Angela Smith Jewellery: July 2014

Thursday, 31 July 2014

What is your birthstone?

Well that depends to some extent on whether you use the traditional, modern or even Zodiacal lists

January
traditional -garnet
modern - garnet
zodiac - Capricorn 22nd Dec - 19th Jan - ruby, Aquarius 20th Jan - 18th Feb garnet

February
traditional - amethyst, pearl
modern - amethyst
zodiac - Aquarius 20th Jan - 18th Feb garnet, Pisces 19th Feb - 20th March amethyst

amethyst bracelet

March
traditional - bloodstone, jasper
modern- bloodstone, aquamarine
zodiac - Pisces 19th Feb - 20th March amethyst, Aries 21st March - 19th April bloodstone

April
traditional - diamond, sapphire
modern - diamond, rock crystal
zodiac - Aries 21st March - 19th April bloodstone, Taurus 20th April - 20th May Sapphire

May
traditional - emerald , agate
modern - emerald, chrysoprase
zodiac - Taurus 20th April - 20th May Sapphire, Gemini 21st May - 20th June Agate

June
traditional - cat's eye, turquoise agate
modern - pearl, moonstone, alexandrite
zodiac - Gemini 21st May - 20th June Agate, cancer 21st June - 22nd July emerald

cat's eye earrings

July
traditional - turquoise, onyx
modern - ruby, carnelian
zodiac - cancer 21st June - 22nd July emerald, Leo 23rd July - 22nd August onyx

carnelian tree of life

August
traditional -sardonyx, carnelian, moonstone, topaz
modern - sardonyx, peridot
zodiac - Leo 23rd July - 22nd August onyx, Virgo 23rd August - 22nd September carnelian

September
traditional - chrysolite
modern - sapphire, lapis lazuli
zodiac - Virgo 23rd August - 22nd September carnelian, Libra 23rd September - 22nd October chrysolite

October
traditional - opal, aquamarine
modern - opal, tourmaline
zodiac - Libra 23rd September - 22nd October chrysolite, Scorpio 23rd October - 21st November beryl

November
traditional - topaz, pearl
modern -topaz, citrine
zodiac - Scorpio 24th October - 21st November beryl, Sagittarius 22nd November - 21st December topaz

December
traditional - bloodstone, ruby
modern- turquoise, lapis lazuli, tanzanite, zircon
zodiac- Sagittarius 22nd November - 21st December topaz, Capricorn 22nd Dec - 19th Jan - ruby,

So what are birthstones?
birthstones are gemstones used to symbolise the month of your birth.
In early Christianity, birthstones were linked to Aaron's breastplate and believers used to have a set of all 12 stones wearing one stone for each allocated month.
There is now some confusion around when the introduction of wearing a stone for your birth month started, some place it in Poland in the 18th century others Germany in the 16th century and our list of birthstones today have lost their link with Aaron's breastplate totally, in fact our modern day list was drawn up by a group of American jewellers in Kansas in 1912 to help them sell their stones, an amazing marketing success!

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Glass pearl and glass crystal bead jewellery set

Today's jewellery for Wedding Wednesday A floating necklace with matching bracelet and earrings made with white glass pearls and glass crystal beads, silver plate clasps and ear hooks.

#weddingwednesday handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Monday, 28 July 2014

semi precious dragonfly

This weeks 'Monday makes' is this antique bronze wire and semi precious beaded dragonfly. I was asked if I do my dragonflies in any other colours so today I turned to my bags of semi precious beads and created this!

Now I'm off to photograph some real ones hopefully!

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Sunday, 27 July 2014

clematis

Sunday whisper - Clematis

Friday, 25 July 2014

Paua shell necklace

Every so often I dip into my bag of paua shell beads - this week I did just that and made this simple floating necklace adding some turquoise glass beads into the mix.

SOLD

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Wednesday, 23 July 2014

white glass pearl necklace with a hint of gold

Today's Wedding Wednesday item is this attractive choker style necklace, I have made it by threading the white glass pearls into pretty circles interspersed with a couple of strands of tiny clear and gold glass beads and larger glass pearl beads.

SOLD

If you are looking for wedding jewellery, you might like to visit my Wedding and Prom jewellery page, which has a large selection of other items of my jewellery suitable for weddings.

handmade by Angela Smith

Monday, 21 July 2014

silver plate wire pendant wrapped with blue wires

This weeks 'Monday makes'
has been inspired by the Hebridean sea from a recent holiday

This design started as an idea that has developed over the last week - So this morning I sat out in the sunshine and made this pendant, while I was making it so many other options were forming in my head, so may be I will be making a few more pendants yet!

handmade by Angela Smith

Sunday, 20 July 2014

daisies

Sunday Whisper - daisies

Friday, 18 July 2014

blue and green beaded jewellery

Having just spent two weeks in the Hebrides surrounded by sea, the colour of which changed daily from steely grey to a stunning deep blue I shouldn't be surprised that I chose to make jewellery in these colours this week, they just shouted out at me.
A necklace, bracelet and matching earrings.

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Budget wedding jewellery - Wedding Wednesday

Not everyone wants to or can afford to spend thousands of pounds on a wedding, but most brides still want to feel like a princess for the day. I make jewellery in a range of styles with a variety of beads from freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals to glass beads and pearls. Today's one of a kind necklace for Wedding Wednesday is a pretty string of glass pearls and beads. it measures 20 inches inc. clasp which is silver plate - cost £15

Monday, 14 July 2014

Beaded Dragonfly jewellery

Introducing my Monday makes for this week
A glass bead and silver plate wire dragonfly necklace

and glass bead and silver plate dragonfly earrings

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith
#dragonflies

Sunday, 13 July 2014

Rainbow

Sunday Whisper - a rainbow -

Wednesday, 9 July 2014

A sweet little necklace for a bride

This pretty necklace would be ideal for a bride who is looking for something simple but with a bit of pearl and sparkle - it measures 16 inches and is made with a glass crystal bead, glass pearls and diamante beads and is on a fine silver plate chain.

handmade by Angela Smith

#weddingjewellery #necklace #glasspearls

Sunday, 6 July 2014

Bronze wire and amber coloured bead earrings

I chose to loosely encircle these amber coloured beads with bronze wire to make these unique, one off earrings - these earrings are on black plate ear hooks to pick out the dark stripe in the bead

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Thursday, 3 July 2014

crocheted wire and bead stick pin

Following on the the knitted bracelet in my previous post I also crocheted this cup with wire and beads and added the same button as I used for the bracelet clasp as the centre bead and then I attached it to a stick pin to make this dress pin

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Welcome to Angela Smith jewellery

Staffordshire handmade bespoke jewellery Designer.

I have been designing and making beaded jewellery for more than 20 years now. It all started with a kit for 6 pairs of earrings, and I still get as excited about making jewellery today as I did then.

I use a variety of beads, including freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystal, Venetian glass, dichroic glass, semi precious beads or any other type of bead that I feel is needed for the design I am working on.

I am constantly exploring new ways to incorporate these beads into designs and as a result my designs sometimes move away from jewellery into other slightly more 'off the wall' accessories

Jewellery Making Birthday parties

10 things I love, after my family

sitting on the cliffs watching the sea
Lord of the Rings, the books and the films
an open fire in the winter
Christmas
photography, although I'm still learning
earl grey tea preferably made with loose tea leaves in a pot, poured into a china mug
colour - life would be very boring in black and white
The Hebrides- I would move there tomorrow if I could, only problem would be choosing the island
my herb garden and most of what flies about in it
the dawn chorus and listening to bird song throughout the day

Gallery at 12, High Street, Eccleshall, Stafford.

I am a member of the Staffordshire Artists / Makers Cooperative.

In May 2009 we opened an Art Gallery in Eccleshall, Stafford to show case our work.

In May 2010 we opened our first floor gallery.

As well as exhibiting work of member artsits, we also have several guest artists and provide monthly exhibition space for other artists to use.

Gallery at 12, High Street, Eccleshall is open
10am - 5pm Monday - Saturday.

Telephone 01785 850757

http://www.galleryat12.co.uk/

you can also follow us on Twitter @Galleryat12

Some jewellery tips

To keep your jewellery looking good, it is always best to hang your necklaces or keep them lying flat in a box.

Earrings are easier to find if hanging in pairs instead of being thrown in a box or drawer along with a multitude of other earrings.

All of my own earrings hang from a cork board covered with felt and painted to compliment the surrounding decor.

It is also best to apply any perfumes, hairsprays etc before putting your jewellery on, this will help to prevent your jewellery tarnishing.

If your skin has an intollerance to certain jewellery metals, try painting a varnish onto your jewellery, watches and belts, . You can buy jewellery varnish at most department stores, although nail varnish works equally as well.

Always remove jewellery before washing unless items are gold or sterling silver as other metals can react with soap and water

If you have pearls, wear them, this is the best way to keep them in good condition, after wearing it is recommended that you gently wipe them with a damp soft cloth before putting them away.