Commisions

Last week at the market stall I had a very lovely lady looking at my jewellery. We got into conversation and she explained that as she was getting into the twilight of her years she had an issue trying to open and close her necklaces. I explained that there was two ways around this problem, one she could buy a very long necklace and wrap it around her neck a couple of time. Or she could have a necklace with a magnetic clasp. Having never heard of this before she was quite excited at the thought of having any necklace she wanted and not being worried about how she was going to get it on or off. Anyway after a lot of discussion she decided that she liked a very long necklace I had in shades of purple but she didn't want the length. I agreed to make her a shorter version with a magnetic clasp. When I brought it with me to the stall the following Saturday, I had a little trepidation, would she like it etc, I am sure you have all had that feeling. Anyway she loved it and I was one very happy necklace maker. I give you my make for Thursday 22nd April, Purpleicious.

Teardrops

The make for Monday 5th April  won't make you cry but it might make you smile. I took some silver plated chain and just made the pendant the focal point. I started off with some acrylic teardrop shaped beads in lovely shades of pink and purple in various sizes. Each one of these was joined by a jump ring to a length of chain. Each chain was then attached by a larger jump ring to a silver plated large ring. I think that as the better weather comes along we need to try and make ourselves look summery (if there is such a word) and I believe that this particular necklace would look amazing with a lovely white dress on. Just imagine yourself on a summer holiday, skin a lovely shade of brown, nails painted and best of all you are feeling nice and relaxed. Have I painted a nice picture, I hope so now just imagine yourself with this necklace on.

Ok, now that I have painted this wonderful picture in your head, unfortunately I am going to bring you back to earth with a bump and say welcome back to Britain in April. However you could always purchase the necklace and still have the dream. The necklace is called Teardrops.

Big time catch up

First of all an apology, I haven't managed to do any posts this week. I have been running around like a headless chicken, why are there never enough hours in the day. Maybe when the clocks go forward for British Summer time here in Britain, time will stand still and I can catch up. I am not greedy, a week will do. I just need some time to sort out my website, look at my stock again, make some new items and if I could throw in some me time for some pampering I would be ecstatic. Anyway the likliehood of that happening is pretty slim so I should stop moaning and just get on with it.
This is Sunday's make. I have had these purple acrylic wavy shaped beads for quite a while but only had 5 of the large ones and couldn't work out what to make with them. Then recently I managed to get some more of the slightly more matt and smaller beads. I have always looked at other people who make items that are not symetrical and envied them, I just didn't have the courage to try it. Well now I have, it is just a few tentative steps and I have kept all the other components the same to try and not scare people too much. If you look closely you will see a very light lilac bicone shaped bead inbetween each silver plated ring. Let me know what you think. I have called it Purple Heart necklace.

   

More Paua Shell

I am really enjoying using Paua Shell and I like looking out for different variations of this shell. Saturday's make is always going to be an easy make, I am so tired after a day at the stall that all I want to do is flop, have a glass of wine and veg in front of the tv. This pendant is Paua Shell that has been died purple and to be honest I didn't believe it needed much more than a chain to finish it off. Then I remembered that when I went to my local bead shop the other day I bought various different colours of cord, took the purple one out and it is a really good match. The finished result is called Purple Paua. Next up that glass of wine.

Spring has sprung

If you had asked me within the last couple of weeks where is spring?  I would have told you I don't think it is happening this year. However today I had to deliver some mail and it was a beautiful day here in sunny Devon. So I think that spring has finally sprung and here is the picture to prove it.

Couldn't resist this one, it has the "aah" factor. However I do have some crocus in the back garden. Now I know the picture is not my flowers but those crocus means that spring is definitely here.

Obviously my inner physic was working on Sunday when I made this make. It is a silver plated stretchy charm bracelet with silver plated flowers and Lucite flowers in shades of pink and purple. I have called it Posy Bracelet.

Smiley Happy People

Short and sweet post for Thursday's make. When I saw the purple coloured beads with the smiley faces they just made me smile. Thought they might do the same for you. I have discovered that my more in depth (complicated) or time consuming makes are more likely to happen in the beginning of the week than nearer the end of the week. The end of the week seems to be taken up with organising the sale for a Saturday, much as I think that I am organised something always seems to rear it's ugly head and takes me completely unaware. So  what I am saying is (I think) don't expect huge mammoth makes at the end of the week. Sorry to go off  topic there but I felt like I had to explain myself. Anyway here is my bracelet. I have called it Purple Smiles.

Before and after

This is more of a remake than a new make so I shall show you the before and after pictures and feel free to leave comments as to which one you prefer. I don't often make an item of jewellery just for me but this was one of those rare occasions. I had taken 3 large round beads and put silver plated patterned rectangles in between and threaded onto purple suede cord.

Unfortunately when it was hanging on my stand in the bedroom the middle bead somehow cracked right down the middle, (must have been a weak spot) and I was left with 2 beads and 2 rectangles and it just did not look right. I managed to get another bead to match but decided to change the design slightly. I took the rectangles out and just left in the beads. I made the purple suede cord shorter so that it sits further up the neck.

The other thing to notice is my new style of photographs. I used to take all of my photographs on a bust, however I have started to lay all my jewellery onto a large crstal that I have had in the house for ages and one day is just sort of shouted at me, and I have been using this as my prop ever since.

As I said let me know which necklace you prefer and also which style of photograph you prefer.