More Pins and Some Help Please

I have had a lot of fun putting together pins this week, soldering jump rings to pen nibs, pouring some resin, twisting wire and running my fingers through my button stash. I used some vintage fold-over connectors at the top of this pin, and a less ornate one on the pin below. Does anyone know what their correct name is? Or where I can get more? I really like these!

These owls have been a part of my stash for a long time too, but finally they have a home and nests of their own.

Another of my favourite components is the little fuses with brass ends, I pull them apart add vintage text (usually encouraging scripture) and then solder a jump ring to the top.

I wore this pin to work earlier in the week, some of my students (mostly boys) had a wonderful time passing it around and trying to identify all the components. Friends have been uncomfortable with the name I gave these pins; junk pins. A comment from a delightful, and almost illiterate, teenage boy that 'You tell a story with this Miss, unna?' has changed their name to 'Story Pins'.

Jewellery and Rain

The rains have arrived very late here in Western Australia, but the heavens are making up for it now. We have had three freezing cold days with winds and flooding rain, days where my face feels cold each time I stick it outside and all four fur-babies jostle for places in front of the heater. Nights where I cannot turn over without disturbing at least one fur-baby snuggled as close as he can get. Normally I would whinge about the cold, and the wet, but our farmers have been so desperate and the season change so late I am joyful, grateful that we are not to have a drought.

An added bonus is the wild weather is just perfect for creating (and even doing school work). The last two junk pins sold quickly, the one above was started at the same time. I have been making earrings and hat pins too. I love hat pins, they are perfect for holding my scarves in place as I dash between classes - arms full of books, and the inevitable hot tea. I made some traditional ones with bright beads last week, and this week I have made the steam punk version below.

Craft it Forward and a Treat

I made three of these 'junk' pins this week- so nice to have my fingers fiddling with little pieces again. I have listed two for sale on Etsy.

Steph is hosting a Craft-it-Forward on her blog, and I am in awe of the diversity and talent she demonstrates in her jewellery making. I could not help myself I had to participate.

The rules are quite simple.
The first five people to respond to this will get something handmade by me. There are some restrictions, though:

1. You must be willing to blog about Crafting it Forward
2. You need to make something for 5 people
3. Leave me a message with your intent to participate
4. Then leave me another message with the link to your blog post

I will take your color preferences into consideration and am also willing to make it for someone you love and send it to them in your honor as a gift from you.
Not so long ago I ordered something from here. I can't show you what because they have not gone to their final home yet - but they are beautiful! Wonderful! Perfect! And they were packaged in the little box to the bottom left of this picture. Their creator is a friend of mine and opening this order felt like a surprise birthday party for me - lots of wonderful treats. I am so looking forward to showing you what I bought, but for now I think I will indulge in cookies and hot chocolate....

My friend got married and I got rust

so we're both happy. K married a farmer with a shiny new tractor, clean new ute and lots of modern stuff (I had to put that in because F will probably read this). On the farm there is also lots of beautiful rust and F has quickly become an expert at bringing special pieces in and asking K if I would like them. I do. I hear the neighbours have joined the fun and are contributing as well. These two lots are the result of our last two visits - the shearing combs are for a design I have had in my head for almost a year, the rest could become anything, or I might just keep looking at the stash, enjoying the colours and textures.

The pin above has an old rusty lid as it's base and is my comment on landmines. If you would like to buy it drop by my Etsy store.

What a week!

Thank you so much to everyone who left kind comments on the last post. Unofficially I have heard my car is a right off but still no paperwork, and it seems to have consumed a lot of time in the past week. I am so blessed to have Mum's car now for up to a month if I need it.
It seems that once again the only haven from the busyness of life has been my art room.
I stepped away from my usual colours for the top junk pin and enjoyed the experience.

This one is more muted, but oddly it wasn't until I named them for Etsy, 'fairytale' (or escape) and 'peace' that I realised they were actually therapy - constructed prayers for my life.

A visitor and more

There have been a lot of spiders this year, and I really don't mind them - outside. This one was too close for comfort as I groggily reached for the tea canister this morning. I know he is harmless, I know he eats the flies ... but that does not mean I want to live with him.
So, after the obligatory squeal as my fingers brushed his back I stood up looked around and realised I was alone. Archer could not reach the bench, the boys would not. Bravely I gathered Mr Hairy into a glass, tiptoed outside and released him, over next doors fence.
Note to self: Next time check a) The neighbours are not having coffee on their veranda and b) That I have clothes covering all 'bits'.

on etsy

These teeny tiny junk pins are 1" wide and were such fun to make. If you know where I can source more of these little kilt pins please let me know.

Bits and Pieces

The last few days I have felt very fragmented, and while I have other projects on the go, I sat down last night and made these pins. I think the reason I find them so soothing is that they join fragments, they are the jewellery version of a jig-saw, where I get to choose the picture.
Both are on Etsy.

Time for a change

My fingers fell upon some paper scraps yesterday and these ATC's emerged. I have had a jar of texture past for years and now I am using it almost daily - funny how these things work out. Do you see the wonderful old typewriter key, aged and pitted as if the machine it belonged to was carted through one war at least? It demonstrates the advantages of having a chewing dog - several minutes in his mouth before I noticed and the teeth marks are a feature. (As I was typing this my Archer was dropped home from a play date - my beautiful neighbour suggested I keep an eye on him as he has eaten a pink lipstick ... do you hear my sighs in Tom Price? Melbourne?California? )

on etsy

I wish I could remember where I got his watch face from I have been saving it to use, and it seemed to go with this pin (thanks Sally for the fabulous gold pins).

Bad Mummy

If you have ever wondered what a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel looks like after his Mum locks his tail in the car door, I can show you. For other breeds you will have to do your own research! Seriously, his poor little face was miserable 20minutes later and his tail was still wagging - see how it is blurred? Archer's tail wags from daylight to dusk and beyond - is that a cav' thing I wonder?

What a chaotic weekend this one has been. It was the last week of school term and my last week with my year 12 History class before their mock exams. I had quite a lot of marking to do for them and lots of last minute practice assessments.

In the 'it never rains but it pours' style of life my Uncle G and his wife were out from England for the first time, they spent a week here in Albany with us and have managed to see quite a lot of the state. We had a couple of family dinners and lovely afternoons while they were here.

When we visit England we flit from place to place and person to person and the opportunity for long cosy one-on-one chats is limited.

I had a few birthday gifts to make, including my visiting Uncles' so I made some wire bookmarks - I actually wrapped the really manly one I made for Uncle Gnbefore it got a picture taken, but these ones were given away this week too.

The junk pin is on Etsy (now sold)- there is something soothing about making these, the collection of small elements, the wire wrapping. It is all so relaxing.

I made the green/sterling silver necklace to wear to a special dinner. The rain forest jasper is just gorgeous. I can't decide whether to keep it or not, perhaps I will just wear it a couple more times, I was thinking about a friend as I made it. Who knows where it will end up.

This Week's Jewellery

on etsy

I think this black and gold pin has become my favourite. I really enjoyed putting this one together. Do you see the weird 'springy things' I have included on both? My Dad gave me them, they are the inner workings of the valves in tyre tubes - obsolete now, but a quick dip in shellac and they are sealed ready to feature in my jewellery.

sold
sold

My Mum loved the original teaspoon necklace so I made two and let her choose which one she wanted, fairly sure she would choose the bottom one for its symmetry - she did. I used a stainless steel spoon which went so well with the black lava beads and aged sterling silver wire. These pieces really show the contrast in my creative style - simplicity versus minute detail; not a problem just interesting.
gift for my Mum

Give-Away and Goodies

Lately I have been reflecting on the goodness of those who surround me, the kindness and generosity. I have wanted to host a give-away here for a while, so last night I gathered some of the treasures already spread over my desk, took a pause from making bracelets and allowed my mind to wander. To wander over all the wonderful people, known and unknown, who surround me. And as I did I made this junk pin. Of course the knots are those learnt in Nina's class this past March, the fabric bead my attempt at those Nina and others do (I would like to have a lesson in this one - but I think mine look OK), the treasures I have collected in recent years, the top charm includes the word art, and the long bead is one of those I wrapped and dipped in shellac. If you would like to win this pin simply leave a comment below - and for fun, tell me your favourite hot drink ... I will do the draw on Sunday night (Aussie time).

This journal was my Mystery Muse gift from the talented and oh so kind Jane - she really has the knack of felting and not over doing it.

My Dad bought these stones back form a recent trip to the Kimberly in Western Australia. No they are not ancient arrowheads, but rather river stones from the Mary River. He wondered if I would be able to use them. Likewise the rusty tin of cold branding numbers below, given after a trip to a farm sale some time ago. I have used them to stamp with, and think eventually they will end up in a piece of art work or two.

Finding Order ..

I'm almost finished the charm sorting and hanging that I began last weekend. I am so pleased with the four pieces of jewellery created. Three necklaces and a bracelet all showing off so many fellow artists work.

Last night I also finished sorting and filing a whole stack of photo's going back three years and more. I need to create these little spots of order when life is full ...

And then I played. The junk pin at the top of the post features some of the little treasures given to me by Leighanna. I had to make a new one as I sold the one I was wearing earlier in the week.
The sun is shining, I can hear little birds singing, and as it is winter I am going to grasp the moment and head outside.

Gifts and Giving

I came home last night to find this glorious bunch of tulips on my table – a gift from my brother and SIL. I adore tulips – more than any other flower they seem to hold secrets within. I can never wait for them to open before I begin to be peek; I can be found peering regularly through pinhole size openings where the petals meet at the top of the flower. My aim: to glimpse their kaleidoscope of stamens and colour within. I have a waking-dream which sees me in a field of multi-coloured tulips - that never wilt or drop their petals, bliss.

This pin has arrived at its new home, it did not photograph well, but I liked this one because it was less cluttered and each of the charms have their own space, thier own story - and sometimes that is more than the collective.

Another art work which should have arrived home ... these door hangers are made of balsa wood and were 79c at Macro when I was on camp. I only bought two and wish I had grabbed a handful as my head is still buzzing with ideas for them. I think I will have to cut some out myself. This one had a crackle background, some texture paste, transfers and lots of washes with Golden colour before being over stamped.

Finally some play ...

on etsy sold

I made this pin today and did the backgrounds on some door hangers. The pins was lots of fun to make, I like the contrast between Making Memories hardware and the rusty washer, and between the bead head and the Queens head on the coin. I think the background on the door hangers is Misty Mawn meets Michael deMeng, I will have to see what you think when they are finished.

I will wear the pin to work tomorrow - I like to wear everything once even if it is a gift or for sale - that way I can check there are no pieces to catch on clothing and that each items dangles the right way when worn. Some of my students even get cranky if I don't have a new piece to wear on Mondays!