"Tree of Life"

A few weeks ago it was my eldest daughter 's birthday. She was forty. I wanted to give and make her something special. 

As it was I knew her birthday would also be touched with sadness not only for her but for me and the rest of our family as well ,as my husband had passed away just over a year previous.

I came up with an idea that I would make her something special that would represent not only her but my husband and my self. Hence the "Tree of Life" pendant necklace.

I hand formed antique bronze wire  into a round pendant shape I then created the trunk of the tree with the wire and filled the branches with precious and semi precious gemstone chips. My husband's birthstone of  Emeralds,my birthstone of ruby( but the nearest I could get to mine was ruby in zoist) so I chose the chips that had a lot of ruby in them and my daughter's birthstone of opal. As she was born in autumn I wanted it to have an autumnal look and feel to it so I chose Mexican fire opal which gave it a nice look of the leaves just turning reddish brown.  With the wire that was left from the branches I twisted and coiled them into swirls.

I then strung the chips on beading wire and placed the pendant in the centre. I then placed an antique bronze chain either side.

When her birthday arrived and I gave her the present I explained that I wanted her to feel that her dad and I are forever close to her no matter how much distance we are apart.

She was thrilled to bits with her necklace.

Here are some photos of the necklace. I couldn't post them sooner otherwise she would have known about her present and it wouldn't have been a surprise.

Some Halloween Cuffs and Earrings

I really should be posting more blogs. I mean I start out with good intentions but sort of get tied up with other things and to be honest I feel I make such a mess of my blog page... oh never mind lets share some of the jewellery I have been doing in time for Halloween.

Front view of memory wire bracelet with polymer clay roses and semi precious howlite skulls.. I start out with not having any intention of doing roses but somehow I always end up with roses somewhere!

Back view of memory wire bracelet.

Close up view of the roses.

Couldn't make cuffs with out making earrings to match

This past year ...well since January really I decided to use more mixed media and to try new techniques. One of the techniques I have been learning and really enjoying is wire work. Here is a wire work cuff and earrings to match.

A hand formed wire frame with hand knitted wire insert The polymer clay roses and howlite skulls and crystals are then woven into the insert. The shepherd style clasp hook I also made. 

Back View of Cuff showing the clasp.

Matching earrings .

Earrings made using memory wire.

These I have put up for sale on my website

Not only are they suited for Halloween but anyone who likes gothic fashions.

A Change Is As Good As Rest.

Back in December my grand son showed me a bracelet he was wearing which is all the fashion now. The bracelet was a shamballa style. He was surprised that I hadn't tried making any my self. To be honest macrame is something I had ever really thought about or tried. I didn't have the first clue of how to do the knots. Don't get me wrong.....I can do knots but end up with an ugly messy tangle. Well not to be out done my my inabilities I thought and head in a slightly different direct from polymer clay I would give macrame a try and watched a tutorial by Mark Smith one of the guest designers on the JewelleryMaker TV channel.http://www.jewellerymaker.com . Now I am hooked. As they say a change is as good as a rest and for me the possibilities can be endless and so inspiring. Shamballa is a Buddhist word synonymous with peace,enlightenment and tranquillity.

Some More Inspirations from Monet and Mother Nature

In my last post I told of how inspired I was by a recent trip to the Welsh Museum in Cardiff. 

Here is some more of earrings that I made from the left over cane. And also some stick /pin brooches that I made with the inspiration from Mother Nature with the rose. To add a little bit of difference I added a locket to the rose. There are no hard and fast rules as how to wear a locket!

Inspired By Artists 'Monet'
Left over cane with earrings with added  Swarovski  crystals.

Stick pin /brooch with pressed glass leaves and locket.

Stick Pin/Brooch with pink pressed glass leaves and locket.

Close up of Rose

A Little Inspiration From Monet

After a recent trip to the National Museum of Wales with my daughter and granddaughter I was fascinated and inspired by some of the paintings by Monet. So I made these earrings out of some of the leftover canes I had.

Spring ...new beginnings.

I can't believe where the time has gone since I posted last! It seems that I only post in seasons when I should really be posting more often and on a more regular basis.

Well Spring is officially here and the cherry blossoms here in the part of Wales where I live have  have started to bloom albeit a little later than normal. So here is my new beginning of the year with some floral polymer clay heart earrings ,bag charm and faux jade tubes that I made to compliment a large river shell heart pendant necklace. I tried to recreate the river shell pendant necklace with the heart earrings and bag charm. I think I may have gone a bit overboard with the sanding as some of the cane coverings have faded considerably.But  I am pleased with the shine I got. Thankful for small mercies I suppose! 
Thank you for dropping by to view my blog. Please don't be shy I would most appreciate any comments!

River shell pendant necklace with freshwater pearls,Swarovski crystals and  polymer clay faux jade tubes.

Close up of the river shell pendant.

My interpretation of the river shell pendant.

Bag charm

Introducing Gemma! The model.;)