I just adore those sumptuous bronze and burnt orange lampwork beads (from Grace Lampwork, at Lima Beads).
Bye for now, Claire
www.somethingtodo.etsy.com
www.somethingtodobeads.etsy.com
www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com
Showing posts with label something to do with your hands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label something to do with your hands. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Sun Spots
As I haven't had chance to photograph any of the growing collection of new earrings that I've been making, I thought I'd share a pair I made a while ago.
The ceramic drops are some that I made: I really love the slight puckering in the old gold glaze. They're listed here in my Etsy shop.
Bye for now, Claire
www.somethingtodo.etsy.com
www.somethingtodobeads.etsy.com
www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com
Bye for now, Claire
www.somethingtodo.etsy.com
www.somethingtodobeads.etsy.com
www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
The Vivid Creatures Can
I don't tend to do green.
I made these cones for my last bead shop update, and decorated them with some new glazes I'd picked up. I was a little underwhelmed with the initial results so I added some teal blue stripes and popped them back in the kiln. When I fished them out I was much happier: they have a seventies ceramics look about them. I nearly kept them from the off but I try to resist keeping the best things when listing beads so I added them along with *a lot* of other pieces. Much of the stock sold quickly but, for some reason, these cones were overlooked. So, taking that as a sign, I decided to pull them out for my own use.
I made these cones for my last bead shop update, and decorated them with some new glazes I'd picked up. I was a little underwhelmed with the initial results so I added some teal blue stripes and popped them back in the kiln. When I fished them out I was much happier: they have a seventies ceramics look about them. I nearly kept them from the off but I try to resist keeping the best things when listing beads so I added them along with *a lot* of other pieces. Much of the stock sold quickly but, for some reason, these cones were overlooked. So, taking that as a sign, I decided to pull them out for my own use.
I topped them with some rusted filigree caps and hung them from some blackened vintage copper rings, which frame some pleasingly rustic African brass charms. Within the cones I've added slender lengths of sterling silver and labradorite chain and some patinated copper pieces from Miss Fickle Media. The colours in both work really nicely with the blues and greens in the glazes.... and I'm still highly tempted to keep them!
Bye for now, Claire
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
The Same Yet Different
I managed to forget to post last month, in my scatty way, so it seems right to share two pairs of earrings today. Not so long ago I got some beautiful porcelain discs from Emma Louise Wilson. They varied in size but I was set on using at least some of them in earrings. Then I remembered this long, long hoarded set of similarly proportioned discs that I got from Grey Bird Studio, so I set about matching discs from the two sets. Here's what I made....
As the discs were slightly mismatched, I carried this through to the other elements. The colours from the discs are picked up in the accenting beads, and the shapes - or outlines - are also matched, but the parts used to create the matched shapes are themselves mismatched. The first pair has sold; the second is available on Etsy.
Bye for now, Claire
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
First And Last
I'm drafting this post on 21st December - some days before it's due to be posted. It's one of the last work-related things I have to do before shutting down for 'the holidays'. And boy, do I ever need to shut down...
But it's also a first. I'm taking up contributing regularly again. Well, fairly regularly: I'm taking on one of Cindy's days, so I'll be posting once a month.
It's nearly a year since I stopped doing a regular post. I needed more time to focus on developing my silver work. Today I'm sharing some simple pairs made with my ceramic drops and silver post components. (I'm sure there must be a more elegant term...)
I made a number of these recently and most have sold. However, there are a few pairs left available in my shop.
Wishing you Happy Holidays and a whole heap of the best of things in 2017,
Claire
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Vestiges
Hello - It's been a while! I had to drop out of writing regular posts because I needed to find some more hours in my days. But, I'm filling in today, and it's nice to be back, albeit briefly. The Earrings Everyday team is so packed with talent right now, and I had the rare pleasure, earlier this month, to meet one of the other team members, the marvellous Kimberly Rodgers.
Here I am with Kim and that wonder woman, Petra Carpreau. This was a real rare treat and we had a fabulous time. And, Kimberly kindly came bearing beads, including some of her much sought after enamel components. So, I thought, today, that I'd share a new pair of earrings featuring some of Kimberly's work.
I've had these dagger shaped droppers for a little while. I actually made the wire frames up top for a different pair of earrings but the design didn't hang right; then I remembered these enamel pieces. I filled the frame with some yak bone beads, some grungy metal barrels, and some mismatched seeds; then I added some slinky chain dangles for a bit of extra interest.
Thanks for having me. I hope I'll be back here again soon.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, March 31, 2016
At North Farm
I'm filling in again today. I thought I'd share this pair of earrings. You know when you spy something online and think, 'Yes! I know what I'll do with that!'? I'm sure you do. Sometimes, however, you receive the item and for some reason - size, or colour, or shape - what you planned isn't going to work.
I'd love to pretend that I whipped up these dinky crochet baskets. Sadly not. I spotted them being sold as ornaments on Etsy. I worried over whether they'd be too large but I took the plunge and ordered. I think if they'd been any larger they would have been too big, but as it was they were just right. Which left me with the task of putting together what I'd imagined.
All the while I was making them I had half a mind telling me, 'This isn't going to work', but, in the end, I'm rather happy with the outcome. And I have five more mini baskets to play with!
Claire
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Tatters
I have actually taken a step back from writing regular posts, in order to free up some extra time. However, I'm still about the place and will be popping in to cover when people can't post, which is the case today. I thought I'd share this pair. They're some of my current favourites.
I love the rustic African ebony wood beads with their silver band, and the pitted recycled glass discs. I'm also rather besotted with the cool pendant pieces, from my ever growing stash of Kathrin Kneidl's beads.
Really, they're one of those pairs of earrings which, well, if they don't sell I won't mind too much.
Bye for now, Claire
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
A Later Age
I've been lacking a laptop for much of the last 36 hours. Thankfully I have it back now, with Photoshop working again. Despite my decision to immerse myself in the elemental, primal business of (learning) metalwork, I did keep feeling something was missing. So, it's a quick post today. I made this pair as part of a blog hop that I've been doing with some of my favourite beady gals. (To read all the details and see what everyone made, head here.)
I've mixed some ceramic discs with some oxidised vintage metal hoops and some czech glass hearts, with some grungy spacers up top. Not a colour combination I'd usually go for but I rather like it.
They're listed here on Etsy.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Curve With Silence
Since I started doing ceramics, I've been ruminating on trying to make my work more 'from scratch'. I recently started doing metalwork classes to help me to this end. The thing now is trying to co-ordinate all the different lines of development/experimentation that I'm doing with these different materials. Do I sit down and sketch designs then make all the elements? I don't tend to work like that. I've always favoured the chance, 'hands on', combining of things, the designs that come to you when you happen to have some of the materials in front of you.
I've just finished (and listed!) a large batch of beads. When making them I did make the time to make some beads just for me, to use in pieces that were already formed in my head. This pair of earrings is one example.
I've just finished (and listed!) a large batch of beads. When making them I did make the time to make some beads just for me, to use in pieces that were already formed in my head. This pair of earrings is one example.
Admittedly there wasn't much to add. Really, sometimes, I'm just a sucker for 'sticking a pearl on top'. I did stretch to a pair of blackened vintage bezels, drilled to make bead caps, and a couple of etched brass rings.
And I don't think they need any thing more. They're listed here on Etsy.
Bye for now, Claire
www.somethingtodo.etsy.com
www.somethingtodobeads.etsy.com
www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Bare Bones
To compensate for a couple of brief posts of late I'm sharing three - !3! - pairs of earrings today, as they're related and were all produced in one session. I didn't do lots of Black Friday bead shopping last year, but, as ever, I couldn't resist a little (okay, not at all little) Yuki splurge. 40% off? Like I can resist that! Amongst the many things I slung in my cart were these weathered-looking, charcoal-coloured bone shapes. Why didn't I buy more?!
I really love everything about them. To complement their kinda pauvre feel, I decided to go for spare, minimal embellishment, adding long sticks of various seed beads: delicate, unobtrusive, but still holding subtle variations in colour and texture.
The next pair are a little more ornate.
Finally, I was struck by the similarity between the shape of the bone pieces and that of these enamel drops made by Georgie of 4Ophelia. I love spotting these potential confluences, so I couldn't resist putting these together.
That's it for today. Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Move The Faders
Happy New Year to you all. I hope the holiday season gave you either time to make many earrings or many earring-shaped gifts. Or both! I have a ton of earrings to photograph that I've been busy making but today I'm sharing a pair from before Christmas.
The lovely yellow ceramic charms are, of course, from the lovely Jana of Happy Fish Things.
All best wishes for your 2016s!
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Living By The Water
Two pairs of earrings from me today! A little while back I made a pair of earrings combining some Scorched Earth decal droppers with some lovely feathers that I've been hoarding for some time. I was pleased with the design and they sold quickly. I still had a few pairs of feathers left and when Petra listed some earring charms with feather decals, I knew just what to do with them.
I love the fluffy, downy, afterfeathers on this pair; they look almost like fur. The next ones are slightly smaller.
I've been doing a lot of rearranging in my flat in the last week or so. Whilst about it, I came across an old compilation cd that I've been hunting for, for an age. Inevitably, I've been listening to it quite a bit since it turned up. These earrings have a certain feel to them but I haven't really found the word for it. However, this Anne Briggs song seems somehow in tune with their spirit.
(Warning: this link leads to hardcore FOLK)
They're available in my Etsy shop.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Gloria
You know those earrings you really want to keep hold of?
I've layered some 4 Ophelia enamel plates over some vintage pendants which I've treated to give them a weathered look. Above, I've included some wavy vintage caps which are particularly lovely. They're topped with some fluted czech glass bicones and some teeny freshwater pearls.
I've listed them - reluctantly! - here on Etsy.
Bye for now, Claire
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Some Giddy Day
I'm dashing out today so it'll be short and sweet from me. Here's a pair with some of EE regular, Kimberley Rodger's enamelled tin droppers.
I've added in some rusty vintage discs, some shell roses, some plain ceramic pebbles and oxidised copper bicones.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Frayed Sun
I listed twenty one pairs of earrings earlier this week (yes, 21!!). So, I'm spoilt for choice on which to share today. I'm going with these:
I got the fabulous krobo beads a few weeks ago. They came on a satisfyingly hefty strand - one of those lovely-to-hold, hard-to-cut-up ones. As I sat happily holding the strand, enjoying the piped white flourishes on each bead, I remembered these vintage enamel bead caps that I had. I had them in pale blue, but I knew I'd seen some white ones somewhere. Of course, I had to track them down and order some.
I got the fabulous krobo beads a few weeks ago. They came on a satisfyingly hefty strand - one of those lovely-to-hold, hard-to-cut-up ones. As I sat happily holding the strand, enjoying the piped white flourishes on each bead, I remembered these vintage enamel bead caps that I had. I had them in pale blue, but I knew I'd seen some white ones somewhere. Of course, I had to track them down and order some.
The blistered ceramic drops at the bottom are some headpins that I made. I've also added some slim black wheels of African recycled glass, and some fluted vintage brass beads. They're listed here on Etsy.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Skyline
One of the joys of making my own beads is being able to make just the right thing for a particular design. Other times, I just make things that I think could be useful - shapes and sizes that I often find myself using. The little yellow discs in these earrings are an example of this.
I made a number of pairs and when I came to use these ceramic droppers, which I also made, these sunny yellow discs were just the thing. Added to the geometric antique silver connectors, they give the earrings a graphic, mid-century look that is very much my bag. They're listed here in my Etsy shop.
Whilst I'm here, a quick reminder: tomorrow is they day of this month's We're All Ears challenge blog hop. Head here for the details. There's still time to take part!
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, October 1, 2015
There's A Name For Everything
Another one of those happy coming-togethers-of-things...
I've mixed Indonesian and czech glass with a rustic ceramic bullseye connector from Happy Fish Things.
Short and sweet from me today!
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Ripening
Here's another pair of earrings from the recent monster batch I was telling you about in my last post.
The fibre beads were made by Carolyn Saxby. I've embellished them with garnet and red sagenitic quartz.
They're listed here in my Etsy shop.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Union City
I've had a bit of an earring making binge in the last week or so. I made getting on for thirty pairs. So, I'm kinda spoilt for choice in picking a pair to share today. I've plumped for these.
The pink points are coated pyrite. I've topped them with some rusted up caps, some button pearls, and some twisted oxidised rings. The stoneware connectors are some I made.
Bye for now, Claire
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Sufficient Bliss
Frantically busy here, so it's short and sweet from me today. Here's another one of those pairs of earrings that are half formed for a while, before you find the final missing piece.
In this case the missing piece was the sliced shell flowers. I've teamed them with some Scorched Earth drops, some oxidised caps, some teeny pyrites and Greek ceramics, and some of my dyed, patinated chain.
They're available here in my Etsy shop.
Bye for now, Claire
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