A couple more....

The first one is a flapper I made with black silky cord, magma and woven beads, Indian lampwork beads, and some large black stone beads. I can't remember what they are - they have a funny name. Initially, the necklace was for me (in case you hadn't noticed, I like black LOL), however my friend really liked it so it's reserved for her for my jewellery party next week.

Here you can see some of the beads in more detail. I love the silky quality of the woven beads next to the smooth gloss of the stones and Indian lampwork beads and the rough quality of the magma beads.
This bracelet is for my sister. She wanted something in turquoise. She hasn't seen it yet and I am not sure if she'll like it as it's quite unusual.

I've used gorgeous (real) turquoise hearts, turquoise shells in two sizes, little vintage golden roses with tiny red beads inside, red Magatama drops and sweet Vintage cherub charms on a bronze chain. Red and turquoise is one of my favourite combinations. Each colour makes the other more intense. The gold/bronze gives it a warm glow. Very different from another one I made (which I, again, made for myself and then ended up letting my friend have - the same friend as the one I mentioned above), although the colour combination is similar, but the chain and findings on that one are black plated.


Here's a picture of the other necklace if you're interested: Corazon (a couple of topics down from the top).

Crochet Bonanza

This crochet lark is quite fun and it gets my creative juices flowing. I've been having fun trying out new techniques and occasionally inventing my own technique.

The first lot are all based on the tubular design I've used previously. However, I have been more inventive with colours and also with the actual tubular design by making it more organic. See for yourself.

Fairy Glen necklace: I've used copper wire with seed beads in different shades of green and copper and coppery pink.
Here the colours can be seen in detail:


Cherub necklace: This necklace was inspired by a Italian church I saw on TV. I've used seed beads in different shades of light blue with lighter and darker gold and a few mauve, gold lustred triangle beads added into the mix.
Here's a detail of the clasp and the beads. The necklace is opened at the front with vintage beads and a little cherub charm part of the design.

Sky Blue set: This set is a birthday present for a friend.

As you can see I've used the tube technique for the bracelet with pale gold, darker gold, and pale blue seed beads. I've added some larger crystal lustred pony beads and a few smartie beads in pale watery blue, all on ivory coloured wire. The difference to previous tube designs is that I've teased out some of the beads/stitches to create a more irregular, organic look.

This pendant is similar to some of the circular designs I've made before however the beads go all the way through the design rather than just the final/first row. I have also created a lacy edge to it.

Sleeping Beauty set: Made with black wire, little fimo roses, red Magatama drops, seed beads in varying shades of pink and green. Like in the set above I've used the technique of teasing stitches and twisting them. I think it works particularly well with this design.


Here's a close-up of the bracelet.
Pomegranate Delight set: This set was inspired by the cover of the book "Pomegranate Soup" (which I still haven't read). I've used a selection of Magatama drops, seed beads and pony beads in red, mauve pink, cream, gold and a few brown ones on bronze coloured wire.

The centre of the pendant is a vintage brass stamping which I felt worked really well with the colours of the beads as it is a lovely warm colour with a soft patina. I've crochet around the stamping and emphasised the heart shape of it.


Here's the bracelet in detail showing all the lovely colours I've used.

And here's a link to the book's author: Pomegranate Soup and many thanks to the author's Irish husband for the lovely comment. I will read the book, promise! :-)


This is the picture that inspired the set:



Berry Power set: This one is mine as I've sold the last red bracelet I made to a friend. :-) I am really pleased with the way it turned out. I've used lots of red beads of varying sizes and shapes and shades on black wire. I love the lusciousness of the design. A final touch were the lovely red flowers.
A close-up of the bracelet and pendant.

Darkest Night: This one is also mine. I have to advertise! ;-)

It combines black and silver beads of similar sizes and different shapes and textures in a simple tubular design.


The next lot is all based on crochet lace. The bracelets below are made in similar ways but with different effects. They look great when worn and are soooo different!

The first one is all in black and it looks stunning when worn. The design is based on a similar large crochet tube with added layers of lace at the edges and black and crystal/black lined seed beads.

Close-up:
A similar design in golds and coppery metallic orange beads.

Close-up of the bracelet:
Blue and ivory lace bangle. This one is made in two layers. There's an inner ivory tube made of pre-knitted ivory wire and an outer tube of crochet with blue beads and blue wire. The two are combined at the edges of the ivory tube with ivory and blue lace. The bracelet can be worn either way (with blue on the outside or the ivory on the outside).

Sea Glass and Crochet

Finally found another way to use the beautiful sea glass Alison and her children collected for me in the South of France. :-)

I will eventually be able to drill holes into the sea glass but for now I have to find more imaginative ways to use it in my jewellery.

Recently, I've been doing a lot of crochet, so using crochet to 'encase' the sea glass seemed a good idea. :-)

Below is one of the first ones I made. I've made a crochet casing from bronze coloured wire and combined it with vintage beads and a vintage seahorse charm. Since I am a strong believer that the clasp should be as pretty as the rest of the necklace I've added another simple sea glass/crochet charm to the back of the necklace.

Here's the pendant in more detail:

Below is a matching bracelet with sea glass in varying shades of green, encased in bronze wire crochet with new pale green jade charms on a vintage double link chain and a vintage starfish charm.
In more detail:

Below is actually the latest one in the crochet/sea glass series. I've used a bronze bead cap in a cone shape to attach the crochet to. A little jade heart at the bottom of the sea glass and next to the clasp finishes off. I've also used some more of the vintage double linked chain to add detail.

Here's a close-up:
The next necklace is made with a silver link chain with large links through which I have wound some silky leaf green string, which also makes the tassel that hangs behind the pendant. The pendant itself is made from a large dark green piece of sea glass, encased with leaf green wire. Detail is added with the beads in the centre - real peridot chips, a green dyed freshwater pearl and a tiny mermaid charm. The tassel hangs behind the pendant and looks like seaweed interwoven with large seed beads in shades of green.


Here's the pendant in more detail:


My friend Alison needed cheering up, so I decided to make a bracelet for her with all the lovely sea glass she's been collecting for me. Below is the first one. I've, again, encased the sea glass with crochet, but added tiny, slightly irregular clear/silver lined seed beads to the crochet. The effect is a bit like a sugared fruit. Very pretty and sparkly, but in a subtle way. For more interest I've added semi precious beads (jade, chrysocolla and aquamarine) and a starfish charm. The wire is silverplated copper, which means over time the silver will tarnish, which should mean it'll look even prettier.

Detail:

Here's the first one I made. Can't quite decide which one I like better. The technique is the same, however, I used round semiprecious beads (new jade, jade, chrysocolla, mother of pearl, and aventurine) that look like bubbles next to the larger sea glass drops.

Detail:

The final (for now) piece is my own necklace which I made with a similar technique as the ones before, however in this case the casing is mostly to one side and the back and one side is only covered enough by the crochet so it will not fall out. I've also used matching lustred Magatama drops which look like tiny drops of water .

Here the details can be seen of both the pendant and the charm at the back of the necklace.