What I've been working on.

It's crazy week!
It's crazy at this time of year anyway isn't it?
But I've got 2 more weekends of 2 days markets and tomorrow I take my wares to hubs work and set up in the canteen. It's always good to catch up with the people he works with and a very convenient opportunity for the guys there to pick up a pressie for their wife.

So this is what has been on the bead board the last few days.

natural amethyst necklace

blue lace agate necklace

simple white howlite necklace

long white shell beads necklace

funky purple pearl shell necklace

rough cut rose quartz necklace

many treasures memory wire bracelets

long accent bead and seed bead necklaces

I also managed to whip up a few more kombi tshirts as these seem to be the most popular at the moment....but when they have gone, that is it! No more Boos Tees tshirts.

What have you been up to this week?
Is it mad-crazy in your neck of the woods?

My Creative Space - going bonkers for bracelets!

I found my mojo! Hurray!
There's nothing like the looming summer markets and festivals to stir one into action is there?

And it's summer!
Which means it's great weather for wearing sleeveless or short-sleeved frocks.
And what do you need to go with said sleeveless frocks?

Why! a bracelet of course.

So I have been busily getting my beads out and so far I have made 25 bracelets - I can't seem to stop.
My many treasures bracelets are also a great way for me to use up some of the beads that will never become earrings *sob* or climb to the lofty heights of a necklace but they meet up with their buddies in a bracelet.

I also made some quite summery necklaces -

What next?
Perhaps I should make some earrings - or some button studs - or ....some more bracelets, hehe!

My Creative Space - getting my beads out. Blobtoberfest 2013 day 10.

I've been away for a while - as you no doubt know!
And now it is October! Yikes!
It will be Christmas before you know it.
Big markets and festivals are coming up.....
but..... the jewellery cupboard is bare.....luckily the bead cupboard is not bare.

So I ventured into my workroom and pulled out some strands of brand-spanking-new beads.

Just for a bit of a warm-up I made some simple necklaces - I like to think of this as my monochrome range, but maybe I need a different name.

aquamarine necklace

turquoise howlite

green agate

pink faceted agate

red coral

I also made some sparkly faceted glass bracelets.

What have you been creating this week?

How to - make all sorts of bracelets

Now is the time of year to start thinking of making bracelets again ready for summer.
Strangely, or maybe not so strangely, bracelets are not popular in the winter, probably because we're all bundled up with jumpers and coats - but summer is a great time for bare arms and arm adornments.

Here are a few tutorials that I have saved on some more unusual bracelets, not just your run-of-the-mill bead stringing that I might have a go at one day - or for you to try.

These wrapped cord or leather bracelets have been very popular and you could use any sort of bead, in fact I have seen them made with bead stash beads.
Thanks to bead supplier Fusion Beads for this one.

wrapped bracelet from fusion beads

This one is a great use for old ties and I could see it working for other fabrics as well. You could even embellish the fabric more with beads, buttons, free embroidery etc.

necktie bracelet from Linda Eve's Blog

The next one is very simple - all you need is a wooden bangle, some paper and some glue!
You could also possibly use fabric or ribbon.
I found this on the blog Platinum Blonde Life where it was mentioned that it was originally created by Fashion is Spinach in Neet magazine which seems to be no longer available.

cute printed bangles

Here's a great one for recycling some of your old tshirts or off-cuts from other projects.
It does require fairly long strips of fabric though.

jersey knit bracelet by V and Co

Remember the old knitting needle bracelets that were popular a year or so ago?
Here is a variation on that - this time recycle your old toothbrushes!

toothbrush bangles from smilemonsters

So bracelets do not need to be "just beads" but can be made out of just about anything.
Have you made bracelets from unusual materials?

Turning necklaces into something else - a bit of remodelling - My Creative Space.

Sometimes things don't find a nice new loving home.
Sad but true : (
I have a few of those things hanging around at the moment.

Luckily most jewellery creations can be remodelled/recycled/refreshed, whatever!

So I got out my box of has-beens and took a fresh look at them.
What could I do?

I really like the ceramic beads in this necklace but they just didn't really work as a plain mid-length necklace.

I recently bought this lovely handmade ceramic pendants from Beadfreaky.
With nothing specific in mind - I just liked them!
But, hey! How would the goddess face go with the ceramic beads from the simple necklace?

Combined with some blue/pink faceted crackle agate beads (very unusual beads) and some black agate for contrast.

Spurred on by this I decided to have a look at some other necklaces that need a bit of remodelling.
This was a longish necklace with a chunky graphic jasper pendant.

Still in the memory wire, bracelet making mode - it became a warm-tone wrap around bracelet.
Lovely colours for autumn or winter.

I didn't take a photo of this before I hacked into it!
It was just a plain, long necklace - pearls, citrine and new jade...very lovey I thought - but it went unloved, unwanted.
Perhaps it makes a prettier wrap bracelet?

This necklace I made when I has a goddess themed market a few years back.
Asymmetric and a bit quirky - I know what you are thinking...it's flippin' ugly!
What was I thinking?!

Now it's a chunky memory wire bracelet - lovely warm autumn colours, perfect to go with winter outfits.

That's about it for this week folks!

Joining in with My Creative Space on village voices at Kidspot

Take some memory wire - my creative space

Take some memory wire - you know, that springy stuff like a slinky?
Add some silver tubes...
Or some rubber tubing...
Mix in some random beads...

Or some bright stone beads....

Or some freshwater pearls...

And what have you got?
A wonderful selection of easy-to-put-on bracelets!

What's in your creative space this week?

Hop on over to My Creative Space at Village Voices on Kidspot to see what others have been up to ...or to join in!

Off on tangents - my creative space

Sooooo last week I started another beadwoven pendant with a handmade lampwork bead. It was here.
Anyway, I'm pleased to report that this one only took a week to finish! yay, go me!

The reason for this speed-weaving has something to do with hiring 7 dvds this week {more about that tomorrow}.

I also need to make some more necklaces...but did I?
Nope - while I was getting my beads out I spotted a little box of beads that I'd set aside for bracelets...and off I went on a tangent!

Here they are -

Do you ever get distracted, go off on tangents?
I often do - but that is all part of the fun of creating, working for yourself, doing what you want when you want to.
And I never get bored with it!

These little birds and nest necklaces are destined for somewhere special.

I'll tell you more next week!

How is your creative space this week?

Pop on over here if you'd like to see more creative spaces.

Going round and round - my creative space

Last week I showed you my new memory wire bracelets - here.

Once I got the memory wire out I couldn't stop!
Here are some more of my trio bracelets - circles of gemstones, pearls, gemstone chips et al.

I was making these today while I was "on duty" behind the counter at my craft co-operative - The Nook at Leura.
I carry the beads and bits in one of those plastic shoes boxes, the lid is my work tray and an old cloth napkin in my work surface. I also had a piece of corrugated cardboard which I use for the little seed beads, but it does stop bigger beads from rolling around too much.

If you would like to see more creative spaces or would like to join in pop on over to My Creative Space on Village Voices.

Walking again and making again

Who could resist getting outdoors when the weather looks like this? -

It's native flower time here in the beautiful Blue Mountains - 

I'm still getting used to my new camera and struggling with the macro shots.

Testing my camera in a low light situation here - these steps, which have been carved out of the rock lead to a another spectacular lookout over the Jamieson Valley.

Then on to Princes Rock lookout which has the best ever view of Wentworth Falls -

My camera struggled with the heavy light/shadow contrast, but did great with the zoom!
These people, below, are in the shot above, on the far righthand side. Can you see them?

But life can't be all fun and bushwalks - can it?

Let's get ready for all those spring markets and festivals.
I made a whole stack of these colourful rainbow and fusion malachite bracelets.

and some earrings to go with them.

Speaking of stacks - stacking bracelets are popular this year. I made some faux stacking bracelets on memory wire - so easy to slip on and they fit any size wrist.

Are you getting ready for spring?