Amethyst and Sterling Tear Drop Necklace

Even though for the most part I like to keep all my designs original and one offs, there are times when I have come up with a good design that I want to use again - or at least, use as the basis for a new design that is a variation to the original. This was what happened with this new necklace. I had previously had a tear drop design necklace featuring some laboradite, and then had a variation of that that still featured laboradite but this time included a cabochon focal.

This time I had some gorgeous checkerboard faceted Amethyst briolettes that I wanted to feature. The Amethysts slightly varied in size from one largest and so I set the largest at the front of the necklace and then slightly graduated the tear drop shaped frames working back. So this has allowed some slight variations form my original design, the stones, the number and the graduation. The chain is slightly different too, this time using S shaped links, finishing with an S shaped hook clasp. The S links allow for the chain to be worn slightly shorter if desired.

So there it is - my Amethyst and Sterling Tear Drop Necklace.

Sunday Theme - From the Sea

The sea is one of the most powerful forces on the planet and yet is so beloved by most people. The sea breathes life and vitality, and is of course teeming with a world of its own. From the coral to the fish, the wildlife in the sea is endless with much of it still to be discovered.

For crafters the treasures of the sea bring their own bounties - so much inspiration!

My piece that fits this week's theme is my Seashell Lampwork Pendant.

Here are some pieces from members of my Jet and BrisStyle teams that also fit the theme:

 Octopus on Pink Pendant

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Emotional Oasis

 Seahorse Cameo Necklace

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Cocos Greenhouse

 Sea Shell Hoop Earrings

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Adroit Jewelers

 24 Edible Fondant Under the Sea Collection Cake Toppers

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Enticing Icing

Reuseable Snack Bag - Dolphin Swim

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Bon Tons

Sapphire Earrings - Pink

When I joined in a gemstone buy last year I bought my first ever lot of Sapphire gemstones - was very exciting. They were a gorgeous selection of stones, some in varying shades of the more traditional blue colour, and some in varying shades of pink.

The size of all the Sapphires, in tear drop briolettes, meant that they were perfect for earrings so I decided to team some of the pink sapphires with 14k gold fill wire, and some of the blue sapphires with sterling silver.

I wire wrapped the pink Sapphires in the 14k gold fill wire and then suspended them all from a jump ring - 8 sapphires to each earring. These jump rings were then in turn suspended from some hand forged ear wires - also made using 14k gold fill wire.

So there you have it, my first design using Sapphires, my Pink Sapphire and Gold Earrings.

Friday Favourites

Silver White Winter - Original Watercolour

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K L Bailey Art

Introducing Some BrisStyle Marketeers

Here are some BrisStyle Marketeers who will be appearing at the next BrisStyle Twilight Market on April 29th:

Before and After - Photo Editing

Now by no means do I profess to be an expert but even for a rank amateur like me using photo editing software can make such a huge difference to the final quality of product photos. I thought it would be fun to show some before and after photos of a couple of pieces that I have just listed (I usually immediately delete all my "befores") so you can see what a huge difference it can make.

Other than the white background, these photos were edited using the "guided editing" feature (I said I was no expert) on Photoshop.

White, Blue and Gold Lily Pendant

Before

 After

Ruby in Zoisite Sterling Wired Bangle

Before

 After

White, Blue and Gold Lily Pendant

Lilies are one of my favourite flowers so you can imagine how delighted I was to discover this gorgeous fused glass cabochon in the store of one of my fellow JET team members Emotional Oasis. Actually truth be told it was originally set with a bail to use as a pendant but Emo kindly agreed to take the bale back off and refire to make a smooth cabochon.

Having got hold of the lovely cabochon I wanted to do it proud. Although blue is traditionally paired with silver I decided to go with the 14k gold wire to give a more luxurious feel to the pendant and also because I knew it would help to pick out the colours of the lily, with stamens. 

I then created a frame that would leave the cabochon looking as if it were suspended within the frame, twisting the central wires, and then using them to sweep across the top of the pendant.

So there you have it, the design story behind my White, Blue and Gold Lily Pendant.