Taking a break..

Funny but when I say I'm taking a break from making a project..it means I'm stopping that certain project to make another one! haha So while I'm "taking a break" from making the doll lockets, tutorial and a gift..I made two new pieces. I planned on making new clay canes so I used up all of my old canes and made these..

still here..

I've neglected blogging for months now. I haven't had the time to write and share with you my claying adventures. :( I was  busy with Liam's school activities and house work. And also my mood for claying took a leave of absence too. haha The mood just comes and goes. Sometimes, I am really fired up and ready to clay but at times I  just sit in front of my work table and then nothing comes! So frustrating! My friend just told me that when nothing comes just spend a day not thinking about claying or beading (that would really be a challenge for me haha). But I tried what she suggested and luckily..inspiration presented itself to me and I made these...

New projects...

I love giving handmade gifts. So if you're my friend/relative and you will be celebrating your birthday soon..expect a "made by hand, made with love" gift from me! ;) I really like the process of thinking what to make! 

Here are some of the handmade gifts  I made recently..

jewelry box

Music Box

Finally, I'm finished with the music box! I bought it in New Zealand during our last trip there. There were so many melodies to choose from. I thought I can't find some here in Sydney but luckily I found a shop in the city carrying kikkerland music boxes! yahoo! I think the next tune that I will buy is Hey Jude!:) 

I really didn't know how to make the box. I tried surfing around the net, hoping that I would find a tutorial about it. The only link I found was about a workshop with Doreen Kassel! I wish I was somewhere near the US so that I can take her class but sadly I'm too far:( In the link, I saw the materials that they were going to use for the music box workshop. Included in the list is a cardboard box. A light bulb moment!! I have cardboard boxes in my stash and the music box fits inside! I'm sure you can buy these boxes in your local craft shop. Next step is to figure out how to secure the music box inside. It has holes for screws. Luckily, I have screws that fit in the holes! yahoo! With all the materials complete, it was time to start covering the box with clay and making the top design. It was something for Liam, so I thought cute animals on top will be the perfect design. But honestly, I was really torn into making something cute or making something elegant (yes! the usual flowers, leaves and  butterflies!). But decided in the end to make something that Liam will like. It is also the melody that I sang to him when I put him to sleep when he was still a baby. 

ready to be covered:)

Here it is..

             

Here's how it sounds...

 I'm off to make another project! Have a wonderful Friday everyone! 

The hardest part..

Assembling the elements/materials that I have/made is the hardest part for me! Sometimes I just go blank and no matter what I add/turn/remove..it just doesn't work. I sent the pic of the necklace to my client and then deleted the message because I think there's something wrong with the design. I thought she didn't see the pic, so I disassembled the necklace and tried to make another design. I think I changed it about 5 times!! But it turns out that my client already so the pic before I deleted it and she said that she loved what she saw! So....I just put them all back together again using the first combination. haha! 

Here are the flowers I made for the statement necklace..

 This is what I came up with..

After you put out all your containers of beads and findings while looking for the right combination..you have to put them back and clean up!! Another hard task! haha:) But it's all worth it because you know that your client loved what you made! 

I also made these animal lockets. Making them gives me so much joy! 

 School holidays for us here in Sydney...2 weeks of rest before term 3 starts again!:)

 Happy Weekend!