Biting the Bullet

What do you do when someone hands you a bucket load of these?

You Bead-em-Up of course!
Had a great time beating them, heating them, drilling holes, dipping them in enamel and acid etching - oops where did the thin end go?

Then I thought I should actually make something.

I recon I should get through this lot in ohhhhhhhh around 20 years or so!

That's what has been scattered all over my bead table and the floor this Wednesday.

And if anybody needs any - I'm ya gal!

 

Become. . .

be.come [bih-kuhm]  

verb

alter, change, transform, come to be, develop, emerge, grow, mature, metamorphose, ripen, shift, wax

A beautiful ceramic affirmation focal from Earthenwood Studio

Heavy brass wire that has been flattened, curved and distressed, as sometimes we must be.

More brass wire has been curled and spiralled to remind us that the state of becoming is not always straight forward.

An artisan made lamp work bead from Radiant Mind, to remind us that following our heart is part of the process.

Amazonite - for your hopes and dreams

A tiny key to unlock your path and open doors

And finally a little pewter flower as a vision of what we can become when we fully bloom. 

I Have Closure!

No NO now I've scared you away! This is not some long winded gushing about my life.

This post is about closure - you know BUTTONS!
All started with some buttons I made for a friend, then thing spiralled out of control and I went nuts.
They were so much fun to make and there are more to come.


These are off to our local gallery on their handmade cards coloured with tea.

What do you think of the idea of making them as brooches? The gallery has a lot of visits from 'grey nomads' on their way north/south and I have an idea for a range of Aussie icons which I think will appeal.

no capitals

that's right, there  will be no capital letters in this post. not one. which will probably make it hard to read. a bit like trying to decypher one of those not 'plain english' legal documents. you know the ones, full of aforesaids and no punctuation. just one huge paragraph.
why no capitals, i hear you ask, well i am typing with the 'hunt and peck' method with only my right hand. 
for some reason my carpel tunnel problem has flared up big time and 24 x 7 wrist brace and rest is my only option. so no typing and no beading aaaaarrrrrg. oh and no exclaimation marks either. hopefully another week and i will be back in action.
sigh . . . can't wait.

There and Back

Last Wednesday,  I set off for the 6 hour drive to the Gold Coast, to visit my friend and batty-soul mate to assist with a training workshop. The workshop was to train more people in the rehabilitation of flying foxes or fruit bats. They are delightful trusting creatures and the babies are mega-cute!

Was great to see lots of old friends and some new ones.

Next I visited my son and family and oooh'd and ahhhh'd over the new kitchen and extension that has just been completed. Lots of chatting and Grandma hugs n kisses. Then too soon the 6 hour drive home.

Have lots to catch up with and am savouring all the beady goodness I am reading about.

Bead Table Wednesday

Had every intention of playing with fold formed metal again, and got out everything I needed to start, but then I thought I heard a very feint . . 

g r e e r . . . . . oH . . . .  G r E E r . . . .

It seemed to be coming from somewhere amongst my boxes of beads and I thought naaaaaaaaaah, must be the wind. Then, a little louder

g r e e r . . . . . oH . . . .  G r E E r     o P e N   t h E   bOx ...

and I knew what it was!

Ahh the little owl pendant I made to celebrate the getting of solar power few weeks ago.

Change of plans.

The back of the pendant was I felt unfinished so filled it with polymer clay with a texture of wings. Think it looks much better.

Next, got out a selection of beads and components. 

Made a link from some of the round aqua glass pearls and one with the red, but the beads were too big and overpowered the link. So pulled them apart and remade them with smaller ones and decided to go with the red pearls as they really popped against the dark brass.

I patinaed the moon and tried various ways of using it, then had a lightbulb moment. Turned the moon on its back and punched 2 more holes and attached the pendant.

After a few false starts and a few more undo's here is the finished necklace.

 So what have your beads been whispering to you?

Market Score

Our local market is more about fruit and vegies. There are a couple of people selling old tools, dog traps (shudder), tractor pins, plants, chooks, ducks, cage birds and even tacky jewelry from China. But no antiques or any real treasures.

BUT

This weekend someone was having a moving clear out and I scored some Craft Art International magazines. Even better copies I don't have!

Delicious, wonderful, amazing handcrafts from talented people allover.