Serene Green (Post 4)

Hi,
I've had a busy few days and actually started putting designs to paper.  Not my usual style, but I've had so many exciting ideas that I just don't want to forget them.  Its been quite revealing really, because some of the designs lead towards PMC, others to silver sheet.  Keep watching ...

With normal bead type work, as I've said before I tend to design as I go - which is also very interesting as it usually leads to something I could never have thought of at the outset.

The next design, off the cuff, came about because I had these beautiful mixed sized acrylic beads which I wanted to do something with.

Serene Green
Beautiful marbled acrylic beads with ribbon, thai silver beads threaded on tigertail wire, and, my favourite - Italian glass millefiori beads.

When I started looking at the beads, my first priority was to match them with green coloured millefiori.  Quite a feat, because I had a bag of mixed millefiori and it was 'touch and go' as to whether I could pull enough green beads together.  The idea of the italian beads is just to have a random selection.  Thankfully, I was able to set aside what was needed.

I tend to arrange these on a Bead Tray in the order that I will thread them; that way you can change your design - easier to do this at this stage!  I knew I didn't want these large bulky beads all the way around and wanted to break up the fullness.  Too many beads can kill a design!

I decided to introduce the thai beads, which I lead up to the collarbone.  (A little tip: keep reviewing the design by checking in the mirror that it is at the right level - you'll be thankful later).

So, I had now designed up to the collarbone and stopped at this point.

I didn't want the silver beads all the way around, (waste of beads partly, but may also be uncomfortable to wear), which is why at this point I introduced the ribbon.  Gorgeous organza ribbon!  In a wonderful shade of green which blended in so well.

It dawned on me that I hadn't decided on what length the necklace should be?  So, I thought maybe it would be nice to have it a 'flexible' length.  This necklace can be adjusted to the required length by sliding the smaller green bead up or down.  The ribbons float at the back and have little thai silver beads on the ends.  Perfect!

Next the bracelet and earrings, (of course), to match.  I know a lot of people would just thread the beads on elastic.  Although this does still look nice, I do like a bracelet with a clasp - not forgetting the extender chain!

P

Progress on Unakite Knitted Wire Bracelet
Its finished!!!  I haven't got around to photographing it yet, but I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with it - keep watching, it'll be here on the next blog!

Future Projects
I've got to say - who knows?  I haven't thought about it yet.  As you may have noticed by now, I like to do a variety of jewellery, depending on lots of things.  It may well be wirework, that's something that I do enjoy working with.

Strange Question - but Do YOU know the answer?
At the back of my wardrobe, I have 'hidden' a pasta machine - which is just perfect for my jewellery aspirations.  I was so excited the other day when one of the local stores had a 50% sale.  I just had to buy it.

Any guesses why?

In the meantime, keep watching and I'll keep blogging!

Charters

Power of Orange (Post 3)

Today has been a good day - did you notice I have added a slideshow of some of my jewellery?  Yes, I was amazed as well ... (that it worked).  I shall be adding to it, as and when I have time.

For those of you who may have worried about the time stamp on my last blog, just to reassure you, it was totally not right.  I did not post the blog at the unearthly time it said I did.  In fact, I've found a sneaky button that will allow me to create in 'advance' and schedule it to publish at a future date - how cool is that!

Power of Orange
I didn't realise it, but Orange is becoming one of my favourite colours; its so lively and uplifting.  This 'Power to Orange' set is made from flowered glass beads, orange glass lined rocailles, little silver beads and silver plated flower type links and thai silver clasp on the bracelet and necklace.

 I have a tendency to make sets rather than individual earrings, or necklace or bracelet.  Although I think earrings and matching bracelet can give that relaxed, gentle look.  So, it is rare that I make just earrings on their own.  On the occasions that I haven't made a matching necklace, my friends have said, 'It needs a necklace'.  This set, does have a necklace ...

The necklace is a lovely long one, but I have added a clasp because it gives it more ways for it to be worn.  In the example below, I have looped it around 3 times, it very much depends on what clothes your wearing.  Wearing it shorter, perhaps shows off the richness of the colours and patterns?  Personal decision really. 

When I start making a piece of jewellery, quite often aside from the fact that I love the colours or the beads or the textures I'm not always aware of what design to apply.  I find it better to work like that, plus its a bonus when the piece is completed.  You have to like what you create, otherwise, what's the point! 




With this design, I wanted random placement of beads and not a standard pattern.  It works well because you could wear the necklace with the clasp at the front, and it would still look pretty. There really isn't a start or finish to it - not if you throw away the illusion that clasps are 'always' at the back of the neck.

Well before I go, I wanted to say - thanks for reading this far, (you did didn't you? or have you just been looking at the pictures!).  What I was going to say is, I doubt if I will publish everyday so why don't you become a 'follower' of my blog?  You can even click on the 'Subscribe to Post' link at the bottom of the page, on the lefhandside.  This way you will be notified when I update my blog.

Coming Soon
At the moment I'm designing a really lovely wirework bracelet.  Its a 'knitted' bracelet.  No, you haven't read that wrong - its knitted with wire.  I'm incorporating some lovely gemstones - they are Unakite.  Mmm, a mix of red/pink feldspar, white/grey quartz and epidote.  The gemstone is named after the Unaka mountains in the south eastern United States of America.  To me and you, its a really pretty pinkish/green gemstone.  I'll tell you more about its spiritual properties when you can actually see it.

Keep reading, and I'll keep blogging   .... Charters