I'm liking copper at the moment

Just found a lovely new group of copper wire workers here , can't wait to have a good look around as I'm enjoying working with copper wire at the moment. This pendant is available here in my etsy store.

Just a little update

The bead for Tommy's went for a fantastic £25 so the total is now tantalisingly close to the £500 target. A big thank you to the generous bead purchaser.

Silver Cored bead for Tommy's Charity

This is one of my big hole beads which I have capped and lined with sterling silver.

You can bid on this bead and it will be sold to the person who sends me the highest bid price and all the proceeds are going to the Frit Happens Tommy's fund, you can see the page here www.tommys.org/frithappens

You can email your bid to me at diane@dilunah.com and I'll contact the person with the winning bid next Sunday evening.

Don't be shy, send your bid, it's a good cause.

meanwhile, back to the anodised aluminium

I've finally got around to making a few things with the anodised aluminium (or anodized aluminum for US searches :) ) I'm beginning to really appreciate it's possibilities when I can make co-ordinating lampwork beads to put with it. I'm really pleased with how these earrings turned out together with my hand forged earwires.

All I need now is another 12 hours in every day so I can do all the things I want to do!!

New Big Hole beads

Well I've been busy making and silver lining a new batch of big hole beads, shown in the photo on my troll bracelet. Now all I have to do is take photos and list them on the webshop, I hate that bit!

Where did all the craft fairs go!

Well, Reebok was a big disappointment but I'm really not surprised. When you are setting up your stall full of things you have lovingly crafted yourself it is a bit disheartening to see stalls with pillows, yes pillows, and garden shears being sold at a so-called craft and gift fair. Now how many of you would appreciate a pillow as a gift!!

However, it was good to see returning customers who did appreciate my goods. Sadly I think that people in search of crafts are definitely voting with their feet and beginning to avoid these fairs where the craft stalls are so outnumbered by 'gifts'

Needless to say this will be my last Reebok Craft and Gift fair!

Eeek - Reebok on Sunday!

How did it creep up on me so fast? It's the Reebok Craft and Gift fair on Sunday in Bolton. Well, I had so many things I was going to do that I somehow didn't get around to but at least I managed a few more macrame and bead necklaces, I love making these. I like the way I can match the cord to the beads and find that using 2 colours makes a lovely effect.

More Anodised Aluminium!

I love the results of texturing the surface of this anodised aluminium, it creates instant oomph! I am definitely loving this new (to me) material. I really should be creating a few extra pieces for next weeks craft fair but can't help getting a bit sidetracked.

Where did my weekend go?

It went here at Myerscough College in Lancashire. It's a lovely location where they do all sorts of courses including horticulture and equine studies to name but two, but I was there to do 2 days of 'Working with Metal and Colour'

It involved working with anodized aluminium which we dyed and treated in a number of ways before fixing the colour, cleaning it up and then turning into jewellery. My own meagre attempts are in the photos!

I had a great time but it definitely went too fast as I had far more ideas for using the dyes and paints. The anodized layer on the aluminium takes up the dyes and paints and they can be layered or resists can be applied between processes.

The pinks and blues in the photos were achieved by dyeing the metal first mauve and then applying various patterns with nail varnish as the resist before dying again in the mauve, applying more varnish and then putting the piece in the blue dye. After fixing the colour, by boiling the metal for 40 minutes, I cut the pieces and put them through a rolling mill with fabric for texture. They were then shaped on the swage block. I was very impressed with the course and there was a plentiful supply of materials and tools to use so all praise for the tutor, Salina Somalya, whose website can be seen here.

Muffins and new wirework!

Well here's what I made today, banana muffins, hope it counts as one of my five a day!

I also completed a new pendant inspired by a couple of books recently bought. Please excuse the dreadful t-shirt background! Not too sure about the pendant yet - I think it maybe a bit too long but it sure does go well with the beautiful hand-dyed silk ribbon from http://www.sowzeredesigns.com/

Earwires

Well I think I'm getting the hang of this so I'll have another bash!
I've been asked to make some smaller earwire hoops so I've just added these to the website (clickable image) These measure about 22mm diameter.

My First Blog!

Well, I have no idea at the minute what I'll be writing in here but to get started I'll show you a couple of fused plates I've just made for a ruby wedding present commission.