Jewellery Maker - #Blog2Win

My Top 5 Favourite JM Gemstone Strands

While browsing the Jewellery Maker Facebook page I came across this #Blog2Win competition, and just in time!  There was one problem though,  I could only pick my top 5 favourite JM gemstone strands and at the time I was choosing there were over 150 pages with 20 gemstone strands on each page!!  So, there was a long list, followed by a short list followed by my top 3 and then I was stuck.  I couldn't choose another two!! There are just so many stunning gemstone strands on the JM website!!  Finally after a number of hours I had my top 5, and here they are. 

Number 1 - 35cts Lemon Quartz Graduated Concave Cut Pears

Lemon Quartz JM Webpage

Approx from 18x13mm to 21x15mm
3 pieces

Has anyone seen the film 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'?  For those who haven't it stars Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, and towards the end of the film they attend a very lavish and posh party held by a diamond company called DeLauer.  The guests at the party get to loan beautiful jewellery for the event. Upon entering the party, Kate's character, Andie, is given a jaw dropping diamond necklace called Isadora, to wear.  The moment I saw this strand I was reminded of Isadora and fell in love with the idea of making myself a similar necklace.  I'd have no idea what I would wear it with or where I would wear it.  Maybe I'd just prance around my bedroom in a posh frock pretending I'm in the movies!

Number 2 - 35cts Green Amethyst Graduated Concave Cut Drops

Green Amethyst JM Webpage

Each stone is approximately from 13 to 19mm

3 pieces

I know, I know, they're very similar to the ones above but how could I leave them out of this list.  Look at the sparkle!  Imagine the beautiful necklaces you could make with them!  I think any woman would feel like royalty wearing a necklace boasting one of these beauties.  The green is so subdue they almost look like big glistening diamonds.

Number 3 - 30cts London Blue Topaz Graduated Faceted Pairs

London Blue Topaz JM Webpage

Each stone is approximately from 5x3 to 9x6mm

16cm strand

Topaz, my birthstone, just had to be on my list so I am so glad I found these beauties. The colour is amazing.  I imagine turning these in to beautiful drop earrings.  It would be divine if I could somehow frame them in diamonds (and afford diamonds in the first place)!

These were also my boyfriend's favourites.  (Yes, I did subject him to hours of looking at pictures of gemstones and listening to me yammering on about them)!

Number 4 - 50cts Green Amethyst Graduated Concave Pears

Green Amethyst Pears JM Webpage

Each stone is approximately from 18x9 to 16x12mm

16cm strand

Again, it was the diamond appeal that drew me to these.  Any hint of green that may be there is so faint they look almost clear.  I only wish the hole was centre drilled so that I could make a wire wrapped ring with one of these.  I'm sure it's doable the way they are but I think it's beyond my skill.  (Must keep practicing).

Number 5 - 35cts Multi-Colour Beryl Graduated Faceted Drops

Multi-Colour Beryl JM Webpage

Each stone is approximately 10x6 to 11x7mm

21cm strand

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And finally, I found these.  I actually missed these the first time around, maybe they were added after my first search, who knows.  I'm glad I stumbled across them, although I'm torn between how I would use them.   They look so beautiful strung together on this strand that I would be tempted just to restring it with maybe only one spacer between each gem and wear it as a necklace. The other option, of course, would be to pair the gems up and make beautiful drop earrings.  Might just have to buy two strands!!

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The best thing about all these strands though is that every bit can be used in jewellery making, not just the beads.  I've seen (albeit, very talented) designers on JM use the tassels in necklaces and earrings, the spacers used to set the beads apart could be used as spacers in your own pieces, even the string can be recycled to make your own necklaces and bracelets.  Nothing goes to waste, which I think is something every crafter can appreciate.

The strangest thing about all these strands is that they all consist of drops roughly the same shape.  Now this in itself is not strange, but the fact that I usually avoid this type of bead when purchasing is.  I always go for the safe option of a nice round bead.  To work with, I prefer a round bead as I feel they lend themselves easily to a variety of different styles and they are so easy to work with.  Drops, on the other hand, have a more sophisticated (and expensive) look and deserve to be made into stunning eye catching jewellery to be worn at fancy events.  I'm sure I'm capable of making this type of jewellery, but the gems I have similar to these have been in my stash forever.  I can never figure out what exactly I want to do with them.  I either get an overload of ideas or I'm stumped. You wouldn't believe how many strands from the gems of distinction range I have that I haven't touched.  They're still in their plastic wrappers, tassels attached!!  When I get home I think I'll do a series of blog posts on them and document their transformation from gems of distinction strands into (hopefully) beautiful pieces of jewellery (finally)!

Quilling

So as you know I'm living in Vietnam at the moment and didn't bring my jewellery making stuff with me. Supplies can be purchased here but it involves walking around a packed market, a lot of haggling and dealing with the language barrier.  So I put it off and put it off some more and now I'm leaving in three weeks.  However, I didn't completely give up on creating things while being here.  In fact I've learnt two new skills: crocheting and quilling.  Crocheting is something I think everyone has heard of.  I'd been tempted by it a few times before and I can already knit.  However, quilling was something I had never heard of, until I saw this card in a tourist shop in the backpacker's area of Saigon:

On the back there is a brief history and description of quilling.  I read it and thought I can do that.

So off I went to the stationary shop in search of some coloured paper, a craft knife and glue.  I planned to use a cocktail stick instead of a quilling needle as I had little hope of finding one.  Within seconds of walking into the shop I had found a basket full of packets of pre-cut strips of paper, labelled quilling.  At this point I though if they are selling the paper they might just have a needle.  After a quick miming act, the sales assistant knew exactly what I was after and low and behold they had some.  I exited the shop with a needle, pre-cut strips and glue.  A new hobby all for less than £3!!

Watch this space for some quilling creations!!!

How I got in to Jewellery Making - A Trip to Amsterdam

JUNE 2014 - Just found this post in my drafts from over a year ago!!  Can't believe I forgot to post it.  Well, better late than never!!

MAY 2013 -  Again, some terrible blogging from me.  So much for keeping on top of it, but in my defense I do have three posts planned, so hopefully I'll get better.

I thought with this post I'd tell you a little bit about how I got into jewellery making, rather than showcase my items.

Now I know what you're thinking, "What's a trip to Amsterdam got to do with starting to make jewellery?".  

Well 3 years ago I visited Amsterdam with friends and I found, in my guide book, details of a shop, called Beadies, where you could make your own jewellery. It enticed me with promises of thousands upon thousands of beautiful beads, charms and chains.  Instantly it was on my wishlist of things to see and do while in Amsterdam.  When I finally made it there after a lot of walking and getting lost I was not disappointed.  I was however overwhelmed and I just could not decide what to make.  After filling my bead board multiple times I decided it was obviously something I wanted to try out on a bigger scale, so I put everything back and promised myself I would hit ebay for supplies when I got home.  It took me a year after that to actually get around to buying supplies and it all started with a few simple pendants and waxed black cotton cord, but quite quickly progressed to the studio full of beads, charms, cords, findings, gems, resin, clay, etc I have now.

On a second trip to Amsterdam I went back to the little store to purchase something and take this picture.  It was still as amazing as the first time.  Colour coordinated draws of beads, bowls upon bowls of charms and yards upon yards of stringing materials.  It is a jewellery makers dream.  I only wish my crafting room looked like the inside of this shop.  I hope one day it will.

Thanks for inspiring me, Beadies.

My Favourite Gemstone - Lapis Lazuli

A Lapis Lazuli I made and sold over a year ago.

Despite Topaz being my birthstone, from the moment I saw Lapis Lazuli I was drawn in.  It intrigued me as has the topic of Ancient Egypt for so many years.  Lapis Lazuli was the gemstone of choice for the Ancient Egyptians.  The eyebrows of Tutankhaumn's funeral mask are made of Lapis Lazuli, Cleopatra (apparently) used powdered Lapis as eyeshadow and there have been hundreds of Egyptian amulets, ornaments and pieces of jewellery excavated over the years.  It seems only fitting that I would be drawn to Lapis Lazuli after being mildly obsessed with Anicent Egypt as a child (oh, who am I kidding?) and as an adult.

Lapis Lazuli is mainly mined in Afghanistan and as you can see it is an intense blue colour with lots of lovely specks of gold, and occasionally silver.  Lapis Lazuli is not one single mineral, but a combination of three.  It consists of Lazurite, Calcite and Pyrite.  It is the pyrite that gives it the wonderful shimmers of gold.

Now, apparently, all gemstones have some healing powers and special meanings.  I'm not dismissing that and I actually enjoy that aspect a little, even if I don't quite 100% believe in it, however, I can't find any reliable information on Lapis Lazuli.  The first 3 articles I read all stated different meanings and healing powers, so I thought I best not speculate and instead leave it to you to find out and decide, if you wish.

Lapis Lazuli Chips Memory Wire Bracelet.

Hiatus

Well 2013 was a bit of a dry year on my blogging front, but to be honest it was a bit of a dry year on my jewellery making front too, since I was busy planning for and moving too Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!!

However, now the adventure is coming to an end and I will be home in two months, so I decided this was a good time to start getting my blog up and running again.

Over the past year I've had a lot of time to think about my jewellery making and my business.  Since arriving in HCMC I haven't made a single piece of jewellery, but I haven't stopped thinking about it or having ideas and this has taught me that it isn't a fad.  I thought by now I would have long forgotten about jewellery making but despite not making a single piece I have still spent a number of hours each week in that world. I've either been browsing pinterest, watching Jewellery Maker, reading jewellery related articles, designing pieces or thinking how I can improve on my business.  Jewellery making has clearly become a steady part of my life.

So, over the next few weeks (while I prepare to return to the UK) I plan to write a few posts to share what I love about jewellery making.  I'm also planning on discussing some of my business ideas.  I'd also love to hear some hints and tips from other people who also own small online business.  It would be great to find out what works well for other sellers and combine a list to help other business grow too.