Drawings to earrings
I love doing these drawings which are a mixture of watercolour and pastel. They have inspired my latest collection of earrings.
In the pair of earrings pictured below the drawing, I have played around with mixing blue and green in the background. Quite a subtle yet lovely effect.
From blog to gallery
I have decided to turn this section into a gallery. I was shocked to see the last date on a blog I wrote and it was written in 2024. Obviousy keeping up to date with writing mustn’t be my thing. So, perhaps I should change this section into photos, maybe I can keep up to date with that.
A thing for rings
Spiral ring
Heart ring
Flower rings
Rings have a unique ability to express individuality and style, making them a popular choice in jewellery design. A diverse collection can include whimsical floral patterns that evoke a sense of nature and simplicity, alongside heart-shaped designs that convey sentiment and love. Spirals can add an element of intrigue, symbolising eternity and movement.
The process of creating these rings is greatly satisfying, as each design offers a different experience. Flower rings might involve intricate detailing and soft curves, while heart rings can present opportunities for personalisation through engravings or texture. Spirals can be crafted in a way that embraces both fluidity and strength, showcasing the versatility of materials and techniques.
With each piece, there is a valuable opportunity to explore artistry and craftsmanship. As the bench fills up with these intricate designs, it reflects creativity and a passion for unique expressions in jewellery. Embracing my current fascination with rings is leading to an inspiring journey of discovery and innovation in my work.
Holiday Refresh
Carey’s Hut. Southland Region
Gemstone Beach
Beautiful stones from Gemstone Beach
Just returned from a holiday on the South Island of New Zealand. what a place, I’ve hiked there numerous times, but hadn’t been to this particular area before. So beautiful!
Being a Queenslander and living on the Sunshine Coast, snow is not something we ever see. It was breathtaking one morning to wake up to a dusting of snow on the mountains surrounding where we stayed overnight. We started out on the hike camping overnight, but by day three, it had become extremely cold, I needed more layers for overnight, so we ended up staying in huts. Have come back feeling so refreshed and ready to start creating again.
After the hike, we had some down time in this lovely little town called Orepuki. From there we just fossicked around the beaches, did a drive to see sea lions and generally just relaxed.
We spent a lot of time sitting on a beach appropriately named Gemstone Beach. I had to limit my time there as there were too many beautiful stones, the pale green ones being my favourite. Somes of the ones I collected were just the right shape to set into a pendant or a ring, no polishing or cutting needed.
You will soon see some of my creations either here or on instagram
From this to this…
Every jeweller encounters a surplus of scrap metal in their craft. What makes working with silver or gold particularly rewarding is the ability to repurpose every last sliver. When faced with an accumulation of scrap, I choose to melt it down, roll it through my rolling mill to form it into thin sheets, and fashion it into a new exquisite pendant.
This pendant is fresh from my workbench this week, so will be adding it to my website soon.
One red flower amongst the bunch
Part of my grunge flower series, this is a unique pendant featuring a bold red enamel flower nestled among sterling silver blooms.
This design draws inspiration from the striking imagery of black and white photos adorned with a single burst of vivid color, evoking a sense of contrast and artistry.
Creating unique pendants within a series presents its own set of challenges. Each piece requires careful consideration of design elements, materials, and techniques to ensure that it stands distinct from the others while still maintaining a cohesive collection. The process demands a high level of creativity and craftsmanship to continually produce new and individual works of art.
The first domed pendant
From my archive of photos is my first domed pendant which contained a cabochon of dichroic glass, claw set into the bottom dome, then I stitched it to the top dome with sterling silver wire.
I love making the domed pendants, but I’m not sure why I started making them. I think I liked the idea of something hidden inside it. This paved the way to my later series that have featured flowers and leaves, I call them either a hidden garden series or a secret garden series.
I started making the dichroic glass cabochons as I wanted to add a pop of colour to my work, this started an even bigger obsession of kiln forming glass, but that’s another story though.
I have been making the domed pendants for about 10 years and have probably made at least one hundred unique pendants in that time. My mission is to keep making them and I have ideas for hidden butterflies and of course more flowers.