My Creative Space - New Necklace

I made this necklace a few weeks ago and just uploaded it to my Etsy store today ( I'm a bit behind at the moment...).
The beads are glossy and faceted Agate beads and range in colour from orange to burnt orange to rusty brown. I've combined a number of different shapes and sizes to give the necklace a particular line as it wraps around the neck.

Some info about Agate:
- It is known to attract strength and protect from stress and the draining of energy.
- Agate is one of the oldest stones in recorded history.
- It is mined in many locations including Uruguay, Brazil, United States, Mexico, Madagascar, Italy, Egypt, India, China, Scotland. Probably the most famous place that agate is mined is Idar-Oberstein in Germany where it has been reportedly collected since 1548. 

Sunday Snaps - For the love of Purple

On the lounge...

 on the table....

 ....on the wall

 ...in the garden

 ...in the garden again...

 ....still in the garden

...in my creative space

My Creative Space - Working with Pendants

Throughout the year I've been on the lookout for new components and in recent months the focus has been on pendants. Over time, I've been able to gather a great selection of pendants:

Materials vary from resin, sterling silver, silver plated base metal, brass and pewter.

This owl caught my eye and was incorporated into a long necklace using brass chain:

This necklace 'Wise Owl' features brass chain and yellow, cream, white and green Howlite beads.

My Creative Space - New Earrings

I've had some small Iolite beads for about a year and have been itching to use them.

They have now been incorporated into a pair of sterling silver earrings:

 I've named these earrings 'Sultry' as the gemstone Iolite is such a unique colour. Depending on how the light falls on the stone it could be called purple/blue or blue/grey.

One of my interests in making jewellery is learning about the history and meaning of the semi-precious gemstones I use in my designs.  Iolite has quite a story and was used by the Vikings and other ancient mariners on deck on overcast days to determine the position of the sun for the purpose of navigation.

I've also learnt the word Iolite is derived from a greek word which means 'voilet'. Due to its use at sea, it used to be called 'water sapphire' and 'Viking's compass'.

Whilst we will no longer need it to guide our ships home, Iolite is now apparently known as a stone that supports the healing of the eyes, stimulates memory and helps with sleep imbalances.

There you have it.... a clever semi-precious stone.

For me....I just know I love Iolite's colour and unique beauty and it was great to finally get a chance to use Iolite in one of my pieces.

My Creative Space - Working with Black

I haven't made many pieces in black lately as I always end up preferring to work with colour. I was tempted back to black however by some stunning semi-precious gemstones. The good thing about a black necklace is it will go with just about everything and looks great both dressed up or down.

This new necklace named 'Noir' features lovely smooth & glossy Agate beads graduated in size.

I was tempted to keep this one myself but decided to list it in my online Made It store...I'll just have to make another one later.

My Creative Space - New Creations

I hope everyone enjoyed a very happy Christmas with family and friends!

In between some cooking, shopping, tidying up and spending time with family, I've managed relaxing time in my creative space to make a few gifts. I made this necklace for my mother who wanted a long turquoise necklace with a silver pendant:

I also pulled out some lovely lampwork beads to make another colourful pair of earrings. I've named these 'Candy Stripes':

Have a relaxing Boxing Day.

My Creative Space - Working with Colour

 I love working with colour!

Red, orange, yellow, green, brown & cream look great together particularly when using bright shades of red and orange.

Here is a new bracelet called 'Citrus':

 

I'm also working on a pair of earrings to match this bracelet - something happy and bright.... I'll be back later.

Sunday Snaps

In the garden..

....red resin & coral beads on my desk...

.....what have you been up to Murphy?

...out in the garden again...

as always..cut flowers to take inside

Sunday Snaps

On my table today...

...on my desk...a new necklace in the making

......out in the garden again

...always a book 

..no description required

My Creative Space - Working with Orange

Some stunning Agate beads have been on my desk over the last week - their colour being a unique burnt orange to rusty brown. Agate can be dyed any colour and the added colour beautifully highlights the inner markings within each stone.

Here is a new creation named 'Josie':

I'm very behind in my Reverb12 posts... I'll have to play catch up later in the month!

Sunday Snaps

My Gardenia finally flowered

Fred fish in the outdoor pond. 

Wire covering stops local  birds (mainly Kookaburras) from having him for breakfast.

Lovely new beads

In the Garden

Garden Buddha

Day 3 - Reverb12

Day 3 of Reverb 12 - 'What Do You Really Wish For'

I joined up for Reverb 12 on the 1st day of December but I've been out of action over the past few days and haven't really been able to bring together time and energy for a whole range of stuff ... including my blog.

My lovely Dad is very unwell in hospital and he is dominating my thoughts. What I really wish for right now is to somehow protect him from suffering, turn back the years, buy back precious time together, hear his voice, see him smile and laugh...that's what I wish for......

In amongst it all..poor Murphy had to visit the Vet. A (hopefully benign) lump has appeared, he needed some vaccinations too (... which meant needles....I got the 'death stare') and had to have an unpleasant examination of a certain area. This all meant he was not a happy boy at the end of the consultation!

But.. to finish on a happier note, true to form he got home to a few treats and he was smiling again...

In the words of poet and artist Khalil Gibran:

 'Love gives naught but itself 

and takes naught but from itself. 

Love possesses not

nor would it be possessed;

for love is sufficient

unto love'

My Creative Space - A New Necklace

It was time to put away my red and blue beads and give some other colours a bit of a go!

I have a great little stash of Rose Quartz beads and they have been out on my desk this week. They are a very light pink colour and look great on their own or combined with other coloured gemstones or pearls.

I'm not an expert on the spiritual qualities of gemstones but from what I have read Rose Quartz apparently gives inner peace and helps in all matters pertaining to love in all its forms. It is reportedly a stone of unconditional love that opens the heart to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love and is a very soothing and happy stone that brings gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance..... quite a good wrap for an unassuming gemstone!

Here is what I came up with - named 'Pearl's Rose'. I've used freshwater pearls to compliment the Rose Quartz beads in a double strand necklace:

Some of the Rose Quartz beads are lovely and smooth and others are faceted to give them a little texture. I'm happy with how this necklace has turned out and have loved working in this colour scheme of soft pink, peacock grey and cream.