I have previously posted on some chain maille bracelets that I made. Since then I have continued to try out a range of different designs - and it never ceases to amaze me at the variety of different patterns that you can make simply using metal rings. How many ways can you loop rings together and get something that looks completely different? Last time I showed you a European 4-in-1 design and a Helm's Cuff design. This time I will show you a Ruffles Cuff bracelet and my favourite Dragonscale … [Read more...]
Start Making your own Candles
It is great fun to start making your own candles. I was inspired by my friend Doreen who made all the candles for the tables for her daughter's wedding, so I bought a Soy Candle Making Starter Kit from Candle Creations so that I could try making my own. The kit comes with everything you need to get started (except you will need your own Pyrex jug and large saucepan or a double boiler), including a thermometer and instructions. There are enough supplies to make 16 different candles ranging … [Read more...]
Powertex Fossil
When I first bought some Powertex products for myself (rather than just attending workshops) I thought that I would try some different designs to learn different techniques and approaches. I had found a tutorial on-line (that of course I can't find the link to now) of a fossil that I quite liked (that is actually pictured on the front of the Powertex Stone Art container). Stone Art powder is sort-of like papier mache that when mixed with Powertex fabric hardener forms a clay-like substance. I … [Read more...]
Chainmaille Wallet Chain
A chainmaille wallet chain (and/or a key chain) is a quick and easy gift to make - particularly for a male. It is perfect for someone who is a keen traveller and would appreciate a bit more security for a wallet they keep in their trousers pocket. Wallet chains first came into fashion in the 1950s in the biker subculture as a pragmatic way of keeping their wallets safe as they rode at speed. In the 1970s wallet chains were incorporated into punk dress both as a way of preventing … [Read more...]
Make your own Candles for a Special Occasion
It isn't hard to make your own candles for a special occasion. My friend Doreen got me into making candles when she decided to make all the candles for the table settings for her daughter's wedding. The candles were going to be in wine glasses of different sizes and grouped in sets of 5 on each table - so they were going to need a lot of wine glasses! Thankfully none of them needed to match so they visited all the local (and not so local) Opportunity Shops to purchase and amass their … [Read more...]
Chain Maille Jewellery Designs
In the past I have shown you different chain maille jewellery designs and I have continued to explore the vast range of designs that are possible. I find that purchasing kits from Weave Got Maille is a great way to get exposed to different patterns. This time I explore a Double Orbital bracelet, a Tear Drops Necklace that builds on the Double Orbital design, and a Swirls bracelet that uses a repeating mobius unit. The Double Orbital (and Tear Drops) design are supposed to be a beginner's … [Read more...]
Chocolate Body Butter
This Chocolate Body Butter Recipe is very easy to make and gives a soft, fluffy cream that melts easily onto your skin and is perfect for nourishing dry skin. I wanted to make some body butter for gifts and had an unsuccessful attempt at trying a more complicated recipe for Rich Rose Geranium Body Butter, so I decided to make a quick and easy variation of the Mango Body Butter Recipe I had made previously. As I’m trying out different recipes for various natural skin and hair care products, … [Read more...]
Rich Rose Geranium Body Butter Recipe
I've previously tried other cosmetic products with simpler recipes such as Mango Body Butter but Rich Rose Geranium Body Butter was my first attempt at making a more complicated cosmetics recipe that involved combining various phases at different temperatures. It was not particularly successful but I thought I'd share my learnings with you: The hardest part was trying to coordinate the temperatures of the different phases so that they reached the desired temperature at the same time. The … [Read more...]
Weaving a flax star (harakeke whetū) for Matariki
Last week our lovely Māori Relationship Advisor, Jenny, taught a group of us how to weave a harakeke whetū (flax star) for Matariki. I took photos to remind myself how to do it and thought I'd share them with you. Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Every year in June, they rise to the north-east and when they are visible just above the horizon at dawn it is considered Matariki, or Māori New Year. Matariki literally means the … [Read more...]
Powertex Tui Sculpture
I had been planning to make a Powertex Tui Sculpture ever since I saw one at the Powertex stand at the SENZ craft expo but somehow I just hadn't got around to making one even though I had the materials for it. Then I heard that Joanne was running another workshop in my area and decided to go along. I usually do Powertex workshops with my friend Dominique but she was back visiting her parents in France, so I went by myself this time. There were 6 of us in the workshop and of course Joanne and her … [Read more...]
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