Thought I'd try something new

Here are some of the promised photos of recent work......been having a bit of a play with things that are new to me.

The bracelet above - 'Flutterby' bracelet - is made from little butterfly shaped pearls strung between the tiniest little rice pearls only about 3mm long - they're so cute! - and such a pain to string - I need to wear glasses when I'm using them (trying to work the whole 'sexy secretary' thing, apparently look more like Velma from Scoobie Doo). The butterfly pearls are real pearls - they are grown in a particular way to create this shape - love them!

I made a necklace to match the bracelet - with the same butterfly pearls, tiny rice pearls - and I mixed in some fatter rice pearls too.

I tried a new type of pendant for my 'Cubist' necklace - which attaches directly to the necklace (instead of being attached with links or anything), and is made from Swarovski crystal. I've strung it onto these gorgeous platinum coloured rice pearls which are almost irridescent.

I also had some really solid, glossy, agate tubes, so had a little bash creating a collar-style necklace. I've sneaked in some little goldy-coloured pearls inbetween - they look really delicate between the bold agates. This necklace is a bit different for me - much bolder and chunkier - looks so different from the uber-girly 'Flutterby' necklace!

I'll have the next lot of images on soon, so you can take a look at more of the new pieces.....keep you in suspense! :)

Inspired by Autumn (or O.P.I....or Dulux!!)

I made a few new pieces last night - a couple of pearl bracelets and necklaces, with the colours of Autum and Winter in mind.

Autumn is a time of year when the colours of the landscape are very earthy, and if we've been lucky enough to have dry weather, the leaves and fields have an almost burnished look. I've stolen the colours from nature to make my 'Fall Festival' necklace - beautiful earthy colours with little gold glass beads studded between the pearls. (above)

I also love the pale, silvery, cold looking skies we get at this time of year, so using that palette I've made my 'Mercury' necklace from tiny little white rice pearls and slightly bigger, fatter mercury coloured pearls. It looks like chilly white skies and rain clouds, which although aren't nice to be outdoors in - the colours translate really well into jewellery -very chic and classic!

The other bracelet I made is a gorgeous magenta pink and buff gold colour. I've used button pearls for a change and they are just so cute! I used tiny little goldy coloured ones in between the rich magenta colour, which again are a little fatter. I love the contrast of size and colour, although I must admit, it wasn't our Autumnal landscape that inspired these colours!

I always think that Winter in terms of colour and texture is a time of richness, opulance and vibrancy - of berries, and ribbons, Christmas lights and party dresses. With the idea of luxury in my mind, I was flicking through the O.P.I colour chart in the beauty salon while I was waiting on a manicure and saw an aticle about their new season colours, inspired by Russian luxury - and a little lightbulb went on inside me. The gold and magenta bracelet is called 'Tsarina' in a nod to my nail varnish inspiration! - Really you can take inspiration from anywhere!