I am so excited

Recently people have asked about my chainmaille and if it is sterling silver.  This prompted me to register with the Birmingham assay office and once I'd got the idea of soldering jump rings sorted, sent 4 bracelets to be hallmarked.   They came back with this thrilling mark on the little heart tag which hopefully become a feature of my future sterling silver offerings.

These 3 bracelets are available now in my Etsy shop, the 4th? Well that is one I made for me and will remain in my collection as the first hallmarked.  Wouldn't you want to keep the first? it was the first of the 4 made.

Last Saturday was another Powertex workshop day.   When I went to the first one we saw pictures of a little cat project that was to be the subject of last Saturday's workshop.  Well you had me at cat!   It was great fun and there were of course 4 different projects going on.  The cat, Violins, Picture frames and an altered bottle.  Oh yes one of the cats had a little op and became a dog because the lady who made him didn't want a cat.  So 11 people, 2 tutors and 4 different projects going on.   I love working with powertex and have for years but am also loving the workshops as much because of the friendly fun people who organise them and who go on them.

This is my tatty cat.  It was completed at home because I wanted use some wire here at home that made brilliant whiskers, and a Mookaite bead for the nose.

Below is a picture of all the versions of Tatty Cat and Dog.  I just love how different they all and that dog is fantastic.

Here come the challenges.

Show us you Pussycats - Fun monthly challenge where Furrything Goes.   Don't know if they had something like this in mind but who knows.

Crafty Cardmakers - Week one of their two week challenge where the theme is All Creatures Great and Small.   Helpfully the blog assures us we can enter anything that fits the theme including mixed media pieces.

International Art and Soul - Week one of their two week challenge "Use a none craft related item".  Well the body of the cat is a small lemonade bottle, she is covered with Hessen and hollow tube trim type stuff.  And there is lots of wire both the shape the ears and of course those tatty whiskers.

We Love to Create - I love this monthly always anything mixed media goes site.

More Mixed Media Challenge - Another of those wonderful anything goes mixed media challenges this one with the optional colour of Brown.

There are so many inspiring challenges out there I hope to find time to craft some more this month but for over a week now I've been promising to make some earrings.  Just maybe I can manage both.