A Bit of Druzy

I have been fascinated by Druzy stones ever since I first realised they existed. These are stones containing crystals that have been naturally formed within the earth, creating a lovely sparkly effect in the stones.

Having had a couple of these stones in my gemstone collection for a while now I have finally used one of them to create a pendant.

Wiring up the pendant in sterling silver wire, the most important aspect of the design for me was to ensure that I used the wires to accent the stone with its gorgeous crystals rather than to detract from it. I therefore decided to use prongs to hold the stone in place so that there was a minimal amount of wire actually holding the stone, and then simply finished the wires at the top of the stone with two simple sweeps in a loop shape.

So here it is, my Druzy Agate and Sterling Silver Pendant.

BiDM - Saturday 4th Sept

There will be quality handcrafted products in plenty at the next BrisStyle Indie Designers market happening in Hamilton this Saturday. With stallholders frantically working to add new products to their ranges as well as several new stallholders making their first appearance at this market, there will be plenty to see and shop on Saturday. Pop on over to the BrisStyle Blog to catch up on all the updates from several of the stall holders. Hope to see you there!

Double Boulder Opal Pendant

Two of the first two boulder opals that I bought from the Opal Auctions website I have used to create a pendant.

Rather than just use one stone to make a pendant as I usually do I thought it would be a bit different this time to use two stones, especially with the opals because its double the amount flashes of colour.

Since the base colour of the opals is primarily brown, I thought using gold fill as well as sterling silver wire would help to better the compliment the stones. The outer wrapped wires are therefore in gold fill, twisted to add some extra texture. On this occasion I wanted to ensure that the wires outlined the stones rather swept across them as I didn't want anything to detract from the colour flashes in the opals. I therefore have one lot of wires curving around the outer edge of the top stone and then sweeping across the join between the stones, while the second set of wires has been used to form tight coils above the top opal.

So there you have it - my Double Boulder Opal Pendant.

Sunday Themes - Purple

My theme for this week is Purple - always a popular colour. Purple is royalty. A mysterious color, purple is associated with both nobility and spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color.

I have several pieces of jewellery in purple so I have chosen two to display the use of this gorgeous colour:

The first piece is my Amethyst and Lampwork Shells Necklace

and the second is my Charoite with Sterling Silver Parallel Flowers Bracelet


With the next Brisstyle Designers Market less than a week ago, the other examples of the use of purple that I have chosen are all by BrisStylers who will have a stall at the market.

Marlene Purple Rose Headband
by
Miss Dish Designs

Purple Pansy Fridge Magnet
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Lesley Smitheringale

Handfelted Scarflet in Soft Purple with Ruffles
by
SM Boutique

Purple Moose - Echino Woods - 8 in Metal Frame Clutch
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Sybella Boutique

A Dangerous Website

Dangerous that is - for your pocket - especially if like me you love Opals! The website is Opal Auctions, and it is full - as if you couldn't guess - of opals. While, understandably, the majority of the opals are Australian, there are also opals from other parts of the world. Most of the opals are sold directly by the people who mine them, so in Australia, the sellers are actually based at the main opal sites, such as Cooper Pedy or Lightening Ridge. There is every sort of opal you could imagine - from $1 auctions stones with just a small flash of colour right up to expensive investor stones.

I've started small at the low end of the scale with some boulder opal cabochons as well as a lovely piece of Koroit opal. See Monday's post for the first pendant I have made using these gorgeous stones.

Chrysanthemum Chainmaille Necklace

I decided it was time to expand on my Chrysanthemum Chainmaille weave, and this time to create a necklace, using the same basic Chrysanthemum units. To make the necklace I therefore made up six individual links. These I then joined together in a decreasing pattern to form the main focal of the necklace. I then suspended the whole on a simple 2 in 2 chain.

So, in Sterling Silver, this is my newly completed Chrysanthemum Chainmaille Necklace.

Sunday Themes - Green

With a while between posts, what better way to start back than with another Sunday theme. This time my theme is Green. Green, the colour of all things fresh, a colour closely associated with nature, and with new beginnings.

Two of my favourite pieces in Green are my Entangled - Wire Sculptured Necklace

and my Emerald and Silver Coils Necklace

Here are some other gorgeous items in Green from the BrisStyle team.

Green Room Raccons - TtV Photography Print
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Hey Harriet

Emerald City Hat
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Feybels Nel

Dragonfly Wristlet
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Shelley Berelli

Cushion Covers in Avacado Green and White
by
Kerris Hangups