The King's School Art Show

I received some amazing responses to my jewellery showing over the weekend. After telling the customers everything they were looking at was made by me I received responses like "aren't you clever?" or "Really?" and the one that surprised me most was "Don't you have taste?!!" 

I enjoyed the weekend very much and learnt a lot and have a lot of direction to aim for. It has been a great experience.

I was in a room with four other exhibitors. I found it interesting there was a Michael on two of the stands, a Michelle on another and my middle name is Michael. I wonder if there is any cosmic meaning to this??  Spookie !!

 Here is a pic of us all enjoying an end of show glass of bubbly and chatting before we packed up. 

You have Michael and Freya from Alsage (selling "Russian Faberge egg" style of jewellery, very delicate and intricate), then Christine, then Michelle & Bruce from Depazzi (selling opals and crocodile leather belts) then Michael, Christine's partner, from Christine's Collection (selling beautiful vintage and antique jewellery) and me on the end.

We all enjoyed he weekend and will all be back again next year. If you would like any further information on the other exhibitors please click on the link below:

http://artshow.kings.edu.au/jewellery/index.html

King's School Art Showing

Here is my display of jewellery at the King's School Art Show. This is the first time I have done a showing like this and it certainly has ellicited a "mixed" response from me. 

On my left was a stand of Vintage and Antique jewellery with some pieces selling for $3000.00 and on my right is a display of Australian Opals and Crocodile leather items.

I sat there feeling somewhat intimidated (only for a moment!)

The evening kicked off with lots of people passing through and lots of finger food and champagne flowing. Not having eaten that evening and finding it difficult to leave my display I broke my diet and partook of the "forbidden" fare. 

I find it interesting that when you are making one sale another seems to follow almost immediately and then nothing again. This has happened three times now.  

I enjoyed last evening and also today. I have had the help of some wonderful friends calling in to see if I need anything and friends driving me around. I am very grateful to them all.

 I am told tomorrow is frantically busy at the exhibition as a large car rally finishes at the school with 1600 cars - and 1600 possible customers.

I hope so and look forward to it. 

 Always optimistic !!

Bling, Bling, bling

I have come up with a design that I haven't seen in a magazine or elsewhere and I have been beading for 6 years now. I cannot believe it hasn't been done already. It is soooo simple !

I also just designed a diamond shaped one as well and will be ready soon. Most beaders "out there" will recognise it as a right angle weave - correct - but it is what I have done with the base that is unique (I hope).

These stunners are ready for this weekends Art Showing at The King's School, Parramatta and I am hoping they go out the door.

I will be teaching this ring and an earring on the November 5th workshop. Both will be perfect Christmas gifts to give as they look a million dollars and will always impress the viewer. Full details of the workshop and what I am teaching will be posted soon.

Combination of my Stars and the Rings

I started out making another Czech crystal ring yesterday and spent heaps of time on this creation. Certainly not what I set out to achieve. It never ceases to amaze me how some designs take on a life of their own.

I reckon there is sacred geometry in this. I will have to research it and see if their is any larger meaning. I already know the six sided star is the old testament male and female symbols for God as well as being the Jewish Star of David.

This shape reminds me of a talisman I once remember seeing. Spookie!!!   

It is quite a large piece so I am not sure if it is wearable. Maybe I will have it framed and call it "Beaded Art". 

This would look good with a coloured background to enhance the piece. There are heaps of Dorado Swarovski crystals that unfortunately cannot be seen in this image. They are placed around the edges of the star. 

Czech Crystal Rings on Suede

Here is a woven ring of Czech crystals hung on suede leather. Once again the wearer has more choice with each side being slightly different to the other. I like to create jewellery with multi choice. The length of the necklace is adjustable by pulling the suede and the slide at the back holds the desired length. 

I am getting these ready for  the Art Show at King's School, Parramatta, NSW. 

I am having my first attempt at showing my designs

Friday August 26th, 6pm to 11pm, 

Saturday August 27th, 10am to 5pm and 

Sunday August 28th, 10am to 4pm.

I hope all goes well and I would really like to see some friendly, familiar faces at the show.

Come along and say hello and check out my latest work.

I need a name

I again woke early this morning - 2:15am - and laid in bed awhile working out how to do this design. I got out of bed at 3:00am and started. 

It isn't exactly how I imagined it but woohoo!! I am more than happy with this one. 

There are heaps of colours through this piece, purple, pink, teal, old gold, champagne, olive, navy and gold. This image isn't showing all the colours very well. 

When I create a piece of jewellery I generally get a name in my mind but this morning no name came through. 

You are seeing only one side of the pendant, the other side is slightly different. It was quite a challenge keeping the pendant from bowing so it can be worn either side.

I am pleased with the bale I wove off the pendant, making it easy for the spiral weave necklace to be threaded through or placed onto a gold chain.

Now what shall I christen this piece of art ?? Any suggestions welcome.

Virginia's Earrings

 

I have a friend named Virginia who is tall with a long neck - much like Audrey Hepburn's neck. 

She doesn't like many earrings other than long drops, so here is a design I have created especially for Virginia.

The earring measures 65mm from the earhook to the bottom of the drop. Not too short, not too long. 

Hopefully these will be received with much joy and excitement. 

Azzura

Here is "Azzura" - a necklace I started quite awhile ago and ran out of the main bead. Receiving them from the States yesterday I couldn't wait to see the finished design. It took me another four hours work, this morning, and I am very happy with this piece.

Swarovski montees and indicolite blue crystals with bronze Czech fire polished beads and copper magatamas. I really like the necklace weave off the main feature design, so much so I am going to use this weave and have a go at a bracelet design. Stay tuned.

The colours in this necklace are different to yesterday's post. Like I said blue and copper are one of my favourite colour mixes. Dark blue or Sky blue - both work well.

Azzura means "sky blue" so I think the name appropriate and it helps me to remember the designs.

Francesca

Here is a necklace I have been working on over the last two mornings. 

Yesterday I made the pendant and this morning I designed how the necklace could be woven off from the pendant. I am very happy with how they have come together after a few trials.

 I find I remember a design when I give it a name. Nothing is worse than a student saying "you know that necklace you made with copper and blue beads, the one with the blue crystals.....?????"
I have probably made 3-4 necklaces with this colour combination, it is one of my favourite colour mixes.

So this necklace I've named 'Francesca'.

The pendant is slightly different each side. One side has 6 Swarovski sapphire crystals in the centre (left) and the other side has a different weave with Chinese Crystal rondelles in the centre (right).

The necklace can be worn either side as both sparkle beautifully. I am thinking I may make this November's workshop. What do you think???

My Stars

My Stars indeed!!  

More experimentation and I came up with this one this morning. Another star but nine point this time. 

The colours were not what I set out to do but evolved as I went along and I am more than happy with the result. All I need now is a bale for hanging.

The nine-pointed star symbolizes the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in the Epistle to the Galatians.
This star is sometimes shown with the Latin initials for each of the fruits (charitas, gaudium, pax, longanimitas, benignitas, bonitus, fides, mansuetudo and continentia) placed within the points.
The nine-pointed star is also the symbol of the Baha'i Faith.

The Cross

Here is the morning's play. I woke especially early this morning and spent five hours making this necklace. I am more than happy with the necklace part - something I have been experimenting with for awhile - and I can see lots of potential in this.

I have a penchant for crosses.

This one is lightly embellished as I wanted to show the pattern of the beads. I have also done a couple of heavily embellished ones using lots of colour and montees. Not for public showing just yet.

As I was creating this I imagined in days of old a Dowager Duchess wearing such a statement piece. Maybe I've been watching too many old films!! I could also see this on a woman with a black cocktail dress. Then again maybe a Goth would identify with this also.
It certainly is a statement piece - isn't that why women wear jewellery?

Victoria's Boudoir earrings

Here is my take on Marcia deCoster's earring design called "Victoria's Earrings".

I have contacted Marcia and have her permission to publish my version and for this I am truly grateful. 

The earrings give the impression of a layer of lace on top of lace. The colour palette is reminiscent of sexy boudoir lingerie and I think any woman would feel fantastic wearing these in her black lace teddy. 

Then again the Flamenco dancers out there would also have fun with these as well.

Rosette

Rosette - a new experiment that worked.

Sitting and playing with right angle weave I created a donut shape screaming to be embellished. Drops, montees, crystals, Czech fire polished beads and seeds all come together to  manifest into this beautiful piece.

How to hang it ?? After sitting and admiring my creation for a couple of days the only thing I felt that would enhance it was ribbon. Not something I would normally use but having threaded the ribbon through the work I am more than happy with the result.

Having had a holiday recently and returning to beading I find I am creating all new and original pieces. Pieces even I am impressed with.

Your comments most welcome.