Saturday 27 July 2013

My Bead Soup Blog Party Prize is here!

If you recall, my Sparkly Scrap Shell won the Out of the Box Award in the fabulous Ms Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party. 



Despite the pain and medical horrors she's been through in the past months, Lori managed to find the time and energy to pick a selection of beads from her own stash and mail them off to me. 

This is what I received:



A bagful of beads wrapped in pretty packaging and a card.

I couldn't get past the pretty tissue paper the beads were wrapped in. 



Isn't it pretty? And such an unusual print too. I've put it aside in the hopes of using it in some of my resin experiments. 

And now on to the beads!




Lori sent a gorgeous collection of beads and findings that included gemstones, vintage lucite, handmade glass, polymer clay, glass, pewter and cotton. Here's a closer look without the plastic baggies.


You'll notice the Barbara Bechtel (Second Surf) key pendant smack dab in the pic. I've only ever drooled over her work from afar, so to actually own a bead of hers feels amazing. I am so very lucky! And it's all due to Lori's generosity - I can't thank you enough Lori! I'm going to have so much fun playing with what you sent. 

Saturday 20 July 2013

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal

Hello. My name is Adlinah. And I'm a bead hoarder. 

Lori Anderson's brainwave to hold a bead hoarders blog hop was the perfect opportunity for me to come out of the closet. For too long, I've hidden behind the excuse that I needed beads and more beads because darn it! I'm a jewellery maker and I need my materials! 

The truth is, I'm more of a bead collector - a bead curator (hah!) if you will - than I am a designer or artist. The only time I make lots and lots of jewellery is when I'm playing in a blog hop (usually ones organised by the ever-fantastic Lori), where a mix of inspiration and last-minute panic combine to help me produce several pieces. 

If anyone's interested in my...ahem...collection, here's a quick glimpse of some of it:


                               Ceramic beads I've been hoarding since forever


                                Mostly glass, some polymer clay and paper beads

I'm hoping this Blog Hop will be the first step in my treatment and recovery. Despite my fears, I managed to make use of a few (well, only 3 to be accurate) hoarded beads without suffering any painful or embarrassing side-effects. No tears or teeth-gnashing at all! 

So, on to the Reveal! I chose to use some polymer clay bird beads by UK artist Angela Pyke of BeadMeUpButtercup and a lampwork glass focal by Susan Farley of SkholtGlass. 

Angela's work is new to me but I love her birdie beads with their white-washed finish. I decided the birds would make a cute pair of earrings, especially paired with some pretty Czech glass beads.




Next up was a focal by Susan Farley. Now, I love Susan's work - I've amassed several of her focal pendants over the last 4 years and have also given away some of her beads to my BSBP partners in the past. After lots of hand-wringing, I chose to use her Spring Flowering Tree focal bead. I gave it a tassel of beads and strung the resulting pendant on a brass chain to which I added Swarovski crystals.





Both reveal pieces will go into my Etsy shop. They need to go and live in other homes apart from mine :-).

Now that I've learnt I can part with my hoard, I'll be more conscientious about actually using the beads I purchase. I want to thank everyone for reading through this post and of course, Lori for this brilliant Blog Hop. With the help of more such Blog Hops, I'll be well on the way to thwarting my hoarding tendencies. 

I'm off to check out what Lori and the other participants created. If you'd like to join me, please click here.

Friday 28 June 2013

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop


The fabulous Lori Anderson is hosting another blog hop. No swops or partners are involved this time. Instead, we just use long-hoarded beads from our stash to make something. Or many somethings if we feel like it.

July and August are busy months for me and I'm a nut to think of even signing up, but the Hop sounds like too much fun to pass up. Plus I have loads of hoarded beads that need to come out and play. Hopefully this Hop will make me feel less guilty about my hoarding tendencies. The reveal date is 20 July, so do come back then to see what I end up creating. Your guess is as good as mine!

Monday 10 June 2013

Winning....

....is not something I do a lot. So I'm always stunned, disbelieving and finally thankful when it happens. I'm especially gobsmacked and grateful this time around. Why? Because my Sparkly Scrap Shell that I made for the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party won itself the Out of the Box Award in Lori Anderson's BSBP7 contest.

 
 
I have no idea how it won when there were hundreds of other stunning creations. But I'm very very honoured to be among the winners. Thanks a million for picking my dish, Lori! And thank you June for giving me such a hoard of beautiful beads!
 
I now wait in anticipation of the certain-to-be awesome prize that is coming my way from Lori's very own stash. Woo-hoo! I can't wait! I promise to blog about the prize when it arrives. Till then, happy creating everyone!
 


Wednesday 5 June 2013

Gaea's giveaway

Gaea Cannaday's new bundles, bead sets and pendants are now available on Lima Beads! And she's having a giveaway to get people to help spread the word.


If you want a chance to win the bead set and pendants shown above (LOVE the heart pendant), share the good news on your Facebook, blog, Twitter etc. You can read more about her giveaway here.

Sunday 19 May 2013

More earrings

I made more earrings today. The photos were taken with my phone so they aren't too great. I'll re-take the pics when I have time later in the week. I'm thinking of listing both earrings in my Etsy shop but am not too sure if I need to tweak them first. I'd love it if you could drop a line or two to tell me what you think. 


Dyed Howlite discs, pewter spacers, polymer clay charms handmade and gifted to me by Maybeline Tay of The Jewelry Larder.



Paper beads by the awesome Gillian McMurray, orange cord, gold Czech beads and brass spacers.


Tuesday 14 May 2013

Patina inks and earrings

If you're wondering where my BSBP7 Reveal post is, don't worry, it's here.

Before you go haring off to check out what I made, you might want to take a look at these new earrings. I succumbed and bought myself a few bottles of Vintaj Patina Inks. I unearthed a pair of brass frames I've had for the longest time and had a fine old time dabbing/painting the inks on. This is the result:


A couple of Swarovski pearls for the centres and some copper-tone ear hooks and I've got me a pair of vaguely vintage-y earrings. I call them Springtime Bouquet. 

Monday 13 May 2013

And the winner of the giveaway is.......

.........Commenter No. 2 ie. Lori Schneider! Congratulations Lori! Caliban's Treasure will be winging its way to you very soon. Please leave me your email address and I'll be in touch to sort out the shipping etc.

Many many thanks also go out to the other 5 lovely people who left such nice comments. I wish I had several Caliban's Treasure to give away to each of you. 

Sunday 5 May 2013

Thank you & a giveaway

Thank you all so much for your kind, generous comments about my BSBP pieces. I'm (very) slowly making my way through the 3rd Reveal - and the 2nd and the 1st - and leaving my own comments on your blogs. It may take me all year but I'll get there in the end. Till then, please know I appreciate every comment that I receive.

I was tickled by the fact that so many of you liked Caliban's Treasure - my 'unpretty' fishnet earrings. You guys are too funny! In view of the love you've showered on my decidedly odd earrings, I'm holding a giveaway - of Caliban's Treasure itself! Leave a comment below and I'll pick a random winner on 12 May (Sun). I'm willing to ship internationally so everyone is welcome to try. Best of luck!


Saturday 27 April 2013

My BSBP Reveal

Hello & welcome to the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party 3rd Reveal! Before I go any further, I just want to thank the hostess with the mostest (mostess?) Lori Anderson for once again coordinating this amazing event. You'll know by now that she's put together this blog party while grappling with an extraordinary amount of pain. A couple of Reveal postponements were necessary but while Lori may have fretted over them, I welcomed them with open arms :-). As usual, I put off making my creations and the extra time was very much appreciated. So - thank you Lori, and I hope you're doing better now. 

Now, on with the Reveal. To jog your memory, this is what I received from my fabulous partner, June Butt, from New Zealand - a generous helping of soup that included some gorgeous paua beads. 



Guided by the colour palette, and the fact that June lives by the sea, I decided my creations would have an ocean/sea theme. The soup also made me think of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Don't ask me why. My mind is a strange place sometimes. 

I also decided that I would explore new techniques and materials (for me) in my creations. I knew there was a possibility I would fail miserably but I figured - isn't this what the BSBP is for? An opportunity for us to get out of our comfort zone when designing and creating? In the end, I think I had a mix of hits and misses. 

First up....a wire-crochet necklace. May I just say here - I have the utmost respect for those of you out there who wire crochet (or just plain crochet or knit) on a regular basis. Those hooks are a menace! Just so you know, I took apart this necklace about 3 times before I was satisfied.



And a matching bracelet:



I call the necklace/bracelet set Miranda's Pretties. 



You can't see the clasps in the photos above but the bracelet is closed with a faux leather button in a vaguely snakeskin finish (first time ever using a button in jewellery) and the necklace has a mermaid clasp.



Edited to include a close-up of the gorgeous paua focal. June drilled 3 holes in it and I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I strung some seed pearls to form a bow on the side.


After I finished those, I then did a 180 and made a couple of pieces that are much less polished and, for lack of a better word, 'unpretty'. If anyone asks, I think I just ran out of pretty. LOL.   



I was attempting to recreate the look of a fishnet. It was supposed to be a caught-in-a-trap sort of concept.  I think the earrings turned out looking rather squid-like (octopus-like?) instead. Which, if you think about it, is still in keeping with my sea theme. Anyhow, I call this Caliban's Treasure.

And since I honoured Caliban, I couldn't possibly leave out Sycorax (Caliban's witch mother, not the Dr Who alien). So I made Midnight Magic.




I still had some beads left, and I wanted to make something that wasn't jewellery. This is what I came up with.



It's supposed to be a scallop shell made of wire and beads. It needs to be re-worked, clearly. I think Miranda might have made this as a child from scraps gathered from around the island. So maybe this is Sparkly Scrap Shell

By now, some of you must be thinking - "wait a minute, where's the clasp? I thought we had to use the focal and clasp?" Well, yes. It's a rule and I didn't forget. 

The clasp June sent was too pretty and detailed to be stuck at the back of a necklace or bracelet, so I used it in a pair of asymmetrical earrings. Along with the wee silver frog and beautiful Swarovski crystals she sent. The earrings are now the property of a froggy-loving friend. I didn't name them btw but I was leaning towards Ariel's Light. What do you think?



So there you have it! My six bead soup pieces. June - I hope I did OK with your beads, and thank you for being such a wonderful partner. Everyone else - do let me know which pieces you think are hits and which are misses. I'll work on the misses, I promise! Thank you for hanging in there - I know I rambled more than usual. 

Now, since I've taken up enough of your time, let's go visit June and the other participants of the 3rd Reveal.
Adlinah Kamsirwww.dreamstruckdesigns.blogspot.com 
Agi Kisshttp://moonsafaribeads.blogspot.com
Alenka Obidwww.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Alison Sachswww.beadsbyearthtones.blogspot.com
Amanda Tibbettshttp://www.amandamade.com/blog
Amy Simswww.amysimsdesigns.com
Ana Cravidaohttp://acbeads.blogspot.com
Andra Marasteanuhttp://bijouxdemonange.blogspot.com
Andria Poolewww.Jewelleryartiste.blogspot.com
Angela Perkinshttp://jeweledinspirations.blogspot.com
Anja Schultzhttp://anjas-perlenwelt.blogspot.de/
Ann Sherwoodhttp://ann-sherwood.blogspot.com/
Anna Nordemanhttp://annas-adornments.blogspot.com
Annita Wilsonhttp://awjewelryandbeadwork.blogspot.com/
Arlene Deanhttp://aglassbash.blogspot.com/
Astrid Boycehttp://astridboyce.blogspot.com/
Barb Fernaldhttp://barbarasfernald.com/
Betty James Hoppensteadtwww.tybetastidbits.blogspot.com
Birgit Klughardtwww.gitesbeads-gite.blogspot.com
Bonnie Coursollehttp://jaspersgems.blogspot.ca/
Brandy Thomason McNairwww.bellavitajewelry.blogspot.com
Brenda Sigafooshttp://brenda-sigafoos.blogspot.com
Carmen Lauhttp://littlemake.blogspot.com/
Carol Wilsonhttp://jetadorn.blogspot.com/
Caroline Dewisonhttp://www.blueberribeads.co.uk
Cassie Donlenwww.cassiedonlen.blogspot.com
Catharine Temaluruhttp://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
Catherine Turrellhttp://fairysketches.blogspot.co.uk
Cheri Reedwww.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Cherrie Warzochahttp://colorsofshae.blogspot.com/
Christa Murphyhttp://adventuresofwonebeadywoman.blogspot.com/
Christina Hickmanhttp://vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com/
Christina Stofmeelwww.fengbeads.com
Christine Hansenhttp://intuitivesparks.blogspot.com
Christine Stonefieldwww.sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com
Cilla Watkinswww.tellyourgirlfriends.com
Cindy Cima Edwardswww.cindycima.com
Claire Lockwoodwww.somethingtodowithyourhands.com
Colleen Vinthagenhttp://www.thewireworkshop.com/blog/
Dagmar Liebischhttp://kokopellidesign.blogspot.de/
Dana Fowlerwww.blogjunepur.blogspot.com
Danielle Kelleyhttp://imbuethemuse.blogspot.com/
Deb Fortinwww.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Dee Elgiehttp://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Denise Milwardhttp://milwardstorysofar.wordpress.com/
Diah Anggrenihttp://pernik-manik.blogspot.com/
Diana Gonzalezwww.arteypoemas.com
Diane Valasekhttp://dragonflyclose.blogspot.com/
Dita Basuhttp://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com
Donetta Farringtonhttp://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com/
Doris Stumpfhttp://glaszwerg.blogspot.de/
Elizabeth Bunnhttp://elizabethbeads.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Drakehttp://mutteringsofacrone.wordpress.com/
Elizabeth Joneshttp://www.eyekandyjewellery.com
Elizabeth Stolarczykhttp://elizabethsart.blogspot.co.uk/
Ema Kilroyhttp://www.emakdesigns.com/blog
Erin Kennyhttp://beadifultherapy.blogspot.ca/
Evelyn DuberryWww.ShebaMakeda.com
Fay Wolfendenwww.torchfairy.blogspot.com
Francesca Watsonhttp://francescawatson.com/
Gen Smithhttp://gennysworld.blogspot.com/
Ginger Davis Allmanwww.thebluebottletree.com
Giorgia Rossiniwww.joyblonde.blogspot.com
Hannah Annearwww.quirkyhannah.wordpress.com
Heather Ottohttp://www.thecrafthopper.com
Heidi Kingmanwww.Heidikingman.blogspot.com
Ildiko Jaraiwww.sviroalkotasai.blogspot.hu
Iveth Carusowww.CreativeAtelier.net
Jackie Locantorehttp://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStarSanctuaryStudio
Jacqueline Kellerwww.creartelier.blogspot.com
Jane Pranata Limhttp://cherryeve.blogspot.com
Jennifer Davishttp://jennifersjewelsandjunk.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Tough
http://jenniferbeads.blogspot.ca
Jenny Vidberghttp://shymessmycken.blogspot.se/
Jessica KlaarenHttp://cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com
Joanna Matuszczykhttp://filcowe.blogspot.com
Joyce Beckerwww.joycesjoyfulgems.blogspot.com
Judith Johnstonhttp://www.lampworkbeadlounge.com/
Judy Rileywww.threeredbeads.blogspot.com
JuLee Wolfewww.thepolymerpenguin.blogspot.com
June Butthttp://www.onewhiteswan.blogspot.co.nz/
Karen Mitchellhttp://www.overthemoon-design.com
Kari Asburyhttp://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com/
Karin Kingwww.maverickbeads.blogspot.ca
Karin von Hoerenwww.creativeideen.de
Karla Morganhttp://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/
Kathrin Lembkehttp://allesperle.blogspot.de/
Kathy Stemke
http://vintagememoriesjewelry.blogspot.com
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcichttp://slovoni.blogspot.com
Katy Heiderhttp://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomersonhttp://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Kelley Foglewww.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Keren Panthakihttps://vasdea.wordpress.com
Kimberly Idalskihttp://www.Kimisjewelryandgifts.blogspot.com
Kirsi Loponenhttp://peikkonen.blogspot.com
Klaudia Tóthhttp://www.klaudiabizsu.hu/
Krista Quantrillwww.cornucopiaofcrafts.blogspot.ca
Kristina Hahn Eleniakwww.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
Kristina Johanssonwww.wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com
Laney Meadhttp://laney-izzybeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Lara Lutrickhttp://www.lutrick.blogspot.com/
Laura Guentherwww.blueantiquities.blogspot.com
Lauren Pottswww.lpsjewelry.blogspot.com
Laurie Vyselaarwww.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Leah Teeswww.mybeadylittleeyes.blogspot.ca
Lena Adamshttp://mommaslilbirdiesblog.blogspot.com
Lesley Wattwww.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Leslie Waymentwww.aabeadsonline.com/blog/
LiliKristhttp://pcbylik.blogspot.com/
Linda Kropphttp://lindasartbarn.blogspot.com/
Linda Newnhamhttp://www.earth-shine.co.uk/
Linda Younkmanwww.lindysdesigns.blogspot.com
Lisa Boucherhttp://lisasclayhappenings.blogspot.com/
Lizzie Clarkewww.theneedtobead.blogspot.com
Lora Brighthttp://fandangling.wordpress.com/
Lorelle McIntyrehttp://beadyart.blogspot.com.au
Lori Andersonwww.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Lori Finneyhttp://lori-finney.blogspot.ca/
Lucie Bouvierhttp://www.carlosbeadstore.com/blog/
Malin de Koninghttp://beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.se
Marina Dobryninahttp://savonfeutre.blogspot.fr/
Marina Kosovichttp://machoopko-design.blogspot.com/
Marion Simmonshttp://www.shadetreejewelry.com/blog.html
Marita Suominenhttp://momentofjewelry.blogspot.fi/
Marjolein Trewavashttp://roomforchangemeuk.blogspot.co.uk/
Marsela Schrothwww.marselita.de
Martha Aleowww.ornamento.wordpress.com
Mary Govaarswww.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Mary K McGrawhttp://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Maybeline Tayhttp://thejewelrylarder.blogspot.sg/
Mea-B. Ueblerwww.glasorakel.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudingerwww.beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Menka Guptahttp://menkag.blogspot.com
Merja Sundströmhttp://suntsan.blogspot.fi/
Merja Syrjämäkihttp://helmiriippuvuus.blogspot.fi/
Michelle Buettnerhttp://www.MiShelDesigns.blogspot.com
Michelle Escanowww.cabbycraft.blogspot.com
Michelle Wiggintonhttp://adornedonadelaide.blogspot.ca/
Milla Hopewww.Lbcreativeart.com
Miranda Ackerely

Mowse Doyle
www.mirandack.com


http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Mrs M Makeswww.mrsmmakes.wordpress.com
Nan Smithwww.wirednan.blogspot.com
Natalie Davidsonhttp://northshoredays.blogspot.co.nz/
Natalie Motenhttp://runningoutofthread.blogspot.com/
Natascha Martywww.sommerlicht.ch
Nikki Banham-Hallhttp://jewellerymakingblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Noemi Baenahttp://blog.noemibaena.com/
Norma Turveyhttp://moonlitfantaseas.blogspot.com
Pam DeBoerhttp://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Pam Hurstwww.pamhurst.blogspot.com
Patti Pruhshttp://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com/
Penny Houghtonhttp://www.smellynelly.blogspot.com.au/
Penny Millswww.cobblestone-lane.blogspot.com
Rachel Van-Walshwww.balancedcrafts.com/blog
Rebecca Sirevaagwww.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com
Regina Santerrehttp://reginaswritings.blogspot.com/
Regina Wood
http://www.gina-design.blogspot.com
Roberta Fauntroywww.thevirtualbeadsociety.wordpress.com
Rosanagh Watson


Rose Johnson
http://ring-a-ring-a-rosie.blogspot.co.uk


http://swtrosethorn.blogspot.com
Rosemary Cheslockwww.glasseyebutterfly.tumblr.com
Rossana De Gasparihttp://rdegas.blogspot.com
Sabine Dittrichwww.perlendschungel.blogspot.com
Sam Waghornhttp://palemooncreations.tumblr.com/
Sandi Jameshttp://www.dobedobeaddo.blogspot.com/
Sandra McGriffhttp://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Sandra Wollberghttp://city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.com/
Sandra Younghttp://gypsyroadbeads.blogspot.ca/
Shai Williamshttp://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Sharon Palacwww.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com
Sierra Barretthttp://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com/
Silke Gröberhttp://just-beads.blogspot.com
Siobhán Keoghhttp://vovsjewellery.blogspot.ie/
Stefanie Teufelhttp://stefaniessammelsurium.blogspot.com
Stephanie Stamperwww.Skwds.blogspot.com
Sue Hamelhttp://cardandjewelrycorner.blogspot.com/
Sue Renniehttp://moonandsevenstars.blogspot.co.uk/
Susan Kennedywww.suebeads.blogspot.com
Susan McClellandhttp://mistheword12.wordpress.com
Susanna Lehtohttp://othellehto.blogspot.fi/
Suse Stelljeswww.pearlify.blogspot.de
Susie Hibdonhttp://vintagesusieandwings.blogspot.com
Suzann Sladcik Wilsonwww.BeadphoriaBlog.com
Tara Plotehttp://newbiebeader.blogspot.com/
Terri G.http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/
Terry Carterhttp://tappingflamingo.blogspot.com/
Terry Matuszykhttp://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com/
Theresa Frankhttp://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com/
Tina Boshhttp://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
Tina Noonanwww.wingedimp.blogspot.com
Toltec Jewelswww.JewelSchoolFriends.com




Facebook Participants


Audrey Allenhttps://www.facebook.com/adallen07
Cindy Wimmer Musehttps://www.facebook.com/mritech813
Cynthia O'Toolehttps://www.facebook.com/cynthia.otoole
Deb Floroshttps://www.facebook.com/deb.floros
Debbie Jensenhttps://www.facebook.com/debbie.jensen.984
Erin Honeycutthttps://www.facebook.com/erin.honeycutt1
Kaushambi Shahhttps://www.facebook.com/kaushambi.shah
Lisa Lloyd Harrisonhttps://www.facebook.com/lisa.lloydharrison
Mary Jane Tannerhttps://www.facebook.com/mary.j.tanner
Valerie Tilghmanhttps://www.facebook.com/valerie.tilghman

Sunday 21 April 2013

Still here & BSBP Reveals

If anyone's wondering, I'm still here :-). Just a little overwhelmed by real life. I've been ill pretty much most of last month, and my 20yo cat is now terminally ill so life's been mostly crap lately (pardon my language).

To take my mind off things, I've been checking out the amazing creations of fellow jewellery makers who participated in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party. The response to the BSBP was so enthusiastic this year that there are THREE reveal dates. I'm slowly ploughing my way through the 1st and 2nd Reveals and I strongly encourage you to do the same. Take it nice and slow so you appreciate all the effort and creativity that each participant invested in their pieces. You can go here for the 1st Reveal links and here for the 2nd Reveal. 

The 3rd reveal will be next week, 27 April - and that's my reveal date. So come back then to see what I made with my partner's great bead soup. 

Sunday 10 March 2013

More new earrings

Don't ask me why but I seem to be in the mood for making earrings. This time, I went for a bold - for me - choice of colours. 

You might have noticed by now that I tend to stick to safe colour combos when it comes to my jewellery. But lately, I've been meaning to be more adventurous and this time, I was inspired by a photo of Cameron Diaz wearing a stunning fuchsia gown paired with turquoise jewellery.


Wouldn't you know it but I had beads in my stash that were almost exactly the same shades of pink and blue. Talk about coincidence!


The  teal drops are porcelain clay pendants by Mary Welsh Hubbard of White Clover Kiln, while the fuchsia beads are acrylic (plastic if you will) nuggets I found in Paris on my last holiday. If anyone ever tells you plastic beads are cheap and nasty, direct them to me and I'll set them straight. These beads are a lovely mottled colour - bright fuchsia in parts, and a paler pink in others. I simply wire-wrapped them with artistic wire and added antique gold-plated pewter daisy spacers. The ear hooks are gold-filled.

I'll be listing the earrings in my Etsy store soon. Hopefully someone will love their bright, bold colours as much as I do.