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

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