It’s been crazy-go-nuts around here for a while now, with the Christmas Loft craft show looming very closely ahead and all. Hope to see you there if you’re local!
Also, the Etsy shop will be closing down for a few days during the show (Nov 25-28 at least) so I can bring as much inventory as possible with me…. so if you’ve got your eye on something, I suggest you snap it up, because it might sell at the craft fair! The good news is, lots of new things will be up in the shop shortly afterward, and every week all winter as well!
Another quick update… these are the clay nautilus shells I made with watch parts embedded. Kinda cool, but a little clunky to wrap. I like the circles better (more photos later)…
I’m pre-loading a large jewellery display even as I make items, which was dumb because I forgot to photograph them individually first, but smart because it’s saved me at least an hour of setup on show day. What this means for you is, only group shots for the rest of the week.
This came out of NOWHERE. I realized early this afternoon that I was finished all of the work I’d put out for myself for this show. Now what?! I looked around aimlessly for a little while and decided to take my older pieces and start marking them down for the sale box. In the middle of the pile was a single bracelet, an old design I haven’t tried for years.
I tossed aside the older work and started working on bracelets!
I tried two in the old style but really didn’t care for how they were working out, so I tried something new – a 4-strand braid.
I’ve had the 4-strand braid on my mind for a while as the next possible tutorial – it’s really useful for wrapping large, flat stones such as agate slices – but it suddenly occurred to me that it might work really well as the basis for a bracelet, especially if I hammered it. The first couple were a little wobbly but I got into the groove pretty quickly and voila! Lovin’ it!
Only time for a couple of quick updates this week… I took a peek at the calendar and apparently the show is in a week and a half! After my heart started back up again, I realized that I’m actually more than prepared for this… dozens of earrings, rings, beach glass and coal pendants, lots of steampunk (although they keep selling on Etsy, I still have a few dozen left), a bit of polymer clay/steampunk, some great gemstone cabochons, a few little surprises, and my big box of clearance items. That was sort of a mental inventory for my own benefit, but I figure you might like to know too :)
Beach glass, or sea glass, is one of the prettiest pieces of garbage you’ll ever see. I am lucky to live on Cape Breton Island in the Atlantic Ocean and I’m able to collect my own beach glass. If you aren’t so lucky, you can buy them on Ebay. This technique also works for any flat, irregular object.
This is my first tutorial & it’s super duper long, because I had trouble taking out any steps. If it’s any help, I shot a video, too! I thought it would help explain the photos by watching me create something start to finish. Also, it was hard to get the photos while also working with both hands. So you get both!
A book of art nouveau designs caught my eye as I was passing the bookshelf in my downstairs hallway on the way to the studio so I grabbed it and brought it down with me. Flipping through was pretty inspiring so I grabbed a heavy-gauge wire and my hammer! There’s minimal bling on this one because the design itself should be the focus. I used a bit of grosgrain ribbon for the rest of the necklace.
One of a kind wire-wrapped jewellery handmade by Cape Breton artist Gayle Bird. Look for silver wire, labradorite, beach glass, gemstones, glass, beads, and a unique style.
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