Friday, 22 May 2009

TUTORIAL : How to Make a Plectrum Necklace

Ah! Plectrum jewellery... beloved by punk rock chicks and guitar gods all over the globe... Now learn how to make your very own Plectrum Necklace with my easy-to-follow, step-by-step, full-colour, illustrated tutorial... yep!


Tutorial : How to Make a Plectrum Necklace How to Make a Plectrum Necklace

What You Will Need

1. A Plectrum - I pinched mine from my guitarist boyfriend, you could buy yours from your local music store

2. A Drill and 2mm Drill bit - I use a small Draper multi-tool in this tutorial

3. A Necklace Chain - I use an 18 inch gold-plated chain in this tutorial

4. A 6mm Jump Ring - I use a gold-plated jump ring in this tutorial

5. Pliers - I favour the needle-nose variety myself

6. A Fine-line Marker Pen

7. A Small Block of Wood or Cork - not pictured

How to Make a Plectrum Necklace

Step One

Position your chosen plectrum on your small piece of wood.

Using your fine-line marker pen, mark a small 'x' in the centre and approximately 3mm from the top of the plectrum - this is your guide for drilling your hole.

How to Make a Plectrum Necklace

Step Two

Now it is time to use your drill with 2mm drill bit (a drill bit that you would normally use for drilling wood is fine to use). This is the exciting part! With your plectrum on your small block of wood, very carefully and fairly slowly drill through your plectrum where you have marked your 'x' with your fine-liner pen.

How to Make a Plectrum Necklace

Step Three

All that remains to be done now is to attach your newly created plectrum charm to your necklace chain. And for this you need to use your pliers. To open your jump ring you should use your pliers to hold the ring and then push it open or closed with your finger. The ring is opened or closed by twisting it apart, not by pulling it open or pushing it closed. Open the ring only as wide as you need to and slip the plectrum and chain onto the ring. Now simply close thr ring the same way as you opened it.

Ta-dah! You now have your very own homemade Plectrum Necklace.

Wear it with pride, or give it as a gift!

Win an Anchor Necklace


My Sign Up and Win! giveaway prize for May 2009 is this Black Acrylic Anchor Necklace.

To be entered into the competition and be in the running to win the anchor necklace all you need to do is sign up to my monthly mailing list.

I will be selecting the winner using a random number generator on Friday 29 May 2009, so be quick as you have just one week left to sign up and win!

More About the Anchor Necklace...

The anchor charm itself is jet black acrylic and the necklace chain is 18 inches long and is silver-plated. It will be presented to the winner gift-wrapped in a ribbon-tied black jewellery box.
This necklace design is inspired by anchor tattoos.
Anchor designs are one of the oldest types of tattoos and of course they were really popular with sailors and pirates! Now, with the resurgence of interest in retro and vintage themes in tattoo designs they are really in vogue again, particularly with the rockabilly subculture group.

The anchor design is an ancient symbol of hope and has become a symbol of stability and a strong foundation. Sometimes people get an anchor tattoo to show their partner that they are the stability in their life. Wearing an anchor charm necklace could be something that helps to remind you to stay grounded, or you could wear an anchor necklace as symbolism that you have a particularly stable or grounding relationship. An anchor necklace makes a great gift for that special someone in your life!

I also currently stock Fuschia Pink Anchor Necklaces.

Carlie-Rose Laverack @ Supercollider Gallery, Blackpool


As you may or may not know, I am an art school graduate. As such I have a small number of artist friends. One of my closest friends, Carlie-Rose Laverack is a practicing installation artist. Carlie has exhibited extensively in NW England since graduating from Cumbria Institue of the Arts. Her most recent installation was hosted by The Vault Gallery, Lancaster.

During May and June 2009 the Supercollider gallery, Blackpool will play host to a new installation by Carlie-Rose Laverack.

Developed after a number of visits and conversations to and regarding Blackpool and underpinned by an interest in the towns’ history of performance (a history of both looking and being looked at) the new installation marks a new and exciting departure in Laveracks practice.

Made specifically for Supercollider (and Blackpool), the installation sees Laverack developing her investigations into ideas of ‘space’, audience, illusion and the unexplained.


The private view for the show is : 28 May 2009 6pm - 9pm

The exhibition runs from : 30 May - 21 June 2009

Supercollider opening times : Sat/Sun 1pm - 4pm or by appointment only

Supercollider address :

2nd Floor 32 Clifton Street

Blackpool FY1 1JP


I will be posting photographs of the installation work will on this blog within the next 14 days.

Friday, 15 May 2009

Fashion Trend Spring/Summer 2009 : Statement Necklaces

  • Statement necklaces are HUGE for Spring/Summer 2009
  • Two main trends : geometric or bauble
  • Big, bold shapes are the key
  • Bright, attention-grabbing colours with lots of detail
  • Wear over matching high necklines
  • Necklaces are worn over the collar bone, or long chain

I like the geometric trend most of all. My favourites are the designs by VPL. I especially like the origami necklaces by Lizzie Fortunato, the suggestion of a pliable material like paper and the gentle colour palette lend a touch of femininity to the otherwise fairly harsh geometric shapes.

Which is your favourite design, and why?

Valentino

Stella McCartney

Emilio Pucci


Marni

Philip Lim

Burberry Prorsum


VPL

Issa

Lizzie Fortunato for VPL

Christian Lacroix

Monday, 11 May 2009

Monthly Prize Draw - April 2009 Winner

Last months prize draw winner is Kaye, who wins this cool Pink VW Beetle Necklace.




This months prize in our monthly draw is a Black Anchor Necklace, to be in with a chance of winning simply sign up to our exclusive mailing list.

Thursday, 7 May 2009

test shot #1


indoor lighting, no flash, Canon A620 PowerShot

Acrylic Cut-Out Diamond Necklace - www.redplasticfactory.co.uk

Tuesday, 5 May 2009

DIY Tutorial : How to decorate an acrylic diamond necklace with swarovski hotfix crystals or hotfix rhinestones

Here is a great video tutorial on You Tube by EvaParadijs. In this video tutorial EvaParadijs talks you through how to decorate an acrylic diamond necklace with hotfix rhinestones or hotfix swarovski crystals.



In the video tutorial EvaParadijs uses an iron to affix her rhinestones, but as she points out you could also use your flat irons (hair straightners) or for more accuracy I would suggest you use a soldering iron (if you have access to one!) - but be VERY careful as they do get extremely hot!

You can buy various colours of acrylic diamond necklaces from www.redplasticfactory.co.uk

You can buy hotfix rhinestones or hotfix swarovski crystals from eBay or your local craft shop.

Check out a few more of EvaParadijs videos on You Tube too, she has some great make up tutorials.