Home Brooch

My jewellery tutor set our class a challenge - if we wanted to join in, we had to make a brooch from a little packet of supplied materials (an oblong of guilding metal, a small square of brass, some copper shim - really thin pliable copper sheet, a small square of copper, some paper, and a small piece of silver for rivoting). We were allowed to add no more than 5g of silver, and whatever other materials we wanted.

I took my inspiration from PTI's Love Lives Here stamp set for the house shape - not a direct copy, as the metal I had was slightly smaller - but pretty similar. The sun rising, and the dangles were all just 'things' that emerged along the way in my design process.

The second part of the challenge was to use as many different techniques as possible - think I've scored highly on that one. The blue colour on the copper and brass was achieved with a little help from amonia and vinegar. And because I wanted to 'hang' the home sign I rivoted with silver tube. Used my own patterned papers.

The little dangles at the bottom have a meaning - the heart for love; the pearl (June), amythyst (Feb) and tube bead represents opal (October) are for my 3 children. And the bird? I just like them :o)

Its not my usual style - but I really like this brooch. And it was fun to make too. And lots cheaper than using silver.

Anyway, tonight is the night we have to 'submit' the brooches for judging. Think we all get to vote, and possibly the other class get to vote on our stuff too. We all paid a little extra so the winner could have a small prize. I think we've all enjoyed making them - and there are some great designs - will be good to see them all together.

Some Case'd cards

Well its PTI new release time again, so here are some cased projects - to try convince me I really don't need to buy more ;o)

First up, a little favor bag, it does more or less what the new die is meant to do - just involves a little fiddling with the die I currently have - and I'm quite pleased with the result. I did try cut the kraft bit all in one go, but that required half putting the die through my big shot, then moving it, and putting the top half through. Sadly it wasn't lined up as good as I thought, so had to make a cut across the bottom to have the 'straps' and the base as 2 bits. Anyway, the original is in this post here

The next card I'm also very pleased with - managed to find a vase/flower stamp that I've had for ages, and it makes a good substitute - though if I were to make this card again, I'd move the sentiment and not stay true to the one I'd cased (in this post). Either way, I like the layout, so will use this as a sketch for another card.

And this is my final card for today - I changed the colours slightly, and didn't have a pencil image I could use, so made more of the sentiment instead. Should really have done a little more stamping to the circles, but was running out of time. Anyway, the original is here.

And the TV interview? Went OK. She filmed me making some earrings, then interviewed me, and my tutor. Took a good hour. Was on TV for all of 45 seconds! But what was shown wasn't too embaressing either, so I don't *think* I made a fool of myself.

Fame!

Well, almost. The school that I do my jewellery class at have been busy. I had the Chronicle phone me today for a quick interview. And just as I was on my way out to pick the kids up from school, the jewellery class organisers phoned to say they'd arranged an interview with Meridian TV could I be at the school at 9.30am tomorrow? Anyone got any good tips on how to loose 3 stone overnight? What will I wear? It'll involve an ironing board at some point I'm sure. More to the point, what will I say? I hope I won't make a fool of myself. Worried I'll either clam up, or babble on insainly.

And I wonder if I'll be through in time to go to my step class? Normally on a Tuesday I roll out of bed and get ready for the gym - bugger my appearance. Will have to shower, do my hair, look nice etc tomorrow. I'll put my gym stuff in the boot of the car. After all I didn't make it to any classes last week, (kids on half term).

My Ring on display at the V&A!

Well today was the day my ring finally went on display at the VandA museum - its there until 3rd July. It was very exciting knowing that my ring is in one of the big museums in London. These are some of the ladies on the course I do - some from Monday nights, and some from Tuesday night (which I do), and our tutor in the middle. It really was lovely to share my experience with them all.


And my ring (and the drivel I wrote about it - try not to laugh too much)

And just in case you missed seeing my ring in all its glory, I thought I'd subject you to it again!

Sewing!

I bought a small cheap sewing machine before Christmas. A long time before Christmas. It was for 2 things really - something I could maybe let my children loose on, but mainly for me to play with sewing onto card. I have a bigger machine. A proper one. But thought I'd rather ruin a cheap one thats easy to get out and put away on card (or with the kids). Well today was that day. I released it from its box, and the plastic surrounding it. I skipped the instructions (don't you?) attempted to make it work, and then went back to the instructions and skimmed through the bit that says 'using your machine'. OMG its a freaky little thing! But I think I'm slowly mastering it. Slowly. So, no sewn card today, maybe I'll have mastered the freaky little machine enough to produce a card with sewing on by tomorrow. Maybe.

No more time today, school run, then dinner and an extra to entertain tonight as a favour to a friend. WHAT HAVE I DONE? On a school night. I have an extra 4yr old to look after for the night. Here's hoping she and my lovely 5yr old daughter will fall asleep instantly at 8pm. (How unlikely is that?). Millie came out with the most delightful thing yesterday - she cycled to her school farm trip. Its 8 miles from the school. The mother that was taking her, also took her own and another friends child. When asked what happend to the bikes at the farm, she said that the bikes were tied to the mummy. All with a straight face. She lives in a funny little world of imagination, where bottles or stones or whatever she has to hand talk to each other. Well, the school run beckons. Off to collect the little people. And put the freaky machine away.

A couple of Cards

This first card is made with a fabulous SU SAB set - with lots of options. I don't make that many flowery cards, but really love how this turned out.

And it was my sisters birthday on Saturday - this is the card she got from us - all PTI stamps and dies, using SU card.

Easter Day

I had a lovely day - a family day. The children were all keen to have their Easter Eggs first thing - I asked that they tidy their bedrooms, get dressed, make beds etc to keep putting them off. After getting them to brush their teeth, I said there was no point in tucking into an egg straight after cleaning their teeth, and perhaps they should wait till after we went to Church. (Mean Mummy I know).

At Church, a friend asked the boys back for lunch and a play, so off they went. We had a quiet lunch, and then Millie and I played in the garden with her new Hello Kitty toy - then she went for a walk in the woods with her dad.

The boys came home just after 4pm (still no eggs at this point), and we finally had the Egg Hunt. I'd put little 'notes' (PTI lunchbox note die) that had been decorated around the garden. The kids all had their own set to hunt for, then they had to work out what the letters spelt (Esaster Egg) before I would hand over the chocholatey prizes.

I know he doesn't look very impressed in the photo, but he did say he really enjoyed the hunt.


James also enjoyed looking for the little notes



And Millie was the first to find all of her notes - but then I'd put them in slightly easier places to find.

And this is Millies decorated notes. The boys notes were similar, just in a different colour scheme.

And finally a big Sunday roast to finish the day off.