Don't forget the earwires!

Hello earring lovers!

Today's blog is all about earwires. Well, a particular design of earwires I love working with, by our very own Lucy Haslam of Faerystone. Now, our Lucy has a talent with metal and creates all sorts of wonderful things. These twirly earwires are (I think) among my faves of her creations. You could really just pop them in your lobes on their own, with no adornment! Earwires are usually things we (or certainly I)  hook on, right at the end of creating a pair of earrings , often without much thought. while the beads that hang from them are undoubtedly the stars of the show. But sometimes it's nice to give them equal billing!

This first pair, feature gorgeous ceramic drops by (of course) Petra Carpreau. The most beautiful turquoise glaze on these. I added some little hand forged copper hoops and a little ring of turquoise seed beads and a teeny tiny seed on the base of the earwires to echo the design.

This next pair feature beautiful glass headpins by Kimberly Rogers of Numinosity Beads. They are so feminine and pretty. This time I wrapped some seed beads around the earwires themselves, so they were really an integral part of the design.

And that's that from me this month! These and many more will be available in my showcase over on The Jewellery Show in Facebook Land on the 26th Jan. Do pop in and say hello!

Sue x

Utterly Lovely Stuff

In Praise of Patina.

Today I'd like to welcome as our guest my very good friend and partner in crime Lucy Haslam. For those of you who don't know Lucy - she's not only one of the kindest people you could wish to meet but also a basher of metal and twiddler of wire par excellence. She has made me some of the most innovative components I've ever used in my own work. But she also makes jewellery herself, so let's shine a light on her!

                                                                Lindsay x 

Hi, I'm Lucy from Faerystone and I would like to thank these lovely ladies for asking me to join you today. I've been making jewellery and findings for a few years now and love nothing more than twiddling wire and bashing metal. When I was asked to guest here I had soooo many ideas, but what stuck in my mind was patina....I love it! 

Both these pairs are made with sterling silver wire and sheet which I have cut, soldered and hammered. The little Ruffles are discs of silver that I have twiddled and bashed to give them a wrinkly feel. The little discs have been dimpled and the rings hammered and soldered.

 

The thing is both sets are made using the exact same silver wire, metal and gemstones (well, ok I did substitute black onyx instead of rock crystal on the dark ones) but other than that the rock crystal rondelles and the labradorite faceted drops are the same.
Here the silver is left pure and clean, the gemstones look frosty and clear. Glamorous sparkly party earrings. 

 

But as soon as I add my dark patina they change the mood - dark and gothic, the gemstones look misty and moody, the silver now darkened has a deeper sheen, a darker soul.

 

 

And this is what I love about patina, a bit like me and my friend Lindsay Philipson, she's all dark and goth and I'm all light and magical lololo. (ed. - what rubbish) 

Thank you for having me ladies, its been such fun. These earrings will be available in our A Christmas Carol show on The Very Nice Group page. It would be lovely to see you there.

 

Love Lucy.

 

My Etsy shop

 

 

Sometimes simple is best

Hello!

For today's blog, I searched my recent haul from Claire Lockwood's shop update. Claire's ceramic pieces are exquisite. The colours are always a delight -vivid and earthy at the same time. They are so very beautiful that I use them sparingly, and often take them out of their box and give them a little stroke...

And so I faffed about with these for ages, believe it or not. Sometimes, the more beautiful the components, the longer it takes me to decide what to do with them. And I love these. I've bought several pairs of Claire's crescents/half moons in the past and love the shape of them. These are the most wonderful dark, indigo blue with a rustic stone coloured, textured  stripe.

In the end I stopped faffing, because sometimes simple is best....So i added some lovely oxidised copper links by Lucy Haslam and some pretty co-ordinating seed beads

So, if you're stuck -think simple! When it comes to beautiful components like these, you really can't go wrong. If you like these gorgeous components, be sure to like Claire's Facebook page -she posts details of when her shop updates are happening, and they sell like hot cakes so you have to be quick off the mark!
These beauties are up and listed in my etsy shop
See you in a couple of weeks!
Sue x

Spring color: denim

Hello peeps,

Hopefully you're all enjoying a gorgeous Spring. As I understand there is even a heat wave in the UK. Here in Greece spring is in full bloom but the last couple of days we had some really heavy rainfall. Which is perfect for nature, as we haven't had rain in quite some time.

Whatever the season, whatever the weather, denim is always the right color.

These earrings are made with blue fossil coral, vintage German glass beads and of course handmade copper ear wires by my very talented and immensely funny friend and twinney Lucy Haslam of Faerystones. These will be available in my shop in a couple of days.

Wishing you all a wonderful Spring day, full of laughter, wonderful flowers, singing birds and love.

See you next month. 

Thanks for looking and you know I love to read your comments so don't be shy and leave some words. 

Janine

Mamounia.

Hello, and welcome!

Today I thought I'd introduce you to my favourite fibre bead artist, Carolyn Saxby.

Last weekend we went to stay in Foel,Wales, with our good friends Lucy (of Faerystone fame) and Harry Haslam. A year ago they bought a dilapidated but beautiful, very old (at least 1680's) house in a  tiny Welsh village and have proceeded to rebuild it as their dream home. It's already looking pretty amazing and I can't wait to see it finished.

Lucy and I were rooting in her bead stash on Saturday planning our next show and I was bemoaning the fact that I had run out of Carolyn Saxby's Tyvek beads........lo and behold, out came a bag full and I could choose the ones I wanted! What it is to have beading friends....

Carolyn is a textile artist and photographer based in  the beautiful coastal town of St. Ives in Cornwall. Whilst beads are a side line to her main art work, when she does make some they go like wildfire.  And you can see why....fantastic jewel tones and wonderful textures, all in one light as a feather bead.

Those jewel tones of sapphire, red ochre and mustard reminded me of the souks of Marrakech so I named these Mamounia. It's one of the world's greatest old hotels (1923) and patronised by the rich and famous - so needless to say, we didn't stay there, but the Riads in the old town are just as atmospheric. Do go if you get a chance. The rusty Moroccan lantern in the pic below - another of my favourite photo props - was picked up at the market along with a traditional clay tagine that I often cook with (well, ok, occasionally cook - not a great one for wasting time in the kitchen).

 

 

Nothing picks up jewel tones quite like swarowski crystals and bright copper (Lucy made those fab earwires for me).

                                                              And that's all they need.

                                                               See you in two weeks

                                                                      Lindsay x

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