Dichroic glass necklace, bracelet and earring set

Today's 'Monday Makes' is this blue glass jewellery set comprising of a necklace with matching bracelet and earrings- each of these dark blue beads has flashes of turquoise and lime dichroic glass which helps to create a very striking set of jewellery. The beads have been threaded on nylon coated wire and crimped into position using silver plate crimps, to make both the necklace and the bracelet and both have been finished off with a silver plate clasp, I have also added tiny glass beads to highlight the colours in the beads. The earrings are hanging from a pair of silver plate ear hooks but as with all of my hanging earrings these can be changed to sterling silver if preferred!

handmade jewellery by Angela Smith 

How long does it take to make an item of jewellery?

It is a question I am often asked - the answer isn't that simple as it really does depend on what the item of jewellery is! If it is a simple pair of earrings like these it would take no more than than a couple of minutes, in fact in my workshops, it takes me the time it takes to say 'first thread your bead onto your headpin, cut the wire leaving approximately quarter of an inch from the top of the bead, make a loop using your round nosed pliers, slip in an ear hook, and close the loop' to make one earring!

A floating necklace like this would take me about fifteen minutes.

A full string of beads can take anything from twenty minutes to an hour, depending on the size of beads and length of necklace.

This knitted crown took far too long, possibly 18 hours!

and this weekend I made this wire and beaded flower, this took over four hours and I still have to then add it to a piece of jewellery which will probably take at least another hour to make. I will share the finished item in a post on here once it is made!

So next time you visit a handmade jewellery stall please try and appreciate the amount of time the designer has taken to make the items you are admiring, as well as the uniqueness of each individual piece of jewellery.

A day of workshops

It was great to get back to workshops today, the first sessions for this year, two workshops held at the Vintage Wardrobe in Gnosall, with some very enthusiastic ladies who having braved the snow and ice, spent a couple of hours making themselves a floating necklace similar to this but using beads of their own choice.

I did manage to take a few photos during the workshops. Such busy, quiet ladies!

 

To view more information about my jewellery making workshops please go to my workshop page on this blog.

jewellery making workshops by Angela Smith

Yearning for Spring

Amazing how a little bit of sunshine can lift the spirits isn't it!
Today's sunshine inspired me to make this sunny necklace, full of Swarovski sparkle and spring freshness.

 

This 'floating' or 'illusion' necklace has been made by crimping delicate yellow and fresh green Swarovski crystals onto very fine tigertail wire 

handmade bespoke jewellery by Angela Smith

Today I played with more amethyst

Here are some of the items of Amethyst and Swarovski crystal  jewellery I made this morning - I made some earrings similar to the ones shown on here which in time will end up in my Etsy shop

all of these items are original designs by Angela Smith Jewellery