Back when I first started making jewellery, there were no tutorials online – no pinterest, no craftsy, no jewelrylessons.com. So when I wanted to make a ring, I had to sort of figure it out myself. And what I came up with was pretty neat – a base with beads “sewn” on top: I’ve sold …
I purchased a small fistful of these tiny watch parts one time because I couldn’t help but think they’d make perfect bird heads. Today the muse hit to give it a go! I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted it to go, but first, I traced the watch part – doesn’t it …
Craftsy.com has blogged my Wire-Wrap Beach Glass tutorial as one of their favourite free patterns! Read all about it here.
Earlier in the week I was planning my studio time. All previous projects have been complete and are off the bench, and I was musing aloud about what I could work on next. My very clever husband suggested I “get back to my roots” and pull out some gemstones and silver wire. And oh boy …
About a million years ago, when I was working out the gemstone combinations for my Focus line, I drew this Chakra necklace idea: Today I turned it into this! Top to bottom… Amethyst, Iolite, Aquamarine, Seraphinite, Amber, Carnelian, Garnet, and Onyx Fun so far!
Today I’ve been having fun with copper and oxidation. First, I created some earrings out of non-non-tarnish wire (bare copper!). Next, I prepared a solution of Liver of Sulfur and dumped all my shiny pretty earrings into it. They instantly turned black! But that’s OK, that’s the point: Next, I gathered some supplies – my …
I was lucky enough to be in attendance at the first day of the first annual Growing a Creative Economy conference, hosted by the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, earlier this week. The first day had several excellent speakers, and I came away with an actionable list of things I can do to …
One night while browsing Etsy I discovered that you can get filigree blanks that are much larger than what I normally work with. I simply HAD to have them. I got a nice shipment of various shapes and then went to town with my Gilder’s Paste. This is a waxy kind of goo that you …
Guess what? There’s a craft market this weekend! It’s always worth a look so I thought I’d give you the heads up. This year I got ALL of my shopping done at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design on Charlotte St. … no, really! It was so easy, and affordable too, and I know …
My whole weekend has been consumed by bare copper (weird for me not to use non-tarnish wire!), chasing hammers, sea sediment jasper, liver of sulfur, dremel collets, and the new ceramic tile which I’m really enjoying as a photo background. I’ve never done this before but I LOVE it. Liver of Sulfur is this goop you …
I had a moment of clarity yesterday that has helped me narrow down and organize the types of jewellery I’m making. I was able to group my work into collections and break the collections down into types, which allowed me to see where I’m wasting energy and where I’m missing out. The exercise helped me …
I’ve been sculpting in polymer clay for a long, long time – before there was much online to help folks out. Recently I’ve been digging into it again and loving it! I even signed up for the Metal Clay class at Craftsy.com just today… can’t wait to find some time for it. But meanwhile, here’s …
You ever get new materials and then have to wait until you have time to play? And then MORE new materials come in, and you still can’t get to them… and it builds up until you end up combining them all at once into some crazy conglomerate project? Well, that’s how these pendants came into …
I’m getting married! In twelve days! Here’s what I’m working on to wear that day :) It’s not exactly finished yet, I don’t think… but maybe it is? I’m not sure! I feel like it needs more metal. That large centrepiece is a pair of bracelets pulled onto the hand-made neckwire using flat aluminum wire, …
I’ve added an index of tutorials to this site; you can catch them all at the link at the top or click here to view all the tutorials (so far!).
This tutorial riffs off the last one. It’s twist based so if you can wrap beach glass the way I showed you, you can make these earrings! Enjoy :)
I’m still working in the studio to get ready for the Home to Roost exhibition… at first I wasn’t digging the fact that I only had time to work on birds, and only birds… but this week I started to get really into it! Check out these wire tributes to the peacock feather: Meanwhile, polymer …
My Arts North end-of-season inventory is back, and I’m pleased to discover that I now have twice as many rings as I thought I had, and nearly twice as many earrings. Phew! This is good, because I woke up this morning realizing this is my last full weekend of production, and before I’d gotten out …
Some folks have been asking where to buy my jewellery this year. Here’s the list! Centre 200 Christmas Craft Fair Friday, November 11: 2pm – 9pm Saturday, November 12: 10am – 8pm Sunday, November 13: Noon – 5pm Holiday Spirit at Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design Tentative schedule: Private Shopping Party, Thursday, December …
For the first time in 3 years, I got my little behind to the NS Gem & Mineral Show. I went completely bonkers and oh boy am I glad I did! Check out the colour on that aquamarine! The deep blue apatite! the brilliant yellow citrine, the peridot… oh man I’m excited. I have been …