The pic I should've added...

I was supposed to post a pic of some of the jewellery I made for Vienna but totally forgot! This is a mixture of butter jade and my own lampwork beads. I actually quite like mixing the two, it makes a more interesting piece. Subtle, but pretty!

Back on track...

Cleared my desk yesterday, what a mess it was!!! No surprise I was recently rather reluctant to do anything- apart from avoiding doing anything. Anyway, seems like I'm back on track again, sorted my sitemaker subscription, my wireless connection to my phone and have even managed to get Orange to send us a new router!!!
So, next on my list is updating my website, absolute priority.

xxxe

Miffed but still creative....

Feeling a bit cheesed off today! Was just about to update my website, doing the usual adding of new pics and text, changing the layout etc. but something's not quite working. Not sure what happened but my yearly subscription has suddenly changed to a free plan which limits my use of data, links, support etc. Bit of a nuisance that this happens on the weekend as I can't contact anyone to help!!! Boohoo!!!

Anyway, on a more positive note I can actually put on some music and just make a few bits of jewellery, to be sent to Vienna next week! Will post a pic later!!

xxxe

Successful morning at hobbycraft!

Today I did my Macramé demonstration at Hobbycraft! Not one for blowing my own trumpet, but - I think it was a success! At first I was a bit worried, don't know why, I've taught loads of workshops in the past and I always like talking to people- but it was good fun. I was busy from the minute I set up and it was nice to see so many young girls trying out some knotting techniques and then walking away with a big smile and a nice little bracelet. Best of all they can show it off to their friends or their gran and proudly say: "I made that"!

Also had some interest in my designs, and am thinking whether I could make them into kits and try and  sell them that way...worth a thought!

xxxe

Feeling quite busy...

Phew, what a day! Have just been writing up an instruction sheet for a Woven "shamballa" style bracelet kit. It always sounds perfectly logical when you explain something but as soon as you put it down on paper it all sounds really wrong. Anyway, it's all done now, have not looked on the web so as not to copy (subconsciously) someone else's writing style. All I need to do now is add illustrations, this will be the fun bit- I'm still not sure whether I should draw them out or have step-by-step photographs.....
I will be -hopefully- selling these kits on sunday at my demonstration at Hobbycraft in Ventura Park, Tamworth, Staffordshire. I'm on from 11-3pm, so please come and see me, have a go at macramé or just have a little chat.

Better get ready now, attending an Espadrille workshop at COW in Birmingham this evening and still lots to finish off here. I will be posting a pic of my new shoes, so watch this space!!

xxxerika

Very happy....!

So, this week I simply walked into a lovely childrens boutique-shop just up the road from where I work to enquire whether they would be interested in selling my jewellery. How pleased and surprised was I when they said "Yes"!!!

Well, it wasn`t quite as quick as I make out. Obviously it is a bit suspicious when some strange woman walks into your shop trying to sell you something. I made sure I had plenty of samples and simply laid everything out on the counter. I also made sure that the style of my pieces was right for the shop,which is called Mooch kids   ( www.moochkids.com )  they sell brands like Joules, Lilly and Sid, etc. so the colours had to be vibrant but the actual piece not too fussy and fun to wear. I went for lots of natural cord which I kotted and paired it with my own colourful Lampwork beads. Apart from bracelets I also did a few necklaces which I platted or knotted. Again, I kept the thread in natural tones but attached some handmade Dinosaur pendants.

Sally, the owner, was really nice and I was very pleased that someone else got excited about my beads and jewellery!

A few pics of what they looked like:

Quite pleased, hope they sell!!

xxxxerika

Guess what I've made....!

Don't think that's a difficult one....it's more owls!!!

I've used some millefiori chips as eyes and I think it really works!! My brother remarked :" I feel hypnotized looking at them!" I think they look slightly dizzy.















I've made some owl beads before but the hole went through crossways at the top, these are slightly quicker to make. I have a huge amount of millefiori so there will be more owls coming soon!

More news: My etsy shop is officially open! At the moment there is only one item for sale, but I'm aiming to add more, something like one item per week. So, it should fill up nicely! The shop itself should look a bit more inviting soon, I'm just thinking about an image to use for the banner....something non-owly perhaps...otherwise I might get a reputation!!

My etsy shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/erikaschrinner

xxxx
erika

Owl beads...and brooches

Almost a fortnight since my last blog....must try and, bla bla bla, I really do sound like a broken record....

Anyway, have made good progress with my macramé owl brooches and owl beads, for sale by next week. Have, I think, solved the postage issue, well it's all going up in price by monday so I have to make sure it's accurate. Decided to go with first class and proof of posting rather than signed for, you never know why things go missing.

Thinking of writing the brooches up as kits and selling them that way, they will be cheaper and should be quite quick to put together, need to find out how to do that on the computer. Might be faster if I draw it all out by hand....!

Right, better get that chicken in the oven...

xxx
erika

Getting there....

Well, slowly I'm getting closer to putting my first item on Etsy - have created a shop but at the mo there's nothing in it!
Anyway, here is a preview of my first item, I still have to do the write up, make sure everything is linked up correctly and then hope that my pieces sell!!!

....hm? I think I have to photograph this again, looks so much nicer in reality....

xxxe

Some owls....and a horse!

Can't believe I'm actually posting 2 messages in one day!

I made the owls quite a while ago, I had to wait for hours in this little room at Pinewood's, so to pass the time I just played around with some wire and this is the result!
They are both only prototypes and I'm not yet sure when and how and where they will come into any of my pieces but I'm thinking they would be great for a workshop, fairly easy to make once you have managed to  control the thick wire that creates the owl outline....

 They are about 5cm long and 2.5cm wide, so I suppose they could be used as a pendant or maybe a brooch?

I think the reason why designers like using owls is because they are instantly recognisable....it must be the eyes!









Now I haven't made a horse out of wire-yet- but a simple little necklace for one of my nieces who likes horse riding. I found this lovely horse charm and rather than getting a sparkly silver one I went for the burnished gold one. Teamed up with a few carefully chosen beads I think this looks rather nice!

Well, that's it from me for now,
xxxe

It's been a long time......

Feeling a bit guilty for writing so infrequently, maybe I should make a second new year's resolution and promise myself to be a more active blogger....!

Have been playing around with some ideas...not sure where they will go but I have quite a few PMC pieces and I am thinking about how to best combine them with Macramé, there is a pic here for you...I've used C-Lon on one side (with some small beads) and some cotton thonging on the other side. I think it could look quite good with some plain black leather, wrapped round the wrist twice....just a thought.

 Oh, and very exciting news! The new trailer for the Dark Shadows movie is out!!!! May the 11th is the release date, I was quite pleased to see my macramé borders on the placemats used in the Dining room scene, especially the one where they show JD from the front and they are in full view; oh and not to forget the napkinrings..... I can't believe how long they took to make....that's the thing with macramé...if you're making a wallhanging or placemat it takes so long to mount all your cords....Anyway watch the trailer on YouTube!!!


xxxe

Cats galore...!!!

A few weeks ago I was selling at a small Craft fair; Lesley whose stall was next to mine enquired about my lampwork beads. "My daughter has a little black cat, could you make me a pair of little black cat earrings - she would really love them". I always like a challenge and so I agreed. Not having made any cats before I had to practice a bit before coming up with a satisfactory cat-like shape.
Here are a few pics, including the finished article (in the gift box)....

Lesley later decided to add a necklace to the earrings, I think this makes a rather lovely little gift!


I quite enjoyed making these, thinking about making more animal beads....

Back to being creative....

It has been ages since I last posted on my blog, have had my brother visiting from Vienna, he is lovely but I'm happy to have my own space back again!
Have done a Valentine's craft fair last sunday at the Spark Café in Lichfield, still not convinced if they work for me... having said that, the wheather was slightly off-putting...

Working on some more macramé, pics to be posted soon....!

Have finished another bird brooch, this time it's a goose. It's worked in the same way as the bird but I have added some freshwater pearls on the necklace and she's also wearing a hat! Will be working on writing this up as a workshop, it's such a quick make!
So here she is:

The length of the brooch is 8cm, and the only thing I might change slightly are the wings as they look a bit too small, but overall I'm quite happy with it.

 I really have to start making things for the upcoming Valentine's craft fair which will be held at the Spark Café in Lichfield on the 5th of February. Glad I've got more time now to focus on this!

xxxx

erika

                                           

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to split my days off between developing my website and making/ designing; so yesterday I had a making-day. Have played around with this idea for a while, so here is what I came up with:

It's a small bird brooch, made of pre-knitted wire then embellished with seed beads. Hoping to develop this further into other animal shapes. I'm also planning to write this project up and teach it as a workshop.

Don't think I have actually mentioned my website: http://thecuriousmagpie.moonfruit.com/


Today I should really be working on my site but I always find it less satisfying than actually making things...it seems like I spend all day on my laptop but have no much to show for....

Hope you all have a nice day!

See you soon

Erika
xxx

Some beads I made today! The key is a small cabinet key and the hot glass is wound directly onto the metal.

The drop beads are just something I wanted to try for a while. I've used double helix for the core and some silver foil.

my first posting!

Well, now this is exciting! Just set up my account and this is my first post! More exciting, here is my first pic!

This is an owl I made for a good friend of mine for christmas, I did give the hair around the eyes a bit of a trim before giving her away....it's made from a combination of different threads and is worked in macramé.










Felt a bit frustrated today, trying to make progress with my website but getting nowhere fast....so this blog is a welcome success!