DIY Above the Knuckle Ring

This year I have decided to add a few more posts to the group and I thought I would start uploading some simple DIY posts that you can follow to make your own crafts and jewellery.  I have been making jewellery for a number of years now, most of the techniques I use are self taught or from trial or error.

I thought I would start with some thing really simple yet effective so I decided to make an Above the Knuckle Ring.  

The rings need a minimal amount of equipment.  I picked mine up from The Birmingham Bead Shop which is based in the Custard Factory.  If you haven't been in before you should pop in or take a look at their website as they have a treasure trove of beads and findings and the staff are very helpful. 

I picked up some thick beading wire and a mini set of pliers, you don't need the whole set you can make the knuckle ring with just a set of round nose pliers.   I used round and flat pliers when making the ring as the twisting of the wire is fiddly and I find it easier to do with two pairs but it is personal preference.  To shape the ring I used a ring mandrel, it is not an essential piece of equipment for making the ring I have it in my toolkit for making my other pieces of jewellery.  The mandrel helps to shape the ring but you can also achieve this by using a marker pen or lip balm container depending on the size of the ring you are making.  

Step 1 - Cut off around 3-4inches of wire using side cutters on the pliers.  Wrap the wire around where you would like to wear the ring.  

Step 2 - Slide the ring off your finger .  It doesn't matter too much about the shape at this point as you will be able to fix it later on.  

Step 3 - Use the pliers to pinch the pieces of wire together slightly.  Hold the pliers and twist the pieces of wire so they loop round in an S shape.

Step 4 - Place the ring around the mandrel if you have one or your rounded object.  Continue to twist the wire to make your preferred design.  To make the one pictured I continually twisted the wires around each other in the S from the beginning.  

Step 5 - Using thumb apply pressure around the ring to smooth out any dents and correct the ring shape.  

Step 6 - Place the ring on your desired finger, wear it with style and listen to your compliments. 

If you give it a go I would love to see your pictures.  I am thinking of doing 1 or 2 DIY posts each month.  Is there anything you would like to see?

Laura xx  

Witty Hearts

I am pleased to announce that I now stock a range of items by Witty Hearts, a Liverpool based artist who creates a lovely selection of unique and bright prints with a heart theme.

My sister first alerted me to Witty Hearts after she bought some cards and a print for her new house from an arts and crafts fair and I could not wait to get some of the fabulous range in store at Mr Birds.

If you are looking for a valentines gift, piece of artwork to brighten up your home or an original card design rather than usual things you see on the high street why not pop in and take a look and support an independent artist?

Laura xx

Personalised Gifts

2013 is going to be a great year if the last week has been anything to go by.  One of my resolutions this year is to do more of what I love so I have been working on creating some brand new items.  I have decided to bring out a few new ranges this year and I thought I would share what I have been working on over the last few weeks.  

I have decided to extend my personalised range further.  As you may already know last year I began embroidering quotes and messages and framing them and they were very popular gifts.  I have had lots of requests for baby names and dates, weddings and favourite quotes and song lyrics and I am looking to extend this range even further in the coming months.  

I also started a range of personalised initial jewellery.  I have been embroidering letters on to a number of different fabrics and setting them in pendants.  Again they were very popular gifts for Birthdays and Christmas and I had lots of fun completing custom orders including a lovely pendant encasing two initials as a special order one of my Instagram followers picked up for his girlfriend.  

I will be working hard for the rest of the week on the new ranges and I will make sure I take plenty of snaps to share with you later on this week.  

Laura xxx

Irregular Choice Love

 "If the shoe fits, buy them in every colour"

So I kind of have a shoe obsession and Irregular Choice shoes are one of my favourite brands.  I have started to gather a collection of them and they are usually a talking point when I wear them.  My younger cousin shares my love of shoes and she spent most of New Years Eve trying them out for size!

One of my favourite pairs are my 'Patty' shoes, I love the design and I like to wear them with a plain dress.  Every time I wear them people ask me where I got them from.  The Patty range has been extended and I have got my eye on the same pair in a floral fabric.  

I have been browsing the website this week and I have now got my eye on a gorgeous pair of cat shoes which are part of their new range.  I already have a gold and black pair of IC's with a cat but these are super cute.  

Finally another pair caught my eye.  Since going to New York last year I am drawn to all things NYC and I spotted this pair which have the New York skyline stitched on to them.  There is also a matching handbag!

Laura xxx

Rebecca Cox Illustrator

Morning everyone, just a quick update to let you know about another illustrator's work that I have started stocking in store at Mr Birds.  Rebecca Cox is a midlands based artist who graduated from Birmingham City University in 2011. 

 

Rebecca has a very detailed and delicate style and she uses watercolour and pen to create images which I am sure you will agree are fantastic.  

I currently stock a few original pieces and a lovely range of cards and prints.  Pop in and take a look.

Laura xx

MAC Guilty Passions Set

I thought I would share one of my Christmas presents with you in my blog today, I got a set of MAC Guilty Passions Metallic Pigments from my sister and I have been having lots of fun using them over the festive period.  

I love the packaging and I am going to use it to store my little tubs of eyeshadows including my Peaches and Cream pigments. 

The box contains four small tubs of crushed metallic pigments.  

Clockwise from top right - Spruced, She's Got Class, Moss Garden, I've Got a Crush on You.  I have mainly been using the She's Got Class colour on a smokey eye mixing it with the dark shades in my MUA palette.  

I did a quick swatch test of the colours and ask you can see a little really does go along way.  I have found that layering it slowly creates a really intense effect and the glitter really sparkles.  The pigments can be used on the face and I have used I've Got a Crush on You as a highlighter on the cheeks.  

What did you get for Christmas? 

Laura xxx

Happy New Year

Hi everyone, hope you have all had a brilliant Christmas and New Year.  I am really looking forward to the year ahead, I am working on lots of new ranges and I have a few new ranges in store. 

I hope you all have a really good time celebrating the new year, thank you for all your support and I look forward to seeing you all soon xx