Bead Kits - Sneak Peak!

Hi All

The Centurion Craft Show starts tomorrow and there is still so much to do!

I wanted to show you a quick sneak peak at my new beading tutorials.

First there is a cocktail ring I made with a polymer clay flower, patterned ultrasuede and some beading around the edge. Its a very simple tutorial and is quick to make. The kit is available in green, red, blue and purple.

Flower cocktail ring

I made this beaded ring with the turquoise many months ago and it has caught the eye of many people! So I knuckled down and wrong it up, admittedly I had to remake the ring in order to get the directions right! It takes me at least two hours to make but its great to have a ready made ring at the end that fits! This kit is also available in an assortment of colours.

Notice the addition of the new logo in the images?

Crown ring kits

In this last project I wanted to create a project that could be used to teach a novice some basic skills for bead embroidery. I will be using this project to teach workshops during the show so I wanted something that could be finished in an hour or two. I intend to create more small simple bead embroidery projects focusing on different techniques. This kit is also packed with a selection of colours.

Although as I sit writing this I have suddenly realised that while I packed enough beads for both earrings in the kits I have only cut and packed enough backing and foundation material for one! Ooops! Oh well I needed to go to the bead shop to get thread and needles for the kits anyway, it was a lucky save!

Bead embroidery earrings kit

The kits have clear (I hope) instructions with diagrams (which I toiled over for hours) and enough beads, findings, needle and thread to complete the project. The only thing not provided is scissors, glue, beading mat and similar.

So come visit us at the Centurion Craft Show, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, to pick up a beading kit and check out many other cool crafts!

Love Jet

Upcoming show!

The excitement is mounting!
I have spent the last two days getting all my things ready for the Centurion Craft Show next weekend!
Yep its that time again. Petro has once again worked her bum off to organise a great show and it looks like its going to be even bigger and better than last time!
Here are a few pictures from the last show

And a picture of our stand last year.

That's Sharon and Petro gossiping about someone!

Ok I will be the first to admit that our stand was not really much to speak of. But we have a lot more show experience under our belts now and I have plans for a much better display this year!

Today I packed up and got ready all the jewellery I will be taking to the show including some very cool new pieces and works in progress!

On top of that I have created a couple of tutorials for some of my designs and have packed several kits for these!

So make a turn out by us next Friday 4 to Sunday 6 October for some crafty fun!
There will be many different crafts on display including ribbon embroidery, quilting, Beading (obviously), teddy bear making, pewter work and many more... come check it out!

eThuka Artisan Jewellery

Hi Peeps

Those of you that venture occasionally onto the website may have noticed that it has not been working. This is because of some changes that I have been making. I have decided to change the business name. Jet's Creations doesn't have a much sex appeal and it doesn't indicate what we are selling. So I have decided to change the name. I have therefore decided to let the domain name for the website go (you have to renew yearly at a fee) and this is why the website no longer works.
The new name is eThuka Artisan Jewellery. eThuka is a Zulu name meaning surprise. Its short, catchy, rolls off the tongue easily and adds a little African touch. After all we are in Africa so we might as well flaunt it!

To go with the new name I have designed a logo that can be put into pictures of my creations. This means that no matter where my pictures land up on the internet they can still be attributed to me.

I initially thought an actual image of some kind would be good but couldn't think of anything so I made the name itself into the logo. Which actually works quite well.

Here is a necklace I made (its from an old post) with the logo put in. Looks good eh? Thanks to Jonah for showing me the software for making these images!

I wont be putting a new website together immediately, I think its time in any event to upgrade to a better quality website anyway. But I am in the process of creating an Etsy shop, which should be up soon. I will let you know when!

Keep well all
Love Jet

Social pariah - thanks to my Dog!

I was soo mad at my dog yesterday!

Dont let this cute face fool you, Im a bad dog!

As you know I have just moved to Cape Town and I am finding it difficult to make new friends, especially when out walking the dog (this used to be a surefire method). The weather was fine yesterday afternoon so we went to the beach where there were lots of seagulls about for him  to chase after and we had not gone far before he was a wet, sandy happy mess. I noticed another cocker spaniel also walking on the beach with a couple. This dog is called Daisy, she is a young spaniel, somewhat smaller than mine and almost as adorable.

I have seen Daisy on the beach on a couple of occasions but never had a chance to chat with her owners cos we are always going in opposite directions. But yesterday we were walking together and I was soon chatting away with Daisy's mum and thinking that I might finally have found a friend when it all went horribly wrong!

Where are those sea gulls?

Daisy comes up to us and drops her ball in front of us. So I stupidly give her ball a kick for her. Hero then comes tearing up out of nowhere (any ball I throw or kick belongs to him see) and pounces on the ball a fraction of a second before Daisy does. Well, all hell broke loose at this point as the two of them climb into each other, or more accurately Hero climbs into Daisy. Seriously he nearly had her belly up in the surf by the time I caught up to them. I pulled him off and applied my boot to his ass (not that he felt it). Neither dog is injured but poor Daisy has had the fright of her life and is now barking hysterically at Hero every time he gets close. Shame Daisy's dad was pretty understanding about it and he was trying to get the two dogs to make-up (unsuccessfully) but you could see Daisy's mom couldnt wait to put as much distance as possible between us and her baby. Somehow I dont think we will be seeing much of them in the future and invites to socialise or go on walks together are clearly not going to be forthcoming.

So thank you Hero for making sure that I turn into a recluse with no friends!

Beading dead-end

Some days just do not go according to plan! And some designs just do not work out at all!

What you see here is the accumulation of several attempts and at least 2 afternoons worth of work trying to make a beaded strap for a bracelet! But no matter what I try I cant get it right. So rather than pull my hair out I am going to set this aside until inspiration strikes (also I have more interesting projects I want to play around with).

This is what my kitchen looked like on sunday as I got started on my newest design a beaded bag!

Well keep well all

Love Jet

Cape Town Weather

Hi Peeps

Yes I know its been awhile. Moving to a new city and getting settled in is so time consuming! But no matter things have been happening. Cape town is a city of many seasons. During the winter months (like now) cold fronts blow in from the South bring mist, rain and wind.

Mountain in the Mist

Dont believe the hype! This is what Cape Town really looks like

Walking in Newlands Forest gives some respite from the rain

The rain will generally then settle in and continue intermittently for several days. But be assured whenever you are about to go outside, no matter how long its been since the last cloud burst there will be another just then. It proves that somewhere up there is a spiteful little man known as Murphy!

The blowing wind also means that the only advantage an umbrella provides is to make you look like you are trying to audition for the part of Merry Poppins in a local play - cos it sure doesnt keep the rain out. Last week saw a particularly brutal front come through bringing torrential rain, seriously it was coming down like it was being poured out of a bucket - for hours! And the wind was so strong that it could blow the dog's largeish kennel (admittedly its made of plastic, but still) around the garden. I just hope he wasnt in it when it started moving.

These moments are then separated by dry not sunny just dry days.

However spring did decide to show herself over a recent long weekend, coinciding with Women's Day. Giving me some amazing views over Cape Town, the like of which I have not yet seen. So instead of cleaning the house and doing some beading I spend most of the weekend sitting outside in the garden soaking up the sun like a lizzard. Or going for long walks with Hero the pictures below were taken from Newlands forest.

Muizenberg beach with the Swartberg Mountains in the distance, note snow on the peaks

Cape Town southern suburbs, are visible

First time I could actually see False Bay from Newlands!

I am constantly on the lookout for new places to take Hero for walks both to provide him with some variety and to have something to do on the weekend (other than work or beading) that doesn't cost anything and gets me out of the house! On Sunday I chose a spot on the Mountain near Muizenberg (above Lakeside to be specific). I so wish I had taken my camera cos it was a gorgeous walk. What I didn't realise about this walk was that it consisted of a rocky, stepped path going basically straight-up a steep sided mountain. Worse was to come, as I'm panting and staggering up this walk I am passed by an older woman strolling up it casually at double my speed, followed shortly after by 2 gents running up the path. Well I might not be able to keep up with these people on speed, but I wasn't going to do less than them, now we had to get to the top! Hero was ready to turn back but I insisted and we did get to the top, which was lovely but now had to contend with another problem. I had only gone out at about 4.30 thinking we would just do an easy hours walk. So now I had to head back down the mountain on shaking knees, as it was getting dark!
Needless to say we made it down arriving at the bottom just before full dark and my legs still haven't forgiven me but it was well worth it. Next time camera!

Settling in

Hi Peeps

Needless to say I made it to Cape Town, safe and sound. Hero was an absolute angel on the journey down, no getting car sick, no messing in no barking at people in the hotel. So he then blighted his record by pooping on the new carpets right in front of the Landlady within five minutes of our arriving! She was ticked off! Oh well, there is nothing that can make you look as common as dogs and children. The new flat is really nice and big, but kinda lacking in cupboard space, my beads are still occupying the floor, sigh! The place is on the first block from the beach front, so I can hear the sea (depending on the wind direction) from my patio, and Hero and I now go walking there regularly. In fact here are some pictures of our first day out on the beach. The South Easter was pumping and the kite surfers were out in force.

Kite surfers out at Muizenberg

Hero enjoying the wind in his ears

Running away from the surf

I think the only people enjoying the beach that day were the kite surfers!

We are still settling in slowly. Hero cried a lot whenever he was left alone on the first few days. But I got him a new kennel and between the warmer weather and get his getting used to a new schedule he seems to be calming down. I should ask my landlady but Im a bit scared to disturb the water too much, but she hasnt complained. So I will let you know how things are going.
Love Jet