Sneak Preview: The *Ryad* Necklace in Cinnamon

I am dreaming of Morocco...

...the warmth of the desert, the technicolour architecture, the bustling souks...did I mention the warmth of the desert...?  I would do anything to escape the Winter chill right now!

Photo courtesy of Martin Allen

So, dreaming of Morocco, I present to you another sneak preview from my Moroccan-inspired collection...

The *Ryad* Necklace is a cascade of beadwoven 'windows' in shades of cinnamon and deepest chocolate, with a splash of tangerine...

The centrepiece hangs from a delicate pure copper oval rolo chain which I have patinated, hand-finished, and sealed.  The individual components are connected with patinated copper rings, making the necklace swing delightfully as you walk.

A 'Ryad' (or 'Riad') is a traditional Moroccan house or palace, typically with an enclosed garden.  Many have been converted into hotels, particularly in the popular tourist town of Marrakech.  What an inspiring location to spend a holiday!  

Photo courtesy of  Vince Millett

The rooms of the Ryad are often focused inward and around the central garden, as the outer walls of the building often lack windows to shield the occupants from the harsh elements.  

The 'windows' of my *Ryad* necklace were inspired by these beautiful homes...

Photo courtesy of bgblogging

The Cinnamon colourway is the first in this collection, but I will be making variations of the *Ryad* necklace in different colourways...stay tuned!

What exotic locations are you dreaming of, or inspired by...?

Thanks for looking, and be well!

Treasury Fun

Have you ever created a mood board?


A collection of images, textures, swatches, words and anything else that helps to create a 'mood' based on a theme, or for inspiration, when you are designing.  I enjoy creating mood boards when ideas pop into my head for a new creation, or a new collection.  They help keep me on track, because I have been known to lose my way and start travelling along a different path... ;-)


I have recently discovered how much fun it can be to create an Etsy treasury...it's just like creating a mood board, and just as much fun.

L'Absinthe

You can find this treasury here

Terracotta

You can find this treasury here

On The Spice Trail

You can find this treasury here

**Update - 'On The Spice Trail' made the front page of Etsy....wooooo!**


Every now and then, it is nice to take a step back from working on my own creations, and appreciate what other talented artisans are creating.  There is a wealth of beautiful, handcrafted goodies on Etsy, and in the not-too-distant future, my own creations will be available there too.


If there is one thing that I have learnt from compiling these treasuries, it is that quality photographs are essential!


Thanks for looking, and be well!