Polishing and buffing

I am trying to get ready for my first sale on Friday (my mum sold some bits for me at a charity coffee morning a few weeks back but I wasn't there and she did all the display etc). I don't have as much stock as I would like (where does the time go?) but I am working on it!

I have been polishing many of my beads in a rock tumbler recently. I half fill the tumbler with small smooth pebbles, bung in a handful or two of beads add some water and a drop of dish soap and leave them to it for about 24 hours. Thanks to Desiree for the information and friends on  PCC forum for their advice.  It's great, they buff up beautifully with little effort on my part! The tumbler won't smooth out scratches or bumps so some pieces I hand sand with coarse wet and dry first but it still saves me working through all the other grades of paper!

I am buffing with my home made muslin buffing wheel on the dremel and I can get a beautiful glass like shine on a well sanded piece. I was buffing round beads with a few strung on a wire which seems to work well. Tonight I decided to make a bracelet and then buff it (not sure why). Unfortunately I found out the hard way that it isn't a smart idea to buff beads on elastic! It all started off going well but just as I was getting round to the last few beads the elastic snagged on the wheel  and ping - beads everywhere!!! The elastic got wrapped round and round the spindle - probably could of saved it if I had turned the dremel off quick. Won't do that again!! I also really must set up a bead guard as I lost several down the back of my bench the other day whilst buffing.

I have been working on some labels and display stuff, will try and take some pictures and share them soon

Measuring spoons

I made these a while back as a house warming present for a friend. I am busy making some jewellery for a sale on the 15th so will try and share some more of my experimenting after that when I have time. The white flower cane has green packing which works well for covering objects. It's made from Fimo soft so doesn't polish up as shiny as the Kato.

New Pod necklace

Here is the first Pod necklace I made after the workshop I did with Christine Dumont

Rest of the Pod beads I made at the workshop

Here are the rest of the hollow 'Pod' beads I made at the workshop with Christine Dumont last Friday. They are now all sanded and buffed. i have one I haven't quite finished yet I need to tidy up the holes and then bake it. Looking forward to making some more later in the week.

This was the first bead we made in a plain colour so we could learn the basic technique

The Pod collection

Pods and Cocoons with Christine Dumont

I was very lucky to attend a Pods and Cocoons workshop with Christine Dumont in London on Friday. It was a wonderful day and I am really pleased with some of the things I made. It was great to catch up with the lovely Toni (who I met at Polymer play Days in Nottingham) and to meet some more lovely people. I have only had time to sand and buff one of my Pods made on Friday . It looks very glass like.

Can't wait to make some more!!

First piece of jewellery sold!

I am so excited I have sold my first piece of jewellery! I gave some bits to my mum to try and sell for me at charity coffee morning and sale she is having on the 24th September. I hadn't given her prices cause I was still struggling with those, I felt that what I wanted to charge might be too much. Well a friend of hers came round and wanted to buy 3 of my necklaces (I only sent about 6!). Mum called me but I was on a train and there was no signal so she made the price up but only let her buy 1 in case the price was wrong.

She sold this necklace

The good news is I was thinking of asking about £16 for it but was worried it was a little high and mum sold it for £17.50! I now have confidence to charge the prices I want to. I have 3 other sales lined up in October and November all of which are opportunities which have come to me which is amazing. just need to get on and make some things now!!!

New earrings on my new earring cards

Finally I grabbed a bit of clay time. I am trying to gear up to sell my polymer clay creations. Here's a sneak preview.