New space(s)

I have a writing blog titled, Wordful Googie, and I am constantly berating myself for not blogging more. I feel the same way about this blog too. To be fair, I have not had space for my crafting in recent years but we did move to a place with a garage and I have a very nice work area there as you can see.


So there are no excuses. I am currently working on a stamped metal pendant for a friend and I am really out of practice so I have been having to relearn good metalsmithing technique. Apparently jewelry making skills will atrophy if not used.

In the near future I will be transitioning this blog to a new website that will allow readers to buy my jewelry. Exciting times ahead!

Summertime projects

I haven't posted in forever and feel really bad about it. I really do. Anyway, I have been working on several projects because I can't do just one thing. I don't have photos to post yet, but I will as soon as they are finished. The projects are a mix of knitting and jewelry making. The knitting project is the summer bag I was working on the last couple of years. The knitting part is finished, it just needs to be put together. Right now, the cat is laying on it.

The jewelry projects include a wrap bracelet that I am remaking with leather. I originally made it with Irish linen but it was too flimsy. I made three pairs of  earrings from one of the Bead Fantasies book. I have the beads for another pair from the same series of books. I also have been experimenting with wire; I made my own ear wires for the previously mentioned earrings.

So even though I no longer have a craft room, I still have been able to get some work done.

I haven't been working on anything creative in a while. Which galls me because I am going to be losing my studio space. As soon as I can't do anything anymore, I will want to.  Actually, I lied. I have done a couple of things. I hemmed up my jeans. They look great! I replaced the clasp on my chainmail bracelet with an lobster clasp. I received an e-mail from Metal Clay Supply about a wonderful new kiln that is only $189! As soon as I have no place for a kiln than I will be blessed with the opportunity to get one.

Such is life.

I have been very busy lately. I recently took some metalsmithing classes at the museum and I made this really great bracelet.









I also started this cuff  to the left, but I have a ways to go before it is finished.

I started out by making a bead out of copper sheet metal. We first made two disks. Then we shaped them on a dapping block. Then we drilled holes in both pieces with a drill press. Then we filed the edges with fine grit sandpaper. And then we soldered them together.






I was also experimenting with chainmail. This is a Byzantine style chainmail bracelet. I don't know the diameter of the jump rings. I thought they were 6mm but they are more like 9 mm.

I took a class at Meant2Bead on hammered jewelry. These are hammered pieces in copper. I also made a set in silver. I have been wanting to wear these but I wanted to take a photo first. there is a necklace and earrings as well as clasps for future projects. Hammering was really fun.

And finally, my current obsession: stamped metal. Here are two charms I made and riveted together. I have always wanted to work in metal and here I am! Working in metal! I envision all kinds of really cool metal projects in the future.

I had a crafty summer for the most part. I started getting into stamping metal and leatherwork, both of which are a lot of fun. I have also been working with wire and took a class this past week at Meant To Bead on hammering metal, which was very cool. I am going to be starting metalsmithing class at the Toledo Museum of Art on 10/18 for six weeks. I am very excited about this. Hopefully I will have photos of some of my artwork.

Speaking of photos, I will post some of the projects I have been working on in the next couple of days.

I haven't done any crafting lately because I haven't had the time. In fact, before the other day, I hadn't been down in my craft room in months. I went down to look for a book and was tripping over material and yarn; I really need to get back to it.

I did receive two books in the mail. Damn you Crafters Choice! They look pretty good: Take-Along Knitting and Knitting a Kiss in Every Stitch by the venerable Nicky Epstein. She is really awesome.

It looks like Google updated Blogger and all my crafty links disappeared. I will have to restore them a little at a time.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I haven't had a lot of time for crafty pursuits. I know this is a constant refrain for me, but I did go shopping yesterday and Joann's and Hancock's and picked up some cotton yarn. I have been on a cotton yarn kick the past year.


I have made a market bag for my sister, one for me, and I am working on a summer everyday bad that is almost done. For my market bag, all I had to do was put on the strap, so today I did and finished it.


I bought some Lion Brand cotton to make a cotton "straw" hat. I previously tried to do it, but I wasn't skilled enough in crochet, so I am giving it another go. The pattern is here: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/ckc-hat.html?noImages= . You may have to register at Lion, but you do get access to a bunch of free patterns.

I also bought a kitchen pattern book to make potholders and dishcloths. I have one from Lilly, but it was just dishcloths. I will post photos when they are finished.