Custom order part 4: now finished
I always seem to finish these stages at night when photo taking is rubbish as flash is pretty compulsory!
I made the little silver pieces on Monday night and fired them on Tuesday morning, then distressed them with liver of sulphur and a wire brush. Then the findings finally arrived so I could finish putting everything together…
This is a heart containing horse hair on an 18″ sterling silver chain with little name tag, and hair in a lozenge of resin on sterling silver chain made into a bracelet with small “K” tag. The only thing I would have liked is to have found a neater finding for the two ends of the lozenge- they’re quite big but the jumprings I had were too round to go through the hole at each side, and when I tried to form them for this purpose they were too weak for use in a bracelet. The other clamps I had were too small so I didn’t have a lot of option 
I just hope the chain isn’t too thick as the lady they are for likes more delicate chains. It is 6mm round chain and the thinnest “bracelet” chain I could find!
This is a more casual jewellery set- a teardrop of resin with red glass bead and ashes embedded. It is on a 26″ grosgrain ribbon with (mostly) sterling silver findings. There’s a britannia silver name tag on that too and it also has a small red glass bead added alongside it. The bracelet to match is again ashes and glass bead, but is attached to a band made from cord. Quite pleased with this one as the findings were easier to source and worked well despite this being my first cord bracelet (maybe I’ll make more?). The also has a “K” tag and a glass bead dangle.
Custom order part 3 and your help needed please!
The horse hair and ashes custom order is nearly complete, I just need to swap some of the findings for sterling silver ones when they arrive (hopefully today) and make the silver name bits. I think I should be able to add the full name to the pendants, but a small initial might be better for the bracelets.
I cast a block of resin in bands and then cut it and sanded it with the bands going across the ring. However I now think it looks a bit plain and is lacking something. Any ideas? Do you think I should sell them in sets of 3? They won’t be very cheap because of all of the sawing and drilling and sanding involved, so hoping there’s a way of selling them individually still. Maybe I should just make them thicker?
Make 50: Week 35 and 36
Another Heart on Sleeve bracelet for you this time, and I’ve also had a play with some tiny bezels to make “charm” style necklaces.
New stuff going on
I’ve been making loads of new stuff recently, so thought I’d share some here as my blog post today :)
These are a few of my favourite things…
I’ve bought a few necklaces from Etsy recently and love them! From left to right: Polarity (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5719038), Blue Fish Handmade (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7677865), Holly’s Deco Drops (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7362329)
Make 50: Week 21
A quick post to show you a necklace I made with a different cord. It’s a sort of synthetic yarn from Rowan called “Holiday” and I’ve ended up with bundles of the stuff, but it looks nice and rustic 
Spotlight on… Recycled Rings
I stumbled across http://recycledrings.etsy.com today when looking for items for my latest treasury. The items didn’t fit my selected theme, but I was taken by the necklaces made from real walnut shells so much so that I had to share them with my blog readers!
Make 50: Week 11 and Time for Tea!
Technically, this is week 12, but I missed last week, and I’m still on track for 50 things, so… never mind! Apologies for the photo quality today, still bonkers busy round here!
This is my item, which was made for the main item in the Time for Tea Swap with Jen (http://purplejenknits.blogspot.com), it has green tea leaves embedded inside, with tea bag, tea cup and teaspoon charms. I’ve just read on her blog that she likes it, hurray!
I also made her some purple knitting needles as her “crafty” item, along with some buttons I bought from my favourite button-dealer, Gill from Hollingdale Designs (http://hollingdaledesigns.folksy.com).
And in return I got…
A knitted tea caddy, which will come in useful for work and a teacosy, but actually fits my head as a rather cool hat! I got some great fabric and buttons and beads to use too, I think the fabric was a batik that Jen may have even done herself! I also got a selection of Earl Grey tea and some long-eaten Jelly Belly beans. I think Jen must have read about my previosu swap since these beans are my favourites and they came with my favourite brand of buttons too!
Thank you Jen!
Owl Swap and Book Progress…
I took part in Meridian’s Owl Swap (http://meridianariel.blogspot.com) and though I’ve not received my parcel yet, my partner Rosina has received hers, so I can now post a picture of what I sent!
My e-book is now no longer a preorder as it is all completed and if you do decide to order it from http://www.penny-dog.co.uk it will be with you within 24 hours of receiving payment. Those who have ordered paperbacks can be reassured that theirs won’t be far behind now, the manuscript went to the printers today, ready for proofing. I know there is at least one typo that needs editing and then it will be printed for real, and I’m hoping I will have them all ready in a couple of weeks! I can’t see how it will be financially viable for selling on Amazon though as they take a huge cut, so much so I will make a loss after printing costs, so I’m trying to negotiate something at the minute… Just for now, don’t order the book from there as I can’t guarantee they will get the business! 
Moss cabochon update!
I had a play with the moss cabs that I made, and could turn them into little biorb-esque pieces if I drilled close to the edge. The 1.5mm drill bit worked a dream, so this is what I came up with! Very pleased with the earrings, not sure about the bracelet, I think it needs something more adding, any ideas?
Not sure about the brooches, but will take them along to Remade anyway, and I’m also selling the cabochons singlely for other people’s craft use, I’m thinking £1 each.
Also my book is back up to full RRP as the offer finished yesterday, but it is very close to completion now, and may even be ready before the stated dates!
