Bead Table Wednesday - a completed ring

Hello dear friends,

Well, I said I would show you when I had completed the Russian wedding ring I have been working on this week.
I'm pretty happy... it fits really well... is shined up and looking pretty nice.

(one thing I am STILL yet to learn is to remember to clean up a piece before taking a photo... it has a few hairs on it...I must buy one of those photographic hand held little dust blowers!)

These rings are the domain of the beginner jewellery maker really... after all they are really only 3 simple rings... just all interconnected.
It did take a while to make.... NEXT time should be a little faster now I know how to go about it!

Today, I am linking up to Bead table wednesday.. a Flickr group started by Heather at Humblebeads.
It's a place where those who  love to make jewellery show what is on their bead-making table on a Wednesday.

Hope you are enjoying your day,

Bead Table Wednesday - Perseverance is Required!

Hello dear friends,

It's a gorgeous sunny day here in Melbourne. There has been so much Spring rain recently, my garden is running rampant. So, today after this post..that's where I will be...trimming and weeding, cutting and planting. Sounds like fun...yes I love it....although have to pace myself as my back doesn't!

This week I have continued my love affair with copper...bashing and beating it...and doing my best to solder with it. (You Tube has been a great learning tool in this regard...years ago, I did a little bit of soldering..but have really forgotten how to approach it.....so I refreshed my memory on line...you can look anything up there these days!)

Here are a few attempts.

I love my bird house which I textured with hammers etc, however when soldering the second roof line...the copper edging moved. There was actually meant to be a bigger gap where the roof line crossed and I had planned to put a jump ring in there so I could hang it on a cord or chain.....foiled with that idea! So, I drilled a hole...but really, the hole is too far down in to the body of the roof....will have to try it again I guess....patience and perseverance is required!

I am loving this leaf..."smooth and rough" I am calling it...I believe I was  definitely thinking about life  and all it's variances when making this one.

It still needs a bit of Liver of Sulphur Patina...and hopefully, I can drill a hole in the little stalk at the top.

I like the rustic effect of the torch-fired patina in the first leaf I made (Top photo) but it looks more like a pair of lips than a leaf!!

I have also been attempting to learn how to do tube rivets, too...you can see some extremely bad examples in the first photo.....lots of practise and patience required to improve there, I think!
Perseverance required for all.

Part of my front garden and lush Spring growth.

Today I am linking up to  the Flickr site of Bead Table Wednesday..... hosted by Heather  at Humblebeads. You can check out what other people have on their bead table's this week.

Cheers for now,

Btw - working with wire

Hello dear readers,

It is Wednesday... so I do try and post what is on my bead table and join in the fun of btw (Bead Table Wednesday)... provided I am actually working on something!

Well, as it turns out, this week I am endeavouring to improve my fairly rudimentary wire working skills. Teaching myself from books  ( and an instructional DVD in one of the books) means my progress is a little slower than if I were shown in a class.... but at least I can work on it at my own leisure and time frame.
It is a slow process...I am all thumbs at times and  definitely have a long way to go!

Practising with copper wire and gorgeous coloured Para wire helps to keep the cost down.

I love the coloured coils: this purple one is in fine 26 gauge wire.

Here are the wire working books I have been learning from:

1. Bead on a Wire - Sharilyn Miller 

2. Wire Style 2 by Denise Peck (comes with a DVD)          

3.Totally Twisted by Kerry Bogert

They are all totally fantastic books and I would  recommend them all for their ease of explanations and great projects.

Please click on the btw logo on my blog side bar to take you to more btw fun.

Cheers for now,

Bead Table Wednesday - A Fairytale/spring bead swap gift.

Hello dear friends,

As today is Wednesday it is Bead Table day...

As a lot of you would know, Bead Table Wednesday is when we display photos of beads we are currently  working with....( please click on the btw icon on the blog side bar to take you to see other participants' photos)


I recently received a lovely package of beads from Erin Prais-Hintz at tesori trovati jewelry.
Erin is a wonderful jewelry designer who creates one-of-a-kind pieces using anything from copper, sari silk and gemstones, to her own line of gorgeous 'simple truth' pendants and charms. I am thrilled with all the elements she sent to me and only hope I can do them justice!

The reason for this little package, is that we are paired up in an exchange, organised by Lori Anderson.
This time around the swap is a Fairytale/spring theme.

Anyway, here are the lovely pieces Erin sent to me, and they are what is on my bead table today...

Lovely card and package.

Simple Truths connector - 'leap'

Lucite flowers, fluorite nuggets, swarovski crystals

and a sweet little jade frog from Thailand.

Ceramic focal from Lisa Peters

Green goldstone and 'bling'

An assortment of Vintage/Nunn designs.

Am I a lucky girl or what!!? There is far more here than I will use on this project, thank-you Erin for your generosity.

And now to get moving on it.... a mixture of "Secret garden meeting the frog prince" said Erin.

 The blog reveal will be on June 4th.

Have a good day,