Birthday Present for Jennifer

I made this bracelet a while back using some of Bev's glorious Lampies. I teamed the Lampies with Stering Silver and Swarovski crysals that are half silver and half crystal. They really give a glam look to the whole piece. The beads were actually commissioned for a customer who then changed her mind and wanted one of my gorgeous green lampie bracelets also made with Bev's beads.

Thought the black and silver plum beads made a great winter piece, so as its my sister-in-laws birthday in a couple of days time, she has scored it as her birthday present along with a set of sterling silver, grey and black toned earrings.

Hairslide

This piece contains Swarovski crystals in Alabaster and Garnet, Silver Seed Beads, Swarovski Pearls and some lovely little glass flowers with an AB finish.
It has an oversized sterling silver plated comb and would look wonderful in upstyled hair. Still available for sale on my Bridal Website.

Cream and Golden Shadow

Continuing on with colour themes, I don't believe that this piece has featured yet on Hooked on Wire, so here goes.



These gorgeous pearls caught my eye late last year whilst on a bead buying spree. At the time, I had no idea what I was going to do with them, but then decided they'd look great as a choker. I've added Golden Shadow Swarovski crystals for a bit of glint and a pair of long drop earrings complete the set. These pieces would indeed look fabulous with an off the shoulder cream wedding gown. Visit my Bridal Jewellery site for these and other pieces still available for sale.

Lime

On the weekend I decided to go shopping for a new handbag and wallet. I really wanted a new Lime Green wallet. Lime green it one of my fav colours and I destest dreary Black and Brown wallets. If you own a green wallet it is said that your wallet will always have money in it. Might be an olde wives tale, but so far my trusty battered lime green Oroton wallet has never let me down.

Would you believe after weeks of searching and having almost given up ever finding a new green wallet I found three in one shop and yep I secured all three of them, mainly because I couldn't choose between them.....lol. All were gorgeous.

One is oversized in Lime Patent faux Croc skin with two silver buckles on the front. I think this one is probably my fav, the second one is plain faux ostrich in pale apple and the third is a dark forest green with a really neat looking clasp. All are different designs as well I think I've found my fav bargain shop for bags and wallets.

As my birthday is coming up, I also scored a wonderful Fossil brand summer handbag from hubby, reduced from $259.00 to $49.95. I'm in heaven.

So if you're visiting the Gold Coast, make sure you visit Harbourtown at Helensvale, as most of the shops are having a great summer clearance sale at present.

Having bought all those wallets inspired this piece of Jewellery which contains dyed freshwater pearls in Lime of course, Swarovski Crystals in Montana, Ernite and Peridot which pick up the colours in the beautiful Lampwork bead by Bev Butler from the NSW north coast. The clasp and bead caps are all sterling silver.

Be my Valentine... no chance

Just checking out the latest Gadgets this morning in the local newspaper and I guess this one is for all those Valentine Day shoppers who are also Computer Nerds.

Frankly, I couldn't imagine receiving a worse gift. What ever happened to Flowers, Chocolate and/or real Gems on Valentines Day?

Apparently, Philips and Swarovski have got together and come up with, or so they think, the ultimate Valentine USB gift. Its a heart shaped pendant combining a fully faceted crystal in silver shade, whilst the other half of the heart which is polished silver metal, is a 1GB USB stick that reveals itself when the crystal and silver halves are split. The USB is capable of storing around 1000 photographs or 250songs, features USB 2.0 transfer speeds of 8Mbps for reading and 3Mbps for writing info. It also comes with the usual password protection software. Cost $300.00

check out http://www.active-crystals.com/

Photograph courtesy of Philips.

Highlights of 2007 continued....

Here's another wire piece I put together last year. The only tools I used to make this one were a pair of wire cutters. The Swarovski crystals caught my eye one day whilst out bead shopping, at the time had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I think they were put to good use with the making of this wire necklace.
The wire that holds the necklaces in place is just one long piece that I wire wrapped with fine wire and then hooked onto the necklace. Actually the whole thing was a bit of an experiment, but I like how it turned out and so did a customer who snapped it up at one of my jewellery shows. I also made matching earrings for her.

My Fun Froggy Pendant Project

Pick yourself up a copy of the latest(Dec 07) Australian Beading Magazine and have a go at my fun Froggy Pendant project. You'll be twisting wire in no time and probably get as addicted as I am. You can adapt this technique to any type of large focal bead. This is another of Sabine E Wilkins Beads... Have fun!!

My Xmas Present to Me.... hehe

That the good thing about being able to make jewellery, one can reward oneself anytime and as often as possible...lol. Amazingly, I don't make that much jewellery for myself. I've have however been eyeing this bracelet off for a few months now and since its not sold, I'm claiming it as mine, 'cause I adore green and I just love these lampwork beads. Oh, the earrings I made this morning out of the two remaining beads I had in stock, so now I have a matching set. (I've sold a few of these bracelets in the past year some in different colours, red, black, pink, and two in green similar to this....sssshh, don't tell anyone....) So that leaves three in stock, one blue and white, one black with pink roses and green leaves and last but not least one in black and silver.
Here's what's left, if you want one get in quick!!

Speaking of Pearls

Just realised that I don't have much in the way of Gold Filled earrings so made a few pairs up whilst waiting for Hubby to come home for dinner last night.
These are all around $20 per pair. Ummmm like them all as they are all fairly classic designs, and would look great for any occasion.

Customer Commission

I just finished this piece which a customer commissioned a little while back.
Her brief was for something pink, but when she looked over my Swarovski stash, it was decided that pink, white and crystal were to be the embellishments.
The fine wire wrapping took me approximately 4 hours, but that was ok, as I occupied myself by listening to the American Music Awards on Fox 8 at the same time.
I really don't mind wrapping wire, its actually rather therapeutic!

My Challenge Winner

You may have notice a little blue and white challenge winner badge over to the right of my blog. Recently I decided to try my hand once again at another challenge on the Australian Beading Forum. The theme was "Masquerade". Great theme. Of course lots of ideas later and a bit of doodling on paper, this mask which I named "Venetia" is what I came up with.

It now also features on my new business cards. I plan to frame the piece in a 3D photo frame too, so I can hang it with my certificates etc from previous competitions.

Medieval Queen

I made the base of this piece a while back, then left it sitting in a box, forgetting all about it whilst I got on with other things.
One of the reasons I put it aside was because my original idea for embellishing it didn't really workout, so I figured inspiration would hit sooner or later.

My idea for a recent Wire work/Chain Maille Beading forum "Medieval" challenge was for a gold headdress littered with gems, Pearls, Rubies, Emeralds and Diamionds, as was popular with Kings and Queens of the day, but in my case I used Swarovski crystals and pearls.

Decided to add the basic chain maille in order to fit the period, not that I've actually been able to find any headpieces of the day with CM dangling in this manner, so it's just my take on a theme. Its worn with the chain down over the forehead sort of like a circlet.

Chained Butterfly

I made this set yesterday morning. I picked the colour scheme from some fabric that I have, which is white, mauve and copper toned. Really happy with the way it turned out, really does make a bit of a statement. The large FW pearls are a deep mauve and I added some white opal AB swaros to add a glint of colour. The Butterfly is Hilltribe Silver, plus I also used up some bits and pieces I had lying around including the chain. Matching earrings complete the piece. For sale on my website.

Some pieces for Moi

Here a few things I've whipped up for myself recently. These are my fav earrings of the moment. The Lampies came from the USA and I've teamed them with my favourite Swarovski crytals in tones of Green.

All these amazing colours reminded of the tones found in the ocean in the tropical north.

I also have some gold tone Lampies in the same style and waiting for inspiration to hit.

The next set I whipped up to wear to a concert this weekend. My outfit is a Black and Cream pattern knee length dress that I plan to wear over black pants. I named this set "Redee or Not".

The Red lampies are from another of my friends Bev Butler from northern New South Wales. I teamed them with Black and Red 5000 Swarovski Crystals, beaten artistic wire and Sterling silver chain.

I adore the earrings, the hooks came from the USA.

Here's another pair of my favourites. I made these to go with a jungle print top that I often wear with Jeans.

These are glass, teamed with Swarovski Crystals. The hooks are 925 silver.

The Sea's Treasure Chest

Here are a few strands of Pearls that I've been working on.

I love the colour of the Pearls in the pic above and have teamed them with a Hilltribe Silver Star Fish clasp, the last one in my captivity for the moment and some beautiful Blue Zircon Crystals.

Just perfect for summer or maybe a beach wedding.

These round pink pearls are gorgeous too, a very soft pink and fairly large.

I decided to make them unique by finishing off the strand with a a couple of coin pearls in the same shade.

These will look fabulous on and a just perfect for summer as well.

These coin pearls were described as Steel Grey, but they're shot with rainbow tones. green, blue, pink and copper. I added the Indocolite Swarovski Crystals to capture the blue tones in the pearls and the Paua Shell Clasp

All these and more can be found on my Bridal Jewellery site. See the links at the bottom of the page.

Beach Flower Shimmer Earrings

Finally got around to making the matching earrings to the necklace of the same name.

Now I've run out of Jonquil and Turq Swaro's, looks like I'm going shopping later this week, because I still have the matching bracelet to finish.

Today I decided that I needed to do something really simple. Out came the boxes of pearls and in between a visit from a customer this morning, I've managed to string up a couple of designs. Still got another 4 or 5 to do, but as its getting late in the day, not likely to get them finished or shots taken before tomorrow.

So stay tuned for those.

Think I've got RSI

More from me. Been just a tad busy the last couple of days, churning out more new glitzy jewellery pieces.

I positively adore the Art Glass beads in the pic above. The colours are really gorgeous and very Summery, whilst the beads themselves are smooth and silky to the touch.

Blue, Brown and a touch of Lemon. Each one has been individually wired with a Sterling Silver Spacer then joined with Sterling Silver Jump Rings. The pattern on each alternate bead reminded me somewhat of the spirals found inside cone shells.

There will be matching earrings and as I have enough beads there may even be a matching bracelet still to come. I've got more of these beads on order, different shapes and colours, so am awaiting their arrival in order to come up with a couple more interesting designs. I have one in my head and it involves a large Hilltribe Silver fish.

Seems I've gone a bit Lemon mad the last couple of weeks as it's not a colour I use very often. These cute little crystal and enamel flowers caught my eye on a website the other day, so I bought a few to see what they were like. They were a good match for some Carnelian I had. but then I didn't have a suitable clasp.

Decided to use the last two to make my own clasp and with the addition of some of my favourite silver Artistic Wire am very happy with the end result. This set includes a little pair of matching faceted Carnelian Barrel bead and Swarovski Bi-cone earrings. Hooks are 925 silver.

The next set has some stunning sea green/blue tones and is a real sparkler.

What was that saying back in the days of old?

" Blue and Green should never be seen"

Can't imagine why, those are my two most fav colours when teamed together.

Comes with a matching set of earrings, Hooks are 925 sterling silver as is the square Box Clasp on the necklace. Measures 45cm approx.

Design Award - 2007 Sydney Beading Extravaganza Comp

Finally the wait is over for one competition.

The winners of 2007 Sydney Bead and Gem Show Extravaganza Juried Competition were announced today and I got a phone call around lunch time.

My entry a free form Bridal Tiara embellished with Swarovski Crystals and Pearls was placed Third in the Finished Jewellery category.

More More More - How do you like it....

Ahhhh, sounds like a cue for a song....but alas... more earrings actually.

I loved these earrings, a little inspiration from the garden. Now that we've had so much rain the last few days, my grass as turned the colour of those Emerald Swarovski crystals almost.

These are all sterling silver

One more pair, similar design, but a shorter drop.

"Venetia" - Masquerade Ball Beading Challenge

I've been busy working on a piece for a beading challenge on an Australian Beaders forum that I belong to. I finally finished it last night. I used all the pink toned Swarovski crystals (Light and Dark Rose, Rosewater Opal, Pink Alabaster, and Fuchsia, along with some baby pink Swarovski pearls) that I had in my collection. Non tarnish Silver Artistic Wire was used to make the form and for the fine wire wrapping. I found some stunningly beautiful organza ribbon in baby pink and Fuchsia, in my local embroidery shop to add a bit of fullness and Sterling Silver enamel spray paint I bought at Bunnings to coate the dowel to which I attached the Mask.

Edited: 19th Nov, 07 - Won this Challenge, how exciting is that!!