It's not a found object but so pretty ...

I do use a lot of found and salvaged objects in my jewelry, including beads sourced from thrift stores and the like.    Sometimes though you just gotta go new,  especially when they look like this:

This is a grab bag from http://www.etsy.com/shop/mountainshadowdesign.  I've bought from them before and they don't disappoint.

And  these from http://www.etsy.com/shop/avedisgems.  They are a Sydney based supplier so, hopefully, the goodies wont take too long to arrive.


Nothing can compare to the heart stopping/can't breathe excitement of finding something wonderful in a thrift shop or on the ground (yes, my children hate going out with me as I have a tendency to stop in the middle of the street and pick up some discarded object saying 'ooh look at this').   But, opening up a pack of new lovlies from your favorite etsy supplier comes a pretty close second (if you can stand the stress of waiting for it to arrive of course).

It's not always about jewellery

If you take a look at the list of blogs I follow (over on the left of the page) you will see that they are definitely not limited to jewelry.


I love blogs.  In fact, it's got to the point where, rather than reach for a book at night, I reach for my iPad and indulge myself in a bit of blog perusing .    I think it was the Bloggess (www.thebloggess.com) that got me hooked.    I recently joined the Etsians of Facebook Team and was encouraged, via one of their discussion threads,  to peruse the blogs of fellow team members and, by doing so,  discovered some real gems.    


There are some amazingly talented, funny and creative people out there and I guess one of the things I love about the online world  it is its accessibility (OK, I know lots of people don't have computers or broadband connections).  The internet is a  marvelous playground.  Just like any playground it has its fair share of bullies, stalkers and flashers, but it's still a pretty great place to play.  


It's also really heartening, and this brings me back to blogs, is how entertaining and richly rewarding it is to read about other people's (and I mean average people, not celebs) daily lives, to hear their stories and get a glimpse into their world.  The very best blogs, in my opinion at least, are authentic and, although they may be be riotously funny, have a note of truth.


Anyhow, that's enough rambling from me for today.

Makers Block!

I haven't posted anything (here or on etsy) for a few days. I've been  wondering why I have succumbed to 'makers block'   - perhaps it's a case of being too busy elsewhere (doesn't usually stop me) but I think it's a case of P.E (Post Etsy) syndrome.  


Before I started my etsy shop I made stuff when I felt like it and, even though jewellery is still not my day job, I think the self-imposed pressure of making, photographing, describing, posting (and blogging) put a dint in my creative spirit.  Rather than being an 'outlet' it became a chore.  So, I took a few days off and reminded myself that, unlike most everything else in my life, when it comes to quisnam, I call the shots and it's supposed to be fun!


With this in mind I made a couple of things.  First a present for my niece's birthday.   

The charms include a polymer clay bell and resin filled bezels with photographs of my father and mother (my niece's grand mother and grand father).  My mother is very much alive but my father died a few years ago. This is a way of keeping his memory alive for his grand children who were very young when he died.   I hope she doesn't think it's too creepy!!

I rediscovered the fun of making jewellery with this piece.  I was going to keep it for myself to remind me not to get too serious, but I decided to list it.

Scavenger Hunt

Went on a bit of scavenger hunt this weekend and found lots of goodies.  

Check out these lovely old tea tins.  I particularly like the one on the right as it's already quite distressed.  The lid is white and I think I will use it to frame one of the people from the side of the tin.

The little picture frames are a dark pewter colour - they are metal, probably cast.  Found these and the Port Douglas souvenir spoon at Vinnies.  The dark orangy red beads in shadow at the bottom are polished stone.

Some hardware supplies - love wondering around hardware stores although my eclectic selections often result in strange looks from the staff at the checkout.

Then I found the MOTHER-LOAD.  A stall at a local Sunday market was selling old and broken watch parts  - $10 for as many as you could fit in one hand (shame my hands aren't bigger).  Also bought this beautiful old cake tin (there's no way I'm cutting this one up, it's way too pretty).

Of course all these things then resulted in major panic because I had no where to put any of them. Three hours and major re-organisation later ...

Dada ... clean work bench.