Jewellery Making Workshops

Happy New Year!

New Year, New Start, New Hobby!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
What better time of year to learn a new skill or improve on old ones?

NEW for the Spring term...

The Craft Cafe

Whether your interests are sewing, crochet, card making, cross stitch, beading, photography, art (anything art and crafty) etc.... bring your crafty bits and pieces to the Craft Cafe, meet like minded creative people, chat, swap ideas, share skills and spend time being creative working on your latest project.
When: Every Wednesday morning at China Blue in Totnes from 10am until 12pm
Cost: It's FREE!!! Coffee and delicious cake available to purchase from the coffee shop.

Three exciting NEW jewellery making workshops...

Recycled Jewellery

Bring your old, broken, unworn jewellery, unwanted jewellery and give it a new lease of life. Incorporating the old with the new and learning new techniques along the way you will be able to create several new pieces of jewellery. Come and be inspired!

Wedding Jewellery

What could be better than making the jewellery for your wedding? Whether you are the bride, a bridesmaid or the brides mother you will be able to create unique pieces of jewellery to truly compliment your outfits. Perfect for a hen party or just a great girls day out before the wedding. Discounts available for bridal parties of 8 or more. Call for details

Tiara making

Learn how to make beautiful beaded flowers and leaves that can be incorporated into a stunning tiara. Whether it is for your wedding or prom you can be assured of making a beautiful piece that match your outfit perfectly!

All the information, dates, prices and how to book the Spring Term workshops can be found at: www.jewellerymakingworkshops.com

I look forward to seeing you at a workshop very soon

Yvonne xx

Places are limited so book today to ensure your place.

A deposit of £10 is required at the time of booking.

Blooming Balls!!!

Isn't it wonderful this little world of blogging??? I recently had an order from the lovely Sarah at Blooming felt for a beach hut cushion for her friend who had bought a Beach Hut called....

The cushion was duly completed....

... including bucket and spade

... and was packed up......

... and sent off... with huge anticipation on my part... Thankfully it was loved by all and as a little thank you, Sarah from......

... popped a fantastic bag of felt balls in the post to me..... and I couldn't wait to have the opportunity to start playing with them....

Well... that day arrived today and I have had such fun... I have felt really inspired and came home so happy!!! Isn't it amazing how one small thing can make such a big difference? Just having something new to play with has released the creativity in me... just like when I buy new fabric, even though every cupboard and drawer is already bursting at the seams with fabric, having something new generates new ideas and enthusiasm.!

So... here is a little peek... ok, a long drawn out peek (cos I'm so pleased with them)... at what I made today!

A bead and ball tigertail necklace... just right for the summer...

Another summery necklace....

... scrummy green and pink felt balls, buttons and crochet beads.....

... and a fluttery butterfly!

I think this one is definitely my favourite.. I just love pink and green together... what do you think?

Purple and green... another favourite combination....

This is a mixture of green and purple felt balls, glass beads, silver spacers, oval and circle hammered chain and buttons.

I love these two necklaces... they make me giggle... they are such fun....

A coloured felt ball is wired to a ceramic daisy and then a small dangle of matching beads has been added... FAB!

What about this beauty.... a fun, funky, button and ball bracelet....

Perfect to wear with any outfit this summer... every colour included!!

Some button and ball flowers.....

Knobbly bobbly earrings......

Lapel pins... large.....

... and small.....

What do you think of this cute ring....?

... made with a lime green button, a purple felt ball and some silver plated wire....

Nearly there.... a kilt pin with charms.....

.... glass beads and felt balls......

Last, but definitely not least...... two funky brooches.....

... both made using a ceramic daisy and a felt ball.....

Such fun!

I hope you have enjoyed this peek at my making today and that I have not bored you too much with my enthusiasm!! I have just had so much fun and I wanted to share it with you... and hopefully inspire you to have a go!

I hope that your day has been filled with creativity and fun. Till the next time... enjoy the lovely sunshine xxxx

p.s

Don't forget that if you see something you would like, please feel free to email me for details, or if you would like an item in another colourway, just let me know!

Workshops

Just popping by with a little reminder of some workshops that I am running this week... I would love to see you if you are free, and I promise that you will have a fab time and will take home some lovely handmade products with you.

Wednesday 9th June

10 am till 1 pm

Button jewellery workshop

We will be making, necklaces with buttons, beads, crochet and woven beads, button bracelets, rings, key rings and brooches

Thursday 10th June

7 pm till 9 ish .. depending on how much fun we're having!!!

Learn how to sew using a sewing machine workshop

We will be learning right from the beginning all about sewing machines and how to use them with confidence. Throughout this 4 week course the emphasis will always be on practical application wherever possible, so we will be making bags.....

... and cushions like these. All materials are provided... just bring yourself!

Saturday 12th June

10 am - 4 pm

Jewellery making workshop

Treat yourself... come and indulge in a whole day of jewellery making. You will learn basic wiring and stringing techniques to enable you to create at least one necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings. This is a fantastic opportunity to make some beautiful jewellery in a relaxed and creative atmosphere.

All of these workshops are held at China Blue in Totnes, Devon.

It would be fantastic to have you along.

Email me for further details

Hope you can come... we'll have lots of fun!

Love Yvonne xx

Tranquility

This week didn't start too well for me ( pouring boiling water down my leg and taking one of many trips to A+E was not the best start ) but it has picked up as the week has gone on, so I thought that I would take you on a beautiful walk that I had a couple of weeks ago and try to capture and re-live some of the peace, beauty and tranquility of the amazing estate that is Dartington. I often visit here as it's almost on my doorstep and is always changing.

This is the Great Hall... the place of many a concert, wedding or other function....

In the middle of April, the lawns were covered in the most beautiful crocuses... they really carpeted the place, but now the blossom is the biggest, showiest I have ever seen....

The branches were just groaning with the weight of it......

Tiered lawn......

Wonderful scented clematis....

This is my favourite part of the whole little stroll..... the magnolia walk..... it is absolutely stunning!

More signs that Spring is here......

There are a couple of these little structures throughout the estate...... What a perfect place for a studio... don't you think?

Just look at that heather.... I'm not really a fan of heather, but I've never seen it this flamboyant!... Some one will now tell me it's not heather?!

I love this little hose too... it always makes me think about the three bears cottage.....

I just had to give you another look at that stunning blossom.....

There wasn't that good... don't you feel relaxed? I certainly do!

Don't forget... take a peek at the 'workshops' tab at the top of the blog and treat yourself to a sewing or jewellery making session with me at China Blue.

I gave the staff a taster session on Wednesday evening and they loved it.... lots of oooohing and ahhing... and loads of beautiful jewellery being created. They all wore their pieces to work the next day and were buzzing about it.

Off to tend to the BBQ now... not getting too close though!!!!

Have a lovely, warm, sunny weekend.

Yvonne xxxx