Swarovski remains as popular as ever

I have been making beaded jewellery for over twenty years now and although I have seen many types of beads come in and fall out of favour, one type has remained a constant in my stock throughout - Swarovski crystals. It would seem that you just can't get enough of sparkle!
When I first started making jewellery I would combine Swarovskis with plated bead shapes such as hogans and roses - now I combine them with pearls, either freshwater or Swarovski and / or diamante beads.
Today I made a few pairs of earrings to add to my depleted stock, as I have my first fair for 2016 at the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust March 5th and 6th, next week after this weekends workshop I will make a few more pairs as I still have gaps in my display.

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith 

A new design range in the making - crocheted beads

I would like to introduce you to some new jewellery which I have been working on this year. Although the initial idea came to me when I was enjoying a quiet couple of weeks away with family in the Hebrides back in October last year, I had to put it on the back burner so I could concentrate on Christmas. Whenever I could, though, I picked up my crochet hook and started crocheting, as always with me I didn't use wool, instead I crocheted with wire threaded with tiny glass beads  - the result was a selection of crocheted wire and bead beads.
below is a selection of photos showing different stages of the crochet process

thread the wire with beads

crochet a ring and increase the stitches

continue to increase the stitches

crochet without increase before decreasing again to make....

the finished crocheted wire and beads bead

I wanted to wait before making an item to share on here until I had a few items ready and before I had tested the water by making a necklace using some of my crocheted beads, to wear at the #sbs event which was last Friday, (I will be writing a post about the #sbsevent at a later date) - this is the necklace I wore;

 I wanted to make it a statement piece that would stand out in a crowd and it did! so after having such an enthusiastic response to this necklace last week I returned home to make up some jewellery with the beads I had already crocheted, I will continue to work on this idea now, so there will be more jewellery to show at a later date but for now here are my new designs

crochet bead necklace 18 inch with silver plate clasp

crocheted bead necklace on 28 inch black plate chain

crocheted bead asymmetric necklace on 27 inch black nylon coated wire with black plate clasp 

crocheted bead  with glass bead necklace as pendant drop on a 28 inch silver plate chain

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

'Angela's Gate... How does Your garden Grow?'

Yesterday was the first day of my exhibition in Gallery at 12 Eccleshall.
I have based the exhibition on nature photographs from two of my other blogs, 'Views from my garden gate' and 'Beyond my garden Gate' so most of the jewellery on display has been inspired in some way by the wildlife and flowers in and around my garden or further afield, I have also used my photographs to show where the inspiration for the designs have come from and indeed there are some of my photographs as cards which will be for sale during the exhibition. The other part of my exhibition is called 'How does your garden grow?' based on the nursery rhyme.
Let me take you on a brief tour....
Mary, Mary quite contrary How Does Your garden Grow?
With silver bells ... silver bells I think wedding bells, wedding bells... wedding jewellery ...

there is a large glass cabinet in the exhibition area - two shelves show some of my wedding jewellery designs, but of course I am always to make to commission too!!!

... and cockle shells

A selection of jewellery inspired by shells and the sea shore,

... and pretty maids all in a row

pretty maids have pretty dresses -  a selection of my knitted wire, bead and sari silk dresses as brooches or in box frames.

Then the rest of the exhibition is Angela's gate

My exhibition will be in Gallery at 12  until 28th May, the gallery will also be hosting a charity day on May 16th where 10 % of it's sales on the day will be going to Shape Arts.
It would be lovely to see you sometime during May, but if you are planning to make a special journey then May 16th would be a good day to choose!

sparkling grey on silver

Necklace earring set made with grey Swarovski crystals - the necklace is a fine silver plate chain and the earrings are hanging on the same fine silver plate chain with silver plate ear hooks - A lovely gift idea for Mothering Sunday.

handmade by Angela Smith

Jet black and diamante

A necklace earring set for you today. This set has been made using large jet black faceted glass beads, diamante rondelles and jet coloured Swarovski crystals. The necklace is a fine black plate chain and the earrings are on silver plate ear hooks.

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

An Owl in bronze

This owl has been made with bronze wire it has freshwater pearl eyes and glass beads as 'feathers' - with a bit of artistic licence - It could be attached to a pin, but I chose to attach some cord to his head and wear as a pendant -

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Three Autumn leaves

Made with bronze wire, Swarovski crystals and tiny glass beads. My last leaf pendant didn't hang around long at all, so I thought I should make a few more to take with me to The Christmas Gift Fair at the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust this weekend, these were made this morning while I was manning Gallery at 12 in Eccleshall, I actually made 4 of these leaves but left one hanging in the Gallery.

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

coiled wire bead necklace

A new make for today this pretty pink coiled wire beaded necklace.

made with silver plate wire threaded with tiny pink glass rocaille beads and finished with pink glass and clear glass beads

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

knitting and crocheting with wool - shock horror!

Yes I can be normal sometimes! except I still have to add my wire and beads into the mix, just so they are slightly different to everyone else's.
I made these knitted and crocheted brooches today and I will be taking them into Newport shortly along with a few of the knitted dresses I made earlier this week, they will be for sale in the Pop Up Shop, Newport, Shropshire

crocheted brooch with wool, wire and beads

knitted brooch with wool, wire and beads

 handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

coiled wire earrings in miniature

Last month I was asked if I could make coiled wire earrings smaller than my ones I made in the summer .
As it wasn't a definite order, I waited until I had some free time, so yesterday I finally got around to having a play. It turns out that it is possible,  these earrings are half the size of the previous earrings.
I started by making a singled coiled pair with silver plate wire,

and then I went on to make this double coiled pair

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

A new addition to my knitted bracelet designs

Turquoise sari silk ribbon, green enameled wire, and tiny green glass beads, knitted together to create another new bracelet design.

to view some of my previous knitted bracelet designs why not visit my facebook album knitted bracelets

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith 

Sunday best

A lovely relaxing day - pottering about the garden, listening to the test match and a bit of jewellery making too!
My new items for today -

Swarovski crystals 

freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals

Glass bead and Swarovski crystals

Glass bead and Swarovski crystals

Glass beads and Swarovski crystals

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

Pearls and crystals

Are you looking for a necklace for a bride - how about this beauty?
Made with clear Swarovski crystals and Cream Swarovski crystal pearls along with small clear glass beads and a sterling silver clasp - this would compliment a traditional wedding dress beautifully.

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith

beads with velveteen - a winning combination

As my previous bead and velveteen necklaces were such a success, I have had to make a few more, some will be going to Gallery at 12, but a couple will be available from my blog shop too.

foiled glass beads, lustre glass beads and black velveteen with a silver plate clasp

Foiled glass beads and olive velveteen with a silver plate clasp

 foiled glass beads, lustre glass beads and black velveteen with a silver plate clasp

Turquoise and glass beads, black velveteen, silver plate clasp

 foiled glass beads and black velveteen with a silver plate clasp

 

foiled glass beads and black velveteen with a silver plate clasp

 

 

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith