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!

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!

My creative space...

It is well and truly Winter here.

There is a chill and a crispness in the air.  The trees everywhere are bare, the ground covered in sepia-toned leaves.  My two year old daughter likes to dance over and around the leaves, fluttering like a fairy...I can't help but stomp on them to hear that wonderful *crunch* when we go for our walks around the neighbourhood.

Whilst I enjoy the little treasures that this season has to offer,  I desperately miss the days of endless sunshine!  I have been craving warmth and sunshine and flowers...

Alas, my beaded flowers will have to suffice until Spring blooms again...

I have been working on some petite lilac blossoms...

...which will soon find their way into a petite necklace...

...with some petite gemstones...

They measure 3cm from petal tip to petal tip, and whilst I hate repetition, these little blooms are just begging to be clustered together en masse.

See what other creative people are up to today at Kirsty's blog.


Thanks for looking, and be well!

Idylle

Idylle, which is French for 'romance', is my latest beadwoven creation. A romantic, lacy, Olde Worlde necklace in shades of lilac and cream.

This is a great example of how one idea can lead to another. The beaded beads and pendant in my "Vintage Rose" necklace inspired me to push those ideas further to see what I could create. And this is the result, variations on the same theme but a completely different outcome:

Detail of the floral motifs (they are identical front and back, so the reverse side of my necklace is just as pretty as the front):

Detail of the floral clasp. As usual, I wanted it to blend in with the rest of the design:

I hope you explore some variations in your own work. We all need a good dose of 'What if...?' occasionally. You never know what it will lead to! ;)