A Gorgeous Mail Surprise Came Today

Two weeks ago I was chatting to the lovely twins from Sissysparrows (they make yummy Vintage jewellery pieces) about transfer techs and I sent them some sheer heaven paper to play with.In return they have sent me a surprise gift.Its a Vintage style keyring though I think I shall make it into a necklace to wear.I was so surprised but delighted that Julie and Donna had sent me this gift at all as I did not expect them too.Here is the front side.

and the back.I love the wire wrapped beads at the bottom too.

Thank you Julie and Donna :o)

hugs

Annette In Oz

Canvas Ladies Hair and Brows Painted

Its nearly time to do the mad Christmas card make and send.I had one day off today and with the new air con running I was able to sit and paint some more aspects of my canvas ladies.I repainted the redheads hair as I didn't like my first try.I used some Pearl-ex to add shimmer that you can't see in the photos as highlights.My light source is from the right in this painting.

and closer

closer again.

My blonde lady also had her hair painted twice.The first time I went for a dark dirty looking blonde but it seemed to blend into the background too easily.Next I made her a yellowish tinged blonde and that worked better I think.The light source is from the left on this one.

Here she is closer

and closer again.

The eye brows are the hardest thing to paint I think.I keep trying to get them similar till I just leave them be.Our faces are not symmetrical anyway.I'll add depth and "make-up to the face and lips next.

hugs

Annette In Oz

EGGciting Ring & Who Is In The Camera This Week

Ok Ok I can't help it.....I'm addicted to making stuff with metal and in particular etching metal and using nests and eggs LOL.I had my new nest ear-rings on all day and my etched metal nest necklace.Because the ear-rings are made with sterling silver wire they have not hurt like the cheap metals do to me and they are really light as well.I've finally started to paint the hair and brows on my ladies.While the layers were drying I made another sterling silver nest ring to go with the ear-rings.I'm loving this one and have had it on since lunchtime LOL.

Now who was in my camera today?.Its Minty...Well I think she had some help getting dressed to be in there but I laughed when I saw these images.Who would have thought Jack Russel's could look so cool. :o)

I've got the red haired ladies hair and brows done and will do the blond ladies hair and brows tomorrow if I have time before work and then I'll upload both.

hugs

Annette In Oz

The Other Nest Ear-Rings

Darn I forgot to get this last set uploaded.Having trouble with the light now as its night time so I just lay them on the scan bed instead.I'll see if I can get a better shot in the day light tomorrow.These are the ear-rings were I used the butane torch to bead the silver wire,hammer the bead and then drill thru for the hook part to latch into.I was concentrating so hard on the nest shapes I bent the silver a bit but as I'll wear them I don't mind.All a learning curve anyway.

I think I shall plump out the nest more on the one on the left too.
hugs
Annette In Oz

Melissa Does It Again-More Nests

Melissa graduated from High School this week.Friday was her formal...it wasn't cool for parents to go but giving gifts to teachers is.Once again she gives me a dead line after she wakes up Friday at 10.30am(the decadent life of a teenager LOL)...."Mum can you make some nest jewellery for two of my fav teachers for tonight?....oh and I'll need them in 2hours" and wanders off to her room to watch a DVD.I swear I have sucker etched in my forehead!
So I pulled out Stephanie Lee's semi-precious salvage book and try to channel Jen Crossley LOL.I haven't used a butane torch before and the nest ear-rings called for you to bead the end of the silver wire with the torch,hammer it flat and then drill thru it to make a hook for the ear-rings....I tried but I damaged the flattened bead when I drilled...that wasted half an hour so I modified the book project and used bought ear-ring hooks and made the nest holders triangular shaped instead to attach the nests too.

Then I had a go at the silver ring.I did take a photo from the side but it was too blurry so sorry you can't see much detail here as it is from the top.The silver band part was two strands of 20gauge silver.I don't have a ring mandrel so I used a large paint brush to get the ring shape.

I would have taken a few better photos but I had literally just tucked in the last bit of copper nest wire as Melissa was reaching down to take them and my camera.I only had about half a minute to take photos while she raced up the hall for something.On a good note Missy tells me the teachers loved their gifts...oh and I got brave today, pulled out the butane and even remembered how to light it after all these months LOL.I successfully followed the ear-ring project step for step and did manage to get a larger bead on the silver with the butane,flatten the bead and drill it to make my own ear-ring hooks.I'm just doing the nest and eggs for the second one this evening and will upload them later.I'll keep these for me as the silver wire has a slight bend on one hook.

hugs

Annette In Oz

Handmade Cards Received For My Birthday

Happy Birthday to me and anyone else who shares the same date.Shame I have to go to work this evening though.I've received some lovely hand made cards for my birthday.This one is from Lousie Maghetti and the heart is padded.Love the sewn elements on it

Next at top is sweet sea themed card from Sue Gregory.I have an old photo of my Mum and Dad that looks pretty similar to the stamp Sue has used here.At the bottom is a

yummy textured card from Barb Porritt.That little boy and clock image is gorgeous.

and the last one at top is by Rikki Showell andwho loves folding elements.This type of fold is a Triore fold

The bottom one is by Mary Fenton and came a few weeks ago but I forgot to scan it.Thanks everyone :o)

hugs

Annette

What Happened when I Tried to Clear My Desk!

Its a work day for me but I thought I may have time to paint the hair on one of my ladies till I realized there was no room left on my messy messy desk.Okies I think to myself...get in and tidy up.In amongst all my stuff I found one of Jen Crossley gorgeous handmade vintage pins.I really love this one and it reminded me of some of the rusty old things I have found in the old gold fields up here.Wish I could get some of those faux tin types!!!You can see why I say I am very influenced by Jen.

Next I found some old rusted wire and an old rusted ring shape on my desk.Oh oh....I then got rather side tracked from the cleaning up and had a go at making an old pin like Jens.Its not as neat as hers but after I paint my ladies I want to further embellish the gorgeous Swallow book Jen taught us.I hope to do a vintage butterfly image polymer clay transfer in the pin to add to my book.

Got that out of my system and then found an old key and old handmade cork screw that I had found down in the gold fields.I've scanned my pin with them...I think they all blend right in LOL.

I've also rediscovered lots of handmade nails and other bits and pieces but my desk is still messy.There is just enough room to paint though :o)

hugs

Annette