New Look – In Development

The first show of the season was a couple of weeks ago.  I’m prepping for the next one now, looking forward to participating in the Goderich Arts and Crafts Show on July 5^th to 7^th.

If you remember, this is the town that was devastated by a tornado in August 2011.  They are on their way to recovering, still lots of work to do.  Why don’t you come out for a visit, support the town and check out their charming craft show. 

Show hours are 12:00 – 8:00 Friday, 9:00 – 5:00 Saturday and 10:00 – 4:00 Sunday. 

 Now, on to the new look!  I mentioned a few posts ago that I had purchased a new tent.  Here is how it looks after  set up for the first show.

At the Fairy Lake Artisans Festival

It is so strong and sturdy!  I’m very thrilled with the tent.  One thing though, it’s definitely white, more so than the old tent.  I think I need to look at a backdrop to bring some more colour in.  I love how this picture makes my tablecloths look so bright and cheery.  They really are not that light in colour, and are actually a deeper royal blue.  I kind of like the shade here though, maybe slightly lighter and less opaque for a wall backdrop?  I’ll give it some time to noodle on.

 I also want to place the wall grids vertically, preferably using supports to stand them from, and just tie them in at the top to secure in place.  And, I need to get a lot more hooks.  Would you believe there are over a hundred in this picture?

More hooks makes for more jewellery to display.  Fun!

Prepping a New Season

I have been busy the last few weeks, getting ready for upcoming shows.  The first craft show that I will be at is the Fairy Lake Artisans Festival, in Newmarket.

I’m very excited as this is my neck of the woods.  The show runs Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm each day.

A New Life, Upcycled Glass Pearls, Lampwork Beads

 You will need to park on the north side of Timothy Street or other local parking.  Vehicles will not be allowed into the park during the festival.

The park at Fairy Lake

Here are maps of routes to get to the park. 

Newmarket’s Davis Drive is undergoing a lot of construction for the new rapid transit bus lanes.  I recommend very strongly that you use a different road!

Coming from the West

Coming from the East

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Spring Pretties

Last year at about this time I wrote about how much Mother Nature had been enjoying the weather, and, how much I was enjoying the flowers she put forward.  Well you know what, it’s more of the same.  The weather’s been unpredictable, just now finally getting nice.  The flowers?  A knock out display again!

 Tiny little Forget Me Nots (I think) blooming in the back of the yard

I didn’t know Primroses could survive the winter!

I think these are called Elephant’s Ears.  The leaves are huge by mid-summer, the spring flowers?  Tiny

The only repeat from last year’s blog, Solomon’s Seal.  One of my favourites because of the almost heart shaped flowers

Two years ago, this gorgeous apple tree was fighting for its life.  Blight, insects, scabby fruit!  I was ready to give up on it but after a little tender loving care look at how my husband brought it back to light.  Huge growth spurt this year.  It actually does reach all the way up to the top of the photo

Mother Nature provides beauty in other forms too.  Here are some that I’ve turned to wearable beauties

Beaded Beads Necklace & Earrings Set

Amethyst Pendant with Turtle Jasper, wrappedwith Sterling Silver

A New Tent = A New Look For My Booth

Last year was my first full year selling at craft shows.  Not knowing how it would work out, I decided to start with a basic, entry level tent.  It worked well enough but I had issues fairly quickly.  By the end of the last show some of the roof struts gave out.

They do say you get what you pay for but it did look pretty to start with.

Booth Set Up at my First Outdoor Show – It’s come a long way since!

My new tent?  A lovely Ez Up brand tent, the Eclipse II model.  In keeping with standard craft show requirements it’s white again.  Show organizers are very specific on what they want their show grounds to look like and white tents are the standard.  The advantage to a white tent is that the inside can be decorated however the artisan would like.  Plus, a white tent does not change the colour of the products inside, a very important advantage!

Ez Up Eclipse II

Here’s a picture of what the new tent will look like.  Not much right?  It’s the bones of the tent that make the difference.  No more bent frame, no more zipper issues, and no unwanted plastic windows.

This is going to be fun!

Class Fun Part 2

A couple of blogs ago I spoke about a Metal Clay class I had taken, mentioning at the end that the piece for a bracelet was part of what we made during the class.

It wasn't ready yet as we ran out of time during class but I promised a picture when it was ready.  Well, I finally completed it and here it is.  For a first try it came out not too bad.
 

The gemstone is a Rainforest Jasper rectangle.  I made the gemstone caps, tube caps, toggle and toggle bar from copper clay.  Even the loops for the toggle and clasp are made of copper clay.  The tubes were bent with a pipe bender and handmade 3 mm copper beads were used to get the best fit.

I did not quite do enough smoothing around the handmade beads caps and didn’t get my toggle square but otherwise pretty good.

I decided to add some slight texture to the curved tube.  The texturing is very light so it doesn't detract from the bracelet appearing. I found that the curved tubes originally were just too shiny as is when compared to the remainder of the copper pieces.   They have naturally aged since the pieces were first made making the difference less obvious by the time these pictures were taken.

Jewellery Playing – but First Tax Time

We all have to do it but I don’t think most of us really appreciate it. 

Tax time = File tax returns.  I file tax returns for 5 people, both my parents, my son, my husband and myself.  This has kept me busy over the last little while and I’m still waiting for some of my son’s info to finish.  Computer problems a few weeks ago did not help but what do you do? 

In the meantime, here’s a few jewellery playing “experiments” for you to check out.  What do you think?

Lariat with Rectangular Glass Beads, Round Wood

Beads, Aluminium Chain

Choker with Glass Heart, Silver Plated Beads

and Wire, Stainless Steel Neck Wire

Early flowers have started coming up in the front and back yards.  I’ll be looking to them for inspiration.  Should be fun!

Class Fun

Last week I took a 2 day course on working with Copper Clay, specifically Metal Adventures Copper Clay.  What a fun 2 days! 

We were a class of 8, led by Wanaree Tanner, an amazing young woman from the US.  Wanaree is a metal clay master and not only produces some of the most stunning and fascinating jewellery and works of art.  You can find out all about Wanaree here!

Amazing product lines!  Tiny bits of metal are mixed with a special organic binder, formed into different shapes and items, textured, and then fired…heated to the point where the organic binder is burned off and the molecules of the metal bits are aligned together. 

When everything works out the final product is beautiful.  Metal Clay comes from several manufacturers and many types of metals.  I’ve been working with metal clay silver, copper and bronze.  The items made in this class are the best by far.

Here’s the bail I made for a kinetic pendant.  The gemstone captured in it is Bronzite.  Wanaree created the instructions for this bail, and I chose and made the overall shape and pattern applied to it.  The bail is made in a way that allows the gemstone to spin inside it.

The second item is a lovely bracelet.  We learned how to make all the components and how to put them together.  Unfortunately we ran out of time in class so I still have to put mine together.  First I need to do some polishing on the individual parts to remove a little bit of scale (something copper develops when it is fired) before I put it together.  A picture for this one will come soon.