No promises for more consistent blogging I'm afraid, but you never know, I feel like 2013 is the year I'm going to need the sanity of my creative endeavors more then ever!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
A Hiatus, A Bump...
My oh my well obviously I've just been on the smallest of hiatuses - gathering my thoughts, getting my bearings and working on other interim 'projects', like this wee one I have due in April!
No promises for more consistent blogging I'm afraid, but you never know, I feel like 2013 is the year I'm going to need the sanity of my creative endeavors more then ever!
Happy New Year!
No promises for more consistent blogging I'm afraid, but you never know, I feel like 2013 is the year I'm going to need the sanity of my creative endeavors more then ever!
Happy New Year!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Music Love: Bon Iver 'Come Talk To Me'
This song is inspiring me madly today - I'm itching to get home from work and get crafty!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Brass Conch Necklace
This necklace was born from a happy mistake - I have it strung on 3 metres of brass chain so that I can loop it and layer it as much as I like.
Monday, May 28, 2012
A Saturday Night Engagement
On Saturday night I headed off to my big sister's engagement/leaving party (she's moving to Auckland, nooooo!) so thought it was the perfect chance to try out my new 'up-do' skills, teamed with a fun 50's make-up look (also learned at my latest workshop!) which included crazy liquid eyeliner cats-eye flicks. So much fun! I'm now on the hunt for my own set of hot rollers, so if anyone reading this in NZ has a set they want to sell, even if they're super 70's old school ones, let me know!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A Fun Photoshoot
I had some fun doing a wee photoshoot with my sister a couple of months ago, and these were two of my favourite pics... I don't really have a clue what I'm doing when I photograph things - I just muck around until I get a picture I like but it's fun all the same, and so great when you have a willing photography subject!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
A Tumble with a Hammerhead Shark
Here's the first of my commissioned hammerhead shark brooches heading into the tumbler for a final polish...
...and after two hours of tumbling he's finished and ready to be dried off, wrapped and sent to his new home. Hope you love him, Helen!
...and after two hours of tumbling he's finished and ready to be dried off, wrapped and sent to his new home. Hope you love him, Helen!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Headscarf Hair-do
I've always been envious of those girls who work cute headscarves into their hair-do's and manage to look so perfectly put together. Whenever I try it looks like... well like I just randomly tied a scarf round my head and it stands out like a sore thumb.
On Friday night I learned how to create the cutest hair-do mixing a headscarf, mini victory rolls and pin curls. It's a little hard to tell but the scarf is also tied around the ends of my hair at the back, which is then tucked up to create a 'bob' length, then the scarf brought up to tie on the top of the head with the rolls and curls created around it. That, I think is the key to making the scarf work - styling your hair around it so it looks like it belongs there!
On Friday night I learned how to create the cutest hair-do mixing a headscarf, mini victory rolls and pin curls. It's a little hard to tell but the scarf is also tied around the ends of my hair at the back, which is then tucked up to create a 'bob' length, then the scarf brought up to tie on the top of the head with the rolls and curls created around it. That, I think is the key to making the scarf work - styling your hair around it so it looks like it belongs there!
Vintage Beehive Boxes
I hit the road bright and early this morning and headed over to the Wairarapa to pick up some more stock for another of my ongoing projects - selling vintage beehive boxes. I initially just started using beehive boxes for visual merchandising at work, but have had so much interest in them over the last few months that I'm now selling them!
The boxes - dating from the 1960's to 1980's - are in lovely worn condition, painted in all sorts of colours, often stamped or stenciled with numbers, and all smelling of honey and beeswax.
It's so exciting to hear the great ideas that people have for them when buying; bookshelves, crates for magazines and toys, side tables... loving that DIY spirit!
My colleague bought some and created a box on wheels for storing various bits and pieces in her flat, though seems her cat got first dibs...!
If you're in Wellington, and you're interested in getting your hands on some for yourself, head here!
The boxes - dating from the 1960's to 1980's - are in lovely worn condition, painted in all sorts of colours, often stamped or stenciled with numbers, and all smelling of honey and beeswax.
It's so exciting to hear the great ideas that people have for them when buying; bookshelves, crates for magazines and toys, side tables... loving that DIY spirit!
My colleague bought some and created a box on wheels for storing various bits and pieces in her flat, though seems her cat got first dibs...!
If you're in Wellington, and you're interested in getting your hands on some for yourself, head here!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Art Deco Key Necklace
In contrast to the many hours I've been putting in to make some of my jewellery recently, I managed to make my latest piece in a matter of minutes.
While on a buying trip for work recently, I came across this sweet art deco brass key in an antique shop, and snapped it up quickly with one thing in mind...
I've simply threaded it onto some antique brass chain and wollah! Instant necklace.
While on a buying trip for work recently, I came across this sweet art deco brass key in an antique shop, and snapped it up quickly with one thing in mind...
I've simply threaded it onto some antique brass chain and wollah! Instant necklace.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Brown Paper Packages
Who would have thought that little wee packages from Hong Kong and trays full of goodness like this could make me so happy... it's always the small things isn't it?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Betty Grable Up Do
This week I learned how to create my own version of a Betty Grable up do - we're talking all business in the back (with a french roll) and party up top with lots and lots of miniature victory rolls, but this is more of a 1950's style.
I finally got the hang of the setting pattern - as you can see in my before photo (even if it is a little messy!), and once again after a whole lot of pinning and hairspray, the 'Betty Grable' do was formed.
I got some funny looks at the supermarket on my way home, but aside from that, I'm loving the new do!
I finally got the hang of the setting pattern - as you can see in my before photo (even if it is a little messy!), and once again after a whole lot of pinning and hairspray, the 'Betty Grable' do was formed.
I got some funny looks at the supermarket on my way home, but aside from that, I'm loving the new do!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Crossroads Ring - Sterling Silver
I've spent the weekend working on a 'Crossroads' ring - this one is extra special as it's a sterling silver version for a lovely young lady on her 21st birthday. I hope she likes it!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
V For Victory
I've just started out on a month long workshop, learning how to re-create vintage hairstyles! Woot!
Anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot for victory rolls, and this week was learning all about just that!
So here's my first crack ... yeah yeah it's messy, but for an hours worth of teaching, I think it's a pretty good first attempt. Believe it or not, these were achieved only after setting my whole head in hot rollers and going through nearly an entire can of hairspray. They stood the real test though - I managed to make it the whole way home on a typical windy Wellington night and still have the 'do' more or less intact!
Next week we're learning how to create a Betty Grable inspired style, so I'll show you the results if I can get a worthy shot!
And this is what I'm hoping to get it looking like after a lot of practice!
Anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot for victory rolls, and this week was learning all about just that!
So here's my first crack ... yeah yeah it's messy, but for an hours worth of teaching, I think it's a pretty good first attempt. Believe it or not, these were achieved only after setting my whole head in hot rollers and going through nearly an entire can of hairspray. They stood the real test though - I managed to make it the whole way home on a typical windy Wellington night and still have the 'do' more or less intact!
Next week we're learning how to create a Betty Grable inspired style, so I'll show you the results if I can get a worthy shot!
And this is what I'm hoping to get it looking like after a lot of practice!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Boots For Walkin'
I have new boots, and I think I'm in love. They're comfy, deliciously soft leather, so they smell wonderful every time I wear them... and I wear them a lot... I also has me some mad re-growth, jeeps! And a borrowed 'standing on a chair' pose from dee*construction.
Arrowhead Necklace
I've been working on some more of my arrowhead necklaces, just waiting on my chain to arrive and I should have some ready to sell really soon... watch this space!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Talk of Chalkboards
Last week I had an itch to make a chalkboard speech bubble - one of those things that's great in theory, but I'm not entirely sure how usable it will be!
Still, I armed myself with some 6mm MDF, a jigsaw, some old white paint test pots (for undercoat), some chalkboard paint and wollah! See that classy chick modelling with her new prop at work? That be me!
Kia ora!
Still, I armed myself with some 6mm MDF, a jigsaw, some old white paint test pots (for undercoat), some chalkboard paint and wollah! See that classy chick modelling with her new prop at work? That be me!
Kia ora!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday Night: Moustache Ring
On Friday nights my little sister comes round and we have 'Girls' Night' in front of the telly. Last night we decided to be productive while waiting for Graham Norton to start, and we made her a sterling silver moustache ring. Cute huh!?
Monday, April 9, 2012
DIY Singer Sewing Table
A few years ago the 'in laws' gave me an old industrial Singer sewing table that promptly went into our storage unit while we traveled overseas. On returning, I dug it out in the hopes that I could get it restored to a point that it could be used for upholstery again... but unfortunately it was a bit beyond repair. The mechanism had rusted so badly that the costs to have it repaired were a little ridiculous. I couldn't bare to part with the table altogether, so the cogs got turning, and with a bit of sweet talking to the boy, we set about turning it into an awesome table for our entryway.
As we pulled the sewing machine apart, I selvedged all the nick-nacks that I found in the table drawer; thimbles, needles and spools of old thread.
The sewing machine itself went to the scrap metal recycler's, and we set about finding some timber to make a new table top from.
Corey managed to grab a van load of Rimu joists that were being ripped out of an old building he was working on (and about to be thrown out!). We laminated them together, and gradually planed the new top down to a nice smooth surface, then sealed it with clear polyurethane.
The table base, though not the most intricate Singer base that I've seen, was really cool none-the-less, but was in need of a really good wire brush and powder-coating. The cost to powder-coat was a little insane, so we grabbed a few cans of black gloss spray paint and applied coat after coat to the steel base until it looked just like new.
I'd love to say that we managed this little DIY over this Easter weekend, but in all honestly we've been chipping away at it for over 12 months! But this weekend I finally got it installed in our entryway. Success!
As we pulled the sewing machine apart, I selvedged all the nick-nacks that I found in the table drawer; thimbles, needles and spools of old thread.
The sewing machine itself went to the scrap metal recycler's, and we set about finding some timber to make a new table top from.
Corey managed to grab a van load of Rimu joists that were being ripped out of an old building he was working on (and about to be thrown out!). We laminated them together, and gradually planed the new top down to a nice smooth surface, then sealed it with clear polyurethane.
The table base, though not the most intricate Singer base that I've seen, was really cool none-the-less, but was in need of a really good wire brush and powder-coating. The cost to powder-coat was a little insane, so we grabbed a few cans of black gloss spray paint and applied coat after coat to the steel base until it looked just like new.
I'd love to say that we managed this little DIY over this Easter weekend, but in all honestly we've been chipping away at it for over 12 months! But this weekend I finally got it installed in our entryway. Success!
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