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. 

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 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!

My Creative Space - Working with Blue

I've had these great polymer clay and Lapis Lazuili beads in my stash for many months and have been itching to use them in the same creation. I've also added some blue freshwater pearls which compliment the larger beads really well.

Here is what I came up with:

This necklace has acquired the name 'Blue Jeans' as the shade of blue in the polymer clay beads reminds me of blue denim.

My Creative Space - Working with Red

I've had a busy week but managed to scrape together a few hours in my creative space and the outcome was a eclectic asymmetrical red necklace named 'Rouge'.

The inspiration for this necklace developed entirely from one ceramic red bead ( almost like a ceramic version of a Matryoshka doll) which I used as part of a pendant at the base of the necklace. I then went through my stash of red and pulled together coral, glass, Cinnabar, Jade and Howlite to compliment the pendant and develop the rest of the necklace.

Here is 'Rouge'

My Creative Space - Red Earrings

On my desk today are some more new earrings - made today using coral and shell.

I've named these new earrings 'Moroccan Trail' -

I've used a combination of sterling silver and silver plated wire, different sized small nuggets of coral and round shell beads.

They have a bright ethnic feel and I can see them complimenting a summer dress or jeans with a casual shirt or tank.

My Creative Space - New Earrings

In my last post I mentioned how I've grown to like using wire and I've been focussing on the use of wire in earrings this week.

I made these earrings using freshwater pearls and fine sterling silver wire:

I've named them 'Snowflakes' and hope to list them in my Etsy shop soon.
What is happening in your creative space this week?

My Creative Space - New Earrings

The focus of this week for me is new earrings with an emphasis on wire wrapping.

Wire wrapping is meditative and I've grown to like it more and more as time passes - which totally surprises me.

Here is a pair of sterling silver and Malachite earrings I've named 'Monaco':

I adore the shades of green and the individual markings of each Malachite bead always draws me back to this unique semi-precious gemstone.

My Creative Space - Working with Blue

The weather in Sydney was overcast with drizzly rain today and I was itching to escape to my studio space.

I recently sourced these lovely faceted blue Chalcedony beads.

Here is my tray of beads set aside ready to go:

Here is the double strand necklace finished:

I also had a chance to make a similar necklace in olive green today and I plan to list both necklaces in either my Made It or Etsy store soon.

My Creative Space - Working with Blue

I make a lot of multi-strand necklaces as I've always loved their timeless appeal and that textured, layered look.

I have a big stash of blue glass beads and I've had them out on the desk this week.

Here is a new necklace called 'Beach'.

It has a lovely oval shaped toggle clasp too -

Blogtober has now drawn to a close and I've made it!

When I started out, I was looking forward to the challenge but not really sure that I'd squeeze in the time each day to write, take photos and put together a new post. I've learnt a lot along the way, discovered some great new blogs and become more organised in the process.

Thank you to anyone who has visited my blog during the month of October.

I hope to keep up the regular updates through November as I prepare a whole lot of new creations prior to Christmas. I'm looking forward to new creative challenges.

To anyone who remembers me blogging about 'Choctober' - the intention was good and I started out very strongly but I didn't quite make it!

I'm starting again for 'Chocvember'....

My Creative Space

I've been doing some more photography with a focus on necklaces.

Here is 'Poppies' - a long necklace that can be worn wrapped around the neck twice to form a double strand.

'Poppies' is made up of glass, resin and silver plated beads.
Some of the red beads are vintage beads which have been given a new lease of life and I'm happy they have found a new home alongside stunning green glass.

What is happening in your creative space this week?

My Creative Space - Working with Yellow

Selling handmade items online, means setting aside some time to do your photography.

I often spend the majority of my time making and playing with my supplies and before I know it, I've got a big stash of new earrings, necklaces and bracelets to photograph. They all require individual attention to try and get the photograph and lighting just right.

I made this yellow necklace a few weeks back and have been putting the finishing touches to my photos this week.

In terms of making this necklace, I had been staring at my yellow beads for weeks and knew I wanted to make something asymmetrical.

It started out as a long necklace with 2 accents of silver but developed into a double strand with a completely different look and focus. I often enjoy that type of creating the most - where ideas develop and flow without being too restricted.

My Creative Space - Working with Colour

There are times when my work table is full of different coloured beads and a necklace suddenly comes together from playing with colour. Here is 'Colour Splash' -

It has a drop pendant with 2 brass discs that are attached to a brass clasp (worn at the front of the necklace) and features gemstones, coral, glass and wooden beads in shades of green, yellow, brown and red.

I can see this necklace looking great with a long summer dress and sandals.
It is both earthy and vibrant!
The warm spring weather in Sydney today has me thinking of new clothes and accessories.

My Creative Space - New Earrings

Time in my creative space has been a bit tight this week. I've started a new necklace and finished this pair of earrings -

I've named them 'Blue Bonnets' and they feature sterling silver and navy blue semi-precious gemstones in the shape of teardrops. I'm itching to get some other creations started this week and I hope to return to my creative space tomorrow.

My Creative Space - New Earrings

Here is a pair of new earrings from my creative space this week.

The have acquired the name of 'Iceland' - cool, crisp and full of light!

My Creative Space - New Earrings

I've been working with silver wire and doing some wire wrapping around semi-precious gemstones and glass beads this week.

Here are a couple of blue wire wrapped earrings with some coral and sterling silver pairs made earlier in the week.

I've now got a stash of finished earrings that need to be photographed and uploaded to either my Made It or Etsy store... a spare few hours would be wonderful - I'm sure everyone can relate to how quickly the time passes when you get into a 'zone' of creativity. I sometimes get so lost in creativity that the day disappears before I realise!

My Creative Space - Working with Red/Blue/Brown

The combination of turquoise blue and red in a necklace always look fresh and summery together.... but add some brown and I think the result is extra depth and interest.

Here is a necklace made this week that has acquired the name of 'Carnivale' -