Sneak Preview: The *Safi* Earrings in Azure

I'm thrilled to be creating again...

It just feels...right :-)

So it is with much joy that I bring you the latest creation from my *Moroccan Odyssey* Collection...

The *Safi* Earrings in Azure

Inspired by the Moroccan city of Safi which is renowned for it's beautiful, colourful pottery...

Photo credit: Zaphgod


Who wouldn't be inspired by these exquisite colours!



Photo credit: Hypo Centre


These earrings feature my original beadwoven medallions in shades of cobalt, delicious mystic orange carnelian briolettes, and hand forged earwires...

All metal components are sterling silver, which I have patinated and brushed for an antique look...

Cobalt and orange are my favourite colours at the moment...I find them so uplifting!


But the *Safi* earrings are begging to be created in other colours too.  Stay tuned ;-)


What colours are you loving right now?

Inspired to create...

...with metal!

Perhaps it was Jess, or maybe Lenita?  

Maybe it was Tess, or Anna-Karin?

Most likely it was all of these exceptionally talented ladies who inspired me with their beautiful silverwork (and equally beautiful personalities!) to get back to where this jewellery journey all began.

See, when I was 16, I had a dream...

...no, seriously!...

...I wanted to become a jeweller...

A jewellery-making class in high school awakened something in me, and I fell head over heels in love with working metal to create something beautiful for adorning the body.

I wanted to become a jeweller.

I was determined to get an apprenticeship somewhere.  Anywhere.  I was happy to sweep metal shavings for years if it meant I could one day create jewellery.


I really wanted to become a jeweller.

I started a jewellery-making course at night school.  I learnt how to drill, saw and file sheet metal. But that was where it ended!  I only went along to three classes because I moved interstate shortly after starting.

And somehow, my dream got pushed aside.

I still wanted to become a jeweller.

But I had to get a job and earn money.

In an office.

Enough said!

So, fast-forward 14 years and here I am, a stay-at-home mum to two crazy toddlers, creating beaded jewellery because being at home with my daughter gave me the time and freedom to pursue my creative side once again.

And one day, through this big ol' blog-o-sphere, I stumble across the blogs of the aforementioned talented ladies...and my dream is suddenly re-awakened.

Metal.

Silver.

Fire.

Beauty.

Adornment.

Seeing their incredible work sent my heart racing and my imagination into overdrive.  I ordered silver, solder, saw-blades, and stalked my postman for a week until they arrived.

I read and read and read everything I could get my hands on about bezel setting a stone.

And then I created...

So small, so humble...


...but it is a dream realised...


...a dream finally caught, after years of chasing...

And the most wonderful part of this necklace...the 10mm amazonite cabochon!  I bought it way back when I was a wide-eyed 16 year old, dreaming of one day being a jeweller.  I have carried it with me for the last 14 years, and now it finally has a home.  

14 years in the making!

And I enjoyed (ok, LOVED!) creating this humble little necklace so much, that I went and created a large, statement ring...

I still dream...

...but now I'm chasing my dreams...

...and I hope that you are chasing your dreams too.

Sneak Preview: The *Morocco Blue* Necklace Duo

Last week, I promised you colour...and this week, I'm delivering!

I have been hard at work creating pieces for my soon-to-be-opened Etsy store.  How soon is entirely dependant upon how quickly I can make enough stock! LOL (A store with only a handful of items looks rather sad, I think...) 

So from time-to-time, as my collections come together, I will be giving you a sneak preview of what you can expect to see in my store.

Here is the first preview, The *Morocco Blue* Necklace Duo...

*click on the photo for an enlarged image*

You may recall my original Morocco Blue pendant, inspired by the famed 'blue' city of Chefchaouen in Morocco.  The original was a gift for my Mum, but I received so many wonderful comments about it that I just had to make another!


Sterling silver, Bali silver, AAA gemstones...I have used only the best quality materials here.


The necklaces can be worn together or separately (and they are dainty enough for every day wear)...or even mixed and matched with the other vibrant pendants from my Moroccan collection.


I have been contemplating whether to patinate the silver, to give it that wonderfully antiqued look.  What do you think?  Do you prefer shiny silver or patinated silver?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!


Stay tuned for more previews coming soon ;-)


Thanks for looking, and be well!

The 'Marrakech' earrings

Last week I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favourite bead suppliers in person, the lovely Jo of Cranberry Beads, at the Perth Bead Fair.  I came home with some gorgeous new seed beads and some of them have already found their way into one of my latest projects...

Following along with my Moroccan theme, the Marrakech earrings feature seed beads in shades of bronze, chocolate, silver...

...from the teardrop-shaped earrings hang three gorgeous wire-wrapped micro faceted smoky quartz briolettes...

...the earrings are slightly convex in shape, and are reminiscent of the arches and domes so frequently found in Moroccan architecture...

I wasn't sure about this design after I made the first earring, so I let it sit in my studio while I mulled on it overnight.  My husband saw it, loved it, and assured me it was a great design.  What do you think, should I listen to my husband more often? ;-)

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!

Angelus

Tis the season...for making beaded gifts!

This necklace is winging it's way to its new owner as we speak, just in time for Christmas. I have named her 'Angelus' which is Latin for 'angel'...the central motif looked angel-like to me:

It was frustratingly difficult to take a decent photo of this piece. The twisted hematite bugle beads are so sparkly in real life, as are the crystal AB rondelles. Anyway, you get the idea:


Detail of the central 'angel-like' motif:

I wanted the double-sided toggle clasp to reflect the rest of the necklace design. And this is what I came up with. What do you think, does it work?:


The whole design came together so quickly, starting with the central motif, as if by magic. Don't you love it when pieces work that way! :)