Happy
Christmas!
Dec 26, 2011
Dec 25, 2011
V Style Earring Giveaway - Week 7
Pictured above are the earrings chosen by my Week 6 Winner - and now to Week 7. A big CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of Week 7, the final week of my V Style Earring Giveaway
Coriwestphal
A pair of my earrings will soon be winging their way to you.
For everyone else, Thank You for entering, and I'm sorry you didn't win any of my earrings in the giveaway. They can however be purchased on my site for just $15.
(winner chosen with random.org)
Dec 19, 2011
Sunday Theme - Red and Green Christmas Colours
Red and Green have long since been recognised as the traditional Christmas colours but have you ever wondered why? It seems that there are several different explanations but there are two which are the most popular and accepted reasons for the colours.
The first explanation, which is itself split into two reasons for the green, is that the colours represent Christ. In around the 4th Century, at the time when 25th December started to be celebrated as remembering the birth of Christ, Christians who had adorned their homes with wreaths of holly for the Winter Solstice, just left thew wreaths to decorate their homes through Christmas as well. Thus the colour green and wreaths of holly became associated with the birth of Christ.
If green represents the birth of Christ, red represents the blood of Christ and his death. People at this time also took to adding red berries to their green wreaths of holly. Thus red and green has become associated with the celebrations of Christ's birth, death, and rising from the dead.
Remaining with the explanation that red and green represent the colours of Christ, the other explanation for the colour green is that it represents the eternal hope and the potential for everlasting life that Jesus sacrifice made possible. This is represented by the Evergreen tree which itself is always green and which therefore represents life all year round.
The second explanation for the colours is more historical. During the 1300s when vast numbers of the local populations were illiterate, churches would often put on Miracle plays in order to help teach their learning. The Paradise Play, which was presented on December 24th, related the story of Adam and Eve and their plight in the Garden of Eden. Props were needed, and since there was no way to provide an apple tree in the middle of winter, it was decided that a pine tree with apples tied to its branches, would serve as the Tree of Good and Evil. This became a popular prop for local churches and was used wherever the play was performed. Soon churches everywhere had adopted this tradition and included it in their celebrations each year.The Paradise tree was so popular in Germany that private citizens began to erect pine trees in their homes during the holidays, decorating them with red apples. Before long the tradition was so widespread that the modern day Christmas Tree tradition was born and the official colours of the Christmas season became green and red.
Dec 17, 2011
V Style Earring Giveaway - Week 6
Pictured above are the earrings chosen by my Week 5 Winner - and now to Week 6. A big CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of Week 6 of my V Style Earring Giveaway
Maegan Morin
A pair of my earrings will soon be winging their way to you.
For everyone else, don't worry - there is still ONE more chances to win, and don't forget, if you blog about my giveaway, or post details about it on your Facebook page, and remember to let me know about it in the Giveaway comments, you will get an extra entry into the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer. Last draw to be hold on Christmas Eve.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer. Last draw to be hold on Christmas Eve.
(winner chosen with random.org)
Dec 16, 2011
Front Page Day!
Well it seems that today was my day for being on the front pages of the online market sites with pieces on the front pages of both Etsy and Madeit
Dec 13, 2011
Open Letter to a Shoplifter
Did you really think about what you were doing when you took the bracelet, did you really know what it meant? You weren't stealing from some retail chain with faceless shareholders who can afford to write off the loss, not that stealing from large stores is right, its still illegal. No, you were stealing from me, from my pocket, you might just as well have stolen the money right out from my purse, and no, I don't have a big bank account that can afford to absorb the loss without noticing it.
Actually truth be told, saying it is as bad as stealing from my purse is not quite true, it is actually worse. Have you considered the time and effort that I put into designing and making that bracelet? Hasn't it occurred to you, that in common with many other designers and hand-crafters, I put my heart and soul into creating my pieces, they are all made with love. That is what you stole, a piece of my heart-felt creativity.
This bracelet was a one off design, it was special and it was meant to make the wearer feel special. Just how special do you think you can feel wearing it knowing that it was obtained illegally? I could of course recreate the design but it wouldn't be the same - it would no longer be a unique piece. I could no longer assure someone that they were obtaining a one-off.
Maybe of course, given the time of year it is, you have stolen the bracelet to give to someone else. That would be even worse. Do you really want to draw an innocent person into being complicit in your crime? Receiving and handling stolen pieces is just as illegal as stealing them. So where would be the joy in that type of giving?
So at the end of the day, you didn't steal just a bracelet, you stole a piece of me, and I can only hope that in doing so you lost a piece of yourself.
Dec 12, 2011
Sunday Theme - Shabby Chic
Shabby Chic is a form of design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique. At the same time a soft, minimalistic and feminine feel is emphasised. Shabby Chic is a style that evokes a comfortable lived in feeling and is charactierised by slightly worn furnishings and whimsical accents.
Shabby Chic furniture is often heavily painted with the layers showing through worn areas. Furnishings tend to be cottons and linens. Whites and faded pastels are favourite colours. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style. Soft decor items that include roses are also popular with the style.
The style started in Great Britain and evokes the type of decoration found in large country houses. The end result of Shabby Chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect. The early forms of Shabby Chic were rather grand but the style has evolved taking inspiration from many forms of decorating.
The term was coined by the World of Interiors magazine in the 1980s and became extremely popular in the US in the 90s.
Shabby Chic items are from members of the Dust Team
Dec 11, 2011
V Style Earring Giveaway - Week 5
Pictured above are the earrings chosen by my Week 4 Winner - and now to Week 5. A big CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of Week 5 of my V Style Earring Giveaway
Robin
A pair of my earrings will soon be winging their way to you.
For everyone else, don't worry - there are still TWO more chances to win, and don't forget, if you blog about my giveaway, or post details about it on your Facebook page, and remember to let me know about it in the Giveaway comments, you will get an extra entry into the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still plenty of time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still plenty of time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer.
(winner chosen with random.org)
Dec 9, 2011
A to Z of Gemstones - F is for Flourite
Fluorite is a mineral composed of Calcium Fluoride. It often occurs as a vein deposit, especially with metallic minerals. Originally known as Fluorspar, the name Fluorite derives from the Latin root "Fluo" meaning "to flow". Many samples of Fluorite exhibit fluorescence under ultra-violet light, a property that takes its name from fluorite. The visible light transmitted with fluorite is most commonly blue.
A fairly soft stone, Fluorite is known as the "Most Colourful Mineral in the World". The most common colours are purple, green, blue and yellow but Fluorite can also be found in pink, red, white, brown, black and nearly every shade in between. Many specimens of fluorite have a single colour, but a significant percentage of fluorite's have multiple colours, and the colours are arranged in bands or zones.
Fluorite can be found and mined in many countries including Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.
Ancient Romans believed that drinking alcoholic beverages from vessels carved of fluorite prevented drunkenness. During the eighteenth century fluorite was ground into powder and mixed with water to treat kidney disease. Many people believe fluorite has a calming effect on the body.
Below are some example of gorgeous fluorite jewellery from some members of the Jet team:
Dec 7, 2011
A to Z of Gemstones - E is for Emerald
Emeralds are fascinating gemstones with the most beautiful, intense colour of green that can be imagined. They are a variety of the mineral beryl coloured green by trace amounts of chromium. The name Emerald comes from the Greek "smargados" via the Old French "esmeralde" and really just means "green gemstone".
Rated 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, good quality emeralds are fairly rare with inclusions often marring the evenness of the colour. Fine inclusions however do not diminish the high regard in which Emeralds are held. On the contrary, even with inclusions, an emerald in a deep, lively colour still has a much higher value than an almost flawless emerald whose colour is paler.
Probably the oldest known finds of Emeralds were made near the Red Sea in Egypt, however, these mines, exploited by Egyptian Pharaohs between 300 and 1500BC and once known as Cleopatra's mines, had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century. Today Columbia is known as the major source for the world's emeralds although emeralds are also mined in other countries, such as Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and India.
The Incas and Aztecs of South America regarded the Emerald as a holy stone, while the Holy Scriptures of the Indians, the Vedas, states "Emeralds promise good luck.." and "the emerald enhances the well being..". The emerald is also the sacred stone of the goddess Venus and is thought to preserve love. It is also considered a symbol of hope.
Here is a piece that I have made using some gorgeous emeralds - my Emerald and Silver Coil Necklace
Here are some more examples of emerald jewellery from some members of the JET team:
Dec 6, 2011
BrisStyle Indie Designers Market - Dec 10th
I'm getting excited with the countdown now on to my two last markets of the year. The first of those is the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market, on this Saturday. I'm busy trying to make sure everything is ready, although knowing me it will all turn into a last minute rush as per usual. I have however managed to stock up on my range of V Style Earrings, and I have also pulled out a few pieces of copper jewellery to add to my usual stocks of sterling silver and 14k gold-fill jewellery. Hope to see you all there!
Dec 5, 2011
Sunday Theme - Bali Silver
Bali Silver is sterling silver made on the island of Bali, in Indonesia. The Balinese are highly skilled silversmiths, known for their granulation and wire work decoration.
Genuine Bali Silver is made entirely by hand, starting with the weighing, melting and mixing of the 92.5%silver and 7.5% copper to form sterling silver. The silver and copper are heated with a simple torch, attached to a bottle of gasoline with simple tubing. A foot pumped bellows adds the needed air. Molten silver is poured into small wooden molds. Once cool the silver is put through a rolling mill cranked by hand. The worker tightens down the rollers after each pass to make the silver thinner and thinner until the desired thickness is reached.
The silver sheeting is cut to size for making beads with two halves then hammered into semi-circular indentations on a brass block. The two halves are then sanded and soldered together. Wire and tiny granulations (snippets of wire torched into balls) are then used to decorate the beads. They are applied to the bead with a natural glue and then a solution of silver, copper and water is brushed over the bead. The entire bead is carefully heated with the torch to complete the process.To emphasise the decoration, Bali beads are typically oxidised with the raised part then polished which gives a dark background highlighting the shiny silver pattern.
Each Bali bead and finding is made one by one with patience and skill. It is a time-consuming process with element hand made from start to finish. With every piece of the pattern on a bead made and attached separately it means that each bead and finding is unique.
The necklace pictured above is my Bluestone and Sterling Silver Harmony Necklace made using a Bali Silver Harmony ball.
Here is some more jewelry made using Bali Silver from some members of the Jet team:
Dec 4, 2011
V Style Earring Giveaway - Week 4
Pictured above are the earrings chosen by my Week 3 Winner - and now to Week 4. A big CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of Week 4 of my V Style Earring Giveaway
Dashery
A pair of my earrings will soon be winging their way to you.
For everyone else, don't worry - there are still THREE more chances to win, and don't forget, if you blog about my giveaway, or post details about it on your Facebook page, and remember to let me know about it in the Giveaway comments, you will get an extra entry into the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still plenty of time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still plenty of time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer.
(winner chosen with random.org)
Dec 1, 2011
My Present to Me!
So having had this gorgeous leather handbag, on my favourites list for ages, I finally decided that it was time to treat myself. A couple of convos was all it took to get the straps adjusted to the exact lengths that suited me and the order was placed. It arrive on Monday and I can only say that I am thrilled with it. It arrived beautifully wrapped with some care instructions and the bag is every bit as good as it looks in the picture. So if you are on the lookout for a quality handcrafted leather handbag then I can highly recommend checking out Opelle Creative.
Nov 30, 2011
A to Z of Gemstones - D is for Danburite
One of the lesser known gemstone, and truth to tell one I had never previously heard of is Danburite. Danburite, a calcium boric silicate was first discovered in 1839 in Danbury, Connecticut. Danburite was discovered by Charles Shepherd, an eminent American mineralogist.
Danburite, a quite hard stone, is usually colourless to very light pink in colour, but some deposits may produce specimens in shades of light yellow or brown. Danburite is known for its excellent transparency and clarity. Because of its high refractive index, well cut danburites are remarkably bright and can look something like diamonds.
The original discovered deposits of Danburite have long since been buried under an expanding city. Today Danburite deposits are found in Japan, Madagascar, Mexico and Burma, with Mexico considered the most important source of gemstone quality Danburite.
Here are a few examples I have found of some Danburite jewelry on Etsy:
Nov 27, 2011
Sunday Theme - Summer
With December 1st, the official start of Summer here in Australia, just a few days away, this seemed the perfect theme for this week.
Summer is the warmest of the four seasons where the days are at their longest and the nights their shortest. It is the season that signifies the long school holidays, days at the beach, and down here in Australia, absolutely sweltering weather. Here in Queensland Summer also signifies the wet season, and of course, who could forget the floods that resulted from that last year.
Of course, here in the Southern Hemisphere, Summer also means Christmas, some thing that still doesn't seem quite right to me even after living here for 11 years.
Here is one of my pieces that means Summer to me - my Hydrangea and Silver Bangle:
Here are some more Summer inspired items from members of the BrisStyle team:
Nov 26, 2011
V Style Earring Giveaway - Week 3
Pictured above are the earrings chosen by my Week 2 Winner - and now to Week 3. A big CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of Week 3 of my V Style Earring Giveaway
Jenna
A pair of my earrings will soon be winging their way to you.
For everyone else, don't worry - there are still FOUR more chances to win, and don't forget, if you blog about my giveaway, or post details about it on your Facebook page, and remember to let me know about it in the Giveaway comments, you will get an extra entry into the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still plenty of time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer.
For those of you who have not entered yet full details of the Giveaway can be found in my Big V Style Earring Giveaway Post. There is still plenty of time to leave a comment and join in on the drawer.
(winner chosen with random.org)
Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale!
BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER MONDAY SALE
20% OFF EVERYTHING ALL WEEKEND
Reduced from $255 to $204
Reduced from $595 to $476
Reduced from $110 to $88
Reduced from $165 to $132
Reduced from $450 to $360
Reduced from $400 to $320
Reduced from $175 to $140
Reduced from $55 to $44
Reduced from $140 to $112
Reduced from $75 to $60
Check out my Store for plenty more Great Deals - This Weekend Only!
(Sale ends Midnight Monday Brisbane Time)
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