Earrings by Helen

This is the book I just got in the post a few days ago and I was anxious to work from it. I has some really nice earring designs, along with different styles of earwires.
I've worked a bit on my earwire skills, the first is a more secure type of regular earwires, as the loops are inside, they hold better the whole wire in the ears.
The second is a pair of ball-post earrings. There are people who don't like the long earwires due to the way their ears are pierces (ex. too large holes, etc), so I will get my skills up and offer some ball-post earrings as well in my shops. I will use smaller pearls in the wire, as when I tried out my prototype, I had a feeling like I had two earrings in my ear, lol. It's quite interesting though.

Who hid Thursday??

Arghhh the week is going too fast and I haven't written a single card yet!! I know I'm not the only one but its starting to get scary!! On a good note Elli did her nativity without tears yesterday which was lovely but Daddy says it was because of him being there *rolls eyes!!

I seem to be missing parcels though - beads, dvds, cd's, silver, more beads,and gemstones - for some reason things are taking an age to get to me and I'm starting to worry - now someone tell me if the post office is striking and I just don't know it or is someone sitting looking at my beads and wondering who they are for?? I'm impatient for my parcels as it is but when I have a commission to finish for next Thursday and the componants haven't arrived yet the panic does set in - so maybe if you all cross your fingers for me they'll arrive tomorrow morning - tell you what - anything that arrives tomorrow morning I'll photograph them for you to see - ok??

Lots of gemstone jewellery I have been creating this week as you can see - the bottom one is a sterling silver ring with garnets and silver.

© Gemheaven 2007

Featured on Dawanda's homepage

I've just noticed today my green cats-eye set is on the front page at Dawanda. First I though it's the section with the new products and was wondering how was it shown as new, and then it clicked that it's in the Featured section yayy! (second right from the bottom) I was so surprised as I have never seen my jewelry featured there yet!! But there is always a start for everything :)

Nativity

Today was Elli's first day of her nativity at school - my little munchkin was an angel but when I arrived at school she was an angel in floods of tears - her tummy hurt and she wanted to go home. Now any Mother with a dramatic child will go through the same questions as I did - first the soft cajoling, then the concerned maybe she's going to be ill again (see yesterdays post!) then the bribe - if the bribe doesn't work then she really is poorly - it didn't to begin with I said no to Rainbows later and she shook her head - then her teacher offered a merit - these little stickers they are given for good work - and all of a sudden she nodded and decided to be brave - what is it with stickers lol!!

SOLD

Anyway she did the nativity with her angel song and routine - made Mummy's eyes water too!! But because she did do the play I had to let her go to Rainbows last evening with Mums and Daughters so I'm all covered in glitter and glue - great fun crafting!!

I'm off to crash on the sofa now - until tomorrows play - fingers crossed she makes it for Daddy to watch!!

A new Tree of Life

Here is my today's attempt at a tree of life. I like this one much better. The size is normal now, 3x3 cm and it just sits much nicer on the chain. I'll have to make a few more to get it really 'right', with different combinations of stones and beads.

Its Monday - right??

Its no good having Elli home from school - it throws my week right out - so its not Monday?? Elli has gone back to school today - no temperature this morning and she was desperate to go because their school nativity starts tomorrow so off she went wrapped up in her hat, scarf and gloves!! It was freezing this morning or as Elli calls it "Jack Frost has been".

I actually started on my family's pressies this morning - of course I can't show you because they may peak!! Lets just say I nearly froze my fingers off this morning in my garage it was so cold - think I may have to invest in a little heater to take the edge off the cold air in there. Cold hands does not make it easy to work especially when you keep hammering your fingers at the same time!!

The above necklace is created with Isabelle Anderson's etched purple beads with amethyst and silver - on silver adjustable chain - what do you think??

Tree of life pendant

I must be the only one who hasn't done yet a tree of life pendant. So here is my very first one. Silver wire, jasper and crystal chips. Not sure how I feel about it. It's quite big, maybe bigger than I wanted it to be. And the colors are kind of gloomy. I think I'll do another one and use this as a prototype. Or something.

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Brandi of Caties Blue so I'm going to bore you with 5 things about me!

1) I'm the youngest of 3 girls - my poor football mad Dad was desperate for a son!
2) I bite my nails - I didn't used to though so if anyone has any hints or tips I'd love to stop!
3) I Love reading chicklit - you know the ones girl meets boy blah blah blah
4) I adore history especially the Tudor times - how they live etc
5) I bought a dress yesterday hahah

I'm tagging Caroline of Crafted Gems ,Catherine of La Perle,Krista of Crystal Seas, and Mandie of Jewellery Craft. Hope you enjoy being tagged!!

The weather prompted me to make this necklace - chunky silver and Crystal Quartz with Isabelle Andersons beautiful artisan glass beads. Mind you it's a definate year round necklace!

Mock jewelry display table

I have a mini jewelry party on Thursday (I won't be the main attraction there but was also invited by somebody who bought some of my jewelry and she liked it), so I'll get a table there as well.
Today I spent my whole day polishing up my jewelry (making new ear wires, filing away burrs, adding price tags), and making the mock display in the picture so I can sort of see how it will look in real life when I get there.
If you read this post before Thursday, please give me your comments on what do you think I should change - if anything.

Day and Night

Here are a couple more things I've done lately for the 'party' on Thursday where I will have also a table to display my jewelry.
I particularly like the black and white necklace, which I named Day and Night. Onyx and white jade, and of course silver. All with matching earrings.

The next one is rhodonite with silver. I'm modelling it.





Third is amazonite beads and turquoise pendant, and earrings.

This mosaic silver pendant with jasper and quartz crystal chips is something I made just now, mostly for fun. (this one just SOLD)



On the left is a simple chain with agate square stones.



And finally I have two moonstone sets, one with small bone beads, and one with Swarovski crystals.