Challenge No.3 - Fancy Jasper

Finally I've finished my third challenge.  Unfortunately this one took much longer than the others.  The biggest hold up was that I ran out of some essentials and then once they had arrived my cat, Maple, sadly passed away. Although a large part of me wants to wallow I know the best medicine, to take my mind off things, is to focus on something creative, so I threw myself back into the challenge.

Challenge number 3 was inspired by Laura Binding, one of Jewellery Maker's guest designers.  Whilst browsing youtube I came across a Designer Inspiration show with Laura Binding doing a tutorial of a wire wrapped pendant. You can find it here.  She made it look so easy I decided to give it a go with a bead I received in one of JM's bead scoops.  It was so much fun and I was so impressed with my finished pendant that I've kinda become a bit addicted to creating them.  I did it with five beads on this challenge!!

I hope you like my creations....

This pendant was made with Vintage Bronze coloured Artistic Wire bought from The Bead Shop website.  The chain is Viking knit using the same wire.  Unfortunately, I don't have a proper Viking knit tool (will definitely be getting my hands on one soon), instead I use a thick cardboard tube that came wrapped in yarn.  I have, of course, used the yarn and I've drilled 8 holes in the top.

This one was made using the same techniques but with silver plated copper wire from wires.co.uk and Jewellery Maker.  The following two were also made using the same techniques but using black coloured copper wire and gold coloured copper wire from the aforementioned shops.

I also made a ring using the same technique with the Vintage Bronze wire.

In addition to these pieces I also made another necklace and a bracelet.

I used gold coloured wire to create the links between each bead.  I also used the same wire to create my own clasp.  I've really been enjoying making my own clasps lately.  In my opinion, if you're creating wire work pieces then using the same wire to create a clasp makes the piece look seamless and more professional.


For the fifth necklace I decided that the bead had such interesting markings on it that it should be left as it is.  So I created a simple bail using a headpin and attached the bead to some waxed cotton cord.

So there's another 7 pieces added to my collection.  I hope you've enjoyed reading this posts and seeing my latest designs.

2 month countdown - Back in business

Back in Business - 1st of September, 2014!!

CassiaCreation's will be back in business two months today!!  Although I'm sad to see my adventure coming to an end, I am excited to get creating again.  I've got so many ideas!!  Firstly, I need to decided whether I'm going back to Folksy or whether I should give Etsy a go.  Decisions, decisions.

Quilling

So as you know I'm living in Vietnam at the moment and didn't bring my jewellery making stuff with me. Supplies can be purchased here but it involves walking around a packed market, a lot of haggling and dealing with the language barrier.  So I put it off and put it off some more and now I'm leaving in three weeks.  However, I didn't completely give up on creating things while being here.  In fact I've learnt two new skills: crocheting and quilling.  Crocheting is something I think everyone has heard of.  I'd been tempted by it a few times before and I can already knit.  However, quilling was something I had never heard of, until I saw this card in a tourist shop in the backpacker's area of Saigon:

On the back there is a brief history and description of quilling.  I read it and thought I can do that.

So off I went to the stationary shop in search of some coloured paper, a craft knife and glue.  I planned to use a cocktail stick instead of a quilling needle as I had little hope of finding one.  Within seconds of walking into the shop I had found a basket full of packets of pre-cut strips of paper, labelled quilling.  At this point I though if they are selling the paper they might just have a needle.  After a quick miming act, the sales assistant knew exactly what I was after and low and behold they had some.  I exited the shop with a needle, pre-cut strips and glue.  A new hobby all for less than £3!!

Watch this space for some quilling creations!!!

How I got in to Jewellery Making - A Trip to Amsterdam

JUNE 2014 - Just found this post in my drafts from over a year ago!!  Can't believe I forgot to post it.  Well, better late than never!!

MAY 2013 -  Again, some terrible blogging from me.  So much for keeping on top of it, but in my defense I do have three posts planned, so hopefully I'll get better.

I thought with this post I'd tell you a little bit about how I got into jewellery making, rather than showcase my items.

Now I know what you're thinking, "What's a trip to Amsterdam got to do with starting to make jewellery?".  

Well 3 years ago I visited Amsterdam with friends and I found, in my guide book, details of a shop, called Beadies, where you could make your own jewellery. It enticed me with promises of thousands upon thousands of beautiful beads, charms and chains.  Instantly it was on my wishlist of things to see and do while in Amsterdam.  When I finally made it there after a lot of walking and getting lost I was not disappointed.  I was however overwhelmed and I just could not decide what to make.  After filling my bead board multiple times I decided it was obviously something I wanted to try out on a bigger scale, so I put everything back and promised myself I would hit ebay for supplies when I got home.  It took me a year after that to actually get around to buying supplies and it all started with a few simple pendants and waxed black cotton cord, but quite quickly progressed to the studio full of beads, charms, cords, findings, gems, resin, clay, etc I have now.

On a second trip to Amsterdam I went back to the little store to purchase something and take this picture.  It was still as amazing as the first time.  Colour coordinated draws of beads, bowls upon bowls of charms and yards upon yards of stringing materials.  It is a jewellery makers dream.  I only wish my crafting room looked like the inside of this shop.  I hope one day it will.

Thanks for inspiring me, Beadies.

My Favourite Gemstone - Lapis Lazuli

A Lapis Lazuli I made and sold over a year ago.

Despite Topaz being my birthstone, from the moment I saw Lapis Lazuli I was drawn in.  It intrigued me as has the topic of Ancient Egypt for so many years.  Lapis Lazuli was the gemstone of choice for the Ancient Egyptians.  The eyebrows of Tutankhaumn's funeral mask are made of Lapis Lazuli, Cleopatra (apparently) used powdered Lapis as eyeshadow and there have been hundreds of Egyptian amulets, ornaments and pieces of jewellery excavated over the years.  It seems only fitting that I would be drawn to Lapis Lazuli after being mildly obsessed with Anicent Egypt as a child (oh, who am I kidding?) and as an adult.

Lapis Lazuli is mainly mined in Afghanistan and as you can see it is an intense blue colour with lots of lovely specks of gold, and occasionally silver.  Lapis Lazuli is not one single mineral, but a combination of three.  It consists of Lazurite, Calcite and Pyrite.  It is the pyrite that gives it the wonderful shimmers of gold.

Now, apparently, all gemstones have some healing powers and special meanings.  I'm not dismissing that and I actually enjoy that aspect a little, even if I don't quite 100% believe in it, however, I can't find any reliable information on Lapis Lazuli.  The first 3 articles I read all stated different meanings and healing powers, so I thought I best not speculate and instead leave it to you to find out and decide, if you wish.

Lapis Lazuli Chips Memory Wire Bracelet.

Hiatus

Well 2013 was a bit of a dry year on my blogging front, but to be honest it was a bit of a dry year on my jewellery making front too, since I was busy planning for and moving too Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!!

However, now the adventure is coming to an end and I will be home in two months, so I decided this was a good time to start getting my blog up and running again.

Over the past year I've had a lot of time to think about my jewellery making and my business.  Since arriving in HCMC I haven't made a single piece of jewellery, but I haven't stopped thinking about it or having ideas and this has taught me that it isn't a fad.  I thought by now I would have long forgotten about jewellery making but despite not making a single piece I have still spent a number of hours each week in that world. I've either been browsing pinterest, watching Jewellery Maker, reading jewellery related articles, designing pieces or thinking how I can improve on my business.  Jewellery making has clearly become a steady part of my life.

So, over the next few weeks (while I prepare to return to the UK) I plan to write a few posts to share what I love about jewellery making.  I'm also planning on discussing some of my business ideas.  I'd also love to hear some hints and tips from other people who also own small online business.  It would be great to find out what works well for other sellers and combine a list to help other business grow too.

CRAFTfest Take 2

CRAFTfest is back again and it reminded me that I have a blog.  It's not that I'd forgotten about it I have just been so busy I haven't had time to keep things up-to-date and to be honest I haven't really got the time now but in the spirit of CRAFTfest I thought I'd post a little one just to showcase some of my new items and advertise my stall.

Since I last blogged I've made quite a few items using genuine gemstones from Jewellery Maker and I must say I love working with them.  The beauty of gemstones (other than being precious stones) is that they are all so different which makes each piece of jewellery so unique.

Here's a beautiful bracelet made with faceted black agate beads and rose quartz beads on bright pink beading thread. I also made matching earrings.

And here's another matching bracelet and earring set I made.  This time I used faceted red agate rice beads, red quartzite roundelles and gold plated jumprings on black beading thread.

Valentine's Day Collection

As promised here's the blog all about my new pieces made with gemstones.  As I had purchased quite a lot of black stones I decided to team them with red and start my Valentine's collection.  It only has 2 pieces in it at the moment but the ideas are coming thick and fast so keep your eyes peeled.

The first Valentine's item I created is this beautiful Heart Pendant Necklace.

Heart Pendant Necklace

This was made with red plated copper coiled using a coiling gizmo, then moulded into the shape of a love heart.  I then thread fireline through black organza ribbon and as I reached the pendant I added 5 geniune agate beads either side.  The picture above doesn't do the beads justice.  They are black faceted rounds and shimmer as the necklace moves.

The second piece I completed is the unusual ladder weave necklace.

Ladder weave necklace

The beads are beautiful faceted white agate and faceted black agate gemstones.  I have also used red beading thread and small round glass pearls.

Hopefully inspiration keeps coming thick and fast and soon you'll see another Valentine's collection blog appear.  Fingers crossed for me.

Working with Gemstones

Wow, I am terrible at keeping this blog up to date.  Hopefully I will get better at it with time.  Anyway Christmas is fast approaching and although I made a few sales during craftfest things have been quiet since.  Yet, despite this I can't help buying new supplies, mostly genuine gemstones. 

For the last year and a bit all my jewellery has been made from glass or plastic beads which creates beautiful yet low cost jewellery but I've been looking at a way to up my game lately.  After watching Jewellery Maker (and enjoying a couple of glasses of wine) I found myself making 2 purchases and now I have some beautiful agate, haematite and shell beads to work with.  I also searched through my stash and discovered the genuine turquoise gemstone beads I had purchased months ago.  At the moment I am still experimenting with the beads I purchased from Jewellery Maker, but I have made some beautiful necklaces using the turquoise beads teams glass pearls.

 Turquoise Flower Necklace

Turquoise Tear Drop Necklace

Both these necklaces are available in my online shop http://folksy.com/shops/CassiaCreations.  Hopefully you'll see some jewellery made with my Jewellery Maker beads on there soon too.



Getting ready for CRAFTfest

Right, so here goes my second ....... entry?.  Is that what these are called?  Or is it my second blog? Well whatever it's called here goes.

As I mentioned in my first blog I am taking part in my first CRAFTfest next week.

For those who don't know, CRAFTfest is a week long online craft fayre and it's also the reason why I started to blog in the first place.  Creative-connections, which is a crafter's network associated with CRAFTfest, recommends getting your business out there and promoting it as much as you can, a blog is just one of the many methods they suggest.  In addition to this, I already have a facebook page, a twitter account and pinterest account (links on the right hand side).

The upcoming CRAFTfest begins on the 24th of Novemeber and runs for one week until the 1st of December.  While the CRAFTfest is on going I will be busy promoting my own business as well as the businesses of other CRAFTfest-ers, but before it begins I am busy designing and creating new pieces.

My most recent creations have been 2 coiled bracelets, a woven beaded bracelet and 2 hair bands.  These are not yet featured in my CRAFTfest stall or in my folksy account because on Saturday the 17th I have my first Christmas craft fayre of the season. I figured if they sell on the weekend (fingers crossed they do) then I won't have to spend ages uploading the pictures and writing decriptions on my stall, but just incase they don't here's a sneak preview of them.  Available in my folksy shop (link to your right) on Sunday if no one snaps them up on Saturday.

Beautiful bright pink coiled wire bracelet.

Sparkley blue beaded wire coiled bracelet.

Baby pink woven beaded bracelet.

Pink and white flower hair band.

Purple butterfly hair band.

Who am I?

Hi all,

Welcome to my very first blog.  My name is Kate and I create jewellery under the name CassiaCreations.  I love making jewellery and have been doing so for just over a year.  I have sold many of my items through folksy.com and also at craft fairs, but the time has come to up my game and publicise my products more to hopefully improve on sales.  Jewellery making is addictive and I need to fund my addiction.  

I am taking part in CRAFTfest this November, which is an online craft fair. A community of crafty people get together and help publicise each others companies in the hope of getting more views and subsequently more sales.  

Below I have included a sample of my pieces and hopefully as things progress with CRAFTfest I will upload more and more. My pieces are available at www.folsy.com/shops/CassiaCreations

Beautiful Blue and Purple Charm Bracelet - £6.00

Chunky Silver Plated Coiled Necklace - £12.00

Blue and White Beaded Pendant Necklace - £6.00

Extravagant Black and Silver Beaded Necklace - £8.00

I love hearing from customers and fellow creators so comments are greatly appreciated, especially if you lend me a helping hand.  I am a novice at blogging after all.