Hello there!!! (long post ahead!)

I am still around folks!
Not as much as I'd like to be, but time slips away from me these days faster than ever. Leaving little time for blogging.

My little girl will be 2 soon. She is gorgeous, but gets into absolutely everything!! And so I am kept on my toes day in and day out raising her. I haven't been at my bench much at all this year. For some reason after teaching myself a new technique, things just sort of dissipated and I stopped making anything. At all.

There are a few pieces waiting for me to finish - but I just don't want to. Don't get me wrong, I still think about making something daily, but whenever there is a little bit of free time, I don't gravitate toward jewellery making. So for now, I am just finding other ways to express creativity.

Below are the last pieces I made using the new technique I spoke about in my last post:

I love what I achieved here. It was challenging and great to add a new technique to my small group of skills.

It is still SO HOT here and we're almost a month into Autumn! Over it! I want the cold weather! Please!!

Okay so since I haven't been at my bench much, I have to put my creative side into something new. Sometimes this helps me get back to metal smithing. (though so far it hasn't!) I had a kit for candle making stored away, that I'd bought just before falling pregnant in 2012. And a little while ago I decided I would get it out and get making - one thing lead to another and I somehow ended up wanting to make bath bombs and then soap! Soap! Of all things! I don't even use bars of soap for goodness sake. (I'm a liquid/shower gel type of gal)

Anyway I researched my butt off and got making it. Below is a picture of the second batch (small 3 bar batch) of cold process soap I ever made using my own recipe and it was sadly the last.

To cut an extremely long story short - to set up the legal side of things (in order to sell said soap at markets/etsy/anywhere really) for insurance and registration for using a chemical, it was going to cost me a lot of money. Well over $1000 aussie dollars. And that was before you pay for the actual ingredients and tools you need to make the soap.

So unfortunately I had to put that idea to bed. Which really sucked. I really, really, was excited about it and I felt I could still pair it with jewellery making.

Well this got hubby and I thinking about what I could do instead of soap making that wouldn't cost me anything to pursue (outside of the obvious costs of supplies etc) and he came up with Pottery.

And this folks is where I have been resting my creative head for the past month.


Before I go, here is a picture of my little boy Tookie.

 
I lost him a week ago to an open cage door. Unfortunately the little door inside the main sliding door got stuck and he got out. I stupidly tried to grab him and he flew to 3 other places in our garden and each time I tried to grab him. Didn't have my thinking cap on - I had my panic cap on and he got away. Didn't hear him until that afternoon, he was up a very very tall Gumtree he could see me, I could see him. But he wasn't going to come down.

I put out his cage on our front lawn with food and packets of human snacks and he still refused to even try. Personally I don't think he wanted too. At least not enough. He was enjoying his freedom with his full flight feathers and he wanted to explore, but was too scared to at the same time. We tried to hose him out of the tree (I should have tried this before he escaped our back yard!!!! It would have worked 100% - of that I am sure!) but it just made him fly further up to the top of the gum tree. And if you know those trees, you will know just how tall they are!

Night fall came and we didn't hear anymore noises. The morning came and we couldn't see or hear him anymore. That was over a week ago......

I got him on our honey moon over 14 years ago. He was a little bit loco. But I loved him and I miss him. The main thing that hurts is not knowing if he is okay and alive and hoping with all hope that if he has passed on, that it was swift and with no suffering. And mainly that it's my stupid fault. I knew it was going to happen one day, because of that bloody door getting stuck sometimes. I can't change it now. I have to just get over it. I love him and hope he had a little adventure out there in the big bird world.

Where ever you are little Tookie boy, you'll always be part of me and my memories x x

Around The World Blog Hop - Little Cherry Hill

The idea behind the Blog Hop is for creative bloggers to write a post based around a few questions.  Their answers offer an insight into their creative thoughts and processes.  The blog ‘baton’ is then passed on to another artisan and so the trip around the globe gathers pace.

Kristen has passed this 'baton' onto me to continue the hop around the world :) I have been following Kristen's blog for sometime now and love to read her posts on her latest jewellery making ventures. She makes gorgeous pieces of wearable art and has some great wire designs incorporated into her work.

So lets start with the first question:


What am I working on?

I have several pendants on my bench at the moment - some only just beginning and another almost finished and some enamelled earrings.  I'm also working on a giveaway for reaching 500 'likes' on my facebook page. But seeing as the weather is so awfully hot here (early might I add), I am struggling to get to my bench to make anything - way to hot to wield a torch!

How Does My Work Differ From Others in it's Genre?

This is honestly a hard question to answer. When I look at my work, I want it to be easily recognised as my own. But there are so many of us out there with similar taste/style, that it makes coming up with fresh new ideas to represent my own style all the more difficult.

Being self taught means I can only go as far as my skills have and there are many other skills I want/need to learn to help my style grow.  This journey I am on is one for the long haul - my children/family come a solid first and so it takes me a while longer to get new skills in. So that being said - I am still trying to grow my 'style' and this will come with time - something I wish (don't we all) I had more of.

Why Do I Create What I Do?

My style when growing up, was always large statement pieces. Bags, shoes and accessories. I favoured things that no one else had, that were memorable, fun, stylish, but a little bit different. Perhaps pieces that were bold, pieces that others might not choose to wear themselves.

When I began Metal Smithing, it was for a means to an end. I needed to learn to solder to complete what I was working on at the time. But as my skills with soldering grew, I wanted to make those 'large, different, statement' pieces for myself and I have been enjoying trying to do that ever since. It doesn't always work out, but when it does, it's a real buzz!

How Does My Creating Process Work?

99% of what I do, comes from my imagination alone. I don't sketch - unless I absolutely must. I'm terrible at drawing. 

Most of the time I begin with the stone/s, I will choose the best type of bezel setting for it and from there the design will grow. Every now and then I will have a definite idea of something I want to make and I will try my best to execute it as close to how I've imagined it to be. 

Other times, it is just 'go with the flow'. I think for myself half of the fun is playing around with all sorts of components to see what I can come up with and if I can make it come to life. 

The picture below is a perfect example of that:

 

 

  





























I hope you have enjoyed reading my little blog hop post and now I would like to pass the 'baton' onto Mossy from Silver Moss Jewellery :)

Emma ♥

Hot Enough For Ya?

Seems like many of my posts are about our heat. 

Sorry about that folks, but it's a fact round these parts.

I am feeling really badly for those in Tasmania (and other parts of Aust that are affected), where all those fires are breaking out. 

It freaks me out here too, as across from our front yard is bush/rainforest. As I am a worrier, this kind of weather just pushes my pessimistic side.

So I now have Queensland fire service on my facebook, so I can keep up to date with what's happening around my area.

Regardless of the heat (which is not nearly as bad as some parts), I am attempting to get to the bench more. I have a water cooler (like a fan, but it uses water to cool the air) beside me at my bench. It isn't anywhere near as good as having air conditioning. But it's all I've got. I have worked out a position so I can have it on whilst soldering, which is something. 

Here is the piece I finished last:

Sold.

 Right now I am working on a pair of earrings and a pendant.

I have an order coming from Rio and some small tools and supplies coming from round Australia. I'm still browsing stones on Etsy. Not that I have any money left after those supplies :(

Best get back to the bench whilst I can ....

Take care all 

Em ♥

Cannot Think......

my daughter is outside on the patio singing her lungs out and I can't think. All day it's been 'don't do this/don't do that/if you do that again......' I'm a bit over it.

And she's only got 2 more days of Kindy left this year, then it's home every day for 6 weeks. I'm still not feeling great (will elaborate another time about that). We have an inspection tomorrow :(  So a few things to get done for that. I haven't really spent much time at the bench lately either. Still think about it every spare moment, but I haven't the get up and go right now. Though I did get a cuff finished this week! In my Etsy store :)

I have about another 8 lovely new labradorites that I'm looking forward to using. Has to be one of my fave stones. 

Today I got out to the bench, I've nearly finished a bracelet and I'm working on a couple of other pendants. It would be nice if I could just work in there for a few straight hours with no distractions ... maybe Friday :)

Last week I purchased a quick release hand piece for my flex shaft. I can't wait to get it working as it's going to make things a lot easier for me. 

It was our 11th wedding anniversary on the 1st of Dec and hubby chipped in to buy me this chair I just absolutely HAD to have lol

 

I didn't have my normal lens on, only the macro, so I couldn't get a full shot of it, but it's a sofa and it's absolutely stunning and I love it! Been looking for something like this for a very very long time.

Also I'm working on getting a new logo done for my jewellery. But trying to chose something is a nightmare for me haha ... if you want to see what I'm choosing from, head over to my facebook page and you can give me your opinion. 

Going to love you and leave you here :)

Em ♥

Winters End.

It's lunch time and the last day of Winter :(

As I've been sitting here reading blog posts and oxidizing metal, I can't help but notice the birds are extra vocal. I haven't noticed it before, so I wonder if it's to do with the fact that tomorrow brings the first day of Spring.....or have I just been too busy to notice their constant chatter?

I am on my last sliver of silver.

My scrap has been sent off.

I have 2 pieces waiting to be polished and set. 

And I just had my 90th sale in my Etsy shop ♥

It may not sound like much. But when you consider that I hardly ever have more than 30 pieces in my shop at a time, it's a great achievement for me and I'm thrilled.

Whenever I am down to my last little piece of silver, I find I stumble and my ideas disappear. I know it will be a few weeks before my scrap returns some sheet to me, though I could just buy some .... I want to hold off ... but then again I don't want to be without sheet ...

I am stone hunting again. Though I really shouldn't be. But I look over my stash and feel bored with what I see. Stones I once couldn't wait to get my hands on and create with, stones that cost a small fortune. I wonder if this is why so many of us have such a huge stash of stones? Perhaps I should forbid myself from looking, hence to stop temptation. Honestly though, I don't buy that many stones, I spend a lot more of my time looking, than I do spending any actual money.

Here are a few things I have made lately:

The cuff is the first of it's kind I have made.  A little inspired by Amy who has been making lots of them lately. The stone is #8 Mine Turquoise and I have been pondering over what to make with it for months and finally I used it. 

Last week I had made a nice simple setting for a HUGE round labradorite stone. One of the ones I had to have ground down to flatten. It took a long time figuring out how it was going to be set, so it would be at it's best 'flashing' angle. Finally I sat down to set it and it not only wouldn't fit in - but it broke! I think somewhere along the soldering line, the bezel had gotten out of shape. It was only 1mm(ish) off. And I think perhaps because the stone had been ground down - that maybe it had been weakened - as it seemed to have broken on a fracture line. It was a small little crumb that broke off ... but enough to stop me from wanting to set it. 

I might see if I can't grind it down all the way around and reset it some day. But oh what a disappointing day that was. I was so excited to be setting it too :(

Well I am getting peckish, so I will head off to make lunch and finish some jewellery. I hope you are all having a lovely week so far :)

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 ♥

On my Bench

This is my bench right now:

It's a mess. It's small and it's not comfy to sit at. (But it has been a good bench to me)

But that's no longer a problem as I'm getting this made:

Hip Hip Hooray!!

I've been talking about getting a new bench for ages now and it's finally a reality. 

I should be able to have it to use by Friday night. There will be at least double the space now! I will post a picture when it's all done and set up and tidy :)

I am in the middle of purchasing some silver. I probably should send in my scrap and get some cash back for that.....

Nothing much has been happening around these parts. The weather is rubbish. Raining lots. And still as muggy as the middle of Summer. 

We have an inspection tomorrow afternoon :(

I spent 4 hours on Monday doing a mega bleach out on my tiles again.

My little yellow budgie passed away last week.... she was so sweet. I will miss her.

Summer is on a waiting list for a pre prep program...hopefully will get in soon..... she really needs it.

And I think that's about all that's new. 

Here are a few pictures of my latest pieces:

Well I guess I had better get on with the tidying for the inspection tomorrow (not that the house is a mess). I just like things to be rather perfect lol

Hope you are all well x 

Em ♥

At the bench :)

Yes that is what I am doing this morning :)

I haven't been at the bench for the past week, so I headed in there this morning to tidy up my bench and get on with a few pieces that are sitting there, waiting to be finished. 

It's a beautiful day. 

Yesterday it was cool(er) and breezy and just the perfect weather for enjoying life :)

This morning seems to be following suit.

I'm just back at the computer to put some new stuff on my USB stick for my laptop and I thought I would do a quick post.

I went to the Gemshow on Saturday, by myself. 

It was horribly hot and the hall where they have the main part of the stalls was absolutely crammed, which made it worse heat wise. I did nab a few faceted stones and some small cabs:

There was a lot of rough available...which if I were able to cut my own stones, it would have been fab. But The cabochon side of things wasn't that great. There were a few that caught my eye, but honestly for the money, I would rather buy the better ones I have found on good ole Etsy.

As I made my way to the end of the stalls, I thought it was all over. Till I looked outside and noticed a whole load of other stalls outside on the grass. There wasn't that much for me there either....but I did manage to grab these:

Some lovely Boulder Opal cabochons.

This little parcel of goodies made it worth my while going to that show!

A few of them have the most gorgeous flash of purple. I can't wait to start setting these. 

There are lots of other shows throughout the year. I will try and get to a few of them. You never know, if you never go.

And I would like to know.

Must get back to the bench!

Em ♥

Changes.

I'm all for a change every now and then. 

It keeps things interesting and fresh.

But some changes are more difficult than others.

It's time for me to put Summer into some sort of Pre-Prep/kindy school. 

I am so used to having her home with me every single day...that the thought of being without her every day makes me feel a bit strange. She needs it. I think she'll love it. She hasn't ever been in any kind of daycare though, so I am unsure whether she will find it hard for me to leave her there - with a bunch of strangers, or if she will be so absorbed in the excitement of it all that she won't care. I'm really hoping that she won't care about me leaving. 

She is such a friendly outgoing little girl now and is very gentle when it comes to playing with other children. I don't want that to change. She isn't used to children who bite, hit, snatch, swear, or who are rough when they play. Maybe I'm being a bit of a worry wort. Summer needs to assert her independence and needs to learn to stand up for herself when mum and dad aren't around and being away from home will help her do that. I just hope she doesn't bring the above traits home with her.........(am I being ridiculous??)

Another thing I am pondering changing, is my shop name. 

As much as I am attached to the name I have now, it doesn't really give any indication of what it stands for. I am struggling with what to change it to.

I have:

Cherry Hill Silver

Emma Cherry Silver

The Silver Cherry

Which do you prefer??

Above is what's on my bench right now....not much eh? The one good change for me, when Summer goes to kindy will be the time I will have to be at the bench and get things made. Those of you who've got kids, know how hard it is to get anything made with them around all day, especially when there are no day naps occurring anymore.

Okay...think I'm going to call the kindy now..... *sob sob*....

Em

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

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 ♥

She's gone again!

My creative muse/mojo. 

Gotta say, I'm getting a bit tired of her disappearing on me.

I have tried to make my first bezel setting for a faceted gemstone, it's sitting in the pickle right now and if it works out, it'll be a miracle. I've got some earrings in the pickle too, they've been sitting on my bench for some time now.

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

None of those kind of thoughts help.

But how do you stop them creeping in??

I'm wondering if a batch of nice new stones would help some. I haven't bought any cabs in a while now and I'm a bit sick of looking at my old ones lol.

Probably should be at the bench more.

I wonder if trolling the internet for inspiration will perk up the creative juices....or will it just hinder me?

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

Does this happen to you often?

What do you do to combat it?

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

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

Em.

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 ♥

Working Hard....

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

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 ♥