Just a few bits and pieces

These are just a few of the bits and pieces I have made over the past couple of weeks. Some of the jewellery is made from shell and stones that have been bought and I have added a few other details to them.

I have also become interested in wire working. You can make some very intricate designs using a wire jig and different gauge and coloured wires.


This pendant necklace is made using a foil stone, threaded onto an ornate headpin and the wire is twisted using a wire wrapping device.





A lovely piece of Abalone Shell forms the main part of this pendant.











I recently bought three watch faces, they were so dainty, they cried out for small pearls as a bracelet. This one is coffee and cream. It is strung on the invisible thread and includes the tiny heart and arrow fastening.













This is an example of the wire working. The main bracelet is made by winding 18 gauge silver wire. I used a Celtic pattern on this one. The 'flowers' were then fastened together using silver 7.5 jump rings. The fastener on each end of the bracelet is again 18 gauge wire bent to form the hook and ring. Quite effective.












This bracelet is perhaps a little more intricate. You can see from the close up it is made up from segments that were twisted using the wire jig and again held together with jump rings. I have added small seed pearls to the end of the wires.














A shell pendant threaded onto 2mm leather cord.
and a bracelet and watch made from Hematite beads.

An Evening with Sir Elton John

On July 5th, Steve and I went to Darlington Football Club to see Sir Elton. Wow, what a show, he was brilliant.

The day dawned wet and miserable, in fact it did not stop raining till we got there at 5.30 pm. The show was due to start at 7.30 pm. The sun shone throughout the performance, in fact you had to shield your eye's at one point to see anything. We were some distance away but my trusty little Canon took some great photo's and video. He came on to rapturous applause at 7.30 pm and did not leave the stage until 10.30 pm. He sang all his hits, the audience sang along with him and at one point he stood with his foot on his piano stool waiting for everyone to sing. He congratulated Darlington on their new stadium and said he didn't think he would ever visit it as a concert venue, he had visited the old one when he was with Watford Football Club.

Richard Fleeshman was supporting Elton . I think he sang for about an hour before I realised who he was. Oh yes, it's him from Corrie!

It was a great night, I only hope more concerts are held at this venue but how do you top Sir Elton, well perhaps by Rod Stewart!

We had nothing but praise for the way the whole show was organised. Once in Darlington several park & rides were in operation making it easy to get both to and from the venue. We had none of the usual traffic hold up's going home, straight onto the bus, back to the car park and out. Fantastic.

And we even had our photo's in the paper. Not that we realised we had had them taken, that's why I was pulling a face, squinting into the sun, honestly, I wasn't pulling faces at the photographer, in fact we did not even see him. So pleased I wasn't doing something I shouldn't!

Long Time - No Blog

It is an age since I have put anything at all on my blog. So.......... to make up for it I have loads of photo's of various items of jewellery, clay figures, pottery etc. May take me several days to get it all on!
Quite a bit of my jewellery is now on show at Bradley Burn Farm shop in the Durham Dales, it is a lovely part of the county and well worth a visit, they do a lovely cup of tea and a scone if you are ever passing. If you would like to visit their site follow this link.
www.bradleyburn.co.uk/

Some of the items that are on show in the shop.

I have just done another 10 weeks at my pottery class, only produced one item but I was pleased with it. The idea is to put a light inside the house so it shines through the windows. The roof should be a nice russet red but the colour did not take too well, so it has to go back with me in September for a make-over.

This is in it's unfired state, it was stuffed full of wet newspapers for weeks to keep the walls from drying out. The paper burned away once it was in the kiln. It is now sitting with a tea light shining through the windows, looks quite nice.

Two wizards from a previous 10 weeks at pottery. Incidently, we have just put our house up for sale, we need somewhere larger to house all of these.

One recent little polymer clay figure is the Indian Chief. This one was made for Derrick, a little get well present. The feathers took a little but of doing, I sat up till 2 am trying to perfect them.

'Getting Back to Our Roots' in Southern Ireland

Let me first introduce you to Our Maggie, my cousin and her husband Mike. Our travelling companions.

We have been discussing and promising ourselves a holiday in Southern Ireland for a few years but not got around to it, always something cropped up or somewhere else to go but we finally did it.

'Getting back to our roots' as Maggie would say. My Father's family originated from Ireland so we were eager to pay a visit.

Among other things on this holiday we were going to have a pint of the black stuff. Well two or three probably. Guinness that is.

Well, this is the tale .........................

We set off late on the Sunday evening, about 11.30 pm to be precise. Mike was doing all the driving, so all we had to do was sit back and relax.

The weather was terrible, we drove through several blizzards and each time they advanced we thought, 'Oh heck, we will get snowed in or worse we will have severe blizzards and gale force winds for the crossing from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire. So our expectations of the coming week at that time were not very high. Nevertheless, we made good time and we arrived at Holyhead at 4 am. We were due to catch the ferry at 8.50 am, so a bit of shut eye was in order, by the time we got to 5.30 am everybody was wide awake and needing a cup of tea and the loo. I have never been inside a McDonalds at 5.45 am but were we glad it was open. After a lengthy refreshment stop we headed off to the ferry terminal and eventually boarded. By the time you found your sea legs you had arrived.

We disembarked to glorious sunshine.

Our first stop was Avoca, for anyone that watched the TV series, this little town doubled as the fictional town of Ballykissangel in the TV series. We visited the wool mill, very picturesque and we had our first taste of Guinness in the local pub Fitzpatrick's. Which was exactly as on TV.

The mill was founded in 1723 and it is the oldest in Ireland. Avoca or 'Oboca' was first mentioned on an old map of Ptolomy in the 1st century AD.

Fitzgerald's is probably a little younger.

Our first night we stayed in Arklow in a little B & B, the bathroom was like an ice box, and the shower a sprinkling of luke warm water, you had to run about underneath to get wet, so best not mention too much about that one, but it was somewhere to rest our heads and recharge the batteries. You could say that this is one of the down sides to not booking before you go, but where is the fun and adventure in that.

Tuesday 8th April, we headed over to Waterford and no visit to Waterford is complete without a visit to the Crystal factory. We did the full guided tour. The glass is amazing and we stood transfixed watching as the patterns were cut into it by the staff using a cutting wheel, with only the pattern drawn onto the glass as a guide line. Unfortunately, at the end of the tour Steve and I sort of mislaid the end of our group and we headed off in the wrong direction, the guide eventually found us and we got a ticking off for keeping the rest of the group waiting, we felt like naughty school kids.

Every item and pattern that has been cut at the factory is kept as a record, a huge selection is shown in the middle photograph. Many of the items are made as specials, such as trophies which will never be repeated, in such cases the molds are made of wood, metal molds are used for items which are mass produced.

These are just a couple of the items that really impressed, the engraving was fantastic.

The hotel that night was upmarket from the B & B but the shower was still only a trickle and luke warm, we were beginning to think this was going to be the pattern of all the hotels we were going to stay in.

Wednesday 9th, from Waterford we headed over to Blarney, the home of the famous Kissing Stone. 'There is a stone there. That whoever kisses. Oh! he never misses to grow eloquent'

'All Blarney', Elizabeth Ist is credited with introducing the word 'blarney' to the English language. Her emissary Sir George Carew, was charged with persuading the MacCarthy Chieftain to abandon his ancient rights and accept the authority of the English throne. Every time he tried he was met with lengthy and eloquent protestations of loyalty and honeyed flattery of the Queen - but also with no agreement. In frustration Elizabeth exclaimed ' This is all blarney. What he says he never means'. And a new word was born.

I have to admit Steve & I did 'chicken out' of kissing the stone, it is a very long way down when you are hanging practically upside down but at least Steve made it to the top, I only got half way and I started to panic. So I volunteered to take the photographs.

This is me as a little spec, taking the photographs, much too high.

My intrepid cousin did though, they bravely climbed their way to the top and did the deed and they have the official photograph to prove it. With the zoom on the camera, they look quite close, don't be fooled, but if you are ever in the vicinity Blarney is a very picturesque village and well worth a visit.

That night we stayed at the Blarney Castle Hotel, very posh and the shower was hot. The breakfast was to die for, my choice was a very large poached mushroom with garlic, topped with scrambled egg, it was lovely but did nothing for my fellow travellers who stayed at arms length until tea time.

Thursday 9th. After spending some time and money at the Blarney Woollen mill, and being astounded at the price of the Arran sweaters, which made me want to come home and get my knitting needles out we headed over to the Ring of Kerry. We made our first stop at Derrynane House, the former home of Daniel O'Connell, he was known as "the Liberator," he was born on 6th August 1775. He was active in the movement to repeal British laws that penalized Roman Catholics because of their religion. Catholics were barred from Parliament but O'Connell became the leader of the battle to win political rights for Irish Roman Catholics. The outside of the house does not impress but inside it is very interesting, with many items on show that belonged to him and his family. Photographs were banned inside but while wandering around the grounds which are extensive we came across a stone ringed fort. One of the buildings housed a ceremonial coach.

While I was sneakily taking photographs of the item in question everyone else left and the door closed behind them. When the photo shoot was over I turned to follow, only to find there was no door handle on the inside, Steve had been holding the door open so had not noticed. I panicked, and was desperately trying to get my fingers to latch onto something with which to open it, help! looking out of the window I saw the rest of my so called family just walking away! calm down ..... think. After about 5 minutes I did manage to pull the door open to find a gardener digging not too far away. I felt it was duty to inform him that he should fix a handle to the inside. My family claimed they were just about to come looking for me, I don't think if I believed them at the time.

The Ring of Kerry is a tourist trail in County Kerry, south-western Ireland. The route covers the 170 km circular road, starting from Killarney heading around the Iveragh Peninsula and passing through Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, this was a favourite holiday spot of Charlie Chaplain that now has a statue of him to commemorate his love of the place, Cahersiveen and Killorglin. Popular points include Muckross House (near Killarney), Staigue Stone Fort and the afore mentioned Derrynane House. Just south of Killarney, Ross Castle, Lough Leane and Ladies View(a panoramic viewpoint), all located within Killarney National Park, are major attractions located along the Ring.

We headed for Kenmare and put roots down for two nights, at last a chance to unpack our bags of a few essentials. Using the hotel as a base we travelled out during the day to all the points of interest, alas we failed to drive around the full ring but what we saw of it we thoroughly enjoyed.

Maggie waiting for her cup of tea (well it was on it's way) in a cafe overlooking the view.

Saturday 11th. We headed back to Dun Laoghaire ready for the return ferry crossing on Sunday morning.

'No room at the Inn', was a familiar cry from B & B's and hotels, until we were finally directed to The Royal Marine Hotel. We trudged into the foyer and looked around in amazement, marble lined the floors and the walls, a huge reception desk with five people in attendance, a pianist playing to anyone who was taking coffee in the lounge. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, it was magnificent. We couldn't possibly afford to stay here! but we did. Room only! the breakfast cost you another arm and a leg. We pushed the boat out and spent our last night in Ireland in splendour. The original plan was to take the dart into Dublin but the heavens opened and we thought best to make the most of this opulent hotel. Our rooms were on the top floor, we were like kids in a sweetie shop, running from our room to Maggie & Mikes, 'have you got one of these', Now I won't say we have not stayed in a posh hotel before but hand on heart this was the tops. The bed was 6' and so comfortable, felt like you could just stay there and never get up again!

Among some of the famous people that have stayed there have been, Queen Victoria, she apparently took a 16 course breakfast in the dining room, Laurel and Hardy and Frank Sinatra.

Even down to the accessories in the bathroom, which now look ever so good in mine!

The chandeliers are taken through a mirror, so it is a reflection of the three down the centre of the room. This middle photograph is of the entrance and the black crystal chandelier.

And a night time view.

All too soon Sunday morning dawned and it was time to rise and head off to catch the ferry home. The weather throughout our stay had not been too bad, the temperatures were a couple of degrees higher than at home, the trees were coming into bud and whereas our daffodils had only just come out, they were dying off in Ireland but the blossom on the trees was fully open. We did have some rain over the week but nothing that spoilt the holiday.

I can recommend a holiday in Southern Ireland, it was relaxing and peaceful, everything seems to happen at a much slower pace. At traffic lights no one seems to get stressed, we got stuck at one set for over 20 minutes, not one car sounded the horn and no one looked distressed or impatient, the only person who looked fed up was one of the workmen, he was standing in the pouring rain. Funnily enough he was still standing in the same place when we drove back through and getting just as wet.

Leaving Ireland behind on the crest of a wave. I can definately say, we will be back.

A Bit of Everything

Seems ages since I last blogged, been a bit lazy of late, never mind here is a catch up.

Thank you to everybody who rang to ask how I was after my little accident, I am fine, but the car is a little poorly around her back end but I have her booked in for a little op' so she should be fine and dandy in a few weeks time. I am leaving her in capable hands while Steve and I go wandering around Southern Ireland for a week, no doubt we will do a little Guinness tasting while we are there.

What have I been up to since my last blog. Went to the NEC in Birmingham for the Trade Show, I didn't know my feet could ache so much! ouch. The stand was so colourful, it really did look great. I did enjoy it, it was a completely new experience for me as this is the first one I have attended, it was nice to be able to put faces to names of people that I speak regularly to over the telephone.

Saturday 15th March I went along to one of our Crop Day's and spent a lovely few hours putting together a few scrapbook pages, if you have not been to one I can recommend it. We sat and nattered, drank tea, had a lovely cream cake, courtesy of David, Lesley's husband. I started a scrapbook quite a while ago but I keep putting it to one side for other things but when you attend something like this, it does focus you on your project and you do achieve what you set out to do. I don't profess to be a brilliant scapbooker but I was pleased with the end results.
http://www.graphicus.co.uk/workshops.asp

The Wedding photograph is of my parents, sadly only one person from this happy photo is still alive, one of my Aunts. So instead of it being kept in a shoe box somewhere I especially wanted to include it in my book.

One of my recent projects using the silver clay was a brooch, using the All of a Twitter themeplate. I used the largest single bird on the themeplate, Ermintrude, I think the name suits her very well.

This is a silver bar on a very fine silver chain. I traced the design onto paper and transferred it onto a rubber carving block and carefully carved around the outlines. Simple but effective.
Fridge magnet made using stampbord and Ermintrude from All of a Twitter themeplate, she really does lend herself to some great projects.

I am still attending pottery classes and this is my latest project, a wizard. He is still in his unfired state here.

A friend of ours has just celebrated his 65th birthday and he is a fanatical Everton fan, so I did him a card with an Everton footballer in Fimo clay.