The Big Bead Show Spring 2014

I've discovered more lovely bead artists!

I must start this post with a big, big thank you to Sarah who kindly posted me a free ticket to The Big Bead show down at Sandown Park, Surrey. I had a wonderful day out (as I always do when surrounded by beads!) and met some wonderful new lampworkers.

The first I came across was Michaela Carrington who had a gorgeous stall displaying vibrant fused glass artwork as well as some pretty beads. An accountant by day, she finds working with glass a relaxing evening outlet and I couldn't resist some of her dotty beads!

Of course, I couldn't miss Sarah Downton especially as she had got me in for free! Last time I visited her at The Big Bead Show I bought all blue so this time I bagged some lush pinks and rescued a few orphans too (it has to be done!)

Then I discovered the lovely Barbara Mason - a fellow Swindonite! Her beads were just so unusual I really had to restrict myself to selecting only my true favourites (damn budget!). Barbara likens her beads to sweeties especially the little cubes but I am just in love with the mint green ones that give the impression of having mini craters in them. They don't though, they are completely smooth - what a great effect!

Right towards the end (and with the budget blown!) I found Josephine Wadman who had beads right up my street. Lots of beachy themed goodies and I just loved the etched effect which gives the beads a more weathered, natural look.

I can't wait to get started with my new haul and hopefully some finished pieces will be ready to take with me to my first event at The Kennet Centre, Newbury on the 26th April.

Ellen

Spring Design Seeds

A colour challenge

Quite often when buying new supplies and designing new pieces, I often find myself being drawn to the same colour palettes and although that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's fun to mix it up every now and again!

Design Seeds are a great way of pushing designers out of their comfort zone. They present a range of tones pulled from an inspirational images - see what I've managed to make using 'beach hut' and 'orchids'.

                                        

Instagram Scrapping

A new twist on scrapbooks!

I will confess, I have never really properly scrapbooked before but I have been steadily collecting papers and embellishments for my California travel photos from last summer.

Now that bit I find easy! But I was severely procrastinating over how to order my photo prints. I didn't think I really wanted all of them the traditional 4x6 so I realised I would probably need to resize them - maybe I could print 2 pictures on a 4x6 print?

Then, out of the blue, my favourite scrapbook supply shops started taking deliveries of the new We R Memory Keepers Instagram albums. Let's just say, I'm in love!

Mint Leather Insta Album includes Plastic Photo Wallets

Just look at how cute the mini albums are?! Included inside are plastic wallets in 4x4 (fits one photo) and 2x2 (so fits 4 photos).

Then I found the perfect set of journal cards:

100 die cuts and journal cards in 4x4 and 2x2

I also had no shortage of Instagram photos from my trip and I used Fotobox for my 4x4 prints and Inkifi for the 2x2 ones although the latter were expensive in comparison and took over a week to arrive (yes, I am very impatient!).

4x4 Instagram Prints

2x2 Instagram Prints

So, now it's time to play and get everything organised! I can't wait to show you some of the finished article!

Ellen x

New Graceful Deviant Designs

Sterling Silver Latin Affirmation Tag Charms on Leather Wrap Bracelets

It's taken me a while to get back into the studio due to personal circumstance but I've had ideas for using Latin phrases in my designs for quite a while.

I got doodling in the car on long journeys and came up with the concept of pairing up little word tags with some artisan charms from Cath Dailey.

Stamped, cut, filed and sanded by hand.

Plus I took a delivery of gorgeous braided leathers the week before:

Earthy tones.

And here's the end result!

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA - Through difficulties to the stars

AMOR VINCIT OMNIA - Love conquers all

CONSILIO ET AMIMIS - By wisdom and courage

There are plenty more combos that will be added to my Etsy store over the week and fingers crossed they will be on my newly published website soon!

Hope you like :)

Ellen

Weekly round-up

Custom Orders and New Ideas

This week has seen a few custom orders, the largest of which was a set of four of my Mighty Oaks Necklaces but with an additional acorn. This was for a lady who had given birth to twins very prematurely and had since spent a lot of time in hospital under the care of four exceptional nurses. And so these necklaces are for those nurses.

 

Sterling Silver Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Necklaces

I have also been playing with my metal hole punch and doming tools. The soldering torch will make an appearance again next week and hopefully with some better results than last time as I'd like to turn these into studs. I'm thinking they could be mini moon and black hole studs!

Sterling Silver Mini Moon and Black Hole Domed Studs

Lastly, I wanted to share a photograph of my latest card make - for my Valentine ;)
I used a new stamp from the Gorjuss range and coloured with distress ink and layered with some of the papers from the range. I have, however, had to scribble out the little sentiment to the right - it's just too naughty for general consumption!!

Handmade Valentine's Card

Hope you've enjoyed and join me next time for new ideas!

Ellen