Upcoming jewelery designer and new projects

My two year old son is fascinated by my jewellery making, and today I scraped the courage (and patience) together to let him play with my beads while I work. Usually I don't let him mess with my beads and findings, because:

a- He still likes to put everything in his mouth, and

b- He will probably throw them everywhere.

But he was really good, and tried to copy me with what I was doing, putting beads on wires. I was pretty impressed with him getting the wire into those small holes, and not loosing his patience with it.

Now that I know he can handle it, I will let him play with them again :-)

I also painted these cute little tin buckets with some blackboard paint. Great way to organize pens, pencils, chopsticks etc... I love the way it looks! Will be selling these too at the upcoming market on the 3rd April.

Wire beads and an upcoming market

OoOoOo!!! Pretty excited about some wire.... that I've made into beads. Gorgeous copper, gold and greens. It's so much fun!

I have a coiling gizmo, that I purchased about 6 years ago, and  I've FINALLY started playing with it.

I know. I know... 6 years! I just kept it in its little box in my drawer, promising myself to do some creating with it as some stage when I have time... and well... just never had the time! Also I have to admit, it sounded complicated to use, and above my skill level.

But I was wrong! Not too difficult (just a little hard on the fingers) and HEAPS of fun! I can see myself go through stacks of wire with this.

Here is some of the beads:

I decided to make a bracelet with them, and I am quite happy with how it turned out:

I also booked a stall for my first market with Once Again. It will be at the Devonport Craft Market on Sunday 3rd April 2011 at the Devonport Community House, 32 Clarence Street, Devonport.10 - 3pm. Now I have to move my butt (when the kids are sleeping) to make enough stock! Eek! Looking forward to showing all my handy work to the public though!

Funky wheel earrings - up-cycled from my boys broken toys!

Here is also a preview of some of the other items I made this week:

Necklace in brass made with hand stamped disc, heart made from a broken up-cycled teacup, and charms.

Weekend festival and some silver spoons

Had a lovely weekend - went to Browns Bay for the Cairo to Cape Town Street Festival with my two boys, Mum, friend Nicola and her son Ben on Saturday.
I love walking through stalls (always see things I want and I always get inspiration)  Also had some lovely ice-creams on the beach and a Savannah apple cider - Bliss.

Then we discovered a great, well hidden, little Hospice shop and I found some gorgeous silver spoons and forks. Have some BRILLIANT ideas for those!!
The weather was warm and sunny, SO nice - we better enjoy the last of the warm, dry weather before the winter start. Not long now!
xxx

Watching the devastation in Japan..

Sitting in front of the TV at the moment watching the big, scary earthquake coverage from Japan. Have to say the Tsunami is really freaky. My heart goes out to all the people in Japan, and of course Christchurch, who also had their share about 2 weeks ago.

I couldn't believe that devastation happening in my own country, and now in Japan...

I've also donated some of my items for charity auctions to raise money for the Christchurch earthquake fund. Three of those have already sold,  but three will be going up soon. These three will be listed on Trade Me through 'Handmade for Christchurch"

Have a look at their other auctions too. It is for such a good cause!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=3720030

Go and spend some money on gorgeous handmade items!!!

Here are the items I donated that is still to go up on auction:

Handmade polymer clay rose and stiffened crochet leaf necklace.

UPDATE: These auctions have now been loaded (14/03/2011)

 Go and have a look!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Jewellery-watches/Earrings/Other/auction-361304525.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Jewellery-watches/Earrings/Other/auction-361305347.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Jewellery-watches/Necklaces-pendants/Other/auction-361306513.htm

Cute wooden bird and cage earrings

"Kisses for Christchurch" wooden earrings

Salvation Army Store hunting and in-organic inspiration.

Went to the salvation army store in Browns Bay today, and found a few items that sparked some more inspiration. Op-shops are dangerous places for me to go... I always find a lot of 'junk' I like, and I have to be honest, we really don't have place for all my junk.

 But sometimes from junk, comes the COOLEST ideas.

The other day, I was helping my youngest brother move house, and low and behold... in-organics was happening in his neighbourhood.

For those of you that don't know what in-organics is, it is one of my favourite Auckland, New Zealand things..

Once a year you get a letter in the post from the City Council telling you that it is your turn to put your in-organics out for collection. For a whole weekend you decide what stuff in your house needs to be dumped, and then drag it out to the curb.

It can be almost anything; a broken couch, broken toys, the old TV, rusty fan... (you get the idea)

On the Monday morning, the council comes with their big trucks and pick it up. How fantastic is that???

Meanwhile the whole neighbourhood is looking through each others piles, and re-homing items they think is worth keeping. I reckon it is the ultimate recycling!

Well... I was looking through piles (I can't help myself, and I have no shame) and I found a broken doll. Only her head and torso was left. Some kid obviously enjoyed playing with her at some stage (evident from the pen marks on her cheeks..) And I decided I would take her home...  I had an idea..

I then made her into the COOLEST jewellery ever. (well, I think so) The ears and the eyes have sold already (didn't last long) and I'm sure the mouth and nose necklaces will sell as well. Apparently other people like weird too?

Now I'm always looking for more dolls...

Do you have any for me?? Please?? :-)

My inspiration is back!

Glad to say that inspiration is 'once again' firmly planted in my brain! :-)

 While pregnant with my second son, I lost all inspiration that was left in me after my first pregnancy, and all I could really concentrate on was growing this new life inside me while taking care of my demanding toddler.

I suffered a bit of postnatal  depression since my seconds son's birth 6 months ago, but thankfully to a fantastic husband and an observant Mum, I did get some help for this. The medicine started taking effect and it is like the "light" went back on. I didn't realize how dark it had become...

I made this recycled neck tie necklace - LOVE it!

I've started with my 'Once again' crafting endeavours in January 2011 - and I mainly make things from recycled, up-cycled materials. Although I'm not limiting myself there. I'm going where ever this new wave of inspiration is taking me.

So expect variety! :-)