Wow It's been a long time!

I cannot believe it has been over a year since my last post.  Time flies.

What have I been up to?

Well I got an addiction to photography. Took a course to improve my jewellery photos and lost the way. Or should I say gained a new addictive hobby.

I have also, after many years of debating, set up my own Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/designsfromtheheart

I am hoping to find more time to update everyone of my new designs and my travels around my area.

Vote For Your Favourite Anklet.

Do butterflies make your heart sing? This real butterfly wing pendant could be yours!!

Real Butterfly Wing Jewelry - Pendant - Madagascan Sunset Mo...

by DebrasDivineDesigns

$30.00 USD

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Simply click on our JET Team Blog link for details!
jewelryonetsyteam.blogspot.com/

A few moments of your time, a simple vote, and the pendant could be on it's way to your home!

To Seed Bead Or Not To Seed Bead

Well hats off and a massive applause to those that constantly work with seed beads.

I received my packets of seed beads weeks ago from Aunties Beads and what a time I had trying to fathom out what to do with them. The only time I had worked with seed beads is as an addition to my stringing designs. Never had a tried any of the stitches that you can do with them.

I have to admit completing a bracelet was a challenge for me. Although I actually found it relaxing. Once I got the hang of it and watched a video about half a dozen times it was - away I went. Alas I do have a problem with keeping the tension all the same.



Carla was a great help with this video on peyote stitch. Maybe Aunties Beads should put some more on.

So what is the secret to keeping the tension correct? How about some tips.

Dogs and Pools

Last night, just as a storm was starting, we picked up a cattle dog roaming the streets. As animal lovers we just couldn't leave him out in the storm. Bought him home and put him in the shed. We got through the storm without a peep from him. Then 11pm came - yap, whine, scratch, whine, yap.

We ended up bringing the dog in to the house and having him in our bedroom. Very little sleep - pacing, whine, yap, sleep a bit, pacing, whine, yap. A nightmare.

Emails were sent around locals to find the owner but nothing so we had to take him to vets who scanned his chip and hopefully contacted his owner.

Now to the pool. As the cover was on the dog kept falling in. Hub removed the cover so that he could see the water. This was very early in the morning and the colour was not seen until daylight.Nice eh?

Looks like we have a few days of dumping chlorine in to it and cleaning. Geeeez!

The Ultimate Clear Out

I don't have a clue when I last did this. We bought the house in Dec 2006 and it has probably been piling up since then.

Well the oldest out of date package I found was 2008.This would be a cooks dream. All those mixes and flavours of the world.

Check out the amount I have just had to throw away. Boy do I have some room in my larder now.

My back aches some what but I feel good for doing it.

Maybe I should concentrate on my bead stash as I never know what I have left.

Endless Designs For Those Larger Beads

So I received some lovely hand painted glass beads from Aunties Beads and put myself to a challenge to see how many creations I could make.

Large beads can be used in many designs - big chunky necklaces, focal points on necklaces, bracelets and earrings - endless.
So far I have made 2 bracelets, 2 necklaces and a pair of earrings, all with the same style of hand painted glass beads.

What extras did I use? Well sterling silver chain, sterling silver wire, black, silver and red glass beads, silver fancy spacers, clasps and earring hooks. Most of these extras can be found hidden away in your unused stash.

The best design for using up odd beads is the pendant style necklace. Just wire wrap sterling silver, attach the odd beads and, there you go, a delicious pendant.

You can find a variety of handmade necklaces in my Beadsme and Artfire stores.

What About Leftovers?

Always end up with a few left over beads and not sure what to do with them. Just add them as a dash of colour to any necklace or bracelet. Even if you have just 1 left, try to make it a focal point.

I received some lovely large pewter glass beads from Aunties beads and previously had some velvet red chinese crystals left. Adding leaf shaped beads caps and some rondelles I put together this great necklace and bracelet.

Excellent addition for that night out. Accompany them with some simple dangling silver bead earrings you have a great set.

Pop into my Etsy store for a variety of jewellery. - Beadsme.

Back To Creating

After a few weeks of trying to get back to normality I now have the dining table covered in goodies for creating and a few new creations.

I received some more awesome beads from Auntie Beads and away I went.

My first creation was this gorgeous necklace using foil outline rectangle glass beads, a couple of sterling silver round starburst beads and Swarovski crystals.

Then I got carried away, creating 2 matching bracelets with the additions of sterling silver hollow heart bead, a sterling silver oval message bead and sterling silver round mirror beads.

2 matching pairs of earrings followed. I found the hole in the rectangle glass beads a bit large for my headpins so used some flat bali spacers to help them fit correctly.

Check out Aunties Beads for an awesome array of beading supplies or Beadsme for the finished product.

We are back!

We have been home for a week now after our wonderful holiday in Thailand, Koh Samui to be exact.

It's so hard to get back in to the swing of everyday life.

I cannot report on the holiday much as it was mainly relaxation for us. A couple of trips out to the mainland which I must say has been hit by bad storms.

When we arrived in Koh Samui there was water everywhere. We couldn't even get down our road to the bungalows as the water was gushing over it. After wandering along the beach we noticed that the sea was actually going in to the lagoon, which didn't happen last time we went there. As you can see by one of my photos the backpackers units and there cleaning block was ruined.
Still we had a great holiday whilst watching the tragedy happening in our neighbouring State of Queensland. These guys had a rough time with unexpected flooding and lives lost.

A store has been set up on Etsy with handmade donations from all over the world. All proceeds will go to the Flood Relief Fund. You can find this store here AusDisasterRelief.

Going back to Koh Samui - they also have a problem with dogs and cats and a rescue centre has been set up. You can donate on this site - www.samuidog.org

Thank you to all those people that support here and overseas.

A Gift For All Seasons

This will probably be my last post until the New Year as in almost a weeks time we are flying to Thailand to meet up with the family.

I wanted to share with you my last creation which was produced with more goodies from Aunties Beads.

This stunning necklace is created with
5mm flat Bali spacers,
Sea Glass Nugget Bead Strand, Dark Olive, 12 x 16mm,

Sea Glass Round Bead Strand, Olivine, 8mm

Sea Glass Round Bead Strand, Spring Green, 6mm

All wire wrapped with sterling silver wire. A great colour all year round.

Did you notice the different words that can be used for different shades of green - spring green, olive, olivine, emerald, jade - just a few.

With the left over beads I added them to a silver head pin and attached to white gold plated lever back ear hooks. Sterling Silver Round Mirror Bead, 4mm have been added for that extra sparkle.


You will find these 2 wonderful creations on my Etsy store.

Come Join the Jewelry on Etsy Team TRUNK SHOW!

The Jewelry on Etsy Team will be having a team-wide on line Trunk Show on Sunday, November 21, 2010.

Come meet this wonderful team of talented jewelry artisans, share some laughs, and view the collections. It's a fantastic way to interact with the artists while checking off items for that ever growing holiday gift list. The show will be at 8pm EST in the Virtual Labs on Etsy. Team members will be featuring some of their favorite works, tell us how they were made, and ready to answer any questions LIVE!

This show was a huge hit last year so come early and grab a seat in the virtual lab. You don't want to miss a thing! You must be a registered Etsy user to participate. It only takes a minute to register, but then you can come join the fun, mark your favorites, and purchase on the spot during the show!

And, as always, you can view beautiful handmade jewelry from the entire Jewelry on Etsy Team by searching JETTEAM in the search box on Etsy's home page.

My Collection On Artfire Front Page

Well I must be doing something right. My "day in the woods" collection appeared on Artfire.com from page.
Congratulations to these artists for their front page appearance:
byapryl
VictoriaLarsen
ElementalDragons
CrazyTastyCakesDecorations
QuiltfairyKaren
CreativeCritters
OmegaArtDesign
Jemsbyjbandcompany
GeezeretteSupplies
CreativeArtglass
EmilyClaireCreations
HeartJCreations

Thanks again Artfire!

To visit my store just click here.

I was on Artfire front page

So excited and just had to show you.

Thanks Artfire and Abacusbeadcreations for putting me on the front page.

Holiday Season Etsy Wish List

Thought I would get the ball rolling and throw a few favourites about.

Maybe this is more for our colder season but I still want it. Love it in grey.
How about a beautiful necklace. My favourite colour too.Seem to be slightly colour co-ordinating here but you can never go without soap. I am a total addict when it comes to handmade soap.

And not forgetting I can never do without beads!

You can click on all the pictures and be taken to the relevant stores.

Happy shopping!!!!

An Experiment with Bronzite

This month I got some lovely Bronsite beads from Aunties Beads so I thought I would give myself a little challenge and see what I had in my stash that would go nicely with these beads.
My first choice was Turquoise. I love these beads. Well actually I liked the so much that I made a necklace using Bronzite 10mm Round Beads and bracelet using Bronzite, Turquoise and antiqued brass filligree balls and clasps.
My second creation was to mix the Bronzite 12mm Coin Beads with Peach Moonstone and for that extra touch I added 2 brass butterflies.

Lastly with the few Bronzite 12mm Coin Bead Strand left over I made an earthy bracelet matching them with white Howlite and a brass clasp.

These beautiful creations will soon be available in Beadsmes Artfire store.

My First Glass Plate

I am so pleased with my first attempt.

I have had the plate mold for many months now and just haven't plucked up the courage to try it. I wish I had done this months ago.
Yesterday I created this gorgeous plate. I was amazed, I CAN do it even if my kiln is so unpredictable.

Today I have decided to try again, fingers crossed. I would love to get a few of these created for a craft fair I am attending in November.

It's Snow Report

Reports filtering in that it is snowing at Bathurst and has been for a while, Bullaburra in the Blue Mountains and now Bilpin in the Hawkesbury.

Weird for Spring.

I Could Kiss Those Guys At Artfire

Can you tell I am happy. So pleased for the participants too.

My lovely stormy collection reached the front page of Artfire.com

Congratulations to:

BeautifulBridget
Sherrisscentsandsoys
Gildedquill
Aprishasparkles
Maggiehurley
Jamiesart
Tialeyvintage
Distantstaralpaca
Gothicreations
Tellicoturnings
Pegasussoaps
Zenandcoffee

Thank you Artfire.com.

A Fresh Delivey

I was in awe when I opened my package from Aunties Beads.

It was full of seas glass beads, I love them.
I got working straight away and created a lovely foamy necklace with matching bracelet. As Australia is coming in to Summer I thought this colour was so cool. To me it represents a beautiful blue sky with a calming sea. Although Aus is well known for it's excellent surfing.For the focal of the necklace and bracelet I used handmade lampwork beads and teamed them with
Sea Glass 8mm Round Bead Strand, Seafoam
Sea Glass Round Bead Strand, Opaque Sky Blue, 6mm
Sea Glass Round Bead Strand, Seafoam Green, 10mm
Wire wrapped each bead together and topped and tailed the Sea Glass 8mm Round Bead Strand, Seafoam with scalloped bead caps.You can check out my new Artfire or Etsy store for more creations.

A Challenge From Aunties Beads

I have pondered so long on these beads. Definitely unsure what to do with them. Firstly I thought earrings but then I added more beads and, woops, they ended up so heavy my ear lobes would have reached my shoulders.

In my wonderful package from Aunties Beads the ones I got so gumboozled with were these gorgeous Chinese Crystal Beaded Bead, Red Velvet, 26mm. Amazing but what did I do? Not the earrings! A necklace was formed and I can't tell you how many times I took it apart and repositioned the beads.

In the end I added some sterling silver wire, diamond shaped chain and more beads, Angelic Crystal Rondelle Bead Strand, Red Velvet, 4x6mm,
Chinese Crystal Faceted Rondelle Bead,Red Velvet, 11 x 14mm.


Added from my own collection is multi faceted black agate. This necklace is amazingly one that you can love or hate. It's bold and beautiful, seductive and a bit gothic. Big too, measuring 34 inches and the Chinese Crystal Beaded Bead, Red Velvet, 26mm dropping another 2.5 inches.

It was and still is a nightmare to photograph. Even placing it around myself still doesn't do it justice. Not forgetting these cute little earrings I popped together using the Angelic Crystal Rondelle Bead Strand, Red Velvet, 4x6mm.