Playing with Snow

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Happy Christmas Eve

Last week I had fun with some old coffee bottles making snow globes.  After spending hours on the internet looking for How-to instructions (the liquid’s ingredients are key to getting the snow to “fall” properly), and finding most of them sorely lacking in useful details, an awful lot of trial and error followed! However, I am so happy with the results: I have used miniature cake toppers, made of either resin or plastic, because they are the most cost effective and have the most designs. With water, glucose, glitter and glue they have come to life and I just love them, they make me smile – what more can you ask for?

Well, we have made it through another year and this is the last post of 2018.  I will be taking a short break to have fun in the cold with family and friends, so I will speak to you all in 2019. Have a happy and healthy holiday season!

Jo  x

A Reindeer for Christmas

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Morning Everyone

While at one of the many Christmas Fairs I have attended recently, a friend and fellow crafter was showing me some reindeer connectors that she had.  I coerced her into letting me buy two from her, so this week I have had some fun making them into necklaces.

The first I painted its face and just popped it onto a chain.  For the second one I glittered the antlers and then made a rosary link chain of white shell pearl and red quartz, with ear rings to match. 

I was very pleased with the result so let me know what you think.

Jo  x

Reindeer Painted and Chained

rosary link chain of white shell pearl and red quartz

Christmas Night Lights

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Good Morning

This last week I have been playing with some new ideas and one of them is Christmas night lights. After some false starts I am very pleased with the results.  Unfortunately, as you will see below, they are very disappointing in daylight but really come into their own when the sun is down.

I created three types: a reindeer, a Christmas tree and, of course, Santa.  I think they would be great for a children’s bedside light as they use an electric tea light, but also look great on the mantel or in the window.

I also had my last Christmas Fairs of the season over the weekend so if you attended the Douglas Christmas Fair, very big and great fun, then I hope you had a good time and found lots of gifts for friends, family and ,of course, yourself.

Jo  x

Christmas Fun

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Hi all

With three Christmas Fairs to go until the end of the crafting season for 2018, I have been making some fun seasonal jewellery.  They are bracelets and ear rings with bells and snowflakes in a small variety of charms.  I think they are sweet and fun to wear and I will be wearing some of them to my Christmas Party in the next couple of weeks.

If you were at St Cath’s on Saturday (with the torrential rain!) then I hope you found something to take home and, if you stayed in the dry at home, I hope you were doing something fun!

I would love to see what you are making for the holiday season, so just drop me a note and let me know.

 

Jo  x

Snowflake Spacers and Rondelle Spacers

Bells & Charms

Pure Charms

St Cath’s Christmas Fair

Victorian Lantern

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Hi all

This week I had a lot of fun making a Victorian Lantern as the centre piece for my Christmas Fair stall last Saturday.  The pattern was from Dreaming Tree which you can find on line, it took quite a bit of paper but I think it was well worth the time and effort to construct. I used grey card for the base and some art deco silver, grey and white paper with lots and lots of rhinestones to decorate.

I took the lantern to Saturday’s Christmas Fair at Laxey and it was the very first piece which sold, so I guess someone else liked it too!

I hope you are having a great time getting ready for Christmas and I would love to see what you are making, so just drop me a note and let me know.

 

Jo  x

Glorious Victorian Lantern

Laxey Christmas Fair

Fancy Flamingos

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 Morning Everyone

Getting ready for so many Christmas Fairs is quite daunting, so I have been trying to get some jewellery done that is mostly quick but not too expensive and at the same time fun.

So the first pieces I have made are some flamingo charms that I had in my stash.  They came in two sizes and two colours; both are base metal and covered in flash silver or gold.  I liked them but thought they needed a little something so I have used some nail polish, in four shades, to give them some colour.  I am quite impressed with the result and I hope that you are too.

 

Let me know what you think and what you are making - please do get in touch.

Jo  x

Christmas Wine Bottle Wraps

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Hey, good morning

I hope you remember my Halloween wine bottle wraps because I found one for Christmas! It is the cutest penguin I have seen in a while. I think that they look good and what could be nicer then dropping in on a friend or relative with a bottle of cheer for the holidays looking like this?  

The fair at St John’s Methodist Hall for the Motor Neurone Disease Association went well so, if you called in, I hope you managed to find something to take home with you.

 

I always enjoy your comments on what I am making, so please do get in touch.

Jo  x

Super Cutie

Motor Neurone Disease Association Christmas Fair 

Sea Glass

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Morning everyone

Last week I finished a jewellery commission - to capture a small piece of lovely blue sea glass.  The glass was found locally on the beach by a gentleman, and his wife asked me to make it into a pendent leaving as much glass on display as possible.  I have caged it in silver plated wire, kept the weave very simple and finished it with a lovely sterling silver bale.

I am very pleased with the results and the clients seemed to like it too.

Don’t forget on the 10^th of November I will be at St Johns Methodist Hall for the Motor Neurone Disease Association Christmas Fair 2018, maybe I’ll see you there.

 

I always enjoy your comments on what I am making, so please do get in touch.

Jo  x

Chinese Lanterns for Christmas

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Hi Everyone

Over the last week or so, I have been working on three lovely Chinese lanterns which are for a Christmas commission. The client has chosen the papers but I have chosen the colours for the body of the lantern. I am very pleased with the results and I am sure that when the client receives the lanterns they will be happy too.

On the 10^th of November I will be at my first Christmas Fair of 2018.  This will be for the Motor Neurone Disease association and will be held at St Johns Methodist Hall, maybe I’ll see you there.

 

I always enjoy your comments on what I am making, so please do get in touch.

Jo  x

By Day & Night

Quick Creations

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Good morning all

I have been off island this week so only had time for some quick creations but I think some very effective ones - a set of jewellery for the minimalists among us, using just memory wire and lovely grey shell pearls.

The ring and ear rings have had silver hearts added but the bracelet is only pearls.  I was unsure whether they would be durable enough to wear for any length of time so I asked a friend who is a hairdresser to trial them for me, and they didn’t give any issues so I guess they are good to go on the Christmas stalls!

 

I hope you are having fun and, if you have any comments on what I am making, then please do get in touch.

Jo  x

Wine Bottle Witch

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Hey morning

It is back to Halloween for me this week and I have just had loads of fun making these witch bottle covers - very handy if you are going to a party and want to be in the swing of things! They are quick to make and the pattern is free on ‘Dreaming Tree’ www.3dsvg.com which is even better.

I hope you are having fun and, if you have any comments on what I am making, then please do get in touch.

Jo  x

Day to Night

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Good Morning All

This week I have been threading some burnt orange with white line agate and, in between the beads of agate, I have put some moonstone so that you get a very nice shot of sparkle.  This necklace and ear rings set is both simple and elegant, and can be worn from day into night.

If you called in to see me at Port Erin on Saturday then I hope you found something to take home with you.  It was a lovely day and the other stall holders and I had fun.

If you have any comments on what I am making, then please do get in touch.

Jo  x

 Port Erin Halloween Craft Stall

Hop-Tu-Naa (Halloween) in a Bottle

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Hi Everyone

How exciting is this: only 30 days to Halloween, one of my favourite holidays.  I have been playing with jam jars again and this time I have made some Hop-Tu-Naa (Halloween) treats for your windows or, if you are brave, beside your beds!

These were time consuming but fun once I figured out what I wanted in the bottles and then I just played with sizes to get them in.  It took more time to paint everything matt black than anything else.

I will be at St Cath’s in Port Erin on Saturday so, if you are in the area, call in and say hi.

I would love to hear what you are making and, if you have any comments on what I am making, then please do get in touch.

Jo  x

Cabochon's

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Good morning

Looking through my stash, which is always a joy, I decided to make some easy to wear cabochon neck pieces for the coming winter season.  For one, I chose to go with a large blue and silver glass piece that looked best on a matching leather cord.  The other two cabochons are both dyed onyx: the first is navy and I have captured it in a wire ribbon and mounted on a twisted leather cord.  The second is deep purple and is mounted on a piece of purple and black kumihimo which matches its colour beautifully.

I think the simplicity of the necklaces sets them in good stead to be worn both with tee shirts or chunky jumpers for winter.

I would love to hear what you are making and, if you have any comments on what I am making, then please do get in touch.

Jo  x

large blue and silver glass piece on a matching leather cord

navy Onyx captured in wire ribbon and mounted on a twisted leather cord

deep purple Onyx is mounted on purple and black kumihimo

Sunshine Colours

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Hi Everyone

This week I have used a strand of multi coloured quartz shards with some lamp beads to make a very simple threaded necklace.  The piece is all about the colour and the warmth it gives to your skin when it is worn.

It makes me smile every time I look at it.

Let me know what you think as I’m always interested in your views.

Jo  x