Friday 15 July 2011

Holiday jewellery making

Hello! I have been away for a few days staying with my daughter in Essex. It's been a busy week after my 3 day metal clay course but such fun and beats working. Today we went to Mersea, renowned for its oysters. I have taken some photos and will write a post re that, hopefully next week, as it was such a great place and their oysters are out of this world.The sun shone and we even walked on the beach collecting shells...bliss!

Today though I am finally getting round to telling you about my holiday jewellery makes. First of all I know you wanted to see what I made with my alabaster beads in this post which I bought in Volterra. I bought 5 beads, 4 for 2 pairs of earring and one to make a new charm for my holiday bracelet.


So here are the earrings.




 I used pretty silver plated bead caps, together with some Swarovski bicones, sterling silver daisy spacer beads and finished them off with some sterling silver ear wires. They are a great neutral colour to wear and look good during the day or for an evening outfit.











I also have a holiday charm bracelet I made a few years back using bronze links I bought and put together. I like using bronze and copper in my jewellery making, bronze also looks good on summer skin.
Here is my existing bracelet.
There are charms on here I bought in Sicily, Italy and Rhodes and also a couple of summery beads I added bead caps to and wire wrapped.



Here is one of the alabaster beads. I added copper bead caps and wired it up with bronze wire.













I also bought a fun enameled lucky chili pepper in San Gimignano and a silver charm from the Cathedral in Sienna.








I added all these to my bracelet...
And this is how my bracelet looks now, it's filling up isn't it?

So I can now hear you asking what happened to the other 2 alabaster beads. Well, when I  made up the 2nd pair of earrings, which I was going to sell in my Etsy shop I was disappointed to find after making them that one of the beads has a very slightly misaligned hole. I know a lot of people would not even mention or notice it, but my quality control is very strict and I do not feel I could sell it. Instead I have made up a very different pair of earrings for my shop, take a peep here. I have been working on a commission and made up these at the same time with some lovely one of a kind floral glass lampwork beads.

Now there is a happy ending to this as I decided I will instead offer these earrings as a giveaway  for my 1st Bloggerversary which is coming up on 26th July. I will be in Paris at the time but I will schedule it to post that day.
Anyone who enters a comment on that post will be put into my draw. So put the date in your diary.
I am sure you now want to see them.....
They are almost identical to mine but these have 3 sterling silver daisy spacers if you look closely!

 In the meantime I will be back with hopefully a couple of posts before I go to Paris, yes I must definitely share my metal clay work too. Must dash, off to dancing now...it's the quick step and boy is it quick!
Have a lovely weekend everyone and thanks as always for visiting me here. It's always lovely to have your visits and read your kind comments.

Bye for now,

Jane x

20 comments:

  1. Your charm bracelet is lovely Jane, I am very fond of bronze jewellery myself.
    Both sets of earrings are gorgeous and I will definitely be back for the giveaway!
    Have a lovely weekend,
    Vivienne x

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  2. Hi Jane, Oh, do I love your charm bracelet. I love jewelry and I especially love charms!!! You did a wonderful job on the earrings, they are so pretty. I love to buy charms and add them to necklaces, too. Awaiting my lovely keychain, not yet, but I will let you know. Mail is slow across the pond! Have a wonderful weekend. xoRobin❤

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  3. Dear Jane,

    What a lovely pair(s) of earrings you made! And that bracelet is just wonderful, full of special memories, I love it! I'm slowly adding my nomination (as I cannot MAKE my own jewellery) with special charms for special occasions.

    And I'll be lurking around here for that giveaway too, definitely!

    Have a great weekend, and sunshine to you (and Billy!)!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  4. Hello ladies...great to hear from you ..

    Glad to hear you are another fan of bronze jewellery Vivienne, have a lovely weekend too.

    Let's hope your parcel arrives soon Robin but I must admit it tends to take a couple of weeks for mail to cross the pond. Snail mail eh. Enjoy your weekend.

    Thanks Mia, charms are great for holiday memories, each one has a different meaning. We are expecting a rather wet weekend but really can't complain as today has been glorious. Billy sends a purr to you.

    Jane x

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  5. Beautiful work Jane...and how lovely to have a bracelet full of special holiday keepsakes....
    You were also drawn out of our basket of blog favourites this morning for 'Lola's Blog of the Week'....I have just linked up!
    Hope you have a great weekend,
    Susan x
    P.S Will definitely keep a look out for your lovely giveaway!...

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  6. It's my lucky day Susan, thanks so much and do please come back for my giveaway on 26th July.
    After a stinky wet day the sun has finally peeped through here!
    Enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

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  7. Jane, the bead earrings are gorgeous, can't wait for the giveaway! I also have a charm bracelet, it's gold, and I got the bracelet and first charm when I was diagnosed with diabetes and I decided if I had to wear a medic alert charm, well by golly I'd get a cool gold one. :-) I now have it full of charms.. and gold coins. I love it.
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. It's coming up on 26th Teresa..keep watching ;0) I still have an old silver charm bracelet I had as a little girl too. Your's sounds a like a fun way to wear a medic alert! Enjoy your weekend, it's poured with rain here ALL day, hope the sun shines for you.
    Jane x

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  9. What stunning designs. I am so glad to have found your blog thanks to Mary Jane's Tearoom.

    I shall be back!

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  10. Hi and a very warm welcome here. Thanks for your kind comments and I hope to see you again really soon.
    Jane x

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  11. Gorgeous! Love those alabaster beads. What a great giveaway too

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  12. Thank you, they are gorgeous alabaster...and from the place where they are actually mined. Lovely to see you here, do come back for my giveaway, everyone is welcome!
    Jane x

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  13. Will look out for your giveaway, Jane, those ear rings are lovely! It's so nice that you have collected lots of charms from your travels and added them to your bracelet. I love little charms and have often sewn them on to embroideries and samplers. Have a lovely day, whatever the weather is doing where you are!
    Helen x

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  14. Hi Helen , welcome back from your holiday. It's been pouring with rain here today. I have been gardening between the deluges!
    Jane x

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  15. So beautiful! I love all of these lovely pieces, but I knew I would like your earrings when I saw the beads in your earlier post. Your charm bracelet is such a great reminder of fun times. Happy travels!

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  16. I'm glad you like them Linda, if you put your name in the hat next week you may even be lucky enough to win a pair! Happy Sunday
    Jane x

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  17. Hi Jane, enjoy your travel to magic Paris! All the jewelleries you have made, are so beatiful! Would be lovely to win that pair of earrings!
    Have a great week!
    xxx Teje

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  18. Hi Teje, only 4 days to go..I am getting very excited!
    Jane x

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  19. Wow, Jane! The earrings and your wonderful bracelet are treasures! I am jealous...Paris! YAY for you and I do hope you have a marvelous time..I'm sure you will come home with treasures too. : ) I will mark your bloggoversary on my calendar! Always so very kind of you to stop by..you are just the nicest! Have a great week ahead!

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  20. Hi Shirley, nearly time to pack, we are very excited! Thanks for your visit and kind words and yes put my bloggerversary in your diary!
    Jane x

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