Making some new ear rings!

Okay, so something a little different to my usual posts today. This all came about after the post came off an ear ring Doug bought me the last time we were on holiday, which I wanted to fix. I had also noticed though that after a few days, my ears started to get irritated when I wore these, leading me to think the metal posts were not nickel free.

 So after a bit of Googling, I ordered some new ear ring posts, and backs. Both Surgical Steel, the backs silver plated as well.

Both packs came in 100 count, so that meant I was going to have 48 pairs left after fixing mine.

Which left only one option- a bit of Internet shopping for some suitable cabochon stones to make myself some new ear rings with.😀
   





I went looking for semi precious stone cabochons, and found quite a few in suitable sizes. I did discover that the backs that had been on my original ear rings were slightly smaller than the new ones, and as some stones I ordered were intended to fit the old size, I've had to Google again and find some smaller ones, lol. Good old Amazon to the rescue.
 Anyway, I found 8mm round was ideal for the new posts, so set to adding the stones to the posts.
 Roughed up both the back of the stones and the posts, then used superglue- as thats what most jewellery sites were selling for the purpose- to add the stones.  I have to say, it's possible I didn't add enough glue in some cases, as a few came apart, so next I tried some Epoxy resin glue,but next day I still had a couple of pairs come apart.
 I cleaned them off, and tried the superglue again, this time adding it to both faces, and this seems to have done the trick.

This is the first batch, and from left to right, the stones are:
Flourite, Jasper,Blue Goldstone, Amethyst, Black Onyx and Green Aventurine.
 Although it doesn't show in the pic, the Blue Goldstone has tiny sparkles within the stone.

The remaining stones, L to R again:
The original glass ear rings in Brown & Blue, Tigers Eye, Malachite,Sodalite, Carnelian,Smoky Quartz, Haemetite, Blue Paua Shell and Snowflake Obsidian.


I just have to wait for the smaller posts to arrive, then I can make up some more using the smaller stones. Best part of this is that most of the stones cost between 35p and 80p each, meaning I got new ear rings for less than £2 a pair, which is a great deal, I think you'll agree.


Supplies bought from:
 Kernowcraft
Manchester Minerals
Beads Direct
Beads.co.uk

Beads and stuff....sorted

Well, after two days of procrastinating, or maybe that should be procraftinating, the bead tub is finally sorted. Found things I'd forgotten about, and found I was missing a few necessary things, like jump rings. E-bay soon sorted that out though. So this was what I started with.

Found out my bead mat I made ages ago, just a piece of velvet stuck onto some thick card. Stops the little buggers rolling everywhere. I've also got one of those bracelet/necklace maker /holder thingys- you know, the grey one with the channels for various lengths, *somewhere* sigh.

A case of chuck it all out and start sorting.

Making headway.

Mainly my beads are the semi precious stone type.













Now to pack all the trays away.

A tray full of findings................

.....and one of beads.

And job done. I have a feeling that if I manage to get to the NEC for the Hobbycrafts show this year, I may be adding to this stash.

WOYWW #276

Hi folks, back again. This is whats on my desk today, and probably for the rest of the week. A 12x12 Really Useful Box filled with assorted tubs of beads and findings.Didn't realise what a mess it was till I went to put something away last week.
 Went off to Staples and bought some of the insert trays that fit the A4 boxes, and I shall be sorting them all out over the next few days.

Hopefully by next weeks desk, they'll all be tidily housed in here. That's the sort of gentle stuff my bodyguard, aka Beloved Hubby has said I am allowed to do, lol.

 Right now, I need to tell all of you that left messages via Jan that I hope you know you had me in tears on Sunday! I phoned Jan on Saturday evening to tell her they had let me home for the weekend, and she said loads of you had sent good wishes, and were thinking of me on Wednesday. So, Sunday afternoon I popped over to read them. Halfway down the comments, I had to get up from the computer, and went into Hubbys room, where he was playing on Rocksmith, in tears. He instantly thought I was in pain, until I explained I'd been reading all your comments, and started crying. I am so touched and moved by all of you, and all your thoughts, prayers and good wishes clearly made wonderful things happen,as you can see from the picture. I went down for my surgery at 11.00am, was back on the ward by 1.15, and by 4.00 I was sat up and had had a cup of coffee!. I feel perfectly fine, and have done since Wednesday evening. I keep getting medical staff tell me that I am not supposed to be this well!







Monday evening a friend from work came around, as they'd had a collection for me. Brought me a huge bunch of flowers, and some lovely gifts.

The small box holds a lovely necklace with a wolf and celtic knot moon.

 I also came home to these beauties on Saturday, from Debs Willis a brilliant Goth Fairy- no idea why she thought of me with that image, rofl.
And from Debbie Rock this lovely Get Well tag.
Thank you both so much, made my homecoming even more special.













 
If you have read the other page, you will recall that I commented about the passing of wind! No warning and absolutely no way of stopping it,its been a real conversation stopper at times since Wednesday. All we can do is laugh about it. Doug said I'd been fitted with my own personal whoopee cushion. It has calmed down a bit over the last few days, does not happen so often now. However, this arrived in todays post. When Hubby got home last Wednesday, he was browsing the net, and came across this vest top, with the Biohazard symbol on it, and thought it fitted the situation perfectly.The back is quite cool too.

 This was me on Thursday afternoon, with my well earned Costas Mocha!The bag on the floor Hubby brought in, containing amongst other stuff, my bar of Bourneville chocolate, as dark chocolate is recommended for helping things to be regular. You have no idea how hard it was to force myself to eat it. NOT!


And yesterday afternoon, no make up and hair looking a bit dishevelled, but as you can see, looking like there's nothing wrong with me (again).