My New Jewellery Storage

I have a problem with storing my finished pieces of jewellery. I have so many items sitting around on busts gathering dust, or in trays scratching each other and going dull. Also the boxes for my main items are just a bit too expensive and take up too much room.

I have come up with the idea of placing my collection into bubble post envelopes. 

I have my own collection of designs which I can place in the envelope and label it with the name of the item.

Also when I teach students I need examples of various stitches and items to inspire them. I can now sort them into the envelopes, label it with the stitch type and have them ready for the classes.

In fact the envelopes could have loads of information written on the contents i.e. name, colour, stitch, 

date it was made, where it has been placed for sale, prices, gallery, whatever information is required.

Below are two images which will give you the idea on how I am storing and sorting.

The basket is only for the early sorting, my collection is far more extensive to be held in this basket.

I have a large filing cabinet for the final sort and as I create I can slip them into their order.  

To get started I bought 30 post envelopes from a bead wholesaler for less than $0.20 each.

I think this is a very worthwhile investment and it gives me peace of mind knowing my designs aren't being ruined from neglect.

Another Cabochon Play

Here is another Cabochon surrounding a polymer clay bead and hung on black suede leather.

I am now looking at beads with eyes of  "can I cabochon that?"

I am really enjoying doing the cabochons and can see heaps more ideas forming as I experiment and get better skills.

The beaded bit at the top of the picture is the slide for adjusting the length of the necklace.

I am a great lover of red and black combinations. I think these colours together are very dramatic yet elegant and classic at the same time.

The other side has an all black surround and doesn't have the cream seed beads. Just a little bit of extra variety for the wearer. 

Lotus blossom finished

Here is the completed Lotus Blossom necklace.

I wasn't too sure how I wanted to hang this piece until Eva Maria Kaiser linked the creations of  

Cielo Designs on Facebook.

As soon as I checked the link I was inspired by the cable ropes used to finish her work.

Having done a cable bracelet a couple of years ago (and having been a knitter in the past) it has been relatively easy figuring out the pattern to have it curve appropriately. 

Also check out the clasp - it's a lotus bud - cute eh!

I am inspired to make another cable rope and include some bigger beads along the way. 

HOWEVER

I promised myself I would use the time between Christmas and New Year to finish some UFO's. 

I thought it would be good to start the New Year with a clean slate.

I doubt I will be able to contain myself, when I get an idea I am like a kid who can't wait to see how it would look - just like at Christmas time when kids can't wait to unwrap the presents. 

Maybe I still haven't grown up !!

Lotus Blossom

Here is a picture of what I have been working on the last few days - a lotus bloom.

This would be my first representation of a real flower and I am sure won't be the last.

I have enjoyed making this and I am now wondering how I will hang it. Hmmmm....

Luckily I have plenty of time over the Christmas break to experiment.

Have a good Holiday Season everyone.

Season's Greetings

Here is a drawing I did a couple of years ago during an art group I met with every 5-6 weeks.

It was an all day Sunday meeting. 

We would come together and sit and draw whatever came to mind. It was not about creating art. 

It was more about stopping, letting go of the everyday demands, allowing ourselves to become absorbed in the moment and into the joy of being creative.  

Most of us have not been creative since we were children.

We would stop and have a lovely lunch 

and at the end of the day, if requested, we would discuss each person's drawing.

One of the ladies in the group was an art therapist, I have done foundation studies in art therapy and have a Diploma in counselling and another lady was in Pastoral care. So plenty of healthy support was available if need be.

I wanted to share the drawing with you and to encourage everyone to make an appointment over the festive season and allow themselves to be creative. I see it as Food for the Soul. 

Creating jewellery is me feeding my soul.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Fiesta

Here is a necklace I have called 'Fiesta".

This is my first attempt at a cabochon and necklace using wild colours and lots of colours - there are seven different colours in this. 

Frankly I have found this one of my most challenging pieces. 

I am more a tonal person and using this many colours has had me somewhat baffled.

I made lots of cabochoned beads to go with this centrepiece - abandoned !!!

I made a couple of cellini spiral ropes - one too big and the other I just didn't like - abandoned !!!

I ummmmed and aaahhhd over this necklace. I put it aside for awhile and just kept looking at it.

Eventually I went back to an old favourite weave - Laura McCabe's pagoda - and felt this allowed me to capture the colours of the cab better than the other things I tried.

I find this piece loud for me, probably because I am so tonal and yet I really like it at the same time. Is it to be the first of many colourful pieces to come?? Time will tell.

Snowflake

Here is a pair of earrings I made years ago. I had just learnt how to do brick stitch and experimented with beading around a bead and came up with this design. I had forgotten I had done these earrings and during a tidy up came across them. I still think they are a lovely earring, elegant, classic and eye-catching.

Cabochon 2

Here is a Cabochon I have been playing with. Having steered clear of Cabs after many abandoned attempts.

Being inspired by the designs of Sigifredo Conteras, a Mexican jewellery designer, I have been brushing up on my Cabochon skills. This is my second attempt in the last few days and with this I allowed myself to play with colours as I have always wanted to. 

I love colour !!  In here you have hot pink, lime green, aqua blue, deep purple, cherry purple, orange and a blue purple. It reminds me of  Israeli jewellery designs I have seen.

And guess what ??? - this was/is the back of the Cabochon, there is another side and it is different. I will show this when I finish the other components of the necklace and reveal all at once. Stay tuned for the unveiling of "Fiesta"

Comtesse Du Barry & Antoinette

Here are two bracelets I also entered into the Melbourne Bead Expo Member's Original Exhibition.

Whilst experimenting making this design I started to think of the beautiful Hall of Mirrors inside the Palace of Versailles, France, also about the interior decor and the intricacy of the decorations during that period in time.

I remembered some of the history, in particular the story of Marie Antoinette - a girl of just 14 years of age at the time - and Comtesse Jeanne Du Barry, a woman of 26 years, mistress to King Louis XV.

When the Comtesse Du Barry was presented at the Versailles Court April 1769, she wore a queenly silvery white gown brocaded with gold. Many courtiers claimed its likeness had never been seen before. Bedecked in jewels sent by the King, diamonds covering her delicate neck and ears, she was now the King's maîtresse déclarée.

Marie Antoinette, having been encouraged by her future husband's (Louis XVI) sisters refused to acknowledge or speak to Comtesse Du Barry.

So sitting and thinking about this time and this event I allowed the inspiration to grow and come forth in my creations and in their naming.

They are ornate but then so was fashion at this time.