Tassel Drop earrings (another variation)

A variation of my tassel drops but instead of tassels, I added gemstones to the bottom of the frame.  Crimson garnet diamond briolettes, golden citrine pan cut briolette, shades of orange carnelian and delicate yellow scapolite faceted rondelles blend together perfectly to form these sumptuous earrings with handmade teardrop shape frames made from sterling silver wire which I have shaped, hammered, sanded, polished and coiled and embellished with hammered swirl loops within the frames.

Citrine, Garnet, Carnelian & Scapolite Sterling Silver Tassel Drop Earrings

Now available to buy in my Etsy and Folksy online shops.

Prasiolite Spiral Bells Earrings (a simplified version)

A simplified version of my Spiral Bells design.  These beautiful earrings are now for sale in both of my online shops: Folksy and Etsy.

GREEN SPIRAL BELLS

Prasiolite Sterling Silver Earrings

K S Jewellery Designs now on Facebook

Yes, I know I'm slow on the up take... people keep saying I should have a Facebook Fan Page, so finally, I have.  Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/K-S-Jewellery-Designs/128806170529492

I still can't figure how to add the Facebook button to my blog (am getting help from a friend about this).  In the meantime, please click on the link above.

Chrysanthemum pendant for my mum

I made this flower pendant for my mum's birthday.  It was my attempt to go bigger and bolder, so I made it with thicker gauge wire.

BEE'S CHRYSANTHEMUM

Natural AquamarineSterling Silver Hammered Flower Pendant

This pendant is a variation of my Jewelled Flowers tutorial with double petals.  I shaped the petals around my round nose pliers and coiled very pale blue/green aquamarine beads around the centre. The pendant measures approximately 6cm in diameter.

Heather's jewellery

This post isn't about me.  It's about Heather, a lovely customer of my jewellery tutorials.  She recently sent me these photos of some of the jewellery she created following a few of my tutorials and I wanted to share them with you.  I get such a kick out of seeing what others create from my instructions and Heather's work is so beautiful and perfect.

 Thank you Heather for letting me share your work.

New Tutorial - Spiral Bells

I have been stuck at home for nearly a week as I tore a muscle in my calf when playing tennis last week.  So I made the most of not being able to move around much and got on and wrote a new tutorial based on my latest design. 

It is called 'Spiral Bells' and is now available for purchase in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

Also for sale are these Spiral Bells earrings that I made during the tutorial:

SKY SPIRAL BELLS

Blue Topaz Sterling Silver Earrings

And so is this Spiral Bells pendant which is a variation of the design (also explained in the tutorial).

 CRYSTAL SPIRAL BELL

Crystal Quartz Sterling Silver Pendant

Amethyst Spiral Bells

SPIRAL BELLS

Amethyst Sterling Silver Earrings

Although these earrings looked a simple design when I drew them in my sketchbook, they were actually quite tricky to create, especially making them symmetrical and an identical pair. I had several failed attempts (fortunately with silver plated wire!) where I tried to work out where to start, how much wire to spiral and where to bend.  These earrings have been made from sterling silver wire (shaped, hammered and polished to a high shine).

Despite the frustrations, it felt good to be creative again after a long summer's break and I'm pleased to announce that these earrings are now available for purchase in my Etsy and Folksy on-line shops.

Tassel Drop earrings - another version

Here is another version of tassel drop earrings.  This time the tassels are made from hammered wire.

Lemon Quartz Sterling Silver Wire Tassel Drop Earrings

I have had some time off from jewellery making this summer, however the kids went back to school today (boo hoo!) so I am looking forward to exploring the idea of tassels further. 

Please note: Neither of my tassel drop earrings shown on this blog are for sale yet as I am developing my designs with the aim of writing a new tutorial.  I hope to include some new jewellery creations in my online shops very soon.

Indian Summer - Tassel Drop Earrings

These earrings were inspired by a range of different earrings I saw worn by ladies attending an Indian wedding on TV recently. As I watched, I thought "Ooo... tassels! I've never made anything with tassels before".  My version of 'Indian earrings' are made with amethyst and rhodolite garnet and the tassels are left over pieces of chain from various necklace projects.

INDIAN SUMMER

Amethsyt & Rhodolite Garnet Sterling Silver Tassel Drop Earrings

Guess what? Yes, more flowers!

I know it's been absolutely ages since I blogged.  This time of year is always a busy time for me with lots going on at work, a number of family birthdays, the odd holiday and weekend away.... I could go on, but I won't.  I'm sure you get the idea. 

Anyway, I thought it was about time I shared some of my most recent flowers based on my Jewelled Flowers and Wire Flowers designs:

GENTLE DAISY

Prehnite, Fine Silver & Sterling Silver Hammered Flower Pendant

SOFT DAISY

Scapolite Sterling Silver Hammered Flower Pendant

PURPLE DAISY CHAIN

Amethyst Quartz Sterling Silver Wire Flower Necklace

PRETTY DAISY

Pink Amethyst, Fine Silver & Sterling Silver Hammered Flower Pendant

I don't make rings but I know a lady who can!

Ros of Jumping Junipers has just made me this amazing set of stacking rings. 

I met Ros through Jewelry Lessons and fell in love with her bright silver jewellery in her Etsy store.  I don't make rings so I can still treat myself to jewellery now and again without feeling too guilty!

I really recommend you take a look at her shop or follow her on Facebook.  Thank you Ros, I am wearing my rings with pride.

Flowers, flowers... and more flowers!

Recently two jewellery designers:  Bobbi (from My Wired Imagination) and Diana (aka Lady Mockingbird) made some wonderful flower jewellery as variations of a couple of my flower tutorials.  Their beautiful creations inspired me to revisit my flower designs... 

BLUE FLOWER TRIO

Kyanite Sterling Silver Wire Flower Necklace

VIOLET DAISY

Amethyst Sterling Silver Hammered Flower Pendant

My daisy flower was inspired by Bobbi's flowers where she has fixed a Swarovski sew on bead in the centre of the flower. It got me thinking how I could do this with a coin bead. These are Bobbi's wonderful flowers linked together as a bracelet.  I love the sparkly centres and the clever way she has joined the flowers together.

  

Flowered Link Bracelet

by Bobbi (My Wired Imagination)

And here is a beautiful copper flower pendant from Diana.  I love the way she has coiled the petals and the copper goes so perfectly with the green centre.

Copper Flower Pendant

by Diana (Lady Mockingbird)

Thank you to both designers for sharing their flowers with me.  I urge you to take a look at their jewellery designs in their Etsy shops by clicking on these links:
- My Wired Imagination
- Lady Mockingbird

Lace Ups Tutorial - latest wire jewellery tutorial from K S Jewellery Designs

I have just realised that I haven't yet blogged about my latest tutorial entitled 'Lace Ups' which is now available to purchase at Jewelry Lessons and in my Folksy and Etsy shops.

Spring Greens - Wire Goddesses Etsy Team Treasury

I have been fortunate to be included in quite a few Etsy treasuries recently... so I thought it was about time I created a treasury of my own.  This treasury I have entitled Spring Greens is a collection of the wonderful wirework of some the Wire Goddesses Etsy Team.

Flower setting on my camera (and others!)

My new camera has a special setting for 'taking more vivid shots of flowers'

I thought I would have a go at taking some photos of the flowers in my garden today and see what they turned out like.

I'm not sure whether the 'vivid flower' setting is really anything more than just putting the camera on to macro but this camera does make me smile with all the possibilities it appears to offer. 

It even has two separate settings; one for 'optimizing focus on the faces of dogs' and another completely different setting for 'optimizing focus on the faces of cats'.  Who would have thought dogs and cats were so different to photograph!

Wire Goddesses - Etsy team and treasuries

Recently I was invited to join an Etsy team entitled 'Wire Goddesses' and not only did the name make me smile and immediately intrigue me... but also look at the amazing collection of other wireworkers who have joined up so far...

I am honoured and excited to be among them and am looking forward to the journey with this team.

Two beautiful Etsy treasuries

I have been included in two wonderfully beautiful treasuries today.  The first one is entitled 'Green... with a splash of fire' and is curated by Jessi of DreamofaDream :

And the second one is entitled 'Love at first sight' curated by Aimee of Aimeesjewelry :

I feel honoured to be part of these collections and have been introduced to some very talented artists.

New camera... new earrings

ALLURE OF THE SEA
Moss Aquamarine Sterling Silver Blossom Drop Square Frame Earrings

Disaster! My beloved camera suddenly stopped working and I have had to send it off to be repaired. When I was told it would be about 6 weeks, I went into an absolute panic wondering how I would cope. After a few days of sadness, I decided I needed an interim camera and went out today to purchase a new one... and I have to admit, probably a 'better' one. Here are a couple of photos of two of my latest pairs of earrings I took whilst playing around with the settings on the camera.

CRIMSON LACE UPS

Garnet Sterling Silver Circle Frame Earrings

It's going to take some time for me to learn how to use this camera to get the best photos possible but I think I'm going to enjoy it!

Both of these earrings are now available in my online shops (see links on the right of this page).

New designs from K S Jewellery

It's been a while since I posted any new jewellery on my blog as I have been busy creating some new designs and working on variations. The first pieces come from my 'Lace Ups' range...

ROYAL LACE UPS

Amethyst & Rainbow Moonstone Sterling Silver Leaf Frame Pendant

OCEAN BLUE LACE UPS

Apatite Sterling Silver Circle Frame Pendant

PURPLE LACE UPS

Amethyst Sterling Silver Circle Frame Pendant

The other range I have been working on is my 'Blossom Drops' designs...

LABRADORITE BLOSSOM DROP

Oval Frame Sterling Silver Pendant

CELTIC LEAF DROPS

Peridot Sterling Silver Blossom Drop Leaf Frame Earrings

The last two pieces of jewellery have been sold (hooray!) and the Purple Lace Ups pendant was a present for a friend. However, the first two pendants are still for sale in my online shops.

Auction update - total raised by The Collective

Yay! I have just found out we raised a fantastic £726.75 for the Oxfam's Japan appeal which is excellent news! Well done to Mel of Kookie Designs for organising it.

The Collective - Charity Auction for Japan

The Collective are holding another fabulous auction to raise money for the Japan relief fund via OXFAM. The Auction will run from Monday 28th March 2PM GMT until Monday 4th April 8:30pm GMT. All of the money raised will be paid into a PayPal account which will then be paid onto the Japan fund via the OXFAM site. The auction has been efficiently organised by lovely Mel Poxon of KookieDesigns and this year we have some beautiful donations arranged into auction lots.

We have beautiful Bespoke Jewellery kindly donated by:

Joy Funnell ; Izzy of Flame and Glass; Barbara Lewis ; Emma Ralph; Lush Lampwork; Lori Anderson; KookieDesigns; Clair WolfeDesigns; Kristin Smith of K S Jewellery Designs; CeeGee Jewellery Designs ; C-Urchin, Anna Stassen Saukura Jewellery; Jemima Lumley

Beautiful handmade Textile donations made by:

Mich Yasue My Furoshiki; Lisa Pidgeon of dharmaflyer; Bev Hicklin of Hattie Rae and Atelier Glass and Lazy Daisy Glass

And Stunning Artisan Lampwork beads have been donated by the following Artists:

Ray Skene, Annelyse Taylor, Glittering Prize, Rebecca Weddell, moogin, c-urchin, Emma Ralph, Chameleon Designs , Clare Scott , Cheeky Cherubs , Sublime Beads and Flame and Glass

These photos are only a taste of what's on offer... so please pop over to the Auction page and have a look. It is easy to bid, just follow the e-mail link and state your name, auction lot number that you are bidding on and your bid amount in £ sterling please.

Thank you for your continued support of all of The Collective Artists and our Auction.