Angela Smith Jewellery: December 2017

Monday, 4 December 2017

Birthstone Jewellery - looking into the possibility of a new range

Now my last event for 2017 is behind me, I have no more workshops planned until January and both my December exhibitions are up and running, it is time to take stock and think about what direction to take my jewellery into next year.
I will continue knitting my tiaras and crowns, that is a given, along with making wedding jewellery commissions. I am planning a whole series of new jewellery making workshops for the New Year and I am waiting to see the response from my exhibitions before I start knitting and crocheting more wall art. but I am also wanting to introduce a range of beaded birthstone jewellery so I have been looking at the Kernowcraft website to see whether this would be possible - and to my delight I have discovered it is and I thought I would like to show you how!
Firstly why am I so surprised at being able to do this?
Well as you know if you have seen my jewellery makes - I work with beads, I usually work with glass, beads, freshwater pearls and semi precious beads basically anything with a hole all the way through so I can them thread onto wire or beading thread - I rarely wire wrap stones and I do not set stones or cabochons into bezels. So as far as semi precious stones this can be quite limiting or so I thought -
I have in mind to crochet or knit my birthstone jewellery so not only do the stones have to be in a bead form they have to be small enough or in a suitable shape to suit my designs and the beads I have selected for my wish list I believe will work perfectly to create the look I am after -
so here is my wish list with links to the product on the Kernowcraft website - If these products capture your imagination please contact me to discuss the type of jewellery I would /could make with the beads as I would be happy to make as a commission.

January Garnet

Garnet Faceted
Marquise Briolette Beads

I would hang at least five of these on a crocheted choker style necklace either with beading thread or wire.

February - Amethyst

Pink Amethyst Faceted Drop Briolette Beads,

I would hang at least five of these on a crocheted choker style necklace either with beading thread or wire.

March - Aquamarine

Aquamarine Curved Triangular Tube Beads

These aquamarine beads would look great crochet or knitted on wire as a bracelet

April - Diamond

Diamond Natural Rough Crystal Nugget Beads

You can actually buy diamonds as beads - who knew?!
I would hope to crochet a choker / necklace and include at least three of these in the design - You just don't know how excited I am about these!

May - Emerald
July - Ruby
September - Sapphire

Shaded Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald Faceted Rondelle Beads

This string would be great for three months and the rondelle beads would look great included in knitted or crocheted wire bracelets

June - Pearls

Cultured Freshwater White Pearls, 4-4.5mm Roundish

So many pearls to choose from but these small round Freshwater pearls would look stunning in a knitted bracelet or even a knitted tiara

August - Peridot

Peridot Faceted Rondelle Bead

These rondelle beads would be equally as beautiful included in a multi-stranded crocheted necklace or in a knitted or crocheted bracelet - so many options

October - Opal

Ethiopian Opal Drop Shape Briolette Beads

Most Opals come in cabochon form and would look stunning wire wrapped, but to my delight Kernowcraft also have opal beads which would hang so elegantly from a knitted or crocheted choker.

November - Topaz

Sky Blue Topaz Faceted Drop Briolette Beads

These delicate blue topaz would look so pretty hanging from a knitted or crocheted wire choker

December - Turquoise

Turquoise Round Beads

Again, so much choice, but I decided that these provided a lot of different options, such as crochet or knitted as a bracelet, or crocheted as a string of turquoise or crocheted knitted into a choker

All of my chosen beads could also be incorporated into earring designs and some could even be added to a knitted or crocheted ring and I am sure with more thought I could come up with even more suggestions, that is the beauty of jewellery design - the possibilities are endless .

I hope you have enjoyed this post as much as I have enjoyed researching it - and maybe one day I will get my hands on some of these and share my actual makes!

this post is part of Kernowcraft's Win Your Wishlist competition.

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.