Hello again. Not many more today, just a pair of earrings, a pale grey necklace made with glass pearls and silver coloured curved tubes, which turned out to be stunning - it has matching earrings too, and a simply elegant beaded black necklace. Hope you like them as much as I do. x

One of my favourites of the week is this necklace and earring set made from black glass pearls in 2 sizes, and jet lustre glass cubes, with one of those pendants that I was looking for inspiration for use. This was so popular, I instantly sold 3, so had to come home form work, and get busy making the second and third, and guess what, there was only one more pendant in the shop, so I made 2 necklaces up, but so far have left one without the pendant, hoping that more come in to the shop. Guess I'll be spending my days off checking out that shop. I need 3 more, because one of my customers has asked for large earrings, using the same pendants as the focus of the earring.

The next is an unfinished piece. It is made with natural stone. I used a technique new to me for this one, and wrapped a large stone with wire, to use as a pendant, then used cylinder shaped pieces to form the bottom of a necklace. It has sterling silver jump rings on each side, so that it can be attached to a sterling silver chain.

A set of earrings and necklace. Inspired by Neopolitan ice cream, which, when I was making the items, I thought was strawberry, vanilla and mint, hence made with pink, pearl and pale green glass beads. Once finished I remembered that that ice cream is vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. Oh well, I think the set looks lovely anyway.

And finally some earrings. one of the girls I work with asked for a simple pair of earrings with 3 white glass pearls. I made 2 pairs, one hanging from a traditional earring finding, the other from an earring I made. Both look equally sophistic. I also made a pair of earrings using 3 different coloured gold glass beads.

Yesterday was a fairly good day, I made only 2 necklaces, and a pair of earrings but time was limited. the set of necklace and earrings was my favourite of the day. I found the faceted amethyst glass beads by chance at my local craft store, and they were reduced in price. I used them with antique silver plated lantern beads and the result is a traditional looking set, in my view - what do you think?

The second was made using silver coloured chain, pink and purple ribbon and charms and beads. It is versatile in that it can be worn short around the neck, wrapped twice around the wrist, or, with an included extension chain, can be worn longer around the neck. I love it for the summer.

Today was a different day. My last day off, before going back to work for a set of 4 shifts, I thought I would work hard on my jewellery and get lots of new designs planned and made. However, I got everything out on my table, and just looked at it for several hours, and had no idea what to do at all. Eventually, I made 2 necklaces to accommodate pendants that I had bought. One using gunmetal grey coloured glass seed and bugle beads, holding a metal square pendant with a heart embossed on to it. I used 3 seed beads and 1 bugle bead, alternating these to make the chain, and was very pleased with the result.

For the second, I used gold coloured seed beads with filigree dangles, and mint green glass pearls to make the chain, accommodating a green and natural coloured printed shell pendant. I love both of these designs.

I now have a number of pendants left, and need inspiration for how to use them. Take a look above, maybe some of you have ideas to make them look good. I'll be away from the site for a few days, thanks to my 'real' job, but keep looking. I'll be back very soon. X

This week, I have concentrated on necklace and earring sets. i decided that I liked some of the necklaces I did a few weeks ago, where one side of the necklace is different to the other side. I made 3 sets this week. The first was made with amethyst coloured shell hoops, and rose gold coloured glass beads in 2 sizes.

The second is made with small white glass beads, pale grey shell discs, and turquoise Swarovski crystals. It has antique silver coloured pendant, with turquoise stones in it.

The third was made with blue flat round millifiore beads, and silver coloured hoops. These beads let the light shine through them, so the earrings look lovely in the light.

I also made a pair of earrings and a pendant for a friend for her birthday, using Swarovski crystals and sterling silver findings. She loved them!

My Own Piece

So, finally I have time to put the promised photos on of my own 'birds in flight' necklace in the making. First, the gathered 'ingredients'. I hadn't yet decided whether to use the shiny silver chain, or the duller one.

Next, half way there, the eye pins are made and the pearls ready to use. I chose to use the more dull chain, it looked best with the birds.

The finished product! See it worn on my photos at the top, of the page.

Today I have concentrated my efforts on earrings, and made one bracelet. The long earrings in topaz and gold colours and silver/blue were also inspired by a photograph in 'Beadstyle' magazine and ordered by a friend at work. They are made using necklace clasps, and I particularly like the silver blue ones, which include a fancier clasp. The gold ones are not quite finished, as I ran out of gold earring pins, and have not had time to shop for more yet.

This bracelet was also inspired by a photo in the same magazine. Another friend at work asked me to attempt to make one for her, and I am pleased with the result.

Finally a few more pairs of earrings, some that I managed to make today, some that I had already made.

Now I am going to make myself a 'Birds in Flight' necklace. I intended to make only one of these for myself, but before it was already made 2 people requested one, then once made I got a third order. Very successful. I am going to make mine in a different colour, and will take photographs at various steps along the way.

Yesterday I decided to make myself a set of jewellery. I have been losing weight recently, and with a 15lb loss, I was able to fit into a dress that I bought some time ago, but never wore, because I got too big for it, so I made a nice set of jewellery with black and cream beads, and Swarovski crystals, to match the dress, and felt great going out for a meal with my hubby dressed in my dress and new jewels.

I also made another two jewellery sets, the first for a friend who had requested something with hearts, so I made a necklace and earrings with silver hearts, and crystals for her, using seed beads to make the chain, which I think was quite effective, because the whole chain sparkles in the light.

The second I made using 10mm Swarovski crystals in a beautiful red/orange colour. I saw these crystals when out shopping for other things, and just had to buy them. I bought 3, and had no idea what to make with them once I had them. I felt that they needed a simple design, so that the design did not detract from the beauty of the crystals, so I strung one alongside white glass beads, and used the other 2 for earrings, hanging each with a simple white glass pearl.