May Artists' Trading Card (ATC)

 

Here is May's ATC, continuing the challenge I set myself for this year - to create an ATC for each month of 2020.  I am enjoying this project very much, using lots of different techniques and media.  I used one of my favourite stamps (by Jane Davenport) which appeared in my art journal and which I knew I would be revisiting.

Here is the art journal page.

Chris suggested using small die cut flowers rather than painted ones, particularly as the card is on a smaller scale.  Luckily, I had just invested in some small flower dies - how fortuitous!)  I painted the flowers in gouache, using bright happy colours.  Leaves were added and then gold dots in the background.  The centres of the flowers have glitter in them and the lady also has glittery hair and ribbons on her dress. The gemstones are citrine, pink dyed shell, amazonite, carnelian, larimar, emerald and aquamarine.  The gemstone for May is emerald, so that is the charm at the bottom.

The back of the card has a lamb image and more flowers, together with the May verse, which mentions lambs.  

I think it is a happy, bright and cheerful card, which makes me smile.

Keeping Busy

 I have been keeping occupied quite well over the last week or so.  Above is a pearl necklace which I re-strung for my mother-in-law as the catch was broken.  It took me several attempts and a bit of choice language to get there.  I have decided I need to practise with the pearl knotting tool,which, when I have got to grips with it, will make the whole process so much easier. When the necklace was strung before, it was knotted in groups of six pearls.  I have re-done it with one pearl then a knot.  It means if it does break (I hope it won't), only one pearl will be lost and it also keeps the pearls from rubbing against each other.  It does look nice now.

 In another jewellery project, my friend Rachael asked if I could make her a necklace for her birthday incorporating three charms she had been given.  I had a bit of a think and came up with this design. 

 I used wrap loops to join all the parts together for added stability and longevity. 

 I chose aquamarine, jadeite and labradorite as the gemstones and you can see the little charms here.  I made it just longer than a choker length and I hope it will be comfortable to wear.

 Last Thursday, I decided (on a bit of a whim) to tackle the patio and release the chairs and table from their prison of plants and pots.  They had been at the back of the patio for at least ten years and we weren't able to actually use them.  After a lot of sweeping, moving pots from here to there and re-positioning, we can now sit down.  Of course, the weather has been too cold since then, but they are ready for us.  (They also need a bit of TLC and repainting, but that's for another day.)

Finally, here's tulip Brown Sugar again, enjoying the sunshine, when we have had some.  It does complement the brick wall, I think.

March Birthdays

March has been a month filled with birthdays for friends and colleagues and it is times like these that I am really pleased I can make gifts. Above is a memory wire bracelet with aquamarine, apatite, peridot, amazonite and lapis lazuli for a colleague.

I also made a card for her, using the Altenew 'Simple Flowers' stamp set, which has a lovely 'retro' feel. I was pleased with the end result. 

 Another colleague was given this memory wire bracelet, with aquamarine, agate, apatite, amazonite, tanzanite and lapis lazuli.

 I made her card using the Altenew 'Half tone circles' stamp set in shades of blues.

 A friend had their 40th birthday, so I printed some wrapping paper using a Blockwallah stamp 'Curious fox' (as she likes foxes).

 I also stamped the envelope...

...and the card (apologies for the bad lighting!)

Inside the card, I used my dies and die cutter to create the 40 (using glitter card) in a silver circle. I made her a beryl stretchy bracelet with sterling silver spacers, like mine from the previous post, and bought her a Blockwallah Curious Fox stamp. some fox material and a few other bits and pieces which I think she liked.
A good thing about making cards and presents is that it is unlikely they will be duplicated!

More kumihimo necklaces - finally completed

 I have made a few of these kumihimo (Japanese braiding technique) necklaces now and have finally finished three which just needed the ends completing.  I chose colours that I wear at work in the winter.  The purple one above uses 6mm faceted and plain gemstones.

 The blue one uses 6mm faceted and plain gemstones too...

...whereas this blue/green one uses gemstone chips.  I wanted to use the Chartreuse S-Lon cord in a piece of jewellery, so decided to try it out here.

Here's a close up of the purple stones which include amethyst, fluorite, agate, lavender amethyst.

 The blue one has aquamarine, different agates, lapis lazuli and sodalite in it.

The blue/green one has peridot (which matched the Chartreuse cord beautifully), amazonite, apatite and aquamarine.
I really enjoy the repetitive aspect of kumihimo which does become a relaxing and meditative activity.

Update on the wall situation:  the wall man came to have a look at the damage and said that a fence would be cheaper, but a wall could be put back, although not with the old bricks.  However, this would involve foundations four bricks width each side, so would mean the raised border would have to go and I would need to save the plants I wanted and then start again.  We are waiting for the quote...

Finished necklaces

I finally got around to making some necklaces.  The one above features my polymer clay bead, with peridot, aqaumarine, amazonite and apatite chips, both on the necklace itself and in the tassel.  I think the colours of the gemstones really complement the polymer bead.

You may remember that I bought this peridot chip necklace at the car boot sale.  I have taken it apart and am using the peridot from it.

As I was in jewellery-making mode, I also made this necklace, using pearls from a previously bought necklace, aquamarine, peridot, two colours of apatite and amazonite chips.  I spent hours threading the chips onto the beading thread, held it up to judge the length, then promptly dropped the end without the bead stopper on it! Consequently, everything fell off, rolling to the far corners of the room and I then spent quite a few minutes retrieving it all, with a few choice words being said at the same time!  Once I had recovered, I set to and re-threaded it all on again. (Note to self: use a stopper bead on both ends when judging length of necklace!)  However, I do like the result as these teal/blue/green colours are favourites of mine and it is a necklace I shall wear a lot.

More macramé

 Here are the latest bracelets, made using gemstones and glass beads.  Above is one made for a friend at work because her daughter 'borrowed' the one I had originally made for her birthday.  I did make one for her daughter too.  It is made using botswana agate and grey agate and the small stones on the ends are zebra jasper.  I found it quite tricky to get the cord through the gemstones as the drill holes were quite small, but found enough for this bracelet. 

The other two here are blue sandstone (back left) which is glass with beautiful sparkles inside it, like the night sky. I think it is made by infusing copper into the glass, but am not sure. It is a beautiful thing though. This is just knotted in between each stone, but I am not sure the cord will be very long lasting. (I may end up taking it apart and making it into a bracelet with beading wire). The one in front is aquamarine and amazonite and has a lovely fresh look to it. The turquoise blue cord works well with the stones, I think. I am really enjoying using macrame in jewellery making. I have now received my clay roller too, so will have another try at polymer clay over the weekend. 

Another jewellery present

 I made this latest bracelet for a friend and work colleague, whose birthday was in March.  This dictated the choice of aquamarine as it is March's birthstone.  I had seen a technique that I wanted to try and thought that this project might be just the thing, so after a few practise goes, I made the bracelet.

The stones have been woven to create squares around the bracelet and I used two amazonite stones by the clasp to add another gentle colour and different texture. The bracelet was very successful and I was pleased with the pattern I made.  Rachael was also pleased to receive it!

My first jewellery making project

Above you can see my first attempt at jewellery making, using some of the gemstones I have been buying recently.  The stones are amethyst, fluorite, black shell and labradorite and I used the weaving technique to create the pattern.  I am really pleased with the result and have worn the bracelet and earrings at work.  I need a clasp for the necklace and then I shall wear that too.  It took me a few goes to get the bracelet the right length as I am not keen on bracelets that drape all over my hand and which have to be shaken back to the correct place. I really enjoyed putting the gems together and making the pieces as the weaving was very therapeutic to do, although the threading required me to wear my glasses!
I have also ordered some blue chalcedony, more (darker) labradorite, botswana agate and larger amethyst stones and I am considering a final order (for now) of the aforementioned clasps, more botswana agate, some jade, some aquamarine and maybe even some tanzanite.  Then I need to make lots of pieces.  Somehow, I think this may become a bit of an obsession!