Polymer Clay Playing with Ideas

This week I have finally picked up the clay again, but was abruptly halted when my clay extruder gun decided to die on me! As I was mid flow in my making I had to promptly order another and am now eagerly awaiting its arrival.

Preparing my clay colours for extruding

However it did'nt stop my flow and Tuesday I was working on some new ideas that popped into my head, I usually have to make a note of them otherwise they will be lost in the mess that is my brain.

My Idea Book for all my scribbles

Here are some prototypes of some pieces I am working on I needed to create some rough versions to see how they would work once put together.

Prototypes for some new Brooch ideas

I also got round to creating some earrings with those faux jade elephants I made in my blog post Polymer Clay Faux Jade.

Giveaway Faux Jade Polymer Clay Elephant Earrings

I've teamed them with some green aventurine gemstone beads and kept them simple. 

I have a few pairs so this week I will be having a giveaway for the chance to win a pair of these adorable earrings so don't forget to check back soon.

UPDATE The Giveaway is now running pop on over to my GIVEAWAY POST to take part

This post is part of Handmade Monday don't forget to check out more great crafter's over on Handmade Harbours Handmade Monday

Treasury Tuesday

'His Birthday' by Lottieoflondon

Birthday Ideas for the man you love

Mens Guitar Pick Necklace - ... SnappinPicks $12	The Rolling Stones Vinyl Rec... clockstockandb... $19.99	Birthday Gift Mens Funny Tsh... Tees2Express $16.99	Cancer The Crab necklace for... CrossEarth $12.99
Vintage Tie Clip Gold Tone 1... GalloGrotte $15.98	Manly Man Soap Set - Natural... RockyTopSoapSh... $22	Brown Rugby Balls Sports Cuf... davesdisco $13.95	Thanks Dad Card - Unique Fat... Alfamarama $2.5
Union Jack Bow Tie // Handma... AtelierSalter $18.5	Beer Caddy - Home Brew Six P... coldcreekbrewi... $45	JESMOND SPOONER - Upcycled S... MumboJumboStud... $18	Wallet Card Insert - Copper ... hardweardesign... $34
Old Fashioned Shaving Set - ... MrKittysSoapSh... $22	Star Wars Framed Mini Figure... PrettyPeculiar... $49	Love Dad Airplane key chain,... CrossEarth $12.5	Electric Guitar Pick Tray (C... WoodHounds $17

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Treasury Tuesday

'summer shades' by ButterBlossoms

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

Seed Bead Scoop Necklace

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend Everyone

I haven't been able to get much claying in lately! Life if taking over again as we are looking for a mortgage to buy our flat, so far its been one problem after another so a much needed day out with friends was so needed.

A Fringe Necklace

I planned to wear a simple black chiffon top but as we was going from day to night I felt it needed something to jazz it up.  I knew what I wanted to create in my head, it was a long seed bead fringe necklace in black, but despite my efforts I couldn't find a tutorial free or paid anywhere on the net.  I needed to get started so I settled on a multi strand scoop necklace instead and set about threading my beads.

First design for the beaded scoop necklace

It took me three days to complete as I kept changing the colour scheme (an earlier version can be seen above) but finally decided on black and gold after I found a selection of gold beads from my old stash.

My Seed Bead Scoop Necklace of Black & Gold handmade by Lottie Of London

Another problem I had was deciding how to finish the necklace, some gold plated cone ends would have been perfect but as time was not on my side I had to settle for jump rings on this occasion, however cone ends can be added at a later date and I think my finished necklace goes perfectly with my top..

My seed bead scoop necklace created to jazz up my simple chiffon top by Lottie Of London

This post is part of Handmade Monday don't forget to check out more great crafter's over on Handmade Harbours Handmade Monday

Taking Jewellery Photos

I've been toying around with the idea of taking modelled photographs of my jewellery for a while, wondering  which friends can be bribed with the promise of a bottle of wine or two in return for standing around for a few hours, where to take the photos for the best light? what to wear to show off the jewellery at its best.  With so many questions I usually end up putting my ideas to the side for another day.

But a couple of weeks ago on a rainy weekend I decided to take the leap with my 10 year old as the photographer and me the model, just a bit of fun to see how the photos would turn out.  So with a simple white background and some adjustments to the camera settings Amelie was ready to point and click!

Pre-edited photo shots for jewellery

Above you can see the pre-edited photos, its not that easy this modelling lark trying to ensure the jewellery is being displayed at its best and as can only be expected from a 10 year old Amelie did bore of this photographer business quite quickly with shots of the cat and anything else she could snap in between.

I did however get a couple of shots that where usable from this test and with the help of Picasa 3 managed to edited some shots that I am quite pleased with.

Edited Shots of Jewellery with Picasa 3

And a couple of bracelet shots...

Edited Shots of Jewellery with Picasa 3

I think the results are quite promising especially with the use of editing within Picasa 3 a free to download photo editing programme.  My next goal is to bribe the old man into taking some shots as Amelie has now tired of a future in photography.

What do you think of modelled photo shots do you think they play an important part in deciding if you want to bu an item of jewellery esp from online?

This post is part of Handmade Monday don't forget to check out more great crafter's over on Handmade Harbours Handmade Monday