Monday 30 December 2013

New Years Eve Streamathon

Hi everyone just a quick note about the New Years Eve Streamathon I will be taking part in. I will be streaming at 8pm my time on Ustream.

Links for info are

Organizers Blog:

Stream wall:

The project I will be doing is a very small journal page in my new positivity journal, if you wish to know more about it, please visit Astrids blog HERE.

Here is the journal I will be using. It is a molskine.


See you at the live streams!

Friday 27 December 2013

Wow its my last post for 2013 for IndigoBlu

I cant quite believe it, another year is almost up and I am posting my last post of the year for IndigoBlu. Let me know what you think of my efforts for 2013!


Friday 13 December 2013

Big news and new blog post for IndigoBlu

HI everyone! I am so thrilled to have announced today that I will be joining a new Design Team, one I have wanted to join in with for a loonnngggggg time!


Yep thats me, I cant hardly believe it myself! I have been chosen for the Ice Resin International Design Team 2014! I am still in shock, I cant believe they picked little old me! The jewellery sphere is full of such amazing and wonderful talent I am honoured to be working with the other amazing ladies and gents on the team.

Today also is my bloging day for IndigoBlu, I have shared with you all my mini me dress form that was on Create and Craft last weekend.



Pop on over and let me know what you think!

Clare

Sunday 8 December 2013

Court of Owls Costume Finished

 Hi everyone, I have got an hour to myself so I thought I would do my write up of my Court of Owls costume I made for the comic book convention at the Royal Armouries in Leeds in November.

Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadowed perch, behind granite and lime. They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word about them, or they'll send The Talon for your head.

The court of Owls are basically (if you didn't check out the above link) the bad guys in DC Comic Universe. They started in the 1800's and that is what I decided to do for my costume and since I love steampunk I decided to steam it up alittle. I wanted to make as much of my own costume as possible so I started with the jewellery. I wanted a statement piece for my neck, I think it turned out pretty awesome if I do say so myself!



I had an awful time tracking down a suitable crinoline until I happened across a UK seller on evilbay, its a minefield of expensive what planet do they think you are on and overseas sellers from china that would take far far too long to arrive. So I ordered this one, its number 10 on the above link. Here it is letting it fluff out from its squashed packaging with Tigeress looking slightly confused by it. She spent ages just walking around it looking for a way in! Too funny!


So the next step was to create the black skirt, I went to a new fabric shop in town called the Fabbardashery. Wonderful shop, super helpful. I came away with a huge amount of fabric in jet black super quality cotton and some clock printed fabric. The black skirt was simple, sewed it up the edge sewed a piece of elastic in the top, stood on a chair and had my mum pin the bottom, hemmed it and done. Then came the bustle, ahhh what fun that was! Having never made a bustle it was quite interesting! My lovely friend Vili came over to give me a hand. We sewed the clock fabric and backed it in black so it looked like a pillowcase. Made a belt with a spare strip of black and worked out how wide the bustle needed to be on my hips. The piece of fabric is 44inch wide so we then gathered it into the small width required and sewed on the belt. We attached it to a chair and started bustle making. It is pretty simple really, get some pins and stab yourself loads while you faff and work out how to make it look good.


Above left we have the bustle tied to a chair while we pinned it, checked it then sewed it in place and above right the bustle done with corset and skirt and crinoline on to check it looked good together.

I literally finished the whole thing the day before so getting up at 6.30am on the Saturday I got dressed and conned my mum into taking me to the train station where we were all meeting to travel together. I didn't wear my corset on the train as I fancied being able to breathe at that time in the morning, I did put it on on the train and got a fair few funny looks by people in the carriage. It was quite hard getting in and out of the car, I felt like I should have been in big fat gypsy weddings. Speaking of weddings, on our way up to the convention from Leeds train station 2 random foreign men congratulated me and Ross (picture below) on our marriage...... so did a few other people...... No we aren't married, my fellah was at a different event in York so missed all the convention fun!


So here most of us are in all our Court glory! A couple were missing from the photo, both the above one and below one were taken at about 9.30 in the morning, and it was COLD! Like my fingerless gloves? looked good with the costume but not very practical!


The final photo below was taken in the bar at about 3pm. Not bad for 3 hours sleep and a hectic day of posing for the camera for more people than I can remember and chatting away about costume making to more people than I can remember too.


It was a totally wonderful convention but I was totally shattered by the end having just days before recovered from 2 weeks of the awful Norovirus. My bustle looks alittle flat in this picture, I had been sat down just before it was taken, I think I only got to sit down for 15mins the whole day! Cant wait for next time and to see what everyone comes up with to go as. We were the only co-ordinated group so we got rather a lot of attention!

Thanks for visiting
Clare

Friday 6 December 2013

On create and craft tomorrow

Hi everyone, my stuff will be on Create and craft again tomorrow for IndigoBlu! We have some old favourite kits back in stock, ones that flew out the door last time they were on and some new ones which I reckon wont last long either!



Enjoy!
Clare

Wednesday 4 December 2013

College Catch Up

Hi everyone, just a quick update on how I am doing in Silver Smith School. I have progressed from copper and the ahh it wont cost much if you ruin it scaredy cat approach and gone onto working with hallmarkable 925 Stirling silver. I have successfully made a silver ring shank and attached a hand made bezel ready and sized for a specific gem. I don't know how to set the gem yet so I have to wait until Monday's class.


I still have some cleaning and sanding to do, I have to be extremely careful with the hand made bezel top as it is very thin fine silver. My gem is semi transparent so the inside of the bezel needs to be immaculately clean and sparkly, which at the moment it is not.


The ring fits me perfectly and is really comfy but I still need to shape the edges alittle bit. I cant wait for it to be finished and polished up to a jewellery shop shine!


Thanks for visiting!

Clare

Sunday 24 November 2013

New blog post for IndigoBlu

Here is my Lest We Forget challenge card inspiration for IndigoBlu, want to know how I did it? Pop on over and take a lookie!


Friday 8 November 2013

New blog post for IndigoBlu - Kroma card fun

Hi everyone, this week I got the most amazing news ever! I am not allowed to talk about it but all I can say is watch this place in January for a HUGE reveal!

My blog post for IndigoBlu is late today as I was pre occupied with finishing my skirt for my costume and we had 30 mins of emergency services flying past this afternoon and then the air ambulance turned up and landed in the field across the road. No idea what happened but word is a rock slide in the quarry and someone got crushed! Hope it isnt true that would be awful!

Anyhow, rabbit trail! as Dede would say. here is a peek at my post so head on over and let me know what you think!



Thanks for visiting
Clare

Wednesday 6 November 2013

First Hammered Copper Ring

Hi everyone, today I want to share with you my very first ring completed in Silversmith College. I made it on Monday from a piece of scrap copper that was all twisted and mangled up, pretty proud of my achievement really. I finally got the whole soldering with a blow torch down too and worked out what I have been doing wrong with the help of the wonderful tutor Mark.


I cut, filed and shaped the scrap piece into a ring form, it is alittle uneven at one side but hey, for a first go I aint complaining! I sanded and cleaned and sanded and cleaned some more, then after 3 failed attempts to solder nailed it on the 4th go!


After the soldering came the whacking, my favourite part to add in the hammered texture and to make the piece large enough to fit on my finger, it was quite small. Then came more sanding and cleaning and it sat in a pickle bath for 10mins too. The final part was to get it on the polisher which is quite a beast of a machine and at one point took it from my hand and flung it across the room! Luckily it didn't hit anyone on its flying lesson but it did get a little miss shaped from being slammed into a wall then the ceiling and then the floor. After the final reshape and a wash with fairy liquid to get any polishing residue off, here we have it. My first hand made completely hammered copper ring. Cant wait to get making some more. My etching fluid has now arrived so I will be having a play with that this weekend too! Cant wait!

Thanks for visiting
Clare

Friday 1 November 2013

Steam Costume For Though Bubble - The Necklace

Hi everyone, as quite a few people know I am a bit of a nerd so it will come as no surprise this year that me and my fellow nerds are going to the comic book convention in Leeds called Thought Bubble. This year however is different from previous years, we are going dressed up, specifically as The Court of Owls.

For my costume I am steampunking it up a bit, just coz! So my first piece is a bought piece and it is a corset. I really wanted to make it myself but I value my back so without proper guidance from an expert I erred on the side of caution and bought one. I am not showing it yet until the final reveal of the whole piece all together.

Today however I am showing my necklace. Made from scratch with my own hands and 2 beading needles. I am extremely pleased with the outcome and it fits me perfectly!



I am not a beader so I have no idea what the stitch is called, I just know I had a pattern, I altered that pattern and made the base of my choker. I received some small cogs and gears from a wonderful friend in the USA and added them to the bottom. Pretty simple really but I love it!


Here it is laid out flat on my table.



Here is the fine detail of the piece.



And here is me wearing it about 30 seconds after I made it, in my PJ's, not my costume!

The next piece I am working on is my skirt and these beauties, if I get the time, I hope I do my head is whirring with things I want to do to these goggles, firstly to seal them as they came like this and are what seems to be permanently tacky in feel.



Thanks for visiting!

Clare

Happy Movember for IndigoBlu!

Hi everyone! Being the 1st of November means that it is that time of year again.... all the men turn into hairy apes! But it is for a good cause. the Movember cause!

Here is a sneaky peek of what I did for IndigoBlu, pop over and let me know what you think!


Thanks for visiting
Clare

Monday 21 October 2013

New Challenge Blog for IndigoBlu

Good morning all! Today we have a brand spanking new challenge blog over at IndigoBlu! Everything has been streamlined so all the challenges are in one place and more user friendly.

This months challenge is Chocolate Orange, and here is what I made for the challenge.



Enjoy!

Friday 18 October 2013

New card and stamp magic show

Hi everyone, its all go around here lately I dont have time to breathe! If you are heading to the stamp magic show on Sunday at the Doncaster Dome then pop on by the IndigoBlu stand and say hello! I shall be on the demo table.

Today is my day to post for IndigoBlu so here it is!


Enjoy your weekend

Clare

Friday 11 October 2013

Kroma Crackle Card for IndigoBlu

Hi everyone, I have just made a post on the IndigoBlu blog! Combining Kroma Crackle with card making. Take a look and let me know what you think!



Enjoy

Clare

Thursday 10 October 2013

An Oldie but a Goodie Series Video 1

Hi everyone! It has been all go round here lately many apologies for not being around very often but things are calming down now and will be back to normal real soon. I might even be able to catch up with my Artful Readers Club!

Today I have for you the first video in a new series I have decided to make. I am calling it An Oldie but a Goodie! Basically recapping ancient techniques that have been around the block and bringing them back into mine and your minds. There are some amazing techniques out there that are ignored in the currant fashion but really shouldn't be because they give some cool results.





Enjoy

Clare

Thursday 26 September 2013

Week 1 and 2 of Silversmithing College

So I have done my first 2 weeks of Silversmith College and I am having a brilliant time! I am totally engrossed in the process so far and my little head is about to explode with ideas and possibilities!

Week 1 was basics health and safety and we got to have a little play on some copper sheeting to test out making marks and whacking stuff! Good fun! Here is a couple of the pieces I did. I should note that none of my pieces are finished in any way as they are needed for evidence for the qualification at the end of the course.



The pieces have photographed really well and look nice and clean and shiny but trust me when I say they are not clean or polished at all, they are pretty grimy, they haven't even seen a pickle bath to degrease them.

The second week we went onto annealing, pickling, polishing and basic shaping with tools, like half round pliers and using mandrels.



It is amazing what you can do with a desk sized polisher!


I might turn this final polished and edged piece into a pendant later, after I have my qualification and no longer need it for evidence of what I have done.

We are on a break now for 3 weeks as the teacher is on holiday so I have time to gather up a toolbox and have a play at home. Next time we are moving onto stirling silver and learning torch soldering and making a finished basic ring. Cant wait! Gem stone setting n stuff like that is to follow.

Enjoy your weekend
Clare
 



Saturday 21 September 2013

New Challenge at IndigoBlu

It must be the 21st, its challenge time over at IndigoBlu! This months challenge is Things with Wings, here is my design team inspirational piece for the challenge.



I decided to alter a deep edged frame from ikea. I was going to fill it full of butterfly's around the edges but after a few placements I decided it looks funny and decided to keep it simple and elegant instead.


Thanks for visiting

Clare

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Published, College and Demo Weekend

Hi everyone! 3 things for one post today so bare with me! Firstly I will be demoing for IndigoBlu at the Huntingdon Cadbury's Garden and Leisure centre on the 5th and 6th of October. The full address is

HUNTINGDON GARDEN & LEISURE
Banks End
Wyton
Huntingdon
PE28 2AA


I hope you will stop by and let me know who you are! I will be demoing Kroma crackle, wooden baubles, paint, stamps and flake.

Secondly I have been published whoop whoop! IndigoBlu have a HUGE article in Simply Cards & Papercrafts magazine issue 115. 




They are also sponsoring the subscription gift and if you have a good look through the magazine there is plenty of opportunities to win IndigoBlu goodies too!  Here is my part of the article.


And finally! I am now a college student again! I have enrolled in an adult education course and will be learning silver smithing. I have had my first class and we were all thrown in at the deep end, given a sheet of copper and let loose on tools. The tutor is fabulous and I cant wait for next week to get onto blow torch soldering and then following that making rings. So basically there maybe quite a few posts on my progress and what I have been creating. After rings comes gem stone settings and making my own bezels. Cant wait!

Thanks for visiting!
Clare

Friday 13 September 2013

Easy Halloween Ornaments For IndigoBlu

Hi everyone! Head on over to IndigoBlu to see my latest Youtube Video!

Since the season is almost upon us I decided to share how I make my Halloween pumpkin ornaments with you all. Here is a snapshot from the video!



Enjoy

Clare

Friday 6 September 2013

Last Salute to Summer for IndigoBlu

Uhhhh 24C yesterday and 14C with none stop rain today. The weather report for the rest of the week following is cold cold cold and rain and cold and more rain! Blarg. At least its good crafting weather! So as a final salute to Summer here is a heart I decorated for IndigoBlu, pop on over and let me know what you think!


Thanks for Visiting
Clare

Thursday 5 September 2013

ETSY Shop updated and re stocked with trimmings

Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you know that my ETSY shop has been updated and loaded with lots of goodies for your crafty projects. As a follower of my blog if you spend £15 in my shop you can use the coupon code at checkout BLOGGER for a 10% discount off your order! Just don't forget to enter the code when you checkout!

Enjoy

Clare

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Anna Dabrowska aka Finnabair Workshop

My oh my what a wonderful weekend I had! Totally shattered afterwards but exhilarated at the same time. I headed off to Snazzy's in Swindon on Friday and went via The Stamp Attic too, but unfortunately Wendy was called away, but I shopped anyway muhahaha! Sad to not have met her though, next time! It was quite a nice drive down took it easy and saw a spectacular accident on the motorway at Watford Gap services where I stopped for a lovely coffee, it was a Costa so always good. The hotel was lovely, a premier inn, comfy bed but I was so excited I didn't sleep a wink. All the attendees that were in the same hotel all met up in the bar and had dinner together which was lovely! I got to meet the lovely Astrid who I have known for years and years and never met in person before which was fabulous, but I forgot to get a photo together! Doh! I was sat the whole weekend with some lovely ladies that were mostly local, and very funny! Also I forgot to get a picture with them!



So the workshop with Anna, we did 4 projects in total. A 12x12 layout, a canvas, journal book covers and 3 journal pages. I only finished 1 journal page so I will show the other 2 once I have finished them. The first project was the 12X12 layout and completed on the Saturday morning! Anna is a wonderful teacher and pushes you just enough to get everything done within the time time scale. I never would have imagined I could do this stuff in the time allotted so I quite pleased myself.







The second project on Saturday afternoon was a canvas layout. Again I didn't think I would complete it in the short amount of time we had but again I was pleasantly surprised!







Then we all headed back to the hotel and had a lovely evening together chatting, drinking and eating! I managed to sleep alittle Saturday night but woke up lots during the night worried that I was going to sleep in and miss the class LOL! Sunday morning brought us one HUGE class kit that was quite intimidating at first but we all got stuck into the journal covers, which are fab, I am hunting for some more of these!






The morning saw us completing the covers and the afternoon was taken up by the journal pages. I only finished 1 journal page so I am not showing the others yet.





I had a totally amazing weekend and am so glad, even though it was pricey that I decided to do it. Anna is an amazing teacher, you get a small fortune in the class kit, unlike some other workshops I have been on, this one was truly worth the money! I would recommend it heartily to everyone.





Thanks for visiting

Clare
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