The Creaking Door

1. Ten Slimey Baubles Standing On A Wall
2. Nala loves a bench
3. I’m gonna miss this view over Belton

Update - sold. So I decided to take all the positive vibes you guys sent me about this butterfly piece which kinda went a bit wrong and finished it in a pendant. I have warmed to the grunginess of the image and resin as it mixed under the sealant and quite like that slightly unpolished resin slab look. I've paired it with some recent finds - including that amazing carved orangy mother of pearl dangle, knot and stick chain interspersed with iridescent frosted pearls and clear rainbow bubble beads. I've made it a pretty low price all the same - Available : https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1736658025

Ooo look a big egg! Found this near the spinney and it’s been eaten with a yolky hole on the back. I’m thinking a pheasant egg?

So amazed to find these dainty agate slices recently that have been drilled lengthways so you can suspend them from a head pin. That takes some skill! They had formed part of a necklace that had at some point snapped but thankfully these snowy textured semi-translucent stones were still intact for me to repurpose. Also reproposed are these rough rubies from another flea market find, raw crystal fragments from a geode and stunning purple shell tops that have a flowery wavy edge. These are medium-heavy at 10g each but perfect if you're looking for stylish earring weights.

Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1736060189

I love these Magic Carpet Persicaria capitata I picked from my neighbours garden that self seed for her every year. They’re like tiny pink clovers and are a perfect reminder of long hot summers gone by. This eco-friendly necklace is available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/625711263

It’s been a good week for the shop as I’ve added some new vintage treasures for you to discover - like these NYC buttons from early in the development in the New York Central railroad system. These shiny brass buttons with NYC logo would adorn the uniforms of the engineers that created that historic railway. Available https://idlegathering.etsy.com/listing/1720349702

Update - sold. 🎼"Start wearing purple, wearing purple la la la la la la la" 🎼 - I've seen a fair amount of millefiori glass from Italy before, but not a large one as a pendant with the tiny flowers on the edge with a hand painted design in the middle! It's pretty cool! It went really well with the needle-point embroidered broken brooch and the basket of flowers brooch (missing its pin) that I was able to repurpose as the connector for the clasp.

Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1734482569

As you know I'm a MOP magpie and when I came across a bag of broken ellipse shaped cufflink tops from the 1940's/50's recently, I couldn't resist! It took me a while to figure the best way to assemble them all but I really love how they've connected together to form part of this upcycled assemblage necklace. The focal is a pewter Wren bird brooch that had a rusty broken pin, that I have converted to a pendant and added cheery dangles to the bottom. On the back it is signed by the artist A R Brown. The charm pendant meets the necklace with one of my organic shaped Raku pottery beads, more mother of pearl and two pieces of Roman glass in beautiful turquoise. Available in a length to suit you - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1732319013

Upcycled Egyptian souvenir plate pt. II - dangly cartouche earrings. In ancient times, amulets took the form of a cartouche displaying the name of a king and placed in tombs. Archaeologists often find such items important for dating a tomb and its contents. Cartouches were formerly only worn by pharaohs. The oval surrounding their name was meant to protect them from evil spirits in life and after death. The cartouche has become a symbol representing good luck and protection from evil.

Decorate with reclaimed precious opals, Czech glass beads and banded black and white agate. Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1714530106

I made the focal point of this charm necklace from a mold I created from a vintage pendant featuring a wonderful celestial sun and moon design. Using ceramic clay, I created a wax seal style imprint, bisque fired it in my studio and then gave it a raku glaze treatment in my garden. The effects are out of this world, with turquoise tones and shimmering fiery pink highlights.

Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1728529305

Every pool of Light orb I make is different as each crystal ball has its own misty scene for you to get lost in. This one is particularly in keeping with the 1920’s tradition of Pool of Light jewellery where it was believed spirits were trapped in the sphere. I definitely see ghosts in this one!

Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/506588977

Not had much time in the studio lately as I’ve been working flat out to sell all the stuff not needed when I downsize to my new home. There’s soooooo much to get rid of but I’ve had some great wins this last few days so hoping to get back to it. My brain doesn’t work well creatively when there’s big things hanging over me but I’m sure we’re all the same. Did take some time out this early Misty morning to do a bit of a forage around the garden - for breakfast: hogweed blooms and wild garlic and for the flower jug: bluebells, white lilac, tamarix blossom and cornflower.

Took this week off work selling heaps of stuff that I can’t take with me to my new home on FB marketplace. All in all, a very successful week and met lots of new folks who also live in my treasure hunting world. Just as I get rid of some bits to one chap, I bring back more bits for my work home instead! Like these pretty awesome vintage matchboxes with Scottish Tartan designs and their relevant clan names. I’m not exactly sure yet how I’m going to use them, but they make amazing earring and brooch boxes for shipping. Multi-media artists and assemblage jewellery artists - how would you use them?

“The fair maid who, the first of May, Goes to the fields at break of day And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree, Will ever after handsome be.“ - old nursery rhyme.

Beltane blessings everyone!

This mixed media assemblage of treasures sold before I had the chance to show it off. I really enjoyed making this upcycled vintage hot air balloon tin necklace with secret compass on the back, apothecary weight (2 scruples), antique plastic dog charm, micro-mosaics, watch winder and clock parts. I didn't realise that apothecary weights are where we get the word "scruples" from, each scruple being the equivalent to 20 grains. And if you don't have any "scruples" you may be lacking in moral fibre.

I handmade these ceramic pottery beads and fired them in my studio, finishing them with that beautiful Raku glaze in the garden, using meadow grass as the oxygen reduction. I've paired them with oxidised silver plated leaves with amazing textures and reclaimed vintage mother of pearl carved roses. They are quite lightweight at 3.10g each. Available:
https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1708362128

In the UK? Get £5 off with Etsy code at checkout - SMALL5

Raku pottery replica of a cool pendant I found with at Newark Antique’s Fair. Just fired the clay in my microwave kiln and given the raku treatment in the garden.

Phew! What a week! I'll be glad for Friday, when I hope to spill the tea on all of this week's crazy shenanigans. In the meantime, here's one of the few things I had a chance to make this week using part of that metal Egyptian souvenir bowl I found on the weekend. I was sooo happy that the wings on the bowl were perfectly sized to fit one of my brass cast scarab beetles to turn it into a winged beetle symbol. This layered mixed-media piece also features tiny micro-mosaic connectors, a Kabyle connector and a cartouche from souvenir Egyptian papyrus that I've secured in a thick resin tile with upcycled tin bezel. Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1721061207

Deep in the undergrowth in the corner of my garden - a string or two of bleeding hearts 💕. One of my Spring favourites.

The adventure on the bench this afternoon - I’m finally getting round to playing with this rusty vintage tea tin I picked up last year featuring hot air balloons. I don’t have anything particular in mind, I’m just listening out for the muses.

Happy Friday everyone! Today - I got a part-time job! Hurrah!

Anyone living in the Etsy-seller world right now knows how challenging it's been of late and while making art jewellery from salvaged found objects full-time is my love, the lack of consistent financial security is creating soooo much daily panic and anxiety for me right now.

It's been a good run for the last few years, all of my customers are amazing, wonderfully supportive and brilliant (THANK YOU!), and for a while there it was very possible to live the dream. But the economic downturn, cost of living crisis and rise of Temu (booooo!) is hitting us all so hard.

All that being said, I don't want to do just anything, I want to do something worthwhile and in the spirit of community - so, I'm taking part-time hours as a support worker with a local company called Farrow Friends - to help folks who need a bit of assistance in maintaining independence at home, or with travelling out and about and helping anyone looking for some cheery chat, a good ear and good company. I'm also hoping to bring my craft skills to the community as well, with small project ideas I can do with my new pals.

Don't worry - The Creaking Door STILL LIVES ON! Lucky me - I get to do BOTH! It's an exciting new venture for me which I hope will focus my mind when I do get back in the studio to create new pieces. Wish me luck folks! I can't wait to get started.

Here's my latest listing - a repurposed Victorian cameo - previously chipped and broken, now remounted on abalone shell with marcasite, fluorite, mother of pearl, my own raku pottery and antique book chain for company. Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1717678853

From my English country garden - two mushrooms, fern, pink heather and moss make a herbarium pendant cast in eco-friendly resin derived from wood pulp. Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/567369356

The art of cameo carving dates back thousands of years, with origins traced to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans.

This upcycled necklace features a broken salvaged Victorian era cameo that had be forcibly extricated from its gold setting, broken and discarded, while the precious metal was sold for scrap. The Victorian era was characterized by a romanticized view of the past, particularly the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome and this beautiful carving of a Greek or Roman lady is a wonderful example of the artform.

Having recently found a group of broken Victorian shell carved cameos at an antique fair, I wanted to give these lost and forgotten objects new life and purpose in my assemblage work. Carefully grinding back the broken outer shell to leave the raised side profile carving, I have then reset it to a repurposed pink abalone/mother of pearl disc that I salvaged from a broken necklace. As both surfaces are polished, I took the decision to glue and rustic prong set the beguiling lady, making the prongs very tight and short so as not to detract from the profile. I have clasped the bronze wires on the reverse with a repurposed rhinestone necklace connector.

At the base of the new cameo, I have dangled a mossy green and peach iridescent pearl and from a broken vintage earring - a twisted brass filigree pear with leaf with decorative carved Coral rose at the centre.

The beaded chain has been created from brass wire and antique market finds, including more mossy freshwater pearls, coral beads and polished mother of pearl beads. It is available in a length to suit you.

Available: https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1716358671

Staying cosy in the studio this morning as it thunder-hails and rains outside. I’ve just finished grinding back the broken chipped shell of this cameo and am about to remount her on to a reclaimed iridescent mother of pearl disc I saved from a broken necklace. I’m in two minds whether to just glue or rustic prong set… 🤔

Sunny and warm two hour walk with Nala this morning. We came across a delightful orange slim pattern, lots of butterflies (including a comma), wild forget-me-nots, a mica ink cap and the view over Grantham was beautiful. Happy Sunday!!

St. George’s day is nearly here and so too are all the wonderful St. George mushrooms! 🍄‍🟫 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 😋. They’ve been difficult to spot this year owing to the long grass from the wet weather, so they’re now mahoosive!

Just listed on my Idle Gathering shop and available here:

https://idlegathering.etsy.com/listing/1713641529

Beautifully hand-painted enamel bracelet possibly from Hungary or Bulgaria originally sold as a souvenir and featuring wonderful illustrations of wild and Alpine flowers.

This vintage bracelet is incredibly sweet and dainty with detail. The enamels are in amazing condition with no cracks or grazing and show a host of wild flowers like daisy, bluebell, buttercup, herb Robert and cinquefoil. It was likely made around the 1920's - 1930's when English tourists ventured further into Europe for holidays that became more popular with improvements in commercial travel.

Bulgaria and Hungary has a rich history of enamel craftsmanship, with artisans producing a wide range of enamelware items, including jewelry, decorative objects, and religious icons. The painted enamel bracelets often depict motifs inspired by folklore, such as traditional costumes, symbols, and nature scenes.

There is minor wear and oxidisation on the reverse, but limited and in keeping with the age of the piece. The clasp is in good working order and it measures between 7 and 7.5 inches in length.

Please check out my recent Reel if you'd like to see how I dry and preserve forget-me-nots from my English country garden. This little pretty pendant has just listed in my shop and it has quite an organic tiny blue flower arrangement inside eco-friendly resin. It's also available with your choice of chain length and the sterling silver I use is from recycled sources. I'm shipping now in time for Mother's Day in North America, so if you're celebrating your unforgettable moments with your Mum/Mom/Mam this year, please visit my shop for inspiring gifts.

https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/462956826

I had the most wonderful weekend just gone with 5 of my girlfriends staying over at my house. We enjoyed many, many belly-laughs, a nice long walk together, super delicious food and more than a tipple or two. I love them all so much and am so thankful to have such supportive, caring friends by my side. They really make my life so joyful and I am very lucky to have them.

Here's a new addition to The Creaking Door shop - a reclaimed miniature artwork made with abalone, mother of pearl and shell of what I think looks like a desert scene. I've secured it carefully to a piece of vintage tin with prongs and the back has a delightful watercolour illustration of cherry trees and a wooden house. I've decorated the oval focal with a vintage silver articulated fish, some of my own raku pottery beads, mother of pearl, coral and a piece of Seaham seaglass.

Available - https://thecreakingdoor.etsy.com/listing/1462863235