Victoriana Pendant

It has been some time since I have played with wire...

Having been inspired by the likes of Iza Malczyk, Magdalena Borejko and Emily Gray, (who are all creators of the most exquisite wire jewellery you will ever see!) I decided to get back to wire this week and learn some new techniques.

I want my jewellery to (one day!) be a successful fusion of beadwork and wirework...

...I have so many ideas for combining the two mediums but, alas, my wirework skills still leave much to be desired.  So more learning is required!

I have mentioned previously that I don't like tutorials...but this week I bought two!  One from Iza and one from Emi Kaz on the Jewelry Lessons website.  Emi's tutorial was for a 3-D Layer Vine Ring, but I set out to create a pendant instead.  I really just wanted to learn how to create those gorgeous, swirling, organic-looking vines that I so admire in the work of the aforementioned artists.

Not wanting to dig into my stash of sterling silver wire, I opted for copper to practice with.  A few hours later, and my 'Victoriana' pendant was born...

It's far from perfect, and I need to practice, practice, practice a LOT more...but I learnt so much from creating this pendant.  I used Emi's tute for the central wire-wrapped briolette, and the rest of the pendant was made up as I went along.  As always!



The pendant measures 62mm x 26mm...

Everyone else has gone to bed, so I am off to do some beading (my fingers are sore from all that wirework!)


Thanks for looking, and be well!

My creative space...

I missed last week's 'My Creative Space...' because I was busy turning 30...


...and playing around with flashy new sewing machine that ever-thoughtful husband bought for said 30th birthday...


...and finishing my 'Idylle' necklace which you may remember from previous creative space posts...


...but now that those tasks are done and dusted, I can get back to my daffodil...

...it's coming along nicely...and it will soon be transformed into a beautiful, delicate necklace...

...if things go accordingly to plan!


...and if my supplies would hurry up already and arrive in my letter box! 


*stomps off to stalk the postman...*


Head on over to Kirsty's blog to see what other creative people are making today...and leave a link to your blog if you want to play along!


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!

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!

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!

Kreativ Blogger Award...and seven things you probably didn't know about me

It is always flattering to be bestowed with a blog award...I'm touched that people enjoy reading my random ramblings!

The talented Karyn of Releases by Rufydoof sent this sweet little award my way. Thanks Karyn!

As always, there are rules:

~*~*~*~*~*~

1. Post the award on my blog.

2. Thank the person who gave it to me.

3. Link to the person who gave this to me.

4. Share a list of 7 things that you probably don't know about me.

5. Choose 7 great bloggers to give the award to.

6. Share a link to their blogs.

7. Leave a comment on their blog.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ok, seven things you probably don't know about me...

1. I can fly a plane and skipper a boat...legally!

2. My favourite colour is green, and has been for as long as I can remember...although I don't think I've met a colour yet that I didn't like ;-)

3. I'm very good at procrastinating...and very bad at making decisions...

4. I'm scared of jellyfish...even the ones that don't sting! *shudder*

5. My favourite sound in the whole world is the laughter of my children...

This is India and Jett causing mischief in the laundry...

6. I know it's daggy, but I love crossword puzzles and sudoku...

7. I don't really like talking about myself! LOL

And I would like to invite the following lovely bloggers to tell us a little more about themselves:

1. Kristen of My Bead Journey

2. Olga of Loving Bead

3. Mimi of Las Creaciones De Boricua

4. Gloria of Gloria's Blog Vivalavida

5. Sarah of April is Forever

6. Niki of Piky73

7. Anna of Il Mondo di Redanny

Thanks for looking, and be well!