes me extra lethargic and I just want to flop in front of a fan and not move all day... :P

Hope you are all having a great start to 2011!!!

On their way down...

2011-01-13T18:14:00.000-08:00

The rain has finally stopped. How long for? No idea. But lets hope/pray it's not going to come down like it has. The floods affected over 25000 homes in Brisbane/Ipswich. Fortunately the waters have been receding. So much so, that the clean up has begun. Many have lost everything.
Some have lost loved ones.
It hurts all the same and I feel so badly for them all.
It's amazing to think that I have been to those areas that were flooded, some only weeks ago.
Many people in those communities have banded together to help those out who so desperately need it. Thank God for them!
Unfortunately those flood waters have headed down South and are wreaking havoc to more families.
I think the planet is trying to tell us something.......

Worrying....

2011-01-10T22:02:00.000-08:00

It's just gone 4pm and I'm sitting here on the couch with my laptop and things are not good over here in Queensland.

Hence the title...

There is flooding everywhere.

Fortunately no flooding where I live .... yet.

Lots of places are going under and many people are missing.

It's been rain, rain, rain and more rain. Normally I love the rain...but now it's just too much. The city in Brisbane is being evacuated. Since all the years living over here I haven't seen anything like this, this close to home.

Some time this afternoon/evening I am going to go out and get a few provisions...'just in case' anything were to happen where I live, we can get by for a bit. I am easy to freak out and I get super stressed easily too. So if I am organised for a worse case scenario, I will worry a 'little' less.

I'm thinking of all of those who have lost their loved ones or whos loved ones are missing....

This world is falling apart.......

Last Post of 2010

2010-12-30T17:02:00.001-08:00

It's the last day of the year for 2010, so I thought I would write my last post for the year. It has been a pretty good year. We moved. Summer turned 2. I opened my Etsy store.

It's been quite hot here most days now...gone are those lovely cool days :( But we have been getting a heck of a lot of rain...too much for some parts unfortunately. Hubby is meant to be taking some time off, but because of the unpredictable weather he has to do his work whilst it's hot and sunny.

I haven't used my torch much...kinda scared/intimidated by it. I do try to use it for small things, just to get into the hang of getting the flame right and how to hold it comfortably. I'm just too used to my predictable butane torch I guess.

I got the flu 3 days ago. I just hope that Summer and the hubs don't get it, but who knows.

Below is a chest that I bought yesterday for myself that I am going to restore. It needs the handles to be centered and it has a piece snapped off the front that we have to fix back on, then it needs sanding back and from there I haven't decided what I want to do. So I've put this picture up so you can see it before and when I've completed it, I will put up the new picture.It's Vintage, from the 1920's-50's. I have pictures in my head of what I want it to turn out like, but it all depends on how it 'fixes' up as to what kind of finish it can carry.
It's my project for the new year and I can't wait to get on with it.

Not much has been happening in the jewelry department. I am working on a couple of things and trying out a new wire, but it's going to take time to get it right enough that I would sell a finished piece using it. I sent all my scrap in and am still waiting for them to let me know whats happening with it (I hate this time of year for that very reason - waiting waiting waiting).

It's too humid to be soldering too, so it will be a slow start to the new year jewelry wise.

Well I hope you have all had a good year and I want to thank all of you who have supported me via blogging, FaceBook and my Etsy store. I really really treasure and appreciate you!!!!!

Till next year :p

Almost Over.

2010-12-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

2010 that is. But that's kinda obvious :P

The lovely cool weather we were having here, is now gone. Well and Truly.
It's so muggy here again. We've been getting a lot of rain on and off too. And a couple of storms with more on the horizon. Fortunately where I live, there has only been 1 very humid evening. Hubby spent last weekend installing air conditioners in the master bedroom and our daughters. I love air con. I hate what using it is doing to the environment (along with every thing else I use) but I couldn't live without it. Not in the Summertime anyway.

I have lots I want to do in 2011. Thinking of Goldsmithing school (night lessons). Thinking of purchasing new tools to learn new techniques - chasing & repousse, etching, tube setting gemstones and the list goes on. I am pondering a rolling mill too. I have the opportunity to get one right now, but not sure if it's worth it yet.

I have a new tool:

An Orca Torch. My hubbzie bought the gas tank for it yesterday, but as it's been too humid and I've had a lot to do round the house, I haven't yet played with it, but plan to on the weekend.

My first ever Etsy sale went fabulously!!! I haven't yet filled my shop back up yet, but that's a good thing :) I've placed my 2nd order with RioGrande this week, which I hope to get on Monday (just in time to play over the christmas holidays). And I am going to send in my 1kilo of silver scrap - that took me an entire year to accumulate - to my silver suppliers to get credit to buy more supplies. I don't have enough to get refined and I will need more sheet soon, so it's the only way for me to go right now.

Well my old mans home and he's brought lunch with him (YUM) so I'm going to leave it here and go and enjoy it :)

SUMMER SALE BEGINS TODAY!

2010-11-30T15:15:00.001-08:00

Muggy.

2010-11-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

The warmer weather seems to be making it's way in now....I hate it as much as I did this time last year, though it's not as hot as then....yet.

Below are a few of my latest pieces.

The top 2 are mine and the bottom one is the first piece I have ever made with copper. It was nice to use something different. I will probably use it more, I do have a sheet of brass to try out too. The top ring I wear all the time, I love it.

I got myself a new toy!

Not 100% confident on using it yet....but I'll get it eventually. I still hope to get a rolling mill soonish...but there is always other stuff that I end up buying in the meantime and then have no money left :(

It's my 9th anniversary on Dec 1st. So I think I am going to hold my first ever Etsy sale to celebrate. Maybe I will sell a piece or 2...I hope so, I could really use the moolah to put back into buying more supplies.

I wish it would just hurry up and rain. This weather sucks.

Creative Block, Unblocked.

2010-11-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

Finally my creative dry spell has passed me by. The last 2 weeks I have been back at the bench having fun making new things. It was kinda boring there for a while....wanting to make things, but not being able to, for the lack of ideas.

It's 8pm here and Summer is in the lounge room playing a game, so I thought I would get this post started, then I will finish writing it up when she goes to bed.

(off to sit with my daughter for a while)

Okie dokie, below are pictures of what I made last week.

I'm having a blast using the new findings I got from RioGrande. I am going to have to order larger amounts next time...but the cart always mounts up so quickly dollar wise, I have to be careful not to go over the importing amount. Did that once and it wasn't very fun....

I have my eye on new tools and a nice script stamp set. I am also hoping to have a Rolling Mill by the New Year. Just have to stop buying anything else..but it's so hard...there is so much to buy for this hobby it's kinda hard not to spend.

I have made a few new things this week and over the weekend and have a nice shiny new tool to show off, but that will have to wait for another post, I'm still yet to take photo's.

I enjoyed a nice style cut at my hairdressers this afternoon, I got the 'relax' package. The hairdresser massaged my head and I got to sit in a massage chair whilst she did that. I was sooo looking like a dorky daggy mum and I'm so glad I finally got it all chopped off again! It was nice to get outta the house for a half hour by myself too :)

till next time....

bye :)

Happy Smithinversary...to me :)

2010-10-12T18:43:00.001-07:00

Yes it was about this time last year, that I took my adventure into the world of silver.
It feels like it's been longer than that, but it also feels like it's gone so quickly.
I have come a long way. But still haven't even attempted many of the things I hoped I would have by now. It doesn't really matter though. Ultimately it's about how I feel, I have a lot of fun making things with my own 2 hands. I feel proud of what I have accomplished so far and I look forward to what the future holds :)

Above is a piccie of Summer and I today, at the park. The weather here has been crazy. Still raining and overcast most of the time, but there has been a break of sunshine today. I know if I go ahead and do some washing, that the clouds will open up and rain....so I am kinda hesitant...but I really need to get it done....

Looks like it'll be a wet Summer Season.

I sold another piece last week. I was sooooo excited! I can't wait till she gets it (customer is in USA) and I hope she loves it!

I haven't made anything in ages :(
I have half made a few things, but I have been tossing up with the idea of ordering from RioGrande and I need more sheet and wire and blah, blah, blah. So I took the leap and ordered from Rio today. And I will have to order the sheet and wire probably tomorrow.

I really really want to make something.....from start to finish.....in one sitting......

Oooh I did finally order myself some business cards. I hope to get those this week. Waiting on some refill ink for our laser printer. I hope to make some nice labels to go on my boxes.

Well nothing else I can think of writing about....it's pretty much lunch time for the little one and she is climbing my chair and making it difficult to finish this line.....

have a great day all :)

....No Title....

2010-09-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Right now, my daughter is running round and round making lots of noise and it's kinda sending me loopy. I just took her to the beach...but it was way too windy, so that venture didn't last long :(

Not a whole lot going on (as usual). I got some new small stones for once

I also got 'bout 17 more Turquoise Cabs this week, but I didn't get a piccie of them. Below is a piece I am working on and some earrings for myself:

I finally got myself an Apron to protect myself/clothing whilst I solder etc. Unfortunately, the weather is getting warmer....or rather, the humidity is back on the rise. Which in turn (same as last year) effects my desire to go to the bench and turn on my torch. So add to that now, wearing a heavyish apron.......yeah I can see I won't be getting much done. Though today is a veeerry cool breezy day, so maybe I should take advantage of that.
That being easier said than done of course, when you have a 2yr old on your tail to entertain.

*insert big sigh here*

Anywho, even with all the lovely new stones I've accumulated, my creating mojo has taken a back seat again. I'm kinda frustrated with lots of stuff right now, so I guess that's not helping.

I will leave it here, before I start whinging.

Finding Findings.....

2010-09-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

So I have been searching the net on and off for some of the sterling silver filigree findings I see in so many other jewelers work. And I would like to incorporate them into my own work, to give me some more choice and variety. But I cannot for the life of me find the damned things!!!

It's really frustrating me. I have googled my butt off and have only found maybe one or two of them. If anyone out there feels generous, can you please share with me where you buy yours from?? Puleeeeaase??!!

Anyways, today's weather is really annoying me. It's that gloomy overcast drizzly weather. I did manage to get my floors cleaned, but it took about 40 minutes for them to dry, so Summer and I were confined to the lounge room whilst we waited.

Now I am sitting with a nice mug of hot tea and a shortbread biscuit. It's school holidays over here now for the next 2 weeks, which I am not looking forward to, for several reasons which I won't bore you with.

I haven't been making a whole lot lately, only small stuff, cuz it's quick and simple and I can make it affordable. I am waiting on a parcel of Turquoise cabs, not that I needed them of course.....I just wanted them!

Below is what I have made recently. Of course if you follow me on my FB page, you will have already seen these pieces.

I find resin loads of fun to play with. I hope to incorporate some with some of my PMC, or at least try to anyway.

K, well, I hope everyone is having fun and has their creating mojo with them. I don't at the moment...again....but I hope that will change soon :)

A strange weather day.

2010-09-13T18:32:00.001-07:00

The weather is being really weird today. One minute it looks all lovely and sunny, like you could go out and have fun at the beach...then the next it's looking all gloomy like it might storm. So needless to say, I am not even going to bother going out today...though I really wanted to. Instead, I thought I would blog and work on a few things at the bench.

Below is a picture of a Medallion Pendant I made for myself this past weekend. I used some 9ct Gold and a Chalcedony. I love it. It's a really big piece, so it stands out, but that's the kinda accessories I like to wear personally.

I am buying up some more cabochons, all Turquoise this time. And I bought a few nice cabs from Iwoowoo on Etsy. I want to add a lot more smaller items to my stock in my shop

I've bought myself some resin too and some colours for it. I have been working on some earrings and rings using the resin, I'm enjoying it a lot, I just don't like the time I have to wait for it to cure :(

My daughter loves to play with my stacking bangles that I made myself a while back....she cries when I won't let her have them (she bangs them on the tiled floor...dints aren't a good look), so I thought I would make her one of her own yesterday.....but of course, the minute I put it on her, she want's it taken off! Sigh...can't win. I know one day she will want to wear jewellery and I love that I can make her something myself.

Below is what's on my bench at the moment. I understand why many make smaller pieces of jewellery, the solder Always flows and flows quickly and easily when I make a small bezel, when I made my Medallion, I had a whole lotta trouble getting the solder to flow just right, whilst keeping everything in it's place.

Okie Dokie, that's all I can think of writing about right now. I'm just finishing off a cup of coffee and watching some blogs on YT whilst I blog :)

Just a side note to a fellow blogger - Kim from KSKdesigns
Hope you are okay, thinking of you :)

Time for a post me thinks...

2010-09-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

First off I just want to say a big thank you to those of you who read my blog and give me encouragement and some very uplifting comments, you know who you are and it means a lot to me!

I haven't really been keeping up with my blogging. We all go through it.

So I figured now is as good a time as any to try and get back into it. It's such a nice day today, warm (but not too warm) and nice n breezy. I have just been to the store to buy some things and of course I came back with much more than I intended on...I hate that! Right now I am cooking dinner (it's almost lunchtime). I have gotten into the habit of trying to get dinner made early, so when it comes to the evening, I don't have so much to do, just dishes etc. I am cooking Shepards/cottage Pie. Yum. One of the hubby's faves and mine too.

I got some supplies today, some much needed wire and some brass and copper sheet. I also got a new bit of PMC3 and some new resin. I sold my heart necklace that had a PMC flower in it and it's been sent off to a customer in the USA. I was so happy!! I did on the weekend stumble across some Degradable Bubble Packing stuff at the hardware store, so I bought myself a big roll of it.

Below are some pictures of my latest work. I decided not to keep the black patina on the 3rd necklace after all.

Well that's all for now I guess. We have some new neighbours that moved in this weekend and the lady knocked on my door this morning (I had noticed her wandering up and down the road this morning) and she intro'd herself and then asked if I had seen her cat. It's a 5 month old Siamese and it's been missing since this morning. So I have to keep a look out for it...though being that there is bush across from our houses, the kitty may not come back....

Hope everyone is having a lovely day like I am :)

Waiting again....

2010-08-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

I am waiting here again....for the smoke alarm guy that the real estate lady is sending round...for the second time. The first time, he never showed up....or called to say he wasn't coming....so I waited all day long....for nothing.

So I would assume today will be no different.

Whilst I am waiting, I have been relisting my old goodies back to my Etsy store
which I picked up from the shop on Saturday morning.

And to be honest, I am really down that nothing much sold. I don't understand why either. Does my stuff suck?? I priced it well (or so I thought). Hubby thinks it was a combination of the location (of shop) and the fact that there was a lot of cheap jewellery (not real silver stuff) in there that I had to compete with.

I guess I won't know and I should get over it. But I am sure those who make jewellery completely understand how I feel right now. I am going to just keep on plodding along and making jewellery, because it makes me happy. And I will try and promote my Etsy store as much as I can. And maybe in the future will try those markets....

Below is a ring I have made recently and have listed to my Etsy Store
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, 9ct Gold in a size 6 US.

And below is a picture of a piece I made last week...but I can't decide whether to keep it completely oxidized, as I think it kinda has a Victorian feel to it this way...or to polish it back?? What do you think??

Alrighty then, I am bored now....

Been A While....

2010-08-12T19:01:00.001-07:00

It feels like longer than 2 weeks ago since I last blogged. I haven't really been in the mood lately. This past week I am kinda flat. I won't write about it...but any stay at home mum (of a 2yr old) would totally understand why.

During the day I don't get much of a chance at the bench...and at night, I just am too exhausted to bother, though I have so many things I want to make. But this last week I have gotten a chance to finally make some earrings (which can be seen on my FB fan page). They at least don't take too much of my time and can be done in parts during the day, whilst being mum.

Below are some bangles I made a couple of weeks ago (I made 8 in total) for myself. I added some PMC3 initial charms to 4 of them. I love wearing them. They make a nice jingle, jangle sound and the charms make a soft tinkly sound too. They aren't finished off perfectly, but I don't really care, sometimes I have to have instant gratification!

Below are a pair of my earrings I have made this past week using Turquoise.

The last few days have not been great weather wise, so we have been stuck in the house every day, till today. I got the house cleaning done and then Summer and I took a drive down to the beach and spent an hour watching the tide come in. We got to see some weird looking clear blob, Jelly Fish type things in the water, I always keep an eye out for any special shells that might end up on the sand, but no luck so far :(

I am going to try and get dinner cooked now, so I don't have to do it tonight.... Oh and I go and collect all my Jewellery from the Cube shop tomorrow....quite disappointed that I didn't sell much. But I gave it a shot. I am going to relist it all on Etsy and possibly in a few months time (when I have enough stock) try the local arts n crafts markets. Everything is worth a shot!

K well gonna go buy some onions and bread now....buh bye :)

LaZy DaY.....

2010-07-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am feeling really lazy right now.....I have done my housecleaning and I took Summer to the park for a swing and then we went to our new fave spot and spent an hour wading through the shallow water, picking up shells and spotting fish.

It's an absolutely beautiful day....the kind that makes you happy and very grateful to be alive and enjoying it.

Up above are some pictures of what I have been creating since my last post. I have dabbled in my first attempt at lip balm making and it turned out great.

I just received my latest order of silver yesterday....now I am just waiting on my latest horde of cabs to arrive...can't wait!

Well Summer has gone for a nap and I think it's time to have some lunch. I am still trying to sew something, but I am one of those kinda girls who starts one project and then starts another and then another....but never finishes one.....hopefully soon I will :)

Frozen Fingers.

2010-07-23T20:40:00.001-07:00

Well not exactly frozen fingers...but they are pretty cold today. In fact the last few days it has been rather cold....just when I thought we weren't going to have a decent Winter.

I have been neglecting the blog. I have been having lots of fun getting out of the house a lot since we moved here. I guess it's 'cause there are actually places to go and things to do, which our last home lacked.

This past week, I have discovered 2 extra nice little spots to take Summer to. One is a nice park near the sea, that has Pelicans and Crabs, the other is a sweet little beach and when the tide is out, you can go walking out onto the sand for ages and ages and you get to see heaps of little blue crabs. Some on their own, some in massive groups all running the same way.

I took the hubby there today, he hasn't seen it properly till now, but the sun didn't show :( so we didn't really see any crabs. But Summer had great fun digging sand and throwing it! And we just enjoyed walking through the puddles/streams in the sand with our shoes off.

So because I have been going out more, I have been spending less time at the bench. But here are 2 pieces I have made since the last blog post...

My first ever bracelet. Which turned out so nice :) And a very large Labradorite Flower ring, which also turned out nicely :)

I have been on another cabochon shopping spree and have about 20+ on their way to me. Half of them turquoise, the other half are dyed agate. I can't wait to get them! Though I am out of silver sheet at the moment, so can't make anything till I get new stuff in....hopefully this week...

This week....

I got a new phone and I turned 31.

I'm wearing 'what the shrek' OPI nail polish :P

I have been sewing and buying lots of patterns off Etsy sellers....but no finished product to share yet....

All in all it's been a pretty good week.

Tomorrow we go to Gold Class Cinemas to watch 'Inception' and we can't wait!!!

Till next time :)

Old Hobbies Die Hard.....

2010-07-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

I want to sew again. I don't have a whole lot of time to do jewellery, let alone sewing...but I am sure I will fit it in somewhere.

I have possibly thousands of dollars worth of material and a whole load of boutique patterns and I just bought more material last night.
I am only going to be making small things for now, I'd like to make a handbag or a market bag and the material I just purchased is to make Summer some nice twirl skirts.

Summer and I went to the park this morning and she had fun on the swings for ages and then we went for a little walk along the path by the seaside. It was super windy, but it was nice still.

Now we are going to go out and get our weekly lunch treat together....

Here are a couple of pictures of my latest work:

A nice lapis ring and a jasper pendant.

I finally have reopened my Etsy store. I am going to slowly work on new pieces to put in there and in another months time, I will have my old work back and I will be able to relist on Etsy.

We went on Sunday morning to see if those markets were on...but they weren't. Then the other night whilst out for fish and chips, I spotted a sign saying that the markets will be on this coming Sunday. So I am looking forward to that! There are some Arts n Crafts markets on about 15 minutes drive away from where we live, on Sunday morning too. So I am going to go there as well to scope it out. I really need to get selling some of my pieces so I can invest in more materials....you know how it goes.

Anywho...that's all there is to write about for now. Will probably do a post again, once I have been to those Markets on Sunday morning :)

2010-06-30T19:29:00.001-07:00

It's almost lunch time and I am a bit bored, so I thought I would write a post.I finally have a ring finished. My first made in my new space, Purple Jade. I love the colour of this stone. It's a nice n simple piece.

Here is my little apprentice....

I got to spend about an hour at the bench this morning, while my little miss played around near me and in the backyard.

This Sunday, we are going to check out where some markets are apparently on every 2nd Sunday. It's only $10 for a stall there and you don't have to book and it's only from 7am till 11am. I wanted to check it out, as I am thinking if it looks any good, I might sell stuff there. It's only about 5 mins drive away from my place, so it's the perfect spot to try.

I only have 1 month left at the Incube8r store with my jewellery. I didn't make enough to justify keeping my work there. I am going to have to relist it all on Etsy or figure something else out....

I had fun yesterday playing with a photo editing program making my own Etsy Banner.I took some macro's of plants and of the only decent finished piece of jewellery I have still with me....here is what I came up with....

When I have made new jewellery, I will probably change it up again...I like change, I think it keeps things interesting.

There was nothing wrong with the banner set I purchased off Etsy, but it just was boring and a bit lame and it didn't really represent my store properly. Now I just have to get to work on making some nice business cards!
My daughter just had a tanty (tantrum) on the floor, for no apparent reason and I just caught her munching on little dog biscuits!!! YUCKO!!!! (well she obviously didn't think so).

I have a pendant and chains in the tumbler right now, so hopefully tomorrow I will have more finished work.

Okie Dokie all, have a fabulous time whatever you are doing!!

Done & Dusted.

2010-06-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well we're finally into the new place and pretty much settled in. It has been a long 2 weeks since I last posted, but we got everything done. Moving gave us a good chance to sort through all the rubbish we have collected over the last 5 years and we got rid of as much of it as we could. We gave away what we could, the rest we threw away at the dump.

I almost have the new house together. I just have to set up my craft room and finish setting up my studio (in the garage again).

Because of the way the studio is situated, I have been able to already start making a couple of rings. Here is a picture of where my bench resides....

There are sliding doors at the back of the garage, where I can see out over the patio area and some of the back garden. So when Summer wants to go out and play (she mainly stays on patio) I can go out to the bench and create and still be able to keep an eye on her. It's a fabulous set up!!! Inside the garage there are normal walls and not the brick walls like the old house had. So I can hang a picture up and make it a little nicer. I am going to purchase a nice screen of some kind too, so I can make my space feel a little more separate from the rest of the garage and have it feel more like an actual room.

This house has double the cleaning for me, but as far as I am concerned....it's so worth it. I actually find myself enjoying the cleaning!! Oh and I have a real washing line too!! I hung out 2 loads of washing today for the first time in 5 years. It was great!! :)

Here is a picture of our front lounge area view, where we watch t.v. The whole bottom area of the house has high ceilings which I LOVE!....

NO neighbours across the road!!! Just lovely Bushy rainforesty area!! It has a fantastic feel and a great breeze comes in and we get to listen to some gorgeous birdies too!!

sigh....I love it here.... :)

I wish.....

2010-06-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

That I could just go back to bed and get up whenever I felt like it.

Obviously when you have children/jobs, you don't really get that choice, it's made for you.

We get the keys on Thursday and we move in on Saturday. It's now Tuesday. I haven't hardly got anything packed. I just look at everything and feel overwhelmed, I don't know where to start.

We have sooooooooooooooooo much 'stuff'. (Points the finger at myself)

Yes. I have much 'stuffs'.

I really should just go ahead and get it done, I haven't enough time to dilly dally now :(

Can't wait to get back to blogging about making new shiny things! Can't wait to get back to making them either!

Moving On.

2010-06-10T19:41:00.001-07:00

It's really cold today and I am wearing fingerless gloves and will end up in slippers soon. I'm loving it.

Good news....

We are moving! The house we had applied for, we were approved for yesterday!! And wow do things happen for a reason or what??? Cuz the house we are currently in, is going up for sale! So really, things couldn't have worked out better!! Makes sense now, why we weren't given a new lease to sign. Though I am rather cross with our rental agent, as they didn't even tell us. But all's well that ends well eh?!!

So over the next week I have tonnes of packing to do, and hubby has already organised the electrics, phone, internet, pay tv to be hooked up over there once we've moved in. So we will only have a little bit of downtime without the internet, but that will give me time to get the house in order.

My folks and hubbies folks will be helping us with the move/clean up and I will have to try n get the house on the other end cleaned up before we move in as it's been vacant for over a month and needs a vacuum/dust down.

Well I am off to get my little girl and I some lunch, once a week we have a takeout together, she absolutely loves it! Don't we all :P

Take care till next time :)

waiting...waiting....waiting

2010-06-07T20:17:00.001-07:00

Waiting sucks.

We have applied for a house.

Still waiting to see if we were successful or not.

Now of course, I am starting to change my mind about moving into it. But that's me in a nutshell. I am constantly changing my mind and I drive myself INSANE!!!! Hubby didn't see it either. So now we think if we are approved, we should probably both go and check it out together before signing on the dotted line. I almost wish they would call me and say we didn't get it.......

I'm hardly making anything, but would love to just spend hours at the bench. I would love to start sewing again in the future. I would really like to start sewing with leather one day in the future too.

I got my order from Monsterslayer within about 5 days. So I have tonnes of bezel now and I am very happy with their service, I will certainly go back for future orders.

What's been happening????

2010-05-28T04:58:00.000-07:00

well lol...not a lot has been happening actually.

I think I'm officially in limbo :(

Still looking for somewhere to move to. We only have 3 weeks left on our lease here and we are still waiting on the lease papers...our Agents suck, so they will get around to it when they can be bothered and will probably back date it anyways. There are a million rentals to choose from at the moment, especially in a certain price bracket. I have been watching the rental market for a couple of months now and many are being reduced again and again, cuz no one is taking them.

There are 2 places in particular that have grabbed our attention. We hope to look them over the weekend if we can get keys, but the sad part is, they are available now. Which is too soon. I am starting to fall for one in particular and am worried that my heart will get attached and then it will go to someone else. I hate that about house hunting. You want the place to grab at you, then you know you will be happy living there, but if you miss out, it's sooo disappointing!

On a diff note, I have placed my first order with Monsterslayer.com and I should hopefully have that next week. And I made an order with my usual supplier yesterday and for once they had everything in stock! W O W!!!! So for now I am stocked up, but have no creative juices flowing. My mind is just too absorbed on this whole moving thing. So much so, I only slept 4 hours last night, cuz I woke up just after 4am and was thinking about it and couldn't shut my mind down.

Good news! I sold a piece from my Incube8r cube! It was a plain piece, but it had a beautiful Labradorite stone. It took 2 weeks, but it covered my rent for 3 weeks! I can only hope that I will start to sell more and make an actual profit. I def still wanna do my Etsy shop too though!

Well that's it folks. The dog is licking my foot......I love it.....is that too much information maybe?????

A Whistle in My Nose.

2010-05-16T16:05:00.001-07:00

well that's what it sounds like when I sniff. And yet again, it would seem like I am getting sick again with allergies, in fact it always seems like that now.

Right now I am just sitting playing on the internet, soon I should have my groceries delivered and will have to put them away. I have some laundry on and then I really should be cleaning the floors, but it will all depend on how I am feeling by then.

My hubby and I spent the weekend in 2 specific areas, looking at houses. Summer spent that time with her grandies. We think we have pretty much decided on where we would like to move to, provided a place that fits our needs is available. We are both ready and excited for a change. So until I have moved, I doubt I will be listing much at Etsy :(

I hardly get any time at the bench. I would like to start making earrings, as I haven't really made many and earrings can be made easily and faster than large pendants/necklaces & rings.
Plus since they are made easily, they can be more affordable.

So though I have my jewllery now in the cube store in Town, I do intend on filling up my Etsy store. Just right now, I can't manage the time to include much being spent at the bench :(

Anyway, here are some pictures of my latest stash of stones:

There are lots of Peachblow Jasper and several Labradorites too.

I did manage to pick up some other stones I haven't worked with yet. I can't wait to get into it all again one day soon! In the meantime I have been trying to take Summer out more, to nice places, since the weather has become nice and comfortable.

This is a picture of Summer at the duck pond last week.

That slice of bread was kinda meant for the duckies, but she wanted to chew on it instead :P

I have made a new chunky PMC3 piece and I fired it last night. I need to solder some jump rings to it, then I can tumble it for a few hours. I'll take pictures when it's all done.

Well that's all for now folks. My bird is making an awful noise outside and it's driving me crazy!!!

Have a great day :)

Hello you :)

2010-05-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a busy time since I last posted.

If you've dropped by my FB Fan Page, you will have seen what I have been up too lately. It's not much, but I don't get much time anymore.

I made a very chunky finger print charm (more like a pendant really) out of my new pack of PMC3 and it turned out fabulously! I am really reallllly pleased with it and wear it every day. I had read that you cannot torch fire over a certain size, so I was very apprehensive when I went to fire my piece. But I proved that theory wrong as my piece is really large and it fired just fine.

It took me about 4 tries to get the fingerprint impression into the clay, Summer wanted to bend her finger when I wanted her to keep her finger straight, so it was hard going. But in the end it all worked out well and I got it okay. It wasn't a perfect impression, but I didn't wanna push my luck!

Here it is anyways:

It weighs a hefty 25gms and I rolled it at 10 cards in thickness, I like weighty pieces and this is definitely that! I put a purple CZ in and scratched out Summer's name into the clay once it was fully dried. I am really loving the whole clay thing, shame it's so expensive :(

My latest news is I am now selling my jewellery in a shop in town. It's called In.cube8r. It's a regular shop, but only for people who make their own things. You rent a glass cube, under a 3 month contract and you don't have to pay commission. I am going to give it a go for the 3 month contract and see where that takes me. I will have to remove everything from Etsy and make new stuff for it, as all my other work is now in the cube shop.

In other news, we are still searching for the right location to move to. We tried today to check out a new area that we haven't ventured out to before, but Summer wasn't going to let us do it peacefully, she was extremely grumpy and making it hard to enjoy the experience, so we hope to go out on the weekend (and have Summer babysat by grandies) and check out the area properly so we can make an informed decision. The thing that worries me most with moving, is moving to somewhere I end up regretting. That would really suck.

Okay well that is all for now. It's getting colder here this week, I can't wait till it's Winter for real.

I Need slippers......stat!

2010-05-07T03:51:00.000-07:00

Over the last few nights it's seemed to cool down a lot. Finally. Though during the day time it's still kinda warm....for me anyways. Right now my feet are cold and as we have tiled flooring under the computer desk, it makes for colder feet :(

Today my little sweetie pie turned 2. I've merely blinked and those 2 years have passed. And today I made my big fingerprint pmc thingy of her finger, it's a really big heart with a cz and I might try and inscribe her name on it if I'm game...I possibly have made it too big, but I am going to go ahead and try and make it work anyway, only this time I will take more care to finish it off and then will tumble it when it's done.

I tumbled the other pmc charms I made and they turned out lots better, so I am not scared off trying more pmc...for now.

I also got some Art Clay Copper to play with. It's really hard to find time to do anything now though. Summer is more and more demanding of my time and it means I cannot go to the bench and create. Though I did get a little over an hour out there yesterday afternoon and I have almost finished 1 piece and got to finish off another that was laying round on the bench for a while.

I have some exciting news in regards my jewellery, but I won't share it just yet. I will wait till Wednesday to share :P

I have found a house to look at....I called to get a viewing and they said maybe next week sometime, so I hope that happens and I can either go for it or move on. I have to start getting a hold of moving boxes too. I am going to throw a lot out and give a lot away to charity shops. We have accumulated way too much stuff and we don't need to take it all with us. I am so excited to move...I get itchy 'need something new' feet every few years.

Anyway it's that time of night when I need to make myself a hot cuppa or rather a thermo full of tea (I likes it verrrry hot).

Take care guys :)

Stupid PMC3.....

2010-05-04T04:24:00.000-07:00

well only kinda.....see, I'm having a problemo with the charms I made..already :(

You saw in my last post how they turned out?? I was pretty pleased with the result.

Well this is how they look now.....

yeah....not so pretty anymore... :(

sob

big (typical) sigh

I have no idea what's gone wrong/what I have done wrong. I allowed charms to dry overnight. Fired them with my torch for 2 mins once they got the 'glow' and then allowed them to air dry. Then polished them up using super fine steel wool. So on paper, it would seem as though I have followed everything correctly. I have posted in a forum for some help, so hopefully I can get some answers soon.

And I already have a new lot of pmc stuff ordered and I am kinda worried that I will ruin it...spesh since I want to make a fingerprint charm of my daughter on Friday her birthday. I have also ordered some ArtClay Copper to try out as I have read you can torch fire that too. I have tried to get some info about pmc classes in my area, but can't seem to get any replies, which is disappointing to say the least.

But I am considering doing a longer silver smithing course .... maybe.... it's a lotta moolah and can't really be splashing the cash just now.....(she says after she has just spent on pmc)!!

Oh well....I know it will get sorted eventually...it's just got me a bit deflated now. I really want to make some normal silver jewelry too, but just seem to have lost my mojo. I think the whole house hunting really has me consumed right now, knowing there is so much to be done etc.

Hope everyone is having a more productive week than I.

:)

PMC3 What Fun!

2010-05-01T04:04:00.000-07:00

I have used pretty much all the PMC3 that I bought last week, about 3 packs of 7gms. And I plan on purchasing more next week, as my daughter turns 2 on Friday, so I hope to make a fingerprint impression charm for myself. Then one day I can pass it on to her. I adore keepsake stuff.

I have hardly touched any other form of silver though :( But again, I do have more cabochons coming :)

Today we spent most of the day driving around different suburbs to look at houses to lease. Still in the same situation (haven't decided where we'd like to go) it's still, nice house, crap area. Or not a good enough house for the money, but great area. Or they have a dog next door that won't stop barking and so on and so forth. We don't have all that long till our lease comes up for renewal here, but I am desperate for a change, I want to meet new people and have a fresh start and I can't wait till we have a good backyard for Summer to play in. Time will tell.

I still want to make jewellery, but right now it's hard to find the time. I guess that's why I love PMC so much. I am an instant gratification kinda person, when I want to make something, I want to be able to make it as soon as possible. And PMC doesn't take a whole lot of time for small projects and it's easy to use and finish up nicely, unlike regular silver, which takes a whole lot more work/effort/time. I definitely would like to incorporate PMC and sterling/cabochons together as I think you could make some very original, unusual pieces.

Anywho, here are some charms I made for myself on Friday using all of my pmc up. They're kinda rough, but it was fun and I learned new things.

Well that's all I have to share for the weekend. I have to have that cuppa now to wind down after a long day of driving here and there.

:)

Fed up.

2010-04-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

This will be a negative post. I don't have anything positive to write about....

I am as sick as a dog today. Allergies again. Only this time I don't fancy taking any antihistamines. So I am going to have to suffer it. I ordered silver supplies last Wednesday. I didn't hear from the supplier until this afternoon....only for them to tell me that the bezel/gallery wires I have ordered aren't available (what a surprise) and won't be available for another month. Well I am done with ordering from them then. I will stick with them only for silver sheet (until they can't supply me with that either).

Seriously, how hard would it have been to tell me that almost 1 week ago when I placed the order?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sigh.....on a small positive note, I have put in an order for some PMC clay & some sheet. I am going to do a fingerprint charm of my daughter. If it works out well enough, I will offer them in my store, obviously it would only be available for people who live near me. But I know many who have had babies recently, so you never know.

I must have sneezed over 100 times today and I am over it. At least I can do my grocery shopping online, so that's one boring/painful task dealt with.

I was featured in LuxeCoop's Treasury East today :)

Treasury East

And I also made my own! And have included some friends work here too :)

My Treasury East

Well that is all I can handle for now...going to go and eat my left overs from dinner last night....shephards pie! Yum!

A little Bit Cool.

2010-04-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

the weather that is. Which is great!

Sitting at the computer having a nice hot cup of tea :)

Seems many other bloggers are a little bit on the quiet side at the moment. So thought I would write a post tonight. Hubby is in bed....little one is in bed. It's just me and the t.v I have on in the corner of the computer screen. That suits me just fine right now.

Well I have finished a couple of pieces this week, but will leave those for last.

First I thought I would share a little trick I use when making jewelry with cabochons:

As I keep all my stones in bags with the measurements on them etc, I can use this to my advantage when making bezel settings for them, I keep the stone in the bag and once the setting is made I can sit the stone (whilst still in the bag) on top of the setting and push it in ever so slightly to make sure that it's still going to fit right and I can go ahead with my piece....here is a picture for an example of what I mean:

This means I can easily pull it back out and don't have to fiddle with floss or any other 'tool' to remove the stone once fitted. As it's easily removed again.

I would only suggest this with quality bags, not thin easily ruined ones as you could end up with the stone stuck in the setting :( It hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm sure it will one day!

Oh and it looks like I have finally chosen a new look for my shop and business cards too. More on that when I have it all happening.

So here are my latest pieces:

A very large Labradorite Ring for me and a Green Sea Jasper & tinted concrete pendant.

That's all for now folks :)

Creating.

2010-04-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

I am just sipping the last of my mug of tea and then I'll go to bed.

I am working on 3 new pieces, 2 for the shop and 1 piece for me.

This is the last thing I made.

The flower is made from PMC+3. It's a pretty rough piece as I didn't spend ages primping and preening over it, but I like how it turned out, the flower stands out really well. I will probably make more things like this down the track, as there is no colour, you can wear it with anything.

I actually have my first 'solder' cut. Exactly like a paper cut, but done by a little piece of solder.

How?? Don't ask....I don't even know.

I am looking into getting a new Etsy Banner shop set & business card done up. I love my business card that I already have, but it isn't a very good quality one IMHO and it isn't cohesive with my shop banner (which I no longer really like). So I have found a couple that I like, but for me, sometimes too much choice is just that....too much. I can't make decisions as it is, without having so much choice. I don't want to end up with something that someone else has, but I also don't want to spend a bunch of moolah on something that I might want to change (cuz I'm like that) again and again.

I don't know what I will choose, but I just know that I need to get something that matches and flows and works in with what I sell.

Still looking at houses. Can't wait to move. Wish I could have a day all to myself to spend at the bench. Am over my allergies. Can't wait till the weather gets cold. Love my little girl. So happy I cut my hair off.

Well that is enough for now....feeling tired for once and it's nearly midnight....should go get that much needed sleep!

Goodnight all! :)

Rain & Itchy Eyes.

2010-04-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since I posted, but honestly, not a whole lot has been going on. It's just after 8:30 in the morning and it's raining! It is slowly starting to get cooler in the mornings now. I can't wait till I can be back into snuggly jumpers and jackets again!

I have only made a couple of pieces since all my supplies arrived :( I just haven't had the chance to get out to the bench much. And my mojo has left the building! I would love to be able to go out there and spend a few hours uninterrupted, cuz I know I would get a lot done. But by the time night time rolls around and my little one is in bed, I just can't be bothered to go out there and play...I want to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Plus its usually when I catch up on everyone else's blog posts etc.

I have 2 of the 3 parcels of cabochons now, so I have plenty to work with.I am just waiting on an order of more Turquoise and Chrysocolla etc, can't wait to get those too!

I got all my hair cut off yesterday. We got a leaflet in our letterbox last week, for a mobile hairdresser, which is awesome cuz it means I don't have to wait until I have a babysitter for Summer and I don't have to go out. She did as good a job as I would have gotten in an actual salon, only you don't get to watch her cut your hair or sit in a comfy chair etc. But hey she charges half the price. So for the convenience/price, it's well worth it!!!

I have just listed this on Etsy: - Natural Kyanite Pendant

And I will probably list this tomorrow sometime: Natural Apatite & CZ Pendant (love this one!)

I wish I could have put my rings up in my shop, but I have sent them back with my mum (she stayed for 2 nights this week) to go into her shop, as people can try them on there, so it doesn't really matter about having to size them. They will either fit or not fit. Simple.

I think for now I will just make rings with the whole ring soldered together and not have an open band, that way I will know what size it is. At least until I have some spare cash floating round to buy a flat sided mandrel.

Well that's all folks!
Have a great day/night where ever you are! :)

Happiness Returns.

2010-04-09T04:01:00.000-07:00

Over the hours of the morning, I started to receive my silver supplies. All except my boric acid, but the guy said he would send it out again to me, so hopefully I will get that eventually.

I got my posting boxes today too, the lady met me at the shops and brought them to me. Wasn't that nice of her! My gold bezel and silver sheet arrived this afternoon in the post, and my firescoff and bees wax arrived in the early hours of the morning. It made for a good mood for the day!
I have 2 necklaces on the go, one is almost finished and the other I have only just started work on today. No, I still haven't sorted the ring problem out. I tried to get help on Friday, but it didn't work out. So I am just going to have to buy one of those flat sided mandrels and go from there. I could attempt to list them, but I don't want to end up with a negative on Etsy because I got it very wrong.
All in all, I am happy now that I know I can go out to my bench and work on something if I fancy it!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Just a picture of my little sweets today

Down Day.

2010-04-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

I am not having a particularly good day today. I played with some PMC last night and made a teeny tiny flower (torch fired), that perhaps I could use as decoration on my jewelry. I still haven't received my boric acid powder, which has got me very frustrated, as I ordered that ages ago. So I went ahead and ordered a small bottle of Firescoff this morning, to try until I can mix up my own stuff.

I did however finish this up last night, which I will probably list in my Etsy store over the weekend:

I want to put lots more small items in my store as I know women enjoy wearing the smaller, dainty stuff too.

I am expecting my silver sheet and gold bezel today....they called me and didn't have some of what I ordered again, but they said they would send out yesterday, which means I should have it today.....well I am still waiting.

Getting a bit fed up with online shopping......nothing ever turns up when it should.

Packing up.

2010-04-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am packing already...premature as it is, I like to get things done asap! Both times that we have moved, I have been the only one to do the packing, the difference this time around, is that I have to take care of my 23 month old too....so it's going to make packing and moving a little more difficult.

Since I really am focusing on only 1 hobby right now, I am going to pack all my other things away. That way when it comes to really having to move, I don't have to stress big time, like I normally do :)

I am still waiting on a heap of parcels....I ordered some pure bees wax for my saw blades....I ordered boric acid to make my own firestain resist.....I am waiting on some findings......I am waiting on loads of cabochons.....and I am waiting on my first little try out pack of PMC3....and I am waiting on silver sheet and gold bezel etc.

Nothing is turning up...which is quite disappointing as I want to get on with making things for my shop.

And here are my little boxes ready for packaging things into. This was all I could find...so once I run out....

On a totally random note...I have an addiction to tea towels....this is my collection thus far, I am forever buying them...but then I won't use them, cuz they are too nice....

Night out at the movies.

2010-04-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

It's got to be at least 2 or 3 years since hubby n I have been to a movie. We watch many of them at home as we have a pretty damn good home theater setup (thanks to hubby), so since having a child, we just haven't bothered going out to one. We used to go at least once a week, to see anything and everything. Since then, we have become much more fussy and hard to please when it comes to entertainment via movies.
So this afternoon/evening we went to see Avatar in 3d at the 'gold class' cinemas. They are the 'vip' type cinemas that have reclining armchairs and you can have hot food/coffee brought out to you and you get to sit together in a little nook...awww. Anywho, it was a great time out together....it's been soo long. The movie was very good (I can't stand wearing the glasses though) and we didn't have any stress, as Nanna was looking after our daughter.

To be honest, the beginning of the day was shite. Then we did the grocery shopping and went to the movies and it ended well.

Tomorrow I hope to put in my order for some new silver and some gold to try! I still haven't sorted the ring situation out...sigh...
I am going to order myself some PMC3. And I have a few ideas up my sleeve for other mediums to try.

In the meantime, I have these to post out tomorrow:

Tired.

2010-04-03T03:38:00.000-07:00

Yawn. . . . .

i am sooooo exhausted, physically, mentally, emotionally.

Spent yesterday and today house hunting and checking out new areas to see if we liked it there and where the shops are and what there is to do etc etc. Now we are back at square one and we don't know where we are going to go. I am very excited to move and get a great backyard, but you never know what a place is truly like till you go past it and see how the street is and blah blah blah....I have been on the internet and looked at sooo many houses that I am kinda deflated now.

1 house looks like it has it all inside....then the backyard is non existent or utter crapola. Or it won't have anywhere for me to do my hobby, or anywhere to park safely or.....well you get the idea. You can't have it all. That I already know. But it's easy to get fed up when you get so close to what you really want, but there is 1 thing that crosses it off the list and you are back to the start all over again.

I have no silver and prob won't get any till Wed or Thurs now due to the public holidays. Tomorrow we are going to look at a few more houses :S And who knows if/when I will get this ring business sorted out :(

Wow I'm tired....and I don't have any fun jewelry stuff to post about :(

So I'll say my buh byes now

*waves*

Great News To Start The Day.

2010-04-02T04:11:00.000-07:00

Our daughter woke at 6am this morning and decided she would stay up. So we all had to get up. I was just lounging on the couch whilst hubby was playing on the net and he was checking emails and gave me the very exciting news that I had sold something!!

I couldn't believe it! I had only just opened the shop yesterday! And then later on in the day when we got home, I had an email that I'd sold the little studs too!

Needless to say, I was stoked.

I had been readily prepared not to sell a thing for a good while, till I at least built up my shop and got myself known a bit more etc. What a nice surprise to start the day on :)

I have totally run out of silver sheet, so right now I can't play around much. I do have a whole bunch of cabochons on their way....but apparently they are going to take longer than I thought...so I am not too thrilled about that. So I have to play around with what I have already, not that it's a bad thing :)

I am going to try some gold bezel this week, when I order my sheet and I am dead tempted to get some PMC+3 to try out, aaaaaaaaaand I am thinking about learning to make glass beads. I wanted to learn it many years ago when I went to a big bead/craft fair and saw them doing it and saw all the equipment and I think it would be a great compliment to silver work. It's gonna be something I will ponder for a while yet...I'm in no hurry.

I just want to thank all of you who are commenting and sending me your support, it is so appreciated. And a huge thank you to Kim from KSK designs
who has helped me out big time with my FB fans and trying to promote me and my work! Thanks soooooooooo much Kim!!!

Well it's time to go and have a yummy hot cup of tea :)

see ya.

LITTLE CHERRY HILL - finally open on Etsy!!

2010-04-01T04:24:00.000-07:00

Hooray!
I finally took the plunge and opened it this morning. Though I cannot list my rings just yet, I do have about 10 things or so I can list in the meantime. I feel like such a tool about the whole ring thing. I will get to the bottom of it though!
Next week I hope to dabble in a bit of gold work for the first time. I am looking forward to it, but I am also anxious as gold is way too expensive to make mistakes with...but I have to try one day.
And on top of that, we are looking to move from this house. Which now I have this hobby, has made it a little more difficult as I need somewhere that I can work, without any worry that I may damage/ruin anything. We mainly want to move so our daughter can have a big back garden to play in during the day though. I am scared to move as I am very comfortable where we are now and am kinda made uncomfortable by change of this kind, where I don't know the area or people etc. But it's exciting too!

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of things I have made this last week and listed in my shop:

Now I just have to work on sorting those rings out as I love them and want to put them out there!

:)

How Dumb? ...... Real Dumb!

2010-03-30T04:25:00.000-07:00

Bah!

This is how dumb I am. Previously I posted about opening shop on 1st April.

I have about 6 rings to list.

But I have no clue what size they are! I have a round mandrel, but as I am not making proper ring bands (I make mine like the picture below) I can't get an accurate ring size on a round mandrel can I???

See.....I know you are all slapping hand to forehead! I am quite dumb. This is something I should have sorted before I even learned to make a ring. I have gone and complicated things. I posted in Starving Artists
about getting an accurate ring size and someone suggested using a flat sided ring mandrel.

Can any one help me out and confirm this? Or suggest a way to get an accurate ring size for the rings I have made already. I can't get a flat sided ring mandrel in Australia. So I will have to order from RioGrande....

I am so annoyed with myself. But I am not going to let this deter me from opening on Thursday. I have 3 pendants awaiting oxidation and another little pair of earrings and I have another 6 or so pieces that aren't rings. So I am going to go ahead and list these things, or I will NEVER get to it!

In the meantime any help/advice about ring sizing would be MUCH appreciated. If I were to use 2mm beaded wire and it sat at the size 8 line on my round mandrel, does that make it a size 8??? or do I have to factor in the fact that it's 2mm??

ARGGGGGGGGGH !!!!!!!!!

Shaking head at myself.

To Open...or not to...

2010-03-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

I have been here before. I am thinking of opening my shop on Etsy officially on the 1st of April, which is only a couple of days away now :S

I have more than 10 pieces to start off with. Is that a good enough number?

I have been struggling with the whole postage side of things though. I went to the Post Office this morning to get a rough idea of postage charges for international parcels and was pretty disgusted at how much they want. I told the lady it would be for smallish, very light parcels containing jewelry. I found it really hard to find any small boxes that I could use to post things in. I don't like the idea of posting my jewelry in satchels with a bit of bubble plastic. I did find some very small boxes at a craft store that I could use, but I would still probably have to put them into something else and therefore the price goes up and up and up......

Sigh...anywho...I am working on a few pieces at the moment, but I don't want to rush them as knowing my luck, I would bugger them right up and end up with nothing...

I am running out of supplies....

I am a bit nervous about opening a shop too....dunno why really....just am.

I will do a blog post to announce if/when I open my shop. Will have to do that on FB too.

A big THANK YOU to Kim for helping me get a whole bunch of fans to my FB fan page too!

And thanks to Amy and Kim for all of your positive & friendly support...much appreciated girls!

Making good out of bad.

2010-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

First off, below is the present I have finished sewing for my husbands cousins, baby shower on the weekend.
I don't think I will be going. I am not into the big groups of people I don't know and who are also all about 10 years younger than me. I won't feel right and I will feel uncomfortable. So I will send this gift along with my MIL instead.

I am happy with how they turned out, considering I haven't sewn any before.

Wondering what they are?

They are Fancy Burp Cloths.

You put them over your shoulder to protect your clothing from baby sick/dribble. I used many of these with my daughter, but I never had any fancy ones...but I will make them if I have another baby. They have my 'Little Cherry Hill' label on them. I had those made by a lovely seller on Etsy early last year I think. They're great, they make handmade things look 'boutique'. Hubby was so sweet as to say, 'she's gonna think they're from a store, not handmade by you'. Awww...he's so nice to say that.

Below are a sweet little pair of studs. I am going to try and make a heap of little items that are affordable and easy to wear. Not everyone likes loud out there jewelry like I do!

And last but not least -the title of my post - this is the piece that I was struggling with in my last blog post. The solder would not flow. It was originally intended for the shop as a pendant.....but it just wasn't going to plan. So I turned it into a ring for myself. At least I didn't have to scrap it!!! And I still like it :)

I am still buying up many cabochons.....I am a bit OCD when it comes to stuff, spesh when it comes to supplies for a new hobby. I go way overboard and end up spending every last spare cent I have on my hobby and have nothing left for anything else. So that explains why I must and I repeat MUST make this hobby pay me back...even just a little bit, I have invested sooooo much already and I really need to be recouping some of that said cash.

Well that was a super dooper long post, which I didn't plan on. I have a nice little piece waiting for me to finish tomorrow and another piece that I'm not sure I will continue with, that is waiting in the pickle.

TTFN
Em :)

Big sigh

2010-03-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

Typical....the ideas will flow...but the solder won't.

It's one of those days at the bench today.

Nothing is working out and everything is melting...blah blah blah.

So I am walking away.

I did however finish my sewing :)

Rest of my work.

2010-03-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Not too happy with the pendant, but I absolutely love the Green Jasper ring.....LOVE IT! :)

Finished Pieces.

2010-03-24T03:42:00.001-07:00

Here are 2 finished pieces from 2 blogs ago. I finally made a brooch which is the picture to the right. I ended up making the pin out of sterling wire myself, instead of waiting to order a premade pinback. It is made with Orange (duh) Sea Sediment Jasper and a little Faceted CZ champagne gemstone in a claw setting. I need to file it down a bit more around the edge to even it out, but I wanted to take a photo of it as soon as I could.

Below is a ring with Brazillian Agate, the cool thing is, you can wear this with the flowers pointing up or like I have it on below. I have put a 2mm bead wire shank on this one.

Circle Of Friends

2010-03-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

I have been given the 'Circle Of Friends' blog award by Kim

And with this award I have been asked to share 5 things that I love
&
then pass on this award to 5 other fellow bloggers.

Like Kim, I will leave out the obvious - Jewelry Making & my Family :)

Okay so here goes:

*1 - Sleep Ins - I am a total night owl. And once in bed, I generally love my sleep. I find it hard to get up early and be full of sunshine, most mornings I would give anything to just go back to bed for another hour.

*2 - Chocolate - This may be a given for many other bloggers but, ever since I was a little kid I have always had a thing for chocolate. It has gotten me into a lot of trouble, but I always end up giving in to it :( I wish there was no such thing as chocolate......but I am totally addicted to it.

*3 - Being A Stay At Home Mum - I feel so very fortunate to be able to raise my daughter at home. Thanks to my husband who goes to work and is able to support our little family on his own. Though I have some very hard days (more so lately) as our daughter hits 2 years of age, I am grateful that I get to see her grow up and reach all her milestones right in front of me! Which means I can record them :) I love her greatly.

*4 - Hobbies - Hobbies in general have kept me from many dark places. They give me new skills to learn and master, they help me with my confidence and self esteem and give me something to do with my hands & brain. I don't know where I would be without them....

*5 - Gloomy Weather - Yep, I am not a sunshine lover. Unless it's the Sun in the Winter. I love dark gloomy wet, stormy weather. I am living in the wrong place for that and have suffered many stinky hot days which I loathed. But it's Autumn now and I can look forward to cooler weather and it has been nice and overcast here lately :)

Well there are just 5 of the things I love.

Now you know a little more about me :)

And I hereby pass this award onto:

Narelle

Fiona

Erin Jane

Amy Nicole

Kristi

Now I'd better go let them know :)

A great morning.

2010-03-22T03:53:00.001-07:00

Today, I took my daughter to her Nanna's place for a few hours. And I had such a great morning!!

I got a heap done in just those few precious hours and it was so nice.

She had fun and I had fun. What more could one ask for on a Monday morning??

The picture is of what I accomplished this morning....not bad.

:)

New Ideas.

2010-03-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

I am feeling a bit better.

I haven't been out to my bench all week, but this afternoon I went out for a bit of playtime finally.

I think I would like to try and make a brooch.

I don't know whether to make the pinback in sterling or to buy some premade findings in nickle/stainless steel.

Though I haven't played at my bench, I have in fact pulled out my sewing machine! I have a baby shower to go to on the weekend for my husbands cousin, so I thought I would make something for her. I have made half of it so far, might post a picture here when I am done, as she doesn't read this blog so there is no fear of her seeing her gift.

I have been through sooooo many hobbies in the last 5 years it's mad!

I have done painting, beaded jewelry, sewing, card making, photography, stamp making... and there is probably something else that I can't remember. And now I am playing with metal :)

The hobbies that have stuck are the sewing and photography. I love Macro photography. And I love being able to make something for someone that they can't go and buy. I guess that's why I like jewelry making too, cuz I can make whatever the hell I want! lol

Well I just felt like posting here for something to do....haven't really got much else to report :)

Ta ta

New Work.

2010-03-16T21:39:00.001-07:00

My latest work. The first is a Pendant with Green Grass Turquoise and a little Yellow Jade stone and the second is a ring with Turquoise and a little Green Jade Stone. I haven't done any pieces like these before and I had lots of fun using all the findings and the small cabochons. The ring has 2mm Beaded silver wire for the shank and I need to purchase some new belcher chain for the pendant, which I will have to oxidize too.
I went to the doctors today and I have to go back to find out about my thyroid results from the hospital, so I have a long way to go before I know whats up with my old body.

Just for fun, here is a picture of my bird Tookie. He is a Lutino Indian Ringneck and we got him on our honeymoon 8 years ago :)

Sick and Tired.

2010-03-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

Literally.

Sunday, I ended up at the emergency room with heart issues and dehydration etc. Since then I have been feeling all round dodgy and like I have a bladder infection, so tomorrow I am off to the doctors.

I hate going to the doctors. Fortunately, my Mother In Law is home and can take my daughter whilst I am at my appointment. I am armed with all the information I need for tomorrow and hopefully we can get to the bottom of my problems.

I have been miserable since. But I did find that working out at my bench, helped take my mind off my health/bladder issues and I got a couple of pieces finished and I love them. I also got my parcel of druzy too. I went out to the bench this evening, but I just wasn't 'feeling it'. So I decided to leave and do something else...so here I am!

Sigh...I know I don't have it anywhere near as bad as others around the world do, but it's hard not to feel sorry for oneself sometimes :(

Something for me :)

2010-03-12T03:56:00.000-08:00

A lovely long necklace all for me!!

I have been noticing these kinds of necklaces around lately. In mags and on t.v. And I thought they looked nice.

I made this last night. It is made with a nice 60cm 4mm belcher/rolo chain, so I can just slip it on over my head. I used nice 2mm thick wire to make the hoop and then I arranged all the jingly jangly bits (which took a while). I am really happy with how it turned out. And the best part is, I can keep adding to it. It makes such a nice tinkly sound when wearing it. Even my husband approved and said I should make one for my shop. (that is if I ever get round to opening it...sigh).

This afternoon, I finally got my silver supplies. A nice new bezel wire that I haven't tried yet and a big long piece of sheet etc, which will keep me going for a while. Oh and I have been buying up more cabochons... hee hee. But tonight I just don't feel like playing out at the bench. I haven't been feeling very good today. I think I know what is wrong, but I am a procrastinator when it comes to going to the docs....(absolutely hate going to the doctors)..but I will go soon.

It's been a nice cool windy day today...hopefully Summertime is moving on!

Ugh we got our biggest power bill today though...so that sucked :(

And that is all for now.....time to go and have a nice hot cup of tea :)

I want...

2010-03-12T03:39:00.000-08:00

By VitalTemptation

I love it. I love the colour! Of course I do...it's my fave :)

If I come into any spare cash I may get me one.

Fire Stain.

2010-03-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

So it's not actually fire scale that I am having the problem with. It's called fire stain. Fire scale is the oxidation you can remove after firing by sitting in it pickle until the fine silver comes to the surface.

In the picture to the left is what fire stain is. Once you have done all your sanding and your polishing and you have a funny dull grey colour on your metal (even though it's shiny). The only way to remove the fire stain (not in all cases), is to redo all the final sanding and polishing. If it is removed then you know it was only surface fire stain. But if it's still there, you may be able to repeat the whole process again and have some success or you may never get it off. Then you can look at possibilities of either plating the item to cover up the fire stain or you can choose a different finish like oxidization or a brushed finish.

I am scrapping this ring. I am not happy with how the bezel turned out. So I might see if I can remove the fire stain for practice. My other ring that I finished had fire stain too. Lots on the back and some on the ring shank. I tried a couple of times to remove it and it's come away from the ring shank, but the back still had some, so I have chosen to put a brushed finish on the back only and the rest I polished up.

I emailed the company that advertised it had some Prips Flux, but they wrote back and said they don't actually stock it and they have Fire Scoff instead. So my only option is to make up my own Prips or a boric acid and denatured alcohol mix, which apparently works really well too. So anyways, I don't want to make anymore jewelry until I can come up with something to prevent fire stain. And I have an order of some nice silver coming in the next couple of days....so I hope to mix something up by then.

.......

2010-03-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

Again I don't have a title.

I am researching fire scale prevention products. I have decided not to go with Fire Scoff as all the reviews I have read on this product aren't positive. So I don't want to make things more expensive than they have to be.

So, the other products I have heard of are 'Prips' and 'Stop-Ox' and 'Cupronil'. I have found a recipe for homemade prips and I can buy prips from a jewelry supplies store here where I live, though I have no idea of the price yet.

I find it very frustrating being in a country that doesn't have 70% of the products people recommend. But that's what happens when you have a smaller country population, there is no supply & demand going on. So I guess I have to either make my own prips or see how much the jewelry supplies store sells it for. My guess will be that it will be very expensive! But I won't know till I ask.

I am having a tough time with fire scale now that I can bring my pieces up shinier. I thought I had removed it from one of my rings completely, until this morning I went out to the bench only to see it had returned and it looked kinda worse than before....dunno what is up with that. I am getting really irritated by it.

I need to just accept that it is part n parcel of working with sterling silver!

Now I know why many choose to oxidize their work .... :P

No longer down.

2010-03-08T03:25:00.000-08:00

I am back on the up again and not so down and out about my jewelry adventures.

Yay!

I have an addictive, but also fickle personality. When I find a new hobby, I generally tend to dive in head first and very full on. But because I am fickle, I can easily give up or get bored of a hobby too. So I was very worried over the weekend when I started to get downhearted about jewelry making. This is my most expensive hobby so far and I would feel really bad if I were to give it up now after all my hubby and I have invested in it. That is why I had to vent in my last post. Sometimes you just need to be brought back to reality. That things are going to go bad whether you like it or not, but you have to get over it to move on.

Well all that being said, I made a new friend over the weekend in the jewelry world.

Fire scale.

At first, I didn't have a clue what it was. (But I was very excited at the same time as I had gotten quite a good shine/polish on my silver!!) So I did the first thing I thought of, I posted my questions about it at starvingartists.com

And the next morning I had plenty of replies explaining what it was and the options I had to remove and in future prevent it from appearing. I was very relieved. Starving Artists has helped me several times and I would recommend it to others as they are a very friendly/helpful bunch!

So this week my shopping list is:

Bead Caps - thanks Amy
for pointing me in the right direction, I have found a supplier of those flower ones here in Australia! Yippee!!

Sterling Sheet.

Firescoff. Found 1 place I can get it here in Australia online!

And I really really would like to get myself a disc cutter too......but I will have to wait and see.

My mum has kindly offered to purchase me a rolling mill and all the crucibles etc and go halves with me. She has loads of silver I can smelt (antiques dealer so has loads of cutlery old jewelry etc). I don't know that I will take it up tho, as I would rather see some return from my hobby before I spend on more tools of that expense. Plus I would need to get help on how to do it all correctly too.

And last but not least, I am mulling over going to Gold/silver smithing school. So many choices to make. But that is what keeps me involved and interested!

Oh and my mum gave me a very very old (from the 70's) enameling kit, I torch fired a copper domed oval with green opaque enamel and I have a great idea for doing more, so I need the disc cutter in order to do circles. I will dome them so I don't have to counter enamel things.

Phew! That was another long post. I need a cup of tea :)

Sigh.......warning long post ahead.......

2010-03-06T03:37:00.000-08:00

I am having a bad day.

The Gem Show was pretty lame. Don't get me wrong....there was lots of 'stuff'. But all the cabs were either small and blah/same old, or they were overpriced compared to where I get mine from.

Husband ended up coming with me and he pushed our daughter round in her pram whilst I browsed, though it was really hard to see much really. The aisles were slim and there were a lot of people there hovering for ages over the tables, so it was hard to get a decent look see.

Then we passed several stalls of 'handmade' jewelry. They were made with lovely stones. Very simple and basic settings, no chains with the pendants. They were selling them for very very cheap. Instantly that puts my husband in the 'you need to really drop your prices' & 'you need to make yours shiny and professional looking like theirs' mode.

It really pisses me off when I am compared to others, especially when you don't know whether they are making these pieces themselves (my opinion was they weren't), how long they have been making them, how much they source their materials for and so on....

All the jewelry was polished to a really high shine, which I struggle to do as I haven't got a clue what I am doing in that department yet. Cut a long story short, the gem show ruined my whole day. I am very easily defeated.

All the way home and then some, we discussed what I should do. When I got home I immediately looked up these 'handmade' jewelry sellers to see whether they truly were handmade by that seller. And just as I suspected, no one said they were making them by hand themselves. They stated that they 'designed' them. You can tell from the fact that all these sellers were selling very similar pieces, just with different stones. The settings and prices were the same and no one sold pendants with chains. And they had hundreds of pieces.

Basically I figure they are sourcing their pieces from countries like India or Thailand and then selling them on. So yes in a sense they are actually handmade, but not by the person selling them on. And hence the price being so cheap, because they got them on the cheap.

Tonight I decided that I have to learn how to get a high/er polish on my jewelry and tried it on a ring waiting to be set and I actually had some success, it turned out 100% better than my other stuff and looked a lot more finished.......so I started to feel positive about everything again.......but now when I have set the stone, it rattles :( I feel like screaming! (I am pms'ing as well). Hubby thinks I just have to push the bezel in more...so I might give it another go tomorrow....but now I am too down to bother.

If you got this far....wow! I feel better having written down my thoughts. I feel better knowing that I can get a much better finish now.

But I can't however, get the bezel setting to be smooth.....how long does it take to smooth the bezel down with a burnisher? Could I be going at it till I get serious cramp? Or should it not take too long?? Can anyone help?????

Can anyone offer any tips when it comes to polishing to a high shine??

I feel so lost sometimes and give up too easily.....