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Sunday 24 June 2012

POTTERING ABOUT WITH JEWELLERY

Hi everyone

I know I begin most of my blog posts with either a weather forecast or a comment about the weather, and this one is no different!  I AM FED UP WITH THE RAIN!  Sorry for the capitals, but just wanted to make sure the Weather Gods hear my request.  Is it really just my imagination (I feel a song coming on) or were the summers of my childhood (yes, OK a long time ago) warm, full of sunshine and lasted longer than 2 or 3 days?  I am sure every day of the school holidays was wall-to-wall sunshine - or is it age playing a trick on my memory?  I know I am lucky, no floods ruining my home and treasured possessions and I cannot begin to imagine what this must feel like, but like most of us I do need some sunshine.

Did you read Badger Boo Media Hound's latest guest blog post?  If you don't shed a tear or two, you are very hard-hearted - so nip over when you have finished reading my post and see what he has to say.  I am in need of guest posters for July, so come on you Handmade Mondayers, please get in touch and join the growing group of Guest Bloggers.  It would be lovely to have you take part.  You can contact me on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com and a reminder just in case: 600 - 800 words, lots of pics, and all of your links (Twitter, Facebook, etc).  Your choice of topic can be craft or non-craft related, a bit of unashamed business promotion, talking about a place you love, a hobby, at pet or something that you feel you would like to write about.

My missing piece of pottery is still missing; I was advised that at another centre, a student's work turned up after it had been missing for three months!  Perhaps the person who took it decided they didn't really like it after all.  Oh well, I have enrolled on next term's course, so perhaps sometime in October I should have my fourth serviette holder back.  The course tutor has suggested I make another one to complete the set, but as the first batch were stamped and rolled, it is slightly difficult for a very amateur potter to get everything just right the second time around.  I shall have to ponder on this a while.

I have been busy this week making stock for my wall at Bourne Mill and here are pics of a few of my makes:





Don't forget to visit the blogs taking part in Handmade Monday to see what everyone has been up to in the last week.

As part of the Open Studios Event, I attended an Introduction to Wirework course yesterday run by Julie Holt at the Surrey Jewellery School.  An intense 2.5 hours during which I learned lots of easy techniques to make jewellery findings, and also made three pairs of earrings.  The session was a fantastic bargain at £15 - a special price for the Open Studios event.  Here are photographs of 2 of my makes:



The Open Studios event finishes today, although there are a couple of dates next month to catch up on visits.  I really recommend you try to see some of the great work of the artists who are taking part and also look out next year for the short courses some of the artists run - such great value.  Julie has lots of short courses on offer and I am considering doing one or two over the next few months.  Whilst I don't necessarily think I will branch out into the world of making/selling my own jewellery (too much competition really) I would like to make things that can embellish either my cards, gift bags or wreaths with.

The sun is out, the rain has actually stopped (perhaps the weather Gods have heard my plea?) and although it is very windy, I am going to do some gardening.  At this time of year, it is a case of grabbing time in the garden whenever possible as everything grows very, very quickly.

Finally I want to share with you my good fortune.  I received an email in the week advising me that Mr A N Other had arrived in Heathrow with $4,000,000.  Unfortunately, Mr Other was unable to leave with this money unless he paid a release fee.  Sadly, he was unable to do this and the sender of the email has given me a chance in a lifetime opportunity to share the $4,000,000 with him on a 60 (in my favour) - 40 basis.  All I have to do is transfer £1,700 and $2,400,000 will be mine.  As you can imagine I have been very busy checking in handbags, behind sofa cushions, emptying jars, raiding the cats' piggy banks' in an effort to raise the £1,700!!

Have a good week everyone, don't forget to check out the Handmade Monday blogs, my guest post and do please get in touch if you would like to be a guest blogger in July.

'See' you on Wednesday

Jill

48 comments:

  1. What beautiful earings, and I love the cards.

    We are also sick of the rain and carrying a coat just in case.

    D xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a complete pain in the umbrella - I hope July brings some sunny days with it.

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  2. Lovely new cards and earrings. As for the missing pottery, have you looked around/next to the kiln? Small pieces are often mislaid when the kiln is emptied. Fingers crossed...

    Just in case you were wondering, we have had 138mm of rain in June; the average is 40mm!

    Hope you've had a great day x.

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    Replies
    1. Searched everywhere without success - I am hoping that during the summer break when they normally have a big clear-out it might be found. 138mm??? We have had a lot but hadn't realised it was that much.

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  3. Lovely makes. Cute owl - I've just been working on an owl today! Oh, for some sunshine x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, please - just a few days would be nice.

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  4. I've loved writting for my 2 visits as a Guest Blogger, can thoughougly reccomend it.

    Its hard to type wiv fluffy paws, so it will be much easier for all you creative hoomans.

    BB xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent pieces and you are always welcome back as a guest blogger.

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  5. Love the earrings,they're so quirky!I'm fed up of the rain too and was only saying yesterday how it seemed we had sun all summer when I was younger.Don't go mad spending your share of the $4,000,000-they must think we're so stupid!

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  6. I love the owl and flower cards in particular. Sounds like you had a very productive time on the wire course - I think you will definitely be able to use your new skills to embellish your cards beautifully.

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    Replies
    1. The wire course was great - almost needless to say when I got home I had to start work on some more earrings.

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  7. Your zig zag earrings are lovely. I giggled at your last bit, those spammers must think people are absolute idiots, lol

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    Replies
    1. I do wonder if there are some people who believe it and respond - I hope not.

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  8. We definitely had more sun in the 'old days'!
    Love the cards, especially the flower one.
    Makes me so mad that there are people put there who spend all their time trying to con people out of their hard earned money.
    Have a good week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohm we did, didn't we? Can;t just be our memories playing up.

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  9. you have been busy with your lovely cards and earrings too!

    great idea to use jewellery skills for your cards in the future - can't wait to see the results! :)

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    Replies
    1. Hopefully will have some to show in the not too distant future.

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  10. The rain has actually stopped here in the Northwest....although some parks and roads are flooded...my OH loved taking pictures of it...nutter :-)) Love the cards, really lovely.

    Hope you have a great week x

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    Replies
    1. Glad the rain has stopped and I bet the pics are really interesting.

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  11. I know what you mean about the rain! Some nice cards to cheer us all up though - thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Supposed to be sunny and warm this week - fingers and toes crodssed.

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  12. Your jewellery came out lovely! That was a really good price for a course. Don't talk about the rain as I am totally fed up with it too! (Though I must confess we have a blink of sun this morning!) Mich x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's sunny here today - I hope it last for the rest of this week. The course was a great price for what we learnt and made - a great session.

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  13. I had a very similar email this week... I didn't have the necessary funds down the back of the sofa either! The jewellery is very striking. Hope you have a good (and dry) week!

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    Replies
    1. Have searched high and low and just cannot come up with the £1,700 - such a shame :)

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  14. I love the owl card... it just makes me smile... and the earrings are really delicate... I want a Like Button so I could keep pressing it :)

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    Replies
    1. I wasn't too sure for the patterns I used for the owl as his body was similar in colour to the 'other bits'.

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  15. Lovely cards and jewellery Jill! Just a thought....What about if you made TWO or THREE more pottery napkin holders? That way they wouldn't have to be exactly the same (perhaps the same colour), but would make up 'a set' until the original turns up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's just what I needed, good advice from a great crafting cousin. will go for three in a slightly similar, but complimentary style. Thank you.

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  16. Lovely earings, really good value too, it's great learning new crafts in classes rather than on t'internet, much more fun.

    Ooo I had one of those emails too :)

    Jan x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to stubbornly teach myself everything, but these days I think 'let's get some professional input to find out the short cuts'.

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  17. Well, it's sunny this morning here so I hope it is with you!
    Lovely cards, the flower one particularly stands out for me. The colours are so subtle, but pretty too.
    Now I think you should share your money with the Handmade Monday crew - perhaps we should have a whip round to help find the £1700?! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More than happy to share the millions - think of all those craft materials we could buy.

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  18. its very sunny here today in hants too but lets not be too hasty im sure the rain will return to us soon we had a couple of nice days last week but they ended in rain too glad you enjoyed your jewellery making those earrings are very pretty hope the sun shines for you today a little longer xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sun is shining today - fingers crossed for a few more days.

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  19. Nice cards and the wire work is lovely. No sun here either, but we keep hoping!

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  20. Love the owl card and the one with the flowers. Your earrings are very elegant. I have done the opposite, used to make jewellery, learnt to crochet so I could make crocheted wire jewellery but ended up liking crochet so much, I gave up the jewellery!! And yes I am convinced my childhood summers were a lot sunnier!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad it's not just me who remembers better summers.

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  21. Good news the sun is on it's way, or so they say!! Your work is all lovely, i especially like the owl.

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    Replies
    1. Second day of sunshine - dare we ask for a few more days? Hope so.

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  22. The end of your post really made me smile. Ditto re rain my flowers aren't blooming without sun. Love both your cards and the jewellery. Sorry your pots not shown up the one you posted recently was lovely. Have a good week. Ali x

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    Replies
    1. Wouldn't it be great if it was true - now what could I do with $2,400,000..............

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  23. Your childhood memories are the same as mine. Long hot summers and outside playing all of the time. Love the flowerpot card and youjr earings are very graceful. Hope your pottery turns up eventually. How frustrating for you. hugs Mrs A.

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    Replies
    1. Lucky these days if we get a few days of sunshine and warmth - not too hot would be nice, but plenty of sunshine.

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Thank you for your comment - it is always lovely to have feedback and I hope you enjoyed my post.