My Eyes

Aurora - SOLD

I think my eyes are starting to complain about all this close up work, I need nagging to go to the opticians! Years ago, and I mean B.E (Before Elli) in fact B.M (Before marriage) I had my eyes tested as my Auntie was diagnosed with Glaucoma, I need glasses for close up work, I had them as a Birthday gift (very expensive) and I hated wearing them. At the time I worked as a photographers assistant - setting up lights, booking in clients, sorting through the photographs, adding client base to computor, loading film etc. My head was up and down and I started getting headaches from glasses on and off, or in my case not taking them off at the right moments. So guess what I gave up wearing them.....

Tundra - RESERVED

Of course I now need to be rechecked and my eyes are so sore in the evenings, I think they are crying for help. I'm just so bad at gtting myself checked out for some reason... you'd think after all my health scares I would be the opposite, sadly anything which is slightly invasive of my person I run screaming for the hills. WEll I suppose there's always more valium ....

ANd yes I am joking ;p

Ooops I did it again

Honestly I think the week is just two days long here - mind you the year is only 4 weeks.... I just can't believe my daughter will be going into the Juniors (Uk we have infants from 4yr-7yrs, then juniors 7- 11) it only seems a year ago I left her in Reception class age 4 - I cried - Elli barely waved!!
As you can see I have been creating - so I'm making the most of these very short weeks ;) I've also had a few commmissions I have been getting on with as well as getting prepared for a brand new website that will be launching very soon - very exciting :)
All these pieces are available on my website or Etsy from today complete with all the other new pieces I have made.

FLames

"BUBBLES"

Fridays for me is usually coffee with friends but every so often something happens to change the plan from our usual cappacino at CHarlies (Charlestowns fabulous coffee shop) Friday was one of those days so with the arrival of my new torch I set about soldering - and boy I did lots. I was on a mission my "Just Silver" section on the website was looking a little sad and I really need to get pieces added. Of course I am slowly doing this so if there is something on todays post you fancy - drop me the usual email :)

"DULOE"

Bracelets and earrings and a lovely necklace (you can already find in my Etsy store) I did have fun - there's something very theraputic about soldering, pickling and finally taking out of the tumbler!! Maybe its the hammering ;0)

"GOODAVER"

My jewellery this weekend was influenced by the stone circles and the bracelet and necklace are both named after Cornish ones.

Where the week went!

What fabulous weather we have been having - ok its not going to last (in the southwest at least) so of course I've been making the most of it! Monday, a bank holiday or May Day as we call it, was really warm and we (the family) went to TRerice, owned now by the National Trust, a beautiful Elizabethan house and gardens. Elli and E even had a go at playing Cornish Kayling - a game of skittles, and ELli tried her hand at brass rubbings. LOts of sunshine and a run around the maze - great fun. Mamma, Gump and Nanny came to - so cups of tea and slices of cake finished off the day!
Of course when the weather is fine my designs tend to turn blue don't they and this one is no exception - named Arethusa after the NYmph who who turned into a fountain - these turquoise briolettes are gorgeous!
This bracelet is named Rioja and is garnet, crystal quartz and bali silver - all wound onto dainty chain for a really slinky feel - I'm working on a kyanite, iolite and moonstone one at the moment and have slightly pink arms from sitting outside this afternoon!!

Wire

I am so enjoying wire work at the moment and the above piece "Artemis" was a real labour of love - one of those projects that seemed to click even though it wasn't exactly what I started out to achieve. I definitely had aching hands by the end but am so pleased with the final outcome I am hoping to attempt another at some point.

Gorgeous boro beads by Claire of Rowanberry Glass - amazing colours to pull out - my favourite type of beads - someone on Flickr (sorry if its you) said it looked "appley" and I think they're right - like apple blossom - maybe I should photograph the blossom on our apple tree for comparison?
Finally some earrings I created with beautiful apatite, Iolite , aquamarine and gorgeous smooth rock crystal .
And thank you Hannah (Of Kutuu) who checked up on me this morning - she was worried because I have been a bad, neglectful blogger recently!! May, I promise will be an improvement :)

Monday again!

After the excitement of my treasury this morning I thought I'd better come back and give you an update on my lampwork jewellery - well I'm down to 40 sets now!! Yes I have used another 4 sets since I last spoke to you - I have been busy :) It is still holidays though for my daughter so we do have to spend some time together ;)

This set includes beads by the very lovely Isabelle Anderson - I have to blame my friend Izzy for actually making me fall in love with lampwork bead in the first place - her website is where I got my very first set! I love the luminous look of these and have actually been coveting them for a while - so much Izzy forgot about them ;)

44 and counting!!

I'm working like a trojan I really am - my bead stash is slowly going down and I haven't bought any beads since Tuesday - what do you mean TUESDAY!! I know I slipped up but I clicked buy before I even thought about it - well I suppose thats how I have 44 sets still in my box lol!! So if you can do your maths I have used 3 sets since I last posted! The above set is a Emma Ralph Ice bead set and I love the colours - don't you? (YOu can find this one on my Etsy shop - if you are interested)

Then I had some fun with some of the lovely Laura Sparlings beads - lots of delicious desserts - I think these look very summery - don't you!

I have one more set I have made up into a bracelet which I will save until tomorrow - hopefully I will be able to subtract a number or two from the title - wish me luck ;0)

Spin me round

So sorry - I fully intended to post on Sunday evening - then MOnday but I had this weird dizzy thing - just like when you have had to many drinks and the room spins round except I hadn't had anything stronger than a cup of tea. Even with my eyes closed it felt like I was being spun around - and with that headaches and nausea - yuk. I managed a few moments yesterday on here but not enough to post.

I was busy making though - so I have lots of new things to show you in the next few days - a couple of commission need sorting too - being off doesn't work when you have work to do!!

Two in a row!

I am doing well - two posts in a row!! I have to show you Elli's pasty she made on Saturday - being Cornish we love pastys - lovely beef, potato and turnip with lashings of pepper, a pinch of salt and a knob of butter - all wrapped up in short crust pastry! Elli decided she wanted to make her own - and I was extremly impressed with her heart pasty! She ate the lot to!

Another reason for todays post I wanted to show you something my two fab friends are doing at the moment. Allison Raposa of Msbaubles and Angela Mckenna of AM Designs have both entered into the new volume of the Etsy promo book (see HERE).

TimothyAdamDesigns says: With 140 etsy artists featured in 4 volumes, the handbook to handmade is a small cut of very talented artists from around the world. "the handbook to handmade" is a monthly volume of 36 ETSY artists and their shops...this is a promotional tool that is used to help promote artists and etsy. the first volume was a success, with a great mix of artists from 36 different cities from around the world.

I love Etsy and have bought a few bits and pieces on there - more and more UK artists can be found on there - really there is worth a look - everything from Knitting to canvas's, soaps and pottery! I really hope Allison and Angela get to show us what the finished book looks like with their pages! Allison and Angela both have unique styles which I admire greatly.

The first picture shows the latest silver necklace I have made - simple and sweet with that dark edge ;) and the bracelet is a birthstone commission I had with my customers childrens birthstones - I love the mixture of the stones - peridot, Amethyst and Topaz.

Oh I say!

The saga of the missing gemstones continues - day 7 and counting :( The above pendant was made with my rather large already collection ;) Wire shaped into this leaf shape and wire-wrapped gems oxidised and hand-polished.
Guess what I have won something - I don't win much if anything but I had a comment left by the lovely Cindy of Jewellery Tales telling me I was a winner and woohoo HERE I am! Winning Art bead Scenes prize is fantastic - I'm so excited!! Many of you may remember seeing Trelissick on my blog a few weeks ago - although now she is in a new home!

The above necklace is Baltic Amber - this is the most fantastic Amber I have ever had the privilege to hold or even work with - the organic nature is perfect to me - and I kept this design simple - who need to complicate such beauties?? The beads are incredible and I finished her off with a pretty sterling silver leaf clasp.

Have a good evening

Cold!

Last night I went to bed with one of those throats where you feel like you have swallowed sandpaper - today I feel like my nose is on tap and as I tap this it has started drizzling - perfect - just in time for the walk to school!! Its funny how the weather likes to wait for that walk - morning or afternoon the rain always likes to start about 10 mins before I have to leave!! This cold is making me feel like I am chilled to the bone :(

A couple of pieces to show you before I trundle off to my party this evening - although I am full of cold (apologises to anyone who is going to night - I promise not to breath over you!) I'm looking forward to getting my latest pieces out there. It always so nice to see people trying pieces on at parties!! The first necklace is dainty with Tourmaline and a Karen Hill Tribe Silver flower - and the charm bracelet with Isabelle Andersons beautiful shell beads - this piece I nearly called Linen - for obvious reasons - the chain and headpins were handcrafted by me - of course!!

Will post again Sunday - the website will be updated tomorrow morning - lots of new pieces!!

And another....

Lovely BetteJo passed this on to me - isn't it lovely:) I have a few people I want to pass it onto - the people who always listen to my waffle whether here or through emails or msn. Sometimes when life is getting us down its our friends that add that little bit of sunshine. SO my awards goes to all my friends you know who you are!!

I'm also going to have a little brag - yesterday I had email from Cindy, one of the editors of Art Bead Scene - I was featured yesterday :) Go take a look - How exciting!!


Right I'm off for my swim - hoping to swim 55 lengths today (small pool!! probably more like 27.5!!) Enjoy your day!

Back to Normal

School and normal routine I mean - I think I'm way past normal now! The sun was shining today but it was so cold - but I do prefer it to rain. The above necklace was definately influenced by the sun - I love that amazonite focal and of course the ivory pearls just show it off to perfection.

I also made some more of my planets - these are so light and easy to wear - I'm hoping to keep these as part of my basic silver range, inexpensive and fun. I love the pattern on these - now I'm not giving away any trade secrets but you'd find it hilarious if I did tell you how it came about - but I won't because then I would have to kill you!! :)

Now I'm going to have a little rant - please feel free to scroll to the bottom for my final pic ;)
Any one with children will understand the protection we feel for them - my daughter is six and although we joke about her going on sixteen, she is a child who is in love with the idea of princes and princesses, unicorns, fairies and magic. She does say she has a true love but that's not because she understands but because she adores Disney classics (Ie Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty) so imagine my shock (and horror) when she asked her Daddy if it were true - and in childs wording asks him about sex!!! Now I'm no prude, I tell her the truth (But on a need to know basis - its quite easy to change the subject without actually lying) but I do not want her learning about the birds and bees from another child at school (same child that told her there is no such thing as Santa Claus) So any Mum reading this who likes to tell your children everything can you spare a thought for those of us who would like our children to stay as innocent as the day they were born for as long as possible. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
OK after my sounding off :D I'll leave you there until next time ....

Half way

I've been soldering - so I stopped halfway through 3 chains and made a couple of pairs of these earrings. I have kept one pair for myself - I need to test them out right?! They are so light , yet they catch the light enough for people to see them on - so I'm happy with this design - another I think which will be kept on.
I also made this necklace - these beads of Claire's, of Rowanberrys Glass Art, definately talk to me, they trully misbehaved and although were a bracelet in my head decided they wanted to be a necklace. Now most of you will probably read this and think I've completely lost the plot. BUt you see most jewellery designers will say the same thing, whether it our muses stepping in or whether these beads created by artisans carry some personality I have no idea. Claire thinks all beads have a fiery nature because they are born from the fire!!
I think I'm going to leave it there before I make you think anything else!! Hopefully will be back tomorrow I have lots more to show and all my delicious gemstones arrived - *sigh!

Wet Sunday, lazy sunday!

OH its horrible out there - the wind is howling and the rain is lashing at my windows - earlier it was hammering on the roof of my garage while I was making some new pendants for my website. The sort of weather that makes you want to hibernate, the sort of weather before Elli I would have stayed in bed with a good book and lots of cups of tea - now I would feel guilty - not only because of spending time with Elli but also a day wasted would be my first thought. E cooked a fabulous roast dinner, of course with free range chicken (For those not watching UK tv here's a link to Chicken Out )

For those of you wondering why I haven't mentioned my tooth lol well its because I'm trying to pretend its not happening - sadly now you have reminded me and I'll have to go have a glass of wine to help my nerves!!! NO honestly I can't stop whats happening so I'm trying to go with the flow - the valium I'm sure will help although I am a little worried as taking two seemed to have no greater effect than one - mind you I'm not quite sure what I was expecting!! To my dear blog friend Brandi of Caties Blue - the reason my friend gave me of not having "laughing gas" is because it is now illegal !! IT can only be given in hospitals apparently - maybe something to do with thats its a strong sedative, my friend trained with its use but said no one can include it in treatment in the UK! Boohoo!

A few of my recent pieces above- Elegance is simple and chic with Rock Crystals and silver. The above pendant Full of Curves with handforged silver and prehnite - I really enjoyed creating this one.

© Gemheaven 2008

OH sorry!

Why am I saying sorry I bet your asking?? Well its because the tooth saga continues :( Today I had my appointment for my broken teeth (apologises for anyone new playing catch up here) and with a 12.30 appointment as always (I have a thing about being early) I was 15mins ahead of schedule! ten minutes of sitting went by with my poor Mum (who is also phobic of the dentists) and I trying to pretend we were fine while really we both were having palpatations with fear. Suddenly the receptionist looked up and said "Mrs Tubb the therapist is running behind" and with that I burst into tears - thank goodness the waiting room was empty!! How embarasssing although that wasn't the worst of it - when I eventually went upstairs to the room its was 55mins later!!

SO I sit down and wait my knees a knocking ( they do really don't they) and the very young (or am I getting older) therapist who I think could see I was alittle worried told me he was going to put the chair back so he could look - but nothing happened - no thats not true the chair moved I didn't so I think by now he really did know. Well to cut the long story a little shorter - as a therapist although he can do fillings etc he needs to go through my dentist first so Mr Cooke came in and looked and, you know the thing people do when they discuss you above your head, and your mind works overtime and before I knew it I was in floods of tears AGAIN. The tooth is unstable so they need to remove the filling ( I only have two) and check if their is decay underneath - if there is they want to EITHER do a root canal OR remove the tooth WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Now all this is a maybe but would you tell someone who is phobic and obviously in a state things like root canal, sedation, hosptital, extraction, drilling, and not expect them to literally fall to pieces - and then he asked me WHAT I wanted to do?? I couldn't even tell you my name by then!!! SO here I am supping rescue remedy and hav dug out my pot of Quiet Life and made an appointment to see the dr - I need something strong for next Tuesday!!!

© Gemheaven 2008

I am here

Me and my broken tooth!! I'm hoping to get an emergency appointment tomorrow - if I'm lucky but if not I think I'm going to try another dentist - its driving me potty! Anyway enough boring you with my mouth issues. I have been busy making and creating so will have a few bits to show you this week. Off course I am a little addicted to my silverwork so really must create something with my beautiful lampwork beauties I collected over the past two months ready for the new year! The above necklace is with a fabulous Labradorite focal, rondelles and little Karen Hill Tribe charms. She's on a long 30" chain but it can be changed to a shorter one if necessary.

Of course I had to make matching earrings - these will go with the bracelet (Posted on Friday) or with the focal!! On more of my hammered rings. "E" and I also had fun playing with my disc cutter and we made our first bead - having "E" there beside me is great as he shows no fear when it comes to experimenting - the disc cutter and doming set is all so new I prefer really to just play with different ideas but of course being a man he likes to go the hole hog!!

It will be so nice to eventually use my own silver beads and I have so many ideas but not sure how soon that will be though. It great fun to experiment though :D

© Gemheaven 2008

Merry Christmas!

Elli is on count down as and from later today the Christmas here begins - meeting and seeing friends for gift giving and lots laughter! So i thought a quick post now would be better then waking up on Christmas morning knowing I had no chance to wish you all - my friends and customers of 2007 a Very Merry Christmas. So here I am!!

SO to everyone who has supported me during 2007 - I really am blessed with so many talented, and wonderful friends and also my customers who without whom my inspiration could not have been channeled!!

See you all very soon

Loads of love

Jo & Family

xx

(The above necklace "Ethereal Forest" includes artisan beads by Isabelle Anderson with gemstones and crystals)

© Gemheaven 2007