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!

My creative space...

If you have ever read...

...you will know that everything has it's proper place!


At any given moment, I have an average of four to five different projects on the go, so it's essential that each project has its proper place.  


Here's my solution...each project has its own handy little container which holds all of the beads, metals and materials, together with the work-in-progress...

I get bored easily so it's nice be able to flit back and forth between projects...

My new daffodil project has been coming along nicely, although it has been pushed aside for now while I wait on some supplies to arrive...


So today I have been working on the olive variation of my Idylle necklace.  It's coming along nicely...

I love the negative space created between the beaded components...

Head on over to Kirsty's blog to see what other artisans are creating today.


Thanks for looking, and be well!

Ophelia earrings

I love creating earrings.  

They are a small enough project to provide almost instant gratification.

They give me the opportunity to test colourways, metals and materials on a small scale before commiting to a larger and more time-consuming project.

Oh, and I love wearing them too :-)

My 'Ophelia' earrings are one of my latest designs...

In shades of olive and sage, with antiqued brass findings and chain, they have a decidedly vintage look to them...just the look I was aiming for!

Ophelia was a character in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', and the subject of a number of paintings by John William Waterhouse...the name seemed just right for my romantic, vintage-look earrings...

There is a matching 'Ophelia' bracelet and necklace to come.  And the set will form part of a future collection that I have planned.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for looking, and be well!

My creative space...

Thursday comes around so quickly!


Time to take a peek at what is going on in my creative space today...


I'm working on a variation of my Idylle necklace in shades of olive and cream...

Unlike my first effort which utilised glass beads in a gorgeous shade of lilac, this variation is being created with luscious Swarovski crystal pearls in light green.  

The double St Petersberg chain (which I am yet to make!) will feature tiny 3mm Swarovski crystal pearls in cream.  


This is my first time using Swarovski crystal pearls and I am so impressed with the quality, they have a really nice weight to them.  And they look ultra-luxxe!


Pop on over to Kirsty's blog to see what other goodies are being created today.


Thanks for looking, and be well!

Vintage Rose

Time to learn something new...and beaded beads took my fancy this week. Easy peasy and oh-so-quick, I think I'm fast becoming addicted. Instant gratification seems to be my thing lately! :-)

These beads are made with a very simple RAW cube base which is then embellished. I wondered what I could do with the sample principles learned, but in the flat rather than in the round, and this pendant was the result.

I made up the pendant as I went along (the story of my beady life, eh!) I'm not sure what stitches I used, perhaps netting? Never having done netting before, I can't say for sure. Feel free to inform this clueless beader!

The large round beads are unakite (a difficult colour to match...but opaque olive and rose-lined clear seed beads seemed to look ok). Throw in a few large etched glass rondelles, a sprinkling of olive crystal bicones, and you have my 'Vintage Rose'.

I may actually wear this piece myself, instead of giving it away or throwing it in a box under my beading desk... *gasp*