An update.....................

So much has been happening, where to start.  In March was given the opportunity to turn a brick outbuilding into a studio.  It took a lot of work.  We started by emptying the rubbish that was being stored inside it.  We then cleaned the walls and painted them, mocha and lemon with one wall a brght happy yellow!  I should add at this pont that 'we' is myself , my mum and my partner!! At this time there was only one light, certainly not enough to work or display work in!!  Kev kindly added 4 strip lights and some halogen spots!! - Now we have plenty of light!! Next the floor was painted, 4 times!!! Bright yellow!!  I love yellow it is such a happy colour.  There was an existing shelf/table already there - held up with sleepers!  Looked very natural but the colour had to go.  It was green, not a nice green.  More shelves were put up and they were all painted a mocha colour.  My desk and tools were soon at home and the place filled wth lots and lots of locally handcrafted Arts and Crafts.

For several months there was no spare time for dong the things I love.  However once the studio opened on 1st April it gave me 5 days a week to create!

Some pictures of recent projects:

Antiqued buttons and Amber

Needlefelt Chihuahua - SOLD

Needlefelt Toadstool.  Corriedale Fleece and Angora Bunny fluff!

Needlefelt Hedgie. Jacobs Fleece

Playing with Polymer.

Needlefelt Westie.  Merino Fleece

In an effort not to burden you all with lots of pictures I will save some and make a concerted effort to add them soon!!!

Just in closing, the studio is situated to the rear of the Post Office in Somerleyton Suffolk(Postcode for Sat Navs: NR32 5PS).  If you are ever nearby it would be lovely to see you!

 

Necessity is the mother of invention

x

Happy New Year One and All!!

O'k so its nearly three weeks into the new Year but it is my first posting!!  So I get to say Happy New Year!!

What have I achieved so far this year?  Well, on a personal level I have almost set fire to the house (neighbours had to call me (I had gone out!), fire alarm going off, house completely full of smoke!! - Left chicken cooking on the hob!! oops!)  I have pulled over just before the offside front tyre of my van blew out!!  Other half and mechanic (!) says it was the most shredded tyre he has ever seen that hasn't blown!!!  Apparently it shredded from the inside out which is why nothing was visible!!  Then I lost my purse, complete with cards.  Obviously I called the bank straight away to cancel them.  Found my purse in the boot (!?) the next day!!  With cards already cancelled of course the only way I could get cash was to go into town - YUK!! Then a few days later I took Kev's car to Kentucky (mmmm, my favourite!!) and the clutch broke while I was parked in the layby waiting for food!!!  He had to come to rescue me once again!!  He says in all his years of fixing cars he has never seen a clutch snap off!! Ooops!!  Needless to say when  Friday the 13th arrived I stayed at home!!!!  I'm kind of hoping I have had a years worth of misfortune in the first few weeks and that things are going to get better!! ha ha

On the plus side:

I got myself a new (second hand actually, but only used twice!) Efco 110 Kiln.  I haven't got brave enough to have a go at the Art clay yet though.  I did have a go at enamelling.  Not as easy as I thought it would be!!

Before I started I read through a book that I had bought.  Read through the kiln instructions.  Made my own distilled water for the enamel!!

Whilst trawling the internet for pointers I found this fantasic video and had what I thought was an epiphany!!  I followed Abby Hook's Tutorial and completed my dragonfly wings.  Seen here resting on the hot kiln!

I then proceeded to create my 'masterpiece'! ha ha

That's the back wings done..............

and the front.......................

All that was left to do was fire them! Hmmm, why do I think that I am just going to be able to 'do' something after reading a few articles?!!  People go to college and spend hours being taught by qualified people!! ha ha

 

He went it the kiln and came out what is best described as fried!! ha ha  He has had a clean and I could clean him up a lot more.  Unfortunately there is little point as the kiln has softened him to a point where it would be impractical for him to become a piece of jewellery!!  How can I harden him up?  Can't hammer him!!!!  Don't know what the answer is!

I decided maybe I was being just a tad too ambitious and looked out the oak leaf I had cut out a while back (and then got bored!!) I chose autumn colours and had a go at enammeling this too. It didn't come out too bad and all was going well until.....again the heat seriously softened the copper and whilst cleaning off the back a portion of the leaf bent causing the enamel to break and flick off! Grrrr!

I also had a go at enamelling three copper washers.  Once out I moved one from the kiln shelf to cool elsewhere and it promptly spat enamel at me - the surface I put it on was cold!! Doh!! 

From the days activities I ended up with two enammeled copper washers!!!  One of which is below.

Sadly I am going to have to give in and read up a little more!!

Please take time to watch this video.  It is just awesome - I so wish I could create beautiful work like this!!

 I just want to show you my new tool stand that Kev made for me.  Im so pleased with it  It has two handy little shelves each side too! - and the making process!!

Et Voila!! 

I have had a few successes too!! Not all disaster.....

I created this using Tela's new Tutorial.  It's fantastic!!!

I could waffle on alot more but for those of you that have made it this far I think you have suffered enough! ha ha

Punctuality is the virtue of the bored

Evelyn Waugh

(In future I shall quote this everytime I'm running late!!!)

x

Winding up the year......................................

A quick catch up of the last month or so before the year end!!  My resin arrived and I have been playing and learning with that - Boy does it smell!!!  I don't really have much to show on that front at the moment.  I currently have some pendants half finished.  If they are anywhere near decent I will share them with you next time!!!  I have ordered myself some copper art clay, can't wait for that to arrive!!

Meanwhile, I have made another Schnauzer:

I finished this yesterday.  It is the last of my larger Labradorite Cabs.  I have secured it in a netted Bezel (An unmistakable Eni Oken design!) and then decorated a border with more Labradorite (you can never have too much labradorite!!) and cultured Seawater Akoya pearls.

 Haven't wrapped many stones in what I call the more traditional way for a while.  This is, of course, Tigers Eye, complete with horrible glare of the flash!

Ruby in Fuschite.  I don't know why but I always get the urge to try and route the Ruby out!! ha ha

...and this gorgeous stone is Kambaba Jasper - Fossilised Algae!! The best looking algae I have ever seen!!!

All the animals are well. Loki is still 'helping'!! Either but stealing my tape measure, pawing at lengths of wire I am working with or waiting until the split second I leave my seat before.......................................

I asked him today if he would jump in my grave as fast!! He just looked at me as if to say "You humans don't half talk a load of rubbish"!!

The build up to Christmas was spent in a mad rush, trying to get orders completed and personal presents finished.  We spent Christmas day at home with the family which was brilliant.  Now that the blinkers have been removed I can look forward to attacking some well over due projects in the New Year.

Just before I leave you I have finally gathered together a facebook page, which is http://www.facebook.com/pages/JCIC-Jewellery-Glenda-Jones/223360427732328?ref=tn_tnmn

If you do get chance it would be lovely if you could 'like' me.  Apparently once you have been 'liked' so many times your web address gets shortened radically?!  I would love a shorter easier to remember address!! ;)

I have also been working on the website.  The address for which is www.jcicjewellery.com

Your thoughts on this, good or bad would be very greatfully received!!!

Oh, nearly forgot I have also been busy bringing my E-bay shop back to life: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/tinkerbellspaws

It's 2am and I should be sleeping so I shall leave you now!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and I want to wish you all the very best for the new Year! x 

Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling

x   

(found on the web with no author reference.  Thought it was funny so had to share!)

........and breath!

Phew! ....I have been stretched in so many different directions of late I have felt like one of those little rubber men with the stretchy rubber arms and legs.  Even they snap eventually with too much pullling!!

I haven't snapped, either physically or mentally and I have acomplished a fair bit!!

Ironically, one of the pieces I have created during this chaos was Eni's Chaos Pendant  

Honey Jade and Amazonite

Wasn't sure at first whether to go ahead and bead the border...

Threw caution to the wind and thought What the heck!! This is the outcome!

I think my mum has decided she would quite like this for her Christmas present!

Amber and Crystal

The basis of this was created From Diana Esporiso's  Compass Rivoli Tutorial 

Garnet and Copper

My latest Hot Air Balloon for which I have now started the Tutorial.

I have finally got around to creating a Fan Page on Facebook    Thought I had better at least try and keep up with the rest of the world!  I would love to see you there!  Unlike the Blog  it will more than likely just be a status update (daily hopefully)  with some pictures.  It is alot less time consuming than the Blog which means that even on busy days I will be able to share what's happening!!  If any of you have facebook please share your address with me so that I can keep up with you too!

I have also been spending my time developing my website  Your comments and feedback on which would be very much appreciated.  I have spent so much time looking at it I can barely see it anymore!! ha ha

I am also busy creating enough pieces for display for the Christmas season at the various locations my jewellery is displayed.

During all of this my other half in his infinite wisdon decided to modify a chop saw, designed to cut wood, on a bench, with a guard.  Thought he would improvise and use it to cut branches from some over grown trees in our garden!!  Needless to say (I had already warned him, but do they listen?!) he managed to put it straight accross his wrist!!  After a 100mph trip to the hospital, (which luckily is only 10 minutes away (at that speed anyway!)) a session in surgery he is now on the mend.  It turns out he was 2mm away from the vein and they have no clue how he didn't do any major permanant damage!  Well I can tell you all the permanant damage has been done to my mental state!! ha ha

We have only had a few frosts and winter has come very late this year.  We have stocked up on bales of hay and straw for the animals and I am happy to say they are all doing fine!!

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

- Jimi Hendrix

x

Bit of everything!

This post will be a bit of a mish mash of things!!  After my last post I realised I left several things out that I wanted to share!!

On our recent trip away I took some photographs of an RAF plane doing 'touch and go's' .This is where they fly in a circle, land and then take off straightaway again.  We pulled off the main road and into a 'veiwing area' where there were lots of people armed with cameras.  The best part for me was, when the plane croseed (very low!) over the road! Cars were stopped by an automated level crossing identical to that which you would have at a railway crossing!!

We also passed  RAF Scampton home of the world famous Red Arrows

I have now got around to photographing my Whitby jet. Following this link will provide you with lots of interesting info on it!

The piece above has a belemite fossil within it.  The gentleman I was speaking to had planned to make it into a bracelet but had change his mind and so said I could have it!!  It even has holes drilled in it!

He also gave to me the pieces above.  Aparently they will polish up great with some jewellers rouge?  We'll see!

When we arrived home my two year old daugher asked in a sad tone why our pumpkin didn't have a face!!! Poor thing has only ever seen a pumpkin with a face and so I think she must think this is how should be!! A little later I carved him one and she was very happy!!  This was when I had a light bulb moment.  I have taken all of the seeds out and washed them.  They sat drying over night and I have put some in food colouring today.  Whether the colour will run once they are out and dry I shall have to see!! If so I guess I can varnish/laquer them.  There will be sooo many pumpkins at rediculously low prices I may need to go out and buy in bulk!!!

Food colouring is just something I had to hand.  I will have to investigate other colouring means.  Next time I am in the supermarket I plan to take a slow walk down the nuts and seeds aisle to see what I can use!!  I wonder how fresh nuts would stand the test of time?

I have waffled lots today, I shall leave you now!

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is the present.
Treat it as a gift.

x

Fangtastic Trip!! (sorry, cheesy I know, just couldn't resist!)

Friday saw us dissapear north for the weekend.  I decided I wasn't going to take any wire or tools with me, just to prove to myself I could.  As excited as I was to be getting away I was also a little sad to be leaving my tools behind - Is that normal?!  Several hours into the journey we crossed the Humber bridge.

Work began to construct this bridge in 1973 and was completed in 1981 and spans 1,410 metres.  It took 71,000km of wire!! All that wire!!

It didn't take me long to find some local wildlife!!!  All the food scraps went out of the caravan window for the Seagulls and Ducks!

With Halloween fast approaching the birthplace of Bram Stokers 'Dracula' was a must.  We headed to Whitby.  I was still fighting cravings for my pliers and wire!!

Founded by St Hilda in the year 657 this enormous ruin is oozing history.  So much so that you can almost feel it in the air.

Whilst walking around taking in the scenery every now and again we would become surrounded in people in various costumes.  From Traditional Victorian dress to Vampires and slayers to the eccentric who had taken the opportunity to dress up - or wear very little!  It really was quite an eye opener.

After wandering around the Abbey and church we descended the 199 steps. (although my daughter swears blind there were 204!!)  How ever many there were I had a minor attack of the eebie jeebie jelly legs on the way down.  I dislike heights emmensely!

The harbour waited for us below along with lots more fantastically dressed people - and cars....

Unfortunately this picture didn't come out too well but you get the gist!! This is the bonnet of a very ellaborately decorated car.  Further along we had fresh fish and chips. After lunch we turned around to head back up the steps and back to the car before our parking ticket expired.  The cobbled streets on the way back were tiny - only big enough for one car.    My favourite costumes were the traditional Victorian dress.  Surrounded by the 'victorians' on the cobbled Streets with Whitby's Olde Worlde Shops it was sooo easy to lose yourself in another time................  It felt so good you almost wished you were there!

It was around this time I had a relapse, I suddenly realised I was surrounded by Whitby Jet Jewellery shops!!! In I shot like a rabbit in it's burrow!

I didn't have my pliers as I had set myself a challenge but I never said anything about buying!
  The shop I ventured into was called 'Robinson's Jet'.  I chose this one because I could see the mans workshop in the back - Complete with all his tools!!!  There before me were several tubs of Whitby jet.  As I was looking through them trying to find some shapes that I liked he began to talk.  He told me that Whitby jet is infact fossilised wood.  He showed me some of his pieces he was working on, how to polish it, the difference between the hard stuff and the soft - which can crack and crumble at any time!  I'm glad he did or I may have purchased the soft, only for it to break up!!!  After choosing the pieces I would like he dissapeared off and came back with six extra pieces for free for me!!  I haven't had time to photograph it yet but I will.  I have it in various states from raw through to finished

By the time we had climbed the steps on the way back to the car the sun was setting.

It was a really awesome trip and I  hope to return next year for Halloween.

That said it's good to be home....with new 'stones' to work on.....

You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it. - Albert Einstein