"Impromptu in A Flat Major - a collection of jewellery in black and white"

My new exhibition is currently on in Gallery at 12, Eccleshall Staffordshire.
 As soon as I was allocated a month I started thinking about a theme and title for it,  I knew I wanted all the pieces to be made in black or white or a mixture of both, so that was the theme sorted, the title was a bit more tricky! having played around with ideas for a while, I decided I wanted it to be musical, I had considered briefly calling it 'manuscript jewellery' or 'ebony and ivory' - but then it occurred to me that A Flat major had 4 flats - B,E,A,D spelling....!  and as I rarely know what I am going to make with my beads until I start making it is all quite Impromptu.
With the theme and the title decided I then had to make the jewellery along with the displays, I also had to photograph it all, price it up and list the items.
Most of the pieces I made specifically for the exhibition - a few I had made earlier but fitted the theme nicely so I included them too, in total I made over 150 pieces, safe to say I really am now enjoying working with coloured beads again, whenever I can - I found it quite hard to stick to my self imposed theme of black and white and had to resist putting the odd red bead into the mix-

"Impromptu in A Flat Major - a collection of jewellery in black and white"

earrings displayed as sheet music 

 most of the necklaces and bracelets are either hanging from trebles clefs or resting on quaver rests

some of my knitted, crocheted  or woven tiaras and crowns

beaded black and white cuffs

beaded black and white pendants

crocheted bead necklace

knitted masques

a tree full of stone pendants each stone is wrapped in crocheted wire and beads, the stones themselves came from Black beach, Isle of Mull 

As you can see, I have made jewellery in a variety of styles,suitable for many different occassions.

This exhibition will close Thursday October 27th,


handmade jewellery by Angela Smith