What - No Tutorial?

Sorry! I know I promised to post a tutorial this week, but I just did not get round to it. Some strange things have been going on with my blog that I have been trying to work out.

Since Sunday I have had over 11,000 new visitors. Now, I think my blog is quite good, well in my humble opinion anyway, but not THAT good. The unusual number of visitors is about 3 or 4 a day, so something was definitely going on! Try though I might, I cannot find where all these people are coming from (although I am pretty sure it is Stumbleupon, but I cannot find the page). So, if you are one of the 11,000, then Welcome, nice to see you here and I hope you enjoy looking around and please leave a comment telling me how you found my blog, I would love to know!

I have managed to get some new work done as well, in spite of all the detective work. I got some wonderful Filigree Wraps from the brilliant http://www.dichro-findings.co.uk/. This has got to be my all time favourite site for wonderful settings, blanks and unusual findings. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Here's what I did with them.

I have also done a little Mokume Gane Technique in the clay and made these double drilled beads. Tricky to string, but worth the effort in the end!

A couple of other bits and pieces too!

So, hopefully, next week will be a little quieter, although the children are on Summer Holidays now so who knows how much I will get done, but I will try, honestly, to get that tutorial up.

We are hoping, crossing our fingers, toes, arms and legs, that the weather will improve soon - for our Holiday in Cornwall.

Keep your fingers crossed for us as well!

A Quick Update...

Thank you so much to the Wonderful Hannah of Spans-Stitchin' who found the Stumbleupon Page that was sending all the Traffic to here. Hannah makes the most beautiful crotchet and sewn items - have a look here at her blog! http://spans-stitchin.blogspot.com/. Now I can stop trawling the web trying to it and get back to claying!!! Many thanks Hannah - you are an absolute star!

Busy

I have had a busy week.

Lots and lots of beads made!

I am trying to increase my stock levels, so that when the children break up for the summer holidays next week, I am not spending all my time working at the clay table, but will actually have some time to spend playing with them - well, that is the general idea anyway!

Here is what I have been making:

A lovely blue Swirl Ring, a Tile Bracelet in shades of lilac with green leaves and a Leaf Pod Lariat. I have not made a Tile Bracelet for ages and it was fun to revisit this style. I love my Leaf Pod Lariats, but they do take a huge amount of time to make, so I don't do them as often as I should.

The Cascade Necklace is made from Skinner Blend Trumpet Beads from Pearl through to Red. I have made a bracelet also, but this is the first time I have made a necklace to match. I hope you like it.

I am hoping to post a tutorial on Mica Shift Technique next week. It is a favourite with me, I am just hoping that I can photograph the wonderful 3D effect with my not-so-wonderful photographic skills! Watch this space!

Here's what I did...

Sunflower
Originally uploaded by Pips Jewellery Creation

...with the sunflower cane!

A multi-coloured sunflower necklace. Fun, summery and will go with absolutely everything.

More to post next week on some new beads, but if you cannot wait, they are all on my flickr site.

Hope you all have a great weekend!