Wonderful Wool.

The clocks were turned back in the UK last weekend and the nights are drawing in - that's an old fashioned phrase! But old fashion is on my mind this week. 

I'm still hooked on textiles. Maybe it's the texture- they look so warm and cosy. Maybe the colours - such an array, from natural neutrals to bright primaries. Anyhow, in the search for something new to show you this week, I came across these Dorset Buttons.

Who knew? These buttons started their life in this country in 1622 (very precise!) and ceased hand production in the 1850's when machines began to take over. Made in Dorset, in the very south of England, they were a cottage industry that often the whole family took part in - mum, kids, and dad when he got home from the fields in the evening. The first ones used products of local sheep farming - rams horn for the circular frame and either wool or cloth scraps for the winding. Sold or traded, they were valuable items, for the clothes of the well-to-do.

I love the wheel pattern - they speak of cart wheels and spinning wheels. Pre-industrialisation.

The first pair in these fabulous neutrals I attached with a curled over piece of copper sheet and a ball end headpin - both made by Lucy Haslam, as are the earwires. The
stoneware spikes are from Petra Carpreau.

A second pair has darker neutrals, and ceramic connectors, again from Petra Carpreau, with little moving wheels, just like an old loom. Dark satanic mills, indeed.

 

 

 

Then I went for some serious colour! On the blue and yellow, more Petra spikes, dumortierite and Lucy's chartreuse earwires. On the blue and pink - Patricia Ritchie lampwork and sari silk, with copper rings and wine earwires (again, Lucy).  

 

 

 

The buttons? Still hand made, but in the Midlothian area of Scotland from local wool, hand spun and dyed by Gilleon Finley-Coull. Since early 2017 the buttons have been protected as a Heritage Craft.  

                                                              See you in two weeks

                                                                      Lindsay x

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On Wobbly Legs

Hi again, I'm back. Have been on a brake for a few months as you might have noticed (and if you haven't that's fine too :-)).

Isn't it interesting how often after you have created something and you take a step back and look at it, you realize that it so much represents you and the time you are going through right now. In fact the subconsious always seems to have this kind of grip on me. And it always catches my by surprise.


Like with these earrings. The first piece of jewelry I have completed for some time. And I am on very wobbly legs in my life right now. In many ways. Both literally and methaphoricly. So "wobbly legs" they are named.



Ingredients:
Green and yellow raku fired ceramic disks by Jubilee
Dark grey (black) matte 6/0 seed beads
Oxidized copper wire 20 G
Heavily oxidized sterling silver handmade earring hooks


All my best,
Malin

Gorgeous ceramics

It's November already! How did that happen? Suddenly, the weather seems much colder, the nights are crisper. I love these final three months of the year, mainly because my daughters were born in October, November and December. As I write this, there is the most beautiful full moon in a clear sky. It's Bonfire Night here in the UK, so there is also the sound of fireworks...which brings me to these little crackers (did you see what i did there? ;-)).

These gorgeous ceramic slices are from the uber talented Claire Lockwood. Aren't they fine? Now she doesn't have updates of her beautiful ceramic components very often, so i tend to hold onto any purchases. I love the colours in these. Perfect for Autumn, don't you think? I've paired them with beautiful bronze and silver nuggets by Maryse Fritz-Thillens , some silver leaves and brass hoops and absolutely love all of these colours together.

Now these pretties will be available in my shop (link below), but i also wanted to show you some other pretty things made with Claire's components (all gone to new homes). It's been nice remembering these makes! First off, these beautiful purple, blue and ivory ceramic drops. I love the color and textures in these. I just added some copper teardrops and jump rings, and purple seed beads.

And these stunning crescent connectors, with some greek metal spacers and brass chain. Hoping she makes more of these (hint hint, Claire -if you're reading this!)

So that's it from me. I'm back in a couple of weeks :-)

Sue 

Utterly Lovely Stuff

We're All Ears :: November Inspiration

So you can blame my friend and yours - Loralee Kolton - for this month's inspiration.

I was doing research on "The Hidden World of Seeds" after seeing this aptly named article on a book entitled "Seeing Seeds" by Robert Llewellyn. And then I spotted Loralee's awesome post about seeds and pods as the basis for earrings. (Wahn-wah!)

I told her that great minds think alike!

Even though Loralee indicated that she did indeed have more seed inspirations in her, I decided to switch gears. And in the conversation that we had she gave me a suggestion....

That was an intriguing proposition. (And words really ARE my magic!)

I love quotes and collect them obsessively. I have a most awesome page-a-day calendar (and if you have ever received an order from me, chances are that you received one of these quotes randomly tucked inside). I pulled together a collection of four different quotes from the past few weeks that spoke to me for various reasons and also had some sort of visual attached to them. Since I couldn't quite bring myself to select just one, I decided to let you choose.

For November's We're All Ears Challenge, choose your favorite of the four quotes and make a pair of earrings that illustrates that message. If you are feeling mighty feisty and really want a CHALLENGE, then do more than one...or even all four! I dare you!

And as Loralee said, "It would be exciting to see everyone's take on the same message!" Indeed!

Won't you join me? See you on Friday, November 17th for the reveal!

Simple lines

Sometimes things get too complicated in life and we're reminded that we should aim to keep things simple.... go back to basics. Lines. Metal. Wire. Pure lines. No color. Simple. Minimalist. Simplicity.

My brain is still adjusting to verrrrry slow and verrrrry gradual increases in my new epilepsy medication (this stuff is potent, wow), and I do feel better for awhile, but when the next small increase comes up on the schedule, it takes awhile for my brain to adjust and then it's a challenge until I've adjusted.

Because of this, I don't have anything new to show you today, but I pulled a few pairs of earrings I've made in the past that show this concept of keeping things very very simple.

Sometimes when the creative muse isn't 'happening', maybe just going back to pure simple lines is a way to create while the muse is on vacay ;)

Here's a few examples for you:

What do you do when your muse wanders off?
I'd love to hear!

Be well,
Nathalie

Visit my shops:
My Garden of Love on Etsy
The Crafty Tribe on Etsy

Gone To Seed

Happy November, my seedy-beady friends!  Loralee here, today I'm sharing  sculptural botanical beads by Melissa Gabelle of The Clay Hen!  

I love the rough texture of the petals and the bold lines.  I wanted to carry those lines back to the top so, I added some fabric beads by Sagahus with blackened steel wire and that same yellow-green.  I originally was going to wire-wrap the petal to the fabric connector, but thought the tip was too delicate.  Instead, I tried an oversized hammered jumpring and added some larger seedbeads.  It turned out much better this way!  It protected the charm, added more variety of color, and the suggestion of seeds that I was envisioning all along.

~

Such a beautiful rich brown color with that beautiful pop of yellow - it's a favorite of mine.  To me, they are Georgia O'Keeffe-esk, but at the same time, with the use of the heavier gauge wire, look somewhat urban/industrial.  

For the seeds I used, Czech glass, teardrop Picasso beads. They are matte with soft painterly spots of yellow...I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I discovered them in my stash!  Don't you love when things fall together like that...just meant to be!  

~

I paired these open pods with some wispier fabric wrapped beads, again, by Sagahus.  The feathery fabric pieces match the gentle brush strokes of paint used on the pods. I have a tendency to oxidize most things but these are amazing in bright copper.  Eventually they may have a more subtle natural patina.   At a recent beading retreat I was gifted some fine (26g, I believe) braided copper wire.  It made the most beautiful wrapping.  *Psst...thank you, Lin Standke xo

November is always bittersweet for me, as I say goodbye to my favorite season.   However, I've started pulling some wintry things out now....it's time.

Many thanks for joining me today, it's wonderful to hear feedback especially when you work alone in a studio for so many hours...lol . Until next time!

Loralee xo

Loralee Kolton Jewerly

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................!!!!

Yes, the screamers.  You may have seen Petra's screamers around for a while - aren't they just fab!!.  I made some earrings with them earier this year and loved them so much that I went back to Petra'a shop and bought a LOT more.  But that's where it stopped.  I had absolutely no idea what to do with them.  Recently I started seeing some pop up in my Instagram and Facebook feed....that sort of inspired me to take them out and have a go again.  In my previous efforts I think I was trying to over-think the design which is why it got nowhere. I kept things simple as the components alone are just WOW and hopefully I've added just enough to accentuate their fabulousness.

The usual group shot.

Screamers with double ended claws, fabric and Czech glass.

Screamers with claws, caps, fabric and Czech glass.

Screamers with claws, caps, fabric and Czech glass.

By this time I had had enough of claws so I used double caps instead with fabric and Czech glass.

I know it's the same design but I'm happy with the way they've turned out.  

These and many more will be available in my show on Monday and Tuesday in this group.

Until next time <3

Suhana xxx

My Etsy Shop: Buttoned Up Beads