Another piece for the Jewellery Challenge

Just finished another piece for Deryn's Jewellery Challange! I loved making this Pod Pendant for the Project Wrapped Beads Necklace - I shaped the pod on the anvil with a hammer. I didn't polish it much, because I wanted the hammer marks and the fire patina to be visible. The pod is made of copper and inside are copper beads and the same semiprecious stone beads (probably enhanced turquoise) I used for the cone necklace. I really like the organic look.

Deryn's Jewellery challenge at Something Sublime

I am an avid follower of Deryn Mentock's blog - she is an artist and jewellery maker that I very much admire. She issued a jewellery challenge late last summer, based on the book "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet" by Mary Hettmansperger; which is an excellent book, by the way. About a week ago, Deryn posted that the challenge is still on and I decided I wanted to try it.


I didn't start at the beginning of the book, because Deryn is nearing the end of her projects. So, this is my first piece (I'm hoping to get one or two more finished), based on the Looped Silver Cone Necklace. The cone form really appeals to me and the wire weaving was a totally new technique, which I enjoyed enormously. This piece does not exactly follow the book, but is my interpretation of the project.


The cone is formed of copper, the weaving is silver plated copper wire. I included some glass beads on the inside and the necklace itself is composed of wire wrapped semiprecious beads (I believe these are turquoise, that have been colour enhanced), some glass lentil beads and two copper finished brass discs.

Do visit Deryn's challenge - so many people have joined and their projects are breathtaking. If you need a bit of inspiration, here it is.

Just a little note to you

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that has visited my blog, has left comments or even joined as a follower. It supports and encourages me. Thank you very much, all of you!

There were two main reasons for beginning this blog – I wanted to grow in an artistic sense; learn new skills and techniques; push my boundaries further and discover what I am truly capable of. I also wanted to reach out and make contact with other people; that share my love for the beauty of art, all kinds of art. People who also share my appreciation of the beauty of vintage bits and pieces, that are sometimes very mundane, but always with a hidden story. Of unexpected treasures, that sometimes – if we let them - impart a tiny bit of magic into our lives.

In these difficult times (yes, they are difficult, all over the world, in a multitude of ways), it comforts me to know there are many of you out there. We need to appreciate the beauty in the world, especially in difficult times. Although I may not be able to make contact with all of you, I am truly thankful for every one of you.

First of all, I would like to thank LeAnn for her kind words - she featured my necklace on her blog! I created it around a porcelain connector I purchased in her shop. Thank you, LeAnn!!!

Mint Earrings

The sun came out from behind snow clouds for half an hour yesterday - so I ran out and took just a couple of pictures, while I had the light. These are some new earrings.

Cathedral Earrings

Forest Lady Earrings

Spring is taking her sweet time getting here this year. The forecast still says snow and rain this week. Yesterday, we had several inches of snow. It does melt, but during the night, the temperature dips below freezing, so not all of it is gone. The bird feeder is still quite in demand, while the migrating birds slowly start to arrive and food is still scarce.

Such a lovely colour!

A little while ago, I purchased two lovely porcelain connectors from LeAnn at SummersStudio (she also has lovely buttons!) and I just love the colour. It is so close to tourmaline bluegreen; my favorite colour of tourmaline. Then I found these beautiful glass beads - in Sabine's shop BeadBead (my favourite bead shop!) which have that exact colour of tourmaline! I knew right away that I was going to combine these prizes with some tiny seed pearls I have had in my stash for quite some time. But how to tie it all together?
It seems my vintage mother of pearl buttons insisted on being included. I made several components for the necklace - some of which didn't make me happy in this piece, so they were laid aside for other inspirations. This is the outcome:

I really love this necklace! Freshwater pearls, seed pearls, Czech glass beads, mother of pearl buttons all come together with the connector for a very special piece. Now, what am I going to do with the other connector??

How about a tummy rub?

Captain
Meet one of my fabulous feline friends - Captain - who shares my life and obviously also my workspace. Now, is this a new project on my work table? Or just someone that wants some love and attention? What do you think?

Nesting
Not to worry - I didn't steal this nest from some poor little bird. I found the empty nest years ago. Inside are some polymer clay eggs I made yesterday and I just couldn't help myself, I had to take a picture of them in the nest. I am so longing for spring. This morning we have been having snow flurries.

A Tribute to Pearl

Pearl Necklace

Pearl Earrings

I just finished this piece this morning. It has been named for my sister, Pearl. It begann with a piece of etched copper - I added freshwater pearls, carnelian beads and beautiful agate drops to create this necklace with matching earrings. I love the bead caps on these earrings, vintage treasures I found on one of my flea market trips.

It was snowing all day yesterday and the temperatures dipped just under freezing during the night. I have been trying to create an impression of spring in my latest photos for my shop. This morning the sun peaked out from behind the clouds for a little while, so I took a few more pictures. I like the light in this one.
Daffodils

more work in progress

These are recent flea market finds. Some very interesting pieces. (Sorry about the glare! Without a flash, there are just varied shades of orange and ochre in the picture and nothing much can be distinguished.)

These are current pieces in the making. An old brooch with a religous picture, which will be a necklace focal; a piece of copper that I have etched and a pendant now featuring faeries. I have been etching more copper and I am just so thrilled with these pieces. I love the wonderful texture they receive.