Hammered copper jewellery..

Had a nice couple of weeks.. Gary had some time off work and though he did 4 long hard days work at his moms house, we have had some nice days out together while the children were at school.  Between time spent with hubby & days at work I havent had any time for felting... I should get a couple of days this week though hopefully.. 

I have however had time to play around hammering copper!  I started tinkering with it because I seem to be getting a touch of arthritis in some of my fingers.. which I absolutely do not want.  SO I decided some copper jewellery was called for (I have heard that its good for curing/preventing arthritis).

I used one of the pretty shell buttons that I brought from the Button Lady at WonderWool Wales

Kept it nice and simple & rustic (bit like me lol).  It didnt take long for Rachael to ask me to make her a copper bracelet too (no suprises there :).  I decided to make a mother & daughter set using another of the pretty shell buttons, and take some photos as I did.

Jewellers pliers & flush cuts, hammer, 'anvil' (any strong smooth steel, mine is an old shoe last), 16 guage copper wire, thinner copper wire (I used the stuff out of electrical cable) & a pretty button

After measuring a length of wire (circumference of wrist plus a little extra for the loop & hook) I bent the loop about an inch from one end.  I used a slim pencil to go round.

Bend the neck of the loop back a little so it makes a nice round loop rather than a teardrop. 
Holding loop with one set of pliers & the short end with the others, wind the short bit tightly around the longer

Using flush cuts trim off the bit marked by pliers - this is excess anyway.
A quick squeeze with the pliers tucks it in nice and neat

Pop it on the 'anvil' and give it a good hammering. 
This strengthens the copper wire - suprising how warm it gets when you beat it.

Check the length - hammering stretches the wire.  Used flush cuts to trim it to length (remembering to allow extra to form the hook).  I filed the cut edge smooth and beat it again to flare it out a little.

Cut a piece of thinner copper wire - 4 or 5 inches.  I hammered just the very centre piece.  Then bent it around my pliers so it was the right shape to go through the button.

I twisted it at the back being careful not to damage the button.

Then bent it over the bracelet wire nice and tight & wrapped it around the back of the button again.  Used flush cuts to trim the ends, bent the ends in toward the centre of the wire 'nest' up close to the button.

I used my round nose pliers to make a tidy little hook. 

Ideally I would of hammered it on a bracelet mandrel, which would make it stronger... but as I dont have one I make do with whats available. I bent the bangle into shape around a small china vase :)  

My girlie is very happy with it.. she has just come down the stairs in her PJs (lazy Sunday morning) with it already on.

xx

Sheepish fun

Hi guys, can you believe another week has gone? Well I`ve been making jewellery all day ready for a Christmas fayre in a few weeks time. I just wanted to share a few pics of my latest jewellery with you.

It all started with my dear friend Keiara requesting an embroidered felted bangle set, in green & black, for halloween. A few weeks before I had been playing and felted 4 little black cat beads - but hadnt used them yet. This is what I came up with...

The funny light bit on the black bangle is the light catching an embroidered star, Id used a sparkling shiny black thread.

Im REALLY pleased with how it turned out & Keiara was thrilled to bits :o) I LOVE doing work for Keiara, she tells me what she wants & lets me go for it....fortunately we must be on the same wavelength cos she has loved all of her bits `n pieces so far.

I decided that I really should make some sheepish sets - you KNOW how much I love those little sheep :o)

Im waiting for things to arrive in the post now; fibre, beads, business cards (I cant wait to see them - Ive ordered MOO mini cards) my fingers are itching to get felting, but I cant do the projects I want to do cos Im waiting for the posty... never mind means I finish some UFOs.

Have a great weekend folks
:o)

Finished my Day of Felt jewellery

Felt - intertwined, bound together, forever as one - United

Felt bracelets, bangles & cuffs - some are embroidered, some beaded, some have silk fibres felted in for decoration - every one is individual.

I have invited my family and friends to join in with the Day of Felt on 3rd Oct 09 by wearing a piece of jewellery created by me for this event & gifted to them. I have finally finished all of the jewellery & taken photos - thought Id share them with you :o)

Would any of my readers also like to join in by wearing a piece of my jewellery on 3rd Oct 09? Keiara I know you are joining in sweetie :o) thanks for getting back to me

All that I ask is for you to wear the jewellery on Sat 3rd Oct (& hopefully afterwards too :) to celebrate the first ever International Day of Felt. There is no charge for the jewellery but if you can cover postage costs please. I should mention that the majority of the jewellery will go to friends & family, but there are sure to be a few pieces left.

It is on a first come first served (pot-luck) basis and when its gone its gone, so do speak up if you want to join in. You can either contact me through my website www.FreeSpiritCreations.co.uk or leave a comment here (though you will need to email me privately with your address to post to anyway)

For more information about the Day of Felt: http://www.feltunited.com/ The event is part of the United Nations Year of the Natural Fibre.

Felting Fun

Well, perhaps not the best start ever - but being as its the school summer holidays I'm not doing much of my own stuff. Having lots of lovely family time though - which is what its all about isnt it?!

I have a 12 year old son & a 10 year old daughter - who are both very crafty (in both ways ;o)

These are the felted birdies we made a couple of weeks ago. If you take a peek at my website, theres a Crafty Kids Gallery where you will find these and some of their other creations. We`re doing some experiments too (more about that in the future) we have been felting with our feet... here are a couple of pics of the kids hard at work :o)

Treading down the fibres to make sure theyre all nice & wet & flat

Fulling the Felt

Other than family projects I have been doing smaller / quicker stuff - things that I can easily put down & carry on with at a later time. I've done quite a bit of jewellery, the latest has been for the lovely Keiara of The Jewelled Path

Keiaras goodies

These bracelets are a new design and turned out so well - I'm thrilled with them! Infact I love them so much that I'm going to HAVE to make some similar for myself ;o) Im actually going to start them now...

TTFN

xxxx