Mellow Yellow

My latest Etsy treasury

Hope you like it,
Sam x

Yay!

I am so excited today - my bracelet won the London Jewellery School weekend competition!

Sam x

We're All Mad Here

My latest Etsy treasury was inspired by Alice in Wonderland

To see the whole treasury, click here
Sam x

Flame Off - Towcester Racecourse

Today we went to the 5th Annual Flame Off at Towcester Racecourse.  It is an event organised by Tuffnell Glass which brings together lampwork beadmakers from all over the country.  There are lots of demonstrations and stalls selling handmade lampwork beads and all the equipment needed to make them.

In the taster area, you can get tuition from the stewards and have a go, so since I have always wanted to, I did.  My first bead didn't start brilliantly as I put a bit too much glass on the mandrel but my tutor told me that it had a nice drop shape (I think she was being nice).

 

I tried to make the next bead a little neater, and was quite pleased with its shape.

My tutor was very encouraging and suggested that I rolled the next bead in frit.  Frit is tiny pieces of glass that stick to the bead and melt in.  I was quite pleased with the effect, although I couldn't get the bead to be perfectly round.

I think that I could get addicted to lampworking, it was so relaxing.  Making a bead was easier than I thought, but making a good round bead will take a lot more practise.

I will definitely be booking a lampwork course in the near future.
Sam x

New items on Etsy

Normally in the Easter holidays I would be off in my camper van (he is called Brian, by the way) enjoying the outdoors, but it is freezing in England at the moment and I am becoming a bit of a wuss.  So instead, I have been whiling away the hours making new jewellery and putting it in my Etsy shop.  Here is what I have made:

Rainbow Gemstone Chakra Earrings
$39.90     £25.76

Pink Heart Chakra Pendant
$46.00     £29.70

Pink Swarovski and Pearl Earrings
$36.90     £23.82

Swarovski Crystal and Lavender Amethyst Earrings
$55.00     £35.51

Turquoise and Crystal Quartz Earrings
$23.50     £15.17

Heart-Shaped Pearl and Swarovski Crystal Earrings
$25.90     £16.72

Pastel Gemstone and Silver Heart Earrings
$39.90     £25.76

Amethyst and Swarovski Crystal Earrings
$55.00     £35.51

Swarovski Crystal and Silver Bracelet
$34.90     £22.53

Dream Charm Pendant
$46.00     £29.70

Blue Lace Agate and Silver Heart Earrings
$39.90     £25.76

White Ivory Swarovski Pearl and Crystal Earrings
$15.90     £10.27

I really hope you like what I have made.  Please comment, your feedback is important to me.

Thanks for looking

Sam x

Shamballa Bracelet Tutorials

Shamballa bracelets are really hot at the moment but they can also be really expensive, so why not make your own?

Tutorials
I have picked out a few tutorials that have clear instructions and seem easy to follow

The Bead Doctor (Beads Unlimited)

Spoilt Rotten Beads

Too Cute Beads

Materials
Beads Direct - 8mm and 10mm rhinestone beads, including a really cool Union Jack bead and some two-tone beads
Beads Unlimited - 8mm and 10mm rhinestone beads in black, clear, red and turquoise and waxed cord in a good range colours
Bijoux By Me - 10mm and 12mm rhinestone beads in a range of colours
Jilly Beads - a lovely range of 10mm and 12mm rhinestone beads
Spoilt Rotten Beads -10mm rhinestone beads in loads of colours, including some multi-tone beads. They also have a good range of waxed cord
The Bead Shop Manchester - 10mm and 12mm rhinestone beads in a huge range of colours

Kits
Don't want to shop around?  Why not get everything that you need in a kit?
Bijoux By Me - 6 kits from £6.99 - £9.99
Bojangle Beads - 7 different colours at £17.00 per kit, however, you can make 2 bracelets from one kit
Jilly beads - 11 different colours at £14.50 per kit

I Love The Rain

This week's treasury is inspired by bank holiday weather

I hope you like it.
Sam x