Inspired by some beautiful shawl/scarf/fibula brooches/pins this week, I've been having a go myself. Mine are pretty amateur by comparison with some that I've collected here on
Pinterest. I wonder why there are so many different names for them?
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| Blue moonstone and crystal |
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| Amethyst and purple jades |
The trouble with being inspired by others is that you start to worry about whether you are unconsciously copying ideas. At least, I do, as I'm a champion worrier! So I've stopped looking now and am waiting for a bit more inspiration to come.
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| Coffee agate beads |
These brooches are made with 1.2 mm wire (18 gauge) which is
thicker than I've worked with before. Like everything, I'd avoided
using the lower gauges and then once I was working it, couldn't see why
I'd done so, as provided I was quite firm with it and ensured it was
warmed in my fingers first, it was quite pliant. It was snowing heavily outside, so quite cool. The sort of weather when any self respecting Roman lady needs a glamorous fibula to fasten her cloak with....
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| Red creek jasper beads |
I also need to file down the ends to a point that will go through knitwear but not be sharp enough to kill anyone. That's a judgement call, so I'll need a bit of practice before any go in the shops! What with that and the needle felting/stabbing stuff, I seem to be edging towards the more 'extreme' end of crafting. Honestly, I would love a blow torch, but for someone without the necessary hand/eye coordination to pass a driving test, it is just too risky.
Here's the
link to see what other crafty folk have been making this week.
