Deep, dark and mysterious

A friend asked me for a remake of a necklace in my 'made' album, it varies slightly from the original. The main stones are lepidolite and black onyx, with sterling silver accents. She was delighted with the result.

Dramatic Vermeil with Pearls

In this pearl necklace somewhere between burgundy and plum with copper tints, the vermeil spacers are concentrated more to the front of the piece.

I had just two pearls left to make the matching earrings, so I had fun finding a way of giving them some bulk and movement and my friend for whom I made this set loved the lightness and the drape of both.

Pearls with Silver and Gold accents

At last the long-promised pictures of some of my pearl necklaces where I have combined stranding on silk with sterling silver and/or vermeil (=goldplated silver) spacer beads.

The pearls still drape beautifully and the precious metals add a touch of class without over doing it!

The olivy-bronzy pearls have been interspersed with lovely vermeil spacers which add extra light and sheen.




This is a really classy jumbo rice pearl necklace with just a touch of gold at the front, as well as the lovely gilt silver C-clasp which is like the one on the following potato pearl necklace.




















Here I have used a gilt silver clasp and alternated sterling silver and gold filled bali-type spacers. The pearls for the earrings have not had the finishing ear hook attached yet.















I love these long squiggly pearls, they are fun and hang beautifully from the 14K gold filled posts with ball.


The silver spacers are very subtle in this two-strand champagne pearl necklace.

Viewing till the weekend in Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre

Karen Harper, a lady of taste, energy and conviction, opened a new gallery in Dun Laoghaire, "Expose Yourself", shortly before Christmas. It is located on the third floor of the old Dun Laoghaire shopping centre (across the road from the church on Georges Street).

You can read more about the gallery and about Karen's amazing and energetic support for craft workers at the following address:
http://irishcraftupdate.com/blog/

Exceptionally she can include, just for this week, a display of the work of various JEWELLERY DESIGNERS, from the well-established people who have participated in the recent 'Showcase' right down to my humble self.

You can see a small selection of my FW pearl and semi-precious stone jewellery, appropriately, on the bottom shelves of the case at the window ('True Colours'). I feel my work is very modest when compared with some of the magnificent jewellery on display, but then it lends itself to being worn both day and evening...

If you get an opportunity to go along between now and Saturday evening, this is a chance to see what I have been making, in a neutral non-pressured environment.

Included are some attractive pieces I have made earlier this month where I have combined silver and gold-filled spacers with my silk-stranded pearls, as well as a taster of some large stud pearls I have been making up this month after eventually tracking down a supplier of top quality LARGE half-drilled pearls!

When I find my camera download lead, I will post some pics. Meanwhile I include a nice crazy-lace agate necklace made in November, lovely with cream, mustard, biscuit, cinnamon, all the 'coffee and cream' range of neutrals. Unfortunately the photo is slightly out of focus!



I am always happy to make up a necklace, earrings or even bracelets to complement a regular or special outfit - just give me 2-3 weeks notice to be sure of getting what you want!