Not The Year For Blogging

I really haven't kept this blog updated very well have I??

Truth is, I don't really think about it so much these days.
My girls both had their birthdays in May. The eldest now 7 and the youngest now 2!
I don't have a whole lot of time on my hands for 'me' anymore. And blogging has taken the last spot on the list for now.

Not a whole lot has happened since my last post in March.
Though I have been back at my bench a lot more. I feel that dabbling in Pottery somewhat helped me back to it. I definitely feel at home with jewellery making. Pottery is great fun and I do intend to keep up with it, but right now I just don't have the time.

With jewellery making you can begin something and then leave it for a while to see to the children, or dinner, or answer the phone etc. But with throwing clay, you have to be there for the duration and you have to see the project through and you can't leave the wheel - you must be really focused and almost fixated on the clay or it just doesn't work out. And I rarely get that kind of time, at least not until 10/11 at night and by then, I'm spent and ready for bed.

Here are some pictures of what I've made on my wheel at home:

So they are just a small part of what I have thrown on my wheel at home. My pottery teacher says I am ready to move onto glazing now, or I can continue to learn how to throw - I haven't tried to join two pots together or to make a teapot and so on. Right now I feel to move onto glazing would be the ideal thing. So that will be happening in the near future I hope.

I've noticed being at my bench certainly feels very comfortable for me and so I have been trying to spend a lot more time there - which means being there when my little one is running around. I have set up a blackboard/whiteboard in the garage where I work so she can draw whilst I try and get little things done. It never really works for long, but I try :)

Lately I have decided to try and push my designs further and I am constantly on the quest to be learning/teaching myself new things with jewellery techniques.

Pictures below are of things I have made in the past month or so:

The Turquoise piece above was for a giveaway I recently had on Instagram, which I will be sending off today if I get the time. Again I am playing with backgrounds for my jewellery. It seems to be something I can never settle on and am constantly changing, but I can't help it. I am probably going to change it again soon..........

I think we are looking to move again very soon. I would love to move to a single level home to make life simpler. There are definite postitives to having a double storey home, but there are many negatives too - especially for me. The one problem is getting a good home within our budget that has all the things we require and being able to be in a good area too. I love change, but I'm not a fan with all the work that comes with moving.

So that's what's been happening in my neck of the woods.
Sorry that I am not really here much anymore. It can't be helped right now.
Off to have a nice hot cup of tea - yes! it's actually a little cold here now!!  :)

Em ♥

No Silver in stock arggh!

lol...I couldn't think of a title for my post, so I just wrote the above.

I want to place a nice big order with Rio, but they are out of stock of the particular silver sheet I want. Apparently it will not be available till early July :(

Bummer.

Now I could of course order it from the suppliers around here....but I find they don't keep up to date with the prices and it ends up costing me approx $20 more for a sheet. And that money could be spent on other things! So I guess I will wait  .....

Summer had Roseola a couple of weeks back. Her temps reached scary levels, but fortunately we were able to keep them down and we didn't have to go to the hospital. She also missed a whole week (3 day week) of Kindy. But she gets 3 days there this week and then it's school holidays for 2 more weeks again.

Her nanna is taking her to the Dora show on Sunday and I am finally picking up some new dining chairs. I can't wait. The ones I spent a whole week painting, are just falling apart and need too much work doing to them, plus they're not comfortable ... at all.

I haven't been well either lately and I am trying to get to the bottom of it. But the doctor I was seeing wasn't being very helpful. So I went to our family doctor a good 30 mins drive away and he's pretty decent at his job, so I might be getting somewhere finally. 

Not much else has been going on here apart from everyone being sick (flu as well). 

I did finish a custom order a couple of weeks ago and I sold a new piece that I'd only just listed, which was nice! Sales have been soooo slow. So. Very. Slow. I am trying to work on new pieces, but seeing as everyone's been sick, it's kind of put my bench to the background. But since Summer is at Kindy today, I am trying to finish some work.

 Druzy (this stone is sooo awesome!)

 Chalcedony Pendant (sold)

Custom order

For some reason my pinkie finger on my right hand is shaking like crazy.......not normal.

Best leave it here...it's almost lunch and then I have 2 hours left to myself for the day. Must not waste it :)

Em ♥

Been a while....

I've just come home from the Kindy run and I thought I should probably blog before I get on with other things. 

I'm not feeling that great at the moment....the back/top part of my throat seems to be a bit sore and I'm hoping it's not a sign of things to come......as this weekend there is a Gem Show on and I am hoping to have a look see. Though I did just purchase a few lovlies off Etsy this past week.....they take a while to get to me. I like instant gratification when I can get it. So I might just find something at this show....but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Not a whole lot going on here.

I have been slowly making a few new things for my etsy shop. 

Though I am struggling with one particular piece that I thought I had finished (tumbled for 4 hours and oxidized) and when I went to polish it up, one of the little balls came off.....and I've tried 2 times since to solder it back on with no luck.

I'm finding it quite frustrating to be honest. So I will try and have another go, after that, I might just give up on it :(

I've been having fun designing with Filigree wire lately too.

And I just received in the mail, half of my Etching set up (this little guy came inside on my parcel).

Also I got a set of carving tools, for wax carving, just need to order some blocks of wax. And I'm loving that silver has come down under $30 again as I think it's time to stock up again.

A friend of mine has just had her 2nd child this week and so I am working on a little initial pebble pendant set for her as a gift. One thing I've noticed about having a baby is that, everyone buys things only for the baby, but forgets the poor woman giving birth. So my gift is more for her, but still sort of for the baby...if you know what I mean?

Here's a few of my latest pieces:

 Boulder Opal Ring.

 Mookaite Ring.

 Petal Hoop Earrings.

 PMC Owl Pendant.

 *sold*

 *sold*

*sold*

So I have been a little busy lately, but not as much as I'd like. But it has only been myself getting in the way, so I've only myself to blame for that!

Tomorrow Summer is having her Kindy Class photo taken. I am looking forward to having that. Last week she lost her fave little teddy kinda thing, that I bought for her when I found out I was having a girl. She has had it every night since she was born and it's gone.  

I was sooo sad. 

I wanted to have it for her in her special box of baby things, but it's seems like that will never be :(

Well it's been a long post and I'm starting to feel a little worse for wear than when I started this. I really ought to make an appointment for a hair cut too, but I don't want to go if I'm going to be sick. Sigh.....

Hope you are all having a wonderful week so far 

Em♥

Muggy Much?

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

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 ♥

Creative Block, Unblocked.

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 :)

....No Title....

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.

I Need slippers......stat!

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 :)