Saturday, January 30, 2010


Finally bought a round mandrel last week and so I ordered some 5mm thick half hard round wire and forged myself a bangle. It was a bugger to get the ends to meet, but I am happy with the end result and I have been wearing every day since I made it :)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Getting stuff done...


Slowly, but surely, I am getting things made. This is my latest piece I have made this week. It's Green Sea Sediment Jasper.

Today I finally ordered myself a .925 hallmark stamp and a round bracelet mandrel. I also ordered myself a heap of gallery wire and some nice 5mm round wire. I really hope that they have it all in stock and I get it tomorrow.

I have been stealing 10 minutes here and there today out on the bench. I really need to get things made to take up to my Mothers shop next week to sell. So far I have about 5 pieces...I hope to have another 3 or so to add to that. Hopefully the weekend will be eventful for me and not so hot!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

ACHOO!

That has been me all day long.......I had for many many years, suffered from allergies....was forever carrying tissues with me. Then it disappeared and every once in a while I have hayfever. I had hayfever a few days ago. And I have it again today. The good thing?....it only lasts a day usually.

On the upside, the weather was better today. Still hot. But nothing like yesterday. So I spent a few minutes out at the bench and have almost finished a ring! Yay! I can't wait till winter time.

Dentist tomorrow. I have had a bad run with my teeth over the last 6 months. I had a root canal that had to be done by a specialist. Price all up $4000.
DISGUSTING! But it was too close to the front to have it pulled. (imagine all the silver and gold I could have bought for that tooth!) So tomorrows appointment is to get the cap happening. Hope I don't sneeze when I am there.....that won't be so nice :S Oh and I had my 3rd tooth pulled 4 weeks ago too. Unfortunately crappy teeth run in my family. I take very good care of them to no avail.... :( Falsies here I come!

Monday, January 18, 2010

New Piece


Finally I have had some time to begin and complete a piece of jewelry. This is one of those necklaces where the pendant passes through the circle, so you don't have to fasten it. It's with a Labradorite stone and sterling and with 9ct gold hammered ball. This is the first time I have used gallery wire and I absolutely LOVE it!! I have named it 'Night Sky'.

Now I can't decide whether to keep it or sell it......
(oh and the weather was disgusting today)




Saturday, January 16, 2010

Oooh Having Fun.

I haven't been making much lately. But today was for once a not too bad day as far as the heat is concerned. So I took the opportunity to get out to the bench and just mess around and see what happens.

I have cleared the bench up and I have set up my laptop in there, so I can watch movies and chat on msn and have music etc...it's great! I got 2 orders this week of silver. One of some nice scalloped/serrated/gallery bezel wires and a few other bits n pieces and I am absolutely loving the new bezel wires. They make such a difference to the look of the stones.

The hubby loves the new bezel wires too...said it looks more finished and professional than plain bezel wire. Yes it does look prettier.....but it isn't always practical. I am thinking that I am going to have to place a bulk order with the USA store Monsterslayer. It's hard to get all the supplies I need here as they are always out of stock etc. Monsterslayer ship to Aussieland via Global Express for $35us and I think that's pretty reasonable. So I had better get saving for a big order.


Saturday, January 9, 2010

I'm Melting......

literally.

The weather is disgustingly hot again today and so I am sitting in our airconditioned bedroom to escape it all and I'm playing on my laptop.

I wish it was winter time. Not that we really get that much of a winter here. But anything is better than this. It is much worse down south though....so it could be worse here.

There is no way that I will be making anything in the jewelry area whilst the humidity is up so high. I walked in and out of the garage (where I make stuff) to do the laundry and it's at least 3 times hotter in there, even more so when I have the clothes dryer going too.

Well I guess I will leave it here and just sit and enjoy the cool for a little bit longer....

Making Mistakes.

I've made many over the last couple of months. But cuz I'm only new at this, I really try hard not to let it put me off. I am my harshest critic and I can give up easily. Since it's gotten so hot again, I struggle to find the energy to try to make anything. And I don't get a whole lot of time to myself yet. So mistakes are bound to happen for me, spesh when I don't get to go with the flow as I'm only in there for 15 minutes and then not again for days and days.

I am working on several pieces and have already made mistakes, cuz I missed a step that was vital to the soldering part of bezel setting :( But I may just be able to fix it yet. If not.......well I have wasted about $10-15 on silver, it's not the end of the world. One day I will get that much dreamt of rolling mill and ingots and crucibles and I will be able to remedy those inevitable mistakes.

Until then.....practice, practice, practice....even if it is slow going.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Progress.




Above are the latest pieces I have made. The spinner ring is my first and I made it for myself. I hope in the near future to either redesign it with some gold spinner rings or make another one altogether. I absolutely love wearing it tho...it's lots of fun to play with.

The pendant is Mookaite, it is a fairly large stone and I hope to be putting that into my mum's shop to sell soon. And the last ring is an Amazonite stone and is really large too. Not sure if I will be keeping this one or not...can't decide yet.

So it's the new year already and time is still whooshing by as fast as ever. I got my parcel of cabochons from Hong Kong yesterday and I can't wait to use them. I made sure to get all bright coloured stones this time as I have enough natural coloured ones.

This year I have many goals to reach. Some are the typical - lose weight - go on a holiday overseas - and so on. And some are getting lessons for silversmithing and working with gold and gemstones etc.

I am working on 3 pieces at the moment with some gorgeous stones. And I got myself a massive Amethyst yesterday, which is going to be sitting around for a while as I haven't the faintest how to set it!

So here's to the new year and all our goals!!!