To market, to market ...

Well, the weather was appalling, the organisers pretty mediocre and as for signage and position - well don't get me started! As usual the best thing about doing a market was the other stallholders and the sense of camaraderie as well as the interesting feedback from the public.My daughters and I ended up having lots of fun together so it was time well spent!

 

That is our little stall - because of the inclement weather we ended up sharing an oversized tent (that had been destined for the Sausage Sizzle) with an animal guy - oh yes this is what I got to spend the day with ...

In fact their were two of these chaps literally hanging around the marquee, along with a couple of lizards, turtles,a baby python, a bettong and a tawny frogmouth. We became animal handlers too when the guys helpers had to leave so I spent most of the afternoon with a very docile tawny frogmouth perched on my hand letting people pat it! I now know heaps more about these birds - and no, they are NOT owls!

My eldest was in Heaven and had that critter draped around her for half the day! She also snoogled the bettong! Good thing you couldn't make it Miss Melissa!! My girls did an excellent job of promoting my madeit store - I am so proud of their ability to communicate and the obvious pride they take in my work - they are just lovely really! Here is a closer look at our stall - it looks very pretty doesn't it - we were going with a little "nanna chic"?!

Now, to let you all know about some upcoming events - this Thursday, December 2nd is the day to visit the Adelaide College of the Arts because the annual Arts Bazaar will be on between 3pm and 7pm. Students will be selling their work - from prints to jewels for very reasonable prices so if you get a chance to drop in to 39 Light Square I am sure you will find some great artworks to take home. I will be there somewhere too! I am pretty excited that this year we will also be at The Art at the Hart fair in Port Adelaide on Dec 3 and 4. This is a really good arts fair with quality work and a great atmosphere. We are a bit under-prepared as we had short notice to join in but I am still looking forward to it and plan to get into the studio this week and work really hard! come along and don't forget to say 'Hello"!

Back in the saddle?

Well, after the heady excitement that was Blogtoberfest, November seems to have been a bit of a blogging drought for me. I could blame end-of-the-academic-year overload or preparation for some upcoming markets but I think I just didn't have anything interesting to say! Now, about these Markets - my daughters and I will be at the Goodwood Christmas Market this week-end (Nov 27th 9am - 3pm) so if you happen to be in Adelaide do stop in and say hello! Daughter #1 has made some super cute kawaii inspired hairpins and ear-ring along with some recycled journals. Daughter#2 has made some lovely candles in tea-cups, cards and paper-cuts. I have screen printed some grocery bags and of course made some jewellery. There seems to be a focus on ear-rings in our house just now  - here are a few I have made from recycled materials. I have come to realise that I have a definite, organic style!

Some recycled brass (from a tray) with pewter cut from  a beer tankard and sterling hooks.

Pretty simple but kinda fun - electrical wire and sterling silver.

 

Copper, brass and some horn discs with sterling hooks - just love bashing that copper about!

More bashed up copper but I didn't get to do the beating because these are cut from a pre-beaten bowl!

These are fine silver and some beach glass collected from the Yorke Penninsula.

Again some pewter cut from old beer tankards - this material is great to work with! I was going for an industrial tribal look - did I pull it off?

More pretty beach glass - I think these are really elegant.

More pewter - so good for ear-rings because it is lightweight - also easy to pattern and patina as you can see from these! I hope the market-goers like these as much as I do. Right now it is back to the Salt Mine to make some more stuff to tantalize all those Christmas shoppers!

Getting it on madeit.

I seem to have spent an absolute age getting things onto my madeit store today. It is a bit of a process but I am pleased to say I have added some lovely beady bits! Here is a sample ...

A beach inspired necklace full of lovely 'beachy' tones and below, something a little more colourful ...

I added some ear-rings but have more to go ...

 I fell in love with these Peruvian birds - so sweet!

I really like my quasi steampunk ones - not exactly hard-core steampunk but I am getting there! At least I acan have the satisfaction of saying that I used bits from a watch I pulled apart myself! I still have some bracelets and a couple of necklaces to go as well as a whole bunch of simple ear-rings but they will have to wait until tomorrow!

Treasure

 I knocked off two assignments for Uni this week (yay!), so op-shopping was a bit thin on the ground. My daughter was visiting and found some pretty teacups ...

She has turned them into 'tea-lights' for an upcoming market. I found this fairly grubby looking, taped up  bag of beads and since it was only 50 cents I threw caution to the wind and made the purchase!

As it turns out, it was full of these ...

They are seed beads called Job's Tears. They come from an native Asian grass and are in fact the mature grains of the grass - the lovely pearly exterior houses the grains. They range in colour from light brown right through to charcoal black but these lovely grey coloured ones are my favourite. Apparently, Mother Theresa's favourite rosary was made of Job's Tears and she was buried with it. So, it turned out to be a lucky find. If you had a chance to go treasure hunting this week, I hope the Thrift Goddess was smiling upon you!

Vintage Vinyl

Recycling vinyl records is not a new idea - I have made brooches etc in the past but I have really been wanting to make some image based pendants so I decided to whip out the old platters and give it a go.Hope you are ready to have a cuteness overload! seems to be a bit catchy in our household of late. I have just finished listing these in my madeit shop!

They are made from old vinyl LP's - all hand cut and finished then riveted together.

I have had so much fun developing these but let me tell you, metal is way easier to work with!

The images are mostly from Little Golden Books and other cute kids books. I love that I can slip some of my current obsession with woodland critters into my jewellery making! I have used mica to protect the image - much less toxic (and messy) than resin I am pleased to say.

I will be making a slightly more 'upmarket' series of these - sterling rivets and chain - for a gallery shop in the city - but I must say I love the vintaginess of the brass rivets. I like these so much I have made myself one and have already worn it alot! Love it when an idea comes together!

Brag Alert!

One of my dear daughters has been home for a few days during her study break. She didn't do much study (none!) but she did manage some art-making. She has designed a beautiful paper cut for the youngest member of our family and I thought I would share some of the process with you ...
Here it is in its infancy with all the 'little' pieces cut out.

And the underwater scene takes shape ...

There is writing all around the border with lots of dangly stars.

And now for the middle section!

All done - is'nt it great?!

 

The owl and the pussycat in their beautiful boat.

I am not sure what colour she plans to put behind the papercut but I am sure whatever she chooses it will look great. This is the largest papercut Ellie has attempted - bigger than her cutting mat even!

Scratch that ...

Well, my 'MadeIt' Monday - the day I had promised myself to post new things in my store - turned into MAD Monday so I had to scratch those plans! Nevermind, I have it sorted now and have just finished posting some more birdie brooches ...

I have been lucky to find such pretty tins lately. I tried my hand at some more china shaping - my family are now calling me the "Plate Whisperer" - and came up with this ...

 And finally, I incorporated my zip rose into a neckpiece. I am really happy with this piece - I think it is kind of sassy but classy!

 

It would be perfect to wear to a Melbourne Cup event wouldn't it? Speaking of which, if you have a flutter today, I hope you back a winner!