My first spinner ring

My first spinner ring
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Having nearly got a spinner ring just before Christmas and then deciding I could make my own I have finally got round to giving it a go! This is my first attempt and there is a bit of a problem with the soldering (which split slightly when I flared the edges out) but overall I am quite pleased! It turned out to be the size I wanted it to be which is good and I am pleased with the hammered look! Gonna play with this design I think

TTFN xx

Earrings

Earrings
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Here is (or should that be here are!!!) one of the 2 pairs of heart earrings that I have just finished. The hearts are made from art clay silver and I have soldered sterling silver posts onto the back for pierced ears. I am very pleased with these and will be offering them for sale soon.
Watch this space
TTFN xx

Magdalena

Magdalena
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Another necklace to share with you guys! This is my focal bead and one of my hammered silver rings with a gorgeous ribbon by Diane at Sowzere.

The jewellery party went well sold a few bits and will hopefully get a couple of orders for fingerprint jewellery. And on that note today is the final day for orders for fingerprint jewellery at Savannah's school fair. I have 2 orders for the day so far and 2 orders at different times from the advert so not a bad response at all I think. I did have hopes of being absolutely flooded with requests but in hindsight that was a little naive. It is all about advertising and I did make a huge faux pas with the order form and information. I completely forgot to add my website address doh!!! Will take loads of business cards and leaflets to the fair with me to make up for that and there will be plenty of time for orders to be completed before Christmas.

Right best be off, Savannah is home cos she was ill last night so my shedio day has disappeared but I am finally going to get the stamps made for my art clay pendants! Photos later xx

TTFNxx

Quiet waters

Quiet waters
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I have a jewellery party tonight, the first one not held in my own home!!! Eek! But the host is a friend so it should be fine! Anyway I have spent the afternoon madly making jewellery and this piece is one of the bits I have made!

The large beads were made by me last night and there are some of my mini spacer beads in there as well. 72 swarovski crystals and 36 small silver spacers finish the piece off and boy does it look awesome in the light! It really twinkles ;o)

TTFN xx

Teal delight hollow

Teal delight hollow
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I am not sure that this picture does this bead any sort of justice but anyway here it is! I am sooooo proud of this bead and it's 3 little siblings! (see my Flickr album for a picture of the family group!!). I have to admit to thinking about selling my beadmaking gear on Monday evening whilst in my shedio. I simply (and I am not saying this for sympathy merely an observation of my state of mind at that point!) do not think that my beads cut the mustard. I do have some regular customers and to those people I say a massive thank you and no I am not quitting but I think I may have reached a point where I am not sure how to develop my beads further. I also want to thank everyone who has ever bought beads or jewellery off of me thank you a million times over. Each sale is as fab as though it were the first ...I love it that people like my work and want to buy it!

The answer, I think, lies in getting some more tuition but that involves money and right now things are harder than they have ever been and that is no word of a lie! But when I browse around other peoples beads I feel that my beads are merely ordinary! Nothing special at all, good puckers generally a good shape but nothing special. I have no imagination to work out how to experiment!!! I am in awe of so many different people's work and honestly cannot ever see my work being as awesome as some of these people! Humph!!!!!

Right moan over I am still making beads cos I took these ones out and love them! I guess we shall see what others make of them when they go up for sale on Sunday night.

I have not made it to my shedio today as planned cos my blessed car was on a flat this morning so my fantastic dad helped me out but took much of the morning up then I had to do the school run and get Imogen to the dentist as her brace had broken! And this evening my mojo has gone on shore leave so I think I will leave it till tomorrow. I have an order to fill which I will do and now the strikes are off (for the mo) the post should be easing gradually!

Are you having any fireworks this year? We are not as I literally do not have the money to watch it go up in flames like that so we resort to watching other peoples from the house! I guess it is warmer eh! always try to find something positive ;o)

Anyway must be off I am making stamps tonight for my silver metal clay so hopefully there will be little earrings etc coming out very soon

If you are having fireworks please be safe and enjoy
TTFN xx

Flower brooch

Flower brooch
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Mmm...I love to diversify a bit and this is my latest venture! Polymer clay and my Sizzix Big Shot, some leather and suede samples and Bobs' your uncle!!! This simple brooch would be fab worn in loads of different ways! You could clip it to your handbag, or wear if on your scarf or clip it to your wooly hat or simply as a brooch! The possibilities are endless. Like this? it will be available in my Etsy shop later.

Dont' forget to leave a comment about my little snowman to be in with a chance to win! See Yesterdays post!

TTFN xx

What I made for the Art and Craft exhibition

Not many words today just some pictures of what I have made for the Art and Craft Exhibition I am at for the next 5 days!

Blimey...3 posts in one day

But I really wanted to show you this picture. Jean regularly buys beads from me and always obliges with gorgeous photos of what she makes with them. I have a Gallery here on my website where I love to show off what people use my beads for.

Thank you Jean for sharing these and for making my beads look so fab in your gorgeous jewellery designs

TTFN xx

Why every girl should make her own jewellery!

Otherwise called buy lampwork beads and hold onto them cos you never know when they will come in handy!

Soo....very very naughtily Tony and I have been shopping I have bought a dress and Tony bought a pair of trousers both in the sales which we stumbled across today! Why the post?

Well...there I was in Monsoon trying this dress on in teal and white polka dot both of which I do not normally do! It fitted a treat and I totally loved it and half price to boot! Then my little head starts going mmm....shoes mmm...jewellery etc etc.

I got home and found these little teal fritty beads I have had languishing for a while and I made the pendant you can see above. Apologies for the crap photo, poor light and taken in a hurry but I am hoping you get this gist! How cool is it that I can buy a dress and a couple of hours later (and a few designs!) I have a totally unique piece of jewellery. I have a pair of earrings also to match the necklace. The necklace is hung from a 5mm closed sterling silver jump ring so I can slot it onto my ole favourite my macrame choker or I can slide it onto one of my sterling silver chains if I want. Completely versatile and a one off. What more could a gal want.

I will get Tony to take a picture of the whole ensemble later and post it tomorrow or monday!

Have a lovely weekend
TTFNxx

My first vintaj necklace

I have bought a small amount of vintaj brass findings and thought I would have a play and see what it is like. I am a bit of a bore when it comes to findings sterling silver and that is about it! But this vintaj looks quite nice. I was making some nugget frit beads yesterday that reminded me of rose gardens and I thought this would look lovely with teh vintaj brass. So.....here it is, this one is mine and is limited cos I only bought little amounts of stuff but I think I can make a range out of this! It is a choker with 2 strands. Bottom bigger strand has 3 of my nugget frit beads and the other strand has 6 6mm swarovski crystals hung from it and I quite like it! I am wearing it to my work leaving do tonight so I hope I will get some feedback there but I would love to hear what you guys think as well!

What do you think?
TTFN x

What have I been up to?

I am still off sick from work but I am gradually feeling more like Sam again. I am taking my time tho and my GP is being fantastically supportive I want to be ok to return to work and not risk going off sick again very soon after I return . So I find myself in an unusual position. I have guilt for not being at work and worry that people will think I am "swinging the lead" but my head was such a complete mess I owe it to myself, my family and my colleagues to get myself 100% sorted and not just 50 % or 60 %.

Anyway I am throwing myself into my beadmaking and jewellery making and I am finding it all very therapuetic. This afternoon will be a sewing afternoon I have some patterns drawn up for small handbags and I am dying to try them out! I spent yesterday finishing off the tutorial for Beads and Beyond magazine that I have been asked to do! The picture above is a little taster of what I have made but you will have to wait till the August issue to see it in it's full glory! Although I am biased I am totally in love with it I think it is fab and totally wearable!

Don't forget my prize draw see post below for details only 2 days to go.

Right best be off, I am looking after my sisters 5 cats whilst she is away camping so I need to go round her house and feed them!!!

TTFNxx

Yes I am procrastinating....

...first day back at work and 4 essays to mark so I thought I would get them done and out of the way tonight but can I??? Can I heck.....;-/
I am procrastinating!

I had a lovely surprise this morning. Becci from Fired Silver has sent me my prize from her mailing list prize draw a little while ago and it is just beautiful. I have not had a chance to take piccy yet as it is round my neck as we speak but I absolutely love it. Thank you Becci you are a fantastic person!

I also thought I would share with you some of the jewellery I have made since getting home from the Flame Off. I love macrame (in case you had not noticed) and some years ago I bought a necklace that was adjustable and could not work out how the fastener work. Now I have!!! I bought a couple of books on knots and macrame over the weekend and made the necklaces above. The first 2 are plain wooden beads I have had knocking around for some time and the 3rd necklace is made with my own handmade glass beads and silver. I have kept the 3rd one for myself but the other 2 will be available for sale on my website and Etsy tomorrow!

Right best be off got essays to mark!!! Day off tomorrow and Savannah is at thte childminder so I get to play on my torch hopefully!!! Yay!!

TTFN xx

I love Wednesdays.

Even this one. Wednesdays are my day off from my "day job" and even though today I have got work to do (essays to mark and lesson to prep) I still enjoy the relaxed feeling it gives me! Here we are at nearly 11 in the morning and I am still in my PJ's, pottering around. Savannah has got pre school at half 12 so I will drop her off whip round Tesco and then get home to my marking (joy!!!) But I have still managed to get a bit of jewellery making in. I am having a jewellery party on 3rd April so I really need to get some stock sorted. The pictures above are the latest in my bracelet collection. These are so darned simple but so bloomin gorgeous I think there will be more. I especially love the etched glass effect.

Right I suppose I had better get myself sorted!

TTFN x

Shameless self promotion

So despite feeling terrible today I have had a little sort out and the pictures above are a little taste of things to come. I have uploaded a few more to my flickr album so feel free to have a look. There is a link on the right of this blog!!!

I have made a necklace as well for a commission order will finish the clasp in a minute and take a picture for you all!!!

Gotta go head is killin me and dinner needs sorting!

TTFN xx

Macrame necklace

This is my absolute favourite piece of jewellery. Why do I love it? A couple of reasons really. 1) I made it!!! It is macrame a very simple knot but very classy looking. 2) It is a piece that is interchangeable. I have the "Quick switch" posts so I can change my bead hanging from the necklace to match my outfit! I adore choker style beads and as it is black pretty much anything goes with it!

It has been in my mind for some time now to make this avaiable for sale but the "quick switch" system works out fairly expensive as it is sterling silver. I have just found a different system though that may reduce the cost and make this more appealing so I am now planning world domination with macrame chokers!!!!

KEBO Jewellery

....I am so totally made up and I had to share this with you! Whilst pootling around this morning I came across some of my beads that have been made into gorgeous jewellery. This is the second time I have found my beads made into something and it still stuns me! KEBO Jewellery has made beautiful earrings, necklace and bracelet from one of my bead sets. If you scroll down to 10th November post there they are. Thank you Kelly you have made them into beautiful pieces and made my day. Please can I put them into my gallery in my website?

Ta dah!

Well here it is at last. I have enjoyed making this. It looks a simple pendant and really I guess it is but I have learned loads. I still don't know why it kept breaking but it is perfectly fine. I have tumbled it for 2 hours and it has a lovely finish and I am just bloody proud of it. I wonder if that is ok ....yes it is I have worked hard on this I only hope others like it as well. It will be available for sale shortly once my hubby has taken a decent picture of it and who knows I may make them order but only a limited number. What do you think?

TTFNx

Valentines day idea stage one!

Right I had a dream last night about an idea for a very simple but beautiful heart shaped pendant for Valentines. This is stage one the heart shape has been cut out of the Art Clay and is now drying before sanding and firing. I will show stage 2 tomorrow after firing!

Choker

And another cruddy mobile phone picture courtesy of naff lighting BUT again I have made this this evening. I have not made this style of choker for ages and it is quite nice to make although this one is a little loose for me but then I have a skinny neck so it will probabaly be fine for someone else! Again I will get Tony to take pictures later this week and pop it up for sale.

TTFNx

Earrings

Blimey excuse the cruddy pictures taken under a flourescent (sp?) light with my mobile phone!!! BUT...I made these this evening. I will get hubby to photograph them properly later this week and pop them on my website!