Bird a Week 34/52 - Nature's Way

After a couple of weeks of plain silver birds we are back into glorious technicolour this week!

I really enjoyed making this one. It is a small lentil bead which measures 24mm in diameter and it is reversible.

 On the front I have put a little kingfisher with a tiny fish in his mouth using my Enamelled Accents technique.

The reverse is a zany flower texture pattern with some nice cheerful enamelled colours and, of course, my little Joy logo:)

Here is the Haiku poem for it...

Darting, diving bird

Shimmering, silvery stream

Nature in balance

Lucky Me!

Recently I was thrilled to receive a wonderful package in the post containing these stunning cabs made for me by Becky Fairclough of Chameleon Designs.

A while a go Becky posted on her blog she was raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and that everyone who donated would be put into a draw and one lucky person would win a day of her time, and guess what - I won!! How exciting!!! 

Becky gave me the choice of a one day lampwork lesson with her or she would make for me for one day. I choose the later. Becky produces beautiful beads but what I really love is her cabochons so I asked her to make some of those for me and left it up to her what she made.

My photo above does not really do justice to the wonderful package of cabs that arrived and she has also included a beautiful heart pendant. Watch out for some of these great cabs appearing in my work in the future!

Do pop over to her website and her blog and have a look at her stunning work.

Becky raised a wonderful £308 by her efforts.

THANK YOU BECKY! :)

Bird A week 33/52 - Sampler Birdies

This week is turning out to be a bit hectic so I have kept my Bird a Week entry nice and simple. These fine silver earrings made using Art Clay Silver have little cross stitch design birds so made me think of a handmade sample. I used a texture plate from my favourite company -  Rolling Mill Resource.

Here is the Haiku...

Flying little birds

Cross stitched in linen skies

Needlework of love

This weekend I shall be at Shoreham Airshow. We love this show, lots of nice loud planes to watch! The weather forecast is good so I hope to see you there ;-)

Bird a Week 32/52 - Love a Duck

YAY - I am more or less back up to date with my birds :)

So this week we have a ring. I have never made a square shape ring before so I thought I would give it a go. On the top is a little heart shape pool with a tiny duckling paddling along. The texture on the ring is created using Art Clay Silver paste.

Cute eh ? ;-)

and the Haiku....

Tiny Fluffy Ball

Paddling around my heart

Makes me Love A Duck

Bird a Week 31/52 - Hummingbird

Well now, this is very strange as I am sure I posted this bird onto my blog last Tuesday but it is not showing up! So... I will post it again :)

This pendant is fine silver made using Art Clay Silver and has enamel and a patina applied to it. I have been trying out a few of my purchases from Chicago with this piece. I bought a couple of lovely moulds from Penni Jo who was at the polymer clay retreat which ran concurrently to MCWC. The hummingbird is made using one of her moulds. The actual shape is cut out using a QuikArt Template and stylus. I am new to using these but I am really liking them. You can find both of these things for sale at Metal Clay Supply.

The reverse is set with 2mm and 3mm CZs and of course my little Joy logo.

Here is the Haiku for the piece...

Darting green and blue

Betwixt nectar laden blooms
Dazzling Hummingbird

Came onto my blog to post the next bird so watch out for the next blog post now.....! :)

Bird a Week 30/52 - Kookie Konfetti Bird

While I was at the Metal Clay World Conference in Chicago recently we had a birthday party for Katie Baum. On the table was some confetti including some nice little swirls. It occurred to me they would make the perfect eyes for a kooky bird so I used them to make this piece!! :)

It is a fine silver pendant made using Art Clay Silver with Enamel and a Liver of Sulphur patina. The back has some 2mm and 3mm CZs set.

and the Haiku....

Looking at the world

Dizzy happy spinning eyes

Kooky Konfetti Bird

I am on a serious catch up this week for my Bird a Week. Watch out for another bird tomorrow and one more by the end of the week so I am back up to date :)

Hastings Hot Houses

I will be taking part in the Hastings Hot Houses again this year. I would like to invite you to come along to see my latest work and to say hello. It would be lovely to see you at any of the open times I have listed below.

We have an exhibition running at the new Stade Hall in the Old Town of Hastings from Tuesday 2nd August to Friday 8th August 10am - 4pm. I have several pieces in the exhibition and will at the hall myself on Wednesday 3rd August 1pm - 4pm, Thursday 4th August 10am - 1pm and Friday 5th August 10am - 1pm.

On Friday evening I will be at the private view of the exhibition from 6pm - 9pm.

On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August I will have a full display of all my work at the open studio in Courthouse Street in the Old Town in Hastings. I shall be there both days from 11am - 4pm.

It is Old Town week in Hastings as well with the carnival on Saturday 6th August so plenty of reasons to come to Hastings Old Town :)

I look forward to seeing you soon......