Resizing a bangle.

Hooly Dooly, I can't believe it's been so long since I last wrote! Time has been going very quickly around here. Is it just me or does Winter seem to inch past at snail's pace and then all of a sudden you're in a rush as it gets warmer? Anyway...

A few weeks ago I had an order for some bangles I stock in my little store on Madeit.
But I had to resize them down quite a bit. No problems :) and because I love what I do, I figured I'd take some pics of the process to share....

The bangles in question before resizing.

A couple of sums to work out how much of the silver has to be removed. Because it's a bangle and the sizing can vary a little, having the lovely customer trace around the inside of one of her favourite bangles and send the drawing to me was an easy way to find out what size to make it. She had no time to go to a jeweller and sometimes people measure incorrectly by accident so this was the easiest way for me. I would NEVER try this with a ring resizing, even if you get it wrong by only a millimetre you would get it very wrong indeed!

After cutting out the excess metal, the bangle must be soldered back together. Here I've had to use my mesh to keep the bangle from pinging apart when it heats up...I suspect someone (anyone of 3 family members could be guilty here) has pinched my wire!! What a rotter! Anyway, you can see the solder joint and the mesh worked fine :)

So a quick file to smooth the inside of the solder joint because when I put it on the mandrel to make it round again I don't want any spurs to dent the mandrel.

The wonky bangle ready for the mandrel.

Onto the mandrel to be whacked into shape with my old and trusty nylon mallet.

A bit of a whack to flatten it out, followed by some more filing and emery paper to give it the brushed satiny look I love so much.

The end products. They fit perfectly by the way :)

I love what I do!

Handmade Drool-Worthy Home Things

A short stroll through the furniture pages of Etsy has me lusting after so many things! Here are a few awesome pieces I came across. It's just mindblowing how much creative talent there is out there. Kinda inspirational don't you think?

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Leonie x

Above: The Holy Card Cabinet jefieldco http://www.etsy.com/listing/44442467/holy-card-cabinet?ref=cat2_gallery_10

So unique! I love the quirkiness of this lovely marine coloured cabinet covered in Holy Cards.

Above: Thrublock Wall Mounted Modular Shelving System in Small by wuda http://www.etsy.com/listing/47598139/thru-block-wall-mounted-modular-shelving

I love the cleverness of this beautiful shelving unit. Just goes to show that thoughtful and practical can be stunning!

Above: Vintage Bus Banner Number 2 by Sandymill

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51998665/vintage-bus-banner-number-2?ref=cat1_gallery_9

I know there has been such a popular rush on these for decorating but I still think one would look great on my wall!

Above: 3 Rock on Heavy Metal Silverware Coat Hooks by jjevensen

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51998665/vintage-bus-banner-number-2?ref=cat1_gallery_9

How great are these?! Also available in groovy Peace signs.

Above: Incurvo Rocker Maple by ruppeldesign

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51998665/vintage-bus-banner-number-2?ref=cat1_gallery_9

I think this is one of the most beautiful pieces of woodwork I have ever seen. So elegant!

Above: Seward Handmade Solid Walnut with Cherry Accents Table by blackelm
http://www.etsy.com/listing/12653219/seward-handmade-solid-walnut-with-cherry?ref=cat1_gallery_2

Another gorgeous piece of quality handmade furniture.

My push for handmade.

Apples to Apples Crayon Roll by Cottage on the Coast. You can find this on Etsy.

Today is the start of many toy sales around Australia. You know the kind - no deposit layby till Christmas Eve, big discounts on whatever trend in children's brands is happening now. Every year I get caught up in the rush and desperation for a bargain. Every year I layby probably far too many toys for my two children. Most importantly though, every year I think I'm doing The Right Thing - my children will be tickled pink with their new, shiny, plastic, expensive toys when they unwrap them (I imagine the joy on their little faces!), not to mention the excitement over the myriad of accessories that accompany their new favourite thing (that will invariably drop to the bottom of the toy box quicker than New Year's Eve rolls around). And so I leave the department store with a lighter wallet, exhausted from crowd-battling and with a thumping headache brought about by rapid decision-making BUT absolutely sure my children will have a magical Christmas morning, one they'll remember for years to come.

But, do you know what happens every week before Christmas? I have to return to the department store where I spent so much time selecting perfect presents only to have to claim a refund on most of them as soon as I collect them from layby! Why? Because in the 6 months between the July sales and Christmas morning my gorgeous ratbags have changed their minds about what is cool and fun of course!

Not this year.

This little black duck is leaving the department store sales alone and looking for gifts that will entertain fickle children for longer than the shiny, plastic, branded toys. I'm going to do my best to buy at least half of my children's stocking contents from craftspeople. Not only will I be doing my family a favour but I'll also be supporting handmade which is very important to me.

So here is the point of this long entry (the first bit was just a bit of a rant really :) )- If we all look to handmade when we look for gifts we would be supporting so many people! Online you could try heading to madeit or Etsy or visit a market where local arty types are sharing their precious things, lovely toys, beautiful clothes, baby goodies, art, pottery, sculpture, food, produce, flowers, plants, there's far too much out there to list. Think of the great community we'd be building and don't forget to compliment the stall/store/site owner if you like what you see. It's all the encouragement we need.

Lovely Madeit Paper Picks

I've decided that once a week I'm going to blog about 5 things I love out there in Handmade Land. Today I've selected from Madeit, an entirely Australian (go Aussies!) handmade website that showcases so many talented designers and crafters.

The theme for the day is Made from Paper. I've put a link under each pic so please feel free to check out all the lovely talent and maybe do a spot of shopping.

Enjoy!

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=104743
This gorgeous hairpin is made by Tahlia Jane.

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=108787
Beautiful handmade White Magnolia Journal - who could go without one of these? Visit Nothing Sketchy for more beautiful Journals.

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=92587
Helsinki Afternoon August 1969 Giclee Print by Inalux. A gorgeous store, it can't fail to cheer you up in this cold weather.

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=99230

Storybook Stickers - Set 1 by Shelbyville. Lovely images I know I could find a use for. Hmmm, maybe gift cards, miniature frames, decorate my guitar, lunchbox...the list goes on and on.

http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=103516

3 Girls and a Goat make these lovely envelopes for notecards. All of their stationary is to die for!

Have a Fantastic Day!

Venturing out...

I have big plans today.
Namely to make contact with the exciting world of Lapidary.
Since I have been geographically separated from my Goldsmith School I can no longer breeze in and buy my supplies from them, so I need to find another source. I asked around and word on the street is the Lapidary Club is the place to go. Much to my absolute delight I also found that they conduct Silversmith lessons and have BIG equipment that makes my heart flutter!! Joy!
I'm expecting my head to be bursting with new ideas very shortly...
Keep posted!

Oh My Giddy Aunt (or suchlike)!

Wow. Here I am being featured on the Madeit blog...
http://madeitdotcomdotau.blogspot.com/
Hurrah!
I feel so famous right now :)

New Things! New Things!

Sometimes it can be really difficult to sell the things you make...

These are now in the madeit store (click on the link to view the store :)) A couple of resin rings with lux things lining the bottom and another O necklace, this time with a pearl (thankyou Ladyfinger!)

And... it's the day before the Anzac Day long weekend so we're getting very excited that for once I won't be working it and we can spend the weekend together. Well sort of. The boys are off tomorrow for a hair-raising lap in a rally car and some bonding time at the amusement arcade and us girls are free as birds to do whatever we like - hooray!! - then awake early for an Anzac Parade on Sunday and Monday with friends. Blisstastic!!

Have a great long weekend, I know I will!

A Gorgeous Sunday!

A few months ago my Mother-in-law (M-i-l from here on in) told me of some smithing gear needing a new home. Its owner had sadly passed away and now no-one needed the equipment. Would I be interested? Would I ever!! Anyone who knows how expensive tools and supplies can be (aren't all hobbies?!) will appreciate that I was very enthusiastic to supply a loving home and many more years of good use to this equipment. So yesterday, filled with anticipation, M-i-l, my 3 year old daughter and I set off for Kilcoy to collect the equipment and lunch with the lady (the silversmith's daughter) who so very kindly offered it to me.

Now, I must explain a few things about the amazing woman who has passed away. I learnt a little bit about her from her daughter yesterday. Her name was Phyllis and by all accounts was a fabulous clothing designer, potter, painter and silversmith. I was fortunate enough to admire some of her wonderful work as her amazing, huge paintings cover many walls in her daughter's Queenslander, and we ate lunch from a big fired pottery tabletop depicting Neptune and his harpies dragging an unfortunate victim to the bottom of the sea. How amazing! I was surrounded by so much creativity and real art, it was like my head was on a swivel trying to take everything in, and this was only a small slice of Phyllis' life work. Amazing.

Her daughter and our host, Helen is equally talented. She is a weaver and creates the most amazing, luxurious textiles from silk and linen thread on her loom. She also designs sensational garments and displays them in an art gallery in Melbourne. I was lucky enough to see some of her work too - the softest, loveliest fabric I think I've ever touched!

I've come away from our great day in Kilcoy feeling really inspired and lucky to have met these great ladies. I also feel glad that I took my little daughter and showed her the impressive things that creative women can do. She had a ball finding all the hidden pottery in the garden and learning to look closely to find the beauty that exists in detail. And what is also extremely amazing to me is being the recipient of not only some tools of a great artist but also some of her work. Helen has so very, very generously given me pieces of her mother's silver work from the 70's. I've photo-ed some of them for you to see. The scarab ring and necklace were made for Helen by her mother. The scarabs came home with Helen in the late 70's from the London Museum.

So today I'm feeling very grateful, very loved and just itching to get making!

Hint of Things to Come

This last week has been particularly busy, especially with school holidays upon us, but I have managed to find a great, steady metal supplier who sells only 100% recycled Australian silver. This means a lot to me so I'm really excited! Basically, they buy back scrap silver from hobbyists and jewellers, and combine it with the by-product silver that is collected from photograph processing recovery machines and mill it to create a high quality sterling silver. This means no silver from mines anywhere, anyhow! Fantastic! I have placed a nice order so am looking forward to my package in the mail and getting back to the bench.
A few designs are afoot including a beautiful ring set with leather and some more little bricks rings(by popular demand yay!).
That's all for today, but you can look forward to some nice pics of the new pretties very soon!
Have a great day!

Ring Making

I finally dragged my ring mandrel out of the dark depths of it's drawer and put it to good use. Here are some pics of the making of my Little Bricks stacking rings (which are for sale in the madeit store :)

This first pic below shows the metal after it's been cut to size and soldered to form the rough rings. I'm starting to file off the rough bits left over from the solder.

After the filing the ring goes onto the mandrel to be whacked into a perfect round shape. I then used the chisel end of the hammer to give it a good texture (also fantastic for taking out any frustrations!).

Then here it is, round but still a bit too rough.

A good rub over with 2 grades of emery paper and some strategic filing marks to pretty it up. I like texture and this is really evident in my jewellery - things need to feel beautiful as well as look beautiful.

Now to cut out the little brick shapes. I have a sheet that I've already patterned with a chasing tool so I measure and cut my shapes, then file them till they're perfect.

Next I have to solder the little bricks to the shanks... apply the flux, light the torch, a bit of fiddly tweezer work and voila!

A quick dip in the pickle to clean off any impurities, a scrub with a wire brush and there you have the finished product - Little Bricks Stacking or Sharing Rings.

Little Patterns.

I've recently discovered sewing. Due in huge part to the gorgeous variety of fabrics available and the neverending amount of fantastic vintage ones at my local op shops. So, having been gifted with a rather awesome sewing machine and lots of encouragement from the sewers I know, I have bought some great epatterns from some very talented people on Etsy. For those not in the know about these things, epatterns are the best way I've found to buy cute, original designs with tutorials for the beginner. All you do is choose your pattern, pay (a very small price I have to say) and then print as per emailed instructions. It couldn't be easier! I've already whipped up little trousers (so easy I've made pairs for friends' children) and a rather fab reversible dress which I made out of an old denim skirt and scraps of quilting fabric! I'm going to try to use as much repurposed fabric as I can, partly because there's so much cool stuff out there but mainly because I think why waste it? I think the Holy Grail for me is funky vintage linen in a good state.
A far cry from 3 broken sewing machines in Grade 11 Home-Ec...now I just have to find the time to squeeze in more making :)

Photos, Fantastic Photos!

So,
Ollie had his cross-country this morning at school and was overjoyed to not come last. In fact, his last week of training (sweaty, wheezy wii jogging) netted him 6th last. A massive achievement for my decidedly unsporty little guy! Big celebrations tonight with a special occassion spag bog! Hoorah!!
Yesterday I completed some more jewellery for madeit and here are some pics I took today.
They are mainly bracelets inspired by my collecting loads of odd beads. All of which I loved but had no idea what to do with until now. I liked the way they all looked when they were grouped together in the bead boxes - complimenting and clashing, loads of random energy - so I put them onto wire and wired them onto rolo chain, a bit of soldering, add a clasp and voila!
Also some lovely lemon quartz dropping from long silver hooks and a very funky yellow wooden cube necklace with silver balls. Not sure how I'm going to part with that one...love it like a child!