Beading for pleasure

This morning I have been reading through wonderful posts on some of the other blogs I follow and it reminded me that there is so much out there in the beading / jewellery world that I have yet to discover and try my hand at, but it also reminded me that I have actually created so many items of jewellery over the last 19 years, some I have continued with either because I want to include them in my jewellery range as they are so unique or because they are what other people like to wear and therefore will hopefully buy - I am after all a business! Sometimes though beading just has to be for fun and for me. This necklace and bracelet, I made several years ago and is a set that gets worn on many special occasions. It is not a design I re-create too often as it is time consuming and I don't believe cost effective, but it is something I love wearing. As far as bead work is concerned it is really quite basic. One day I would love to make a piece that is much more elaborate than this and after reading the other posts earlier I don't think that day is too far off - but for now this will have to do!

 

 

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Personalised jewellery

I have had a couple of specific requests for personalised jewellery recently, so I though it might be worth sharing them:
A couple of months ago I was asked to make a bracelet with 'type 1 diabetic' on so having sourced letter beads which also had matching numbers I made a bracelet on pink leather threading the letter beads along with purple beads to meet my clients specifications. Having made that I then had a play with the beads to see how else I could have made it - I came up with this design which I think works quite well.

Then earlier this month I was asked to make a child's name bracelet, in a similar style to one previously bought from somewhere else, but her child had out grown. so having been shown the photo of the smaller bracelet I came up with a new design.
Having made one I thought I should make another, again slightly different from the original to show you the general idea.

I am happy to make items to order - if you request an item of jewellery from me that needs to be made up I will always photograph the finished item to show you before I post it to you as no two items will be the same

handmade bespoke jewellery by Angela Smith

Diamante heart wedding jewellery

Introducing a completed new set of wedding jewellery designed and made this morning.

wedding jewellery set, tiara band, necklace, earrings, made with Swarovski crystal pearls, tiny glass beads and a diamante heart

tiara band with Swarovski crystal pearls, tiny glass beads and a diamante heart

 

necklace made with swarovski crystal pearls, tiny glass beads and a diamante heart - sterling silver clasp

earrings made with Swarovski crystal pearls, tiny glass beads and diamante hearts with silver plate ear hooks or alternatively (below) a second pair made without the diamante hearts

handmade bespoke jewellery by Angela Smith

Competition Time

I have been wanting to run a competition on this blog for quite a while, I hosted a giveaway a couple of years ago with every intention of doing others but I never quite managed it until now.
The great news is that today the prize has been generously donated by The Bead Shop Manchester and is one I hope you will find very exciting. As I have often said before, my jewellery making journey started with a kit to make 6 pairs of earrings, so based on my simple beginnings I have selected a prize for this competition that will provide you with much much more than beads for just 6 pairs of earrings! so without further ado - let me show you the prize -
The lucky winner of this competition will win the following



20 silver plate earwires

20 gold plate earwires

             

25 silver plate head pins



25 gold plate headpins


         

2 each of 10 different designs of 15mm handpainted round glass beads (design may vary from the bead pictured above)


     
100 4mm gold plate round metal beads  and 100 4mm champagne plate round metal beads

         

50 4mm                                  and     50 6mm czech faceted round glass mix

       

1 beadsmith beadsoup lavender garden and  1 beadsmith beadsoup vineyard


       

1 pr of 4 in 1 pliers               and  'The basics of bead Stringing' which has a page on earring making but also then hopefully encourage you to take your beading journey further.

So that is it -  I hope you agree this is a fantastic prize.

Right how do you win it?

I am offering you up to three chances of winning this fantastic prize

Firstly

Which of my jewellery blog posts do you like best and why? – have a look through my blog and select a post.

Entry 1 – follow this blog and comment on your favourite post. Tell me why you like the post

For a second entry into the competition proceed to

Entry no 2 - like the Bead Shop Manchester on facebook

then share on your facebook page that

‘I have liked The Bead Shop Manchester and have entered the competition on Angela Smith's jewellery blog www.angelasmithjewellery.blogspot.co.uk to win everything I need to start making beaded earrings’

and for a third entry into the competition proceed to

Entry no 3 - like my jewellery page on facebook

then share on your facebook page that

I have liked Angela Smith Jewellery and have entered the competition on Angela Smith's jewellery blog www.angelasmithjewellery.blogspot.co.uk to win everything I need to start making beaded earrings’

Once you have completed chance 1, 2 & or 3 leave a comment on this post to confirm how many entries you are entitled to, for example ‘I am now following your blog and I have commented on a post, I have liked and shared The Bead Shop Manchester on Facebook and I have liked and shared your jewellery page on facebook’

if you are already following this blog &/or liking either of the facebook pages, your comment on this blog should read something along the lines of .....

'I am already following your blog and have commented on a post, I am already a liker of The Bead Shop Manchester's Facebook page and I have now shared it on my page, and I am already a liker of your jewellery page and have now shared it on my page'

 

This competition is open to everyone including my overseas readers

The closing date for this competition is Thursday 4th April, the winner will be selected randomly from everyone who has commented on this post after fulfilling at least one of the entry requirements and the prize will then be sent out as soon as I have obtained a postal address for the winner, which I will then pass on to the Bead Shop in Manchester.

Enjoy browsing through my blog - I look forward to reading your comments and good luck

All that remains for me to do now is to thank the Bead Shop Manchester for their generosity in providing this wonderful prize

Foiled glass and velveteen

A large bag of foiled glass arrived in the post yesterday, and I couldn't resist having a play - I have had the velveteen in my workroom for such a delivery and I think these look just great.

foiled glass beads and jet Swarovski crystals

Foiled glass beads and jet Swarovski crystals

Foiled glass beads, turquoise beads and jet Swarovski crystals

 

I occasionally have people look at my jewellery and say how they can't get on with wearing necklaces with bare wire such as floating necklaces because the tigertail irritates their skin - this velveteen covers the wire so it will be a lot more comfortable for those people to wear - I will only use it on some of the heavier necklace designs as it is too thick to place alongside the more delicate beads
These three necklaces will be heading to the Pop Up Shop in Newport unless someone claims them beforehand.

handmade jewellery designs by Angela Smith

New items in my blog shop today - freshwater pearl set

Today I have added this stunning blue and grey freshwater pearl 18 inch necklace and 8 inch bracelet 'Grace' to my blog shop

 

 

 

 you have the option to buy them individually or as the set.

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

New item in my blog shop - name necklace - 'Amelia'

I have just added a name necklace to my blog shop  - the name on the necklace is Amelia, but I can of course make name necklaces to order with any name or nickname you wish. To buy 'Amelia' please visit my shop, to request another name please just contact me

 

This necklace is made on pink leather with metal letter beads and a selection of acrylic beads - it has been finished off with a metal clasp. and will come in a cream coloured organza bag.

Handmade jewellery by Angela Smith Jewellery