Latvian Beading Patterns

Do you remember the Latvian knitting patterns I brought home last summer, after a visit in Riga? My knitting skills are still rather basic so I haven't gotten that far with them. I have however put the patterns to great use by reinterpreting them as bead weaving patterns.

So far I have done 2 patterns and I have gotten half-way with the first bracelet. I am totally charmed by the dark yet colorful style. The second one I am planning will also have a black background, together with some strong green and pink palette (see : below). I'll make sure to post pictures, once the bracelets are done.

Beading weekend

I'm spending this weekend giving in to my heart's desires and beading away. It's partly due to a sale in the local craft store (khem, khem) and partly to a slight cold that makes it too hard to do anything else.

This first ocean-colored bracelet is now pretty much finished. It misses findings but other than that...

The blue necklace is thought as a mixed media piece. The white chain serves as a basis and the blue beads are the body. I am thinking of adding more white lace crochet to make the piece more airy and light. However, it is work in progress and I am not working of any pattern so I can't say what it will end up being.

Are you having a good weekend?

Excuses, excuses...

So, it's been ages since I wrote anything on the blog. Sorry guys but I have a good reason for that. For 2 weeks now I've been attending classes in Multimedia Design and Communication so the amount of my spare time shrunk dramatically.

I will continue to post here and of course I did not abandoned my love for handmade. You'll see more of my projects and I hope to finally write a tutorial or two. However, what you might also expect is some more photography, manipulated photography and maybe a bit of graphic/web design. I hope you don't mind.

And today, have a look at my new crocheted earrings. The pattern is a simple pineapple but they look like a really cool drop shape when on your ears. I made two versions of the earrings. One model (orange and yellow) has a tighter weave, which makes it smaller and stiffer and the other is larger and more airy (pink). The smaller ones measure 6cm and the larger are around 7cm long.

What do you think? Would you wear them? Should I add them to my Etsy store?

Frey Wille Jewelery

On my wanderings through Warsaw this year, I stumbled upon a new jewelery store: Frey Wille. I didn't know the brand before and I am not usually a fan of luxury jewelery but I fell in love with Frey Wille instantly.

It is an Austrian firm made up of a team of artists, goldsmiths and experts of fine enamelling with 60 boutiques all over the world. The company was created in 1951 and is growing ever since.

According to their own website, the artists of the company take inspirations from the surrounding world and the variety of cultures. But many of their pieces are tribute to great painters and architects such as Mucha, Klimt or Hundertwasser.

Frey Wille designs very simple shapes in gold or silver but the beauty of the jewelery lies in the wonderful, intricate enamel paintings. Each bangle and pendant is ornamented with art or culture inspired decorations.

The jewelery is very divers and ranges from very colorful to more toned down, and from modern to antic design. And if it wereb't for the prize, everyone would be able to find something for themselves. My heart belongs to Claude Monet, Iris series - especially the Regina bangle!

But I am almost just as crazy with Alphonse Mucha or Gustav Klimt collections.

Below the lovely "Ode to Joy of Life" collection.

Have a look on Frey Wille website for more sweet jewelery browsing. And make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you like most!

Jewelery

Since I was a little girl, I have always loved jewelery. Colorful, traditional, weird, elaborate, simple, ethnic, silver or with stones...I love it all. And I have quite a collection to which I add, as often as possible, new pieces - handmade and not.

Today, I was going to show you a better picture of our wedding rings and when I was taking photos, it came to me that it might be a fun idea to share more of my collection with you.

Below are just a few sets that I have acquired recently and a few words about their history.

First of all, the wedding bands. Handmade to order by Titanium Knights from Etsy, they are made of jewelery quality titanium with thin, silver inlay line. The rings have sandblasted finish, which gives them porous texture. Read more about titanium rings and their qualities here.

Above are four sets/pieces of jewelery. All found their way to me very recently and all make me excited. The wide, wooden bangle and blue earrings are just pieces bought at whimsy because I like the color blue and have many outfits that they will fit nicely.

The amethyst and silver set has an interesting story. The ring was given to me by my mother-in-law on the day of my wedding. It's a family heirloom and I would really like to hear more about it, but so far there wasn't time. The bracelet, despite the fact that it looks as if it were a set with the ring, belonged to my godmother. She was wearing it at my wedding and when she saw the ring, she decided to give me the bracelet to make a match.

The last, "old gold" set I completed myself after browsing through the shops of Warsaw. I do not like real gold but at the same time, I am a big fan of "old looking" jewelery.

Hooked on Earrings

Have a look at a few earring pieces I've been working on. The biggest challenge in this project was the wirework. Turns out it is not at all easy to bend the wire for loops. It has to look aesthetic and be identical for both earrings. Big respect for all the smiths out there and maybe someone would like to take an apprentice?
Meanwhile, have a look at my earrings. I especially love the blue ones, but the pink ones are also cute (only the color is less aggressive and more rosy in reality).

Blue and White Polymer Clay Beads

I am very excited about this new beads I made this weekend. Look how awesomely blue and girly they are! I made 7 of them and it took me over 2 hours - a little bit long, no? It is precise work, but I hope I can shave some time of this work in the future.

Anyway, I love them and I am very excited to make more. Do you also like them, or am I completely blind? Should I make more? What colors should I use now? Tell me, tell me, tell me!

PS.
You can see more photos on my flickr account and if you work with polymer clay and share your photos online, you can also join Polymer Clay Art and Craft group on flickr. I checked and all the other groups seem restricted geographically or by type of polymer clay items. My group is open to everyone and invites all types of polymer clay works. So feel invited!

Polymer Clay: Second Date

It's been quiet here for a moment. But I have an explanation, really. I spent the last week honing my polymer clay skills but couldn't show you anything because the weather was really gray here and photos wouldn't be any good. I still don't have really good equipment for product photo taking (donations anyone?). Anyway, today the sun came out for a few moments so here it comes.


So, what do you think? Have you tried polymer clay? How did it go for you?

Polymer Clay: First Steps

Just two polymer clay pendants I made today. They are far from perfect but it was my first time, so please be gentle in your comments. Also, I really liked making them so there will be many more in the future. After all, practice makes the master.

Earrings Tested on Animals

I am a very fussy customer. When I buy something, I really want to get high quality and good value for my money. This often leads to swearing off certain brands or shops and arguing with dishonest sellers. So in general a bit of extra stress in my life.

But my fussiness has also positive aspects. For instance it makes me more sensitive to my own products' quality. I dread the idea that my customer would come back and complain about their purchase.

So when I made first earrings from the new 2010 Collection, I knew I had to make damn sure that they were durable. As a crazyhead woman, I know perfectly well that jewellery (especially the fav one) goes through a number of ordeals. It is often tugged at, taken off and put on repeatedly, and stuffed into bags and pockets.

To make sure that my new jewellery is up to the task, I gave my earrings the following treatment:

• I wore them every day for a weak through normal day's chores and to a party
• I wore them in bad, wet weather and heavy rain
• I wore them under a hat
  
• they travelled through 3 European countries stuffed into a pocket
• they survived family Christmas with me
• they were used as a toy for my cat (see picture)
  

And they are still pretty and in exactly the same shape as they were when I finished them. After this treatment, I can, with all honesty, say: approved for women's life!

(Note: no fat and lazy animal was hurt during this photoshoot)

2010 LifeCreative Jewellery Collection

I thought I might give you a sneak peek into the crochet jewellery collection I've been working on from the beginning of the year.

I'm having a lot of fun with this project. I really enjoy the process of crocheting and then starching the pieces to achieve the desired form. The items will be for sale in my etsy shop at the end of February! Or earlier if I can't wait any longer :)

You can see more photos here and here.

Just Before Christmas I Think of Spring

Christmas is in a few days (YEY!) and all the handmade gifts are finished. I really cannot wait to see how my family and friends will like all the goodies I...that is Santa Clause...made for them.

Anyway, this pre-Christmas period was like a great craft workout. I made a lot of things in a short period of time. Each item was crafted with the thought of specific person in mind and it was a really fantastic and invigorating experience.

Now, that all the Christmas gifts are done, I can put my newly formed craft biceps to further use: 2010 LifeCreative Jewellery Collection!

I have 1000 ideas using the team of flowers. I plan to use rich, vivid colours and mixed media to create textured, lively pieces for girls and women of all ages.

A few sketches have already been put down on paper and some items started. But as my Christmas gift to you I decided to share the photos of my first necklace from the new collection.