New necklace

I made this some months ago but never got around to posting a photo of it. I love the Jade Scott focal. It's so pretty that I kept everything simple and minimal. Which if you've noticed, is what I usually do. I don't know if this means I'm lazy - which I am - or if I'm just a sucker for uncluttered designs  - which I also am - or more likely, if I'm overwhelmed and paralysed by too many choices so I go for the easy one. 

Whatever. It's still pretty though. 

Something for a friend

Not a very good photo but I didn't have much time before I sent it off to my friend in Nebraska. She wanted a necklace for her stepmum who's battling cancer. The pendant is a heart-shaped rose quartz bead, and I added a red glass pendant as well that can be substituted for the rose quartz bead. I hope her stepmum likes it and that it'll help to bring some peace and love into her life.

Pictures!

The earrings will be added to my shops this weekend. And finally, the necklace. I was going for asymmetrical but it's not something that comes naturally to me. It looks a little awkward to me and rather spare. I'm thinking of re-working it - maybe adding some beads on the other side.

What are your thoughts? Should I leave it as is? I'd love to hear your ideas and feedback. Oh, and the adorable owl pendant is from Etsy.com's brendabeads. Also from Etsy is Misspottery's ceramic trinket dish in the topmost pic. I spend way too much time on Etsy, y'all.

Done!

I finally got around to completing that crystal necklace I started weeks ago. All those wrapped loops took time. My fingers hurt a bit but the end result pretty much makes up for the pain. I used Swarovski crystals in various shades (and sizes) of blue. All wire is non-tarnish artistic wire and I even found the energy to make my own clasp. I'm now deciding whether to add it to my Artfire shop or give it away as a present. Hmm...decisions, decisions...

Creating again

This is what I'm currently working on. It's not quite finished yet but I hope it soon will be.

I was in the mood for wrapped loops. I know, how many people have you heard say that? It's not quite in the same league as "I'm in the mood for chocolate", is it? Anywho....I had all these Swarovski crystals in shades of blue in my stash so I started linking them and adding some vintage chain links. I started off thinking I'd make a bracelet but it's turning out to be more of a necklace. So I think I'm going to continue adding wire-wrapped single crystals and finish it all off with a simple spring (or possibly lobster) clasp. I think it's pretty. I might add it to my Artfire shop when it's done. What do you think? Too simple and plain?

Productive

I've been ill with the flu these couple of days, but in between coughing and sneezing, I've managed to make a number of items. First up is a long necklace which a friend wanted me to make. She left everything up to me, except to insist that it be long. I came up with this. Here's a close-up of some of the details.

And then, out of the blue a friend's father called to ask if I could make a necklace. He was going to visit a friend overseas and wanted to give her a special gift. He asked that the necklace include coral and/or bloodstone as these were his friend's birthstones. I found some lovely coral nuggets and combined them with powder blue seed beads which I've had in my stash since 2007 and some beautiful sterling silver beads and rondelles. I hope to goodness he likes it. It's the first time I've made something as important as this, and using gemstones no less. I didn't get very good pictures but for what it's worth, here they are.

The silver clasp is from a wonderful friend who gave me several clasps and pendants for my birthday this year. She's my enabler LOL. I also made a wire-wrapped ring with the one coral nugget that was left over. This post is so pic-heavy, I'll show the pic of the ring in the next post.

By special request

An old friend surprised me a few weeks back by asking if I would make some jewellery for her. She's started being a little more adventurous in terms of her fashion and was lamenting that she didn't have jewellery that could match her new clothes. She specifically wanted a long necklace. And if I could come up with some earrings, that would be great too.

I decided from the start that I would stick to a silver/neutral tone for the pieces so she could wear them with almost anything in her wardrobe. And I also knew that the pieces would have to be fairly simple and understated, while incorporating some 'bling' if possible. This is what I came up with. 

Selling on Etsy

If you look at the sidebar on the right, you'll notice that I've started selling my jewelry on Etsy. Yes, I finally got around to doing it. I hesitated for a long time before I took the plunge. It was partly the listing and transaction fees that put me off - what can I say? I'm cheap. But mostly it was because I'd saddled myself with a less than stellar name. I started the Etsy account mainly to buy items, not sell them, so I thought up a name quite hurriedly thinking that it was cool. How wrong I was. So you'll have to pardon the oddly embarrassing name of my Etsy store. I hope it won't put you off visiting. I'm going for a more classic, understated feel for this store - so you'll find a lot more sterling silver and gold-filled pieces than on my Artfire shop. The pieces I list will also be more of what I would personally wear....simple, pretty pieces that aren't too over-the-top. Of the 4 items I listed, I think my favourite would have to be this necklace. I'd wear it in a heartbeat. What about you?

Pics...finally

Ta-dah! Here's a photo of that necklace I mentioned in my previous post. Finally. I don't think my photography skills are getting any better LOL. Anyway, hope you like what I made. I'd love any and all comments. For the record, the beads are natural white wood with a laminated banana bark finish. I got them from Fusionbeads about a month ago. The chain is gold-plated and I finished the necklace off with a gold-filled twisted toggle clasp. The necklace has quite a heft to it, thanks to the sizeable beads. I think it'll look great with a white tee and jeans. Off now to add it to my Artfire Store.