Swap Beads from Singapore.

Hello dear readers,

Lori Anderson, of Bead Soup Blog Party fame, has organised yet another wonderful beady delight in the form of a mini- bead exchange. Participants are paired up and swap...about ...a cup full of beads with their partner.

I was paired up with Viv from Vi Ve Creation in Singapore.
Vivian has a wonderful blog and shop. She sells beads and supplies and teaches workshops in Polymer Clay and jewellery making techniques. I love the fact she teaches children, too. So good to start the beading addiction early!
I was thrilled to be paired up with a polymer clay artist...something very different for me.

I picked up my parcel this morning and was a little shocked at how weighty it was! Viv...you have spoiled me with these lovely beads...I think there is way more than the cup recommended..but hey...I am not complaining...thank you so very much!

Here are some photos of the lovely beads Viv Sent me.

Lovely tag on Viv's package - and it matches my flowers on the table!

Sweet, sweet polymer clay flowers - these look good enough to eat. Can't wait to use these.

Resin cabochons - these will be a challenge for me, but aren't they gorgeous!

Lucite flowers...so dainty and delicate. Love the soft colors.

These are just a few of the gorgeous metal elements Viv sent.

Gemstone chips....love these colors.

Well that's it. Viv did send some seed beads and more metal components which I haven't included.

Thank you again, Viv.

Cheers for now,

Enjoy your day,

I Heart Macro- A Different Era.

Hello dear readers,

Welcome to my Sunday post of I Heart macro - hosted by Lori from Studio Waterstone.

Did you guess what it was?

Just noticed there is a dead spider attached to the ribbon!

Partially exposed on the left is my computer wireless system...talk about juxtaposition of old and new!

This lovely old typewriter has seen plenty of work and love over the years, and remarkably, still works.
No, it was not mine...but a gift from an elderly friend.

I did once learn to type...at school.....and I was terribly bad at it.
The teacher, in desperation put paper over the keys so I wouldn't look at them! That worked well!
I then typed total drivel...and still didn't remember where the keys were located. I just don't think my heart was ever in it....and I still type with 2 fingers and look at the keys to this day!

My father was a journalist and I remember the constant tap-tap of the keys at home....he had one like this once.....it was much quieter when he became all modern and purchased an electric typewriter. I missed that re-assuring sound, but I think my Mother was glad to hear the end of it!

Please head on over to Lori's for a peak at other photos by those who love macro and close-up photography. Click on the picture logo above and it will take you straight there!

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Cheers,

Challenge of Color Blog Hop - my colour palette and information.

Hello dear readers,

To challenge myself to make an article of jewellery ( something I am gradually improving at...but still very slow at !) I decided to sign up for the Challenge of Color over at Erin's blog, Treasure's Found.

Participants nominated a color preference and were then assigned a colour palette created by Jessica Colaluca of Design Seeds that included their chosen colour.

I chose gray....no particular reason apart from the fact I am just loving the shades and tones of gray at the moment. ( I even went so far as to install a gray glass splashback in my kitchen renovation recently!

I love grey so much I also created a board on Pinterest for those who are interested, called In Love with Gray

So, here is my pretty palette assigned by Erin - "Paw Tones." Thank you, Erin.

Paw Tones

Isn't it just the sweetest!! I am loving all the colors you see in this palette.

Please drop by on Wednesday November the 30th, to see the reveal and do a bit of hopping through the list of participants.

Until next time,
Have a great weekend,

Cheers,

Bead Table Wednesday - My Sari Silk Order Has Arrived!

Hello dear readers,

A lovely package arrived today...some beautiful sari-silk that I purchased online from Design Talent on etsy. She has a wonderful shop, so go and take a peek!

I have seen lots of wonderful designs using sari silk and really can't wait to give it a go. First up are wrapped beads, which I have learnt how to do in the last month or so and  really want to elaborate on the very basic ones I have made.

Just look at these gorgeous colours!! I chose mostly colours with an antique-type of appeal. My very generous supplier, also included a few extras for good measure. Thank you Lashell! I actually love the grey, olive and blue you sent as an extra.

How gorgeous are these colours!!

Don't you just want to pick them up?

The beautiful pile.

Hope you are all having a good day...I am off to my bead table... sari silk will be spread far and wide pretty soon!

Today I am linking up to Bead Table Wednesday - Please click on the Btw picture logo on my blog sidebar and it will take you straight there... you can check out all the delights on the bead tables there!

Cheers,

Patina Experiments

Hello dear readers,

You all know by now, that I am developing a bit of an obsession with copper.

I think it is a natural progression to want to start playing with the effects that copper can give - particularly the 'patina'.

Actually, the meaning of 'patina' is really something that results from usage or corrosion over time, usually a greenish layer (basic copper sulphate) that forms on copper or bronze. So, technically, some of the patinas I am about to show you are more of a chemical reaction than a patina ... but none the less, they look great ... so please come and take a look.

Copper dipped in vinegar, sprinkled with course salt and sat on a bed of paper towel wet with cloudy ammonia. Left, covered, for 24 hours.

As above, (no vinegar) but suspended in a coffee can on a wire above a 1/4 cup of liquid ammonia - result shown after 24 hours.

As above, after 48 hours.

Colored effect after heating with a soft torch. Do a section at a time. When you see the color emerge, dip it in cold water and then move on to another section until you get the result you want.

The copper was covered with flux on both sides and then heated to a dark red glow on each side.

Immerse in water and repeat.   The photo shows the result after two coatings.

The reverse side. I may have over heated this piece as I do not think it is really meant to go as black as this.

The copper was coated with a thin smear of Gilder's Paste, Patina.

Color using Liver of Sulphur.

 Top row: L- rich brown, R- some "oil" type effect.

Bottom row: L- Dark grey, almost black. R- Dark coloration left in an imprint after removing some patina  with fine steel wool. 

As you can see, I have had a bit of fun with this. If you try it yourself, just make sure the lids on those containers seal well ... the ammonia is very strong .... have good ventilation or go outside when opening the container/tin. 

As you can see the patina effect on the first 6 photos is a little crusty ... I will need to lightly brush it off a little more and then seal it with a spray for it to be usable in jewellery

.
See also Patina Experiments no. 2 for a different batch of patina colours .

That's it for today, folks,

have a good day,

Jenni

I Heart Macro - Bead Love.

Hello dear readers,

A few days ago, I went to the Melbourne Bead Expo. This annual event is one of two annual bead shows held in Melbourne, Australia.

This particular show is run by the Bead Society of Victoria.

There were lots of bead suppliers from around Australia, many locally talented lampworkers, classes  available and a wonderful exhibition of jewellery items as part of the Challenge Exhibition. ( all competitors had to use the same beads as part of the challenge)

I was fairly restrained in my purchasing this year, mainly buying strands of smaller  beads and gemstones that I could incorporate with a few pieces I am working on for Christmas presents and on-line beading design challenges.

The blue ones are Peruvian Opal, coloured pearls, Hessonite Garnet, and Grey Quartz to name a few.

Wonderful glass daggers...fabulous aren't they?

Today, I am linking up to I Heart Macro. Please click on the photo link below to take you to see other 'I Heart Macro' photos at our host, Lori's site - Studio Waterstone.

Cheers for now,

I Heart Macro - Book Love.

Hello dear readers,

It has been a week of "firsts" for me...a 'first' at making quite a few metal jewellery components......this has been a stimulating, exciting task for me..I am loving it and can't wait to make more!
I find I wake up in the night thinking about it...planning designs and thinking how to achieve that design. I haven't been that excited about jewellery making since I started glass bead making years ago.

Another 'first' has been reading a book on my iPad. I have read articles before but not a full book...it was 'The Help'...for those who want a good read...lots of human drama, humour and sadness mixed in with this one.

The next 'first' is I have downloaded on to my iPad an audio book to read while I make jewellery.
It is a lengthy historical saga recommended by a friend... thanks Belinda.
I hope I like it as there are 140 hour of listening time on it!! I will let you know how it goes.

I know there are many people who stoically refuse to embrace books downloaded on to e-readers. That's o.k. I do understand the reasons. I have been a book lover my whole life and see the iPad as just another way of accessing a good book. I will never give up my 'real' book favourites. And I do still buy hard copy books, too.

Here are a couple of old books  from a collection I have on my bedroom mantle shelf.....some were old ones that had belonged to my parents, some were mine. They are a thing of beauty in a way that e-books can never be!

Beautiful patterns on the spine.

Titles...remember these ones?

An old family bookend.

Today I am linking up to I Heart Macro...Up Close Photography for Macro makers and the Camerologically Challenged. 

Click on the photo link below to take you to Lori's site at Studio Waterstone to see  other participant's photos.

Cheers for now,

A Glass Blue Wren - From Venice

Hello dear readers,

A few days ago, I came across a wonderful photo of a Blue Fairy Wren on Carole's Creative Corner.

Now for those that don't know, the Fairy Wren is my little blog icon that I use when chatting on various forums etc... the female Blue Wren (commonly called a 'Jenny Wren') in particular is my icon.  She is the little brown bird and the male has the intense colorful blue plumage... as is so often the way in the bird world.
The Jenny Wren can also be seen on my blog header.

Seeing those wonderful bird photos reminded me that I have never shown a photo of the gorgeous sculptural Blue Wren I purchased from Vittorio Costantini when I was in Venice earlier on this year....so here he is:

This little bird is so beautiful ...the markings and delicacy of the legs and feet in particular are truly spectacular... this is glass remember! Isn't he divine... Vittorio is a Master at his work and it was a real privilege to talk to him and watch him work for a while.

And now to a few more copper photos!!... I just can't seem to keep away from this metal lately. Here are a few things I have made over the last two days. I can't believe how I am loving working with the metal... the glass is getting a little dusty!

Silver and copper bead, deliberately textured with a dremel bit.

Copper leaf, cut from 24 gauge sheet metal, the word "HOOT" is stamped on it. (My husband said this leaf shape looks like a Christmas tree... I was going for an oak leaf!)

All metal beads so far.... still to be darkened in Liver of Sulphur.

Copper lentil beads and a little wire nest with pearls (I learnt this from a tutorial by Sarah Ortega.)

Hope you are all having a wonderful day...I know I am!!  Hoot!