The Crown Jewels

You never know where experimentation will take you. Recently my students requested I teach them how to make rings and earrings. I hadn't made many rings at the time so I began experimenting.
I have come up with some lovely designs - sold quite a few also - and now my most recent ring design has lead me to make this pendant.
All Swarovski crystals locking into a beautiful sparkling pendant. When I finished making it my thoughts were "you are getting closer to making the Crown Jewels."  Thus the name.
I have woven a spiral weave rope to hang the pendant from in black and grey with the occassional flash of garnet red to pick up the centrebead of the pendant.
I am very happy with this design and look forward to hearing any comments.

Marcia deCoster's Workshop

Here is Marcia DeCoster and myself at her workshop on Sunday last.
It was fantastic meeting Marcia and hearing about her journey in jewellery making. I had lots of questions to ask on teaching and future directions, which Marcia willingly shared. I am most grateful.
I am also absolutely gob-smacked seeing her jewellery in person. OMG Magnificent work. I came home feeling like an rank amateur. Oh well, there will always be someone out there that challenges your opinions on your own designs.

'Dragon's Bane' - Awarded First Place

"Dragon's Bane" - Awarded First Place, Elly Feldman Awards, Melbourne Bead Expo - November 2010

Whilst making this necklace I kept thinking on how Dragons are depicted with spikey bits around their head and tail in movies and in books. Thus the name.

Look at this Beauty

Look at this beautiful succulent. I have had this for many years and it never ceases to amaze me when it is in full bloom. I have this growing in my garden and have brought it up on my deck to enjoy it whilst in bloom.
WOW !!

"Byzantia" Workshop March 12th, 2011 - enrol now, maximum 6 people

Opulence at its best. A beautiful gathering of beaded beads.- Amber and crystal rhondelles embellished with drops, Swarovski crystals and leading into a woven rope of delicas and Czech seed beads. Necklace is very light and measures 435mm in length (17"), sitting elegantly and comfortably around neckline.

Checkout website calendar for March 12th, 2011 for full workshop details. Enrolments being taken now for a maximum of 6 students. Don't delay

BEADED BEAD EARRINGS

What a lot of fun to make. Taking a 10mm bead, creating a cage of seed beads around it then decorating the cage. Fantastic results don't you think ??

I like them all and if you like them go to my website for full details

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CHECK IT OUT, SUBSCRIBE AND RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS OF UPCOMING EVENTS, NEWSFLASHES,  CLASS DETAILS, GO SHOPPING, FEATURED STUDENTS WORK,  etc etc

Elegance at its best

I have made many, many pieces of jewellery over the last 4 years and after making this bracelet I saw how beading sometimes creates something with class and elegance .
Purple freshwater pearls that have a mint green hue about them with Swarovski crystals that give off a yellow flash. Really beautiful and everyone who has seen it immediately comments how elegant and/or classy.
I shall be making more of these in different colours

Egyptian Donut Pendant

Carnelian gemstone donut hung from a beaded copper and green pagoda shape connected with rich copper coloured Swarovski crystal, reminds the viewer of Egyptian colours. Hung from a fabric cord measuring 48cm with 4cm extension chain. The next step in the pagoda shape.

Purple Laurel Necklace

Stage 2 of the Pagoda shape. This necklace is made from tiny size 11/0 seed bads in a lovely plum and black colour and measures 43cm from end to end and sits very nicely around the neckline.
When making it I kept thinking how it resembles a laurel that Caesar would have worn on his head.
A huge success in the recent class I taught with all the ladies loving it.
This necklace will be available soon in kit form with download pdf instructions.

More to come.

Red Pagoda Necklace

This is a necklace I have designed and will be the project being taught in my next class on September 11.
A combination of herringbone (Ndebele) and peyote stitches come together to create a "Pagoda" like shape.
Multiple pagoda shapes atop each other form the centrepiece for this necklace which has a lovely dangling motion when being worn.
The earrings measure 45mm from top of hook to bottom of drop and are very unique in their resemblance to Wings.
I have experimented more with this shape and images of my creations will follow soon. Again, jewellery weaving never ceases to amaze and inspire me. So many ideas, only two hands !!

A New Direction

A new inspiration and thus a new direction will come of this. I cannot wait to explore all kinds of shapes.

Gemstones of howlite are surrounded by Czech fire polished crystals and hung from heaps more crystals, sterling silver, smokey quartz and bronzite.

This interesting centrepiece was designed by Marcia DeCoster. Many thanks Marcia.

WANTED - New Students

I have been teaching a core group of ladies for some ten months now and their skills have grown enormously -   as one would hope.
I am now looking for more students - beginner or intermediate - wanting to increase their weaving skills and finishing off skills to give their work that professional look.
One of my students is already selling her work in a gallery, alongside myself - Flourish Arts, Birchgrove, and others won't be far behind.
These ladies enjoy their time together and get as much out of the teaching as the gathering. So if there are any ladies and/or men out there wanting to learn more and gain more from their passion, please get in contact with me through the email form below right.

Starwheel

Here is a pendant made of Czech green iris seed beads and Crystals inspired by the Vintage lace necklaces I have been making. Again I have come up with an original pattern, never to be repeated. 

This has a twelve point star centre - symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel and/or the twelve Apostles. I like the "chain" I have designed to hang it from, I think it ties in well. The necklace measures 49cm end to end and the pendant is 5cm across. Being all green this would be a great necklace to wear on St. Pat's day for sure, for sure. 

Vintage Crystal Lace

 Recently I created a Vintage Lace necklace which sold within a week of making it - see post below. Here is another necklace I have created using crystals of varying sizes and shapes. I call this Vintage Crystal lace. This necklace comes with 1 Swarovski drop, 6 x 7mm Czech Crystal drops, 36 x 5mm Bicones and 28 x 4mm crystals. It sparkles with joy. Very elegant, a classic that will never date. The necklace also comes with an extension "chain"'. The necklace measures 44cm from end to end and extends to 50cm. When wearing the smaller length the extension dangles elegantly from the neckline. I really enjoy making these varying designs and attempt to never repeat a centre feature pattern, each need to be different as there is nothing worse than finding some other lady in the room wearing your necklace. How awful!!!

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Green Zig Zag

As mentioned in the post below, here is the result of weaving different sized beads in the zig zag pattern. I was also able to further embellish it with drop beads. I feel it gives the necklace a lovely textural quality.
To bring the weave in and make the finishing weave smaller I wove in Czech crystal drops.
This necklace also took around 10-12 hours to make but quite a bit of this time is spent in experimentation.
Maybe the next one would be even less time.

I would love to hear any comments.

African Zig Zag

I have called this "African zig-zag" because the colours and it's shape remind me of African patterns and jewellery, very earthy.
The decoration has black agate chips, onyx coin shaped beads, Czech fire polished crystals and the clasp has been woven into the necklace.
This necklace has taken 14 hours to create and has taught me heaps.
I am now curious to see what would come of weaving different sizes into this design. Time will tell.

Vintage Lace - SOLD 18/05/10 YAY!!!

Here is the result of more experimentation -  a necklace reminiscent of Vintage Lace.            Who would imagine by doing a simple decoration around a bead one could come up with so many varied combinations and achieve a necklace that is intricate, feminine, elegant and has a distinctive Vintage look about it??       I am really thrilled to have designed this piece and can see many more ideas eventuating from this one project.  The necklace is made entirely of black size 11/0 seed beads and 146 Czech crystals with a Swarovski Crystal drop at the front. I now need to make one entirely of Swarovski crystals. What a stunner that would be!!!    I am now off for a holiday by the sea for 5 days. A well earned rest and I am only taking books to read, no beads !   OMG !                                          

Shazaaam!! it is

When I make a piece of jewellery, I get a name for it by the time I am finished. Whilst making this necklace I thought it looked like something Morticia Addams would wear, so I called it "Morticia's favourite".  As I put the finishing touch to the piece and placed it on a stand I stepped back and in my head I heard the words "Shazaaaam!"

I am in a dilemma, which name suits it best ??

I thought I would put it on the blog and ask those ''out there'' for their opinions.

Let me know what you think.

D.I.Y. July @ Etelage, Newtown

Newtown stores in July are running D.I.Y. classes. I have been invited by Etelage, King St South, to teach a two day Peyote stitch workshop. These pics are of a bracelet I have come up with for intermediate students. Those who have so far seen this bracelet think it's a real stunner. So much so one friend has already made one for herself. Another friend thought it a great bracelet for old ladies with arthritic hands - because of the button clasp. I laughed so hard !!!

Cascade of Pearls - SOLD & gone to Ireland

A multistrand of purple/grey pearls with pale grey, mauve/pink and

burgundy seed bead weave with a round jasper disc. Very feminine, very pretty.
I really like the cascade of pearls above the jasper disc.

I am enjoying making clusters of beads in my work lately. More to come.

Stars, Stars, Stars

This is a pic of a star medallion I beaded some time ago made up of mauve/grey pearls, pale grey centre shell pearl and delicas. I went through a phase of making stars and seeing how many points I could create.

I found there is symbolism for the number of points e.g. a 6 pointed star represents the old testament symbols for God with two triangles overlaid, the triangle with point up is masculine, point down feminine. The 8 point star is the St John ambulance symbol and the Maltese Cross symbol but also the star that guided the wisemen at the time of Christ's Birth, the star of Ishtar (Venus) first star in the sky at night and last in the morning.

8 Pointed stars symbolise an awareness beyond the physical realm.

This pic is the 7 pointed star which is known as the Southern Cross and appears on the Australian Flag.
The acute heptagram is known as the Elven Star or Fairy Star, a sacred symbol to Wiccans who follow the Faery tradition. It has also been adopted as an identifier by members of the Otherkin subculture.
Don't you just love the symbolic meaning of what resonates with us ? Does this mean I know Faeries ??

The angle of the Bangles

Wanting to teach my students right angle weave I came across this pattern (thanks to Sandra) and was delighted to make this bangle.

I imagine the wearer and any viewer will also be delighted by this.

I am teaching my regulars how to make these on March 20th and April 3rd. I am sure they will have fun on the day, they usually do.

Pendulum of Power

A pendulum I made using Japanese Miyuki delicas - probably the most precise seed bead you can buy.

I have hung the inverse pyramid on black suede and decorated the suede above the pendulum as well as at the back which allows for adjustable lengths. 

Viewers have commented how it has a ''Renaissance'' look about it. I placed this piece in the A&E Metal "Explorations 09" Exhibition. A lot different to the previous years entry. Work inspired by Diane Fitzgerald (many thanks) 

White Goddess

The picture on the right is a necklace I created to resemble 'french lace'

I decorated around different types of beads and then linked these beads together to form this free style necklace. I spent a lot of time creating this unique necklace and it seems to have become a piece you use as 'credentials' when someone wants to see your work.

The necklace was placed in the A&E Metal Annual Exhibition "Explorations 08".

Any comments appreciated.

SUNRAY - Wirework weaving

 To the right is an example of beads being added to a wire backing forming a sculpted image.

My inspiration for this piece, called 'Sunray' was the clouds in the sky (pearls) and the sun beaming down to the earth (coral).

Inspiration comes from many places.

Workshop 2 Bracelets

The image to the left is a couple of examples of Workshop 2 bracelets. This bracelet can be done in a variety of bead sizes, colours and types and is designed to be completed in the workshop. An easy pattern to follow with very impressive looks when finished. Magnificent made completely of Swarovski Crystals. Your friends and family will all want one.

Beginners Workshop One Bracelet

The image to the right is a Workshop I beginners bracelet.

The bracelet is designed for people who have never bead woven before. Large needle, large beads and an easy pattern makes for a bracelet that can be completed by the most inexperienced in just one workshop. Numerous colour combinations available.

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