Friday, June 28, 2013

Triple Wrap Kumihimo Bracelet

I had been wanting to make this bracelet for a while and finally got around to it this week. I used black and metallic silver embroidery thread and silver findings and worked a 16 strand Kumihimo weave on a round Kumihimo disc.


I'm going to try working the same design in a gold colouring next, I think it will be just as nice as the silver. There are so many colour options to try and I can't wait to try a  few more.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Funky Laser Compeition



Funky Laser are running a competition this week on their Facebook page. To enter all you have to do it send them a picture of a piece you got from them. Weather its a fully made piece of jewellery or cake topper or a piece you used to make jewellery, it doesn't matter.



I have entered in my Batman Bracelet. They where so great making the batman piece for me. I only had to sent a sketch and the dimensions and I'm so happy with what I got. Click here to see the album of all the entries so far and for details on how to enter. If you don't have a piece to enter maybe vote for your favourite piece. The competition will run for the week and the photo with the most likes will win.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Have You Used My Tutorials?

I have had quite a lot of feedback from people on my tutorials and have been dying to see what you have made using them. So have you used one of my tutorials to make something? If so, why not share with my what you have made. Leave a link to your picture in the comments below.

And if you haven't tried any of them yet click here to go to my tutorial page and see what you can make. I can't wait to see what you have made.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

My Tutorial Page is Back

You may have noticed my tutorial page went missing a while ago. I took it down because it was a mess of links and pictures all over the place and had decided to give it an overhaul. But I hadn't really had time to sit and do the whole thing start to finish and it needed a lot of work! But I have been slowly doing it and tonight I finally got it to a state where I can put it back on the blog.

The page now has a picture of each of my tutorials with a link below to take you to the tutorial. This is what I had planned on doing when I first published the page but I guess I was doing the tutorials quicker than I could sort out the links and pictures. If you had seen it before you knew the links had gotten a bit lost on the page.  But now its all done and I will be adding to it again soon so keep an eye on the page as it grows. Feel free to share it if there's something there you think someone you know may be interested in.

So click HERE and see the new page. I hope you like it.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Jewellery For A Ball

My sister is currently competing to be the Dublin Rose (and hopefully the Rose of Tralee later this summer) and last night they had a ball for all of the perspective Dublin Roses. So My sister, her boyfriend and my other two sisters all got dressed up and went to the Ball! This of course meant that jewellery was needed to go with the dresses that they had bought, so thats where I come in. I gave my opinion on what they should have and they gave theirs and after a quick trip to buy supplies I had a few hours to get everything ready on Friday afternoon for the Ball on Saturday Night.

The first piece I made was a necklace. We wanted to keep the jewellery simple but sparkly! So I used three 8mm pave set crystal beads on a dainty silver chain. With the beautiful weather we are having at the moment it sparkled just lovely but most importantly was not the main focus!


I also made a matching set of earrings to go with this necklace using the same chain and beads. The main aim here was to have a bit of sparkle and not overshadow the dress or anything else. There is a time and place for statement jewellery but this was not it!




So one sister done now onto the next. Again we where going for simple but sparkly so I used 15 Swarovski Crystals simply strung with a dainty silver chain to finish. The crystals are mirrored on one side so pick up colour and shine beautifully!

So to the final piece - THE RING! I can honestly say I don't think I will be doing one of these again for a while. I used mainly 4mm Swarovski Bicones (in crystal Ab with a few light blue) and about six 6mm Swarovski Bicones. I just wasn't too happy with the final result. It didn't look full enough in the end but my sister was really happy with it so thats all that matters really. I would have liked to add a few more Bicones but I had run out at this stage. It is growing on me the more I see it! So maybe I will make a few more and get a bit better at it. After all this is my first ever beady ring!

So that was two out of the three sisters covered. My other sister's dress was fancy and included its own necklace of sorts so I didn't have to make anything else. There are a few more events coming up in this round of the competition so I'm sure I will be working away making more over the coming weeks.

Off to the Ball

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Funky Laser

What I ordered
I was recently sent a gift voucher for FunkyLaser, a fantastic company that makes laser cut shapes for a variety of uses along with finished jewellery, from Make Jewellery Magazine after they printed my picture. (Click here to see the piece.) I had only recently become aware of Funky Laser and was planning on getting some of their pieces to make a few things I had planned so I was really happy!

Their website has ready made pieces that can be ordered straight away  but they also run a custom service where you can order jewellery or components made to your own specifications. They have a variety or colours and finishes available as well so the combinations are endless!

I had a design for a Batman bracelet planned for quite a while but hadn't gotten around to making the batman symbol myself so when I heard of Funky Laser I knew what I was going to have done! I sent a picture along with the dimensions I required and they made it! Its perfect! I made the res of he bracelet using micro macrame in black and yellow and attaching the Batman symbol. I have taken it off since I put it together!



The other pieces I ordered where Jigsaw puzzle pieces, Lightening Bolts and Diving Swallow pendants that are all available ready made on the website. I have a few little things planned for these in the coming weeks so I will share them when they are finished.



And here is my Batman Bracelet! I love it! I used micro Macrame to make up the rest of the bracelet and attached a toggle clasp.


Thank you to Funky Laser and Leah who helped with my order! I am beyond pleased with how the Batman piece turned out and with the quality of everything including your customer service! I think its safe to say I will be back for more very soon!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Flower Kumihimo Bracelet

I found this pattern to make this bracelet on Pinterest and thought I would try it out. I have only just started Kumihimo so this is the first pattern I have tried so far.  Its quite a simple pattern but looks lovely when its done. The pattern on Pinterest links back to friendship-bracelets.net who have so many great patterns for Kumihimo and other friendship bracelets!



So here is how my bracelet turned out. I changed the background colour to black for mine as I prefer it. I love the little pink flowers its so simple but has a great pattern. I'm hooked on Kumihimo now and can't wait to make a few more patterns!