Sneak Preview: The *Gateway to Marrakech* Necklace

Do you remember this sketch?

It has come to life!

A stunning Sonora Sunrise Chrysocolla from my little stash of stones has come together with a show of sumptuous silver in the latest necklace from my *Moroccan Odyssey* Collection.

The *Gateway to Marrakech* Necklace

Inspired by the nineteen gates surrounding the city of Marrakech...


magnificently ornate salmon-hued arches built in the 12th century...

A Moroccan motif hand-sawn from the backplate...


...a little secret known only to the wearer...

The necklace seals with both a lobster clasp and hand-wrought and textured ring...


...and a striking Mystic Orange Carnelian briolette sways from the extender chain...

This necklace has the most wonderful weight to it,


a symbol of strength and assurance...

Making an appearance in my Etsy store soon!

My creative space...

...is all about learning and growing this week.

Do you remember the work-in-progress piece I showed you yesterday?

It was a steep learning curve...


...I had to teach myself how to sweat solder.


And not just sweat soldering one piece to another...


...but sweat soldering one piece to another to another to another.


Oh, and throw in two different types of metal, and...


...yeah, well I said it was a steep learning curve!
*LOL*


But I finished it...


...and I love it ♥


The *Koutoubia* Necklace

Layers of sterling silver and copper...

...rich with texture.

Measuring 32mm long and 28mm wide, it is petite enough to wear everyday...

...and I think I may just *have* to wear it everyday!

And the inspiration behind this piece?

Photo courtesy of Marie Sophie

This exquisite doorway in the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech.

The doorway inspired this sketch...

 
...which inspired this necklace!

What is inspiring you this week?

More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

Sneak Preview: The *Safi* Necklace in Turquoise

The past week has been busy with visitors...

Family flying in, flying out...

The house has been a hive of activity,

but it is a happy house for all of the laughter, and chatter, and excitement.

The kids are loving all of the extra attention...

Grandparents were made for spoiling them! :-)

~*~

Amidst the bustle and business, I have found some time to create...

...my *Moroccan Odyssey* Collection is slowly coming to fruition...

~*~

The *Safi* Necklace in Turquoise

There is something so beautiful about turquoise...

...it is serene and happy and uplifting all at once...

...and it seems to compliment almost every colour of the rainbow!

(or at least every colour in my wardrobe!)

The chain and bail are sterling silver, and I have given them a lovely patina to really make the turquoise 'pop'...

I like to wear the *Safi* Necklace layered with a few other necklaces...

...but it looks just as nice by itself!

~*~

I foresee silver and fire in my immediate future... ;-)

What do you have planned for the week ahead?

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!

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!

My creative space...

I love it when a new design comes together with ease.  

It doesn't happen often, I usually produce many prototypes before a good design is realised.

So imagine my delight the other night, when this romantic, vintage-inspired pendant came together in just over an hour...

Despite it's size (the pendant is almost 4cm x 4cm), it is amazingly lightweight thanks to the dainty Vintaj brass filigree component in the centre...

This design is yet to be named...I'd love to hear your suggestions!


And while you're in a commenting mood, I'd love to hear what you think of my photos!  (*click on the photos for an enlarged image*)  I have been playing around with props, and trying to inject a mood into my photos.  


The props in these photos are a vintage beaded purse from my Mum, and a scrap of vintage beaded fabric that my 88 year old Grandpa gave me.  He isn't sure of the origin exactly, but thinks it may have come from a very, very old wedding dress.  Nan had it sitting in her stash of fabric for years, and Grandpa only rediscovered it a few months ago and thought I should have it.  It is a beautifully delicate treasure, and I think it tells a wonderful story!


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


Thanks for looking, and be well!

The 'Idylle' Necklace in Olive

The relief I feel, when a large project is completed, is immense!  

Relief that an unfinished project is no longer hanging around on my desk (in its proper place, mind you)...

Relief that I can now move on to the next exciting project without getting a case of the 'UFO guilts' (that is, feeling guilty for the number of UnFinished Objects lying around on said desk)...

So whilst sitting back and enjoying this lovely feeling of relief, I can finally show you photos of my completed 'Idylle' necklace in an olive colourway.  You may recall seeing me working on it here and here.  (And you can find the original 'Idylle' necklace in the lilac colourway here.)

'Idylle' 

(French for 'romance')

I used the most delicious matte metallic rainbow turquoise/light green delicas for the main body of the necklace.  Depending on the light, they exhibit shades of olive and denim and yellow...and they perfectly compliment the gorgeous light green Swarovski crystal pearls...

For this variation of the Idylle necklace, I used flat spiral stitch ropes rather than St Petersburg chain as in the original version.  Beautiful 3mm cream Swarovski pearls are sprinkled throughout the ropes, and I have finished the necklace with my unique floral toggle clasp...

As always, I have made the reverse side of the necklace as pretty as the front...

Thanks for looking, and be well!

Morocco Blue

Inspiration is everywhere.  And nothing inspires me more than colour!  Combine colour with architecture though, and my mind goes into overdrive!

Aptly named the 'Morocco Blue' pendant, my latest creation was inspired by the famed city of Chefchaouen in Morocco, where the buildings are all painted in the most vibrant blue tones.  An inspiring sight!

Source:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pejmanphotos/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

I wanted this pendant to tell a story of Morocco, of blue-washed buildings, of intricate mosaics.  I love jewellery that transports you to another time and place...

Although cobalt seems to be my favourite colour of the moment, next I am imagining this pendant in shades of saffron, terracotta, olive, tangerine...a tale of spice merchants in a busy marketplace!

Thanks for looking, and be well!

Sea glass pendant

It has been a long, long three months without my precious beads. How happy my hands were to rediscover beadweaving after such an arduous absence! Life is once again returning to a steady, familiar rhythm, and so I am able to bead. Joy!

My latest humble offering is pendant of sea glass hanging from a simple twisted tubular herringbone necklace.

Have you ever wandered along a beach and collected a piece of tumbled glass which has been washed upon the shore? It has been a favourite ritual of mine since I was a child. There is something enchanting about these remnants of times and places unknown, offered up by the sea and carved by Mother Nature. Not knowing where they have come from, nor how long they have been tumbled by the ocean, is an enticing mystery.

This particular piece of green sea glass had a story to tell and so I had to give her a fitting home in which to tell it.

I added a simple fringe, reminiscent of coral or seaweed.

I purposefully left the back of the pendant open. When backlit, the glass gives off a beautiful green glow.

A simple toggle with three square-stitched rings makes the length of the necklace adjustable.

I encased the sea glass with right angle weave and peyote stitch. The openness of the RAW lets the glass receive light from all angles.

My sea glass necklace is making it's way to a lovely lady who has been a family friend since I was a child. She is one of the most vibrant and generous people I have ever known, and her heart is as big as her smile :) She spent countless hours making a gorgeous cot quilt for my daughter and so I wanted to repay her with a small token of my gratitude. This particular piece of sea glass was found on the beach very near to her home, and so I feel it needs to be with her. I hope she likes it :)