Concept Preview: The *Lilas* Ring

With Spring arriving tomorrow (yippee!), I have flowers on my mind.


I don't think I have ever been so happy to see the end of Winter.  The wildflowers that Western Australia are so renowned for are starting to erupt out of the fertile soil, adding the most vibrant colours to the landscape.  With them, they bring a promise of warmer days, endless sunshine and blue skies.


I love Spring!


So with flowers on my mind, I had an idea...


And what started as an idea has blossomed into...

The *Lilas* Ring

It is only a concept at this stage because, well, to be honest it's the first time I have ever fabricated a ring!  And only my second ever attempt at silversmithing (photos of my first attempt coming soon!)


I am still amazed that I didn't destroy the flower whilst hammering the wire to form a rivet head (which holds the flower snugly in place).  I must have good aim! LOL

Hand fabricated from sterling silver wire and my own beaded lilac bloom.

Just perfect for Spring, don't you think.

It may only be a concept at this stage, but I've been wearing it all day and I love it!

Did I mention how much I LOVE working with metal and fire?


I love it a LOT!

What happens next...?

It all started with an idea...

You know how ideas are...

...they don't let you sleep until you act upon them...

...and sometimes they even work out exactly as you had planned...

So what happens next? 

Stay tuned! ;-)

My creative space...

The Moroccan-inspired cuff I showed you last week is coming along nicely...

Clearly all that monotonous repetition didn't deter me, because I'm already imagining this cuff in cobalt blue...and turquoise...and orange...

I even have an idea for a custom clasp I would like to fabricate myself from sheet metal and wire...

Bear in mind that I only picked up a jewellers saw and solder for the first time in 14 years last week, and I'm already an expert! LOL

Yeah, ambitious is my middle name ;-)

~*~

Oh, and a warning to all beaders out there...

...there have been recent sightings of the elusive Smallus Handus.  Renowned for its stealth, cunning, and unsurpassed ability to stalk its prey, this sly creature will steal beads when your back is turned...

You have been warned!

More creative spaces at Kirsty's!

Leap of Faith

It takes a certain degree of courage to put yourself forward to be judged,

when you have poured your heart and soul into a creation...

But sometimes, that leap of faith is worthwhile...

...and you receive more in return, than you ever could have dreamed...

Click here to view all of the winning designs

*happy*

My creative space...

Inspiration comes in all shapes and forms...

And sometimes, when I'm really lucky, it comes home in the form of pretty books from my ever-thoughtful husband...

The magnificent carved wooden doorframe on the cover of this Morocco book inspired me...

...to start working on a wide, but lightweight, cuff...

I've tried numerous ways to make this cuff by taking short cuts, but it just doesn't drape well.  So each little "X" and "T" shape is stitched individually and then they're stitched together. 


Time consuming?  Ridiculously so!  


I enjoy a certain amount of monotony, but this is just crazy.  Let's hope it works out...


~*~


My workspace today is all about terracotta and tangerine...

I can't get enough of these colours at the moment.  They just speak to me of Morocco.

And somebody else finds it all very inspiring too...

~*~

Head on over to Kootoyoo to see what other creative people are up to today...and add your link if you'd like to play along!

Friendship

There are certain people you meet in life who will touch your heart like no other.  


Sharon is one of those people.


The stars aligned one day and our paths crossed in this big ol' blog-o-sphere, and she has been a friend and an inspiration ever since.  


It was Sharon's jewellery that first captured my attention...her soulful, inspired creations were gorgeous, and her wire wrapped bracelets were unlike anything I had seen before.  Her talents lie not only in creating jewellery, but in graphic design also.  She has recently started a graphic design shop on Etsy named Plumrose Lane (so sweet, I love that name!), and through her inspiring blog she offers the MOST beautiful blog backgrounds, and tags, and all sorts of treasures.


Sharon has recently made the difficult decision to close down her handcrafted jewellery shop on Etsy, Mana Moon Studios.  Every beautiful piece of handcrafted jewellery is marked down by 75-85%.  So many beautiful treasures at bargain prices.

I couldn't resist this bracelet, Coral Horizon...as soon as I saw it I just knew that it had to come and live with me...

It is so vibrant and joyful in real life, I don't think I've stopped wearing it since it arrived...

And as I dug deeper into the parcel, I was confronted by a most wonderful and generous surprise...

...seed beads!  But not just a few packets...

...LOTS of packets...

...and the deeper I dug...

...the more I found...

...and then I started to cry...

...somewhere between here...

...and here...

...because I was completely overwhelmed by Sharon's amazing generosity, and kindness, and heart.  

If I wasn't already crying after opening this wonderful package, I certainly was after reading the beautiful, heartfelt card Sharon wrote me.

Thank you, my friend...for being beautiful right to your very soul ♥♥♥

~*~

Aside from thanking my lucky stars for having such wonderful friends, I also had the chance to crank up the torch this weekend and try my hand at silversmithing.  More on that later!


Thanks for looking, and be well!

My creative space...

I feel as though I am being pulled in so many different directions at the moment...creatively speaking.


Sometimes I wish my Muse would switch off, or at least take a nap for a little while.


I'm working away on my collections, but my Muse also yearns to create something epic, something laborious and time-consuming...


...and also get back to bead embroidery...


...and also crank up the torch and try some silversmithing...


...and...


...and...


...and...


Do you ever have so many things that you want to do but don't know where to start?  


*le sigh*


I put this down to the fact that our big move from Perth to Melbourne (a mere 3,000kms, give or take) is only about six weeks away, so I'm a bundle of nervous energy right now...desperately trying to cram in as much creating as possibly before my entire studio is packed away into uninspiring brown boxes.


*le sigh*


Rant over, thanks for listening.  You're the best :-D


Here's a little something I've been working on for my *Moroccan Odyssey* collection...

It has been dark and rainy all day today, so I had to take these hideous photos with my daylight lamp...blerk!

The gemstones are smoky quartz and the MOST beautiful AAA grade yellow chalcedony...


...it's like a little ray of sunshine... *le sigh*


More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

A blog award

This week I was fortunate to receive the Versatile Blogger award from two of my favourite bloggers and ladies who I am lucky enough to also call friends, Nicole of Beadwright and Kristen of My Bead Journey.  Thank you for thinking of me, lovely ladies!


I don't really like talking about myself, but I have to do tell you seven things about me...so here goes...


1.  I'm a chocoholic...no seriously, I eat a little bit of chocolate just about every day.


2.  I'm one of those annoying people who can eat a little bit of chocolate just about every day and not put on weight... don't hate me!


3.  Over the years, I've been told I look like anyone from Kate Hudson (sweeet!) to Britney Spears from side on (please no!), to somebody's sister (ok, that's just the lamest pick-up line ever!)


4.  I've been interested in archaeology from a young age.


5.  In the last couple of years, our little family have lived in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth...and in about six weeks time we're moving to Melbourne!  (For any of my non-Australian readers who are scratching their heads right now saying 'Where on earth are these cities?', we have lived in four different States from one side of the country to the other!  Let me just say that I'm getting REALLY good at packing LOL)


6.  I love 80's music... shhh, don't tell anyone!


7.  After giving birth to my daughter and having to change her for the very first time, I put her nappy on the wrong way...that's how little I'd had to do with babies until I had my own! LOL  I still feel like I'm on 'L' plates as a parent, but I'm learning...at least I put nappies on the right way now ;-)


I don't know who to pass this award on to as it seems like all of my blogging friends have already received it!  So if you'd like to play along and tell us a little more about yourself, let me know and I will happily link to you here.


Thanks for looking, and be well!

Today, I'm loving...

...the hardware store, not just for their tools, but for their paint sample cards...

...which have made the job of finalising the colour palette for my *Moroccan Odyssey* collection oh-so-easy...

...and the postman for bringing me pretty gems...

...and playing with new concepts...

...and heading in new directions...which aren't really new directions at all, just a couple of turns back to where this journey began...

What are you loving today?

Sneak Preview: The *Lilas* Necklace Duo

Anyone who knows me will know that I bore easily.  So rather than simply focusing on creating one collection, I am pouring my energy into creating two...simultaneously!


Call me crazy, but that's just how I roll ;-)


So aside from my Moroccan-inspired collection, I am also working on a collection of *Petit Fleurs*, or small flowers.


You may recall my sweet little lilac blooms here.  


I have paired a single lilac bloom with an exquisite (and huge!) A-grade pink amethyst briolette to create my *Lilas* Necklace Duo ('lilas' is French for lilac)...

...simple and sweet...

The bloom and briolette each hang from a delicate sterling silver chain, so they can be worn together or separately...or even interchanged with flowers from the rest of the collection.


I still have plans to create a necklace that is overflowing with lilac blooms, but it will be a limited edition or one-of-a-kind creation.  Something special!  For now, a little piece of prettiness for everyday wear is in order :-)

Do you have a favourite flower...?  A bloom that reminds you of something (or someone) special...or simply makes you happy...?


Thanks for looking, and be well!