Toho Treasures competition

I've decided to enter my first competition. I have dusted off the seedie stash in the past few weeks and they are beckoning me again. Although I love the satisfaction of bashing around with metal. Seedies are my true passion. They are portable and help me to focus when my life is chaotic. I think that I will have to find a way to do mixed media that is unique but for now I want to concentrate on the Toho competition. I have chosen and purchased my first lot of beads for the competition from http://www.cranberry.net.au/store/index.php the awesome store that is running the competition. As per competition guidelines I can't show any of the work until it is judged but I can say it will be in lovely purple hues and inspired by years of admiration of seedie beaders such as Kerie Slade: http://kerrieslade.co.uk/ but of course with my own personal style. My work is a lot more freeform than Kerrie's but her flowers and colours are amazing and very appealing to me. I am even serious enough to plan this piece (to an extent). I am itching to get started. I have until April 2012.

A bracelet inspired by Notre Dame in Paris...I haven't been there, I wish! It is for a beadingforum dot com dot au challenge.

The start of something?

My first order. A bag tag for a young girl's camp bag.

More rustic copperwork

My first go at riveting and some soldering. I have some way to go to refine my skills but I am pleased with this effort.

Spring Blossom

A rustic spring blossom hand cut from copper and adorned with embossing powder.

My Heart's Wish

I am quite chuffed with my effort here. It is meant to look rustic...honestly! It is all hand cut and stamped and it is hopefully the first of many (well the second really but the first like this).

A new direction

So, I'm a bit nervous about posting this here! I am very much exposing my raw talent lol. This is the first prototype for my new metalwork venture. It isn't the best thing since sliced bread but it is a start and practice will make perfect.

A work in progress (WIP). It will be the second of a series, the first being fruit of passion posted below.

Setting up the workshop

Setting up the new workshop today. I hope to finish a UFO before the end of the week if I don't get stuck playing with my new metals and tools.

New Beginnings

I have started gathering tools for an exciting new direction. I have started a small business on Facebook. It isn't meant to be a multi-million dollar venture or anything, it is just for fun. I have named my page Blue Butterfly Designs (BBD) and I would like to start doing some hand stamped metal work and see where it takes me. Please visit and like my page by clicking above.

Been a long time

Hmmm haven't update this blog since October. Mainly because I have a new baby, Aria Grace :-). However this has not totally stopped me from beading. I made this little distraction in the weeks leading up to my C-Section. It is a first for me, very ordered and a double St Petersburg chain.