Productivity

As I have mentioned before I have recently become re-unemployed (re- because until recently I was a student...). This is very frustrating and depressing, especially as there are very few jobs about for SLTs of my experience (nil) at the moment. The NHS is making cuts left right and centre and jobs to apply for are few and far between.

Anyway - what has this got to do with making and selling jewellery? It means that I have a lot more time to play with beads, learn new techniques, use different materials! All positives - silver lining and all that. On a weekend away in Loughborough last week I visited the local bead shop (http://www.bojanglebeads.co.uk/) and had a lovely time browsing all of their gorgeous stock. In consequence I have acquired a lot more beads! So today I thought I should really concentrate on making some new lovelies so I can make back some of the money I spent!

Pinky&Perky - £8

Pearls, rose quartz and Czech glass beads combine to make this delightfully girly bracelet!

Woodland Wonder - £20

This bracelet uses the fashionable "sweetie" charm bracelet style and combines gorgeous glass leaves, silver plated leaf charms, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals for a beautiful dangly effect.

From Copper with Love - £15

This bracelet has a chunky antique copper chain and clasp and is decorated wtih pearlescent discs, stars and coral coloured freshwater pearls - gorgeous.

Pearly Queen Pendant - £15

Gorgeous Czech glass pearls are combined with freshwater pearls on silver rings to create a beautiful cluster pendant.

Pearly Queen Earrings - £6.50

Daisy Daisy Earrings - £7

Trinty brass Daisy charms and lilac glass leaves on silver ear wires make these earrings really cute.

Tulip Earrings - £6.50

Purple glass "trumpet" flowers, silver decorative headpins and fluorite beads - beautiful and classy.

Blue Hearted - £6

Blue foil lined glass hearts with iridescent red/turquoise glass beads on silver plated ear wires.

Colourful and Unusual

I was recently asked to make a necklace for a friend's sister. I was asked for something "colourful" and "unusual", with a lean towards bright and bold. I struggled to find anything suitable, until I was browsing this month's Bead Magazine (August/September Issue). On the front cover was a gorgeous necklace...intrigued I read on.

Made from Tagua slices, this necklace ticked all the boxes. Tagua is also known as vegetable ivory or tagua nut, tagua is the hard inner part of a seed that comes from ivory palms, a small family of trees that grow in the tropical rainforests of South America. I looked up the supplier and ordered two kits.

Below is the end result. I'm really happy with what I've made and am sorry to see it go out of my hands. I have made two though... (Must remember to sell my wares, not keep them!)

If you like what you see, contact me! The Tagua Necklace is £10 plus P&P.