Spring in Paris II - Spectacle Chain

I was asked to make a spectacle chain in a design similar to my Spring in Paris necklace. It's one of my favourite necklaces I've made. I thought it was time that I showed you how much effort and attention to detail goes in each of my jewellery designs. Here's the original Spring in Paris necklace, however, because I never replicate any of my designs exactly, I made a few changes.

In both cases I started off with a handmade verdigris finish for the vintage brass filigree:

 Here you can see the verdigris finish with a layer of varnish to protect it:

The organza flower is an integral part of the design. Here are the petals, cut and singed, ready to go onto the filigree.

Next, I selected the beads I wanted to use in the design. I always mix them up in a bowl so I can see how they all go together. Once I am happy with the mix I start putting it all together.

Here's a closeup of the mix. I've used fabric covered beads, vintage lucite and glass, jade, ceramic wood, paper beads and beads with all sorts of finishes and textures.

Here I've laid them out on a beading mat. You can see that I have started assembling the beads.

 This is the finished spectacle chain. Complete with little loops to attach to the glasses.

A detail picture.

A design like this takes me around 5 hours inlcuding all the prep work but excluding drying times and choosing the beads.

This design was a commission but Spring in Paris (necklace) is still available and I am happy to make other designs for you based on a previous design or on colour schemes etc. Please use the contact button at the top to send me a mail for more details.

I've also made some rings but haven't taken any pictures yet. I'll post them soon. :-)

Magic - Some Jewellery for a Change

Purple Magic Bracelet

This bracelet is made with two strands of leather (suede and smooth) and lots and lots of beads and charms (vintage and new) plus semiprecious and glass beads, lucite and shell and everything inbetween. The bracelet is wrapped around the wrist twice.

Wild Wood Magic Bracelet/Necklace

This bracelet is made with three strands of leather (1 suede 2 smooth) and lots of beads and charms: shell, mother of pearl, semiprecious, glass, wood, brass, copper, cashmiri and a lovely day of the dead flowery skull bead - too many to list them all.  This bracelet is wrapped around the wrist 3 times which make it just long enough to wear as a necklace, as shown below.

You can commission your own magic bracelet. The first design (wrapped around twice) is £25 + P&P and the second design (wrapped around 3 times, also wearable as a necklace) is £35 + P&P. Each can be made in any colour combination/theme you can imagine. I will choose the beads and charms according to your wishes and each one will be totally unique.

Just send me a mail using the contact button on the right-hand side (top of the page).

Christmas Special - Jelly Bowl, Romance, Cold as Ice and Breeze

Cherry Red Jelly Bowl

This is a bowl entirely crocheted with jelly yarn and then embellished with furry dark red eyelash yarn. It is smaller than the Liquorice Jelly Bowl (see image below) but none-the-less perfect for odds and ends, cosmetics or, with Christmas coming up, why not line it with some tissue paper and display some nuts. It's not a good idea to display other food in the bowl as the jelly yarn has a slight smell that might affect the food. If you have a glass bowl of a similar size, put that in the jelly bowl first before adding the fruit or other food. The bowl can be wiped with a damp cloth. £20 + P&P

Romance - Two Tone Necklace (Red and Gold)

Made from a huge selection of beads, mostly glass, vintage and new with vintage filigree and chain in brass. Long necklace, but can be modified free of charge so it can be worn double. £30 + P&P

Cold as Ice - Two Tone Necklace
(White and Silver)

Made from a huge selection of beads, mostly glass but with a fee lucite and resin beads, vintage and new with vintage pewter filigree and silver plated chain. Long necklace, but can be modified free of charge so it can be worn double. £30 + P&P

 

Breeze - Two Tone Necklace (Blues and Greens)

 Made from a huge selection of beads, mostly glass, vintage and new with vintage filigree and blackplated chain and findings. Long necklace, but can be modified free of charge so it can be worn double. £30 + P&P

All will be available at my jewellery party or you can snap them up now... :-)

Some Jewellery for a Change...

My sister's birthday present... 

Rosey Posey

 

 

 

 

 

 A mix of vintage, Swarovski, Japanese and modern (mostly glass) beads with silver plated and copper findings.

A commission... 

Lilac Dreams V2

 

 

 

 

 A mix of vintage, Swarovski, Japanese and modern (mostly glass) beads on pink wire. Perfect for that special day.

A present to myself...  

Black as Night

 

 

 

  I really fancied a long black necklace with an eclectc mix of beads - vintage, glass, ceramic, bone, plastic, lucite, chalcedony and lava beads on matt black findings with a mix of different chains.

Somethings special (available for sale £10 + P&P, just drop me a mail)...  

Swallow Earrings

 

The cutest earrings to make a real statement - silver plated swallows on sterling silver and black matt frosted findings.

Etsy Treasury Featuring: Forget-Me-Knot Necklace

Janneke from Blue Heron Quilts kindly included my Forget-Me-Knot necklace in her Spring Greens Treasury.


'The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each (plus four alternates). It functions as a high-demand (and pretty!) promotional tool that many devoted Etsians fight to get. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme, or just however they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page and occasionally make them to tie into Storque articles or special events and occasions.' (Quote from Etsy.com)


There are lots of lovely items in the treasury which is why I am especially happy that my necklace was included. Make sure you check out all the items, including Janneke's beautiful and unusual quilts.

Here's one of them:

Stilt


Janneke also has a jewellery shop on Etsy, Blushing Mermaid. My favourite is this one:

Fairy Berries


Note: Pictures published with permission from Janneke.