Getting ready for the Christmas Fair

 

Been busy working on my displays for Moor Hall School's Christmas Bazaar on Friday.  The twisted willow, from friend Debbie's garden, is perfect for the silvery necklaces and bracelets, and the easels show off the earrings very well.  

Silver torque

 Twisted silver-plated copper wire torque, with labradorite centres to flowers, and seed pearls.  To fasten, like the gold torque, the two ends hook around each other.

Gold torque

 
 Thought it was time to use some of my wire stash.  Using the wire twister I produced a long length of the gold plated copper wire, and without any idea where it would take me, just decided to go with the flow.   After coiling the first end, the idea was to make a matching coil on the other end, but it seemed a shame not to use the excess wire, so I turned it into a leaf shape, and coiled all the single pieces of wire at the end.  I did think about filling in the leaf shape with a finer gauge wire, but decided, in the end, to keep it all simple. As if by magic, the large coil slots together with the leaf end to close the torque. 

Crazy for Agate and Jasper

Crazy Agate and pyrite spacers with antique bronze on copper findings.

 Each stone is beautifully marked and coloured

Three stretchy bracelets made from blue impression  jasper and picture jasper (which looks almost like wood)

An 'at home' sale, and more creations

 

Held an 'at home' jewellery sale for invited friends and neighbours, over Friday evening and Saturday.  It's really an excuse for a get-together and a good chat over a cuppa.  When everyone had gone, and I was putting the jewellery away, it gave me a chance to assess what was selling well, and what I needed to replace in time for a forthcoming craft fair.  More stretchy bracelets and more necklaces.  So, I set to yesterday afternoon and produced this gold, baroque pearl and  faceted sterling silver spacer bead necklace and earring set.  At the last minute I changed the fastening as the original one seemed far to big for such a lightweight, delicate necklace.  I also made another four stretchy bracelets using labradorite, charoite and chalcedony nuggets, and another one with mother of pearl.   The double strand, flash silver coated copper chain has three clear quartz drops.  Didn't know how to display it for the photo.  Ended up hanging it from some twisted willow in my lovely Greek pot, which Mike carried back in his luggage, after a very happy holiday on Thassos.

 

Sent for two small, table top easels for my earring displays, and they arrived in time for my 'party', and are perfect. 

 

One or two people have asked me if I'd give a talk to their clubs, on jewellery making - taking along some of my work for sale.  I'm thinking about it.   If I do, I'd like to talk about the actual gemstones, where they are found, and their history etc -  I think that would make quite an interesting talk.  After all, it's really the geology aspect which got me started in the first place.





Crazy Quartz

Three stretchy bracelets, made of crazy quartz, one with pyrite haematite spacers, another with both haematite and pyrite between the quartz, and the third (centre) with silver spacers.  They feel lovely on the wrist.

Loving Labradorite

 

 

I'm really hooked on Labradorite at the moment.  Known as Firestone by the native Americans, it was found on the island of St Paul, Labrador, Canada, and some other locations such as China, India, Russia, Scandinavia, Australia and Madagascar.  At first glance, out of the light, it just looks like a dull, grey stone, but move it about under a light, or outside in the sun, and it becomes quite mystical, irridenscent with flashes of blues, violets, greens, golds, pinks etc, almost like oil on water. 

 

Yesterday I made this necklace to wear at my Confirmation, which took place yesterday evening at St Editha's, Amington, Tamworth.  The flashes of colour in these particular rounds and the little nuggets inbetween, are particularly good.  I just added antique bronze fastenings.  Now I will have to buy a dress or top to really compliment the necklace!

 

Here's a shot of my stall at the recent Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Craft Fayre. 

 



Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Craft Fayre

My jewellery will be on sale at the above Craft Fayre, next Saturday, 2 November 2013, at Mere Green Community Centre.

Inspired by the colours of Mull

I took some of my jewellery making equipment with me to work on, during my recent holiday on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.   The three stretchy bracelets were made from blue agate rounds and green and white quartz rounds, and inspired by the colours of the island.  The pendant is a silver plated wire wrapped blue crazy agate slab, on a leather cord.  I wire wrapped the brown, oval stone, which I found on a beach - not sure what it is but it looks very much like a quartzite example in one of my geology books.  I wanted the wire to look like the waves, lapping on the sand.  I couldn't part with this pendant, as it will remind me of a very special holiday with my sister Kate and b-in-l Al, an early 70th birthday present.

 



Crazy for chrysoprase

 My first wire-wrapped rings using antique bronze and silver on chrysoprase slabs. At the moment making some matching earrings.  Prefer the bronze myself - has a sort of ancient Roman look about it.  Funnily enough, received an email from one of my distant relatives in Australia, who occasionally looks at both my blogs, in which he mentions some Australian gemstones, including chrysoprase, which I'd never heard of until this weekend, when I received my order from jewellery maker.   What a coincidence!

Last week I finished the shell leaf, citrine and haematite necklace on twisted silver plated wire, with an organza ribbon fastening.  This has quite an autumnal feel about it.

The clear quartz and facted moonstone neclace, on twisted silver plated wire, with organza ribbon fastening, could also be used as a headdress, either high on the head tiara-fashion or lower, across the forehead - suitable for bride, bridesmaid or for a prom.  As a necklace, I made it to sit high on the neckline.  I added the ribbon, as the piece is already fairly heavy with gemstones and wire.



Serpentine, sari silk and silver wirework

 On gold plated copper chain, a serpentine flower, with shell, star drops

Sari silk scraps, made into friendship bracelets, using a knotting technique. 

Silver plated copper wirework cuff, with freshwater pearl, and the start of a matching pendant.  I am thinking of using it the other way up, with the addition of small, separate side pieces, in effect turning it into a larger, triangular shape. 

Serpentine flower, with silver plated copper wirework.  The wired shell leaves are actually separate, and despite thinking of using them with the flower, I have now incorporated them into a wirework necklace, using more wired leaves, and fastened with bronze, organza ribbon.

Did I say I wasn't going to order anything else for a bit?

........................but how could I resist when tempted with scraps of sari silk?  What am I going to do with it?  Who cares!  Anyway,  my latest parcel from Jewellery Maker arrived a few days ago (and, I have to admit, containing not only the silk, but even more gemstones - more later).  The sari silk was in long, narrow lengths, one length sewn to the next, then twisted tightly, ending up like a tight ball of colour - not that easy to untwist either.  At first it looked a bit of a mess and rather disappointing, but as I was about to do my ironing, I decided to ignore the bedding and t-shirts, and to start on the silk.  It's a pity I didn't think of taking a photo of the bundle before I started to iron, but in a sort of OCD way I began by picking out one colour at a time, separating each strip from its adjoining one by cutting out the join (well, I hadn't the time to unpick them all).  Just look how beautiful it all looked, once ironed flat.

Along with the narrow strips I had ordered some similar scraps, which are a little wider and in both parcels there were a few patterned scraps.  On the Jewellery Maker channel there were a few suggestions as to how to use the scraps, such as kumihimo, macrame etc, and for making rosette type flowers, perhaps with added gemstones, for fascinators, and even for decorating cushions, t-shirts etc.  I'm afraid I'm easily tempted by beautiful crafting materials  and these silks, particularly as they are so colourful will, with a little imagination, inspire me to make something beautiful - and different.

 

So, along with the silks came more gemstones, including jasper ovals, red tigers eye and serpentine flowers in some lovely, autumnal shades.

I've been enjoying using the wire twister producing the two gold plated wire bracelets, one with turquoise and the other with shell pearls, which can be moved up, down or central as shown.

 

 Here are a few friendship bracelets, the small photo showing two of satin cord made with a knotting technique, and the central hemp cord, using the kumihimo plate.    The lower bracelet was my first attempt using the knotting method, the upper one I used more knots between each cross -over. I'm quite pleased with the results and am thinking of having a go with some of the sari silk.  I'm thinking that the frayed edges will add a certain something (hopefully, good) to the finished item.  To end, and to admit that I did have an earlier order of shell stars and crosses, here are some shell earrings.  The small shells are white and the larger ones a lovely creamy colour.

 

A bit of a get-together

Some of the ladies from my walking club have been asking when I would be holding my next jewellery party.  It wasn't quite a 'party' but more of an 'at home' on Friday evening, and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.  I didn't think anyone would turn up for the evening session but was pleased that two of my walking friends made it, and the rest turned up on the Saturday,  as well as Hazel, my fellow plotter from the allotments.  It was a very pleasant get-together and I managed to sell quite a few items and have some orders to complete. 

These are my latest creations - a necklace made from crocheted wire and rough, natural labradorite.  I'm quite hooked on labradorite and wanted to produce something  to show off the schiller effect of the gemstone.  By forming a slight twisting to the crocheted wire, each gemstone faces in a different direction and, depending on the light source, the  flashes of labradoresence are shown off to great effect.

 

a rose quartz and labradorite necklace

 

and a 925 sterling silver bracelet with a potato pearl

 

 

I keep saying that I'll not send off for any more gemstones until I've used up more of my stash, but I am afraid I just had to have some beautiful turquoise from JM .  Oh, and a wire twister.  That should make things a bit easier on my wrists.

My first headdress

 

Made this headdress a couple of weeks ago, with weddings mind, but would probably be suitable for a prom.  Fastens with organza ribbons at the back. 

Hair comb

My latest hair comb - flower made from ruby quartz with labradorite centre, carved coral leaves and rounds, and peridot and gold plated copper wire stems.  Just happened to match d-in-law S's dress - so gave it to her.  Planned continuation of yesterday's weeding cancelled due to rain, so just about to try my hand at another similar one.

'Petrina' - hand-crafted, real gemstone jewellery

Black onyx, wire mesh flower with ruby quartz

 

 

I've always enjoyed being creative, and over the years have tried my hand at needlepoint, embroidery, hand and machine knitting, pottery, wood and stone carving, as well as sketching and taking photos. In January, this year, confined to the house with a heavy cold, I came across the Jewellery Maker channel on TV, was immediately hooked and, as a result, sent off my first order.  It seemed a natural progression from my long-standing interest in geology, to be able to work with real gemstones, to learn more about their origins, and to produce beautiful pieces of jewellery from them.







 Cultured freshwater pearls and black onyx on 925 gold plated sterling silver bracelet.



Citrine, iolite, moonstone, quartz on crocheted silver plated copper wire


Choosing a name for my jewellery was not difficult.  In July 2012 my lovely husband Mike lost his near seven year old  battle with cancer.  We had spent many happy Greek holidays together so I wanted to use a version of 'petra' (Greek for rock or stone) in remembrance of his strength of character  ('Petrina' is the feminine version) - and to represent the gemstones I work with.

Jasper crocheted & plaited wire and ribbon

 

It's only six months since I started up my new interest, and it has kept me busy during the long, dark and dreary days and nights at the beginning of the year when, as a keen gardener, allotment plotter and outdoor 'girl', I would normally be suffering from cabin fever (see my blog chris-twentytenandallthat.blogspot.co.uk).  I miss my Mike so much too, but my new-found creative hobby has helped to keep the blues away.  At the moment I'm keeping busy planting, pruning and weeding, despite the dodgy weather, but when I do sit still, I'm enjoying producing as much jewellery as possible.  I've held one successful party, and have a second one booked soon, and the feedback from friends and neighbours has been very encouraging. 

Here are a few examples of my work, so far

Fossil agate and quartzite

Fluorite earrings

 Labradorite and antique bronze

Lapis Lazuli and citrine hair combs