Sunrise Oolite and a Woolly Jumper

Gosh - sorry (Queen Grand Purl Baa) I've been so very awol!  This absence will probably continue for a while until I get the sack from my 'proper' job.

I've just had this little woolly brooch returned to me from an exhibition in Waiheke Island - it features a piece of one of my favourite gemgrade fossils called 'Oolite' from the fantastic Heart Of Stone Studio (its such a satisfying word to say).

Oolite describes a sedimentary rock formed with ooids (meaning "egglike") - spherical grains in concentric layers.  This oolite comes from Wyoming and is multicoloured with pink and gold spots of fossil.
Other materials used: Faux bone, sterling silver, merino wool (needle felted), base metal washers and microscrews, Thai Karen Hill Tribes fine silver beads (purchased Fair Trade), copper backplate, small beads and a brooch & pendant clasp.
Length: 7.5cm (about 3 inches)
Width: 6cm (about 2 1/2 inches)

I have mainly been knitting recently - it has been very cold and rainy here in NZ and so this happened...

Useful for keeping warm and doing bank jobs.
The thick/thin 'meltwater' wool I bought on sale from the yummy online NZ yarn shop called YarnTraders - run by the lovely Helen who stocks exotic and unusual yarns, fibres, felt and fabrics.

I'm hoping spring/summer will be here soon so the evenings are lighter and I can get more 'creative' stuff done instead of wanting to curl up under my duvet and block my ears to the sound of the constant rain. I can't believe it rains more here in NZ than it does in the UK - how is that possible?

Exotic Fossil Oolite & Diamond Brooch / Pendant

Yay! I finally finished this jewellery piece that I have been working on for a while.

The gemstone is a gorgeous spotty piece of fossil oolite from Wyoming, USA.

Oolite describes a sedimentary rock formed with ooids (meaning "egglike") - spherical grains in concentric layers.

I bought this from one of my favourite cabochon websites www.DesignerCabochons.co.uk



The metal is titanium sheet which I heated up to get the different colours of heat patina. I don't think I will be using it again - I found it so hard to saw! Took me ages.

The fibers are an exotic mix of merino wool, sari, silk, bamboo, firestar & glitz - needle felted.

The oolite organic gemstone is secured to the purple plexiglass (which I sanded) via resin, stainless steel microscrews & sewn threads of tiny fine silver oxidised cubes (handcrafted by the Thai Karen Hill Tribes).

Other materials: natural raw diamonds (they are so rough & sparkly!), amethyst cubes & fine silver beads.


Its about 8cm (3 inches) wide. Can be worn as a brooch or pendant.

Rafflesia Brooch

Well I'm busy felting away - I think come winter I will be felting Tentacle Hats, scarves, boots etc, etc. I LOVE WET FELTING!!!!!!

I just finished my latest art jewelry creation called "Rafflesia" - because it reminded me of a huge jungle parasitic flower. She kind of just got bigger and bigger as I was making her, rather out of control but I like the way she turned out!

The organic gemstone is a fab piece of Fossil Oolite from www.designercabochons.co.uk (a family run cabochon business in the UK). Very funky and unusual fossil stone with a great 'ooid' pattern.

Other materials used - Faux Bone (loving this material too its so versatile), copper (I got the patina by heating it up), brass & stainless steel micro-screws, fine silver etched heishi (Fair Trade from Thai Karen Hills Tribes), old silver colour heishi (Fair Trade from Ethiopia) and merino wool in great colours.

I got some of this merino wool from Oz - a great company called Tree Tops Colours at www.treetopscolours.com.au

I'm going to try a smaller one next.......(fingers crossed)!