So not in the flow.

I'm struggling to finish my little collection. And I have a small custom pebble pendant to do, but I just can't seem to get it happening. Doesn't help that it's now day 2 of the 2 week school holidays. I'm keeping up with everything domestic/parental. Just not jewelry.

I have to get my backside to the bench today to finish that pendant so I can get it posted. I have been enjoying getting my groceries delivered, so that is something I don't have to contend with, spesh with having the baby to take and a 5 yr old ... not my idea of a good time.

So jewelry wise, here is a piece I finished not long before I had Poppy:

My first ever attempt at a hollow form piece. I love it. It has a nice weight to it and it's a great simple -go to- go with everything pendant. I wear it with another long necklace with a feather, being that it's all silver, it goes with other necklaces. Not that I have any others lol

Below is a picture I just captured:

I absolutely LOVE it - I managed to get her to look at me just for a split second, enough to capture her beautiful little eyes looking right into the lens. This will be one to frame!

*sneaking away to make a cuppa*

Okay, I ended up going to the bench to get that pendant happening too lol.
I am going to make sure I have my collection complete and listed before the 1st of July too! I think it's so hard for me to get on with it, because of that little bundle of cute above. When she finishes her feed I want to continue to hold her as she sleeps or just lays there looking around taking the world in, it's so hard to put her down sometimes. But if I were to hold her all day long, I would get nothing done - at least nothing done that requires both hands/arms :)

It's time now for me to enjoy my cup of tea and a chocky biccie or 2! Then it's back to the pendant, by then I'm sure my little one will be awake again.

Take care
Em ♥

I'm tired this morning.

But the house is fairly quiet, so I thought I would do a quick little blog post, whilst I can. 

Summers arm is finally all good to go. No more cast/brace. Which I'm sure she is enjoying. Baby is doing well. I'm doing o.k.

I've been getting to the bench a little - only 3 months till baby comes, so I really want to enjoy the time I have to myself before then. 

I have spent a little while searching for an anvil. 

I thought I had found what I was after, but it turns out it was Iron and not steel and that's not any good. Finally I decided to take the plunge on one from RioGrande. It's costing as much for the postage as it is for the actual anvil. Hubby has lovingly and generously offered to pay for the postage so I could have my anvil. 

Isn't he fab?!! ♥

So hopefully some time this week I will get that :)

I know I don't overly NEED an anvil. But a steel plate isn't going to cut it for me anymore. It jumps around on my stump and it isn't big enough. 

I want to do some fold forming this year and the anvil will be great for that to begin with. I'm hoping it will absorb all the noise when hammering too.

Below are a couple of pieces I have finished recently that I had a lot of trouble with:

Sold

 

Sold

I have a few new things I am working on at the bench right now too. Just need to do the bails and clean up and set the stones etc. 

I did finish this on Friday:

 

Just felt like doing something simple and out of silver only. I'm not really loving my stone collection at the moment. I find it so hard to find really good ones. Everyone else seems to be finding them :(

Well I'm waiting on a friend to come over - but who knows if/when she will. Either way, I've got lots to get done today, so I should probably make a start :)

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 ♥

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♥

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

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!

Broken Record.

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.

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 :)

Time for a post me thinks...

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 :)

A little Bit Cool.

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.

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.

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! :)

Something for me :)

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 :)

New Piece

Finally I have had some time to begin and complete a piece of jewelry. This is one of those necklaces where the pendant passes through the circle, so you don't have to fasten it. It's with a Labradorite stone and sterling and with 9ct gold hammered ball. This is the first time I have used gallery wire and I absolutely LOVE it!! I have named it 'Night Sky'.

Now I can't decide whether to keep it or sell it......
(oh and the weather was disgusting today)