Mill Lane Studio

Silver Creek Leather at CHA

2012-01-28T06:27:00.000+10:00

Somehow I managed to finish everything on my work table and get it all packed in time to leave for CHA on Friday morning. It's a strange thing: Friday was yesterday...... and yet I am now in LA and some 18 hours after leaving Brisbane, it is once again Friday...... and about the same time as it was when I left Brisbane. Ah, the wonders of crossing the international date line!

If you're lucky enough to be attending CHA (and I know there are a few of you out there), pop by the Silver Creek Leather booth (#1325) on the first day of the show (Sunday) from 1pm - 4pm whilst I'm demoing with the fabulous Real Leather Jewelry components and Sof-Suede Lace. You'll see how easy it is to weave a simple but elegant lattice bracelet even if you don't have any jewellery making skills.You've got to love a project like that!

And I have it on good authority that there is a bracelet kit to be given away, so do stop by for a look and discover this very clever and unique range of jewellery making components for yourself. I promise you, it will change the way you look at leather jewellery forever.

Now, I'm off a shopping excursion......I'll be back soon.

Happy Australia Day!

2012-01-26T11:52:00.000+10:00

I'm so excited! It's Australia Day and I'm actually IN Australia to celebrate it!

At this time of January I'm usually already in the US for Winter CHA but this year it starts just a little later and I'm still home in Brisbane.

So what could be a more Aussie way to celebrate Australia Day than with a barbie, a pavlova, some lamingtons and of course, some good friends. Yep, that's the menu at our place today. And we'll wash it all down with some Aussie wine and cold beer.

I still have bags to pack and work to complete in the studio but that can wait just a little bit longer.... I'm off to celebrate our national day!

Have a wonderful day Australia!

'Til next time......

Not All Shrink Plastic is the Same

2012-01-22T12:18:00.002+10:00

I am so impressed with the results I got using the printable shrink plastic for my tags that I wanted to show you how much better it is than regular pre-sanded shrink plastic.

You can see quite clearly the difference in printed quality. The top one is the one I printed last year on pre-sanded shrink plastic and the bottom one is the Grafix Inkjet Shrink Plastic.

But let's take a closer look.

Even though the pre-sanded shrink plastic can be run through an inkjet printer (and it did the job quite adequately!) but the ink bleeds if it gets any moisture on it and it has a definite blurriness about it.

Now let's look at the Grafix shrink plastic.

You can see how crisp and clear the printing is. It looks so much better than the pre-sanded shrink plastic.

So the difference in quality of the printing is quite obvious but let's take a look on the back of the two samples to see what other differences there are.

See how the type is reversed? You print on the reverse side of the pre-sanded plastic because the front is glossy. So there is an extra step you need to take before you run it through the printer - reversing your type!

Now let's look at the reverse of the Grafix shrink plastic.

This is the clear inkjet shrink plastic but it isn't really clear at all once it's shrunk; it has a frosted look about it. So if you wanted to, you could also place an image on the reverse.

Have I completely sold you on the Grafix Inkjet Shrink Plastic yet? It was a lot more expensive than regular shrink plastic at approximately $5/sheet after postage but I think the results speak for themselves!

'Til next time.....

More About Inkjet Shrink Plastic

2012-01-21T20:53:00.005+10:00

At 2.30am this morning as I was attaching the last of my shrink plastic charms I discovered a couple of the tags didn't have holes: one was only partially punched and the other missed getting punched altogether! Oh, dear, I desperately need to get to bed but not before I solve this problem.

Given that I had already wasted 2 sheets of this film from my pack of 6 sheets, there was none left to print off more so I really needed to use those last two tags. There was only one thing for it: drill the holes and hope that the plastic didn't shatter.

I decided to start on the one with the partial hole hoping that it would be less likely to crack. And to my relief, my little battery operated drill easily and cleanly drilled a 1mm hole without any damage to the tag at all.

Next I lined up the hole-less tag and drilled straight through that one as well. Success!

So all is not lost if you forget to punch the holes before you shrink, or even if you decide afterwards to add more charms to your "charm": just grab a drill and carefully drill the hole where you want it.

'Happy crafting!

Ever Get that Shrinking Feeling?

2012-01-20T11:51:00.000+10:00

It's back to the production line again today to finish off the last and most important item of my giveaways: my contact details!

I ordered some clear Grafix Inkjet Shrink Plastic from Over the Rainbow to use as tags on my jewellery giveaways because it's strong and durable. Plus, it looks like a little charm dangling from the chain so it does double duty as being both practical and aesthetically pleasing. The beauty of this product is that you can run it through your inkjet printer and there is NO sanding is required!

So let's take a look at the process.

According to the package instructions, it will shrink to between half and one third its original size and suggests that you make your items 50% bigger than the finished size. Armed with this information, I used a size 12 font to create my label and then printed it onto plain paper so that I could measure it against my template. It was exactly 50% bigger so I went ahead and printed it onto the shrink film. (More on this at the end of the post.)

And it printed beautifully; no smudging, no wet ink; just really clear, crisp type! I have to say that I am truly impressed with the printing.

So the next step is to trim. I've used deckled edged scissors so that I didn't have to be too precise with my cutting. I like the look it gives when the plastic has shrunk.

Before baking, it's important to punch any holes. You have to remember that the holes shrink too! I used a 3mm (1/16") hole punch.

And then it's into the oven.

In case you can't read it, the oven should be 170°C (approximately 350°F) and it will take about 3 minutes to shrink the plastic. Here's a really great tip I picked up from the Grafix website: put a piece of silicone baking paper over the top to help prevent the shrink plastic from curling up and sticking to itself. I know this takes all the fun out of watching it curl and shrink, but it really does work.

After about 3 minutes, you can remove them from the oven and run a rolling pin over the top layer of the silicone paper whilst the shrink plastic is still warm - this will flatten them out completely so they're ready to use in your project.

Along the way, I had a few little hitches to deal with.

The first was that my printer wouldn't accept the plastic because it was too thick to feed through. Luckily I was able to use a friend's inkjet printer.
The size 12 font I used on my practice run was too small and it was unreadable when it was shrunk. Take my advice and only print one label first; not a whole sheet!
The font I used on my second practice run was also too small. I should have taken my own advice........ I wasted another whole sheet! In the end, a size 16 font was the best size for my charms.

So now I have all my "charms" attached to my jewellery and I'm feeling a little bit better prepared. But I can't rest yet; there's still lots to do. And I can always sleep on the plane!

'Til next time.......

Sketching your Designs - A Lesson from Matisse

2012-01-19T00:17:00.000+10:00

I had the loveliest of outings on the weekend: a trip to GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art) in Brisbane to see the Matisse: Drawing Life exhibition.

It was quite insightful wandering through the rooms of the gallery studying his sketches: the thought and inspiration that went into each piece. There are very few finished art works in this exhibition but that's what it's all about: the preliminary sketches.

It is a great lesson to learn: even great artists don't just commit paint straight onto a canvas. And it is evident by the 300 odd sketches in the exhibition that Matisse sketched several preliminary drawings prior to putting anything on canvas. There is a great quote above one of the works which says:

"For this Enlévement d'Europe, which is perhaps my best canvas and in any case the one I care for most, I made more than three thousand sketches, yes, three thousand..."

So what does this mean for the rest of us who enjoy creating in our chosen medium?
We may not be budding Matisses, but perhaps it suggests that in order to create great art or great designs, we too should sketch our ideas first, before we commit ink to paper, bead to string or thread to fabric.

I have to admit that this is a foreign concept for me and I rarely draw my designs before I begin work. Mostly, my sketches are in my head (along with all my lists of things I have to do - it is cluttered in there and I need a better filing system!). I'm always so anxious to get started on my project that I hate to spend time committing my design to paper first. But perhaps it's not necessary to spend a great deal of time on the sketch. The thing that struck me most about Matisse's sketches was that many of them were nothing more than a few major shapes or outlines.

I am taking this lesson on board this year and will be trying to put it into practice on occasion, with the emphasis on "ON OCCASION" - a quasi New Year's Resolution. After succeeding spectacularly with this approach last year where I committed to procrastinating LESS, I've discovered something new about myself. My undisciplined, disorderly, and dare I say it, creative brain responds to this approach really well. So let's give it a go again this year and see how I fare.

'Til next time.......

A Mini Resin Exhibition at GoMA

2012-01-17T19:48:00.000+10:00

I was so excited when I walked into GoMA yesterday and this is what I spotted: a wall of resin platters by a little Aussie design company that you might have heard of: Dinosaur Designs. It was an absolute privilege to see these extraordinary pieces up close and personal.

Well I'm not sure if you'd call them platters because they stand well over a metre high. See that guy on the far right of the picture? He gives you a better idea of just how big these platters are.

Here's a couple of closer shots.

This one is my favourite because it reminds me of a resin pendant I made a couple of years back.

But it's not until you flip the pendant over that you see the similarities: the colours; the blending, and the swirl effect. It's striking, isn't it?

And yet, the two pieces are coloured using entirely different techniques: the colour in the platter is embedded in the resin whereas the colour in the pendant is a surface application. Still both results are stunning.

If you're a resin enthusiast and you happen to be in Brisbane any time this year, check out GoMA and the wonderful platters created by Dinosaur Designs. You will be pretty impressed.

'Til next time.....

Bead Shopping with a friend.... it can be dangerous on your wallet

2012-01-15T17:36:00.001+10:00

I had the great delight of corrupting one of my paper crafting friends yesterday..... I took her bead shopping! And what better introduction can you have than to go wholesale shopping in a bead showroom?

You should have seen her face when we walked into the room. To say she was completely overwhelmed would be an understatement but it didn't take long for the "I don't know where to start" expression to fade from her face and you could see the excitement begin to grow as she realised how much fun this was going to be.

It wasn't long before she was adding a strand of this and a strand of that to her basket...... she says I was a terrible influence on her!!

That may well be true. But she was a way worse influence on me......... I spent double my allocated budget for this event!!

It was more than 2 hours before we emerged from this beady wonderland, and we had a ball. After all, what girl doesn't like a good shop?

'Til next time....

Great Balls of Wire!

2012-01-11T20:44:00.000+10:00

My jewellery giveaways are progressing nicely since yesterday's post. But after assembling the beaded chain, I decided it needed a bit more razzle dazzle and I had just the thing in mind - coiled wire beads.

These Great Balls of Wire are made using the Coiling Gizmo. I've had this neat little gadget for quite some time but I hadn't used it before so this was the perfect opportunity.

To make your own balls of wire, you first need to create a coil following the instructions that come with the Coiling Gizmo. I've used the thinner mandrel and 28 gauge non tarnish silver wire for bright, shiny beads. It took about 3 metres (10 feet) of wire to make a coil the full length of the mandrel. From that I coiled about 7 beads.

Once you've made the coil, cut the anchor wire and slide the coil off the mandrel.

Unwind the first couple of coils and wrap the wire around a headpin.

Continue wrapping the coil around the headpin stretching it as you go.

Continue wrapping the wire back over itself.

This will help create a fuller bead with a rounded centre.

The bead should look something like this.

Now push the ends of the coil together squeezing the wire coils into each other. This will help make a firmer bead. You can also reshape the bead a little by pinching and rolling it between your fingers.

Use flat nose pliers to turn the headpin at a right angle. Trim the headpin to approximately 8-10mm.

Use the round nose pliers to turn a loop and the wire ball bead is ready to be incorporated into your project.

And here it is amongst all the pretty AB beads on my beaded chain.

Now I'm much happier with the way it looks.

If you'd like to make your own Great Balls of Wire, you can download the printable pdf version from the tutorials page at Mill Lane Studio.

Now, it's back to the production line for me - there is still much to do!

'Til next time.....

Production Line

2012-01-11T02:34:00.000+10:00

Prominently marked on my calendar in January is CHA - the Craft and Hobby Association's Winter Trade Show and Conference. It's an important event in the crafting world and it's where all the new crafting products are released. If you are ever offered the opportunity to go you should grab it with both hands and squeal with joy because being a crafter on the show floor is like being a kid in a candy store!

So, for me, January is a very busy time making preparations for the Show. This week I'm working on little giveaways for visitors to my Designer Showcase. It will take a whole week to create these little treasures and today you get to take a little peek at the progress I am making. The most efficient (and fastest) way to tackle a project like this is to set up a production line. So here goes.....

There are lots of loops to turn. It's a good thing I like turning loops!

I find it less tedious to do them in batches of 10. It also helps me keep count of how many I've done.

To make sure I don't leave out any components whilst I'm assembling, I line them up on the work table in little trays. Then I just pick what I need from each tray.

It's fiddly work attaching the beads to the chain but they're really pretty! A lot of people don't like using AB beads, but I LOVE them and they'll work especially well with this project!

Now you've seen the beads..... but to make it uniquely Mill Lane Studio, it has to include resin.

There's a lot of casting still to be done and with at least four layers on each piece, I will be casting for several more days. If all goes to plan, these will be finished by early next week and then once all the pieces are cured, I can start the job of final assembly.

I really want to show you the finished piece, but as always, these things have to stay under wraps. So instead, let me show you what I made for the last show back in July.

This is one of two different resin rings I made. What could be more fun than wearing a delicious, mouthwatering sundae on your finger? Cherry Sundae is such a fun piece!

And here's a shot of the second ring. I don't seem to have a clear close up of this ring so it's a bit difficult to see the detail in it. The Flamenco ring is elegant and striking (and it was also very popular!).

Perhaps by the time the show rolls around again in July I'll be able to show you the finished piece I'm working on at the moment. I hope you can wait that long.

More pics to come... hope you'll come back soon!

Testing, Testing......

2012-01-09T23:45:00.000+10:00

Somewhere between my last post and what seemed to be only yesterday, a whole week has escaped from me. This is not good considering it is only the second week of the year! My intention of showing you my newly decluttered benchtops has not come to fruition - mainly because I got sidetracked.

I know, I know, cleaning is such a satisfying task. It's hard to imagine that anything could divert your attention away from it.... right?

Did I just say satisfying? What I should have said was "challenging". I find it very difficult to keep on track when it comes to cleaning. In my last post, I told you about the standing joke in my family regarding my cleaning efforts. Their comments are truly justified.

But just what was I thinking when I started the New Year by cleaning up my studio? I'm sure you've heard the superstition that says whatever you do on the first day of the year you will keep doing all year long. Well I certainly don't plan to be cleaning the studio all year long. However, what I did next is something that I wouldn't mind doing all year..... I started playing with resin!

Have I ever told you how addictive working with resin is? If I haven't, let me shout it out....... WORKING WITH RESIN IS VERY ADDICTIVE!!! Once you start, you just don't want to stop. The pic above is testament to that.

To justify my lack of staying power in the clean up stakes, I keep telling myself that it really was necessary to play this much - after all, I WAS testing a new resin and I needed to see how well it would perform!

So those cluttered benchtops will have to wait for another day, maybe even another month but heaven help me, may it not be another year.

'Til next time......

Discard, Compact, Rearrange - it must be New Year!

2012-01-03T18:21:00.000+10:00

Oh, my, what a mess!

Today I decided to tackle my studio which is generally pretty tidy because I teach here regularly. But in an effort to free up all the under utilised bench tops in my studio, I have had to empty out my cupboards and then discard, compact and rearrange everything in them. These bench tops have not seen daylight for over 2 years and are covered with piles and piles of papers and crafting stuff - it's time to clear them away!

This is a major clean up and probably not the sort of job I should be tackling just weeks away from CHA, but once I started pulling things out of the cupboards, the cleaning and sorting took on a life of its own. But as for compacting everything to make some cupboard space, well, this photo is a part of the result.

There's a standing joke about my cleaning up and sorting out efforts in my household. Everyone knows that things will get way worse before they begin to get better. What you're looking at in the picture above is not "way worse" - that was still to come..... but I got so busy trying to get beyond "way worse" that I forgot to photograph it.

But here is "way better".

You can see I've managed to free up one entire shelf inside the third cupboard. So today I've actually made some progress but I've had enough for now - tomorrow's another day!

'Til then........

Resin Cuff Links How To

2012-01-02T18:05:00.004+10:00

Welcome back dear friends and visitors!

Twenty Twelve (there, I said it again!) promises to be another very creative year in my studio so I hope you'll be a regular visitor in 2012 and enjoy spending time with me as I create away!

Let's get this year underway with a tutorial! Today I'm showing you how to make cuff links using UV resin.

You might remember this post just after Christmas where I showed you some gifts I had made for the male members of my household. Well, now I'm going to show you the basics of how to create those cuff links using UV curing resin.

If you want to create Friendly Plastic cuff links like mine then visit Jen Lowe's blog for a great video showing the Fracture and Fusion technique.

Here's what you'll need to make the basic cuff links:

Pair of silver plated cuff links;
Item to embed in the resin;
Magic-Glos UV resin;
Dye based ink pad
Scrap paper
Stanley Knife
Ruler (with a cork back - see a tutorial here) and paper scissors
Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors
Paddle pop stick
UV Lamp (or sunshine)
Small, deep lid (a coffee jar lid)
Rice or sand
Gas lighter
Double sided tape

Begin by creating a template as your cutting guide.

Place a cuff link into the inkpad and then stamp it on scrap paper.

Cut it out using the knife and ruler, keeping the paper in tact to become a negative frame. Trim the four sides a little more so that it fits inside the cuff link bezel.

Test that the template fits.

I'm working with a fused strip of Friendly Plastic that I had left over from some other projects. You can see those here and here. It's a really good idea to make up a strip larger than you need so that you can use it in multiple projects. It's even better when you're pressed for time and you have these on hand and ready to go...... like on Christmas Eve when you need a quick last minute, but very eye catching gift!

If you're using paper instead of Friendly Plastic then you will need to seal it so that the Magic-Glos doesn't wick into the paper causing discolouration. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to do this. A word of warning: Don't use Mod Podge with Magic-Glos as it is not compatible.

Place the negative template over the Friendly Plastic and move it around until you like what you see in the frame.

Place a piece of double sided tape on the back of the template and place it inside the negative frame. Remove the frame and then cut out the square. You can use the Tonic scissors or the ruler and knife. I preferred the knife because you get a cleaner cut, but it takes more effort.

Cut a matching square and check that they both fit inside the cuff links.

Support the cuff link in the small bowl of rice or sand. Squeeze a blob of Magic-Glos into the centre of the cuff link and then spread it out to the edges with a paddle pop stick. Place the square of Friendly Plastic over the Magic-Glos.

Squeeze another blob of Magic-Glos into the centre of the Friendly Plastic and then spread it out to the edges. You should have sufficient to completely cover the Friendly Plastic. If there are any bubbles in the resin, pass the gas lighter briefly across the surface. The heat will pop them. Take extreme care when using a flame making sure that the Magic-Glos does not catch alight.

You can create the second cuff link at the same time. Place the container under the UV lamp or in direct sunlight (i.e. not behind glass) and allow to cure for approximately 10 minutes.

You will need to top up the bezels with a second and third coat until you achieve a nice dome. Cure in between each layer. And that's it!

For a really professional finish, present them inside a cuff link box. Chances are, the recipient won't guess that you've made these yourself, so why not add a little "handmade by me" tag to the back of the cuff links.

If you'd like to print off this tutorial, hop on over to my website, Mill Lane Studio where you can download the pdf version of the tutorial.

So I finish off today wishing you a Happy New Year.... may it be a year filled with crafting every day!

Welcome 2012 - We had a Smashing Good Time!

2012-01-01T17:58:00.000+10:00

Farewell 2011........... it was nice spending time with you. But I am glad to say goodbye to you and to welcome Two Thousand and Twelve!

Or is that Twenty Twelve?

I have trouble saying that.... it just doesn't seem to roll of the tongue the same way.

At some point we will have to switch to saying it this way..... we can't, after all, get to the end of this century still saying Two Thousand and Ninety Nine, let alone Two Thousand One Hundred when we begin the next century.

I guess it will slip into every day usage without us really noticing the change. But right now it takes a conscious effort to say it. So here goes, (whilst I am in New Year's resolution mode!):

Welcome Twenty Twelve.....

Happy New Year! And may it be a good one!

Here's one of the last things we did before the end of 2011.... family and extended family all seated around the dining table ready to share our gingerbread house.

I got to do the honours!

Apparently I look mighty mean holding a rolling pin. The gingerbread house can attest to that! It took a few whacks, but eventually I made the anticipated break through!

Mmmm..... Look inside!

And now that the walls are crumbling down, the demolition crew stepped in to finish the job. Dare I say it, but they enjoyed the taste of sweet success!

I'll be back in the New Year with more crafting goodies for you.

'Til then..... Happy New Year!

Resin Cuff Links - Jewellery for Men

2011-12-28T16:01:00.004+10:00

I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas Season filled with fun and laughter and getting to enjoy a bit of down time between Christmas and New Year. I'm taking a bit of a break from the studio for a couple of days to spend with my family who are all home this Christmas. But I promised you pics of the resin cuff links I made for the men in my household, so here they are.

These are for our cycling enthusiast. He's always been interested in what makes things work so a steampunk theme with cogs and gears was perfect for him.

For the well dressed and more formal man in our household, this variation on a monogram theme was the perfect choice - the lower case letters are a fun twist!

And for the sophisticated man who likes the look of mixed metals: silver, pewter and gold Friendly Plastic cuff links.

I can't tell you how impressed each of the men were with their new cuff links - so much so that at first they didn't realise they were hand made! Each pair was presented in a cuff link box before being wrapped because presentation is everything in a handmade gift!

Look out for a tutorial on how to make resin cuff links in the New Year.

I hope you enjoy the quieter time between Christmas and New Year and find lots of time to spend crafting!

Gingerbread House - Chez Hillam Style

2011-12-26T23:29:00.000+10:00

December has been frantically busy in our household. Between Christmas Parties, 90th Birthday celebrations, University Graduation Ceremonies, a trip to Adelaide and two trips to Lismore we also managed to slot in some time in the kitchen preparing our favourite Christmas treats. You saw some of them here in this post.

Because of our busy schedule we decided to use a kit for our Gingerbread House this year. It came with everything you need including the pre cooked gingerbread, presentation board, icing and sweets to decorate it - what a time saver! This kit is from Create a Treat and it even gives you a web address to view a video on how to construct the house - so easy that even a child can do it!

The board comes with channels that you slot the walls into. Just fill with the icing mixture and insert the wall. I loved this idea - it made construction really easy. So does the pre-mixed icing which is the perfect consistency.

My younger son loves working on this project each year and he did most of the construction work......

.....so, it was only fair to allow him to fill the house with goodies. We added a few of our own treats to the ones that come in the kit!

Two pairs of hands made attaching the roof a breeze.

I got to be the decorator and gardener.

And here's our gingerbread masterpiece - simple and totally SWEET!

We'll admire our Gingerbread House masterpiece for another couple of days and then begin the fun task of demolishing it!

'Til next time......

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 12 - O Christmas Tree

2011-12-24T20:25:00.000+10:00

Welcome to day 12 - the final day of the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular.

When I started out on this journey, 12 pairs of earrings didn't seem such a daunting task, but when it came to the crunch, creating 12 unique pairs of earrings, all Christmas themed, was more of a challenge than I'd anticipated. But a challenge like this always pushes your boundaries and I think you get more creative the more you are pushed. So without further ado, let me show you the final pair of earrings in the Earrings Spectacular.


O Christmas Tree

To make the O Christmas Tree earrings, you'll need:
2 x 14mm red miracle beads
2 x centre drilled opaque red teardrop crystals
2 x two-into-one silver end connectors
4 x silver bead caps
21cm green chain
6 x 4mm green jump rings
2 x silver ball head pins
2 x silver regular head pins
2 x interchangeable silver earring wires.

Thread a tear drop crystal onto a head pin and create a wire wrapped loop, attaching it to the bottom of the end connector before wrapping the loop.

Cut two 4cm lengths of chain and attach them with jump rings to the top of the connector.

Cut one 2.5cm length of chain. Open a jump ring and attach the three lengths of chain making sure the short chain is in the middle.

Thread the jump ring onto the interchangeable earring wire and gently close it.

Thread the miracle bead on an eye pin with a bead cap on either side of it.

Trim the end of the head pin and turn a loop.

Open the loop and attach it to the bottom of the short length of chain. Close it securely and you have a very chic and stylish Christmas tree earring. Make another one to match.

I hope you've enjoyed the 12 different pairs of earrings I've shared with you this month. I've enjoyed the challenge so much that this just might become a regular Christmas feature!

It's just a few short hours now until Christmas Day and I'm still working on some gifts for the men in my household. I'll post pics (and maybe a short tutorial) next week.

Have a great Christmas; stay safe and be happy.

Hugs to you all!

Love.....

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 11 - Elegant Ornament Earrings

2011-12-23T23:56:00.003+10:00

If you've been following along with the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular you'll know that there are just two more pairs of earrings to go. Can you believe how fast this Earrings Challenge has gone?

Today's earrings are long, detailed and ornate - very appropriate for ornaments, don't you think? They have a certain style and elegance about them. I love the luminescence of the red miracle beds - it's almost as if they are glowing!

If you want to create a pair of Elegant Ornament earrings, this is what you'll need:
2 x 14mm red miracle beads
2 x 4mm Siam Crystazzi crystals
2 x double ended crystal rondelle beadcaps
2 x crystal rondelles
2 x silver four-sided lantern shaped beads
2 x large silver adjustable bead caps
2 x small silver adjustable bead caps
2 x miniature petal shaped bead caps
2 x silver 3mm beads
2 interchangeable earring wires
2 head pins

On one end of the double ended crystal rondelle, gently push the prongs in........

....until they meet in the centre to create a point.

Thread all the beads and findings onto the head pin using the photo as a guide.

Push all the components down and then, using chain nose pliers grip the head pin above the crystal.

Turn a 90° angle.

Using round nose pliers, hold the head pin above the bend and create a wrapped loop.

Trim away the excess wire of the head pin with flush cutters.

Place the end of the earring wire through the loop and pass it along the wire until it sits in the hook. Gently close it so that the earring is secure.

Wasn't that easy? Don't you love it when something that looks complicated turns out to be really easy. Make the second earring to match and then adorn yourself with your new Christmas Ornament earrings.

I'll be back tomorrow with the final pair of earrings in this project. Can you guess what they might be? All I'll say is that they're a twist on a traditional Christmas icon.

Do stop by tomorrow to see what it is.

'Til then........

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 10 - Bejewelled Christmas Wreath Earrings

2011-12-21T23:14:00.003+10:00

Day 10 of the Earrings Spectacular is here and there are just 4 more sleeps until Christmas. I hope you've been enjoying this challenge as much as I am.

I had a little technical hitch with today's earrings - I gave myself a nasty burn with a Bejeweller Wand but learned a very valuable lesson along the way: don't touch the shaft of the wand when it's turned on!

OK, so that would seem to be obvious but when you're looking at your work through a magnifying lens you can only see what's right in front of you. You actually lose your peripheral vision so you are really working with blinkers on. So without being able to see what I was doing, I placed my thumb and forefinger on the shaft instead of on the safety handle. Yowee!!!!! It would seem that a visit to the optometrist is long overdue!

To add insult to injury, my plan to use the Bejeweller Wand to adhere crystals to a metal ring did not work and the crystals either fell off or could be easily pulled off. But in the end, I got the result I was after: a pair of Bejewelled Christmas Wreath earrings. Read on to find out how to make them.

You'll need the following materials:

2 x silver rings
4 x silver metal bow connectors
2 x clear acrylic "Celebrate" tiles
2 x silver gift box charms
16 x assorted 4mm flat back crystals (Siam, Topaz and Preciosa Aurum)
14 x Peridot 3mm flat back crystals
4 x silver oval jump rings (6mm x 4mm)
2 x silver 4mm jump rings
2 x silver earring wires

Using GS Hypo Cement apply 3 dots of adhesive to each side of the acrylic tile making sure that it will be hidden behind a crystal. Attach the tile across the centre of the silver ring. Attach the crystals to the ring and the acrylic tile using the photo as a guide. Make sure you use a generous amount inside the holes of the tile and to ensure the crystals are secure.

Leave a space at the top so the bow will sit flat.

Place a bow connector on an oval jump ring.....

.....and then a gift box charm.

Add another bow connector to the jump ring and then sandwich the silver ring between the two bows by passing one of the bows between the gap of the tile and the silver ring. (Gift box charm is not illustrated in this photo but it should be between the two bows).

Close the jump ring. Connect the earring wire to the bow connectors using a 4mm jump ring and you're finished. Make a matching earring and you're ready to "Celebrate" the Season!

There are just 2 more pairs of earrings to be made for the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular. I hope you'll join me again tomorrow to see what else I can come up with.

'Til then....

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 9 - Rudolph

2011-12-20T20:03:00.001+10:00

Welcome to Day 9 of the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular!

Today's earrings are inspired by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I wanted these to be a little more sophisticated than the childlike melody we all know and love. So instead of giving Rudolph a red nose, I've used red beads to decorate his frame. Don't you just love the spattering of stars below him?

To make a pair of Rudolph earrings you'll need:
2 x reindeer charms
2 x 3cm (1-1/8") silver rings
6 x 6mm Siam Crystazzi crystals
6 x 6mmx4mm red faceted oval crystals
8 x silver star beads
2 x 6mm silver jump ring
2 x 4mm silver jump ring
2 x silver earring wires
5.6cm fine silver chain
42 x 8mm red jump rings
14 silver ball head pins

Thread the beads onto the head pins using the photo as a guide.

Turn a 90° angle and trim each one to approximately 9mm.

Turn a loop.

Cut the chain in half, then separate one half into a 12mm and 16mm length. Attach the chains to the star components and then set all the beaded components aside.

Gently open the silver ring.....

......and then thread on 14 of the red jump rings. Close the ring.

Thread each of the beaded components onto the remaining seven jump rings.

Place them on the silver ring amongst the red jump rings.

Space them evenly, with the longer components in the centre and the shorter components on the outside.

Attach the reindeer charm to the 6mm jump ring and hook it onto the silver ring.

Use the 4mm jump ring to connect the earring wire to the earring. Make a matching earring.

And there you have it - a sophisticated pair of Rudolph earrings!

What will Day 10 bring?
An ornament?
A Christmas Tree?
Or, maybe a wreath?

Be sure to check back tomorrow to find out! 'Til then.......

Christmas at the Brewery

2011-12-19T21:42:00.000+10:00

I've been away from the studio the last few days visiting family for Christmas. Sorry if you've been waiting for the next instalment of the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular but it will return tomorrow.

Today I want to share with you some snaps I took of the West End Brewery Christmas display on the banks of the River Torrens in Adelaide. Each year the banks light up in a festive display of fairy tales and magical scenes.

I remember visiting this exhibition as a child but it has been many years since I've been to Adelaide at this time of the year. It was a lovely balmy evening and families were milling along the banks of the river to view the display. Seeing all the excited little children brought back some of my own fond childhood memories of Christmas. It's enough to stir the Christmas spirit in both young and old!

Waltz down memory lane with me and enjoy the photos.

The Christmas crackers wish you a Merry Christmas in many languages!


Love the waterwheel at the front of this charming house. Notice the toadstool house out the back.....


.....and the cute little fairy sitting on her very own toadstool out the front - just adorable!


And they haven't forgotten the Reason for the Season!


Moby has swum up the Torrens - no mean feat for such a little river!


Looking past the Nativity you can see a Ferris Wheel.......


........decked out in Christmas finery!

And finally, Father Christmas has made it into town!

Adelaide has another wonderful Christmas tradition - The Christmas Pageant which runs through the city streets in November. The Pageant heralds the arrival of Father Christmas into town before he takes up residency in the Magic Cave until Christmas Eve. But that's a whole 'nother story! I do wish I'd had time to visit him though - just to make sure he has me on his "Good" list!

'Til next time........

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 8 - O Come, All Ye Faithful

2011-12-14T23:55:00.001+10:00

Welcome to Day 8 of the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular!

Yesterday, I used the Christmas carol "O Come, All Ye Faithful" as the inspiration for the Heavenly Choirs of Angels earrings. And today that same carol has inspired another pair of earrings, simply titled "Faith".

The unexpected square shape of these earrings make them rather striking and yet they are quite a simple pair of earrings that you could wear at any time of the year. Change up the colour of the beads and they would be suitable for a number of different religious occasions. Or perhaps you could use beads in your birthstone colour. Or you could just use whatever colour beads take your fancy!

To make these, you'll need:
4 x dark red oval faceted beads
2 x silver "faith" plaques
2 x silver Y-shaped connectors
2 x interchangeable earring connectors
4 x silver eye pins
8 x silver 4mm jump rings

Thread a bead onto an eye pin and turn a loop. Make another component the same.

Attach the components to the "faith" plaque with jump rings. Connect the other ends to the Y-shaped connector with jump rings.

Hook the connector to the interchangeable earring wire and gently close it.

Create a second earring and now you can proclaim your faith to the world. If "faith" isn't the word you want to proclaim, search out some of the other great word charms available to get your message across.

I'll be back again tomorrow to continue this Earrings Spectacular. I hope you'll join me then.

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 7 - Heavenly Choirs

2011-12-13T22:34:00.000+10:00

Christmas is a wonderful, festive time of the year but let us not forget the reason for the Season. Today, in honour of the true meaning of Christmas, I've created something a little more heavenly.

I'm sure that you've seen plenty of angel earrings around. Their gowns are usually made from cute little bell shaped beads and they have purpose made angel wings. But I have added my own little twist to these darling little angels - beneath their gowns is a flurry of ethereal feathers.

Here's what you'll need today:
2 x 6mm crystal rondelles
2 x 6x8mm faceted Swarovski crystal rondelles
2 x angel wings
2 x silver bell shaped filigree bead cones
24 x white/clear Czech glass daggers
18 links Beadalon silver plated Dapped Small Cable chain 2.3mm
24 x 4mm silver jump rings
2 x silver eye pins
2 x silver interchangeable earring wires

Separate the chain into two equal lengths and put one aside. Connect each of the dagger beads to a jump ring and attach them evenly along the length of chain to create feathers.

Connect the chain to the loop of the eyepin and then thread it through the filigree bead cone. Thread on the wings, the faceted rondelle and the crystal rondelle. Create a wrapped loop to hold the angel components securely in place.

Hook the angel onto the earring wire and close it gently.

And now you have one Heavenly angelic earring. Create another in the same way.

Come and join me again tomorrow to see what my next pair of spectacular earrings will be!

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 6 - Snowflakes and Icicles

2011-12-12T20:28:00.003+10:00

Welcome to Day 6 of the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular!

Today it's snowflakes and icicles..... brrrrrr!!!

But that couldn't be further from the truth here in Queensland. Snowflakes wouldn't last a minute here in our warm Summer weather. I love that we have Christmas in summer in Australia, but I have to confess that Hollywood has me completely sold on the romantic notion of a "White Christmas". So for those of you in the northern hemisphere who are already feeling the bite of winter, and those of us in the south who are just dreaming of a white Christmas, this one is for you!

Materials you'll need today:
2 x silver snowflake charms
Teardrop crystals: 2 x AB clear; 2 x turquoise; 2 x ice blue
6 x small silver adjustable bead caps
2 x 20mm twisted silver hollow tubes
2 x 30mm twisted silver hollow tubes
10 x ball head pins
6 x crystal rondelles
26 links Beadalon silver plated Dapped Small Cable chain 2.3mm
6 x 4mm silver jump rings
2 interchangeable silver earring wires

Thread one of each of the teardrop crystals onto a headpin. Place an adjustable bead cap around the base of each crystal and then cup it around the bead. Thread on a rondelle and then create a wrapped loop.

Remove 3 links and 10 links from the chain. Connect the 3 links to the turquoise crystal and the 10 link length to the AB crystal. You will need to open the links of the chain to do this, or you can add the chain to the wrapped loop before you wrap it.

Place the hollow tubes on head pins and turn a loop. Attach the components to the jump rings as follows: the ice blue crystal and the 20mm hollow tube; turquoise crystal and the 30mm hollow tube; and the AB crystal on the 10 link chain.

Attach the jump rings to the open spaces of the snowflake.

Connect the top of the snowflake charm to the interchangeable earring wire and gently press it closed.

Make up the second earring in the same way and you're ready to wear your pristine Snowflake and Icicle earrings.

Join me again tomorrow for some earrings that are truly heavenly.

'Til then....

Who got the Last Piece of Lolly Cake?

2011-12-11T20:52:00.002+10:00

It is one of the most anticipated events on our family's calendar: the evening we all gather to put up our Christmas tree.

With Christmas music playing in the background, a mass of boxes around the room and an empty space in the corner, we're all ready to set up the Christmas tree. It's wonderful to have everyone home!

For us, putting up the Christmas tree is more than just decorating a tree; it is about enjoying each others company. Of course, it doesn't hurt that there is a food reward at the end. Each year we prepare a variety of yummy Christmas treats especially for this event. Some of our favourites are Apricot Balls, Mini Christmas Puddings and Lolly Cake. They look so tempting when all laid out on a Christmas platter.

With a glass of something festive in our hands we all tuck in and there is much merriment and laughter around the table.

Like the look of Lolly Cake? Well, here's the recipe. (Shhhh! Don't tell anyone; it's a secret recipe shared with me by a Kiwi friend!)
Ingredients:
Packet of malt biscuits (finely crushed, but leave some lumpy bits for texture)
Packet of Pascall Mummies (we use fruit sticks when we can't get find Mummies)
1/2 tin condensed milk
115g butter
Dessicated coconut

Method:
Melt the condensed milk and butter together in a saucepan and pour it into the crushed biscuits and cut up lollies. Mix it well. Roll the mixture into a log shape (we get 3 logs from a batch) and then roll it in coconut. Set it in the fridge for a few hours until it is hard and then slice into thin slices. Yum!

Well, it wasn't long before there was just one piece of Lolly Cake left on the tray.....

And who got the last piece?

Well, I'm not telling. Let's just make some more!

'Til next time.....

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 5 - Holly and Berries

2011-12-09T21:08:00.014+10:00

Day 5's featured earrings are called Holly and Berries.

Last week I bought a gorgeous strand of red faceted oval beads. I fell in love with the colour immediately because it was such a deep shade of red - perfect for Christmas. The silver and red slider bead adds an elegant touch to the earrings.

Here's today's materials list:
2 x mirror finish silver faceted oval beads
2 x red faceted oval beads
2 silver holly charms
2 red jingle bells
2 silver slider charms accented with a red flatback crystal
18 links Beadalon silver plated Dapped Small Cable chain 2.3mm
2 head pins
2 eye pins
2 x 4mm jump rings
20 gauge non tarnish silver wire
2 interchangeable earring wires

Thread the silver bead onto the headpin and turn a loop. Thread the red bead onto the eye pin, turn a loop but before closing it, attach the silver bead.

You only need 9 links of chain for each earring so separate it into two equal lengths. Attach the holly charm with a jump ring to the chain on the fourth link from the bottom.

Attach the jingle bell to the chain with a jump ring to the second link from the top. Then attach the bottom link of the chain to the red bead component.

Now we run into a problem: the square focal is a slider bead and it has two channels running along the outside of the slider. So I've come up with a piece of wirework to create a workaround for that. As well as providing a hanging loop it adds a bit of detail.

Here's how I did it.

Cut a 6cm (2.5") length of wire for each slider.

Using flat nosed pliers, turn a 45° angle about 1cm from the end. You will need to trim it to about half the length of the slider.

Place the end into the channel of the slider.

Now, place your round nose pliers where you want to turn a loop, so that it will be centred above the middle of the slider.

Take the wire out of the channel so that it's easier to handle and then turn the loop.

Place the hanger back into the slider and using the flat nose pliers turn a 45° angle so that the wire on each side of the loop is even.

You may need to take the wire out of the slider again to do this.

Place the wire back into the slider

Now work on the other end. Turn a 45° angle like you did in the first step.

Then turn another loop centred in the middle of the slider and then another 45° angle so that it lines up with the channel on the other side.

Trim the wire to half the length of the slider.

And then carefully push it into the channel without distorting the hanger.

Glue in a flat back crystal and you're ready to use the slider in your earrings. You will need to attach the chain to the one end of the slider either by sliding the chain on before completing the second loop, or by carefully opening the bottom link on the chain and hooking on the loop on the slider.

And now just finish it off by hooking it on to an interchangeable earring wire and gently squeezing it shut.

Make the second earring in the same way and then dazzle your way through Christmas with these elegant drop earrings.

I hope you're enjoying the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular. I'll be back with more ideas next week.

Have a great weekend!

Twelve Days and Counting - Day Four

2011-12-08T20:30:00.002+10:00

Welcome to Day 4!

After three days of silver earrings I'm switching up to gold today.

I've always loved cane glass beads but for some reason I don't use them a lot. So I'm going to change that today. I bought a cane glass mixture some time back but there's not many matching beads amongst them. It was a challenge to find two that were the same, especially in Christmassy colours. But I did - two flat cylinders with red, green and yellow stripes. Perfect!

But they are just 6mm high (1/4"). So to give them a bit more substance, I've built them up with bead caps and coordinating crystals.

Here's the materials to make the Christmas Lantern earrings:
2 x 6mm striped cane glass cylinder beads
4 x 6mm Cousin Crystazzi Siam bicones
2 x 4mm gold Preciosa bicones
4 x gold filigree cup shaped bead caps
4 x gold star shaped bead caps
4 x gold small peaked bead caps
2 gold head pins
2 gold eye pins
2 interchangeable earring wires

Thread the gold bicone on the head pin and turn a loop. Attach it to the eye pin.

Thread on the three different bead caps starting with the smallest one.

Next add a Siam bicone crystal and the cane glass bead.

Add another Siam bicone and then the three bead caps in reverse order. It should look something like this:

Turn a loop, then slip the loop onto the earring wire and gently press it closed.

Now repeat for the second earring and you're ready to wear your gorgeous, almost glowing, Christmas Lantern earrings.

I hope you'll stop back in tomorrow for Day 5's earrings.

'Til then......

Twelve Days and Counting - Day 3 - Silver Trees

2011-12-07T20:55:00.018+10:00

Day 3 of the Twelve Days and Counting Earrings Spectacular is here and it heralds the arrival of a new banner for the project. What do you think? It will appear at the top of each post.

Today's project is really quick and easy, but spectacular at the same!

No doubt you've seen cute little earrings like these around and I have no idea who first came up with this idea but it is super cute and very quick and easy for those of us with little time to create in the lead up to Christmas. Make them out of Swarovski crystals if your budget allows or do as I did here and use Chinese crystals which are just a fraction of the price.

Materials needed:

Mirror finish Margarita crystals: 2 x 14mm, 2 x 12mm, 2 x 10mm, 2 x 8mm

2 x 4mm gold cube beads

2 x 4mm gold Preciosa crystal bicones

6 x 3mm silver daisy spacers

2 x silver headpins

2 earring wires

Thread the beads on to the headpin beginning with the cube:

Next comes the margaritas, in descending order starting from the 14mm crystal. Add a daisy spacer between each margarita.

Top it off with the Preciosa bicone for the star. Then create a wrapped loop to keep all the beads snug and secure on the head pin.

Open the loop on the earring wire, attach the Christmas Tree and close it firmly. Repeat these very easy steps to complete the matching earring and you're done!

Because they're so quick to put together, these make great gifts for teachers and work mates. You're sure to receive a few oohs, and ahhs when you present these little beauties.

Join me tomorrow for Day 4 and in the meantime, happy beading!

Twelve Days and Counting - Day Two - Peppermint Twist

2011-12-06T20:32:00.016+10:00

Welcome to the Second Day of the Christmas Earrings Spectacular!

Today we're taking off on a magical balloon flight with candy canes in tow!

This project would look really cute with a Santa charm dangling from the balloon too but the white swirl in the hollow glass beads reminded me of a candy cane so that's what I've used.

Today's materials list (for each earring):
Hollow glass Venetian style teardrop bead

Christmas tree tinsel shreds

Adjustable silver bead cap

Medium filigree basket bead cap

Filigree petal shaped bead cap

Cousin Siam 6mm Crystazzi crystal bicone

Enamelled candy cane charm

Silver eye pin

Earring wire

To begin this pair of earrings you will need a needle too or other sharp object to feed the tinsel shreds inside the hollow beads. It will take a bit of patience to feed the lengths in but it's worth the effort because the bead looks rather spectacular when it's stuffed full!

On the eye pin, thread a crystal, the adjustable bead cap and then thread the eye pin through the tinsel-filled bead. Take care not to push the tinsel out the other end! Gently cup the adjustable bead cap around the narrow end of the hollow bead.

Then add the petal shaped bead cap, followed by the filigree basket bead cap and turn a loop.

Open the bottom end of the eye pin and hook on the candy cane charm and then close it securely.

To finish the earring, I've used an interchangeable earring hook. I've taken a real liking to these lately because there is no loop to open or close. Just hook the eye pin on the wire and gently squeeze it closed.

Make the matching Peppermint Twist earring and you're ready to wear your whimsical and calorie free candy cane earrings to your next Christmas function!

I'll be back soon with Day Three of the Twelve Days of Christmas Earrings Spectacular!

'Til then.........

Twelve Days and Counting...Jingle All the Way!

2011-12-05T21:16:00.002+10:00

With December now upon us, it's time to swing into Christmas crafting. I'm really looking forward to sharing some Christmas jewellery projects with you this month.... a Twelve Days of Christmas, if you like - but stretched out over the next three weeks. I hope you'll stop by for each of the twelve projects to see what I've come up with.

Right now, I've got Bing Crosby's "Merry Christmas" playing in my studio. It's one of my all time favourite Christmas albums and I must have played it a thousand times but it always makes me feel Christmassey! So in keeping with how cheery I find this music, let's kick off this event with some equally cheery earrings, called "Jingle all the Way".

Let's have a look at how these are put together.

Materials needed for each earring:
Twisted silver tubes: 30mm, 20mm and 3 x 5mm (or 1 x 10mm and 1 x 5mm)
Silver mesh bow connector
3 x 8mm jingle bells (in Christmas colours)
1 x 8mm silver stardust ball
2 x filigree bead caps
Earring wires
3 x silver eye pins (you'll need long ones)
1 x head pin
Jump rings

Begin by opening an eye pin, hooking on the loop of one of the jingle bells and then closing the eye pin again. Repeat with the other two bells.

For the silver ball, place a bead cap on the head pin, the stardust ball and another bead cap. Thread on a 5mm tube and then turn a loop.

Repeat for the other lengths using 2 x 5mm (or a 10mm tube if you have one) on one, a 20mm on another and the 30mm on the remaining one.

Open a jump ring and hook all 4 loops onto it, arranging them from shortest to longest.

Attach another jump ring to the first one and then attach it to the bottom of the bow connector.

Finish the earring by opening the loop of the earring wire and then hooking on the top of the bow connector.

Now, make a matching pair and then jingle your way through Christmas!

Don't forget to stop by for the Second Day of Christmas later in the week.

'Til then......

December Bangle and Ring Workshop

2011-12-04T13:26:00.005+10:00

Image courtesy of Christina Lowry

It was a busy morning in the studio yesterday with some very enthusiastic participants in the Bangle and Ring workshop! Each one was itching to get started on making some bangles and rings and to put into practice what they had just learned.

Here's some photos taken by one of the students, Christina Lowry of Christine Lowry Designs (A Little Bird Told Me - Craft). Notice how everyone is a picture of concentration!

Image courtesy of Christina Lowry

Somehow, she didn't manage to get into any of the photos, which is usually the way when you're behind the camera. But thanks to Christina for all the photos you took for the rest of us! Visit Christina's blog for more photos and her report on the workshop.

Next weekend will be my last resin workshop for 2011 and there is still a vacancy if you'd like to learn how to make resin jewellery. With just a few short weeks until Christmas, it's a great opportunity to make some gifts for the females on your Christmas list. Visit Mill Lane Studio for all the workshop details and to make a booking. After Saturday 10th December, it will be private workshops only!

Tomorrow I'll be back with the beginning of a jewellery making extravaganza: 12 pairs of Christmas earrings in twelve days! Well, maybe not in twelve days, but in the next 3 weeks anyway! I hope you'll join me on my earring making journey!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Hawaiian Sunset Bangle

2011-12-02T01:32:00.000+10:00

My little sister visited recently. It was her first trip to Brisbane in many years so she hadn't seen my studio and I was so excited for her to check it out. She was drooling over all the jewellery I had on display so I told her to choose what she liked to keep for herself. She picked a custom designed Diy Bangle which she's worn to work many times since and she proudly declares to anyone who asks that I made it especially for her. Isn't she wonderful?!

She tells me she could have sold it 5 times over and begged me to make more? She went on to say that one of her clients was so keen to have it that she was willing to pay double the asking price if she could buy it right off her wrist there and then. I guess she really liked it!

So today, my task is to replicate that bangle. And I'm going to share the process with you. Here goes!

Materials required:

Diy Bangle 1.5" wide flat
Lumiere Paint: Pearlescent Magenta, Pearlescent Violet and Burnt Orange
KaiserColour black paint
StazOn Jet Black inkpad
Stamp-It rubber stamp sets: siset003lk (hibiscus) and siset008lk (flourish)
Pink crystals
Inkssentials Opaque pen - white
Sakura Gelly Roll pen - Clear Star XPGB#700
Judikins Dimensional Magic
4 wide flat paint brushes

Begin by painting a band of Magenta paint around the edge of the bangle. I like to keep my coats of paint thin and apply several coats. I find this gives a better finish.

Using a clean brush, apply Burnt Orange around the centre of the bangle and blend the edge with the Magenta.

Sometimes, fingers make the best tools! I like to get my hands into the paint!

Using another clean brush, paint the bottom of the bangle with Violet.

After one coat, it's a little patchy so it will need another thin coat.

Paint the bottom edge of the bangle with Violet also.

Paint the top edge Magenta. It's OK if you get paint on the inside - this will be covered up later.

Paint the whole bangle with a second coat, blending the edges again. Work in small sections at a time so that the edges haven't had time to dry. This will really give you a smooth transition between colours.

A little bit of blur here. Sorry about that but at least you can see me blending the edges between the colours.

Notice how there are no harsh lines?

Leave the bangle to dry completely.

To stamp on a curved surface like a bangle, you need to ink the stamp and place it face up on your workspace. Test stamp your image on paper before you stamp your bangle and if it's not inky enough, apply reinker to it and let it sit for 5 minutes before stamping.

Then line up the bangle with the stamp and roll it across the surface of the rubber.

Continue stamping around the outside of the bangle, alternating between the hibiscus and the flourish. I only inked up part of the flourish so that I could fit in 3 hibiscus flowers.

StazOn ink dries really quickly so it will be only a few minutes before you can move on.

Using the Gelly Roll pen, highlight the stigma of each hibiscus.

Taking care not to smudge your work, highlight the flourishes with the opaque white pen. The trick to being successful when using the pens on the painted wood is to draw lightly. Avoid pressing hard or drawing too slowly as this seems to prevent the ink from flowing smoothly.

Allow the ink to dry completely before moving on. I left mine overnight.

To protect your bangle, apply Diamond Glaze in a thin coat.

Work in small sections at a time so that you can smooth it out. I told you, I love to use my fingers as tools! They will do a great job of smoothing the Diamond Glaze out, without leaving brush marks. And it's a whole lot easier to wash your hands than to wash it out of a brush!

Make sure you do the top and bottom edges also. Leave it to dry for a few minutes and then work on the inside. You can see that I only add a small amount of Diamond Glaze at a time......

so that I can spread it out thinly.....

Once the whole bangle is dry, add some pink crystals or acrylic gems. I've found the adhesive backed ones stick quite well to the glossy surface without adding extra adhesive but if you want to make sure your bling stays put, then apply a little dot of Diamond Glaze behind each one.

And you're done! One very tropical Hawaiian Sunset bangle.

'Til next time.....

It's a Cats Life!

2011-11-29T09:41:00.000+10:00

The weather in Brisbane has turned quite summery these past few weeks and gone are the cool nights when my little kitty kat sought out a warm lap to curl up in. Instead she has now taken to spreading herself out as far as she can on the tiled floor to cool off. Who can blame her - she hasn't shed her winter coat yet!

So it's not unusual for her to lay on the studio floor in wait for fallen beads to skate crazily across it. Chasing beads is one of her favourite past-times but tonight she reckons there wasn't enough action down there so she joined me on the beading table where she could create a little bit of mischief and "accidentally" knock a few beads on to the floor. Gotta love the way kitty kat thinks!

After a few minutes excitement she joined me back on the table..... intently watching what I was doing.

And then she lay down her head on her paws and had a nap.

Next day, and she's plonked herself right back in the middle of my work space again......

Impossible! How are you supposed to work around that?!!

Oh..... it's a cat's life!

Kashmiri Opulence Jewellery Class

2011-11-25T12:36:00.000+10:00

I really respect people who work in warehouses picking orders. It's a tough job making sure you get everything right. People expect to get what they ordered, so the pressure is on the pickers to get it right. Very occasionally, and by that I mean RARELY do my orders ever turn up with incorrect items in them.

But what do you do when the beads ordered for a class arrive from overseas 4 days before your class and they are not what you ordered?

Why, you redesign the project of course!

So for tonight's workshop, instead of doing this:

or this:

you'll be doing this:

AND this:

or this:

AND this:

And all for the same price. What a bonus: you get to create 2 necklaces instead of 1.

Hope you like the new designs!

Happy crafting.....

Rolled, Nail Polished and Strung

2011-11-22T22:46:00.000+10:00

After "nail polishing" the handmade paper beads yesterday it's now time to see how they look when they're combined with more conventional beads.

I've got to say I am pretty pleased with the way the beads work together and I'm even more pleased with how well this piece sits when worn.

I ended up using two different shades of nail polish: the gorgeous burgundy colour you saw me paint with in yesterday's tutorial and also a mica filled silver. The silver is almost transparent so whilst you see the beautiful glimmer from the mica, you also get to see the magazine print on the beads. It's an interesting look.

I also left some of the beads uncoloured because they coordinated well with the aquamarine Kashmiri beads I've used in this piece. You can just see one at the top of this image.... sorry I cut the rest of it off!

I love the daisy spacers connecting the beads together. There are no holes in them though so I had to get creative to attach them. Large oval shaped jump rings worked well for the body of the necklace but the challenge was really in how to attach the focal magenta paper bead and the dangles. I solved the problem by joining two vine shaped connectors (very appropriate for a flower) together with jump rings so that one sits flush with the front and one sits flush on the back of the flower spacer. It's difficult to make it out in the photo below but they're connected through the hole in the centre and also on the outside edge.

But this left me with a jump ring that is sitting horizontally and not vertically. So instead of using an eyepin to connect the next section I used a head pin with a 3mm silver bead on it to act as a stopper inside the horizontal jump ring! Then it was just a matter of threading on the gorgeous magenta focal bead (one of my special pick ups from CHA), turning a loop and connecting the beaded chains.

So what do you think? Who would have thought paper beads could look so good!

'Til next time.....

Use it Up - Recolouring Paper Beads

2011-11-21T21:40:00.008+10:00

So, now I have a small handful of handmade paper beads. What to do with them next?

When you roll your paper beads from magazines and junk mail you really don't know how they'll look until you've rolled them. After all, the only bits that show are the very edges and they are often multi coloured but with a fair bit of black patterning. So what do you do when you don't like the colour of some of the beads?

Why, you recolour them of course!

I've decided to brighten them up with nail polish.

About the only time I get to use nail polish is when I'm on vacation. Most of the time, my hands take a fair bit of punishment because they are always in some sort of arty stuff which will either chip the nail polish, partially remove it or generally make it look untidy. So when I buy a new nail colour, it gets used for a couple of weeks and then doesn't get used again for another year. So this is going to be a "use it up" project!

Painting the beads with nail polish is a straight forward process.... just place the bead back on the bead roller or on a needle tool and begin to paint.

This gorgeous burgundy colour from Sephora went on really easily and didn't dry too quickly which meant I was able to get all the way around the bead before the leading edge had dried so you couldn't see where I'd started.

Just continue painting the bead until it's fully coloured. I was fairly generous with the nail varnish just as if I was painting my nails but I didn't put it on so thickly that it was dripping.

After one coat they were looking a little patchy so they will definitely need a second coat. I always find it better to do thinner coats and apply a couple of layers rather than do one really thick coat.

Well, so far so good. I love the colour they've turned out. Now it's just wait and see how durable the nail polish is as a colouring medium. I'll make them up into jewellery to test them out.

I hope you'll come back soon to see how it worked out!

'Til then.......

Paper Bead Jewellery

2011-11-21T09:40:00.004+10:00

Oh what fun! I've been playing with the paper bead rolling kit that I brought home with me from CHA earlier in the year. Those brightly coloured strands of paper beads hanging up in the booth of Aubrey's Paper Beads were so enticing that I couldn't resist temptation and I bought several strands.

But I also bought the kit to make my own!

One thing I discovered is that getting even beads is not as easy as it seems. I don't know how many strips of paper I unravelled and re-rolled because my beads were lopsided! It's a good thing that the kit comes with pre-cut magazine strips so that at least all your beads will be the same size, if only you can roll them straight!

Anyway, this is how easy it is to roll your own paper beads. Firstly, place the straight end of the strip of paper along the metal part of the tool.....

and then begin to roll. Roll as straight as you can - it's really easy to get off line and end up with a lopsided bead. If that happens, just unravel it and re-roll until you get it right.

I like to add a bit of adhesive along the strip as I go. I used Mod Podge but use whatever paper adhesive you have on hand. It's a bit of a messy process but it ensures the bead won't unravel.

Once you get it started, just keep rolling......

......and rolling, until you get to the end of the strip. Glue it in place to secure.

How easy is that?!! Now you can slide the bead off the tool and you're ready to make another bead.

It is a strangely satisfying process - your recycling efforts are rewarded with a bunch of handmade beads ready to incorporate into your next jewellery project.

Check back in tomorrow to see what I do with them next!

'Til then.......

The Golden Cockerel

2011-11-18T18:17:00.000+10:00

Earlier in the week, I had been rummaging around my bead drawers to see what had become lost/buried/forgotten and I found a little treasure amongst the tangle of strands which I haven't yet found homes for: a string of darling chicken/rooster beads.

I couldn't resist them. They were bright and colourful and just so darn cheery! I knew right away they would become barnyard inspired earrings. But I still can't decide if they are hens or roosters!

Aren't they fun? Their cute little wire feet add just a touch of whimsy.

The Golden Cockerel earrings are available for purchase in my etsy shop, MillLaneStudio. Yes, my Etsy shop has undergone a name change. You can still find my listings under MHdesign but to keep everything uniform, you can now also find me listed under MillLaneStudio.

Happy weekend everyone!

That's My Design!

2011-11-16T11:14:00.001+10:00

Today I'm going to take you back in time to a bangle challenge I was set at CHA last year: decorate seven prototype, oval-shaped Diy Bangles with only the materials I had on hand in my hotel room.
And the reason for the challenge? Well, it was to come up with a bangle design for the packaging of the new Diy Bangles oval shaped bangle.

Here's 6 of the designs:

But in all, I designed 7 bangles and the one that Diy Bangles selected as the image design for the packaging was Zentangle Bangle!

And here it is, on the packaging......

Image courtesy of Diy Bangles

You have to look closely, but you can even see my name on the inside!

Image courtesy of Diy Bangles

Diy Bangles are really a lot of fun to play around with and they make great personalised gifts. With Christmas not too far away, why not grab yourself a Diy Bangle and decorate it for someone on your Christmas list. If you're stuck for ideas, check out all seven tutorials for the bangles by clicking here.

Happy crafting!

Moonlight and Pearls - Rose Spray Necklace

2011-11-09T19:15:00.000+10:00

I did it! I solved my little design challenge AND used up almost all the remaining beads from the four necklaces. So now I'll let you in on what the challenges were and how I solved them.

For this last piece I was planning a simple double strand floating necklace. Pearls always look great when strung this way so I created a 40" length of floating beads on white tiger tail. I decided to try out my magic crimping tool to turn the crimp tubes into beads so that they would match the mini silver beads from the original necklace. As I worked on it I kept thinking how crisp the white tiger tail looked against the pearls and silver spacers. It was hard work crimping those tubes into balls but it was worth the effort... it was looking really good! But when I tried it on I hated it: the white tiger tail made the silver beads look too dark and it had no focal point!

So a rethink of the design was in order.

I decided to cut the length in half and make a single stranded floating necklace and add a focal with dangles. I found the perfect flower pendant which I'd bought only a couple of days ago. It has quite a large bail attached at the top of it which would have been great if it was strung on a thick stringing material but not so good for tiger tail. So I had to figure out how to connect my length of beaded tiger tail to the pendant without the join showing. I couldn't just string it on: the bail was big, but not big enough to slide over the beads I'd crimped onto the tiger tail. Hmmm.... a conundrum!

At this point I walked away from the beading table for a while. Sometimes you need to mull over a problem before you tackle it. What I needed to come up with was a neat and secure solution. And then it came to me: thread both ends through the bail and crimp the two lengths on either side of the bail. A crimp cover hides the crimps as well as securing the bail in place!

Now for the dangles. I had to cut apart the other beaded length to get this idea to work.... it was a shame to undo all that hard work - it had taken more than a couple of hours to turn all those crimp tubes into beads! But there were no more beads to use, so there was no choice.

But first things first.... I need to secure a bunch of tiger tail dangles behind the flower so that the dangles will sit nicely. Lucky for the big bail after all!

I threaded them all through the bail and crimped them with my Mighty Crimper and a No. 4 crimping tube.

I don't have bead covers large enough to cover a No. 4 crimp but it still looks neat.

Now for the finishing touch: the dangles. I threaded the crimps and beads on in the same pattern I used on the floating strand.

but this time I crimped right near the end of each dangle.....

and then, right above the top bead to keep them all in place.

I love the way the dangles turned out.

And the finished floating necklace too.

This has been a great exercise to stretch my thinking laterally. Finding solutions to challenges like this is really satisfying too.

And now that there are so few beads left to work with, I think I will put this collection aside. And yes, I am officially calling Moonlight and Pearls a collection now: there are 6 pairs of earrings, one bracelet and three necklaces - all coordinating, all of which can be mixed and matched to tell a story and all designed by one designer. Yes, all the boxes are now ticked.... it's a collection!

'Til next time.....

Moonlight and Pearls - The Rose Vine

2011-11-08T22:20:00.001+10:00

At the end of my last post I hinted that there might be just one more piece of jewellery to add to the Moonlight and Pearls mini collection.

You might recall that I started out on this quest with four necklace strands consisting of moonshine beads, ivory potato pearls and silver spacer beads. After making a double stranded necklace, 6 pairs of earrings and a bracelet/cuff, all I had left was one moonshine bead, a pearl and a small handful each of silver spacers and the mini silver balls.

Well, it turns out that I can't count.... I actually had no moonshine beads left. I'm not sure how you can miscount just one bead but I did. And then I re counted the earrings and it turns out that I had actually made 7 pairs of earrings not six. The seventh pair is very similar to the ones I made for my Mum so I pulled them apart and now I have two moonshine beads to play with. Yay!

So here's how I used the last couple of the focal beads.

With the addition of some similar beads from my stash I've been able to make the last few beads stretch as far as possible. I picked up the strand of freshwater pearls from Vinnies for just $1.... what a find!

It's amazing how far you can make beads go when you put your mind to it.

Want to see what I did with the last few silver spacers and mini silver balls? Well, I've come up with a design, but making it work is proving to be a bit of a challenge. I hope you'll check back in with me tomorrow to see how it went.

'Til then.....

What is a Collection?

2011-11-07T23:17:00.002+10:00

Since creating the collection of Moonlight and Pearl earrings last the week, I have been pondering a question:

"What defines a collection?"

At first glance, a collection would seem to be grouping of items with a common theme. But when I started to think about what comprises a collection in fashion or jewellery, there seemed to be more to it. In fashion and jewellery you can't just throw a group of disparate items together and consider it a collection. So I did a little research and this is what I learned:

A collection is made up of a number of pieces which coordinate to tell a trend/story/theme
The individual pieces can be worn in different combinations to create a set or a look
All the pieces are designed by the same designer.

So, is it OK to call my Moonlight and Pearls collection "a collection"?

Well, let's see if the criteria fits!

At first I would have said no because all the pieces are earrings. But, if you add in the original necklace and the restrung double stranded necklace, then maybe. But I think it needs more pieces to qualify so I've added a bracelet/cuff to the collection.

OK, I think now it just scrapes through the first point so let's give that a tick.

Point No. 2: with the necklace and the bracelet/cuff included in the set, the pieces can now be worn in different combinations; limited combinations, but combinations none the less! So point number 2 gets a tick.

And now for the third point: designed by the same designer. Well, I didn't design the original necklace and the extent of my designing for the double stranded necklace was limited to restringing it and adding a second strand. Sadly, a restring doesn't qualify for designing it which means that the necklaces don't count.

My conclusion from all this is that Moonlight and Pearls is not a collection in the true sense of the word..... but perhaps the earrings qualify as a mini collection.

From the original 4 strands of beads I've created a double stranded necklace, 6 pairs of earrings and a cuff/bracelet. And all that I have left is just one moonshine bead, one pearl, a handful of silver spacers and the mini silver balls left. Want to see what I can do with these?

I'm sure there is another piece of jewellery in there.... perhaps I can make Moonlight and Pearls into a collection yet!

Stay tuned!

Moonlight and Pearls Winners Announced

2011-11-04T11:02:00.000+10:00

It's time to draw the random winners of the Moonlight and Pearls earrings.

I'm using Random.org to generate the numbers....Good luck everybody!

So, here goes......

True Random Number Service

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

3
5

Timestamp: 2011-11-03 23:19:03 UTC

The winners are Pine Ridge Treasures and Julie Steele. Congratulations to you both. I'll be in touch shortly to arrange to send you your new earrings.

Thank you to all of you who entered. Your comments are very welcome and they make it fun to run these giveaways. Keep an eye out for future giveaways.... and have a go..... you just never know when you might be the lucky winner.

'Til next time.....

Peacock Finery in Cousin Basics

2011-11-02T11:50:00.000+10:00

Don't you hate it when you discover you are just a few beads short to finish a piece of jewellery you are designing? If you're anything like me, your original design takes on a life of its own and keeps evolving as you work on it. Isn't it frustrating when you discover that you no longer have enough of those pearly beads you fell in love with to finish your piece and you need to race out to buy more only to discover the beads you need have been discontinued?

Peacock Finery

Well, last week, I nearly fell over myself with excitement.... my local beading store had just unpacked a shipment from Cousin Corporation called Jewelry Basics. These are jewellery making staples; the sort of beads and findings you always reach for and know you can rely on to create a good base for your jewellery design.

This concept is brilliant - a range of classic, but on-trend beading basics in coordinating, fashion colours right across the collection. It includes glass beads, pearls, crystals, semi precious stones and hanks of seed beads.

But there is a whole lot more to this range too: focal pendants in a variety of metal colours, coordinating sets of charms and drops, interesting chains, and basic findings. And being Basics they can also be used in conjunction with their specialty collections. Or, they can be used entirely on their own, like this piece.

I selected all the elements for this project including the beads, chains and findings from just the one aisle of the store..... the Jewelry Basics range!

I must say, I am impressed! This is such a comprehensive range which has all the basics covered and I know I'll be frequently choosing Jewelry Basics!

If you're in Brisbane you'll be pleased to know you can find this range at Photo Continental. For those outside of Brisbane, you can shop online but you might have to wait a little while longer until the range has been uploaded. For those of you around the country, I have it on good authority that Riot Art and Craft are now also stocking Cousin products. I hope you'll check them out!

'Til next time.......

Moonlight and Pearls - A chance to win!

2011-10-31T00:23:00.003+10:00

I mentioned "earrings to match" in my last post and with so many beads left over from the re-stringing project I was able to get a little carried away creating a variety of variations.... don't you love it when you can indulge your creativity that way?!! So here's a selection of earrings to suit whatever your style is.

But I promised Mum a simple pair of earrings to match her new double stranded necklace and together we decided short and simple with no dangles was more appropriate to a woman of her age. She picked the Moonshine earrings below.

We both liked the pearls but because the moonshine beads were the focus in the necklace she thought that they would work better with the outfit she planned to wear this set with.

And as for the rest? Well, I thought I'd have a bit of fun and describe what style I think these would suit best.

Pearl Drops - For the woman who likes simple classics, you can't go past a pair of pearl earrings.... sophisticated and glamourous and perfect to wear with a twin set!

Another pair of earrings with simplicity in mind, Pearl Dangles. Perfect for the woman who likes just a little hint of movement in her earrings! The moonlight beads make these a little less formal than the pearls above.

Heart Drops features sterling silver heart-shaped connectors... très chic for the younger woman!

Elegant and romantic, Pearl Tendrils feature delicate leafy branches. These would look equally good with long locks or an upstyle. Love the earring wires on these!

And for the woman who loves bling - Crystal and Pearl Drops - a combination that always seems to work!

Now a girl can never have too many earrings but I've decided that two of these pairs will find new homes! If you'd like a chance to win a pair, leave a comment and your first and second preferences below and I'll draw two winners on Thursday evening. For Hive, Facebook and Networked Blog readers, please click here to leave your comment. Don't forget to leave your contact details so I can let you know if you're the winner. (Edited: this draw is now closed)

Good luck!

Moonlight and Pearls - Double the Strands for Impact

2011-10-28T09:55:00.000+10:00

Regular readers of my blog will remember the remake, remodel and restyled jewellery posts I've done recently. My Mum loved them all and they were a great gift for her birthday. This week she was visiting again for my son's 21st birthday and she brought along some more jewellery for a makeover. Yippee! I'm loving this!

The latest piece is a re-string. She had bought four strands of moonlight and pearl beads.

Photographing the moonlight beads was a little difficult. It's like photographing the moon; I just about needed a moon filter to get rid of the glare!

Anyway, what she wanted was a double strand necklace. And with a beadboard, this was easy to do. By simply laying out the strands of beads in the channel it was obvious how many more beads were needed in the outer strand.

I also added a few more to the inside length and eliminated the extension chain. I'd measured this on Mum beforehand to make sure I'd have it the right length for her. This is one of the real benefits of making your own jewellery.... being able to customise the lengths of your necklaces!

The original necklaces were strung on beading thread and I decided this was the best solution for this particular project... being able to hide the knotted thread inside a calotte is a neat and tidy way of ending each strand before connecting it to the double stranded clasp.

And here it is: from single to double - a simple makeover but a very elegant necklace!

I think a pair of elegant earrings are in order here. Stay tuned.... I have lots of beads left over.

'Til next time.....

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop - A Ladies Boudoir

2011-10-25T14:00:00.050+10:00

Thanks for stopping by this leg of the Sizzix Vintage Fresh Blog Hop. It's week 5 of the 6 week blog hop and Designers on this leg of the hop are using the Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Bag, Suitcase (Item #657124).

I got to have a little play with this die a while back and created bonbonnières for my Dad's 80th birthday party. You can see how I put the suitcase together in this post.

This time around, I've created a jewellery gift box for a pin made with a Katiedids component, one of the supporting manufacturers of the blog hop.

The box is constructed from an offcut of velvet matt board which I found at a local framers. Matt board is such a sturdy material but the Sizzix ScoreBoard dies have no problem handling such a thick material and cut through it like butter. The instructions for assembling the box are very simple and you can download a step by step pdf from Sizzix. I didn't use the handle or the lid tab for this project.

I've decorated the box with paper from Pink Paislee (Botanical Gardens 00441) and a silhouette transparency from Hambly Screen Prints (Portrait Gallery). I wanted to create an olde worlde feel and tea-dyed lace fitted nicely with that theme. I chose a selection of charms to embellish the silhouette which added to the mood of a ladies boudoir.

On top of the box is a miniature dressing table complete with mirror and comb from Madame Delphine's collection (Blue Moon Beads BM19249) and a perfume bottle made of beads and jewellery findings.

I love making these miniature faux perfume bottles and I usually turn them into pendants but this one sits elegantly on a brass tray with a little rosebud.

For this blog hop, I also had some Beadalon Katiedids components to work with. The channels of these components are just big enough to hold 4mm round pearl beads.

In the centre of the donut component I added a small image which I covered with 3 layers of Magic-Glos. Each layer was cured under a UV lamp before adding the next. Once cured, I attached the donut to a filigree flower with metal adhesive before adding some teardrop pearl beads to the 3 lower petals. Then the whole ensemble was connected to the pin with a jump ring.

To keep the pin sitting in place inside the gift box, I cut a piece of polystyrene foam to size and wrapped it with white satin.... a simple display solution but a perfect background to stick the pin into!

There's a whole lot more you can do with this die so check out the blogs of the other designers and bloggers participating in the hop by clicking on the hop forward button in the sidebar.

And If you'd like a chance to win the Flower, Layers #9 die from one of the earlier hops, please stop over at Oh My Crafts blog and answer the "Hop Question of the Day".

Happy crafting!

Bangles and Rings Galore - A fun session in the studio!

2011-10-19T11:58:00.000+10:00

What a fun day in the studio yesterday! I was joined by one of my very enthusiastic past resin students who brought along a friend for a day in the studio casting bangles and rings. She just can't get enough of working with resin!

Their mission for the day was to create as many OOAK resin bangles and rings as they could.

And they came prepared..... moulds, resin, objects to embed.... these girls were on a mission, and they knew exactly what they wanted to achieve. Here's just a small sampling of what we created during their session.

Bangles and Rings Galore

We embedded feathers, coffee beans and chilies. We also marbled, swirled and coloured. And we glittered and sprinkled too. By the end of our marathon we had cast more than 35 bangles, rings and jewellery pieces between us!

So if you've done one of my Bangle and Ring workshops before and you'd like to get really productive like these two ladies, why not join me in one of my personalised studio for hire sessions where you have access to an extensive selection of moulds, all the guidance you need and a perfect space for creating. With Christmas fast approaching, this might be the perfect solution for all the girls on your gift giving list. Imagine all the fabulous handcrafted bangles and rings you could make for them!

I provide the moulds and the guidance, and you provide the creativity. I promise you a fun and productive day! For further information, contact me via my website, Mill Lane Studio.

Happy crafting!