Monday 29 July 2013

More frequent blogging attempt!

I'm going to try and blog more often. I know I've said it all before, but let's give it a go!
I won't just blog about the jewellery I've made, I'll try and write about other things that interest me (and hopefully any readers I pick up along the way!). I'm planning on writing a more "professional" blog on my website, so this one will be more of a "face behind the product" professional/personal mix. Apparently....

So what shall I write about today?
How would you like to see the ducks from my local pond? Mrs Mallard surrounded us with her eleven ducklings!
 

Hmm, can I tie in a cheeky link to anything on my website? Well I haven't got anything duck-related, but I have some other wildlife, here's a couple for example:

Birdcage earrings



Bird and Bees charm bracelet

If you fancy a look at some more creatures, I have plenty more birds, butterflies, bees, owls featuring in my jewellery designs on my website  - www.pirate-treasures.com :-)

Saturday 20 July 2013

Summer already, how did that happen?!

I was never the best blogger in the world was I? Now it's summer, let's have a catch-up. I've had some family illness to deal with, so wasn't particularly in the mood for blogging, but things are improving so I'm in a happier frame of mind.

Anyway, what's been going on with Pirate Treasures? 
I've made some more elaborate pirate necklaces for the website having sold the last of my previous ones to a lovely customer in the States. Here are a couple of them; I also made ones in a red and gold combination, and bronze and black.



 I made some Sugar Skull beads (that seems ages ago now!) out of polymer clay and made a couple of Day of the Dead bracelets, I added them to both the website and Etsy shop.


Last month I had my usual stall at Keston Primary School Summer Fair. Luckily it was a nice sunny day with very little wind compared to the few weeks preceding it. I had, however, devised ways of keeping my displays from being blown over in the wind. I bought a recipe book stand for my large hinged display board, and used letter racks for two of my other displays. I have been wanting to move away from the black velvet look for a while, but wasn't sure how to go about it without spending too much money. In the end I decided to keep the black velvet table cover (at least for now) as it's so easy to store and doesn't crease. Instead, I painted the display boards and stands which had previously been black. I did them a cream colour, and along with the little baskets my flower rings are displayed in and my cake stand, it gave it a slightly more vintage inspired shabby chic look which brightened up the whole display. I'm not sure what I can do with the bracelet trays, I might be able to take them apart and re-cover the velvet with something else - any ideas?



I attended an event last week, run by Market for Mums where I helped children make their own coil wrap bracelets. I went primarily to advertise my children's jewellery making parties (which you can read more about at www.treasuresjewelleryparties.webs.com ). I've only done a few but am looking forward to more! The market was only on for two hours and I had a steady stream of girls and boys making bracelets with me. Some made carefully planned patterns and others a mishmash of coloured beads. I forgot to take some photos of them, so hope there will be another event soon!

I think that's all I have to say for now, but I'll be back in the summer holidays...
~Jane