Brass & Rubber Pendant

A customer enquired about getting a pendant in the same style as my Brass & Rubber Earrings.
So today I got out the sheet metal and the saw and made one up.

While I had all my tools and mess spread throughout the house I also made up another pendant in keeping with the same style. One pendant didn't justify the mess I made - but two does!

I was pretty happy with this one. It's saw cut brushed brass with a die cut circle, accented with a black eyelet, a rubber ring & Sterling Jump rings. I love geometrics & circles - This one has a bit of a retro feel to it!
Now to clean up my mess............ Pin It

Press!

My sister's shop has had a bit of press exposure locally but it's also pretty cool that I and some of the other artists that supply her have been mentioned in both articles......
If you're local to Perth do check out her shop - lot's of jewellery and also some really neat gifty type knick knacks and home wares. Pin It

Freo Bazaar - Woo Hoo, I'm in!

Very excited that I'm going to be at The Fremantle Arts Centre Bazaar again this year.
I'll be sharing a stall again with Jane & Petra. I'll be concentrating on my metalwork and chainmaille, Jane does beautiful jewellery with semi precious & crystals & pearls and Petra does some amazing work with mostly pearls and some semi precious. Petra's been doing felting too so I expect she'll have some of that on the stall as well.

We're pretty chuffed to be accepted for the 3rd year in a row. They had over 100 applicants for just 57 stalls and of that 57, they selected 25 new exhibitors and just 32 previous exhibitors.

It's one of the best local Art/Craft shows around. Applications have to be juried by a committee and all the work has to be made by local Artisans here in Western Australia - absolutely no imports goods are allowed. Definitely worth a look if you're in the Fremantle area in the first weekend in December as the quality and variety of crafts is very high. Pin It

Step By Step Chainmaille Rings

For the first couple of years of my chainmaille creating, I purchased pre made rings. I've been cutting my own rings now for a while so I thought I'd post a few pictures of how I coil & cut the rings from wire.

I love coiling the wire around the mandrel in an old hand drill - The drill belonged to my late Dad- in-Law and I always think of him when I'm coiling wire. He was such a great person and a talented handyman so I love that I'm able to use one of his old tools. My set up is attached to the meals area table with a small vice and I cut the rings on the kitchen bench. One day I hope to have a dedicated space to do all this..........

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Perth Etsy Meet Up

Yesterday, some of the people that have Etsy shops here in Perth got together for a meet up. We had a lovely afternoon, with "show & tell", lots of chat about our work, and we threw around ideas for promoting ourselves & Etsy.

A great afternoon and lovely to meet everyone.

I've now updated my list of links in my sidebar to add their Etsy Shops - please visit them - there's some awesome talent here in Little Old Perth.

I didn't take my camera but luckily others thought of it - check out Amanda's blog for some photos. Pin It

Spring is sprung - well nearly......

Over at the Beading forum in the metal & wirework section we are having a pendant swap. The theme was "Spring".
I decided to try metal etching again but my attempts didn't work out on my first try, so I abandoned that project.
My second try was this pendant ...my thinking was "Spring Showers" and I remembered the kid's poem we used to chant, but after finishing it I was told the mailing address of my swap partner and she lives in North Queensland. Well somehow I think that this pendant is not appropriate ... I figure they would be happy with rain up there - not sure if they're in drought or not but thought I'd better err on the side of caution....The pendant would probably be better of staying here in Perth where we've had a week of torrential rain. I wish it would go away so I can get some washing dry!
Luckily I've been able to rework my first attempt and will post a pic. of that once the swaps complete. Pin It

Front page on Etsy

I've been pretty busy making stock for "Behind The Monkey" - the local store that carries my jewellery. Pleased to say my jewellery has been selling very well.
Unfortunately, I haven't had time to make any jewellery for my Etsy or Mint'd online shops so they are looking a tad empty.
One of the Etsy Dust (Down Under Street Team) featured Aussies in her recent treasury on Etsy including my mixed metal pendant. It made the front page today and wow! what great exposure that was - it sold while I was at work today.
I must get cracking this weekend and restock my shops! Pin It

YOJ - Weeks 25 & 26

Playing catch up on the Year Of Jewellery this week. Top pair of earrings is Sterling Corrugated Squares. I really love making this stuff - it's so much fun and has been getting a good reaction and happily a few sales down at my sister's shop.

Bottom pair are a simple die cut brass pair teamed with black rubber and black rivets. Pin It

Week 24 - Copper & Brass Earrings

I've been making lots of jewellery lately. The four pairs of earrings above are part of the stock that's gone down to my sister's shop mentioned in my previous post.
I've used my disc cutter to cut the discs but the earrings took ages to finish as I handpolished them all. I must start using my dremel for the polishing, but that would mean heading out into the shed and at least if I'm handpolishing it's not as messy and I can stay inside near the heater and watch TV as I go. Pin It

Behind The Monkey

I can't believe it's a whole month since I last posted. The older you get the quicker the time seems to pass ;(
I have been busy with jewellery. I've been getting stock together for a new Retail store - Behind the Monkey. I'm excited for two reasons - one because I've got 30 pieces of my chainmaille and corrugated metal jewellery in the shop but also because it's my sister's shop and of course I'm thrilled for her.
Here's a sneak preview of the front of the shop - the windows are covered over because it's not opening until tomorrow. She's stocking jewellery - she's an accomplished jewellery maker herself as well as gift lines, original art work and a few homewares.
Perth people - Come check out the shop - she's at 479 Beaufort Street in Highgate. Opening 07/07/07 - that has to be good numerology!! Pin It