Dilunah

2011-03-04T03:59:00.000-08:00

First quilt completed - I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it! It's definitely not perfect but I love the finished result and hope that my new grandson to be will be equally happy with it :) I used Rural Jardin fabric by Moda and a pattern from http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com/
My next quilt project is a crazy nine patch for a seat pad, I'll post pictures when it's done.

So exciting - New Gallery at the Wharf

2011-01-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

For quite some time the Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire,which I belong to, has been pursuing the dream of an art and craft gallery at Burscough Wharf and it's now so close we can almost touch it. This is so exciting as it's a lovely position and is nearing the end of a complete makeover of the old buildings whilst retaining it's character.

It opens on Valentine's weekend with fire eaters, jugglers, stilt walkers and other attractions so will be well worth a visit if you are anywhere near Burscough.

New Year - old interests!

2011-01-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

Well I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year even if it was a bit chilly!

I decided it was too cold to chizzle the icy path to the studio/garage and dusted off the old sewing machine instead. I made a set of the cutest little bags for my granddaughter from 'The Perfect Handmade Bag' then a couple of handy shopping bags to replace those supermarket plastic bags.

Here's a photo of some fabric I've had lying around for years so I used it to try out the cover bag in the Bag Making Bible

another lovely book. I'd forgotten how much I love sewing:)

Church Bank Gallery in Bolton

2010-11-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

There's a lovely gallery in Bolton town centre, tucked away down Church Street and opposite the parish church. There are some lovely works of art in there well worth a visit, particularly in time for christmas!
I have a selection of my jewellery available there so why don't you pop in for a look around.
This is the website for the gallery.

Bead Fair - Sunday 12th September

2010-09-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'll be here, http://www.staffsbeadfair.co.uk/ , on Sunday, please stop by and say hello if you are in the vicinity.
I'll have lots of beads, silver and copper findings and earwires and I'm sharing a table with Kaz so there'll be even more beads and murrini and frit.
See you Sunday!

It's been a while........

2010-08-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

since I posted here, where does all the time go?

Here's a new shape of bead that I'm quite taken with at the moment having borrowed a friends brass spiral tool.

I've used some double helix odds to make the shards that give it the pinkish colour and the rest is anonymous stringers left on the table :) A truly unrepeatable bead.

Fancy a trip out this weekend?

2010-06-09T02:02:00.000-07:00

Then please visit Mill Barn in Samlesbury, Preston, for the Art and Garden Festival, 12th and 13th June 2010. The opening times are 11am - 4:30pm on both days.

As well as a selling exhibition of art and craft design work the garden is open and refreshments available. I will be there will my jewellery and fused glass along with other artists and craft workers. There are also plants available to buy, what more could you want!

It's a beautiful setting and a wonderful opportunity to explore beautifull gardens.

Here's the post code for your satnav PR5 0SS , looking forward to seeing you :)

How about a visit to Samlesbury Hall

2010-05-14T03:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of my jewellery and glassware in the beautiful setting of Samlesbury Hall, a tudor mansion in Lancashire.

It's a really lovely place and I encourage you to go and have a look around and stop by for a coffee in a magnificent setting. The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire exhibition is along the gallery and in a room off the gallery and well worth a look.

The exhibition runs until the end of May so plenty of time yet.

2010 Exhibitions List

2010-04-09T00:39:00.000-07:00

Well I have been quiet for a while but I've been working away getting ready for my first exhibition with the Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire. My fist will be at Lytham Heritage Centre, Lytham, Lancashire, from 20th April until 9th May.

I've still got loads to do but I'm pleased with the way this necklace turned out :)

A little bit of Maille

2010-03-02T10:27:00.001-08:00

I love my new jump ring cutter and have just made these Scherzo maille earrings, available on Etsy. I was a bit nervous cutting the silver but had practised a fair bit on copper first so I just bit the bullet! It's really handy to be able to cut exactly the size I want :)

New Beadshop in Preston

2010-02-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

Just Beads has opened a showroom in Preston centre. It's a lovely space already with a great selection of beads and the owner is very helpful and welcoming.
I am really happy to say that there is also a selection of my own lampwork beads now available in the store.
If you are local to Preston or just passing through it's well worth a little detour past this shop :)

Yeah for the thaw!

2010-01-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

We're finally rid of the icy skating rink that was my street!

I'm now trying to rid myself of the feeling of being a hermit as have hardly ventured out since Christmas.

I have at last cored some beads with the stamped copper bead caps that I've been making and I'm quite pleased with the effect, what do you think?

Happy New Year !

2010-01-01T04:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. I've been a bit quiet lately but that's just the season isn't it! Every time you think you've got all the shopping done something else crops up. Hope you all had an excellent Christmas and I hope you all have a hugely satisfying New Year.

I have been inspired by the January sales to have a sort out of all my single/lonely beads. These are beads that are left over from sets, test beads for new glass or techniques, beads that turned out differently from what was expected etc. They've been accumulating for a while so I thought it was time to sort and bag loosely by colour.

Enjoy!

I'm liking copper at the moment

2009-12-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-28T07:13:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-02T04:47:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-10-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

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.