Beautiful Treasures: Iolite

I had my first crack at making a treasury list on Etsy today and was surprised how long it took. At least half an hour devoted solely to browsing gorgeous handmade things, you can imagine my distress!

I had the idea to build a series of treasuries devoted to the unsung beauties of the gemstone world. Maybe 'unsung' is the wrong word. Perhaps I just mean gemstones that I can't get enough of.

I started with iolite as it has always been one of my great favourites. I love the way that the colour shifts from inky indigo to honey brown depending which angle that you look at it from. I also love that Vikings used this colour shifting property as a way to navigate the seven seas. I can just imagine a great hulking sailor peering through a rough made spyglass with a chunky faceted iolite for a lens.
                                                     

Iolite ring,silver iolite ri... karenjohnsonde... $65	Labradorite, Iolite and Fres... SarahsBeeversu... $40	Romantic pink mystic quartz ... graciedot $32
Earrings with Lampwork Glass... AllAboutTheBea... $38	Cascade Iolite Earrings, Lon... AeridesDesigns $57	Iolite blue quartz earrings ... RedYuccaDesign... $39
Velvet....... Sterling Silve... RockCandyjewel... $40	Iolite Necklace with Karen H... TwoFeathersNY $98	Bib Necklace Iolite Necklace... AeridesDesigns $63
Gemstone and Sand Dollar Nec... wildharegems4 $16.5	Rose Cut Iolite Stud Earring... apostrophie $55	Iolite Briolette Drop Earrin... vickiorion $42
Blue Gemstone Earrings, Viol... EternoJewelry $64	Boli shah. Amethyst labrador... MimsyBorogrove... $49	Sterling Silver Pendant with... LavenderCottag... $38
Iolite Sterling Silver Neckl... WildAsters $40

 

 I also can't help but share my own recent design with iolite, a bracelet that mixes it up a bit with some of my other favourite gemstones:

 

 

 

Ingredients:

• Iolite
• Watermelon Tourmaline
• Amethyst
• Peridot
• Sterling Silver
• Thai Karen Silver

 

I haven't yet decided which unsung beauty to concentrate on next time. Perhaps yellow fluorite, or maybe Botswana agate, or moss amethyst...I'd welcome suggestions!

 



Back With New Beads...

Technology has failed me. Epically.

My boiler went pop and had a giant wee on my downstairs neighbour.

My computer gasped it's last breath and I am now typing at you from a charitably donated steampunk-esque contraption that is basically a bastard ensemble of ten also-expired computers. Still grateful for it though!

My tablet is teasing me. It won't turn on, then it sort of turns on, then it blinks on and straight off again. Make up your mind!

Whinge list over.

Now for new beads! These are going to be in my etsy shop shortly, and I have a giant stash of gemstones still waiting to be photographed (camera better not break!)

 

 Thank you for visiting me blog, it's nice to be back :)



Summer House Necklace

I received some delicious beads made by Szilvia Vihriala and had to have a play with them as soon as possible. I love her beads because they evoke a feeling of rustic innocence. Next time I buy a house I want it to look like one of these beads. Everything about her art is just happy!

Ingredients:

• Szilvia Vihriala house bead
• Premium Czech glass beads
• Brass stars, bird and lobster clasp
• Thai Karen spacers and heart charm
• Turquoise, charoite and garnet spacers
• Czech glass seed beads
• Sterling silver chain
• Handmade silver headpin

Twee Adventures in Polymer Clay

I've been reading a blog called Art Bead Scene for a little while and was inspired by their current monthly challenge to try and make some art beads with polymer clay. Monet's meadow is so beautiful and together with the fact that spring has finally turned up in the UK I felt that I just had to have a crack.

Ingredients:

• Polymer clay pendant beads
• Turquoise
• Magenta quartz
• Chrysoprase
• Thai Karen printed spacer
• Sterling silver and non-tarnish silver

This is my first real try with polymer clay and I'm pretty happy with the results. Also learned that you should tie up your hair when using varnish. Rookie mistake!

Next step: purchase a proper roller and a pasta machine. This be fun :)

The new bead shop is still a work in progress and now that the sun has popped out (briefly) I'm taking snaps of yummy gemstone beads.

Work In Progress...New Bead Shop!

So on this fine bank holiday break I have been working very hard on photographing oodles of beads for my new shop. Everything is going well and I'm loving the way the shop is coming together.

Today was all about the premium czech glass lovelies which gladly come in every colour of the rainbow. Here are some of my favourites:

More glass beads tomorrow, as long as the sun shines brightly enough (please!) and then on to the gemstones and pearls...

Are you meant to have this much fun working?