Ooops forgot the title

Blue Rose Pendant

It's that long since I've been here.

So here I am Sunday afternoon unable to get in my studio since TS needs my PC to type up his dissertation. It's based around online communities so I thought I would share what has been going on with me.

Been making a whole load of enamels which are now featured on Bejewelled Swan.

You might be able to tell that I have been having a bit of a love affair both with my cog stencil and cats eye beads.  Every time I think I have had enough of them I get drawn back.

Violet Pendant

Green Machine Earrings

 I was going to get a bit more silversmithy and 3D (but with copper obviously) and got my torch out all ready to start soldering up a storm. That was shortlived as I appear to have broken both my micro torch and my slightly bigger plumbers torch. They don't like getting dropped on the floor who'd a thought it?

Maybe it's the gods way of telling me to get a proper jeweller's torch or maybe give it up who knows. Personally I prefer the retail therapy option.

Navigator Pendant

New Year New Name New Website

Mascot for Bejewelled Swan

So this is why I have been quiet I have been working on a new website to feature my handmade jewellery plus new year new name the fabulously fanciful Bejewelled Swan .

That is the new me you see rather fabulous, though not with the photos so it has taken rather longer than I thought to actually have enough necklaces and bracelets on there to bother clicking on it. The earrings are still lagging behind. Aims over at Big Blue Barn (she's on the side bar and promises me she will soon be writing again) has been checking the spelling and punctuation for me. In between laughing at our total inability to deal with snow cos we are not Canadian so that is all her fault.

All of which means I haven't made much of anything so nothing to blog about except for my new website. Did I tell you I had a new website?

Once more for luck

Almost impossible to photograph earrings

I know I said it was the end of the herringbone but I had these funky orange and blue beads and this orange and blue wire. What's a girl to do?

Other than get some stuff in her MISI shop - maybe I'll be in time for the January sales.

Herringbone and the rest

Moonstone and steel pendant

Finally the other half got a piece of jewellery. He doesn't wear it as a rule but had a hankering for something. I think this moonstone pencil, or point as my mate Aims calls them, wrapped in steel on a leather thong is interesting yet manly a bit like himself.  Moonstone is said to offer protection while travelling at night so maybe something else to add to the flashing lights and hi vis jacket when he is coming home from Uni on his bike.

Agate and copper pendant

Of course envy set in and I had to have one too this is agate wrapped in copper. Strong but slightly more feminine I feel (no I didn't day it). This is good for warding off storms and controlling inner anger apparently so it might stop me giving shouty drivers the hi vis finger when I am cycling with my bright yellow gloves on.

Necklace - Orange enamel donut catseye glass beads
 herringbone weave copper wire

Another of my enamel donuts that were waiting for me to come up with the right technique. Yes this is where the herringbone bit starts, perhaps the title should have been The Rest and Herringbone. Its teamed up with zingy orange catseye effect glass beads. Perhaps I should have the whole piece of jewellery in mind when I start enamelling but that is not the Breezy Way.

Necklace - Glass marble and jasper beads
herring bone weave copper wire

And this is where the herringbone ends . . . probably . . .  with these marble glass beads interspaced with jasper. No stories of artistic angst to go with this I saw beads,  I liked them,  I bought them,  I wrapped them that is also the Breezy Way.

Herringbone a bit more

Wire wrapped earrings

Not quite part two but a bit more than part one.

I tried to get a pic of the back of these as they are fascinating the way the wire wraps round the back snuggling the beads into sort of a hammock.

reverse herringbone earrings

Doesn't quite capture what I see but maybe that's because the "snuggle factor" is all in my mind.

Can't decide if I should leave the copper bright or darken them. Ah decisions decisions.

That's it then not worthy of a whole part but I rather wanted to share. All together now . . .aaaah

Herringbone part one

Enamel donut with wirework bale and chain

This does not necessarily mean there will be a part two you understand so don't be holding your breath.

I've been playing around with herringbone weave this week. I'm not quite done with it yet, I still have a few ideas kicking around in my head that I'd like to try out.

This necklace uses an enamel donut I made ages ago and loved but I never quite found the right combo that made it into a something.

It has been looking at me from the slide pockets I stick up on the wall to keep half thought out things, doodles, near misses and "I like it but have no idea where I am going with this" things.

Anyway, I did some herringbone weave on the blue & orange crackle beads. Then off I went wondering what would happen if I didn't weave round a bead and while testing that idea to destruction came up with the herringbone bale based around a tiny copper bead.

Et voila! a necklace and a lot of scrap wire. Good job I use copper.

Just as soon as I manage to take some decent photos of it,  I'll sweep away the cobwebs in my MISI shop and put it up for sale.

Golden Brown

Wirework necklace and bracelet brown

Still wrapping and coiling over here.

This is a necklace and bracelet set I am making for someone at work. She really liked the black and white crackle glass beads on the pendant I made for myself but wanted something like the chain but in brown (there's always one isn't there) .

Anyway because I'd ordered smaller beads and because the brown was more of a dark amber and  just didn't have the oomph of the black and clear I've added some coil beads in a chocolate brown wire.

I've only lightly patinated the copper this time so the overall effect is sort of a rusty colour perfect for a redhead.

It's fairly understated to wear with a suit at work but the clear part of the crackle beads just throws off the odd sparkle as they catch the light.

Now to master herringbone for some rather funky blue and orange crackle glass beads I just couldn't resist when I ordered these. Oh and then there's the brown/blue marble effect beads. Shopping it's really dangerous.