Whoops!

So much for me trying to post regularly :(

I have been very busy since Easter.  Between working at school with my lovely class of 27 children and spending time running around with my 14 year old and teaching my 17 year old to drive, there is not much time left.  However, I am now one of the organisers of a local monthly market, which I love doing but it is quite time consuming particularly in the week before the market and I am in the process of finalising all the stall holders for a fundraiser market which is being help this Saturday and then I need to find time to make my jewellery.  Okay so I am a little bit on the time poor side but I do love every minute of it. 

I hope that next week I will be able to post about how well the market this weekend went, but at the moment I am still a little worried about the whole experience.  I have wonderful stall holders making donations of their lovely products for lucky door prizes and a silent auction that will be running during the market.  There will be a lovely lady doing face painting for half of the market time.  The BBQ will run throughout the 4 hours and there will be soft drinks available as well as a coffee and cupcake van.  The variety of stall holders is fantastic from jewellery, cards, scrapbooking materials, ceramics, mosaics, painted glass, resin work, soaps, candles, beauty products, stained glass, to some second hand books donated by a shop in the local community.  It should be an awesome day but having never organised something like this before I still worry!

Guess only time will tell...

I will let you all know on Monday how it all went

Have a great week :)

Beautiful...

A stunning day in Hobart today so I took my son to work and then went for a walk on The Domain. Here are some of the pictures I took during my walk

Mount Wellington

Looking towards the Derwent River and the Eastern Shore

Mount Wellington across North Hobart

Walking track

Domain sport fields

Looking toward Glenorchy

Some Healing Properties of Moonstone and Aventurine

I love using gemstones in my jewellery designs.  The stones are lovely to look at and feel beautiful against my skin.  I think the added element for the use of gemstones is the healing and strengthening properties they contain.

My latest pieces are made almost entirely of Green Aventurine and Moonstone, with some Czech glass bugle beads to add balance.

*Moonstone

• Soothes stress and anxiety
• balances emotions
• calms the emotions
• cures headaches

*Aventurine

• heals the heart by releasing emotional stress
• allows reuniting of the healthy heart and soul
• heals emotion pain, fear, negativity and imbalance
• Calm a troubled spirit and brings about inner peace

* from Healing Jewelry: using gemstones for health & well-being Mickey Baskett 2007

Necklaces

I have been loving making necklaces lately.  I have been playing with my Sizzix Big Kick embossing machine and loving it.  It is so much fun to add a piece of plain metal to a folder turn a handle and see what comes out.  I have made lots of different designs and then been adding these pendants to necklaces using lots of techniques.

The combinations of metal, glass and gemstones I have particularly enjoyed working with.  have a look at some of the photos Keri http://www.facebook.com/KeriPennicottPhotography has taken of my necklaces.

Embossed bird, Indian foil glass beads, moonstone and carnelian

Stichtite in Serpentine and Amethyst

Embossed leaf, cream howlite and black crystals

Amethyst and Stichtite in serpentine chips

Flourite

Chrysocolla gemstones

Andreas Needs a Miracle

A family from the school I work at has had a very difficult year.  Their youngest son was born with an irreparable heart condition.  I am currently working on organising a Mother's Day Market as a fundraiser for the family, to assist them during this very stressful time.  They have many trips to Melbourne which leaves the family split.  A hard thing for any family to manage.  It is amazing how well they are all coping.

I am hoping that this market will go a little towards easing their burden and show them how much love and support the local community has for them. For more information on the market or to donate please email me.

To find out more about Andreas and his family have a look at his facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andreas-needs-a-miracle/285106744877956

Until next time

Stay safe and be happy
Lee-Anne :)

Tutorial ~ Memory Wire Bracelet

A memory-wire bracelet is quite simple to make. 

Equipment:

• a kit   

OR

• beads (including spacer beads)
• bracelet memory wire  

PLUS

• round nose pliers
• household pliers (for cutting the wire ~ it is quite tough!)

And patience (haha)

Step 1
Use the house hold pliers to cut 1 1/2 loops of wire.

Step 2
Make a turn on one end of the wire using the round nose pliers.
Note: the end of the wire must make a complete loop any gap will allow the beads to move around or even come off!

Step 3
Thread the beads onto the wire in a pattern you like (experiment with colours and patterns until you are happy). Continue with the pattern until you have about 1cm of wire left.

Step 4
Make a turn with the remaining wire using the round nose pliers.

Step 5
Wear with pride!

Oh, I Love to Multi-Task

I usually try to spend one night a week with my family ~ even if it is just watching TV ~ as often I am making jewellery of an evening.  So last night I sat on the couch with my youngest son and my husband to watch Packed to the Rafters.  During the adds I put together some bookmarks.  Some of these will be heading to Under The Oak in Ulverstone and the rest will go on my market stall.  Hmmm, wonder if I should put some onto my Made-it store or on Etsy?  Maybe?!

Anyway here are the pictures of the ones I made in front of the TV

Turtle ~ Lapis Lazuli; Heart ~ coral; Seastar ~ Turquoise; Fish ~ Chrysocolla

Coral

Unicorn ~ Yellow jade & Smoky Quartz; Dog ~ Carnelian; Fairy ~ Amethyst; Butterfly ~ Rose Quartz

Hope you like my latest creations

Stay safe and happy
Lee-Anne :)