dreamsofnever

In between moving countries & changing computers a few times, there were several old (and some new!) Jewellery projects that I have been late in posting pictures of. A lot of this is still in the "woven wire" style that I got into whilst living in London. 

Although technically I am not a part of the Year of Jewellery anymore (I found posting weekly difficult with the big, thousands-of-miles move last year), I am still trying to keep up & make jewellery on a weekly basis. Reminder - the YOJ is where you make a new piece of Jewellery every week, and post it to the blog - along with other participants - see link here. I really do miss participating in the YOJ... it's an incredibly challenging way to ensure you churn out 1 new piece per week - guilt is a great motivator!

My all-time favourite piece of Jewellery I have made so far must be the Woven Cuff (Bracelet). So shiny.... so silver :) Topped off with clear quartz & silver beads. I am intrigued by wearing this at my wedding (depending on the dress of course!)

SILVER WOVEN CUFF 

Made with:

* Silver Wire
*Clear Quartz
*Silver Beads
*Lots of Patience (in coiling the silver wire!)





"SUNSET" THEME FOCAL NECKLACE 

Made with:

* Moonstone
* Clear Quartz
* Rose Quartz
* Swarovski Crystals





CHARM STYLE SILVER NECKLACE 

Made with:

* "Bead soup" from my bead stash!
*Clear Quartz
* Moonstone
* Bali Beads
* Foil Work Beads
* Hand-crafted S-link clasp



SUBTLE S-LINK CHAIN 

Made with:

* Rose quartz
*Swarovski Crystal Beads
* Silver wire



"GARDEN FOCAL NECKLACE" 

Made with:

* Freshwater Pearls
* Rose Quartz
* Silver wire





DANGLE HEART NECKLACE 

Made with:

* Foil-worked beads (Including the heart)
* Clear Quartz
* Bali Beads
* Hand-crafted S-Link clasp



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That's all folks! (for now anyway - a further update to come shortly!)

x L

Wow.  Its been creeping up to a year since I've moved back to Sydney from London.  What a life-style change... so many things have been happening since I've moved back home.  I've been super busy this whole time.

1. Work has been frantic, but great.  I love my new job.
2. Busy setting up a home with J.  Organising the Engagement party & still organising the wedding.
3. I have felt lots of reverse culture shock- I really do miss London :)  We'll be back there (or somewhere else overseas) in a few years, though! Our time isn't over there yet!
4. I have also been really busy creating some new Jewellery to share... so watch this page :) :)

When we first got home to Sydney & spent our first few days settling into our 3 bedroom flat, I couldn't get over the the geography here, as opposed to the geography & outlook in London.  In Barnes we had a gastro-pub next door, and an array of shops up and down our street.  It was all terraced housing.  In Sydney - it couldn't be more different.  It is all 'Mcmansions' - 2 storey houses and huge backyards (many with pools).  Lots of trees, and shopping malls rather than the London high-street.

NOW



THEN

Yay, I did get my old computer working.  Some new jewellery picture goodness...

Here is my Wk 14 piece for the Year of Jewellery Project.  This wasn't to theme (as usual), but it involved me working with the organic style that I love to play with...

It was made with silver wire, indian glass beads & swarovski's.  It looks like berries to me :)



I've now got to get pics of week 15-17 & upload to the blog site also.  A task for tomorrow as it is getting late!

In the midst of a lazy Sunday nap, I suddenly had visions of paisley patterns, and how to work them into my jewellery making.

So off I headed to one of my (many) favourite blogs (by a fellow Londoner also) - Print & Pattern - for some inspiration.  

Some of my favourite images were...

* Brown & White flowers
* Black paisley / flower pattern

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The National Gallery in London was fantastic yesterday.  There is something about the bold colours of the cira. 1500 - 1600 art that is just spectacular.  It makes me with I could paint - wow, what an ability!  Afterwards we just chilled out in Trafalgar square, sitting on the grass & watching the hordes go by.  The gallery is open late on Wednesdays... I have plans of heading there after work this week & see some of the art I didn't get a chance to see yesterday :)

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I'm trying to load my old computer up to download a bunch of photos of some recent work.   Hopefully it wont take too long & it will give me a chance to catch up with the Year of Jewellery Project - which I am behind on posting to.  (Making a new piece of jewellery each week doesn't bother me - its the photos & editing & uploading.  Bah! I have no patience for this!).

I've been NOT enjoying the rare, beautiful blue London skies outside this morning as I have been trawling various LJ communities (such as 

jr__nal) & checking out peoples fine work.  

I have also been sketching & filling up a "creative / collage" type journal this morning.  I'm SLOWLY getting better.  Its frustrating to me see how childish my drawing skills are - I wish I was better (and I need to be if I want to get into a jewellery course!).  Practice makes perfect I guess.  I heard a good tip - to check out some online stock photography / image sites & draw from them as a reference.   Scans to follow when I'm less embarrassed about the quality of my work!

This afternoon I'm off to the National Gallery in London on Charing Cross Road.    And I would like to fit in a nice relaxing sit in the Park at Barnes as well :)

Better head, jase is despairing at my extreme slowness.  How does he put up with me?!

 

xxoo

I had my first class at CSM today.... it was really interesting!  

I have never used a jewellers saw before and jesus it was difficult.  I broke about 7 blades of the saw (about standard I think for the class), which frustrated me.  I think I need to go out & buy a saw and do some practicing :)  (As I spent about 2 hours sawing away at about 4 cm of copper).  When I'm finished what I'm making - next week I think - I'll post it to show my spectacular effort *lol*

I was happy to find I was one of the few people who know how to solder.  Yay for Jase for buying me a solder-er for Christmas!

Right now, my feet are so sore, and its late - i should be in bed! So sweet dreams all!

Today is my first day at Central Saint Martins for my jewellery course :)  Yay!

You know what they say; you need to write down what you want to do with your time to actually achieve your goals.  [And I want to do soooo much stuff that I forget things :) ]

SO - here is my list of Crafty to-dos - these are things I've seen at Craftster or on craftgrrl(or elsewhere around the web), and I've wanted to try out myself.  

(I'll link to this list from my profile page & keep on updating as I come across more "must try" things - this is mostly for my reference)

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This is in no particular order - except for the sewing items (I want to get better at sewing - I suck -  so I'll put it under a heading of its own so I can focus on it)

SEWING:
- Make bags from the Craftster Bag Tutorial List
- Make my Burda Patterns
- Print off the Fitz patterns & try

EVERYTHING ELSE:
- Fabric beads - like the ones I saw here
- Other Fabric Beads 
- Magazine boxes - like I saw on here
- Fabric covered canvas' - like the ones on Meshells blog
- Magazine Bowls - like here
- Stuff for our house (or soon to be flat-share):
     1.  Patchwork cushions
     2. Candle Holders
     3. Decorative Bowls
     4. Tablecloths
     5. Patchwork quilts
     6. Decorated photo frames
-Make a mosiac table, like this

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Thats it for now, Ciao

xxoo Lisa

Right now I am in bed at 11.20 am... still in my PJ's.  Chatting on MSN.  I love holidays!

My plans for today (apart from actually getting dressed are):

* Cut up the rest of my Burda patterns ready to sew

* Go buy some fabric  from shepards bush

* Start my silver necklace

* Start painting on my wooden bangle bases

............. (and so on and so on)

I've got a big backlog of pieces I've made for the Year of Jewellery.  I'll try & get them posted bit by bit...

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Back to enjoy my vacation :)

xxoo Lisa

I booked into the Central Saint Martins Course today, woo!  I'm so excited about all the new techniques that I'm going to get to try.  And they'll teach me how to solder "properly"!    The course is Introduction to Jewellery Making.  Every since I first heard about CSM, I've been dying to go, and I've had to put it off several times due to extreme lack of funds. I cant wait to post all the cool projects that I will make :)  Next stop after this finishes (I'm always thinking of the future!) is Intermediate Jewellery Design.  The prices kill me though: for 10 weeks its £400.  Ouch!

Every time I think of Central Saint Martins, I think of the Pulp song "common people".  I was singing it in the shower before, absentmindedly...

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On another note, I printed off many of the sewing patterns for Burda designs today.  I'm in the midst of cutting them up (there are several), but the ones I like and printed are this following  dress/s, tops, jackets (although I'm concerned they are too hard for me), and a funky vest.  I can't wait to put my new sewing machine (the one my baby Jase got me for Christmas) to good use....  I'm thinking of getting fabric on Thursday & sewing over easter.  Fun!

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I have a 6 day weekend this weekend - I've taken 2 of my holidays on top of my 4-day weekend :)  

xxoo

My week two piece for the Year of Jewellery Project! On time, and on theme (the theme this week was "kisses in the mist").

I shaped a free-form pendent (I LOVE making these!), and filled it with lots of different types of silver beads, with a scattering of small red czech glass beads for added interest & colour. I hung a small loop coil with more czech glass & Swarovski beads.

It has a simple sterling silver chain. I wasn't sure how to finish this off; but I thought simple is better - especially considering that this is a big focal piece - I didn't want to take away from it with a busy chain. Ideally, I would have liked to make my own chain, but my soldering is still in its infancy.

Another (full-shot) here -

My first piece for 2007 Year of Jewellery.  The theme - "Morning Zephyr" - made with a freeform pendent, asymmetrical hammered silver links & indian bead clusters.

I am attempting to post more regularly, and not as a huge multi-week post.... Hopefully I can stick with it!

Will cross post to

craftgrrl

Here following are pic's of the first quarter (13 weeks) of the "Year of Jewellery".  I have also signed up for the next Year of Jewelley - 2007 - it has a few changes, and a slightly different approach.





I'm looking forward to the next 13 weeks!

I just thought I would take the time to introduce myself, and explain the purposes of this journal.

My name is Lisa & I am a part time jewellery designer, based in the United Kingdom but originally from Australia.

I would like to use these pages to show examples of my work, and my latest designs. I intend to use this as a selling-style journal.

I am following along with the "Four Seasons of Jewelry", a sort of creative project where people create a new piece of Jewellery each week, and post to the project blog. I intend to post new creations weekly (time permitting), along with the group.

If you have any comments or feedback, please do leave a message for me.

Thank you for you time in looking at these pages.

Lisa xx