Amethyst Spiral Circle Frame Sterling Silver Pendant

Amethyst Spiral Circle Frame Sterling Silver Pendant

New in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

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.

Journey into the Centre

There are two reasons behind the name to this blog post. Firstly, because of the beautiful beads in the centre of each pendant - a stunning faceted amethyst coin bead and a natural aquamarine bead which has a feeling of a mystical world with swirls of coloured mist.

PURPLE LEAF

Amethyst Spiral Loop Leaf Frame Sterling Silver Pendant

And the second meaning behind the name is to do with my recent journey into wirework where I have been making lots of different framed pendants and earrings with spirals and loops surrounding the frame. This time I have ‘journeyed’ into the centre of the frame with loops and spirals and have been inspired to do so by the wonderful wirework of Diny of Natural Jewels whose work I have admired for a long time.

MISTY SWIRLS

Natural Aquamarine Spiral Circle Frame Sterling Silver Pendant

Both of these pendants are for sale in my online shops: Etsy and Folksy

Spiral Loop Teardrop Pendant - Variation

Another 'spiral loop frame' pendant with luscious deep pink rhodolite garnet faceted rondelles. Now available in my Folksy and Etsy shops.

Rhodolite Garnet Spiral Loop Teardrop Frame Sterling Silver Pendant

This is a variation of my Sea Maiden Pendant. I am really enjoying exploring and extending this technique/design, trying out variations. This pendant was planned to have a briolette in the centre of the teardrop frame but when I got to that part, I decided I liked it without.

As yet, this pendant has no name - any suggestions?

Free wire jewellery tutorial - Spiral Adorned

Not many of you will know but.... I have a free wire jewellery tutorial called 'Spiral Adorned' which until now has only been available on Jewelry Lessons.

The good news is that this tutorial has just been made available for FREE instant download from Corra's website (http://www.de-cors.com/) and here is the direct link to the tutorial: http://www.de-cors.com/product_info.php?products_id=92

New Listings on Etsy and Folksy

As promised, I have listed some of my recent jewellery pieces in my Etsy and Folksy shop including these pieces:

Purple Swirl Glass Bead & Sterling Silver Flower Pendant - featuring a lovely bead from Kanna Glass Studios and using my Wire Flower design

(NOW SOLD as I was writing this blog post!)

Fluorite Spiral Adorned Sterling Silver Earrings - these are like my Dive In earrings but this time the fluorite has a delicate purple and green colour and is adorned with a hammered spiral.

Blue Swirl Glass Bead & Sterling Silver Teardrop Pendant and Earrings - a repeated design based on my Green Swirl Bead & Sterling Silver Teardrop Pendant and Earrings and featuring more swirl beads from Kanna Glass Studios

Dive In - Fluorite Sterling Silver Spiral Adorned Earrings

I don't often 'name' my jewellery, opting for more of a 'describing' title. However, as I was photographing these earrings yesterday, I was taken down memory lane.... the colour of the fluorite beads and how the light shone through took me back to Koh Samui many years ago.... sitting on a little wooden boat looking down into the crystal clear turquoise sea with little coloured fishes darting around.... oh, happy days!

Dive In - Fluorite Sterling Silver Spiral Adorned Earrings

Find these in my Etsy shop now!

Blog giveaway - Spiral Loop Circular Pendant

This Sterling Silver Spiral Loop Circular Pendant is the latest piece from my developing 'Spiral Loop' range of jewellery...

... and here is your chance to win it in my second blog giveaway.

All you need to do is take a look at my Etsy store and leave a comment below this post to tell me which is your favourite item. I will randomly draw the winner's name from my pot a week from today (that's Monday 27th April) and post it on my blog. Please remember to check back to see if you won.

If you want to double your chances of winning - please put a post on your blog about my giveaway (send me a link to your post) and I will put your name in twice.

Good luck

Kristin :)

Spiral Loop Earwires

I just can't stay away from spirals and wanted to show you my latest design - my 'Spiral Loop Earwires'. They are so versatile as you can make up different dangles and slide them on and off the earwires really easily. Here are three variations.

These are my medium-sized earwires which are designed so the spiral sits on the earlobe
(a bit like studded earrings).

These ones are a little smaller and more dainty.

And these ones hang from the earlobe.

I took most of the above pictures a couple of evenings ago in the garden as the sun was going down and it was like a bit of magic had happened with the light.

Some of these earrings are now for sale in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

I love spirals

I am loving spirals at the moment and can't get enough of them! Back in February I posted pictures of some earrings that I had made with sterling silver spirals over gemstone beads - both of those sold really quickly, so I made some more.






Then I got thinking about gemstones over spirals and came up with my 'Wonky Spiral' design (some more wonky than others!).

The aquamarine spiral earrings here were my first attempt and, although I hammered the wire for strength, they are still a little delicate. I've kept these for myself.









My second attempt with ametrine included some wire wrapping at the top. I found this gave the earrings much more stability. However, in finalising the design, the spiral shape became quite wonky, hence the name. I've kept these for myself as well!








And here is the third attempt with sparkling faceted amethyst rondelles secured in the centre of the spirals. These are definitely not so wonky and I am happy how they turned out.

They are up for sale in my Folksy shop.

Sometimes life just takes over!

It's been a while since my last post. I've been meaning to blog but sometimes life just takes over.

First the positives - last week a very nice lady in Candlewick Green (a gift shop in Reigate, Surrey) has agreed to display some of my Fine Silver Texture Disc Earrings in her shop. Fingers crossed for some sales. As I had given her all my stock of my disc earrings and wanted to take my jewellery to show at another shop later that week, I spent the next few days creating some more. I had quite a production line going and, boy, did my fingers and thumbs ache afterwards from all the filing, brushing and burnishing. But as the saying goes... no pain no gain! As well as texture, I have also been experimenting with spirals wrapped over beads.

Then things took a turn on Saturday afternoon when my son broke a bone in his ankle and I spent 3 hours in casualty with him on Saturday night and a further 3 hours today at the fracture clinic. This is all quite depressing because he hurt his ankle last summer and spent over 3 weeks in plaster and now it's happened again but even worse. It looks like his lower leg will be in plaster for at least 4 weeks this time, poor lad.

As a result, I haven't really had any time to photograph my latest texture discs. I took a few photos this morning but have a lot more to take - hopefully tomorrow will bring some good light.