Has Persephone finally escaped from Hades?

It may be a Monday morning, but I'm very excited to see that Mr Blue Sky has come back to say hello - let's hope he's here to stay!

A few weeks ago I did get around to making another button necklace, like this silver one:

but this one was in antique gold.  I think the silver one is my favourite.  Do you find that - the first thing you make of an item is always your favourite?  I do like the antique gold, but the buttons were slightly different and didn't give me quite the same shape or structure as the silver.  Still, it was great fun making it and I'm getting lots of comments every time I wear one (and a few requests for commissions)

Didn't get as much jewellery making done as I would have liked this weekend, but at least there's a bank holiday next week!

I'm sure I saw the sun yesterday!

I can't believe how long I've been away from my blog.  I've had a couple of bad bouts of illness, one straight after the other, so I haven't really had the energy to make anything.  Fortunately, I found my mojo again at the weekend and had a couple of days locked away in my craft room.  I know that seemed a tragedy given the glorious weather, but I had my CD player on, the window wide open and hours of uninterrupted jewellery making - I was in heaven!

I've been trying out a few new things, but mostly I'm trying to build up my stock for the summer.  The leather bead wrap bracelets are still my most popular seller and fortunately I love making them.

Sorry for the poor quality of this photo - my camera does not like close-ups.  I'm trying to make a variety of sizes to fit very small and very large wrists.  This is the biggest complaint I get from customers, which is why they always opt for bespoke item.

I'm also trying out a macrame bracelet with seed beads on the outside.  The one in the photo is just going to wrap round the wrist once, but I will probably make some 3-wraps ones too for sale.  I think this bracelet is going to be for me, as I love it so much already.  That's the trouble - I end up making stuff and keeping it rather than selling it.  Must stop doing that - bad Suzie!!

I love neutral rather than bright colours, like this.

so I always have trouble selecting colours that I probably wouldn't normally wear, because not everyone likes the same stuff as me.  I think pink is where I get my mental block, because I really do not like that colour generally.  I did like these colours though and think they will make some great summer items.

So, other items I made at the weekend:

 

These bracelets are proving very popular too, so I think I'm going to be making quite a few more of these.  These two were just prototypes, but I think they're a winner. 

A bib necklace

Button necklace

Back of button necklace - you just 'sew' the buttons in place with 0.5mm wire - easy peasy!

Hoping to be as productive this weekend too.  Hope the warmer weather is bringing out everyone's creative mojo!

More from my crafty Dad!

Dinosaurs

Some more amazing pieces from my very talented origami-making Dad!  I think the pictures speak for themselves! 

Happy Birthday for tomorrow, Dad - love you loads!

St George and the Dragon

Woolly jumpers *another groan!*

A little mouse

Stag on a snowy mountain top - these were the Christmas table pieces, one per person

A half-finished solider ant - complete with sunglasses!

Happy ants!

Not origami - but one of my Dad's old paintings