Poppies

I've neglected my polymer clay making of late, and as I adore Poppies I thought I'd try my hand at making one. I'm pleased with the way it turned out, but undecided if it will be a pendant suspended from a black suede thong, or made into a brooch. I made a slightly different one for myself which is on a fine silver chain.

Poppy

I've just remembered I bought a pack of silver precious metal clay about a year ago and still haven't made anything with it. It's a very different material to polymer clay, but I'll have fun experimenting with it!

New Designs Added This Week

Another busy week making new designs. Here are the latest additions to my Etsy shop. Click on the individual titles for full descriptions.

English Rose Locket

Topaz Twist Earrings

Smoke Earrings

Starry Night Necklace

Heart of Steel Earrings

Caviar Necklace

Cold Porcelain

I've just discovered Cold Porcelain and a recipe for making it at home ... there are loads of recipes on the Internet, many which vary slightly in the ingredients, so I chose one and couldn't wait to get started.

After reading reports of some people's disappointment with their numerous attempts at perfecting the clay, I was a little apprehensive, thinking that I would either end up with a gooey mess, or something that was dry, difficult to work with and cracked whilst drying.

But I'm delighted to say that my fears were unfounded!

The clay appears to have turned out beautifully. I must say after previously working with Polymer Clay, the texture and light perfume from the Nivea cream in the Cold Porcelain is quite pleasant. Added to that, the low cost, natural appearance, low toxicity and no need to fire, and I can definitely say I am now a convert!

Yesterday I made my very first attempt at making a white rose and was amazed how easy it was. It isn't perfect and I will need more practice but I'm enjoying the learning process.

White Rose:


I had a little piece of clay left over from that rose, so I added a tiny dab of acrylic paint to make a pink rose. I'm not sure if the acrylic paint made the texture a little drier, or if it was drying out through use, or possibly a combination of the two, but it didn't seem quite as supple as when I made the white rose. As you can see from the photo, it has formed tiny cracks along the edge of the thinnest petals... which is no bad thing and I actually think it looks quite realistic.

Pink Rose:


Primarily I'd like to use my flowers in my jewellery designs, so I'm a little disappointed that I will probably have to varnish them to protect from moisture. I love the natural matte porcelain look as it is, so will have to try a varnish with a very matte look to try to retain the appearance of porcelain.

I'm going to experiment using various additions to colour the clay and want to try adding Mica Pigment powder for a subtle pearly, shimmery effect too.

So my conclusion is that it is a wonderful clay and one that I will enjoy experimenting with.

Birthday Sale BOGO Half Price

It's my birthday next week and to celebrate I'm having a Buy One Get One Half Price sale on selected flower themed jewellery in my Etsy shop.

Many items are One Of A Kind, never to be repeated designs, so once they are gone, they are gone.

On purchasing two items, half of the lower priced item will be refunded through Paypal.

Check out what's included in my birthday sale here

Sale ends Friday 21st May 2010

Happy shopping! :)

Friday Focus

It's been an odd week with 3 days of having to wait in for a man in a van... actually that's not true, today's man arrived in a very posh car. My boiler broke on Sunday and a repair was attempted on Tuesday to no avail, so the engineer had to order a part and come back on Thursday, only he didn't come back, another man did. Then today an insurance surveyor called to assess my broken kitchen sink (don't ask!). He was the one in the posh car. Heaven knows what the neighbours must think with all these men coming and going... possibly that I've fallen on hard times?

But all this sitting around... (who am I kidding) I am so house proud I have to clean up before allowing workmen in. I actually got to play with my lovely beads and made two new pairs of earrings.

These are my current favourites... I adore them and will have to make a pair for myself!

Secret Garden


These pink earrings remind me of Peonies and are suitable for day or evening wear:

Peony

Spring is in the Air

I seem to have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to update my blog. I'm about to put that right with a gallery of my latest Spring Flower Collection. My flowers seem to be my best seller and after a couple of them were recently featured on the Etsy Front Page interest has grown (no pun intended) and orders have increased. So I figured I'd extend my range with some new designs. I can't claim they are botanically correct, but I have so much fun making them, and it beats gardening in this chilly weather!

Daffodils:



Nightshade Lily:


Bluebell:


First Dew:


Springtime:


Passion Blossom:



Tiffany Fleur:


Spring Green:



Summer Sky:



Lime Blossom:

Christmas Round Up

I've had a lovely, relaxed and peaceful Christmas. We've had quite a lot of snow so I haven't used the car since last Friday. The steep hill leading up from our close to the main road is like an ice rink and I've seen too many cars skidding all over the road to even attempt it. So Bailey's daily walks have been limited to the green at the top of the road.

But today the footpaths aren't even safe to walk on, so the poor lad has only been in the garden. It has rained a little tonight, so I'm hoping it will help to melt the ice. My son very kindly did the food shopping at 7.00am on Christmas eve morning... he caught the bus there and back, so I really have had a lovely stress free break.

Snowy garden


Christmas tree and fireplace garland


Sepia Christmas


As far as my jewellery is concerned I haven't been very productive lately, but here's a necklace I made recently:

Lemon Sorbet Vintage Lily Pendant


I made these earrings today. Not very festive, and more reminiscent of balmy summer days by the sea. But I figured if exotic holiday adverts are shown on Boxing day, then why not. Anyway I have customers in Australia to think about!

Ocean Drops



Happy New Year to Everyone! xx

Oh What a Beautiful Day

Such a happy day today! The sun is shining, and I managed to forget I was in pain as I drove along singing:

There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye,
An' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky.

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Everything's going my way.......

Until that is, I got out of the car and had to start walking. Ouch! I hobbled round the woods with my dog Bailey, sat on a wet bench and got a damp bum (I was that desperate) and hobbled back to the car. I think it's an inflamed sciatic nerve, but nothing that could wipe the smile off my face for very long. :)

On arriving home the postman brought me another little present... a most exquisite bracelet designed and made by the lovely Alison of AMIDesigns.etsy.com and my smile widened to that of a child on Christmas morning!


I fell in love with this gorgeous bracelet and bought it, even before Alison had time to list it after she previewed it on Flickr! It is absolutely dripping with dainty flowers and melons in an array of autumn shades. Every which way I turn my wrist, the light catches it and the beautiful iridescent colours change magically. I'm wearing it now, the tiny glass beads tinkling as I type. I will have to take it off before bed... or I could just stay up all night admiring it! :)

New Necklace

I made a new necklace for my Etsy shop today... the first listing I've made for a couple of weeks. I figured it was time I got my finger out and actually made something rather than just re listing existing stock. I'm really happy with the result; a gorgeous vibrant poppy button adorns a reto styled hoop strung on a mix of red vintage glass and black seed beads.

Retro Red Poppy Pendant

Recent Sale

I was honoured last week to sell these art deco style earrings to a lovely fellow Etsian AMI



AMI also makes the most gorgeous hand crafted jewellery and very kindly blogged about her purchase Here

Here's a taste of some of AMI's beautiful work: Why not check out her shop... I'm sure you'll find plenty there to delight you!