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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Playing with ceramics







These ceramic beads are a little outside my normal go-to style, but they really appealed.  I have strung them with some brass toned beads, and a pale sage green suede cord.    They are deliciously chunky, and have a very organic feel, and a most beautiful blue/green/brown palette.  Fabulous with jeans & a t-shirt for summer, or  a chunky knit in winter.

Peacock Pearls

I am not a huge fan of pearls, but when these beautiful, dark pearls arrived from FMG, I knew they had to be mine - they have the most wonderful peacock lustre - hints of green and purple over a dark grey base.  The photos don't do the colour justice.  I have strung them simply, with Iolite rondelles as spacers, and I love them.



This closeup shows the colour a little better.


Sunday, September 18, 2011

Taming of the shrew challenge

This weeks YOJ theme was "The taming of the shrew"   I decided to make a stamped cuff bracelet - first time doing anything like real metalwork. I started with length of copper pipe, beat it flat with hammer, then stamped a quote from the play "And thereby hangs a tale" (just a little bit wonky!, but I'm claiming I was going for the rustic look!) I bashed it a bit more to give it some texture, then enlisted my darling man's help to buff it and shape it into a cuff. 

I used the egg patina method I found in one of the threads here to get rid of the shiny copper finish, then used some alcohol inks to darken the text, and improve the colour a bit. I finally embellished with some filigree and some split pins, and lined the inside with velvet ribbon.




I have to admit the end product is rather "rustic", but I am rather pleased with myself, and I had a lot of fun doing it. Next time I will know to keep the text and decoration more to the middle, rather than the sides.

The pictures are kind of ordinary, as it was really hard to pick up the stamping, but hopefully you get the idea!



P.S. - Just found out this was a winner for the challenge!!

Rose quartz chain

I wanted to use some rose quartz from my stash, so I made this simple chain, using some earring hoops, and "w" clips to link them together, and some rose quartz links.  It is a very simple design, but I am happy with it.






I made a bracelet as well, using some fancy headpins and wrapped loops, to give a chunkier look.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A win for my Victory Bracelet

The bracelet featured below was this weeks winner on the YOJ challenge on BeadingForum.com.au.  Yay!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Victory bracelet





This weeks YOJ theme at BeadingForum.com was victory.  For me, thinking of victory led to thoughts of war. I was hunting in my stash for inspiring images, and found a reproduction of the front page of the New York Times on VJ day - the day the Japanese and Americans signed a treaty to end hostilities. I used segments of the headlines to make little charms. I elected to go with a more sombre, respectful colour scheme, as a reminder that in order to achieve a victory there is often great loss. I guess my piece is more of a memorial than a celebration. 




The individual charms are made in little "picture frames", and I have a few more of these, so I am thinking of making a few more pieces in this design, but with a variety of images in the frames.

Carnelian Sunshine

This bracelet and earrings are for a friends birthday.  She is not a person who wears much in the way of jewellery, and I have only ever seen her wear gold, so I needed to reign myself in that think simple.  Working in gold is a challenge for me, as I am a silver girl all the way.  However, I had a dig around in my stash, and found a few bits and pieces to go with the wonderful, bright orange of the carnelian.  (Must give thanks for the "lucky dip" findings bags I buy from FMG)  The earwires feature a little star on the front, and do "dress up" a simple design.  The bracelet is a basic eyepin chain, with a couple of beadcaps and filigree beads to add some subtle sparkle.  Hope she likes it!

Lapis chain earrings


I have used some pretty blue lapis beads, copper blanks and some copper jump rings to make a simple but effective pair of earrings.  I have also made a similar pair with brass and labradorite beads, but could not get a good photo!