tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45296737760998233302024-03-14T10:01:09.028+00:00Boo's JewelleryThis blog is about the many things of interest to me - from photography, jewellery making, my garden, walking and the English Lake District. I hope you might find something to interest you too.Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-11896799372558914092015-01-15T18:06:00.001+00:002015-01-15T18:33:29.842+00:00Time to move on methinksFor a multitude of reasons, I've decided to move my blogging activity to a new blog as part of my own web site. I've had increasing difficulty in posting here on Blogger and think that I will find the new format to be better for me - it has been something I've been thinking of doing for some years. Although ironically of course, having made the considerable effort to set up a new blog, posting here today, I find that a lot of the problems I was facing have seemingly been addressed and it's suddenly working okay for me!<br />
<br />
Blogger has served me well since 2008 and I will leave the blog here, just as it is, for future reference - many sites already link to it and it has always featured quite well in search engines. I have however copied everything over to my new site and would be delighted if you would join me there.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Please join me:</h3>
Please do join me at the <a href="http://www.boo-creations.co.uk/blog/">new blog</a>, with the latest post of <a href="http://www.boo-creations.co.uk/blog/i-really-am-going-to-try-harder/">I really am going to try harder </a> where I have posted some photos of the Lake District and some new work:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6NcJZ-Ntbk/VLgAg7Gfu7I/AAAAAAAACw8/rOAdAYit1OA/s1600/lakes2014_3812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6NcJZ-Ntbk/VLgAg7Gfu7I/AAAAAAAACw8/rOAdAYit1OA/s1600/lakes2014_3812.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">The Langdales in the English Lake District, looking as clear as I've ever seen them.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CsTixOgOTs/VLgAGXPcYbI/AAAAAAAACw0/tQDCQcotZdg/s1600/enameltins28543f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CsTixOgOTs/VLgAGXPcYbI/AAAAAAAACw0/tQDCQcotZdg/s1600/enameltins28543f.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Enamelled sliding lid tins, something new that I've been trying.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Thank you for reading me thus far and for following this blog and for making your valuable comments, it has been truly appreciated. I largely post as a way of making a record for my own future purposes, so it's a lovely bonus to find that other people read my ramblings too. I do hope that you'll continue to do so. Thank you!<br />
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-2553183976033040992014-06-26T13:41:00.000+01:002014-06-26T13:58:39.977+01:00Garden bird pool partyI thought I was doing well with remembering to post more frequently, but I see with horror that it's already well over 2 weeks since my last post. It's alarming how the weeks flash past. Not that I have much of interest to post.<br />
<br />
I've found myself easily distracted over the last week or two with the amusing antics of the current broods of baby birds in the garden. There's this lovely delicious stage shortly after fledging when they're out in the big wide world for the first time, yet not fully ready for it. The stage when they fly in the oddest manner, more like bumble bees than birds - while they perfect the act of steering whilst in flight and hone the amazingly agile skills that adult birds demonstrate with jealousy-inducing ease.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">Please click on any of the photographs for a larger version. You may be able to middle click to open them in a new tab at the size I prepare them.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veZjdSxJNNs/U6wIhKtLYHI/AAAAAAAACvc/US-r03-3HSI/s1600/garden2014_3662h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veZjdSxJNNs/U6wIhKtLYHI/AAAAAAAACvc/US-r03-3HSI/s1600/garden2014_3662h.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> It's lovely to see so many bees in the garden, it always feels like summer when you can see their constant business and activity.</span></div>
<br />
I did the RSPBs garden bird count earlier in the year - I try to do it each year, not only for the data this adds to the RSPB's efforts, but for my own interest too - I keep a copy of my count and like to compare it year on year. This year I had a really good selection on the day of the count, but was aware that there were much fewer tits than I'd normally expect, yet more of the slightly rarer species like bullfinches - I had 6 (3 pairs) at the same time that one day. Yet I only counted one each of blue tits and great tits, expecting more as they're usually a garden staple.<br />
<br />
But hopefully that meant they were just elsewhere that particular day as I now have a good crop of youngsters of each species. The garden has been alive with them - I reckon at least 8 of each at the moment - and they've given me more than enough pleasure this month to justify my bird food budget.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJUmmMV3nBI/U6wOJge9eGI/AAAAAAAACv4/vQ_dSOj6NcQ/s1600/garden2014_3654h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJUmmMV3nBI/U6wOJge9eGI/AAAAAAAACv4/vQ_dSOj6NcQ/s1600/garden2014_3654h.jpg" height="146" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One thing that they've been up to that I can't say I've noticed before is a seeming fixation with water. I have 3 different bird baths in the bird area and pretty much every time I look, there are baby birds in and around all of them. In fact they've got such a pool party thing going on with various splashing and drinking that I'm having to go out and top them up at least once every day.<br />
<br />
My neighbour has a little water feature in her garden that has a circulating body of water that falls as a little fountain into a pool - the baby birds have been having even more fun in hers - washing vigorously under the fountain part - that she's having to top it up daily too. She also noticed that this seems to be a new phenomena this year. Maybe the mild winter didn't kill off as many parasites as usual and they feel the need for more vigorous bathing this spring.<br />
<br />
Being babies, there does seem to have been a lot of time perching on the edge of the water wondering quite what they should do. There are often two or three at once, and it looks for all the world like they're trying to build up the courage to jump in and the others are offering the necessary encouragement. I just haven't been able to catch a decent photograph of the action as the baths the babies prefer is in a sheltered spot in deep shadow.<br />
<br />
This little fella stepped into the shallower of my baths and just stood there a while, testing the sensation on his feet, waiting to see if anything terrible happened. He ventured to drink a little, paddled round a bit, sat down in it, paddled some more. Stood looking around as if waiting for inspiration or help from above from a friend, then suddenly decided to just go for it - he flapped his wings vigorously splashing water everywhere, then sat for a moment, all fluffed up and wet, just taking stock of what had just happened, had he suffered any harm? Deciding that he hadn't, he flapped vigorously some more and was gone to shake off in the sun. I felt rather privileged to share his first time with him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e0mdbjlEDCY/U6wIiC_fIUI/AAAAAAAACvg/ee4uh74J7R8/s1600/garden2014_3652h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e0mdbjlEDCY/U6wIiC_fIUI/AAAAAAAACvg/ee4uh74J7R8/s1600/garden2014_3652h.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
The gravel chippings in that garden seemingly make for a good sun trap when the sun is actually on them and I've seen a whole parade of birds this week lying with their wings outstretched, soaking up the rays, although it's the blackbirds I see most often. Having lain for quite some time with his wings fully out, he tucked them back and rolled over a little, presumably to warm his tummy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4teCi91DtM/U6wIhVSN_oI/AAAAAAAACvo/A_lw-uKOMfY/s1600/garden2014_3678h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4teCi91DtM/U6wIhVSN_oI/AAAAAAAACvo/A_lw-uKOMfY/s1600/garden2014_3678h.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></div>
We managed one evening walk out this week and as we sat in the car contemplating coming home, were treated to a lovely sunset. With sunsets of this nature, it always looks to me as though the intense colour of the sky is at the expense of the landscape, which ends up looking dark and colourless as the sun makes its departure, taking the colour of the day over the horizon with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kI_z9G_fqVA/U6wIXhPN0ZI/AAAAAAAACvM/rSPjKYOIDkM/s1600/beaconfell4_3672h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kI_z9G_fqVA/U6wIXhPN0ZI/AAAAAAAACvM/rSPjKYOIDkM/s1600/beaconfell4_3672h.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Work this week:</b><br />
<br />
I've had this particular connector idea in mind for some time and finally got to trying it this week after coiling some wire for another piece and it reminded me. As is often the case with new designs, it takes a few 'prototypes' to perfect the methodology and overcome snags, but I am now in the regular habit of keeping a detailed design journal, so that once I have settled on a method, I record it in longhand detail and can easily return to the design to re-make it without having to re-think it each time. As you make things, you might find that it works best to work a particular end first, or to hammer or polish a section before making up as you can't reach it later etc. So keeping a 'recipe' for the workflow for any particular design, as well as measurements and gauges of wire used, has proved to be well worth the time and discipline it takes me at the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kse1EgJI-So/U6wRF6Q2eLI/AAAAAAAACwA/GZdAVnOwL4E/s1600/earrings27936f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kse1EgJI-So/U6wRF6Q2eLI/AAAAAAAACwA/GZdAVnOwL4E/s1600/earrings27936f.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Coil on coil antiqued copper earrings with deep blue teal and amber topaz Czech fire polished crystals.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9JoH4wGZz4/U6wUlwnbvUI/AAAAAAAACwg/t8Kb0-ynOrA/s1600/earrings27968f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9JoH4wGZz4/U6wUlwnbvUI/AAAAAAAACwg/t8Kb0-ynOrA/s1600/earrings27968f.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Downloading the latest photographs, I noticed that I was almost at image no. 28,000 in my jewellery photography camera. I do take a lot of duplicates, even of the same view, variously for optional focus or exposure to see which I prefer. So I did a quick tot up of how many of these images actually make it to finally sell the item - I think that I have now 'published' over 4,200 jewellery images (and each one is done at least two finished sizes), selling something like 800 different pieces, an average of over 5 images per item. If I were to spend 15 minutes on each published image; taking, cropping, retouching, saving and uploading it - wait for it - that represents over 1000 hours of work, which is over 26 working weeks! No wonder it seems like a perpetual task!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WvVEJKmwVbc/U6wRGndZBeI/AAAAAAAACwM/LvcLe7o7A9k/s1600/earrings27997f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WvVEJKmwVbc/U6wRGndZBeI/AAAAAAAACwM/LvcLe7o7A9k/s1600/earrings27997f.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
A longer version made with dyed blue jade faceted stones, spiral wrapped on polished paddle pins. The earrings co-ordinate with the Y shaped necklace below which features a chunkier version of the 'coil on coil' wrap and a large faceted jade pendant.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ldb3eC_bKU/U6wTq1LJYiI/AAAAAAAACwU/l0mfgch5Ciw/s1600/necklace27963f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ldb3eC_bKU/U6wTq1LJYiI/AAAAAAAACwU/l0mfgch5Ciw/s1600/necklace27963f.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-9868297766756169212014-06-09T19:12:00.001+01:002014-06-10T07:25:02.715+01:00It pays to look a little closerFurther to my <a href="http://boojewels.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/simple-pleasures.html" target="_blank">previous blog on Simple Pleasures</a>, this one isn't really much more than an update, on account of finding some more photos from the walks and leisurely evenings that I'd described. We did manage to return for another evening last week and although the weather wasn't as perfect and there was a very stiff and distinctly cool breeze that forced us to eat our supper with one hand holding lightweight items down, it was still a lovely and valued treat.<br />
<br />
We have always considered it potentially too breezy to eat al fresco if your crisps blow off the plate and if it hadn't been for the shelter of the car that we parked nose into the wind, that certainly would have happened.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #660000;">Please click on any of the photos for a larger view - if you'd like to see them at the size I prepared them, you may be able to middle click and open them in a new tab or window without Blogger re-sizing them to fit. </i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSdRSCIiORo/U5XZlp4AxyI/AAAAAAAACug/mw-Kz_oNeMo/s1600/beaconfell_550_0393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSdRSCIiORo/U5XZlp4AxyI/AAAAAAAACug/mw-Kz_oNeMo/s1600/beaconfell_550_0393.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Whilst it was a less sunny evening than on our last visit, we did get occasional blasts of evening sunshine through the trees and I took this slightly wider shot from the same spot as last week using a different camera. I'd need to check the times, but in this one, the sun is obviously at a slightly different angle as the bottom of the trees are catching it too.</span></div>
<br />
At this time of year, the hedgerows are filled with the lovely white fluffy flowers of cow parsley and at a glance, all you see is a cloud of delicate white umbelliferous flowers nodding in the breeze at the edges of fields, but they're certainly worth looking at a little closer. Looking at it in full bloom, it's easy to see why one of its country names is Queen Anne's Lace.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ag0fAJrwjV0/U5XZ_ayIcWI/AAAAAAAACuw/mdGzcX_HERM/s1600/beaconfell3_3641h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ag0fAJrwjV0/U5XZ_ayIcWI/AAAAAAAACuw/mdGzcX_HERM/s1600/beaconfell3_3641h.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWNIYQXAsrY/U5XZ-yC5HSI/AAAAAAAACus/_9QtRsbC-2k/s1600/beaconfell3_3645h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWNIYQXAsrY/U5XZ-yC5HSI/AAAAAAAACus/_9QtRsbC-2k/s1600/beaconfell3_3645h.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
The dome of flowers is understandably made up of lots of tiny individual blooms, but I was surprised to see that they weren't as uniform as I was expecting - they have 5 petals, of differing size; one large, two medium and two small. The flower collectives look fluffy as each bloom develops and its stamens reach skyward like a cluster of flowery hairs. It's always worth looking that bit more closely at things we think are familiar - sometimes they surprise us.<br />
<br />
<b>Recent work:</b><br />
<br />
I've finished two large projects this week - two copper clay pendants. One features another of my own faux cabochons, this one is Chinese amber, which has been leaf-set in a round pendant with lots of tiny leaves and the edges festooned with tiny copper balls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lawA9RkzfqI/U5XYz86lCII/AAAAAAAACuQ/rOscDBgyoF8/s1600/necklace27844f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lawA9RkzfqI/U5XYz86lCII/AAAAAAAACuQ/rOscDBgyoF8/s1600/necklace27844f.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
It has a chunky bail comprised a single loop which overlaps slightly on the top rim of the pendant and is finished with more tiny leaves and balls. The cabochon is a translucent polymer clay that has been hand tinted and features the dark fissures of a matrix or cracks. It has been sanded and buffed extensively to a high gloss finish, then this has been locked in with a dozen thin coats of acrylic varnish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGGPBH26hBc/U5XZXXpFGSI/AAAAAAAACuY/UFvDBm_hVNM/s1600/necklace27834f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGGPBH26hBc/U5XZXXpFGSI/AAAAAAAACuY/UFvDBm_hVNM/s1600/necklace27834f.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
When I'm working for a considerable time of a piece, I like to make the back pretty too and this one features some more tiny leaves around the ends of the bail and a swirl and leaf pattern on the back. I find with each piece that I make that I have one little corner of detail that's my favourite part and the bail on this one is my favourite area of this piece.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkp958BrDGU/U5XYzIOHqVI/AAAAAAAACuI/qLdzOK_njFo/s1600/necklace27838f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkp958BrDGU/U5XYzIOHqVI/AAAAAAAACuI/qLdzOK_njFo/s1600/necklace27838f.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This next pendant was one of those serendipitous pieces that just sort of happens. Some pieces start as an idea that gets drawn as a sketch and often the bulk of the time given to a piece is the thinking through of the mechanics of it - what order to make and apply the parts, how to solve engineering aspects of the design etc. And some you just can't overcome those issues initially and find yourself returning to repeatedly until eventually either the method presents itself, or you develop skills or knowledge that you perhaps didn't have when first considering the design - and sometimes you just have to write it off as unworkable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRsN8S49TZU/U5XYw7WwONI/AAAAAAAACt8/ZAerdzR3SN0/s1600/necklace27771f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRsN8S49TZU/U5XYw7WwONI/AAAAAAAACt8/ZAerdzR3SN0/s1600/necklace27771f.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd made some long thin strips of finely rolled copper clay, intending to use them to bezel set a stone, but went with something different in the end. So I spotted these strips and made a mental note to reconstitute the clay as I was unlikely to use the strips. Later I was working in the garden and was looking at stretch of trellis I have along one wall - erected some years ago to provide a veil of privacy from neighbours' upstairs windows. Over the years, the vegetation using it to climb has grown significantly and the trellis is now largely obscured with an assortment of honeysuckle, vines, dogwood and a <span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">climbing hydrangea. The latter of which is supposed to flower and after a year or two I mentioned to my green fingered Mum that it never had and she said it might take a year or two to establish. Frankly, I think 11 years is now quite long enough - so flower damn it!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjK6TVU7nIE/U5XYxM3PYYI/AAAAAAAACt0/evlduAQBpiY/s1600/necklace27784f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjK6TVU7nIE/U5XYxM3PYYI/AAAAAAAACt0/evlduAQBpiY/s1600/necklace27784f.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I pondered if the bezel strips might be flexible enough to weave together - as it's COPPR clay which does have some flex to it when dry. So the eventual size and shape of this pendant was determined entirely by the length of the bezel strips I wove together, then having put it on a base, I added curly tendrils, leaves, balls and a triple looped bail. I've set it with a single citrine coloured cubic zirconia. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">In line with my plan to keep the backs interesting too, I gave it a wood grain texture and added a curly tendril. Initially I was going to continue the tendril from the front as though it had just grown there, but I liked the shape of this one better and wasn't sure that going over an edge would look right from the front.</span><br />
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SSYR0FMT2E/U5XYxTagh_I/AAAAAAAACuA/USwv5-Z-CHM/s1600/necklace27783f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SSYR0FMT2E/U5XYxTagh_I/AAAAAAAACuA/USwv5-Z-CHM/s1600/necklace27783f.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></span>
I especially enjoyed working on both of these pieces and I'd like to think that was somehow reflected in the results.Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-13045339708733738592014-06-02T16:44:00.002+01:002014-06-03T12:03:20.337+01:00Simple pleasuresAs mentioned in my previous post, my husband recently underwent a total hip replacement and whilst he's done incredibly well with it and is now back at work and recovering well, we did have a period of 12 weeks or so when we were restricted to where we could get to on foot - with him on crutches - so not that far. I could go out on a bus if I chose, but buses aren't as much fun on your own and when only using them through necessity for essential chores. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #660000;"><b>Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view.</b></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3geT4-tJWk/U4yZrexCpyI/AAAAAAAACrQ/6f7H1HtBGfY/s1600/beaconfell_550_0380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3geT4-tJWk/U4yZrexCpyI/AAAAAAAACrQ/6f7H1HtBGfY/s1600/beaconfell_550_0380.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">The scene where we settle for supper and to just enjoy being there. 6 days previously there hadn't been a single blossom on the hawthorns.</span></div>
<br />
During that time, we were well aware that it was a temporary and necessary blip and it was a great comfort and motivation to us to have something to look forward to. The time of the year helped enormously, having his surgery in February meant we were housebound in the least favourable season for weather and had the spring and summer ahead of us to enjoy once mobile again. I feel sure it would have felt a little less palatable if he'd had surgery in late summer or autumn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p1tDq1KTifw/U4yZ5tSSOpI/AAAAAAAACr0/iNFKCghLM0g/s1600/beaconfell3_3628h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p1tDq1KTifw/U4yZ5tSSOpI/AAAAAAAACr0/iNFKCghLM0g/s1600/beaconfell3_3628h.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a>.</div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I take great inspiration from the foliage that grows in the verges, it always fascinates me, especially all the different species of grasses.</span></div>
<br />
As I've blogged about many times, one of our favourite spots is Beacon Fell in Lancashire, England - we've been going there regularly for over 40 years, long before we even knew each other. It's a place that's very busy during the day, but once the teashop closes and the loos are locked up for the night, you only tend to find it frequented by locals and dog walkers and local cycle clubs who use the challenging inclines of the roadways. And this is our very favourite time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jg7tAi1ByIs/U4yZ0v2Er9I/AAAAAAAACrY/EptfHEEqdsQ/s1600/beaconfell3_3602h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jg7tAi1ByIs/U4yZ0v2Er9I/AAAAAAAACrY/EptfHEEqdsQ/s1600/beaconfell3_3602h.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I've mentioned many times how obsessed I am with sunlight through trees and perhaps early summer evening sun is the very prettiest - with pristine new greenery and golden light. I wish I could bottle how this makes me feel and take a sip whenever my spirits flag.</span></div>
<br />
We've got into the habit in recent years of dashing up there at the end of a working day, whenever the weather is suitable, armed with a picnic and some reading matter. We can usually manage to get there in time for a decent walk, then retire to a quiet parking layby which has fabulous views for a picnic supper from the back of the car, then we retire inside the car with coffee, a biscuit, some reading material and binoculars and stay till either we get cold, need the loo, or get driven away by nibbling insects. We try and leave before dark because we often see good wildlife on the drive home at dusk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nH96xGav5Qk/U4yeQGY_s-I/AAAAAAAACsQ/HfG5Kl6H9i0/s1600/beaconfell3_3606h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nH96xGav5Qk/U4yeQGY_s-I/AAAAAAAACsQ/HfG5Kl6H9i0/s1600/beaconfell3_3606h.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">We always stop and pause on this stretch as the bird song tends to be particularly good. The woodland is mostly coniferous as it's a commercial plantation, but this area is mixed, so attracts a good selection of birds.</span></div>
<br />
Maybe we're just turning into a pair of old farts, but there are few things I enjoy more - Mr Boo thinks that I'm a very cheap date. Just as well, I don't think he could afford me otherwise! It's at its most enjoyable at this time of year - the evenings are the longest, often still cool enough to be able to enjoy a decent walk, yet warm enough to eat supper in shirt sleeves and the countryside at its most pristine and enjoyable. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrfCKz6kG9U/U4yePDAX5uI/AAAAAAAACsI/LTsZK0UFIdo/s1600/beaconfell3_3618h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hrfCKz6kG9U/U4yePDAX5uI/AAAAAAAACsI/LTsZK0UFIdo/s1600/beaconfell3_3618h.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">They've taken the decision this last winter to thin out some of the coniferous woodland to allow more light in to encourage more forest floor growth. Being planted as a commercial crop originally, it was densely packed and very little light permeated. Hence there are more spots now where the sunlight streams through, giving rise to these gorgeous treats.</span></div>
<br />
So, we sat on Saturday evening, supervising the hay making down the valley through binoculars, listening to nothing other than the breeze through the trees, evening bird song, lambs baaing for their Mums, Curlews in the field adjacent and the distant hum of the farm vehicles. We were passed all evening by a grand total of two cyclists and three cars - although one of those did go past twice.<br />
<br />
The drive up there is a significant part of the pleasure for us, through delightful English countryside, much of which is farmed. We'd love to have somewhere we love as much a little closer to home and although we have other places we like to go, nowhere else has quite all the right ingredients. On the latest journey there we spotted a record haul of wildlife en route; a hedgehog snuffling along the verge, a hare eating at the roadside who stood up tall and gave us a good looking at as we passed; three different owls, hunting earlier than usual and several close encounters with curlews, variously in flight or perched on fence posts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bCiX1K0umk/U4yeSvUyuaI/AAAAAAAACsg/UgWBgGWfVK0/s1600/beaconfell3_3634h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7bCiX1K0umk/U4yeSvUyuaI/AAAAAAAACsg/UgWBgGWfVK0/s1600/beaconfell3_3634h.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This particular area seems to be especially abundant with varieties of grasses at the verge-side, from tiny little low ones with feathery seeds to tall exotic looking ones that sway in the breeze. I think they'll be at their most fabulous in another 3 or 4 weeks.</span></div>
<br />
So it was the very thought of these such evenings that kept us going during our enforced immobile period at home. We knew we had the very best of the early summer ahead of us to enjoy it and it was an absolute joy to get back there last week after looking forward to it for over 3 months. And it didn't disappoint - it was all the more delicious for having to wait and being deprived of it for longer than usual. We enjoyed it so much, we've spent 3 evenings there in the last 2 weeks. I'm already watching the weather forecast to see if an evening this week will allow us visit no.4.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOBwFqId8sY/U4yh5yTPkGI/AAAAAAAACss/HTIbSsldNXI/s1600/garden2014_3588h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOBwFqId8sY/U4yh5yTPkGI/AAAAAAAACss/HTIbSsldNXI/s1600/garden2014_3588h.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The mild winter this year has meant that the garden has survived rather better than usual and I already have a decent show of colour without any new planting, with annuals from last year not only surviving, but already flowering again - I don't think that has ever happened before. I have a couple of good sized lavender plants and they are thick with busy bees. Mr Boo is fascinated watching them - he wonders if they're all the same bees returning, or lots of different ones.<br />
<br />
<b>Recent finished work:</b><br />
<br />
I've now entirely lost track of what I've already published and what is new, so I'll just show a few photographs of pieces that I know I've finished very recently. The pendant below is double sided and the front features a cabochon I made in polymer clay which is a faux lapis colour and has been finished to a high gloss with many coats of acrylic varnish. The cab has been set in a round pendant and held in place with lots of tiny individually sculpted leaves. The reverse features an appliqued design of a daisy and a triple loop bail with tiny leaves and balls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MN_cG8pVvg/U4yjnOFVKBI/AAAAAAAACs4/DKqVvghz268/s1600/necklace27576f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MN_cG8pVvg/U4yjnOFVKBI/AAAAAAAACs4/DKqVvghz268/s1600/necklace27576f.jpg" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhA5nBxRIO0/U4yjt2nfXkI/AAAAAAAACtA/pZo3T2-xsow/s1600/necklace27573f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MhA5nBxRIO0/U4yjt2nfXkI/AAAAAAAACtA/pZo3T2-xsow/s1600/necklace27573f.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cl0RK9W3TJk/U4yk47jvULI/AAAAAAAACtM/lFECI3f2cUw/s1600/necklace27724f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cl0RK9W3TJk/U4yk47jvULI/AAAAAAAACtM/lFECI3f2cUw/s1600/necklace27724f.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
A large kite shaped and dyed piece of top drilled agate that I've made into a simple pendant with a wire wrapped bail and decorative folded poppy cap - taken from a tutorial design by on-line friend and talented fellow jewellery maker Keirsten Giles and her <a href="http://www.happymangobeads.com/tutorial-poppycaps.aspx">tutorial for Happy Mango Beads</a> and I offer it with her permission. Her version was in sheet metal, but I modified it to be made in copper clay, creating a custom texture sheet for it so that I could give it a border. It proved to be an ideal solution for some oddly shaped stones in my stash. I already had an idea in progress for it, but I like this one rather better.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1F2YO6bKZQ/U4yw2i2oZ0I/AAAAAAAACtg/Y3qyUD0WKvI/s1600/earrings27627f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1F2YO6bKZQ/U4yw2i2oZ0I/AAAAAAAACtg/Y3qyUD0WKvI/s1600/earrings27627f.jpg" height="155" width="320" /></a></div>
I often find that once I make a particular design, I get a smidge fixated with it and make quite a few on the same theme. It's also true to say that once you get into a flow with something, it's worth continuing to work once your eye is in. Hence I made quite a few different versions of these rosebud knot wrap earrings. I sell a lot of earrings in this price bracket, so it makes sense to offer a decent selection.<br />
<br />
<i>Now, let's see that weather forecast for Thursday again . . . </i><br />
<br />
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-49156039063503951432014-05-11T13:48:00.000+01:002014-05-11T13:58:27.319+01:00I do so love springI have been truly appalling at keeping my blog up to date recently and I do apologise, yet again, for my tardiness.<br />
<br />
In my defence, the last few weeks have been a little odd and my routine disrupted somewhat, as my husband underwent a much-needed full hip replacement in early February and has been off work recuperating since then, only returning to work a few days ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjRmed80LS4/U29ofBaZljI/AAAAAAAACok/ntkpmSk0f0k/s1600/springflowers_3446h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjRmed80LS4/U29ofBaZljI/AAAAAAAACok/ntkpmSk0f0k/s1600/springflowers_3446h.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">With the mild autumn, my summer bedding lasted longer than usual, so I was rather late planting some new tulip bulbs I had and consequently, they've appeared rather late too and have been a welcome burst of colour as the weather has warmed and allowed me to be outside enjoying them.</span></div>
<br />
He had been in debilitating pain and with much reduced mobility and was looking forward to the surgery and hopefully the improvement it would bring and it has truly been a blessing for him. He underwent the surgery under local anaesthetic, which I think was a rather surreal experience for him - he described it as like being placed on the table in an operating theatre and a screen put in place so that you couldn't see what was happening, then the theatre staff appeared to dismantle and re-model the theatre around you - at least that was what it sounded like with all the sawing and hammering. He wasn't sure it was an appropriate time for undertaking a bit of DIY! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjI0eLfceP8/U29ofs6FJDI/AAAAAAAACo0/q0T_PD35duk/s1600/springflowers_3470h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjI0eLfceP8/U29ofs6FJDI/AAAAAAAACo0/q0T_PD35duk/s1600/springflowers_3470h.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This batch of tulips were meant to be assorted colours, but they ended up all coming out yellow - but they've been totally gorgeous, with this deep gold colour and frilly edges.</span></div>
<br />
But once back in his bed a couple of hours later, he felt great - absolutely no pain, hungry as all heck and between you and me, a little doolally from the meds. He was home a few days later and went from strength to strength and whilst it has been a tricky time while he had -and continues to have to some degree - reduced movement, his recovery has been incident free and he was immediately better than he was before - just getting rid of the pain in itself was enough justification for the surgery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz-VDUZ1C24/U29ojcBG7TI/AAAAAAAACpI/lV0K6mwXkug/s1600/springflowers_3518h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz-VDUZ1C24/U29ojcBG7TI/AAAAAAAACpI/lV0K6mwXkug/s1600/springflowers_3518h.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> After all my lovely daffodils finished, I've had a second burst of deep yellow with these fabulous tulips - it's amazing how a few blooms can lift your spirits.</span></div>
<br />
At his post-op follow up with the surgeon the doctor declared that all had gone very well indeed with fully successful surgery and that he'd be able to rock climb in six months. <i><b>"Wow, that's absolutely amazing, I couldn't rock climb beforehand!"</b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9pALzBUYHrM/U29ok5lD4PI/AAAAAAAACpU/aRy9TbBtcKo/s1600/springflowers_3550h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9pALzBUYHrM/U29ok5lD4PI/AAAAAAAACpU/aRy9TbBtcKo/s1600/springflowers_3550h.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The fist open flower I spotted of wild garlic growing along one of my favourite local walks.</span></div>
<br />
So the last few weeks have been a little odd - when you can't bend much in the middle (necessary to prevent dislocation whilst the muscles holding the hip in place heal), it soon becomes evident how many routine tasks require you to do so. Like washing your legs, putting on undies, trimming your toenails etc. etc. so I have had some odd wifely duties to perform - not to mention hauling a daft 'old lady' shopping trolley the mile or so from the supermarket. And when you're on crutches, even the simplest of tasks take military planning as you can't carry anything you can't stuff in your pockets or hang around your neck. Whilst we thought we'd planned well for this period, it was the little things we hadn't considered that took up so much of my time in assisting.<br />
<br />
But we're gradually returning to something like normal now and progressively lowering all the hospital-loaned seats to more normal sitting heights and we took the bed off its stilts yesterday - which has had the rather disarming effect of making me feel taller - which is rather a nice sensation when you're only 5' tall.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nn1rEgencXo/U29osPdp12I/AAAAAAAACpo/U1Xz_D1BhIE/s1600/springflowers_3552h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nn1rEgencXo/U29osPdp12I/AAAAAAAACpo/U1Xz_D1BhIE/s1600/springflowers_3552h.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> I love to see woodland in spring, when the pristine greenery first emerges and you get carpets of early flowers like bluebells.</span></div>
<br />
The one thing we have managed to do well during this period - and to be frank, when you can't go anywhere by mobile transport it was our only form of outside entertainment - was walk. So weather permitting, we've been out most days, just walking from the door and have watched the spring emerge - more like erupt - from the dark blandness of winter. And it has been a particular joy this year when your world has become quite small, you really do appreciate that little bit more just what is right under your nose and you perhaps otherwise take for granted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnJUuBVm0hI/U29owsBXXyI/AAAAAAAACqA/bjhigOoXNGc/s1600/springflowers_3563h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnJUuBVm0hI/U29owsBXXyI/AAAAAAAACqA/bjhigOoXNGc/s1600/springflowers_3563h.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When you stop and study and area of woodland like this, there are dozens of lovely delicate species of flowers - this patch mainly features pink purslane and bluebells, two of my very favourites.</span></div>
<br />
So whilst it has been an odd time for us both with this rather strange routine we needed to adopt, it has also been a blessing in many ways too - we've spent more quality time together than we normally manage around work and has allowed us to evaluate what matters and spend our time more wisely. The downside to that is that I've been tardy with things like blogging. I hope that you'll forgive me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkLKOXzU3tM/U29ovrozjJI/AAAAAAAACp4/fLZISWxqHm4/s1600/springflowers_3568h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkLKOXzU3tM/U29ovrozjJI/AAAAAAAACp4/fLZISWxqHm4/s1600/springflowers_3568h.jpg" height="293" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I love the buds of Hawthorne before they open, they make perfect little white globes before the petals burst open.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Him having returned to work this week, I have had a blitz on getting pieces finished and photographed and onto my site and these are a few of the pieces I've finished lately.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJgL-4kco38/U29tab8nqUI/AAAAAAAACqY/wxFg36SgBYQ/s1600/bracelet27201f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UJgL-4kco38/U29tab8nqUI/AAAAAAAACqY/wxFg36SgBYQ/s1600/bracelet27201f.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I haven't done any chain maille for ages, so enjoyed working on this Full Persian bracelet with a chunky copper clay toggle.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PlWYPptOBc/U29tZB1Xp0I/AAAAAAAACqI/NYVFn37xp9g/s1600/bracelet27212f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PlWYPptOBc/U29tZB1Xp0I/AAAAAAAACqI/NYVFn37xp9g/s1600/bracelet27212f.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Faceted dyed jade wire wrapped antiqued copper bracelet with copper clay leaf shaped toggle clasp.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrWjWVp8Eaw/U29tZq_9BHI/AAAAAAAACqU/OGDzL1-0vVg/s1600/bracelet27264f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrWjWVp8Eaw/U29tZq_9BHI/AAAAAAAACqU/OGDzL1-0vVg/s1600/bracelet27264f.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Carnelian wire wrapped bracelet with copper clay toggle clasp. The texture on the toggle loop was my own, created originally from a photograph of a fir cone, made into a two tone graphic from which I made some texture sheets. It's my current favourite as I think it looks like tooled leather.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8wPTWOBS0w/U29uVKVBIrI/AAAAAAAACqg/EkHuK5fs3Uc/s1600/earrings27440f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8wPTWOBS0w/U29uVKVBIrI/AAAAAAAACqg/EkHuK5fs3Uc/s1600/earrings27440f.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Rosebud knot spiral wrapped rondelles of Snake Skin Jasper. I love this method of making beads into earrings, but it necessitates two pieces of wire passing through the bead and not many beads come with a suitably sized hole.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9zXw9iYjFw/U29uWmdWoZI/AAAAAAAACqw/GQT2vU55xmg/s1600/necklace27328f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9zXw9iYjFw/U29uWmdWoZI/AAAAAAAACqw/GQT2vU55xmg/s1600/necklace27328f.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Copper clay pendant featuring a central section filled with filigree scrolls and a set Padparadscha coloured </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">cubic zirconia stone.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2aOiQ5Rej4/U29uWFElN5I/AAAAAAAACqo/qGInoUbcPPs/s1600/necklace27336f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2aOiQ5Rej4/U29uWFElN5I/AAAAAAAACqo/qGInoUbcPPs/s1600/necklace27336f.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I remember clearly the evening that I drew this design, early last summer, sat in the car, at sunset after a lovely evening walk and a picnic supper in one of our favourite quiet spots. That particular area of countryside at that particular time of year was full of different verge-side grasses, with different shapes of seed head and all moving rhythmically in the warm evening breeze and I was fascinated with them and wondered if I could capture something of them in metal.</span></div>
<br />
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-17660946444547431322013-11-30T00:47:00.000+00:002013-11-30T10:09:37.326+00:00Congratulations Dr WhoI did sit down to post this last Saturday, on the 50th Anniversary of Dr Who, but time ran away with me as always.<br />
<br />
As I'm sure you'll realise, if you've read any of my earlier posts, we do like to spend as much time as possible in the English Lake District. Largely for holidays, but we also thankfully live close enough that we can just visit for the day too. <br />
<br />
Until 2 years ago when our favourite place to stay became unavailable, it was our habit to spend Easter up there - it was always something to look forward to during the shorter cold days of winter and was a lovely time to be there; with new lambs, daffodils and the first signs of spring.<br />
<br />
So, in 2007, we were staying up in our favourite place and whilst out and about one day, saw the oddest, surreal thing. I never did find out anything further about the incident and it remains a delicious mystery to this day.<br />
<br />
We were traveling over Kirkstone Pass, a slightly wild, high and barren moorland stretch bridging the gap between the Troutbeck and Patterdale areas. As a passenger, it is my habit, when not nodding off to sleep, to look out of the side window at the scenery etc and I always scan tree-lined areas for deer. <br />
<br />
As I passed this particular item just off the road, there was a two or three second delay whilst my brain did its best to comprehend what my eyes had just seen. When it did, I asked my husband to stop and as there were no other cars, to reverse back to what I thought I'd just seen. Nope, I wasn't imagining it, there was Dr Who's TARDIS nestled amongst the boulders. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgXzcpMx51E/TFv077HUrrI/AAAAAAAAA2E/hxY7pU7-H1M/s1600/easter07_f11_2659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgXzcpMx51E/TFv077HUrrI/AAAAAAAAA2E/hxY7pU7-H1M/s320/easter07_f11_2659.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When we saw the opening sequence of The Day of The Doctor last weekend, where the TARDIS was 'parked' on some moorland, for a brief moment, we thought this was the scene we had witnessed, being filmed. Until common sense took over and we realised that was 6 years ago and on watching it back, it wasn't the same stretch of road, even though initially, in our excitement we thought it might be.<br />
<br />
But at least we know where The Doctor takes his Easter holidays.<br />
<br />
I've lost track of what I've been up to lately work-wise - I seem to spend a lot of time re-making older designs as I get orders for them, so my new designs take a back-burner sometimes and I work on new stuff in short bursts between looking after customers - and my productivity hasn't been helped with a recent root canal issue - the tooth was as painful as anything I've ever experienced and it seemingly triggered frequent migraines too (in that they've stopped now the tooth is better, suggesting that was the cause). Thankfully, after several hours in the dentist's chair and doing serious damage to my credit card balance, it is all fixed and feeling significantly better. So I'll just post some of my recent work.<br />
<br />
This ivy leaf design was a birthday gift for my Mum - it has 4 independent leaves, two in copper, two in bronze, each riveted to a backplate which allows it to be worn as both a pendant and a brooch. The back ended up much more of a task than I was anticipating - largely because I'd decided to rivet the leaves in place, which precluded some of the pin ideas I had in mind as I needed to allow space to rivet in 4 places, then position the pin. It looks simple enough, but it seemed to take me a while to get there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ug9KiwhmKuo/Upkvmc4gVhI/AAAAAAAACns/vPVBLt1n84k/s1600/necklace26425f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ug9KiwhmKuo/Upkvmc4gVhI/AAAAAAAACns/vPVBLt1n84k/s320/necklace26425f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J3FikUSbGDg/UpkvjB7jEqI/AAAAAAAACnM/2r9GpkkHKu0/s1600/necklace26383f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J3FikUSbGDg/UpkvjB7jEqI/AAAAAAAACnM/2r9GpkkHKu0/s320/necklace26383f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbO7sKJTfPI/UpkvkecjmsI/AAAAAAAACng/OyOf00VLXWU/s1600/necklace26398f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MbO7sKJTfPI/UpkvkecjmsI/AAAAAAAACng/OyOf00VLXWU/s320/necklace26398f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I wanted to set the pin slightly off to one side, so that it could be worn horizontally, as well as vertically, without flopping forwards away from the garment at the top-most edge - if the pin is down the centre, it will tend to pivot forwards due to the weight of the metal. Now that I have it sussed, I have some more leaves ready to make another to sell.<br />
<br />
I also made a pair of earrings with the same copper ivy leaves on teardrop antiqued copper hoops. The photo I uploaded looked rather better than this - Blogger seems to have decided that it knows better than me how my photos should look and is seemingly adjusting the 'exposure' as I upload them - it's bad enough that it takes me several attempts to add each photo - and therefore an age to make each blog post - without them looking horrible when I'm finally successful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pILJWgQF14/Upkxrm_ZYzI/AAAAAAAACn8/a8MZWQXvdVM/s1600/earrings26429f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pILJWgQF14/Upkxrm_ZYzI/AAAAAAAACn8/a8MZWQXvdVM/s320/earrings26429f.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
This coral and copper bracelet was made as a birthday gift for a friend - featuring a large copper clay leaf toggle and red coral beads. I have a few more like this, with different beads, coming through to sell - when I can magic up the time to work on some photos, that is. Was it ever thus!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n5IducfFjYU/UpkytzUz0MI/AAAAAAAACoE/i0MuI4z5pm0/s1600/bracelet26300f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n5IducfFjYU/UpkytzUz0MI/AAAAAAAACoE/i0MuI4z5pm0/s320/bracelet26300f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-78002107448287328862013-09-09T23:50:00.003+01:002013-09-10T00:06:11.438+01:00New woodland friends and new designsI'll not bore you with trying to make excuses for my blogging tardiness - yet again - the weeks simply get away from me - thankfully because I've been nicely busy and keeping on top of customer orders and e-mails and trying desperately to make a few new things and develop ideas and new skills is more than enough to keep me out of mischief. I don't even have any energy left for any mischief. More's the pity.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #990000;"><b>Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view. </b></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6gUJC1QKVc/Ui5Hy0_nLmI/AAAAAAAACl4/djlknhhuNjQ/s1600/beaconfell_550_0234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6gUJC1QKVc/Ui5Hy0_nLmI/AAAAAAAACl4/djlknhhuNjQ/s320/beaconfell_550_0234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We were disappointed when a favourite woodland sculpture vanished from one of our regular walks. But earlier in the summer when we set off for some fresh air on an especially nice evening, we were delighted to see a new friend had taken up residence. It was only on a subsequent visit that Mr Boo pointed out that he was even nicer from behind - aren't his wing tips and tail just gorgeous.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0soJ66Yyl8/Ui5HypZF62I/AAAAAAAACl0/BDKEW0NwtNE/s1600/beaconfell_550_0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0soJ66Yyl8/Ui5HypZF62I/AAAAAAAACl0/BDKEW0NwtNE/s320/beaconfell_550_0262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm also feeling a bit left behind and out of sorts at the moment. The years are being added to my own clock at an alarming rate and I work with a very old computer that I simply can't afford the pennies - or the time it would take to get set up again properly - to upgrade to something more appropriate. And these two facts are leading to an increasing feeling of frustration when using some of the sites I frequent - especially ones that have recently undergone massive overhauls - that aren't seemingly conducive to easy navigation with an old computer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vGGQOjH2Yo/Ui5HvvCoz1I/AAAAAAAAClo/xyiIHvXVU5M/s1600/beaconfell_550_0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vGGQOjH2Yo/Ui5HvvCoz1I/AAAAAAAAClo/xyiIHvXVU5M/s320/beaconfell_550_0246.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A have a series of 'hedgerow' designs in mind at the moment, so was taking some reference photographs of emerging blackberries in the lovely golden evening sun and this comma butterfly landed - I haven't seen one for ages.</i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
Flickr was the first of these to drive me to distraction. I can fully appreciate that the interface was stylistically a little dated, but it worked and I enjoyed using it - it was fast and easy for me and I felt comfortable with it. Then came the upgrade and it was like trudging through treacle with lead boots on in comparison. I'm not sure it's entirely my fault that the improvements feel anything but, but reading the forums there, I'm certainly not alone in my frustration with it. I fully understand that with my old gear, I need to make some on-line compromises, but this feels rather more than that. And don't even get me started on what Yahoo! have done with the same upgrades to 'Groups' they are just now unfathomable!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTCAdxsW4qs/Ui5KLWGZ_5I/AAAAAAAACmA/HsVBvnOk9jw/s1600/necklace25653f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTCAdxsW4qs/Ui5KLWGZ_5I/AAAAAAAACmA/HsVBvnOk9jw/s320/necklace25653f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I've finally found some time to work on some new design ideas. Small copper clay filigree heart with a champagne coloured CZ stone.</span></i></div>
<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDujFs5Z7C8/Ui5Ks1-A85I/AAAAAAAACmI/9YhvRPNShEc/s1600/necklace25740f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDujFs5Z7C8/Ui5Ks1-A85I/AAAAAAAACmI/9YhvRPNShEc/s320/necklace25740f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><i>I finally braved working with some silver clay / PMC the price of it feels like it stifles my creativity a little - I'm conscious of how little you get for your money and the need to make it go as far as possible. The leaves and balls are all created by hand and individually applied. The fine silver pendant hangs on a Sterling silver and garnet belcher chain.</i></span></div>
<br />
I can only really judge from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/boojewels/" target="_blank">my own little corner of Flickr</a> - I've had very few comments on photos recently and my contacts used to post a page full of photos every day, yet I'm only seeing a handful of new images a week now from all of them together. So I'm not the only person that has reduced my time there significantly and I can't comment on other photos myself as on my low res. monitor, all of the links and buttons pile on top of each other and navigation is pretty much impossible.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4FbgjLnCSVs/Ui5LkMIdArI/AAAAAAAACmQ/2b0FV3DP63A/s1600/necklace25722f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4FbgjLnCSVs/Ui5LkMIdArI/AAAAAAAACmQ/2b0FV3DP63A/s320/necklace25722f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A little silver leaf pendant I made as a treat for myself. It's set with a little peridot coloured CZ stone and oxed to bring out the texture of the leaves. </span></i></div>
<br />
I also made a big decision a few weeks ago to stop supporting my Etsy shop and allow the stock on there to just expire naturally when each listing time was up. There are a multitude of contributing factors to that decision, not least of which is that it only accounts for a tiny percentage of my sales, yet takes a significant portion of my online maintenance time to manage the shop there - with the perpetual changes to the format and search algorithms etc. it simply takes more time and effort than were justified for the return.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFexGG4yq30/Ui5NQxv335I/AAAAAAAACmc/aaDc5SG2C8U/s1600/earrings25881f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFexGG4yq30/Ui5NQxv335I/AAAAAAAACmc/aaDc5SG2C8U/s320/earrings25881f.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;"><i>I'm a smidgy bit fixated on sticking little copper balls on everything at the moment - they serve many functions - they can fill gaps for design balance, add texture, cover blemishes, reinforce delicate areas, hold gemstones in place etc. etc. Here I just added lots of them - because I could!</i></span></div>
<br />
It wasn't an easy decision and I know that a chunk of me will probably live to regret it, but it was also a great weight off when I finally made the decision and has allowed me to give my own site a bit more time to address some stuff under the hood that I wanted to attend to and to work on the head full of ideas I had waiting to take form. Thankfully, I've managed to make progress on my new ideas and they're gradually filtering through to my shop - I seem to have spent a lot of time recently working on photos. But I set myself little targets and rewards - list 2 new things and I can have some bench time and the like. It's a bit of a poor do when you have to bribe yourself to get stuff done!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ONGWc0v5SQ4/Ui5ONuJ5NBI/AAAAAAAACms/--ALG6Zfh5c/s1600/necklace25911f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ONGWc0v5SQ4/Ui5ONuJ5NBI/AAAAAAAACms/--ALG6Zfh5c/s320/necklace25911f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Copper leaf and earring set. Done initially to test the embeddable eyelets that they hang from, which worked incredibly well. I can't claim any design credit for the leaves, these were created using a sugar paste cutter with an impression plunger - I picked them up in a cookery shop bargain bin in the summer and they work really nicely. I try to make all my own templates and textures, but I do rather like the simplicity of these and their ease of use.</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c7MsbT5kNCc/Ui5PcZWuLtI/AAAAAAAACm4/EK0pTYwjdAg/s1600/necklace25945f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c7MsbT5kNCc/Ui5PcZWuLtI/AAAAAAAACm4/EK0pTYwjdAg/s320/necklace25945f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #990000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Perhaps my most extensive piece of metal clay work to date - a large red jasper cabochon mounted in a pendant festooned with tiny leaves, tendrils and balls and held in place with several small leaves.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9MhM4UVl_Y/Ui5QK_cJyzI/AAAAAAAACm8/7dCAbRzOzMk/s1600/necklace25933f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9MhM4UVl_Y/Ui5QK_cJyzI/AAAAAAAACm8/7dCAbRzOzMk/s320/necklace25933f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In my next post I want to try and write more specifically about the metal clay work I've been doing - trying to ascertain a brand of clay that will manage the type of things I want to create - like the fine detail in the pendant above and the heart pendant higher up - and the perpetual frustration of honing down a good firing schedule for the nature of the pieces. I've had a couple of spectacular failures lately, so if I feel brave, I'll show you those too!Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-36020537944233067322013-06-08T16:59:00.001+01:002013-06-08T23:57:05.691+01:00Garden progress and woodland eveningsI find myself yet again apologising for my blogging tardiness. It had been my habit for a long while to write on a Saturday morning and that loose routine made it easy to keep up with it. I always felt like I had loads of potential ideas to blog about, if only of interest to me, so it never felt like a chore.<br />
<br />
One of the reasons I started a blog initially, was that as a keen photographer, I would often take a series of photos that weren't of gallery standard in themselves, but perhaps the story behind them or the theme of the series was where the interest lay. The ones amongst my words here for example are from my garden, as I try to rescue it after post-flood repair works, of which more below.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="color: #660000;"><b>Please click on any of the photos for a larger view. </b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHBbJMVihng/UbNOjzKRZhI/AAAAAAAACks/yhfA_EUNHOo/s1600/garden_2956h.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHBbJMVihng/UbNOjzKRZhI/AAAAAAAACks/yhfA_EUNHOo/s320/garden_2956h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Many photos in themselves don't stand up to solitary scrutiny, but when part of a story, they have more combined interest. Blogging allowed me the luxury of publishing photos alongside a little wording that explained the context - and served as a personal diary of recollections; stories that might otherwise fade from memory. So for me, blogging was pretty much a personal process. The fact that anyone else might possibly enjoy reading or looking at the pictures was pure bonus. I'm well aware that it's pretty much a self-indulgent process and I won't mind at all if no one else finds it of any value.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJ11Jgxl76M/UbNOfw1cXPI/AAAAAAAACkM/X1IDyLPVLhY/s1600/garden_2942h.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJ11Jgxl76M/UbNOfw1cXPI/AAAAAAAACkM/X1IDyLPVLhY/s320/garden_2942h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I've never kept a diary and there are times when I regret that and think that maybe its true value would be long into the future when grandchildren might find my musings and it give them a glimpse into a different world. Much as I have done recently reading what were largely everyday events in the brief pre-war diary my grandmother kept. A little snapshot into a different time.<br />
<br />
But life has simply got in the way recently and my best intentions, with many things, have simply had to be abandoned. Anyone who has followed my previous writings may remember that we were flooded last August, losing two garden areas and everything in our cellar. We made two insurance claims; one to replace all the contents we lost (which in retrospect fell a long way short of what we subsequently realised was lost) and another to clear the resulting mud and floodwaters and repair the physical damage to the property. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwzBjWNQsHY/UbNOjW7MmfI/AAAAAAAACkk/4sR-eWXYsKc/s1600/garden_2962h.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwzBjWNQsHY/UbNOjW7MmfI/AAAAAAAACkk/4sR-eWXYsKc/s320/garden_2962h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">I have to enjoy my hostas at these early pristine stages, as this is considered the most prized delicacy in the garden by my very healthy population of large snails. Of course they're healthy, they gorge themselves nightly on all my lovely green goodies. They think I'm totally fabulous for providing them with such a delicious and varied menu.</span></i></div>
<br />
The entire process, even for our relatively modest damage, has been much more of a task than we could possibly have imagined at the time of the event - and one thing did tend to lead to another. We've had a whole string of surveyors and builders poking the property and it ended up with us having a whole section of the house re-built and the drains under the house variously lined or replaced - not all of it covered by the insurance claims. It was a total of 7 months of [expensive and disruptive] work. Granted, if everyone had worked in a more timely manner, it was only really a few weeks work, but these things inevitably drag out to a disproportionate time-frame - most of it spent waiting for someone to produce a report, authorise materials or some-such other administrative delay.<br />
<br />
And once the building work was actually declared finished, we were still left with an almighty mess to sort out. Just about everything we own was covered with stone dust or mortar, my remaining little courtyard garden was pretty much trashed and we still have rain leaking in somewhere where it wasn't before the flood - all the repairs seemingly achieved, was shift it six feet along the wall. A matter we still have to resolve under our own steam, but we think we've identified the problem and think we can fix it without engaging more tradesmen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P3k-OHEZE00/UbNOgzcSEUI/AAAAAAAACkc/dSME8KwklYs/s1600/garden_2949h.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P3k-OHEZE00/UbNOgzcSEUI/AAAAAAAACkc/dSME8KwklYs/s320/garden_2949h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love the shape and spotted 'bee approach' of these M<span style="font-size: x-small;">i</span>mulus flowers - and this one is augmented by soft raindrops clinging to it - and I have a pendant <span style="font-size: x-small;">based on </span>the shapes already started in copper.</span></span></i></div>
<br />
So every spare minute since has been spent finally cleaning and trying to restore my tiny little garden to some of its former glory, so that at least I can enjoy it, should we get a summer in 2013. At least we're faced with this task at the best possible time of year. We're also using the opportunity to turn the cellar into a more useful space and part-workshop for some of my processes. That has progressed well, but can wait to be finished whilst the good weather favours progress outside first.<br />
<br />
Added to these flood-initiated tasks, a close family member also had a recent accident and is currently resident in a rehabilitation centre which necessitates a 120 mile round visit a couple of times a week to visit and manage their affairs, so that too is making a hole in our available 'spare' time.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of the building work, the project manager rang me and said that the final skip outside would be collected in a couple of hours, so to make good use of it if I had anything that I wanted rid of. I'd been looking at some of my sorry looking plants - those that had survived had not been tended to over winter as I simply couldn't get to them, so many that survived the flood had since fallen into a sorry state due to my own enforced neglect.<br />
<br />
So in a slight fit of pique, I ceremoniously dumped the contents of many of my large pots (my entire garden is in pots) into the skip, deciding that a new start might be more therapeutic than trying to make the best of a bad job. I already knew that I'd have a lot of work to do out there, so had left a little of the insurance settlement to buy new plants and had been squireling away a few pennies to add to it too. It turned out to be a great decision, it has been much more fun buying new and starting over. There were some nice surprises though too, a couple of plants I'd put in last year, treated as annuals, were coming up again, so whilst I lost what felt like a lot, it wasn't as bad as I'd been fearing, once I took stock and started on the remedial work. And some of the sorry looking specimens have responded better than expected to a lot of watering and feeding and the therapeutic sunshine we've had of late.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xCVFL-estwY/UbNOl2hgsiI/AAAAAAAACk0/4k2xfhfRJLs/s1600/garden_2973h.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xCVFL-estwY/UbNOl2hgsiI/AAAAAAAACk0/4k2xfhfRJLs/s320/garden_2973h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This area was a building site a month ago (the replaced drains were right under this spot, about 5 feet down) so I'm delighted that it's starting to look like a garden again now. I took the photos about 3 weeks ago, so the plants are already twice the sizes here.</span></span></i></div>
<br />
I decided that rather than get depressed and over-faced by the enormity of the task, I'd set aside a short period each day to make some progress - if I gave it 30 minutes each day I was sure that I'd soon see results. That approach paid dividends, once I set myself the task of concentrating on a square meter at a time, it actually wasn't as bad as I feared and the improvement was tangible within a handful of days. Once things start flowering, it should hopefully look pretty fabulous again - I have planted a <i><b>lot </b></i>of blousy fuchsias and wall hangers full of lobelia for reliable colour that my prolific and hungry snails thankfully don't like.<br />
<br />
As we've had a spell of nice weather recently, we've indulged ourselves a couple of evenings out in our favourite woodland and a couple of evenings ago, it was about as perfect as it gets, it was a long warm evening with a pretty much cloudless sky and we had the place almost to ourselves, it's very much a daytime place and often very quiet in the evening, so is our favourite time. We pack something to eat and head off after work and recharge the batteries.<br />
<br />
If you're a regular reader, you'll know of my oft-stated passion (and a real need) for being amongst trees and seeing sunlight filter through them, there's little else makes me as happy and does me as much good. My happiness is cheaply bought:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9OGDmVdmHg/UbNOXuPvb6I/AAAAAAAACjw/xGmZ-uBs5Ps/s1600/beaconfell_3017h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9OGDmVdmHg/UbNOXuPvb6I/AAAAAAAACjw/xGmZ-uBs5Ps/s320/beaconfell_3017h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhvJh9ZG5CY/UbNOZ6UhLRI/AAAAAAAACj8/No1HH4lRdjo/s1600/beaconfell_3019h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhvJh9ZG5CY/UbNOZ6UhLRI/AAAAAAAACj8/No1HH4lRdjo/s320/beaconfell_3019h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1vkJAnsHXs/UbNUh9Y9dbI/AAAAAAAAClE/i8U_qrcA3nw/s1600/beaconfell_3025hb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1vkJAnsHXs/UbNUh9Y9dbI/AAAAAAAAClE/i8U_qrcA3nw/s320/beaconfell_3025hb.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-52525171870048393062013-02-12T12:54:00.000+00:002013-02-12T13:07:43.396+00:00I wondered why it had gone quietWe have two small garden areas running along the length of the house, which is quite long and thin, resulting in two long thin gardens too. One of these is under the shade of large trees, so not much grows there, so we keep a number of bird feeders out there that we can see from the windows on that side of the house to enjoy our feathery visitors.<br />
<br />
Because we live near some decent tracts of woodland and open farmland too, we get a pretty decent selection of birds visiting, from the standard garden friends of blue tits, great tits, coal tits, robins, chaffinches, sparrows, dunnocks, blackbirds, thrushes, collared doves, goldfinches, green finches and siskin, to slightly less well seen wild birds, like wrens, bull finches, nuthatches, tree creepers, wood pigeons and long tailed tits.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEYHSXHSmls/URoybzbTLnI/AAAAAAAACik/rVRenbjGdPI/s1600/woodpecker_2756h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEYHSXHSmls/URoybzbTLnI/AAAAAAAACik/rVRenbjGdPI/s320/woodpecker_2756h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We also get occasional treats like this bemused looking female greater spotted woodpecker that sat on the railings in the rain for quite some time last week - looking upwards around herself, pointedly blinking as though it were waiting for someone. They're usually very timid and the slightest movement inside the window causes them to take flight, but I was able to go about my work near the window and watch her for some time. Maybe she was a youngster and not yet learnt to be scared of human movement. We certainly know that our local pair had a brood last summer as Mum put a lot of effort into getting food from the feeders for them and then brought the youngsters to show them one of her favourite eateries.<br />
<br />
But having put fresh food on the table at breakfast time yesterday and filled all the hanging feeders, I'd got used to the sound of the goldfinches and blackbirds especially squabbling over the food - I don't know why they put so much effort into fighting over it when there is plenty for all of them. Two robins had a significant airborne battle the day before over ownership of the ground table, when there are enough sources and locations of food for them to both fill to busting without bloodshed.<br />
<br />
But as I started clearing the breakfast table and washing up, I was aware of it becoming very quiet, so I looked out of the kitchen window expecting there to be a local cat staked out in the garden. But quite often with cats, the birds just stay a bit higher and swear and hurl abuse at the cat, but this silence was quite eery. <br />
<br />
Then I spotted the culprit - much more exciting than my neighbours black and white moggy. But possibly much more dangerous too. Certainly faster. No wonder the birds had vanished and those that stayed around weren't drawing attention to themselves. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Asp0luKMHrQ/URoyZ6nQZBI/AAAAAAAACiY/v4S9-ZJVMpw/s1600/sparrowhawk_2808h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Asp0luKMHrQ/URoyZ6nQZBI/AAAAAAAACiY/v4S9-ZJVMpw/s320/sparrowhawk_2808h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I think this is a male sparrowhawk. We've had them visit the garden before - the very fact that we get a good selection of birds presents them with a running buffet and even the tree cover doesn't thwart them, they're designed for and adept at negotiating through woodland, although it's true to say that my best sightings have always been when there is less leaf cover at this sort of time of year.<br />
<br />
Normally all you see is flash of movement, the sense of a shadow passing, occasionally a cry of alarm from the prey or birds adjacent and then the same eery silence. Sometimes they'll settle nearby to pluck and eat their catch. That's the only time I've been able to photograph them before. <br />
<br />
I just spotted this male as he stretched and his head and shoulders came in to view above the low garden wall - he was settled on a branch beneath the level of the bird tables - as our garden is higher than the adjacent land - which is where he had settled himself for a stake out. I actually typed 'take out' there - maybe I was right the first time. <br />
<br />
I might have missed him had he not stretched upwards and his familiar stripey jumper had come in to view. As he was low, I was going to have to get high to take any photos. He stayed there for quite some time and as you can see above, he was clearly aware of me and checked me out periodically, but seemingly wasn't troubled by me at all. By the end, I was stood on steps at the window with my camera at arms length atop my walking pole which has a tripod mount in the handle, using it as a monopod. The light was incredibly low and murky and he was down beneath deep railway bankings in shadow, so the images are rather poor quality.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpXJCSA0P6Y/URoybkcFwBI/AAAAAAAACig/JuANw2jgsNw/s1600/sparrowhawk_2820h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FpXJCSA0P6Y/URoybkcFwBI/AAAAAAAACig/JuANw2jgsNw/s320/sparrowhawk_2820h.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
He'd occasionally stretch and flap his wings and swapped the leg he was standing on - the other being tucked up under his tummy feathers and periodically, an unwary bird would venture onto one of the feeders above which would cause him to watch it intently, as above. I didn't see him leave in the end, he'd been there for almost an hour. So I don't know if he managed to snag a snack, or just got bored with waiting for it to land in front of him.<br />
<br />
Either way, it was an hour that totally stopped me getting any work done at all. But I don't regret it for a moment, sometimes it's worth just enjoying whatever treat the day presents you with. Because you never know how long it might be, if ever, before it happens again.<br />
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-16638911362223645712013-02-06T13:17:00.000+00:002013-02-06T13:23:00.469+00:00Egg slicers and lessons learnedWhilst sitting here contemplating the embarrassment of yet again feeling it necessary to apologise for my blogging tardiness, something caught the corner of my eye - it moved as I did, forming the impression that whatever it was, was stuck in my hair.<br />
<br />
Hoping that it wasn't a spider or something else with more legs than me, I grabbed a mirror to check it out. Thankfully it didn't have any legs; it was a tomato pip. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu7spdUoREU/URJSrvFIi1I/AAAAAAAAChA/v2IxMVE6JmA/s1600/necklace24294f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu7spdUoREU/URJSrvFIi1I/AAAAAAAAChA/v2IxMVE6JmA/s320/necklace24294f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I think I showed this pendant in my last blog as raw clay awaiting firing.</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
Now I just know that the first thought you had was that I must be an awfully messy eater to get one in my hair, especially at eye level - and that's an accusation that the state of the front of my shirt would undermine any efforts to deny - but there is a story as to how it found its way to end its days in my hair - and I'm glad I got my hair cut this morning and not after my lunch. <br />
<br />
I've no doubt posted here before about how I value washing up time. Whilst washing up is rather a chore, I do think it's an important part of my day - especially washing the breakfast pots. It gives me a buffer of good thinking time. I often plan what I have to do that day and often do my best thinking whilst elbow deep in soap suds. I can think through the stages of how I'm going to make something, work out the order for processes etc. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uKE24AXWbvo/URJTGVTfe7I/AAAAAAAAChI/gVhTTd-uKc4/s1600/necklace24327f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uKE24AXWbvo/URJTGVTfe7I/AAAAAAAAChI/gVhTTd-uKc4/s320/necklace24327f.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Another finished flowery clay pendant</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
I think that I must have quite a visual brain as I can actually virtually make something without picking up a tool - I mentally work through the stages and often overcome snags and can see in advance how I might have stumbled somewhere along the line had I not done a mental dummy run. <br />
<br />
But today my breakfast-pot-thinking wasn't quite so constructive. As I washed the egg slicer my husband had used in preparation of his lunch, I contemplated if it could be used for other items you wanted slicing - or if the texture of a hard boiled egg was unique in its suitability for slicing with wire in that manner. I could see that the wires were too flimsy for something hard like a raw carrot, but it struck me that it might have additional uses that I'd not considered before.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwAtUY6Aj8Y/URJTxTVkwWI/AAAAAAAAChQ/I-Ecs61C8Rs/s1600/bracelet24380f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwAtUY6Aj8Y/URJTxTVkwWI/AAAAAAAAChQ/I-Ecs61C8Rs/s320/bracelet24380f.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EkZs4TBXQg/URJUR0rzTRI/AAAAAAAAChY/YIoEakcXhic/s1600/earrings24372f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A rosebud knot bracelet I made as a Christmas commission, to match one of my rosebud knot necklaces. </span></i></div>
<br />
Skip forwards to the next meal of the day and as I started shredding lettuce and rocket for a cheesy salad wrap for my lunch, I felt the texture of the cherry tomatoes in my hand and my eye drifted to the egg slicer still on the draining board. The tomato didn't feel dissimilar to a hard boiled egg. It was worth a try.<br />
<br />
Just at the very point where my brain was forming the thoughts that it didn't appear to be working and that maybe I should stop before something gave way - I was worried about the slender wires at that point - it was already too late. A great spurt of cold juice and pips hit me straight in the side of the face. It had spread from my forehead, into my eye, down my cheek and neck and all over the front of my clothes. I reckon that sub-1" diameter tomato - most of which still appeared to be trapped in the egg slicer - had shot its pips over at least an 18" diameter cone of fridge-cold messiness.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EkZs4TBXQg/URJUR0rzTRI/AAAAAAAAChY/YIoEakcXhic/s1600/earrings24372f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EkZs4TBXQg/URJUR0rzTRI/AAAAAAAAChY/YIoEakcXhic/s320/earrings24372f.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A flower variant of my previous twiddle and bud earrings. I've modded the methods a little and think it works rather better. </span></i></div>
<br />
I am so glad I was alone, it must have looked hilarious, it sure as heck made me laugh very hard - after the initial squeal of exclamation. You wouldn't believe the velocity those pips gained, or the area they covered. So I can't say I was that surprised to find one last one lodged in my hair - and there's bound to be one down my bra - it's always a little disgraceful that food falls out of my undergarments when I get undressed for bed. And don't tell my husband that I then had to spend several minutes with pliers re-tensioning, straightening and re-aligning the wires in the bloody egg slicer too - I wasn't the only one that tomato did harm to.<br />
<br />
So, in short, it looks like egg slicers should be reserved for the slicing of hard boiled eggs and nothing more. Another life lesson learned the hard way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vP6ZpENmvaQ/URJVUSq3dhI/AAAAAAAAChg/1TVaWt947fk/s1600/bronzeclay24458f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vP6ZpENmvaQ/URJVUSq3dhI/AAAAAAAAChg/1TVaWt947fk/s320/bronzeclay24458f.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vP6ZpENmvaQ/URJVUSq3dhI/AAAAAAAAChg/1TVaWt947fk/s1600/bronzeclay24458f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">My batch of bronze clay pieces ready for firing. I kept to simple pieces initially as I was testing some new techniques (hand drawing my own textures and photopolymer plates etc.) as well as kiln firing it.</span></i></div>
<br />
Another lesson learned of late was that kiln firing of metal clay is a whole minefield of new discovery too - torch firing isn't ideal for a multitude of reasons, but it's certainly more predictable. <br />
<br />
I ventured into some work with bronze as well as copper. It transpires that bronze has a whole different set of issues that copper doesn't - its alloy with tin for the most part. <br />
<br />
I made a batch of relatively simple bronze pieces to do as my first batch. Because kiln firing takes a decent amount of time and uses quite a chunk of electricity, I rather arrogantly fired a whole batch as my first 'bronze' firing. I knew that I should have done a 'test' first - but I'm not keen on testing, I prefer to do what I call 'working tests' in that I use real-world pieces as my test pieces. If they fail, a test piece would have failed too, but if it's a success, you do at least have something to show for it. I should however have left the better pieces out of that first batch and only fired the most simple whilst I ascertained what worked.<br />
<br />
Thankfully I took some photos of them before firing (see above), otherwise you'd never believe me. It's actually a habit I'm going to get into with my kiln work - taking a before and after photo of each batch I fire, to tie in with my kiln diary - so that I can check retrospectively which brand of clay I used and the firing schedule for any particular piece.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OurH528kFyg/URJVUtr6ABI/AAAAAAAAChk/LPmXTX7TQdc/s1600/bronzeclay24466f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OurH528kFyg/URJVUtr6ABI/AAAAAAAAChk/LPmXTX7TQdc/s320/bronzeclay24466f.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ouch! A big chunk of me is embarrassed to even show this.</span></i></div>
<br />
The first piece I removed and quenched hissed and the firescale popped off, as it does, but then the piece largely disintigrated in the water - and that it certainly shouldn't do. I knew I couldn't do anything to change the outcome of the remaining pieces, so hoping that as I'd removed the front-most item in the kiln which was in the coolest spot, those further back might be in better shape. They weren't. They crumbled like a Jaffa Cake does when you dunk it in hot coffee - not that I'd do such a crass thing, but my husband does have a penchent for both Jaffa Cakes and dunking and I've seen the messy results many times. The bottom of my quench bowl looked much the same.<br />
<br />
So having taken advice, I'm certainly going to have to carbon fire in future and possibly adjust my temperature up a smidge and lengthen hold times too - I suspect that my kiln runs a little cool, as I'd followed the manufacturers directions for that batch and they clearly weren't even close to being sintered. <br />
<br />
So maybe now is the time to embrace the concept of proper testing. I've invested too much time into my current waiting-to-be-fired batches of work to want them to end up like the contents of Mr Boo's empty coffee cup. Thankfully, since writing this initially, a second [test] batch of
bronze, fired in carbon, were rather better. Not perfectly sintered,
but at least they came out looking like bronze. I know what I need to do to correct the remaining issues.<br />
<br />
Half of me felt like giving up on base metal clay work and the other half remained more determined than ever. Boy in this process frustrating. I love working with the clay itself - and I've already learned gob-loads in 2013 - but the firing process just plain gives me the willies. Thankfully, I'm doing rather better with copper:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atrgbiyiIH8/URJWrYyASwI/AAAAAAAACh4/BrSuKgenUtg/s1600/necklace24503f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atrgbiyiIH8/URJWrYyASwI/AAAAAAAACh4/BrSuKgenUtg/s320/necklace24503f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-42102245651170243642012-11-17T22:27:00.000+00:002012-11-17T22:32:34.764+00:00Making the best of a bad jobI must apologise for my blogging tardiness of late - it's been a combination of not actually having much to say, little enough time for getting everything done and finding the new Blogger interface to be tedious to say the least. I have started posts on several occasions, but after 20 minutes of trying to post one photo, my boredom threshold is reached quickly. After all, I could be making something instead which, as we all know, is way more fun. If I can get it to work, I'll salt a few photos of my recent work within the post, as to be honest, I don't have much else to show you at the moment - I haven't had enough quality time with my camera recently either.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gECDL3trOl4/UKgLYx0SXHI/AAAAAAAACf4/Ka7PM2814DU/s1600/bracelet23575f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gECDL3trOl4/UKgLYx0SXHI/AAAAAAAACf4/Ka7PM2814DU/s320/bracelet23575f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">A large circle link bracelet in antiqued copper.</span></div>
<br />
My last post was about the flood we experienced in August and the significant volume of mud it had dumped in our cellar. As an update, the mud has all now been removed, the cellar deep cleaned and sansitised and an industrial capacity fan and dehumidifier installed to dry out the room.<br />
<br />
Being a cellar, the external walls are below ground level and the floor is large stone flags onto what amounts to bare earth, so as the water table has been so high since, it has been necessary to make significant efforts to dry everything - the flood water was over 30" deep and well and truly soaked into the walls. And the flood caused an assortment of structural movements that have left us with some of this below-ground wall area structurally compromised, so when it rains heavily, the walls seep water. So until the structural repairs are done, the insurers have said to leave the drying equipment in place to ensure it remains as dry as possible.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58bJWVZ7IGc/UKgMCNvILtI/AAAAAAAACgA/q7QeCoJ-i0I/s1600/necklace23841f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58bJWVZ7IGc/UKgMCNvILtI/AAAAAAAACgA/q7QeCoJ-i0I/s320/necklace23841f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">A Sterling silver horseshoe pendant, highly polished and worn on silver snake chain.</span></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, the repairs are taking some time to even get started. Obviously the repair work is being funded by our insurers, but in their enthusiasm to ensure that it is all done properly and to check all the problems thoroughly, we've entertained a number of surveyors, engineers and technicians. And unfortunately, they have been sufficiently thorough in their investigations to uncover a number of problems, unrelated to the flood, that we now have to fix. They haven't said it in so many words, but the implication is that they must be done, now we know about them, to ensure future buildings cover. So whilst we're fully insured and it will cover all of the actual flood damage, we're now faced with a considerable repair bill and upheaval on top of mitigating the flood damage - for other matters that we would have been quite happy to remain blissfully ignorant of. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2cA9bbujfs/UKgMer9G0cI/AAAAAAAACgI/t3mUytkd3BQ/s1600/earrings23904f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2cA9bbujfs/UKgMer9G0cI/AAAAAAAACgI/t3mUytkd3BQ/s320/earrings23904f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Antiqued copper squiggle earrings with long drop Czech glass beads with a Picasso and lustre finish.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
On the plus side, we did get a full settlement for all of our lost contents, so have been gradually replacing the items that we need to do so and using the opportunity to do things just that bit better for the future. When we bought the house, the cellar was already home to some of the departing-occupants junk, stuff that they seemingly couldn't be bothered to move with them. So over time, we just added more of our junk to it, so that space was never anything more than a rather untidy storage space. We're determined that it won't end up the same with our second chance down there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRiMce_8mR8/UKgOdOK5TkI/AAAAAAAACgg/qnRpZW5DbS4/s1600/earrings24191f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRiMce_8mR8/UKgOdOK5TkI/AAAAAAAACgg/qnRpZW5DbS4/s320/earrings24191f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">A Sterling silver version of my square chain link earrings. Mr Boo calls this design my <i>'Space 1999 earrings'</i>. I can certainly see that they have a very retro feel to them, but looking at photos from Space 1999, I don't think earrings were a big feature of their futuristic and rather utilitarian uniforms. </span></div>
<br />
In an effort to start thinking more positively about the area, Mr Boo declared that it would no longer be referred to as 'the cellar' the very word suggests a dark corner somewhat out of sight, but will in future be referenced simply as 'downstairs'. It's such a large area that it would be a shame, when starting with a new blank canvas, not to put it to better use. When it was first empty and clean, we stood there marvelling at what a large space it is and how much it would cost us, even if we had room to do so, to build an extension of a similar footprint. We perpetually complain about not having enough space, so squandering one large room would clearly be silly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2VQJ8Ehqus/UKgNMbaCFNI/AAAAAAAACgQ/MYRadQK8rGs/s1600/earrings24002f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2VQJ8Ehqus/UKgNMbaCFNI/AAAAAAAACgQ/MYRadQK8rGs/s320/earrings24002f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I wanted to make some 'party' earrings for the festive season ahead. These are Sterling silver with faceted crystal rondells.</span></div>
<br />
So we've decided to use some of the content settlement funds to have the whole 'downstairs' properly wired - at present there are no wall sockets for power at all and only two inadequate light fittings at the bottom. I'm sure that once the stairs themselves are lit and all of the walls painted white (there were once, in the dim and distant past) and additional lights it will look even larger and considerably more cheerful. I'm going to have one corner area as an additional work space, where I will do metal clay, polymer clay and enamelling work. <br />
<br />
My greatest sadness about the flood was that amongst the contents lost was my grandfathers woodworking bench and a trunk of his tools - nice quality chisels and the like that no amount of money would truly replace. We looked to see if they could be salvaged, if only for sentimental value, but they really were damaged beyond rescue and the insurers condemed them. So I have decided that the best way to do those items justice and in a manner that my grandfather would approve of, is to buy myself some tools that I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford or justify and to use it to the best of my ability to make things with.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOi3cl7UQNc/UKgN50UJDMI/AAAAAAAACgY/E2IRhaAYP-A/s1600/necklace24106f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fOi3cl7UQNc/UKgN50UJDMI/AAAAAAAACgY/E2IRhaAYP-A/s320/necklace24106f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I've made a few necklace and earrings sets which might prove good for gifts - these feature a hammered copper ring hung with a selection of Czech glass Picasso beads.</span></div>
<br />
He was a great and skilled maker of things with his hands so I think he'd think this a worthy solution. So I ordered a kiln for my metal clay work and take delivery of it on Monday. I'll have to use it temporarily in my normal work area until the wiring is done, but I somewhat selfishly bit the bullet and ordered it before the repairs swallowed up the funds I'd allocated and the opportunity was lost to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fn2G9KhAkgc/UKgJLC5U6ZI/AAAAAAAACfo/6n-dhKyhx54/s1600/wipclay24193f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fn2G9KhAkgc/UKgJLC5U6ZI/AAAAAAAACfo/6n-dhKyhx54/s320/wipclay24193f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Unfired clay pieces waiting for a session in the kiln. Whilst they look somewhat metallic at this stage, it's purely because I've smoothed the surface to get them as ready as possible before firing. The bottom pendant piece with the recesses will hopefully contain some coloured enamel in the not-too-distant.</span></div>
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvQP57YphjI/UKgJMTFQIYI/AAAAAAAACfw/kH7npB1OinM/s1600/wipclay24198f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NvQP57YphjI/UKgJMTFQIYI/AAAAAAAACfw/kH7npB1OinM/s320/wipclay24198f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">I've been a bit besotted with sculpting flowers on everything recently. I have a lot of ideas for more sculpted pieces when I will have the means to fire larger pieces, including hollow forms using cork clay.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gECDL3trOl4/UKgLYx0SXHI/AAAAAAAACf4/Ka7PM2814DU/s1600/bracelet23575f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
So in anticipation, I've been working on a few slightly larger pieces that I couldn't fire with my torch and hope to get these fired in the next few days - once I've figured out how to drive it. I have a head so full of ideas to make with metal clay - and enamel - and maybe even fused glass - that I could do with stopping time for a while whilst I tinker with them. If only! {{{{ sigh }}}}Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-90883913601624229402012-09-17T11:46:00.014+01:002012-09-17T14:00:52.157+01:00If only I were a piggy . . .. . . I'd perhaps be a little happier right now.<br /><br />Actually, apart from about half a ton of mud that's been bagged and is awaiting collection, we think we've largely seen the back of the mud that <a href="http://boojewels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/i-have-date-tomorrow-with-mud.html">came to visit us during a torrential downpour a little over three weeks ago</a>. We've had a lot of assorted visits from contents removal crews, mud removal and cleaning crews, insurance assessors, council maintenance managers etc. etc.<br /><br />As if the distress of the initial damage isn't enough, it seems to be a pretty ongoing battle getting anything resolved properly. The contents removal crew removed 90% of the contents, failing to deal with and itemise a corner full of our muddy junk. Whether they simply got bored, ran out of time, or space in the van, we were left with a pile of muddy stuff that we can't now dispose of or claim for until someone has inspected and reported it to the insurers. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc28shI78zo/UFcPkdgvAwI/AAAAAAAACcs/sa6pPPcDOtg/s1600/flood_august2012_2658h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc28shI78zo/UFcPkdgvAwI/AAAAAAAACcs/sa6pPPcDOtg/s320/flood_august2012_2658h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789112965079696130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">You can see the gaps that have opened up between the flags in our external path. After more cleaning and heavy rain since the photograph, the gaps and recesses are even more evident now.</span></span><br /></div><br />Likewise with the mud removal, they seemingly only took 75% of it. The window that blew in under the force of the flood had a recess behind it and the crew claimed the detritus in that area was old muck, dead leaves and the like, compressed over time and not part of the flood residue. I couldn't check as they'd taped bin liners over the opening of the lost window to help their drying equipment to work. But when Mr Boo came in and I told him of this, he reminded me that we'd completely cleared it about 10 years ago and put a fine mesh layer under the metal grille to prevent detritus from accumulating - which had been pretty successful. I'd totally forgotten about that at the time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cP7y_J7glnM/UFcQYozc7GI/AAAAAAAACdE/GDf7Wc622-0/s1600/flood_august2012_2690h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cP7y_J7glnM/UFcQYozc7GI/AAAAAAAACdE/GDf7Wc622-0/s320/flood_august2012_2690h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789113861464190050" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >The horrendous and embarrassing state of our cellar mid-way through the contents clearance. You can see the depth that the mud and water had been on the side wall. The freezer had been floated and moved several feet from its starting position - the level and angle clearly visible on the side. The window that blew in can be seen with bits of jagged glass remaining. There is mud spattered on the brown structures and backboard of the electricity meter left of the window, so it reached just about everywhere.<br /></span></div><br />So on removing the plastic covering we could see that the level of mud in that area was certainly deeper than it should have been. So we decided to clear it ourselves on Saturday - totally underestimating the task. Had we realised just how much deeper it was, we would simply have called the crew back to finish the job. We now have a dozen bags full of heavy mud and silt, we calculate it to be approaching half a tonne in weight. But they can certainly come and dispose of it for me. I think I might submit an invoice to them for 2 workers for 4 hours at whatever rate they charge our insurers. Plus 40 heavy duty bin bags, a bottle of shower gel and some new rubber gloves! It was truly horrible - and Mr Boo did the worst of it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARLHvWWzEEg/UFcP9Bz8kyI/AAAAAAAACc4/oQRgyv7VffI/s1600/flood_august2012_2681h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARLHvWWzEEg/UFcP9Bz8kyI/AAAAAAAACc4/oQRgyv7VffI/s320/flood_august2012_2681h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789113387140813602" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >The area at the front-most point on the property where our path meets the council-maintained tarmac pavement, the edge of which (it never was a good job anyway) has been significantly nibbled away by the force of the deluge. You can see the size of the rocks we retrieved from the garden and pavement, just before the council collected them. The pavement is now marked up with white paint and they're going to put me a proper kerb stone in to form a better step where the edges join.<br /></span></div><br />Saturday proved to be a very hard day physically - whilst the weather was fine, we washed all the possessions from the cellar that we'd opted to keep, that had been piled up in the garden since the initial clearance. By golly, can that mud stick. I variously scraped off and swept up dried mud, washed with a brush and warm soapy water, rinsed with the jet setting on the hose and allowed to dry. At which time, the mud just appeared on the surface again. So my next stage was warm soapy water on a cloth and hosing again. Some things are destined to remain cloudy looking with a fine layer of silt. I think we'll be living with this dirt for a very long time.<br /><br />Now our attention will turn to repairing the structure. The window area needs replacing at least and the insurers have agreed to allow us the value of the repair towards measures that might prevent it happening again. At present we're looking towards bricking up the window entirely (it brings in minimal light anyway, it's main function for us was ventilation) and filling in the recess outside below the path and re-paving over it. I can't even imagine how much that might cost, so it may not prove to be an option once the quotes are in.<br /><br />More worrying are the cracks that suggest movement. Several large flagstones outside (and they've been there since 1874) have either new cracks or they've tangibly moved and we have a large crack through the stone window lintel in the lounge, immediately above the window that blew into the cellar. Yesterday we had another torrential downpour and whilst the cellar was starting to visibly dry since blowers and dehumidifiers were installed on Friday, we went down the stairs yesterday to see how the temporary sheeting we'd fixed over the open window was holding up.<br /><br />Unfortunately, we were met with wet stairs and a puddle at the bottom. It would appear that water is running through an area that was perfectly dry beforehand. There were assorted trickles down the walls and where the stone stairs join the outer wall. So it's clear to us that something has seriously moved. We have a building surveyor coming later this week, so we'll have to await his findings.<br /><br />Enough of that, I'm bored with it now, even if you've manage to stay with me thus far! ;-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On a happier note - recent work:</span><br /><br />Between brewing up for tradesmen and seemingly incessantly mopping my kitchen floor (I told you that mud got everywhere, it sneaks under dustsheets too!), I have actually managed to make a few new things recently. Because my work area is immediately adjacent to the area the tradesmen have needed access too, I've not been able to get into anything more than I can work with hand tools. I've not wanted to solder and certainly not work with clay with all the dirt around at the moment.<br /><br />My main focus during available working times has been to look after customers and fulfill orders, so I haven't made much progress with new projects and photographing and listing finished pieces. But I have got my accounts up to date (they were woefully behind) and started on a full-scale audit of my own site - I have a lot of older designs still on there that I wouldn't necessarily mind selling and making again, but I might prefer to re-make plated pieces in Sterling in future etc. So I've been working through my listed items and gradually modifying the details to bring everything up to date. Which has only served to lengthen my <span style="font-style: italic;">'to photograph'</span> list even further as I want to properly update some of my earlier listings. And I'm only about a quarter of the way through it.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TTfQVdrr97w/UFcVQRtZfMI/AAAAAAAACdo/EbWEJws7Eyg/s1600/earrings23086f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TTfQVdrr97w/UFcVQRtZfMI/AAAAAAAACdo/EbWEJws7Eyg/s320/earrings23086f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789119215383968962" border="0" /></a>I've gone a bit squiggle-tastic with recent work - once I work a shape or idea, my mind runs rampant with further related ideas, so I do tend to work in themes for a period of time. Once I'd settled on a method and sizes for making these squiggle shaped links, they lent themselves to a variety of pieces and worked especially nicely in bronze, which I left polished and bright in these particular earring designs.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v936PriUiV0/UFcVpY5mtMI/AAAAAAAACd0/_jXH8l-Kuug/s1600/earrings23079f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v936PriUiV0/UFcVpY5mtMI/AAAAAAAACd0/_jXH8l-Kuug/s320/earrings23079f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789119646810944706" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y00m4sgFDqo/UFcV_bVsC2I/AAAAAAAACeA/BiWV3x8NIJQ/s1600/earrings23085f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y00m4sgFDqo/UFcV_bVsC2I/AAAAAAAACeA/BiWV3x8NIJQ/s320/earrings23085f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789120025422728034" border="0" /></a>I then wondered if I could link them together as a bracelet, much as I do with my leaf spiral shapes. I wasn't entirely sure that it was working as I made the first one in copper, it didn't look as nice as I'd hoped. But once I antiqued it, it totally came alive. It looks significantly better with some form than it had in its initial polished format.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6gAidzwves/UFcWlqLl6YI/AAAAAAAACeM/Efc7F40gF00/s1600/bracelet23221f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_6gAidzwves/UFcWlqLl6YI/AAAAAAAACeM/Efc7F40gF00/s320/bracelet23221f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789120682241943938" border="0" /></a>My obsession this particular week is Egyptian Coils - I've sold a couple of pairs of earrings I made some time ago, so decided to re-make some more for stock and re-photograph them. I've just finished a bracelet too, so I'll show that once I've antiqued it. The clasp on that gave me more trouble than usual and I'm still not entirely satisfied that it can't be done better.<br /><br />I love making a clasp that follows the same structure and patterns as the rest of the piece - ending the design then just plonking a toggle or clasp on it always feels like a cop out to me, so I feel the need to make the clasp an integral part of the design. With the Egyptian coils, the hook was easy, a suitable loop for it proved more elusive. I'm close, but haven't yet got that buzz of satisfaction when you know you've nailed something. I like that a metal bracelet in wear can move around however it wants and the clasp area won't be obvious. I like them to blend into the overall effect as seamlessly as possible. Beaded ones don't need quite the same attention as the pattern is more varied to start with.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_1IVfM3pSQ/UFcXP968GNI/AAAAAAAACeY/tMBoP5Fw2LY/s1600/earrings23254f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_1IVfM3pSQ/UFcXP968GNI/AAAAAAAACeY/tMBoP5Fw2LY/s320/earrings23254f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789121409095309522" border="0" /></a>I made this copper clay pendant a little while ago, the top of which I angled, intending it to hang directly on chain. It didn't work as well as I'd envisioned it, twisting a little in wear, so it went into my procrastination box (it's another function of my 'to photograph' box) awaiting a suitable Eureka moment. I was working on a clasp arrangement for a customer to add to some ribbon herself, working out how she could do it herself without suitable tools and during that process, I wondered if this design might sit better on ribbon.<br /><br />I dug through my stash and found a piece I had squirreled away from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sowzere">SowZerE Designs</a> and the colours were a really good fit with the colours of the bead in the central section where they'd come together. Just stringing it on the ribbon still didn't work well, so I made a bud-ended collar for it and now it works. I'll make the necklace to length when someone buys it, the ends are just temporarily in place for the photographs.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c94RLVKm3HU/UFcbb1cGzMI/AAAAAAAACe8/7RFJ7Ku2gpo/s1600/necklace23318f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c94RLVKm3HU/UFcbb1cGzMI/AAAAAAAACe8/7RFJ7Ku2gpo/s320/necklace23318f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789126011023445186" border="0" /></a>I'm very short of bracelets in stock, so have been working on some beaded ones too. I spiral wrapped these sesame jasper ovals as their shapes are a little uneven and it compensates for that irregularity.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDeLC-ly2bc/UFcdhI54u3I/AAAAAAAACfI/mwCrsL6anVE/s1600/bracelet23347f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDeLC-ly2bc/UFcdhI54u3I/AAAAAAAACfI/mwCrsL6anVE/s320/bracelet23347f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5789128301171227506" border="0" /></a><br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-65093521682029225632012-08-22T00:06:00.014+01:002012-08-22T13:08:12.396+01:00I have a date tomorrow with mudHeavy showers were forecast during today - fairly typical August weather in Lancashire, unfortunately. And right on cue, it started raining quite heavily as I was eating a somewhat late lunch.<br /><br />As I listened to it getting heavier, I decided to check if it was splashing in through the open backdoor and as I was greeted by a patch of wet floor, I mopped up the wet patch and pushed the door closed, expecting it to be temporary until the shower passed. There was nothing especially noteworthy at that point - within 15 minutes that had changed considerably.<br /><br />It progressed to raining substantially and then there was a flash of lightning. As I started clearing away my lunch dishes, braced for the imminent thunder, I spotted a large spider walking down the inside of the kitchen window and decided to catch it and put it outside - when I reached the window, it was evident that the rain was significantly heavier than I'd realised as I was greeted by the sight of the garden completely under a deep layer of muddy brown water a mere handful of minutes after there hadn't even been a puddle.<br /><br />It was running like a river through the garden and over the low perimeter wall like a waterfall - as the stones at the base of the perimeter railings are about 10" or so deep, that must have been the minimum depth of the water.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOzksTG1xjk/UDQXRzY5v0I/AAAAAAAACa4/3hzaP8hnE8c/s1600/flood_2586h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOzksTG1xjk/UDQXRzY5v0I/AAAAAAAACa4/3hzaP8hnE8c/s320/flood_2586h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779269816443060034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >The muddy rock-carrying water hurtling at speed past the front door.<br /></span></div><br />I was now aware of the sound of running water and dashed to the front door, wondering whether it was wise or not to open it for a look out, so I cracked it very gingerly and was met by a torrent of incredibly fast moving water running down the path around the house and lapping over the front door step, just breaching the deep metal channel in the doorway. It was rumbling and rattling with the sound of rocks and debris being carried along in the stream of mud.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AA53xPHtxxA/UDQXbdWpHbI/AAAAAAAACbE/yE1BLrBGX0s/s1600/flood_2591h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AA53xPHtxxA/UDQXbdWpHbI/AAAAAAAACbE/yE1BLrBGX0s/s320/flood_2591h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779269982326693298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lA7jIvKThrw/UDQXp_GkC5I/AAAAAAAACbc/DLHtWUUjcHs/s1600/flood_2602h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lA7jIvKThrw/UDQXp_GkC5I/AAAAAAAACbc/DLHtWUUjcHs/s320/flood_2602h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779270231904226194" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">The water and mud poured over the pavement, garden and front path, deep enough to totally obscure the structures and differentiation between the levels.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSP5Ei5XchU/UDQXisalfHI/AAAAAAAACbQ/DMHmhhVJKn8/s1600/flood_2592h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 271px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qSP5Ei5XchU/UDQXisalfHI/AAAAAAAACbQ/DMHmhhVJKn8/s320/flood_2592h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779270106628848754" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >The mud flowing through the garden a little while later once the peak level of flow had subsided a little.<br /></span></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4D9WMnSJWo/UDQXxln6M5I/AAAAAAAACbo/QAoYE3JGMBo/s1600/flood_2613h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4D9WMnSJWo/UDQXxln6M5I/AAAAAAAACbo/QAoYE3JGMBo/s320/flood_2613h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779270362503721874" border="0" /></a>I stood in the lounge and was aware of the sound of running water underneath me - I'd totally forgotten about the cellar underneath the house. I cleared the area at the top of the cellar steps so that I could open the door and peer down and was almost afraid to look. I could hear very fast running - no; gushing - water and a lot of crashing and banging. I shone a torch down the steep steps and could see muddy water lapping against about the fourth step up the stairs - the large marbled square above is a heavy kitchen worktop which had been stacked several feet away - now floating and bobbing about in the deep water.<br /><br />I decided that there was nothing whatsoever that I could do about that and I'd just have to let it be and whatever happened happened. As I walked away I heard a large crash and a lot of banging and at the time, I thought it was just something large falling over, but we later saw that it was the window smashing inwards under the force and weight of the water and mud.<br /><br />The cellar has an external window, but it's below ground level and there is a recess in the path around the house to allow light into it and there is a grid within the path covering this 'hole'. As this structure was right at the point where several flows of water converged, the large recess around the window obviously rapidly filled with water and the weight of it was clearly too much for the window frame and surround to hold. We can't yet fully assess the damage as everything is covered in mud, but can see shards of glass sticking out of the frame at one side and splintered wood on the other.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fcf0TNJvskI/UDQYSW4RauI/AAAAAAAACcA/qL8asWJUrps/s1600/flood_2642h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fcf0TNJvskI/UDQYSW4RauI/AAAAAAAACcA/qL8asWJUrps/s320/flood_2642h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779270925481503458" border="0" /></a>The entire events described above lasted for a period of no more than 15 minutes, from pushing the door closed as the rain increased and splashed my flooring to realising the extent of the event occurring and being largely helpless to mitigate the damage. After about 45 minutes of a pretty substantial thunder storm it eased and the flow of water slowed, only to return in another pulse a couple of hours later as people were assessing the damage and starting to clear up.<br /><br />Locals and a couple of council workers built me a little wall at the end of the path (which goes round our house and the rest in the row) with sandbags and buckets of stones that they gathered from the middle of the road as the firemen had been up the top of the hill to source the deluge of mud and rocks and found that one of a pair of fishing lodges had burst it banks in spectacular fashion and it was their assessment that the second was close behind and if we got more rain of that magnitude overnight it certainly wouldn't hold. So the wall was to protect against a second potentially catastrophic event overnight. Thankfully although it rained several times overnight, it was rather more subdued than earlier downpours.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89fGJHYoh80/UDQX5BGVdrI/AAAAAAAACb0/4aJoLNvV_vc/s1600/flood_2636h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-89fGJHYoh80/UDQX5BGVdrI/AAAAAAAACb0/4aJoLNvV_vc/s320/flood_2636h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5779270490138179250" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >After the water subsided, it has left a layer of mud over everything in the area - my garden is going to need quite some cleaning. At the other end where the flow entered the garden, the gravel covering it has been swept away, even stripping back and displacing the liner fabric underneath and gouging a hole in the mud beneath.<br /></span></div><br />The water levels have now subsided, but in its wake is a lot of mud, rocks and debris and the cellar (which thankfully has a large drain in the floor, at least some of the source of the flooding initially) is now under about 8" of stinking silty mud - all our considerable amount of junk (and thankfully, that's mostly what it is) that's stored down there has been tossed about it the torrent and left in a scattered filthy mess - and the prospect of trying to sort it out doesn't exactly fill me with joy. Mr Boo declared <span style="font-style: italic;">"I know I was overdue for clearing out the cellar, but this wasn't quite what I had in mind."</span><br /><br />So my day will be filled with buckets of mud (I don't actually know where to start - how does one dispose of tons of mud?) and phone calls to insurers - suddenly the prospect of photographing and listing a lot of jewellery which had been my plan for today, seems far more attractive than it usually feels!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Post script:</span><br /><br />It transpires that the deluge of mud and water wasn't from the fishing lodge (although it certainly overflowed), but purely the volume and force of rainwater, with nowhere else to go, cascading down the hillside above, dragging anything loose it crossed with it. The private drive to a large detached house much higher up has been removed down to the gas and water mains and most of that earth and gravel is what is now in our houses. The council have done a Sterling job this morning, using diggers and flat beds, to remove the bulk of the debris from the public roads and pavements and it looks significantly better than it did. They have removed many, many tons of mud and rubble.<br /><br />It looks like we might avoid having to deal with the worst of the mess ourselves, it seems that the insurers employ specialist clean up companies for just such tasks, who have the right gear to do it quickly and efficiently and they'll also assess what needs replacing for the contents claim.<br /><br />Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-87924288268638395062012-08-11T16:00:00.018+01:002012-08-12T23:39:50.238+01:00New adventures in bronzeApologies again for the tardiness of my blogging recently; sometimes events just run away with you despite the best intentions. Thankfully, it's in large to being busy with orders, so I'm certainly not complaining. I still have a collection of photos from our holiday in June to post, but I haven't even looked through them all yet - I have a lot of the Olympic torch, but they'll need some editing as many are poor due to atrocious weather and the resulting low light levels.<br /><br />Having done a considerable amount of work in copper, I don't know why I haven't worked in bronze - I think it perhaps looks even nicer left bare than copper does as it's a nice rosy warm gold colour, at a fraction the price of gold and you can do things with it that you can't with gold plated or filled.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Please click on any of the photographs to see a larger view.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSghOAlQl4w/UCZ1fJ0rd4I/AAAAAAAACXI/DBbggIuzsPY/s1600/earrings22673f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSghOAlQl4w/UCZ1fJ0rd4I/AAAAAAAACXI/DBbggIuzsPY/s320/earrings22673f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775432750222505858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Large feature bronze earwires with deep pink dyed stabilised Tiger Eye beads, wrapped on ball ended bronze headpins.</span><br /></span></div><br />I did get a small sample some time ago to check how it melted etc., but never really had the spare funds when ordering wire to add some bronze to my basket. But as I was placing a large order for copper wire, thought I'd buy a small quantity each of a few common gauges to see how it worked.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LF1c_GYUDbo/UCZ18xiOJ5I/AAAAAAAACXU/doi0qIvOLxI/s1600/earrings22707f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LF1c_GYUDbo/UCZ18xiOJ5I/AAAAAAAACXU/doi0qIvOLxI/s320/earrings22707f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775433259098711954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >One of my molten bud designs featuring lots of glossy molten bronze buds trapped in a double wire wrapped loop. The bronze does seem to take on a slightly pinker colour after heating than the raw wire, even though it's been extensively pickled and tumbled.<br /></span></div><br />I've thoroughly enjoyed working with it - it's harder and springier than copper and a bit tougher on the fingers to work with, but the results are worth the effort. It especially melts nicely to make ball ended headpins and the molten 'raindrop buds' that feature a lot in my work. It also takes some more hammering to form shapes, but that means you have a little more control over your finesse, as it's slower to take form.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUL8-rjPq7A/UCZ2xHWL6WI/AAAAAAAACXg/mG-mZx-cpGg/s1600/earrings22747f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUL8-rjPq7A/UCZ2xHWL6WI/AAAAAAAACXg/mG-mZx-cpGg/s320/earrings22747f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775434158307010914" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >I got these gorgeous turquoise coloured translucent torpedo shaped semi precious beads with a square cross section and they look lovely with the bronze. I'm not sure what stone they are, but they <span style="font-style: italic;">look </span>similar to some hemi-morphite that I've had before.<br /></span></div><br />I was curious as to how it would oxidise and antique and finally got to try that with a few early samples I'd done just for that purpose. To all intents and purposes it oxidises just the same as copper - I did both copper and bronze pieces at the same time and at the point they were fully darkly oxed, they looked exactly the same.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ens-VYn_fds/UCZ4M-UaJhI/AAAAAAAACXs/HMmxYdrhJXo/s1600/earrings22810f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ens-VYn_fds/UCZ4M-UaJhI/AAAAAAAACXs/HMmxYdrhJXo/s320/earrings22810f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775435736431601170" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >Some turquoise magnesite beads with bronze headpins and earwires, after antiquing.<br /></span></div><br />Once removing some of the darkness, the more gold colour of the bronze was evident and the antiqued appearance of finished pieces was much the same as copper, just with a slightly more yellow base colour. In fact, when they're first polished, the bronze and the copper look very similar, but copper mellow warmer within 24 hours of the initial polish, where bronze retains its initial bright appearance for longer.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NivzbH6yS_o/UCZ1QZ2lvHI/AAAAAAAACW8/MiWzDpdk6HQ/s1600/bronzesample22832f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NivzbH6yS_o/UCZ1QZ2lvHI/AAAAAAAACW8/MiWzDpdk6HQ/s320/bronzesample22832f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775432496827448434" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >A large faceted amethyst spiral wrapped in bronze, then antiqued.<br /></span></div><br />I have some antiqued gold chain and wondered how well the antiqued bronze would match with it, so put together some earrings featuring some turquoise magnesite cubes on bronze balled headpins and the antiqued gold chain. After polishing, the two metals are a slightly different tone, but this is more evident in the photographs than in the actual jewellery when viewed life-size.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jR7qFQvgB6k/UCZ6IOZUVkI/AAAAAAAACX4/FCf7hJUxLCQ/s1600/earrings22826f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jR7qFQvgB6k/UCZ6IOZUVkI/AAAAAAAACX4/FCf7hJUxLCQ/s320/earrings22826f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775437853871068738" border="0" /></a>I think there will be a lot more bronze in my portfolio in future, it has been fun to work with it and I have no idea why it has taken me so long to get around to it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other recent work:</span><br /><br />This pair of earrings were one of those designs that emerged from a problem-solving session and one that my sub-conscious largely worked out without seemingly much conscious intervention. The solution flirted away at the corners of my mind, tantalising me with snippets of thoughts that took a while before they popped into my mind, fully formed.<br /><br />I had a particular brief from a customer and it became evident that I wasn't going to be able to do exactly what she wanted - which was something very small and fine and in copper and I didn't think that the idea she had would be sufficiently robust, so I'd been trying to combine methods that would give rise to greater stability at the small scale required.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZFV3WJY-ps/UCZ65v7Q2YI/AAAAAAAACYE/6MXiedWo780/s1600/earrings22777f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZFV3WJY-ps/UCZ65v7Q2YI/AAAAAAAACYE/6MXiedWo780/s320/earrings22777f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775438704685406594" border="0" /></a>These earrings resulted from that thought process and were somewhat at a tangent to the initial thinking and I don't know why I haven't tried something like this before. The outer diameter is a smidge over 15mm (0.6") and they're about 3mm (1/8") wide and once inserted in the piercing, they pretty much close around the lobe and look like a complete loop in wear. My methodology needs a little further thought as the pair I made in silver highlighted an issue that I'd simply been lucky with on the two successful copper pairs I've made.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VG_QrNhVPKk/UCZ9Va8NkpI/AAAAAAAACYQ/OVu78sSv2-E/s1600/earrings22792f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VG_QrNhVPKk/UCZ9Va8NkpI/AAAAAAAACYQ/OVu78sSv2-E/s320/earrings22792f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775441379111834258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The silver pair have been made for a gift, but I shall be making myself a pair too.</span></span><br /><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdgrexUZPco/UCgwVc2z5sI/AAAAAAAACaU/zWzdO_t_TVE/s1600/earrings22847f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sdgrexUZPco/UCgwVc2z5sI/AAAAAAAACaU/zWzdO_t_TVE/s320/earrings22847f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775919667184133826" border="0" /></a><br />As is often the case, once I make a design, my mind either gets fixated on making more of the same, or lots of variants come to mind. I'm perpetually striving to find different and interesting ways to make nice beads into everyday earrings, as alternatives to straight headpins. I've spent quite some time in perfecting a method for combining my rosebud knots with beads and have a pile of new beads waiting to get some of this same treatment.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0Kv3If6GJE/UCZ-2fXWtkI/AAAAAAAACYc/TSw7PPAjzaE/s1600/earrings22512f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0Kv3If6GJE/UCZ-2fXWtkI/AAAAAAAACYc/TSw7PPAjzaE/s320/earrings22512f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775443046746732098" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dziYjQVkpHI/UCZ_VicT44I/AAAAAAAACYo/RtmbtHMfgPE/s1600/earrings22630f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dziYjQVkpHI/UCZ_VicT44I/AAAAAAAACYo/RtmbtHMfgPE/s320/earrings22630f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775443580148769666" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tndc0u22mBk/UCZ_lRXSVPI/AAAAAAAACY0/YK2N_LEU9Kc/s1600/earrings22474f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tndc0u22mBk/UCZ_lRXSVPI/AAAAAAAACY0/YK2N_LEU9Kc/s320/earrings22474f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775443850442200306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">And finally . . . </span><br /><br />I am often heard to curse at how my lovely, albeit tiny, garden gets ravaged by snails - my plant selection is heavily informed by what they don't like the taste of. I have a gorgeous stripy hosta that looks like the leaves were made in lace. Only this last couple of weeks, I had to abandon a beautiful new mauve Campanula that was razed to a few tiny spiky stems in a few days. My husband came in from the garden commenting that the snails had seemingly got it and I replied that they had indeed pretty much had all the open flowers. "When did you look at it?" asks he . . . "there aren't even any leaves left". Looks like Campanula are off the list too!<br /><br />Now normally, the snails only do their damage after dusk and when I feel brave I go out after dark, armed with a torch and re-locate a few to improve the odds for my blooms, but I went out one afternoon and there was this big bugger, brazen as you like, gorging himself right at the top of my poor bedraggled hosta.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms63ixPz9H8/UCaCP4XNKcI/AAAAAAAACZY/PeNsPelDn5U/s1600/hostasnail_2298h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms63ixPz9H8/UCaCP4XNKcI/AAAAAAAACZY/PeNsPelDn5U/s320/hostasnail_2298h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775446781488605634" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GCvDi5mzCrc/UCaCZGiP37I/AAAAAAAACZk/kW2XBZ31ODY/s1600/hostasnail_2303h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GCvDi5mzCrc/UCaCZGiP37I/AAAAAAAACZk/kW2XBZ31ODY/s320/hostasnail_2303h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775446939911839666" border="0" /></a>And something pretty to calm you after that horror . . . that's better!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjn7CHPkrC8/UCaC1Uytp8I/AAAAAAAACZw/udy5I6OoRJw/s1600/beaconfell3_2317h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tjn7CHPkrC8/UCaC1Uytp8I/AAAAAAAACZw/udy5I6OoRJw/s320/beaconfell3_2317h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775447424775333826" border="0" /></a>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-19081252759948467262012-07-10T21:45:00.023+01:002012-07-21T12:13:47.216+01:00Bringing copper clay to lifeFirstly, I must apologise for the delay since my last post, but between health issues, our annual 'summer' holiday (I use the word advisedly, it didn't feel much like summer in the storms) and being kept busy with some lovely custom orders, time has simply got away from me.<br /><br />As I promised that I'd post this subject some time ago and I've already prepared the photographs, I may as well continue and complete the post, even though some considerable time has passed since I said I'd be doing so.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BvntKwT_nc4/T_ydI43iSNI/AAAAAAAACTc/FgfYm5WygQE/s1600/necklace22092f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BvntKwT_nc4/T_ydI43iSNI/AAAAAAAACTc/FgfYm5WygQE/s320/necklace22092f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763654399157225682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm going to show the many stages it takes to make a jewellery set like this from copper clay.<br /></span></div><br />As previously posted, I've really been enjoying working with copper clay, a somewhat new adventure for me. I resisted for some time, until I felt I'd mastered sufficient skills with actual solid metal before taking myself off on a tangent. It's an amazing medium, it allows you to achieve results that would be either very difficult, time consuming or even impossible with solid metal forms. I read an article by an experienced jeweller that said she used PMC for things that she simply couldn't do by other means - as a supplement to metal, not instead of. So that has been my thinking with it thus far. To try things that I couldn't otherwise accomplish. Hark at me, like I'm an expert. Far from it, I'm learning at a very steep rate and still have a long way to go.<br /><br />Whilst it's amazingly good fun to work with and you can do really interesting things with it (and I've only scratched the surface so far) - I don't feel it's a short cut to quick or easy results either. It still takes a lot of work to get good results. I suspect in my case some of that is related to the fact that I'm torch firing and not using a kiln - it takes longer to fire the piece in that each one has to be done individually and I suspect that the firescale on the copper I'm using is possibly deeper - and more time-consuming to remove too.<br /><br />I thought I'd show some work-in-progress photographs of the various stages that a piece has to go through, not as a tutorial in any way (I'm simply not qualified yet to try and impart information on this subject), but purely as an insight as to how much work a particular finished piece represents. The particular design of the pieces indicated is a rather simple technique, pieces that incorporate sculpting and assembly of components can take much longer.<br /><br />Most of the photographs are of a particular earring and pendant set, although some of them were taken retrospectively with another piece as I simply decided later that I'd missed some stages worth including.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvuUHUwNFto/T_yaP6ZPWUI/AAAAAAAACTE/g9V1p60NY3Q/s1600/pmcwip2200h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvuUHUwNFto/T_yaP6ZPWUI/AAAAAAAACTE/g9V1p60NY3Q/s320/pmcwip2200h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763651221291227458" border="0" /></a>The clay is rolled out to the desired thickness on a non-stick sheet, in this case, using some sheets of plastic as my spacers.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yO05b2wD_J0/T_yarvTRD6I/AAAAAAAACTQ/6ihdzoRRqRw/s1600/pmcwip2202h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yO05b2wD_J0/T_yarvTRD6I/AAAAAAAACTQ/6ihdzoRRqRw/s320/pmcwip2202h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763651699349720994" border="0" /></a>I imprinted the sheet of clay with my chosen texture - in this case, a spiral I formed with a piece of wire.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQWO3qjBj0I/T_yeWZ4S0YI/AAAAAAAACTo/sCRUkB3bEM8/s1600/pmcwip2205h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQWO3qjBj0I/T_yeWZ4S0YI/AAAAAAAACTo/sCRUkB3bEM8/s320/pmcwip2205h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763655730868703618" border="0" /></a>The shapes are then cut out of the sheet and shaped and formed, as desired, whilst still moist and pliable. They then need some time to dry enough for further handling. I choose to do some of the further work before the pieces dry to the stage of becoming brittle. At this stage it is certainly more clay and less metal (despite the rather incongruous sensation of being cold and metallic to the touch) and I liken it to dry pasta - firm and robust enough to handle, but you could just break it with your fingers if you chose, so it does need some care. I like to drill my holes and refine the shape a little whilst it's dry to the touch, but not dry enough to fire - it simply seems more brittle to me by the time it reaches that stage.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rK77KxAIrno/T_yeqbKF-BI/AAAAAAAACUA/GIQoRcoZKRE/s1600/pmcwip21886.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rK77KxAIrno/T_yeqbKF-BI/AAAAAAAACUA/GIQoRcoZKRE/s320/pmcwip21886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763656074809178130" border="0" /></a>The left hand earring piece as I formed it initially from the moist clay and the right hand one is after some filing, rounding of corners and refining the shape and surface - as you smooth it, it does take on a more metallic appearance.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xu0pXAScRuM/T_yeiEq0Z3I/AAAAAAAACT0/tfuPYW_hLyk/s1600/pmcwip22144f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xu0pXAScRuM/T_yeiEq0Z3I/AAAAAAAACT0/tfuPYW_hLyk/s320/pmcwip22144f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763655931333470066" border="0" /></a>At this stage, I leave them on wire mesh to dry really thoroughly for at least a couple of days. I've had some pieces crack or pop during firing and the manufacturers advise me this is the rapid vapourising of any tiny water molecules remaining within the clay as I bring it to the flame to fire it. I'm not convinced that moisture is entirely to blame for all my cracks (and I've made some modifications in my workflow to address the issue), but I think it must certainly have been in the piece that popped loudly and broke away surface pieces as soon as it got hot.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5-ZF-p9upHQ/T_ye5hZhzkI/AAAAAAAACUM/l-UWRQyQNEk/s1600/pmcwip21916f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5-ZF-p9upHQ/T_ye5hZhzkI/AAAAAAAACUM/l-UWRQyQNEk/s320/pmcwip21916f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763656334182567490" border="0" /></a>I fire each piece individually with the torch, in accordance with the recommendations for the particular product I'm using. I can manage either a single large piece or a couple of smaller ones in each firing. I work in reduced light so that I can monitor the colour of the metal and the flame.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxaDLhbwM2k/T_yfBJ5LATI/AAAAAAAACUY/by0yh_0cy4s/s1600/pmcwip21934f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxaDLhbwM2k/T_yfBJ5LATI/AAAAAAAACUY/by0yh_0cy4s/s320/pmcwip21934f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763656465311793458" border="0" /></a>After firing and quenching, my lovely smooth piece of clay looks pretty terrible - the firescale on the surface will need removing - and this is perhaps the most tedious stage of the process, although some trial and error has established a pretty good routine for me to get it clean again with minimal elbow grease. First I pickle and then tumble the pieces extensively to bring out the shine of the metal now revealed after burning off the organic binders.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ky1asEL7Js/T_yfLcsQPuI/AAAAAAAACUk/RkQk86FUIis/s1600/pmcwip21931f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ky1asEL7Js/T_yfLcsQPuI/AAAAAAAACUk/RkQk86FUIis/s320/pmcwip21931f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763656642156576482" border="0" /></a>Of course, the metal clay pieces are only components and I also need to make the accompanying metal parts too - in this case, I decided to go for some fancy feature earwires with a co-ordinating decorative spiral. I also make all my own jump rings and clasps for finished pieces.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MM2sFmpGb4o/T_yf4YBsnmI/AAAAAAAACVI/SJ6f521Ned8/s1600/wipearrings22029f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MM2sFmpGb4o/T_yf4YBsnmI/AAAAAAAACVI/SJ6f521Ned8/s320/wipearrings22029f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763657413998452322" border="0" /></a>The earrings are as such now complete and I've antiqued them to bring out the lovely aged warmth of time-worn copper, which is my own personal preferred finish for copper. I'm next going to add some colour to this particular set and after some earlier trial and error, had decided that antiquing first and then applying the colour gave the most pleasing end result. Before colouring, I removed the copper clay charms from the earwires to protect them.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-933_0RNcoIc/T_yfVN3DCCI/AAAAAAAACUw/Vwn7EE36vJQ/s1600/wipearrings22025f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-933_0RNcoIc/T_yfVN3DCCI/AAAAAAAACUw/Vwn7EE36vJQ/s320/wipearrings22025f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763656809974007842" border="0" /></a>I'd originally had it in mind to combine the copper clay pieces with enamels, but whilst researching types and materials, came across the US made product Gilders Paste, which sounded even better for what I had in mind. It's a solid opaque and intensely coloured wax type substance that comes in little tins and looks for all the world like old-fashioned shoe polish. It can be used and applied just about any way you can think of - you can do anything from rubbing it on with your finger to airbrushing it on as a wash mixed with a solvent. I decided that a short cut-down and very inexpensive paintbrush allowed me to stipple it well into the recessed pattern areas, giving good coverage.<br /><br />It's specifically for colouring metal, but can be used on many other suitable surfaces too. I've found that it seems to work very well on the less metallic and shiny parts of the clay that were impressed and therefore not as subsequently highly burnished smooth. Still maintaining some of the porosity of the original clay texture gave it a good key to adhere to. I think for a good covering on the metal surface, it would need roughening to give it a better key and would lose some of the metallic sheen and therefore may not be quite as attractive for the effect I was after. On solid metals, I found that it scratched off too easily, but it adheres well to the rougher texture of unpolished clay areas. Solid copper would need a texture for key to work reliably - but I have some ideas for that too.<br /><br />Once allowed to dry for a number of hours, the piece can be rubbed clean and finally polished - the Gilders Paste is robust once dry and should last well in wear. On these pieces, I stippled both a verdigris turquoise with a darker metallic green to give the appearance of patina but I didn't want a solid single flat colour. The photo below was taken between wiping off the excess from the surface before fully dry and the final buffing and cleaning.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MebrOU4wZmo/T_yfm9vK-BI/AAAAAAAACU8/JKxudAgX7s8/s1600/wipearrings22037f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MebrOU4wZmo/T_yfm9vK-BI/AAAAAAAACU8/JKxudAgX7s8/s320/wipearrings22037f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763657114883651602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some finished copper clay pieces using Gilders Paste for colour:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELJMbcw1bxc/T_ytCWsO3hI/AAAAAAAACVk/fw9TaEkBVxE/s1600/necklace22109f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELJMbcw1bxc/T_ytCWsO3hI/AAAAAAAACVk/fw9TaEkBVxE/s320/necklace22109f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763671879089839634" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpfnEG3Bx6E/T_ytWW5-2bI/AAAAAAAACVw/LXculAX0rZ8/s1600/earrings22329f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpfnEG3Bx6E/T_ytWW5-2bI/AAAAAAAACVw/LXculAX0rZ8/s320/earrings22329f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763672222744893874" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iln3Zjszmaw/T_ytpo_b18I/AAAAAAAACV8/YNpvPEDb8h0/s1600/earrings22321f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iln3Zjszmaw/T_ytpo_b18I/AAAAAAAACV8/YNpvPEDb8h0/s320/earrings22321f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5763672554017118146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And finally . . . </span><br /><br />As I've been typing this, with the TV on in my office, the weather man declared that some places in Britain today (the 10th of July, may I remind you) were actually colder than they were on Christmas Day! So you can see why I had some reservations about declaring our most recent holiday to be our summer one!Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-61824924460899788102012-05-22T11:19:00.007+01:002012-05-22T11:34:16.744+01:00Ladybirds and pine shootsFurther to <a href="http://boojewels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/spring-green-such-optimistic-colour.html">my previous post</a> about the emergence of spring flowers and the bright optimistic green of new foliage, I'm going to make a quick interim post with a couple more photos on that theme - and my next post will be the work in progress blog that I'm working on. I apologise for getting side-lined, but if I don't post photos I've taken here, they just languish un-loved as files on my hard drive.<br /><br />We'd had such a lovely day last Saturday on our day out that we decided to avail ourselves of another favourable weather forecast for Sunday and do it all again. Just because we could.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view, or if your browser supports it, click to open in a new tab to see them at the size I prepared them.<br /></span></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8cPHH8YDYro/T7tpId8JqvI/AAAAAAAACSY/K8QZ6basl74/s1600/beaconfell2_2266h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 305px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8cPHH8YDYro/T7tpId8JqvI/AAAAAAAACSY/K8QZ6basl74/s320/beaconfell2_2266h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5745301343837989618" border="0" /></a>The bright green new shoots of the pine trees had developed tangibly in the intervening eight days and were starting to stretch out as new branches. It also must be the time of year that ladybirds emerge and we saw more in that one walk than I've seen in a long time. This particular young tree was especially abundant and I was able to get quite close to take some photographs. I loved the abstract of them against the vibrant green textures.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qku7sa-2Zao/T7tpx6nKtxI/AAAAAAAACSk/4yCI7wY_t3k/s1600/beaconfell2_2268h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qku7sa-2Zao/T7tpx6nKtxI/AAAAAAAACSk/4yCI7wY_t3k/s320/beaconfell2_2268h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5745302055909242642" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D3hk9FTHwjw/T7tp7ZhidMI/AAAAAAAACSw/zIOhp14n-v0/s1600/beaconfell2_2273h.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D3hk9FTHwjw/T7tp7ZhidMI/AAAAAAAACSw/zIOhp14n-v0/s320/beaconfell2_2273h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5745302218825954498" border="0" /></a>We also saw more of the delicate Pink Purslane flowers I posted last week too - they do seem to like to nestle against fallen rotting logs and where they must get occasional patches of sunshine too. The day was largely 'fine' but we did get odd flashes of warm sunshine through the trees and it's always such a delight to me to see the patterns that form as it fingers its way between the trees to the forest floor. One of my very favourite things.<br /><br />It doesn't take much to make me happy and re-charge my flagging spirits.Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-9690753148461036352012-05-14T22:02:00.001+01:002012-05-14T22:19:57.224+01:00Spring green - such an optimistic colourFirstly, apologies, I did promise that my next blog would be on the stages that a piece of copper clay goes through, but I need to retrospectively take some photos on another piece, for stages I overlooked when making the piece to be featured - a decision I only initially made once I'd started and progressed with the piece.<br />
<br />
But we did get out on Saturday for a nice walk and some very welcome fresh air and I wanted to post the photographs I took, if only so that I can find them again. That is, if the new 'streamlined' Blogger interface will allow me. If it's as slow and tedious as the last post I made proved to be, I may well not include many images after all!<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #990000;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please click on any photographs to see a larger view. If your browser has the option, clicking to open in a new tab or window will allow you to see it at the full size I prepared it at.</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3vQEHIwj6k/T7Eqqd9fufI/AAAAAAAACPE/hdFt7MKw9zw/s1600/beaconfell_2207h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3vQEHIwj6k/T7Eqqd9fufI/AAAAAAAACPE/hdFt7MKw9zw/s320/beaconfell_2207h.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
My husband had commitments in the morning, but when he returned, the weather was looking pretty decent, so we hurriedly decided not to waste any more of the day and made and ate some lunch, got ready and packed some refreshments for later in the day and headed out to one of our favourite spots, at Beacon Fell in Lancashire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_oQ-SQ7bmk/T7E2OewOyAI/AAAAAAAACQY/BZH4HUqxJQM/s1600/beaconfell_2215h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_oQ-SQ7bmk/T7E2OewOyAI/AAAAAAAACQY/BZH4HUqxJQM/s320/beaconfell_2215h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The young pine trees were all exploding with vibrant new foliage. Trees in the better light were further progressed, but those in deeper shadow still bore their little papery sheaths over the new growth of needles. The green of the emerging needles was almost unnaturally bright and in stark contrast to the darker older growth. As I understand it, they only grow in this manner as young trees, developing needles differently as they age?</span></div>
<br />
It's a Lancashire County Council run forest park with a visitor centre, toilets, cafe that also serves ice creams (we had one and made like we were on holiday), lots of car parking salted throughout the woodland (and even using the main car park only costs £1 GB Pound per day) and an infinite variety of walking, with miles of well made paths snaking and criss-crossing through the trees and adjacent moorland - meaning that you can walk as much or little as you wish - with many paths with disabled access, there's something suitable for everyone. It's our default 'day out' location as it's about 20 miles from home, has everything we need, is open all year and I suspect that we often head there, because the drive to it is a pleasure in itself. Perhaps our favourite time is in winter; on crisp clear days, especially mid-week, when we often have the place much to ourselves. Sunny summer Sundays, not so much.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z0DmeSPE7o/T7E1E_mKTHI/AAAAAAAACQM/_EuzzeAjUbo/s1600/beaconfell_2227h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z0DmeSPE7o/T7E1E_mKTHI/AAAAAAAACQM/_EuzzeAjUbo/s320/beaconfell_2227h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This little group of beech trees were just opening into leaf and catching a ray of sunshine - very momentarily - through the dense trees. The colour was pure optimism; the brightest freshest perfect green of a new generation, in sharp relief to the brown of their past-foliage underneath, which will go on to decay and nourish the tree for the future.</span></div>
<br />
We've visited so often over very many years (Mr Boo was in a Scout party that helped lay some of the paths, over 40 years ago) that we must now have seen it in every possible weather and time of year. But each time we visit, there's something different of interest and each season has its own particular pleasures. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4i-epMp9Tpc/T7E3y9lXEJI/AAAAAAAACQk/uN8D1i7SQew/s1600/beaconfell_2223h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4i-epMp9Tpc/T7E3y9lXEJI/AAAAAAAACQk/uN8D1i7SQew/s320/beaconfell_2223h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As <a href="http://boojewels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/woodland-pretties.html">I mentioned in my previous blog</a>, I am especially fond of the wild species that grow at this time of year - and especially those in deciduous woodland - the small delicate flowers that blossom on the woodland floor before more robust vegetation will steal their light. We rounded a corner to find this lone little patch of delicate pink flowers, amongst the fallen, moss-engulfed logs, which I think are Pink Purslane, looking a little like a Stitchwort, but pink.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NPEeIxGwevU/T7E3-e1l0XI/AAAAAAAACQw/YTFt-bx3LYQ/s1600/beaconfell_2226h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NPEeIxGwevU/T7E3-e1l0XI/AAAAAAAACQw/YTFt-bx3LYQ/s320/beaconfell_2226h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This weekends particular pleasure was that gorgeous emergence of spring flowers and early foliage, when everything is at its most pristine, with the promise of summer to come, but before leaves have been ravaged by weather and insects - when everything is at the most perfect and the colours most intense and vibrant.<br />
<br />
In looking through my wild flower books to identify the plant above, I was struck by the gorgeous names of old fashioned English wild flowers, such evocative and descriptive names as Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Lady's Bedstraw, Nipplewort, Frogbit and Butcher's Broom.<br />
<br />
Most of the ground in clearings and path edges amongst the coniferous areas had a new bright green carpet of Bilberry bushes with their gorgeous, almost hidden, tiny bell-shaped flowers in a delicate translucent red - what my wild flower book called "nodding globular flowers". I really couldn't do them justice and was struggling to even focus properly on them as they truly were nodding in the very brisk breeze, whole branches moving several inches back and forth, so this is the best I managed. They're so pretty, it's well worth bending down and turning back a few leaves to have a look at them - they look like berries at a casual glance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eilOAtl8TrY/T7Fmxv2TWZI/AAAAAAAACRM/ntOHo2URoXk/s1600/beaconfell_2218h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eilOAtl8TrY/T7Fmxv2TWZI/AAAAAAAACRM/ntOHo2URoXk/s320/beaconfell_2218h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After our walk, as it was drawing close to the time that they lock the gates on the smaller in-tree car parks, we relocated to one of the quieter road-side spots with a good view, to have a bite to eat and a warm drink and we parked next to a field with a handful of sheep, each with a single lamb. They must have thought that we were 'the man' that brings their supper as they all came galloping over, baa-ing loudly for their supper and were a little put-out that we obviously weren't who they'd hoped to see.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCGWkvq9mLc/T7FoAbogbcI/AAAAAAAACRY/l-2nuhxtrVI/s1600/beaconfell_2231h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCGWkvq9mLc/T7FoAbogbcI/AAAAAAAACRY/l-2nuhxtrVI/s320/beaconfell_2231h.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>My work this week:</b><br />
<br />
I worked on two significant - and rather different - projects this week - one was to create some more copper clay components for designs I have in mind. It's the sort of work where I have to work in sessions amongst other work, as it takes time to dry enough to handle for filing and shaping, then it needs a little longer to dry thoroughly until it can be fired - then that process ends a little drawn out as I do them in small batches as I'm torch firing - then pickle and polish etc. etc. This is a batch of finished components between filing and firing; I can't resist polishing them a little to reveal the metal appearance as it gives me a better idea of how they might look as finished.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOjFjmakiEE/T7FpOH1adnI/AAAAAAAACRk/--_B2OvHkAE/s1600/pmcwip22144f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AOjFjmakiEE/T7FpOH1adnI/AAAAAAAACRk/--_B2OvHkAE/s320/pmcwip22144f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I had a couple of orders for rings this week, so once I had my eye in and was set up for ring making, I made a few more to replenish my craft fair stock - going back to earlier designs that I haven't made for a while. I don't know how I feel about making rings - I enjoy the process in itself, but worry about the whole sizing issue - perhaps because my fingers change size a dozen times a day and I rarely wear fashion rings for that reason. So I worry about someone getting a ring I've made and not being able to wear it, even though I know it was sent the size they ordered - what if they measured wrong themselves, or their fingers swell as much as mine do? Earrings a little longer or shorter than expected wouldn't be a deal-breaker, but a ring has to be spot on.<br />
<br />
Of the designs I've made over the last few days, I think I might now offer a few of the more repeatable designs on-line and see how they are received. I'm happy to sell them at craft fairs as people can simply try them on and choose one they like, but on-line has always felt more problematic and a little uncomfortable. The wire wrapped rings are the ones I've sold in person in the past as they can be made with any bead with a hole and inexpensively enough for impulse treats. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRTH8rStT3c/T7FrKTw4jMI/AAAAAAAACRw/t-uMRO7wE1s/s1600/rings22112f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRTH8rStT3c/T7FrKTw4jMI/AAAAAAAACRw/t-uMRO7wE1s/s320/rings22112f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IFm6LrUgin0/T7Fs_NUe1XI/AAAAAAAACR8/ypeasWxPiNU/s1600/rings22129f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IFm6LrUgin0/T7Fs_NUe1XI/AAAAAAAACR8/ypeasWxPiNU/s320/rings22129f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I love the colour of these Czech pressed melon beads against the copper and have enough to offer these as made to order rings, along with the more delicate rosebud knot 'stacker' variant of my hammered band ring, as shown below. I'll see how I feel about them in a few days time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrrxmU26Us0/T7FufftueEI/AAAAAAAACSI/fBAw7yztZdg/s1600/rings22123f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrrxmU26Us0/T7FufftueEI/AAAAAAAACSI/fBAw7yztZdg/s320/rings22123f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-60971234743787862372012-05-07T22:16:00.001+01:002012-05-26T11:28:43.012+01:00Woodland prettiesWe did one of our favourite walks this Sunday, one we can do from the front door. Our son was visiting for the day with his girlfriend and it's a pretty spot at this time of year, so was an ideal pre-lunch appetiser.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size:x-small;">Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view. If your browser has the option to open the image in a new tab, you'll get to see them at the size I prepared them. </span></b></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ch7fWVvuNCw/T6gvmxyGE3I/AAAAAAAACNA/V1GWS091UcM/s1600/localwalk_2180h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ch7fWVvuNCw/T6gvmxyGE3I/AAAAAAAACNA/V1GWS091UcM/s320/localwalk_2180h.jpg" border="0" height="234" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Added later:</span> I finally got to identify this plant, it just didn't appear in any of my wildflower books - it would appear that it's Water Avens (<span style="font-style: italic;">Geum rivale</span>) a member of the rose family - I was wrongly thinking it was a geranium/cranesbill variety.<br /></span></div><br />My husband and I did the same walk last Saturday and then it was bitterly cold in a very brisk wind (and we were jolly glad of hats, scarves and gloves) and was threatening rain the entire time and did in fact make good on that threat as we walked the last 20 yards to the front door. We'd commented that there were likely to be a lot of bluebells and that they were only just starting to flower.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaLbjh37Jsg/T6gvxmEXYMI/AAAAAAAACNQ/UwoMAkBM810/s1600/localwalk_2190h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaLbjh37Jsg/T6gvxmEXYMI/AAAAAAAACNQ/UwoMAkBM810/s320/localwalk_2190h.jpg" border="0" height="243" width="320" /></a></div><br />After a week of sunny spells and lots of rain, they've positively romped away this week, along with several other woodland pretties; there were splashes of blue, pink and yellow amongst the gorgeous vibrant spring green emerging foliage and unfurling fern fronds. It was significantly more colourful than a mere 8 days ago.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouXZy1n6MMY/T6gv1FKpnEI/AAAAAAAACNY/NLDKakLLh98/s1600/localwalk_2192h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouXZy1n6MMY/T6gv1FKpnEI/AAAAAAAACNY/NLDKakLLh98/s320/localwalk_2192h.jpg" border="0" height="243" width="320" /></a></div><br />It's one of my very favourite things, to see woodland flowers at this time of year, before the greenery has really taken off and hides some of the more delicate ground-hugging species.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvJenwgDo24/T6gv4d4rgpI/AAAAAAAACNg/l1ofZJVH5pc/s1600/localwalk_2197h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvJenwgDo24/T6gv4d4rgpI/AAAAAAAACNg/l1ofZJVH5pc/s320/localwalk_2197h.jpg" border="0" height="217" width="320" /></a></div><br />The walk was pretty dark initially, but as we returned, the sun came out again and I was able to grab a few photographs toward the end of the walk. If we get a nice spell this week, I'll walk that way on my own and spend more time getting some closer shots, there are some side paths that meander through the trees, so I can get deeper into the woodland and closer to the patches of bluebells.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KEZuWj-d3LE/T6gzH5xv-5I/AAAAAAAACN4/Of4vbKqHw_8/s1600/localwalk4512_f11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KEZuWj-d3LE/T6gzH5xv-5I/AAAAAAAACN4/Of4vbKqHw_8/s320/localwalk4512_f11.jpg" border="0" height="243" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9JK6Wa3Hk8/T6gzJjWXFxI/AAAAAAAACOA/QCmvXdjYjZw/s1600/localwalk4515_f11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9JK6Wa3Hk8/T6gzJjWXFxI/AAAAAAAACOA/QCmvXdjYjZw/s320/localwalk4515_f11.jpg" border="0" height="234" width="320" /></a></div><br />The primroses are a slight cheat in that I took these photographs earlier in the week. I especially like this patch as they're growing on top of a wall, so I don't need to grovel in the mud to photograph them and I also get to smell them too - they have a lovely delicate fragrance, which we don't always get to appreciate as they grow so low.<br /><br /><b>My work this week:</b><br /><br />I've finished several pieces - and that's the fun part - getting them all photographed and listed isn't quite as much fun - but something I will have to face in the next few days. I was in the mood for making something with beads - after I'd bought some very pretty colours on Etsy for use with copper. Although, as luck would have it, I didn't use as may of those as I started out expecting to - I veered off on a tangent somewhat.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxejjPWWZRI/T6g04lQpGZI/AAAAAAAACOI/vSsiShwn-zs/s1600/necklace21993f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxejjPWWZRI/T6g04lQpGZI/AAAAAAAACOI/vSsiShwn-zs/s320/necklace21993f.jpg" border="0" height="270" width="320" /></a></div><br />I was looking for some components in my box of assorted things that didn't quite make it into a finished piece yet and a combination of shapes falling together in front of me gave me the idea for this wrapped wire loop bail - allowing me to combine a spiralled wire bail loop with a large eye to decorate with beaded dangles. The central focal bead is an odd colour, it looks very orange in daylight (and my daylight photography light) and yet quite a buttery yellow in artificial light - and in which light, the greens I accented with the faceted Czech glass donuts are rather more prominent too. I topped it with a copper clay bead cap and matched it with a pair of delicate green beads on some matching chain links.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukYwdKYiVCk/T6g1_6VVo1I/AAAAAAAACOQ/ZN1mC52Nbcc/s1600/earrings21956f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukYwdKYiVCk/T6g1_6VVo1I/AAAAAAAACOQ/ZN1mC52Nbcc/s320/earrings21956f.jpg" border="0" height="223" width="320" /></a></div><br />These eye links are a shape I made often, early in my jewellery making career, as fancy headpins, but I was trying to fashion an art deco/nouveau stylised rose for a particular idea and these came back to mind. So I've put together 3 hammered links in these antiqued copper earrings.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0LO8nA8PC0E/T6g2H6-L7YI/AAAAAAAACOY/DS9WP_tGh48/s1600/necklace21992f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0LO8nA8PC0E/T6g2H6-L7YI/AAAAAAAACOY/DS9WP_tGh48/s320/necklace21992f.jpg" border="0" height="314" width="320" /></a></div><br />Another variant of the wrapped loop bail eye, adorned with assorted purple glass and amethyst beads and a single flower-imprinted dangle, made in copper clay.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3vIaYhMsRA/T6g2QfvJ6WI/AAAAAAAACOg/MttPOAmnrJw/s1600/earrings22051f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3vIaYhMsRA/T6g2QfvJ6WI/AAAAAAAACOg/MttPOAmnrJw/s320/earrings22051f.jpg" border="0" height="229" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I used the same 'eye' links in these feature earwires for these copper clay spiral oval earrings. <b><br /></b></div><br /><b>My next blog . . . </b><br /><br /><br />. . . will be a work in progress (WIP) report on this necklace and earring set. They're made with copper clay and wire, then antiqued and coloured. I've taken a series of photographs as I made them and want to show the amount of work and processes involved in creating pieces like this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDooMwTfd1s/T6g3Ffh3P3I/AAAAAAAACOo/cpzH8msxaAU/s1600/necklace22100f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDooMwTfd1s/T6g3Ffh3P3I/AAAAAAAACOo/cpzH8msxaAU/s320/necklace22100f.jpg" border="0" height="307" width="320" /></a></div>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-46966459474999215722012-04-18T06:45:00.015+01:002012-04-18T16:49:11.606+01:00Nursing duties and more copper clay workingJust coming to make a new post and seeing my last one about 'maybe that was summer', it looks like that might have been the case. It's funny that we were walking outside on that especially lovely day in shirt sleeves and finding spots in the shade for a rest and cooling drink, yet we went out for a walk on Sunday and donned thermal gloves, scarves and hats and were still jittering in the bitter cold wind.<br /><br />I realise that the earlier unscheduled warmth and sunshine was the day out of place, but recent much colder weather has somewhat thrown both into sharp relief.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:x-small;" ><i><b>Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view.</b></i></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XE_Ay_ND2y4/T46T4YcsGlI/AAAAAAAACLE/I6k4e-LSA_c/s1600/necklace21563f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XE_Ay_ND2y4/T46T4YcsGlI/AAAAAAAACLE/I6k4e-LSA_c/s320/necklace21563f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732681972533959250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Hand sculpted pendant made in copper clay with leaves and buds.<br /></span></div><br />I don't have much exciting to report or interesting to show you at present, my husband underwent long-overdue incisional hernia repair surgery (major, life-saving surgery a few years ago hadn't healed well and needed fixing) a couple of weeks ago, so we'd planned for a period of inactivity, had stocked up with food any any other supplies we anticipated needing and settled down for a short period of daytime TV and hunkering under the duvet on the settee recuperating. Well, <span style="font-style: italic;">he </span>did, I was destined for passing things out of reach, the helping on with socks and taking over any household duties involving lifting, stretching or bending - and those will continue for a little while yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9cTWSU4cCg/T46UTR7gtJI/AAAAAAAACLQ/BlS2p-0xOVo/s1600/earrings21653f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9cTWSU4cCg/T46UTR7gtJI/AAAAAAAACLQ/BlS2p-0xOVo/s320/earrings21653f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732682434640655506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Copper clay earrings with twisted oval dangles imprinted with a raised flower design and hanging from matching feature oval earwires.<br /></span></div><br />He's recovered amazingly well; it would appear that general anaesthetics have developed somewhat since last time either of us had surgery and he was up awake, looking forward to his lunch and texting me as much less than an hour after he came out of surgery. It's also true to say that he wasn't quite so chipper once all the painkilling injections they had given him had worn off. But still, he was significantly better than ether of us had anticipated and has in fact already returned to work - supposedly on light, desk-bound duties - a week earlier than we expected and planned for. I'm not sure I'm thrilled about that, but he doesn't seem to be taking any harm from it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ka90tAlAQU/T46UydPzJgI/AAAAAAAACLc/EJE1QHhWaFs/s1600/necklace21859f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ka90tAlAQU/T46UydPzJgI/AAAAAAAACLc/EJE1QHhWaFs/s320/necklace21859f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732682970254484994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Antiqued copper necklace wrapped with molten buds and copper clay disc flowers.<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czROotYxRv0/T46aDUpK69I/AAAAAAAACMk/0kFjkq9-DPg/s1600/necklace21862f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czROotYxRv0/T46aDUpK69I/AAAAAAAACMk/0kFjkq9-DPg/s320/necklace21862f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732688757560896466" border="0" /></a><br />So, aside from my nursing duties, I haven't done anything very exciting lately, my productivity was somewhat reduced by having him at home. If only because I actually had someone to talk to and have a brew with. But I did at least remember to stop and eat lunch every day, which I don't always do; sometimes until it's almost too late to be worth bothering.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KVNDKLa-0wM/T46VDXJyYJI/AAAAAAAACLo/J-QzlhGHZ1c/s1600/earrings21867f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KVNDKLa-0wM/T46VDXJyYJI/AAAAAAAACLo/J-QzlhGHZ1c/s320/earrings21867f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732683260676432018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Earrings cold forged from a heavy gauge of copper wire, hammered and drilled and wrapped with a copper clay disc flower and molten bud. They will co-ordinate with the necklace above.<br /></span></div><br />I've been working on photographing and listing recent creations and finishing some of the projects I had started. I occasionally have to force myself to do such tasks before I make something new - I reward myself with 'making time' when I reach key targets in my listing process - which when my head is overflowing with ideas or I'm dying to get on with something in particular, is quite a good motivator.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhLG3YtwMPs/T46VccSXJBI/AAAAAAAACL0/8ZiS_Fr009g/s1600/earrings21683f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhLG3YtwMPs/T46VccSXJBI/AAAAAAAACL0/8ZiS_Fr009g/s320/earrings21683f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732683691551302674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Antiqued copper clay earrings featuring a twisted flower button bead.<br /></span></div><br />I've done some more work with the copper clay, as you can see from the photographs included in the post. I had a conversation with the technical support people who import the clay, as there were some aspects of my results that I either wasn't happy with or didn't understand why things were happening. One major consideration was seemingly drying time - the packet instruction was to file and fire it when dry, without any indication of how long that might take. Their web site wasn't much more specific, but I'm delighted that as a result of our conversation, they very quickly made their instructions more appropriate, which I'm sure will help others like me just starting working with the material.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHJ7OQ8Ib4/T46WyfIIkNI/AAAAAAAACMA/S6TrmReGuEE/s1600/earrings21769f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkHJ7OQ8Ib4/T46WyfIIkNI/AAAAAAAACMA/S6TrmReGuEE/s320/earrings21769f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732685169782460626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Entirely hand crafted earrings featuring polymer clay faux pebbles and copper clay flower dangles.<br /></span></div><br />On small and especially thin pieces, they actually feel and appear dry within a few hours - later the day you've worked on them - especially if you keep them somewhere warm and turn them often, as I do. Although things look and handle <span style="font-style: italic;">as </span>dry quite quickly, I'd always left them at least overnight to ensure that they were properly dry throughout.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8sRv0vBFi-0/T46YHVtxb5I/AAAAAAAACMY/NCN-eM57AJs/s1600/earrings21778f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8sRv0vBFi-0/T46YHVtxb5I/AAAAAAAACMY/NCN-eM57AJs/s320/earrings21778f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732686627544854418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Copper clay and hand made glass bead spotty earrings. I only had this single pair of matching beads amongst an assortment I bought and I've got them out several times looking for ideas with them and as soon as I saw how well the spots could be highlighted from this spotty texture sheet used on the clay, I knew the right partnership had just been waiting to find each other.<br /></span></div><br />But it transpires this simply isn't enough - they need a couple of days at least, any tiny molecules of unseen moisture remaining can evaporate and explode out of the clay as you first heat the piece - giving rise to cracks and in one case, quite an impressive pop which removed a section of the surface. In that case, it had dried for at least 36 hours, so I clearly need to leave them a decent time before being tempted to fire them. Although I've since fired pieces I initially made a couple of weeks ago and the same problems still occur so it's not the only factor, maybe it's just the nature of the medium, that some surface disturbance is inevitable when torch firing? It sounded like I was otherwise doing everything right - although my enjoyment of twisting the clay into more interesting shapes might be partially to blame.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIVXqGPmwo4/T46XW1E25eI/AAAAAAAACMM/x4YbKB4wmcM/s1600/necklace21730f.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIVXqGPmwo4/T46XW1E25eI/AAAAAAAACMM/x4YbKB4wmcM/s320/necklace21730f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732685794149590498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This is the piece that popped alarmingly when fired, thankfully mostly on the back, but I'm not sure how I feel about the finished item anyway, so it may well remain in my personal collection.<br /></span></div><br />The rest of their advice seemed to boil down to taking a course and learning to do it properly! Nah, where's the fun in that!Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-81241152296127429052012-03-26T22:41:00.001+01:002012-03-27T00:10:21.719+01:00Maybe that was summer?Here in the UK we've just had an unseasonably early warm spell - wall to wall sunshine with lovely warm temperatures and the summery feel was further enhanced by the start of British Summer Time when the clocks are put forward, giving us longer evenings in which to enjoy it all.<br /><br />It does tend to lull you into thinking that summer has actually arrived, but the ice on the car this morning soon put that idea to bed. But it did present an ideal opportunity to make a start on my post-winter tidy of the garden and start preparing it for summer and we took the opportunity yesterday to take a proper day off and escape to the Lake District for a day in one of our most favourite places.<br /><br /><div style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;"><i><b>Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view.</b></i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_fRtdW_7Jg/T3DcUBFxRDI/AAAAAAAACKQ/aynMAPQwnLg/s1600/thirlmere_2154h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_fRtdW_7Jg/T3DcUBFxRDI/AAAAAAAACKQ/aynMAPQwnLg/s320/thirlmere_2154h.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="243" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;">I love this particular spot, the lighting is always lovely as the path meanders through the trees, but it's hard to do it justice; sometime you just have to be there.</span></div><br />We usually spend a long week over the Easter period up there and always very much look forward to it through the winter months, but this year we're having to fore-go it for a variety of reasons; but largely because my husband has to undergo surgery shortly and they've scheduled him for next week, just before the Easter bank holiday weekend.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bCSjP7efEI/T3DdxdLTlaI/AAAAAAAACKw/3H88nb_8iSQ/s1600/thirlmere_2161h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bCSjP7efEI/T3DdxdLTlaI/AAAAAAAACKw/3H88nb_8iSQ/s320/thirlmere_2161h.jpg" width="259" border="0" height="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KiZgREtVjJ4/T3DcW6ruNwI/AAAAAAAACKY/eGrD4JdXcto/s1600/thirlmere_2161h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;">The sun was rather hazy initially as the early morning mist burnt off the sky, but through the trees that did give everything a lovely glow.</span></div><br />In order to minimise the time off work at a busy time of year and to protect his regular salary, we've decided that taking some of his recovery period from his holiday allowance is a better use of the time on this particular, unusual, occasion.<br /><br />So, mindful of not being mobile for some time and not getting such an opportunity again for a few weeks and the really glowing weather forecast, we set our alarms early on Sunday morning, packed a picnic and headed to one of our favourite spots along Thirlmere near Keswick. The roads were decently busy on the way up and we expected a lot of other people to have had the same idea and thought it might possibly be busy, but we pretty much had that particular place to ourselves. In fact, we didn't pass another soul on our favourite lake-shore walk - we usually pass at least a couple of local dog-walkers, who love that spot as much as we do.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-symdtkiGk/T3DcZbV0aiI/AAAAAAAACKg/ox5dteu-VvY/s1600/thirlmere_2166h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-symdtkiGk/T3DcZbV0aiI/AAAAAAAACKg/ox5dteu-VvY/s320/thirlmere_2166h.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;"> As the afternoon drew on, the light had a fabulous golden golden glow.</span></div><br />So, it couldn't really have been much better for us. If I'm really picky, the sunshine was hazier than it had been the day before when we worked in the garden and the modest spring cold I have was seemingly further irritated by tree pollen, but on balance, it was a pretty fabulous day. We did all of our favourite things - walked amongst trees, listening to the birds, took a few photos, ate a good lunch sat outside in sunshine, snoozed a little, read a little, walked some more, ate some more and headed home to a great nights sleep after all that fresh air. For me, life doesn't get much better.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zLUFsDnf6k/T3DcbTBT3zI/AAAAAAAACKo/4NfY7NAJBzA/s1600/thirlmere_2172h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zLUFsDnf6k/T3DcbTBT3zI/AAAAAAAACKo/4NfY7NAJBzA/s320/thirlmere_2172h.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="237" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;">The day had started with a decent breeze, but by early evening, it had either dropped or changed direction and Thirlmere was beautifully calm and the reflections were quite fabulous.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><b>Further work with Copper Clay this week:</b><br /><br />I'm really enjoying my continuing tinkering with copper clay this week - it has been a steep learning curve and it is evident that my tried and tested routines and methods with copper sheet and wire will need some revision when using the clay for components, but it does add a lot of new facets to what I can achieve and opens up a whole host of ideas to try - like my mind doesn't already overflow with more ideas than I have time to make reality.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdCHosMV70A/T3Dhub2L41I/AAAAAAAACK4/qNIvNQC9_RI/s1600/earrings21488f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QdCHosMV70A/T3Dhub2L41I/AAAAAAAACK4/qNIvNQC9_RI/s320/earrings21488f.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="249" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:x-small;">Copper clay flat 'button' beads given an uneven shape and a light imprint of a flower design, double wrapped on a balled headpin.</span></div>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-2988224163118789012012-03-21T12:11:00.001+00:002012-03-21T12:21:00.771+00:00New adventures in Precious Metal ClayAs <a href="http://boojewels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/revisiting-polymer-clay.html">mentioned in my last post</a>, I was about to start tinkering with precious metal clay - copper clay specifically. I have resisted somewhat so far for a few reasons; firstly, I wanted to ensure I'd already got a good grasp of basic metalwork before I went off on that particular tangent, I felt it was important for me to understand metal fairly well in order to get the best from it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ibqT0qr2emo/T2m9cW_jSPI/AAAAAAAACJE/VxBXOQjMeJM/s1600/firstpmc21311f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ibqT0qr2emo/T2m9cW_jSPI/AAAAAAAACJE/VxBXOQjMeJM/s320/firstpmc21311f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> My collection of first finished pieces using PMC/copper clay. Two textured heart pendants with earrings, a 'painted' leaf pendant with bail, a fancy beadcap over a teardrop shaped glass bead, copper washers separating faceted carnelians, plain bead caps with large labradorite beads and a ring featuring little leaves and bud.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp9IwhodylU/T2m9krVeLVI/AAAAAAAACJo/sjKExrYfjKw/s1600/firstpmc21324f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp9IwhodylU/T2m9krVeLVI/AAAAAAAACJo/sjKExrYfjKw/s320/firstpmc21324f.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A highly polished and textured heart pendant and a little leaf pendant made by painting clay paste over a real leaf and adding a bail - which I did between layers of paste to integrate it fully on the back.</span></div><br />
<br />
Secondly, I felt the silver clays were too expensive to just tinker with and until recently, copper clay, which I felt would work well alongside my other work, could only be kiln fired - and that wasn't going to be practical just to try it out.<br />
<br />
But when I saw a new copper clay on the market that could be torch fired, it felt like a good time to at least give it a try. I already had a series of designs and ideas in my sketch book, as well as components to supplement other work that I just couldn't buy or easily make by other methods. So I hoped that it would work as well as the ideas I had in my mind and having never even touched any PMC before, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect and although I'd done a lot of reading, planning and thinking, I did open the packet for the first time with a few little butterflies in my tummy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FaqW5unr1NM/T2m9nUDhS9I/AAAAAAAACJ8/EgOh_T82Qxw/s1600/ring21384f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FaqW5unr1NM/T2m9nUDhS9I/AAAAAAAACJ8/EgOh_T82Qxw/s320/ring21384f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rings are one of the areas I want to pursue more as I have all sorts of ideas for them - but I need to make several first to work out the correct sizing allowing for shrinkage etc. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCcYuYS-GVQ/T2m9it1NVAI/AAAAAAAACJk/uqFsTagfHfU/s1600/firstpmc21323f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCcYuYS-GVQ/T2m9it1NVAI/AAAAAAAACJk/uqFsTagfHfU/s320/firstpmc21323f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm somewhat disappointed with how the ring looks in the photographs at this scale, as it looks very polished and pretty cute in reality and the photos really don't flatter the texture of the copper clay at all.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
I perhaps should have started with a few simple shapes or test pieces, but I had so many ideas filling my head, that I just dived in on working on something from the outset - I think I personally learn best and am most productive when I actually make something proper that I fully expect to finish and to work properly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2W3xE2-rkE/T2m9henqoHI/AAAAAAAACJc/Z4nj_Gr8fmo/s1600/firstpmc21321f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J2W3xE2-rkE/T2m9henqoHI/AAAAAAAACJc/Z4nj_Gr8fmo/s320/firstpmc21321f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I've never been able to find solid copper bead caps the right sort of size for many of the things I make, but using copper clay will allow me to make my own to fit perfectly. These are simple and quite small ones - the biggest drawback is the time they take to fire properly and the necessity to only work on a couple at a time when torch firing.</span></div><br />
It proved to be a very steep learning curve, from how quickly the clay dries, to how brittle and easily damaged it is in clay form and how long it takes to fire and sinter properly and how bloody hard it is to get the firescale off! Funnily enough, some pieces come clean with the first dunk in hot pickle, others resist everything from repeated pickling, tumbling and wire brushing and had to be hand polished clean.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4NCYwYBF68/T2m9dVRwbRI/AAAAAAAACJM/0MaByiqIlsI/s1600/firstpmc21314f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4NCYwYBF68/T2m9dVRwbRI/AAAAAAAACJM/0MaByiqIlsI/s320/firstpmc21314f.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This fancy bead cap was made from a sketch I drew some time ago - and proved a steep learning curve. I fired it according to the packet instructions and I don't think this was long enough as the lovely little feature collar I gave it chipped when first tightening the wire wrap against it (I took it apart, trimmed the collar down and re-made), suggesting that it was too brittle and not sintered for long enough. I'd be afraid that the points might break off, so this will remain in my personal collection.</span></div><br />
The oxidisation process is a little different too - I've oxidised and antiqued very many pieces of copper - but the PMC doesn't take it evenly, or darkly and the LoS solution goes cloudy and pink making it hard to even find small pieces in it. And some pieces were almost polished clean again after a quick tumble. So that part clearly needs more thought too - having thought that I'd settled on a very reliable method that always gave good results, clearly PMC copper will need a slightly different technique from raw metal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OP4r02VYpd4/T2m9DPfkg_I/AAAAAAAACI8/Dmxi16_luqA/s1600/necklace21412f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OP4r02VYpd4/T2m9DPfkg_I/AAAAAAAACI8/Dmxi16_luqA/s320/necklace21412f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I absolutely love working with it - it's nowhere near as messy as I was expecting, having seen many illustrated tutorials where the copper clay artist illustrated had stained brown fingers and all their tools were stained and messy too. I found it much cleaner than I was anticipating and it didn't even really stick much to anything other than itself - it worked very much like polymer clay, but needs to be worked quickly. I found that for the most part, I didn't need to add any sort of release to my tools. <br />
<br />
I like that I can refine the shapes at the clay stage and get it close to a finished surface with much less effort than with the finished metal. I like that I can either just roll it back up and start over if it doesn't work, or grind it up and reconstitute it if I don't like it once dried - so there's much less wastage than other techniques. It drills and carves easily when dry and I'm really looking forward to putting some of my design ideas into practice. I'm already delighted with how it's worked and can't wait to make some more pieces.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkgMiyPfkH0/T2nEHrmrX4I/AAAAAAAACKE/OfAxTSOc2rc/s1600/earrings21364f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkgMiyPfkH0/T2nEHrmrX4I/AAAAAAAACKE/OfAxTSOc2rc/s320/earrings21364f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
These earrings are perhaps my favourite finished piece - I made the undulating textured washers specifically for a design I had already made other polymer clay components for, but when fiddling with them to see how else I could use them, I loved how they looked with these Carnelian faceted rondelles, so I'll need to make some more for my other project.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcEF4hSPbHk/T2m81F_VYHI/AAAAAAAACI0/f_zQ6iHjm0M/s1600/earrings21377f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcEF4hSPbHk/T2m81F_VYHI/AAAAAAAACI0/f_zQ6iHjm0M/s320/earrings21377f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The one thing that I'm not entirely happy with is that it doesn't photograph well. The clay-like texture persists on the surface a little, even after firing and polishing. When seeing even highly polished pieces in photographs, little speckles of texture dominate every surface, especially when seen on-screen so much larger than life-size - as tends to be the case when showing jewellery items in photographs. I was very happy with the finish I got in some of the pieces after a little polishing, some before and some after firing, yet was bitterly disappointed with how they looked in the photographs, so this might need a different approach too. So very much to learn, but it will be a lot of fun to do so.Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-72544576978656130622012-03-12T13:45:00.002+00:002012-03-12T13:52:43.085+00:00Revisiting Polymer ClaySome time ago when I first became aware of what was possible with the relatively new precious metal clays on the market, I resisted the temptation to do down that route as I had the very strong feeling that I'd get totally enthralled with it and at the time, only being readily available in silver, it might prove to be an expensive obsession.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #990000;"><b>Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUQcv1Iv_mQ/T133itBg0GI/AAAAAAAACHs/3kODNP8HATk/s1600/polymer21277f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUQcv1Iv_mQ/T133itBg0GI/AAAAAAAACHs/3kODNP8HATk/s320/polymer21277f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">Four rough un-finished pendants made from a simple cane in dark red and gold with small areas of black and crackled gold.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFyBtiQIr4g/T133hc_OixI/AAAAAAAACHk/BjlKPI5A0z8/s1600/polymer21274f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFyBtiQIr4g/T133hc_OixI/AAAAAAAACHk/BjlKPI5A0z8/s320/polymer21274f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">I had some already crackled sheets remaining and decided to use them up on some simple 'faux dichroic' pendants, but most of them had dried too much already and were far too fragile, so I made some more as I hadn't yet used the green pearl ink I had bought some time ago for the task and had plenty of silver leaf left too. Most of these are baked with a clear glass like layer of embossing resin to further enhance the glass-like look.</span></div><br />
Instead, I decided to tinker with the rather less expensive polymer clay - initially, to see if I had the dexterity and necessary skills to potentially work with PMC. But I soon got hooked on it in its own right, I especially love that you can mimic natural materials like stones and wood and the infinite variety of colour work possible with it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ttfpI_vFohI/T133ljvpmOI/AAAAAAAACH8/-KzdMbxfyYg/s1600/polymer21281f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ttfpI_vFohI/T133ljvpmOI/AAAAAAAACH8/-KzdMbxfyYg/s320/polymer21281f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4aym2_5j34U/T133j2QrToI/AAAAAAAACH0/yf5S9vYAzxY/s1600/polymer21278f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4aym2_5j34U/T133j2QrToI/AAAAAAAACH0/yf5S9vYAzxY/s320/polymer21278f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">I made several pieces using a faux speckled turquoise technique, having seen a fabulous [real] stone like this in a piece, but I think I possibly made the brown matrix areas too distinct. Some of these will be used with some copper clay components I have in mind.</span></div><br />
I've only ever really scratched the surface of what's possible as I only have a small area to work in and it's necessary to work cleanly and I need to clear the area of metalwork clutter for a working session. If I had a larger working room, I might dedicate an area to it and immerse myself even further into the possibilities.<br />
<br />
I did a lot of polymer clay work in the past, but as other work had taken hold, I hadn't returned to it for a while, but I've also now found a copper PMC that can be torch fired, so all the sketches and ideas I have for PMC might finally get the chance to take form as it's affordable enough to be worth trying and would fit really well with everything else I do and the style of my work.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-notGa7cB4SU/T133n8bOEdI/AAAAAAAACIE/FplwmqEiezY/s1600/polymer21283f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-notGa7cB4SU/T133n8bOEdI/AAAAAAAACIE/FplwmqEiezY/s320/polymer21283f.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">This faux turquoise technique used a turquoise 'basalt' stone textured clay [with fibrous inclusions] which I made a simple cane of with a black edge and formed a sheet that looked like speckled turquoise. </span></div><br />
Before I started on my ideas, I wanted to get out all my polymer clay tools and see if I was suitably equipped and do a little more work with it to get my eye in again and re-hone the skills I had before. I also wanted to try out a few prototypes in polymer clay before committing ideas to metal. I realised that I had quite a lot of open packets of clay that I wasn't sure how well it would age being stored for a while, so thought it was an ideal opportunity to use up the open materials, get my eye in and make some prototypes too.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yFVS_H9T7-w/T133pBOs6aI/AAAAAAAACIM/jAwpG8x-bYI/s1600/polymer21288f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yFVS_H9T7-w/T133pBOs6aI/AAAAAAAACIM/jAwpG8x-bYI/s320/polymer21288f.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">This batch were a little disappointing, using a natural stone effect clay in agate and basalt finishes. The little pebbles top right are for a specific design I have in mind with copper clay components, I bought this clay specifically with the design in mind - a copper and turquoise re-working of a design I've done in silver and black. </span></div><br />
The prototypes will stay under wraps until the metal clay versions are finished and then I'll blog about them all together, but suffice it to say that I am delighted with the progress so far and can't wait to get to put them into practice with the metal clay - I just hope it works as well as the prototypes did.<br />
<br />
I did manage to make a significant amount of pieces and components for more extensive projects. The simple ones are now almost finished, but some will be used in conjunction with PMC components later too, especially the larger faux turquoise pieces.<br />
<br />
The crackled 'dichroic' pendants have been fitted with Aanraku bails intended for genuine dichroic glass pendants and have been sanded and extensively varnished to seal everything in and protect the finishes. The embossing resin looks very good when first done, but it's very soft and scratches easily without being varnished, so it needs that additional step. I'm going to keep a couple of these for myself as I wanted the green specifically to match a shirt I have that colour and a couple are intended for gifts. But now I have to find the time to photograph and list them all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eMtX443ix4w/T133rHlBp7I/AAAAAAAACIU/i9hZN76LReg/s1600/polymer21294f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eMtX443ix4w/T133rHlBp7I/AAAAAAAACIU/i9hZN76LReg/s320/polymer21294f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">I used one of the smaller pieces of faux turquoise on an adjustable ring, a style that I've simply not tried before, but I quite liked the result.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qTJAy8B5QI/T133s99jFjI/AAAAAAAACIc/_LQzsIj2bX8/s1600/polymer21296f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qTJAy8B5QI/T133s99jFjI/AAAAAAAACIc/_LQzsIj2bX8/s320/polymer21296f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bW9MlkImkgM/T133uH6ScUI/AAAAAAAACIk/JPManMghy4E/s1600/polymer21300f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bW9MlkImkgM/T133uH6ScUI/AAAAAAAACIk/JPManMghy4E/s320/polymer21300f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyBkWr-XmO0/T133x3AX-pI/AAAAAAAACIs/O3GOHBhsbYA/s1600/polymer21308f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uyBkWr-XmO0/T133x3AX-pI/AAAAAAAACIs/O3GOHBhsbYA/s320/polymer21308f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-87940116343536556842012-02-29T13:08:00.005+00:002012-02-29T16:36:18.909+00:00Clearing the decks and sub-conscious solutionsI have an airtight compartment box that lives permanently on my work bench. It originally landed there to keep finished items waiting to be photographed safe. But in reality, I found that items just-made that excited me, didn't hang around long to be photographed, as I wanted to get them out there to sell. <br />
<br />
But the box did gradually fill over time with pieces. The items that ended up in there seemed destined for a long stay. They tended to be pieces that I'd either not quite finished and wasn't sure what they needed to call them finished, or I simply wasn't happy with some aspect of them. Sometimes just leaving a piece alone and returning at a later date, your sub-conscious just decides in its own time, what needs to be done, as has happened with some of the items described below. <br />
<br />
Some of the jewellery items took up permanent residence in my box, purely because I knew they'd be a pig to photograph and I was procrastinating. Hence, some time ago, I ripped the "To Photograph" label off and replaced it with "Procrastination Pieces".<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Please click on any of the photographs to see a larger version. </b></i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3_5tLP6490/T04dqhYq1MI/AAAAAAAACG4/7RoI49X3yQI/s1600/earrings20647f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3_5tLP6490/T04dqhYq1MI/AAAAAAAACG4/7RoI49X3yQI/s320/earrings20647f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These garnet and silver earrings fell into the category of 'pig to photograph' and I'd returned to them several times and not been happy with the results, but decided I would just have to persist and get the job done.</span> </div><br />
Looking into this box one day I realised it was now full of a lot of jewellery that would simply never sell sitting in there, so I decided to clear at least half of it out, one way or another and found myself in just the mood to tackle it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1GlkLeP0xKI/T04Zell9pRI/AAAAAAAACGg/BIPmC_lry2E/s1600/necklace21015f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1GlkLeP0xKI/T04Zell9pRI/AAAAAAAACGg/BIPmC_lry2E/s320/necklace21015f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I made this polymer clay cabochon some time ago and had it on a rigid silver plated wire choker, but knew it was going to be tricky to photograph. I hadn't wanted to put it on chain as the tube bail on the back tends to make a rasping sound as it moves about on chain, which I find irritating, so suspect others would too. So I changed it onto a silvery grey flexible PVC thong necklace, with hand crafted cord ends and clasp and am much happier with how it works - it looks good and is nice and quiet too! </span></span></div><br />
So I considered each piece on its merits and assessed why I hadn't finished the listing process for that particular piece. I just grabbed the bull by the horns and after a week, I've just about emptied my 'Procrastination' box. Some items I just took the easy option and plonked a price ticket on and put them in my craft fair stock, they just weren't worth the effort of any further time. A couple of items I cut apart to do something entirely different and with the materials.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQBj27qWb6A/T04YPG6L4pI/AAAAAAAACGQ/4oRNbQxGkm0/s1600/necklace20740f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQBj27qWb6A/T04YPG6L4pI/AAAAAAAACGQ/4oRNbQxGkm0/s320/necklace20740f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A couple of pieces I combined the parts of into new pieces. The pendant above was one such item. It was much as you see it now, but with much fewer buds - I had another pendant with a similarly scanty supply of buds, so combined them and am in the process of doing something different with the pendant from the other.<br />
<br />
This bud-wrapped pendant piece was another I wasn't sure about. I originally had it hanging vertically with one large oval jump ring bail, but the buds weren't symmetrical around the hanging point, to it didn't sit comfortably with me, so after looking at it laid the other way round on my bench, I decided that joining the chain to it in two places, sat much more comfortably and works rather better with it hanging in the centre of a necklace rather than just as a pendant.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1l1S2aPEQE0/T04ZJmWMSOI/AAAAAAAACGY/9w1S2SsbuoM/s1600/necklace21031f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1l1S2aPEQE0/T04ZJmWMSOI/AAAAAAAACGY/9w1S2SsbuoM/s320/necklace21031f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5a5Z6k3JPfQ/T04aTO1nkaI/AAAAAAAACGo/Ywa0Mglpaiw/s1600/necklace20986f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5a5Z6k3JPfQ/T04aTO1nkaI/AAAAAAAACGo/Ywa0Mglpaiw/s320/necklace20986f.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>This etched daisy pendant <a href="http://boojewels.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-adventures-in-etching.html">has featured before in the blog as an early piece in my copper etching adventures</a>. This was the first piece I tried by making a resist from one of my own photographs and the printing method I used worked pretty well, but wasn't quite resilient enough for the process, so areas that should have remained clean were eaten away a little during the etching, giving a rather rustic appearance.<br />
<br />
My husband always said he preferred this rougher version and thought I should put it on sale anyway. It had got rather used to its home in my procrastination box, although I'd taken it out and looked at it many times, wondering what to do with it. Two small events gave me the answer. Firstly, a very good Stateside customer ordered one of my chunky copper pendants but asked for it on a much longer chain. I tried it on once I'd finished it and thought it worked really well worn that way - which was something I wouldn't even consider for myself - as I'm just too clumsy and something long and dangly would be a recipe for disaster with me personally, I'd get snagged on door handles or the like. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JhJkY5ofUlA/T04dHnrQzaI/AAAAAAAACGw/6d3LZ-rRCwA/s1600/necklace20998f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JhJkY5ofUlA/T04dHnrQzaI/AAAAAAAACGw/6d3LZ-rRCwA/s320/necklace20998f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I also bought new stock of antiqued copper chains and one was a lovely chunky copper belcher (rollo) chain which I thought was perfect for the long treatment with this chunky pendant. So I've teamed it with a 28"+ chunky chain and it works very much better. It was worth waiting for the right solution for it.<br />
<br />
This little turquoise pendant was one I just decided to put on sale, as it was, with its flaws and reflect them in the price. I loved the rough little turquoise nugget - but as the hole in it was drilled at a wonky angle, it was never going to sit very evenly. Plus, I misjudged on the size of loop I left for the bail, so it can only take a fine chain and it doesn't move freely once on, so hopefully someone else will like it too and love it despite its shortcomings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v1TVa9tRQ0o/T04evhMzuqI/AAAAAAAACHA/x3GDnk9kwqQ/s1600/necklace20787f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v1TVa9tRQ0o/T04evhMzuqI/AAAAAAAACHA/x3GDnk9kwqQ/s320/necklace20787f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
My work often flows in themes and I've made several pairs of earrings with a spiral wrapped around the bead and decided to try combining that with coils of fine copper wire too - these are Chinese Green Jade teardrops with spiralled coils of antiqued copper. The pair below with purple glass hearts arose as a customer wanted me to re-make an old design with a variation of an Egyptian Scroll, to which I added some further wrapping and topped the hearts with matching rosy copper buds. I've made a turquoise glass oval pair too, but am going to have my work cut out with photographing them both as the double articulation in them ensures that they're impossible to pose flat and I'm probably going to have to wrangle and tame them with Blutak and bad language!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kjcFO2sVBMg/T04fv7VtwXI/AAAAAAAACHI/d_PzVNI4FWY/s1600/earrings21061f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kjcFO2sVBMg/T04fv7VtwXI/AAAAAAAACHI/d_PzVNI4FWY/s320/earrings21061f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SX3-HS9I0M8/T04gceoOTMI/AAAAAAAACHQ/Ji6rkdQAurU/s1600/earrings21056f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SX3-HS9I0M8/T04gceoOTMI/AAAAAAAACHQ/Ji6rkdQAurU/s320/earrings21056f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-17901781278663441392012-02-17T17:05:00.000+00:002012-02-17T17:05:02.074+00:00Trying to think a little differentlyIt's all too easy sometimes to just pop nice beads onto a hand crafted headpin and make them into simple earrings, so I've been trying to think lately about different approaches to beaded earrings and other jewellery items.<br />
<br />
Sometimes with a design the metalwork is the main feature, accented with beads to add colour or interest, sometimes a gorgeous bead needs little to detract from it and is best left simple and sometimes, a bit of fancy metalwork can lift otherwise fairly ordinary beads into something a bit more special, where both bead and metalwork compliment each other in an equal balance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wb50CxOIgkY/Tz6DePdL25I/AAAAAAAACFY/ipV76y7lC0A/s1600/earrings20519f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wb50CxOIgkY/Tz6DePdL25I/AAAAAAAACFY/ipV76y7lC0A/s320/earrings20519f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
That was how it was this last week. In a recent move round of my materials (a.k.a. a vain and largely hopeless attempt to be more organised and tidy), I rediscovered all sorts of materials I hadn't seen in a while. They had perhaps slipped my mind because they weren't that exciting - but they certainly had potential (and seemed all the more exciting for not seeing them for a while) and I wanted to try them in a recent design that featured more metal, where a modest looking bead works best. If you have something detailed or gorgeous, you don't want it competing too heavily with its supporting metalwork. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LokScnKTW7M/Tz6DaCD1pzI/AAAAAAAACFQ/GtuSo9rE_GE/s1600/earrings20475f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LokScnKTW7M/Tz6DaCD1pzI/AAAAAAAACFQ/GtuSo9rE_GE/s320/earrings20475f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I made three pairs of copper earrings to the same design, one each featuring Green Jasper beads, Brown Swirl Jasper and Red Flower Marble. The earrings feature a hammered paddle pin and spiral wrapping around the bead and terminating in a wrap around the paddle. I was really happy at how they turned out, the beads worked ideally with that treatment and the oxidised Brown Swirl pair are already winging their way off to sunny California.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-Mo7K4zDko/Tz6E4sL1v0I/AAAAAAAACFg/wcJjJ-Tk7Cw/s1600/earrings20530f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-Mo7K4zDko/Tz6E4sL1v0I/AAAAAAAACFg/wcJjJ-Tk7Cw/s320/earrings20530f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xru11UHQ9FU/Tz6FtxVpoWI/AAAAAAAACFo/vh1selOCR3Y/s1600/earrings20480f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xru11UHQ9FU/Tz6FtxVpoWI/AAAAAAAACFo/vh1selOCR3Y/s320/earrings20480f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
During my re-acquaintance with these past treasures, I also found some large oval beads in Mustard Jasper that I was never quite sure what to do with. I started thinking about shapes and different types of potential 'headpin' or mounting for the stones and decided to try a design that I use with smaller ovals for earrings - using a hammered leaf spiral bent over the face of the stone to keep it in place. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqcyVpKPnQ4/Tz6HPPrFyoI/AAAAAAAACFw/GRqhA8p9U34/s1600/necklace20546f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqcyVpKPnQ4/Tz6HPPrFyoI/AAAAAAAACFw/GRqhA8p9U34/s320/necklace20546f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I did almost come unstuck, as I wanted a chunky feature spiral on the front, but didn't initially check that the gauge of wire that I wanted to use would actually go through the holes in the beads. Thankfully, one stone in the batch did have a large enough hole, so my efforts to make the initial spiral weren't actually in vain. I'd like to make some more like this, so will need to ream the holes a little larger first. This is an especially robustly patterned stone, which I think looks like splodges of paint in a modern abstract painting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cyynuoYWaAw/Tz6Hah48qlI/AAAAAAAACF4/P8WiUt0vx9Y/s1600/necklace20557f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cyynuoYWaAw/Tz6Hah48qlI/AAAAAAAACF4/P8WiUt0vx9Y/s320/necklace20557f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4529673776099823330.post-1464933221268390442012-02-12T16:03:00.011+00:002012-02-12T21:11:12.322+00:00Birthday walks and extreme picnicingMy husband's boss called it infantile - that he wanted the day off for his birthday this last week - "what are you; 12 years old, that you want a day off on your birthday?" he laughed. It's something we've always done, try to take a day holiday for birthdays so that we can get to spend it doing something nice.<br /><br />We're not terribly adventurous in this regard, but it is nice to spend the whole day doing something that you choose, without feeling the need to get on with chores or meet commitments. Unless you're actually away on holiday, probably not many of us actually spend days just doing what we want, so it's a nice and much appreciated treat when we do - and all the more enjoyable for it.<br /><br />When it was my own birthday in January, we had intended doing the same, but the weather was about as horrid as it ever gets and we were both laid very low with a terrible cough, so just decided not to squander a valuable day when we weren't fit to fully appreciate it and it just wasn't suitable to be outside.<br /><br />So this week, when it was Mr Boo's birthday, it happily fell on the most perfect winter day - deep clear blue sky (albeit starting foggy) and very crisp cold air. The snow of the previous weekend was still lying and frozen solid, so it wasn't good underfoot, but we were determined to make the most of it and headed off to one of our favourite spots, with a picnic packed, including hot soup, freshly baked bread and pots of birthday sherry trifle that I made the evening before.<br /><br />The area we visited had less snow, so although the ground was clearly very, very cold and walking on rutted mud that's frozen solid is an odd sensation, the going was pretty good and we wrapped up in many warm layers, opened an air activated hand warmer and managed a decent walk. It's always a treat to get out mid-week at this time of year as you often have the place to yourself and we only passed a few other 'mature' couples walking dogs or spending their days off doing the same as we were. So it was especially enjoyable and very peaceful.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Please click on any of the photographs for a larger view.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Blogger has changed the way images are displayed, so if you want to see them in the large size I'd prepared, your browser may allow you to right click the photos and choose to open them in a separate tab or window.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdzRruKkWEo/TzfrDsN2B7I/AAAAAAAACEw/9cghkFBHP7A/s1600/beaconfell_2118h.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 305px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdzRruKkWEo/TzfrDsN2B7I/AAAAAAAACEw/9cghkFBHP7A/s320/beaconfell_2118h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708289501356754866" border="0" /></a>The cold did deter me from much photography as my hands were incredibly cold, despite the hand warmer and thick ski gauntlets, so I don't have much to show for the day. But as I've posted often, I do have a passion for the sight of sunlight through trees and occasionally it caught some of the lifting mist, highlighting the shafts of sunlight.<br /><br />It's much easier to see in person than it is to capture well in a photograph, the light is much too subtle to freeze in a split second, but hand holding the camera I couldn't really allow a slow enough shutter speed to do it justice. But they're probably enough to show why it was such a lovely and enjoyable day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rj7Su9zGkcE/TzfrQpnXwUI/AAAAAAAACE8/P2uArji0OT0/s1600/beaconfell_2125h.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rj7Su9zGkcE/TzfrQpnXwUI/AAAAAAAACE8/P2uArji0OT0/s320/beaconfell_2125h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708289723996815682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtWGpXmU374/TzfpYXA4gCI/AAAAAAAACEk/UrlyjkB5iVg/s1600/beaconfell_2113hpano.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 95px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtWGpXmU374/TzfpYXA4gCI/AAAAAAAACEk/UrlyjkB5iVg/s320/beaconfell_2113hpano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708287657419243554" border="0" /></a>I decided to have a tinker with the camera's built in panorama feature. I love taking panos, but usually take my own frames and stitch it myself, but the camera has the ability to take 120, 180 and 360 degree panos (in any direction) - giving rise to a reduced resolution but pre-stitched and finished image. It was too cold for messing to take my own frames, so I mounted the camera on the tripod screw my father added to my walking pole and just spun it round slowly to take this 120 degree frame of the woodland. The resulting image was rather poor quality at pixel level and almost entirely lacking in colour, but with a little work, I made something acceptable from it, although it isn't good enough quality for anything further than viewing at this scale.<br /><br />We relocated the car a couple of times during the day to enjoy the best light and views and as sunset approached we settled in one of our favourite laybys to catch the sun setting over the Fylde coast (Lancashire England) and we had a little snooze in the car before heading back. As darkness drew in, the light went very cold and the atmosphere grew misty again and diffused the last rays of light from the sunset, leaving these three closest trees in relief against the mist and pastel coloured sky. Not a bad way to end a lovely day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUNU9CoU1_g/TzftL5ZKJDI/AAAAAAAACFI/HY4Izs7sv50/s1600/beaconfell_2131h.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUNU9CoU1_g/TzftL5ZKJDI/AAAAAAAACFI/HY4Izs7sv50/s320/beaconfell_2131h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708291841356080178" border="0" /></a>Boo's Jewelleryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654353981694507551noreply@blogger.com2