First of the Elements

breathe fire
This necklace has just been finished and I am very excited about it. It is the first in a series of Element Jewellery and this belongs to the Element of FIRE, of course.

A print of part of my original painting - a dragon breathing fire - beneath a glass bevel, is encased between forged copper pieces. The chain is made of some forged copper links, stamped with the letters F, I, R, E and the words "breathe fire", are combined with wire links and wire wrapped glass beads. These beads make me think of a dragon's hoard; they look like the dragon has been treating them with fire for a long time. A copper hook closes the necklace in the front. Presently, I am working on the Element AIR. Hope to show you more soon.

Winter strikes back and more work in progress

This is what I woke up to the day before yesterday! We ended up with about 6 inches of new snow and then the temperatures dropped down to minus 15°C. I could hear my flower pots breaking in the severe frost. Yesterday morning my car doors were frozen shut. Don’t I just love winter?


These are some sneak previews of something I have been working on this week. Almost finished! I really like the colour of the jade beads, such a soft green. All the brass links are my own doing.

I have several other projects in various stages of, dare I say, completion? Better perhaps, work in progress. So many ideas; so many techniques I need to try for myself. And I am loving it!!!

Other projects

As I mentioned previously, last year I began to explore the creative world again. I allowed myself the luxury of buying books that were filled with wonderful inspirations - inspiring artists, inspiring pieces, inspiring techniques. Not just jewellery artists, no; mixed media, collage, journaling, bookmaking, shrines, found objects … Thus the adventure began.

Late last year I came upon a book by Angela Cartwright and Sarah Fishburn – “In This House”. It is filled with the most wonderful artists and truly intriguing artwork. I was so inspired and enthused, that I have started work on my own “house”, using collage, altered art and mixed media.

A couple of pictures of my efforts to date

I’m not sure yet where this is going, but the journey is good. Just have to chase the inner critic with my broom pretty often.

By the way, these two talented ladies have another book that is due for release this April, called “In This Garden”. I’ve already got it on my “must have” list.

Waiting for spring

Spring violets

The weather has been gloomy for days (for ever?). Today, after more snow flurries, the sun showed her lovely face and I raced out to get some pictures taken. There is no way to suitably imitate natural light for photographs. Well, at least I can't. I have completed several new earrings and I need pictures to list them in my shop. So out I went. Now, it isn't really that cold, just above 0°C, but a half an hour of trying to take pictures and my fingers would no more do my bidding. The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds, so only some of the pictures turned out.

Actually, spring isn't really far away. In 4 weeks, the violets could actually be blooming in the garden. But it seems like winter is lasting forever. I feel this way almost every year. I'm not a big fan of winter. Although I realize, spring would not be so glorious without winter.

I have listed a couple of new earrings and more will be following.

Floral sunset


Faery beads teal

new earrings

These are some new earring designs. I will be listing these later this week.

Work in progress 2

This necklace is not creating itself. It has been at odds with me all week, not wanting to let me know how it wants to be finished. But now, we have made progress. The actual necklace and chain is almost finished. It consists of lime green glass beads, various leaf and flower beads in green and purple glass and several chain links that I have made.
I have also been working on the focal piece with the key hole, highlighting some of the design. I created a back plate out of copper, which picks up on the Art Nouveau design just a bit. The colours of the beads are also typical for the Art Nouveau era.

This necklace should be finished within the next couple of days and then I will be listing it in my shop. I am curious about the reactions I will receive.


I have also been playing with this chandelier glass drop. I’m not sure yet if this will be the focal of a necklace. I am basically just playing with some ideas to see where they will take me. I like the idea of the image behind glass and will certainly be making a necklace with this kind of focal.