Wedding Fever!

With a few weddings coming up this summer (after June, I am the last man standing, the only remaining 'unmarried' among my friends - I feel like that girl at the end of 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers) I have been inspired to broaden my selection of wedding jewellery. I have made some wedding jewellery in the past, sticking to the classical and traditional, but having had a look around at lots of wedding jewellery, it really seems there is a lack of choice for brides.

I have found that there are super-traditional styles of bridal jewellery - single string of pearls sort of thing, or really expensive, classic diamond solitaire on a gold chain sort of style, or these uber-modern, proper trendy, 'I spent 10 grand just on the dress' sort of styles. What if you just want something thats looks pretty, wont kill your budget, and is unique?

With this in mind, I've tried to do a couple of different styles of wedding jewellery that wont melt your credit card.

This one above - 'Something Blue' necklace, is made from amazonite ovals, with white rice pearls and tiny little Swarovski crystals inbetween. I love this colour of blue - it looks really summery and fresh, and compliments a summer tan really well. It works on the idea of traditional, with the white pearls, but I think the amazonite make it just a little bit different. The crystals give it just a hint of a twinkle, so it looks glam, without looking too 'Studio 54'. This wont break the budget at £55, and if you want to go for an all matching set, there is also a bracelet and earrings to match. The full set would only cost £110, which I think isn't too bad for your wedding day, and they are made from genuine pearls and stones, rather than being costume jewellery. I think they are all pretty wearble pieces (I made myself a similar pearl and amazonite bracelet which I wear loads!) so at least they would be worn again after your wedding. This necklace and it's family are all available at Artery Gallery in St Andrews - see http://www.arteryuk.com/ .

I also wanted to make something that was really feminine and summery. I think if you get married in the summer, it gives you such a wide choice in terms of what you can do with your hair, jewellery and accessories. I was trying to think of what summer conjures up for me, and butterflies were one of the first things that popped into my head. Butterflies can look a bit full-on girly, so I kept it simple in just an outline of silver. This makes it look really modern, and then strung it onto white rice pearls. I've picked up the silver with little accents of silver interspersed the string of pearls. This necklace is for sale at £60, and as it's just plain silver and white pearls, it would be easy to match up to other silver jewellery. This one is also for sale in Artery Gallery just now.

I also will make jewellery to order, so if you had a particular idea for your wedding jewellery, I could always make it for you - I'm sure I could satisfy even the most demanding bride-zillas out there!

New materials, new ideas, same old me....

How many people go to the shops and get a £15 loaf of bread? Is that common....or is it just me? I think "I'll just pop down the shops for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk" and come back an hour later with olives, nice bar of chocolate, some fancy crisps (those super crunchy hand made ones, that feel like you're eating shrapnel) some dips, some super deluxe milk that comes from cows which are made of gold....and then I get home and think "fiddle....I forgot the fiddling bread!!" Is this a common thing? Or is it just me thay can't control my spending?

Anyway, this is what happened a couple of weeks ago when I was online looking for some nice pearls....and would you believe, I managed to find myself on a whole different website than the one I intended to be on. It had so many pretty things, and what was intended to be a quick purchase of a few strings of pearls, became and epic shopping spree on beads. It did dent my bank account a little. HOWEVER (I say this loudly,so you pay attention as I excuse my frivolous spending), I did find THE MOST BEAUTIFUL beads ever!! They are little flowers carved out of gemstones, and I have fallen in love with them.

I made my first piece using one of these flowers, which was intended to go into a gallery to be sold....I couldn't part with it though. I've pictured it at the top of this post - it is a little hand-carved flower made from Korean jade, and I love it!! It's a stunning lime green colour - really 'fizzy' looking. I've strung it onto oblong beads of olive coloured Korean jade, with little rounds of turquoise in-between. I just couldn't part with it. I've put a close up of the carved flower here, so you can fall in love with it too :)

I love discovering new materials, new stones, new anything really. It makes it all feel quite exciting, like I've discovered a secret. And it makes those costly shopping trips worthwhile!!

I've also tried for the first time, making jewellery from silver wire. I have tried to educate myself on this, making small pieces, such as earwires (successful!), jump rings (yep, managed it), eyepins (yeah, them too), but then, I think I got a bit sure of myself. Oh dear - chandelier earrings. Maybe a bit ambitious. They resembled a birds nest....maybe I can start a new fashion with 'birds nest' earrings. Or maybe not.

However - I have had some success with making links, and pendants, and I really love the effect they have on a piece of jewellery. They sort of 'fancy it up' a bit, make it look a bit more evening-y.

I made this necklace using pink nugget pearls, rose coloured Swarovski crystal, and moonstone rounds. It's such a feminine, pretty necklace, and once I added the rose quartz and silver wire pendant, I think it made it look just a little bit more special. I've put a close-up of the pendant, so you can see what I've done - and I can get everyones opinion then!

It has been a week of new ideas, and trying out different beads, different suppliers and different tools. I don't know if this has been inspired by the start of a new season, or if the longer days have made me more motivated. Regardless of what started this surge of life, I think I'll make the most of it just now. It's all very well having a boost like this, but I know me....before long I'll be back to my normal, slower paced self. I think I was built for comfort rather than speed.

Off to the shops now - I need to get some teabags.....better take my credit card......

New pearl jewellery

I have made a few new pearl pieces over the last couple of nights - still in my 'pearl phase' I think!!

I wanted to do something really different from anything I've done before, so I've used big chunky blister pearls in vivid colours, for a really bold, summery look here ('sunset' pearl necklace and bracelet). I think the shape and colour really takes away the traditional perception of pearls (see my previous post!).

I've also put together a whole set of pearls - necklace, earrings and bracelet - which I have never done before. I'm not a particularly co-ordinated person (some may say I look a little.....'jumble sale'), and being so un-cooridinated, I have always thought that matchy-matchy was a bad thing. I have to confess in recent months, I have been trying to look a bit more 'put together' and can now see the benefits of jewellery sets. When I put on a jewellery set, it means that I can look like a fight in a thrift store with my clothes, but at least one element of me looks like I tried! So in previous posts when I have said that I don't do matching...well, I'm getting there!!

This 'Pistachio pearls' set is made from coffee, white and mint, large nugget pearls. They are really chunky again, which take away the formal element of having a matching set. I think these colours are beautiful together, really fresh - and it means you can mix and match with any of your traditional white pearls.

I have made another simple string of rice pearls but in seaside inspired colours. I was browsing through holidays online the other day, and photographs of the tropical, turquoise blue seas of the Maldives inpired this necklace. Unfortunately all I can do is think of holidays now!!

This necklace would look great with a tan, or one of those pretty broderie anglaise dresses or tops that are fashionable this summer......I'm good at fashion for other people, just not for myself it seems!!

All of these pieces are available at www.arteryuk.com

Pearls don't just go with twinsets you know!

I've made a couple of little pearl bracelets over the last night or two, and it got me thinking about how pearls are perceived.

So many people think of pearls, and think of lavender perfume, twinsets and their nana! They don't have to be like that (am I just being defensive, because as I write this, I have on a single string of white pearls and a cardigan....?).

Pearls come in so many shapes and colours right now, as the growing, and dying techniques have improved so much in recent decades. The can come in hearts, or diamond shapes, and literally every colour of the rainbow. They are so versatile - they can make something look a bit vintage, or chic and elegant, or kitsch or unique - I think this is why they are probably my favourite material to work with.

I have turned into a bit of a pearl 'geek' since I've been making jewellery, and have read everything there is to read on them - I have written a little piece on them for a gallery which sells my work - you can read it here:

http://arterygallerynews.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z&max-results=35

I've included photos of a couple of my new pearl bracelets - my 'jelly tots' bracelet - multi-coloured nugget pearls, and my white pearl and open heart bracelet....hopefully they don't evoke lavender and old folks homes for you......

New ideas kill artist's brain cells!!!

So far, since I've been making jewellery, the thing that is most difficult, is to constantly come up with new ideas, rather than variations on ideas. So I've tried to strike a balance so that I don't send the creative part of my brain into meltdown!!

If I come up with one new idea, and do two variations of it, in necklaces, earrings and bracelets, that should give me lots of new looks, but save my tortured artistic brain from exploding. (it's not really tortured and artistic, but I quite like to 'buy into' a theme, and tortured artist is workable).

I have made a very pretty, girly necklace in rose quartz ovals, amethyst chips, pink pearl nuggets, and pink, violet and opal Swarovski crystals. It reminds me of that lovely pink blossom tree that comes out around this time of year - the one that's like confetti when the wind blows. Actually, saying that, I suppose it could make a nice bridesmaid necklace and earrings set, as its just so feminine. Continuing on that theme, I made a plain white rice pearl bracelet with lovely rose coloured crystals interspersed with the pearls. It looks really clean and fresh.

I used the same sort of pattern for the rose quartz necklace in a different stone and colour, so I'm really getting two necklaces out of one idea (remember tortured artist brain...). In this other necklace and earrings set, I've used new jade, crackled rock crystal, white rice pearls, and swarovski crystals. This gives a totally different look,which has been born out of the original idea. The square jades in this necklace are gorgeous - each one is a pale, marbled green, slightly different from the others.

I also made a new bracelet, building on the 'sunshine' themed jewellery, of coral and turquoise. I put together a bracelet of tiny little coral branches, with turquoise, and peachy-orange blister pearls - it just says summer to me. This idea could be built on further I think, perhaps adding in sponge coral nuggets, or something along that idea.

I made a necklace which was an entirely new idea, and already I can see lots of variations and themes of this pendant style necklace. It is jasper rounds, with tiny chips of peridot inbetween each jasper. It is finished with a large, carved jasper flower pendant. Jasper is such a versatile stone, with so many colours and names. It is also known as 'The Scottish Stone', so I feel I'm doing my patriotic bit by making jewellery in this material!

It has been a taxing few days!! I'm off to re-charged my delicate and artistic soul, with a cuppa, and a night off I think...(idea for next post - lazy girl's guide to jewellery making...?)

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.......

Pretty, girly, pastels or bold and bright and pushy? I love both, and can't decide!!

I've made some new jewellery along those lines - some of it is very delicate and feminine - spring flowers inspired this, and some chunky gemstones in bright colours - just a bit of fun really.

I've made this pastel coloured necklace - 'Crocus' necklace, and earrings - inspired by spring flowers and the little, new unfurled leaves on the bushes. It's made from cracked rock crystal, Swarovski crystals, nugget pearls, and a large fluorite pendant. The earrings to match are so cute! (even if i do say so myself!).

This chunky coloured jade necklace my 'Sweetshop' necklace - has been made from sweetie shaped jades and tiny olive serpentine rounds in-between. I think they look like sweets from an old fashioned tuck shop! This is a real statment piece, and quite different from anything else, so if you like to be noticed, this one is for you - just don't try to eat it!!

I'm not sure if most jewellery designers make such opposing pieces - it makes me look slightly crazy to have two such different styles, but I don't think it's necessary to stick to the rules when it comes to jewellery - or anything for that matter! Some people would call it eclectic, some would call it bohemian ( know someone who will be choking on his blackpudding roll laughing at this - he has said I've to remember the look is 'boho' not 'hobo' - quite a difference apparently) - anyway, whatever you want to call it, I'm not going to stick to the rules. That's about the only thing I can make my mind up on!!

I may have gotten a little carried away.....

Well, after yesterday's summer inspired post on here, I received an email from someone who is signed up to the instant update service - it read "Salad? Salad?! Only because you had hee-haw else in the fridge!!". The cheek of it!! Obviously I am eating salad because the first glimpse of a warm afternoon has reminded me that come summertime, I will be wearing flesh flashing summer dresses and skirts, and after a long cold winter of pie and mash, there is a danger that I may have to spend summer in trousers and over coats, unless I mend my ways!

So I am hoping that lots of summery, sunshine inspired jewellery will keep reminding me that sandals season is just around the corner.....

I have made a little summery set of jewellery - 'Sunshine' lariat, bracelet and earrings. They are designed so that each piece is a stand-alone piece, but they look great together as a set. I often think a matching set of jewellery can look a bit boring - it's great for formal wear, but can look a bit old fashioned the rest of the time. This set all goes together very well, but doesn't match exactly - it gives it a less rigid feel, and will look more like you just happen to have chosen some pieces that work well together.

The lariat necklace includes turquoise, blister pearls, mother of pearl chips, Indian glass beads

and glass seed beads. It's a really vibrant piece and looks just like a sunny day.

The earrings are little turquoise cubes with Swarovski crystal in a firey orange-red, and the bracelet is made from small rice pearls with vivid ocean blue, and orange Swarovski crystals.

I look at all this warm weather inspired jewellery today, and think maybe I have gotten a little carried away - it is after all only the first day of April, and it's a bit cold and grey outside.....nothing wrong with a bit of optimism though.... :)

These three items are all available at Gallery 1, 8 Whitburn Road, Bathgate, along with other items of my jewellery.

http://www.gallery1online.co.uk