'Soft Earth' Neckpiece

This neckpiece which is currently available at e.g.etal features natural banded agate beads from Karratha in Western Australia. I just love the dark browns and amber colours in these beads and the fact that they are Australian makes them even more special in my eyes. The clasp is about the same length as the beads which are approximately 3.5cms long to keep things looking balanced while adding a little drama. And to finish things off I added  a little oxidised cap to one of the beads featuring one of my favourite classical motifs of a bird in flight for a special accent.

'Melia' Neckpiece

Melia was a nymph and dughter of Oceanus - the personification of water.

I imagine that this would be a fitting necklace for a daughter of a Titan.

Made from large carved turquoise beads measuring 19mm x 15mm with a siver pendant depicting a bird in flight. The clasp is also made of silver and is inscribed with the word for love in greek....

Available at e.g.etal

'Cochineal' Neckpiece

Cochineal -

ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French cochenille or Spanish cochinilla, from Latincoccinus ‘scarlet’, from Greek kokkos ‘berry’ (the insect bodies were mistaken for grains or berries).

Neckpiece,2013

oxidised silver clasp,

treated coral beads,

cast brass bead from the Ivory Coast,

wax cord.

Desire

Just dropped this Neckpiece into e.g.etal.

It is made from fused sterling silver chain with Eros (desire) stamped into the tear drop shaped link in Greek. The beads are 10mm sea bamboo with the large one being about 14mm in diameter.

Those stamps have become one of the best things  I have  bought back from my overseas trips!

Neckpiece for Tethys

Tethys was the daughter of Uranus and Gaia. She married Oceanus by whom she had over 3000 children, who where all the rivers of the world. Tethys is the personification of the feminine fecundity of the sea.

This Neckpiece will be available at e.g.etal soon.

Sea Bamboo, Turquoise, Oxidised Sterling Silver, Pegasus in relief

Pink Ice.........

Irregularly facetted Rose Quartz from Madagascar

Sterling silver fused chain and clsap.

available at e.g.etal

Pegasus on Turquoise beads

What else could I put Pegasus the winged horse on but turquoise blue beads. These beads where another special vintage find that I have re strung on plaited cord. 

vintage turquoise beads, sterling silver, plaited cord

available at e.g.etal

Vintage Porcelain Beads

These beads where bought back from Canton China in 1969 by one of my stone merchants. They have the most beautifully hand painted cobalt blue flowers on them and I was able to buy just enough for two neckpieces. The first one was sent off to e.g.etal strung on a thick black plaited cord with a large silver clasp that can be worn at the back of the neck or on the side. These are some of the most special beads I have found in a long time they look like beautifully crafted mini works of art.

A Special Gift

The chain below was commissioned by S & R as a memento of the births of their babys. I have added two small charms inscribed with the babys names on one side and their birth dates on the other.





















Meteora Chain - sterling silver, oxidised,  fused

Iranian Worry Beads

Sterling silver clasp with computer engraved arabic geometric pattern, red Copal Amber worry beads from Iran.

Available at e.g.etal from today.

Chrysoprase Beads

Today I put the finishing touches to this neckpiece. These irregularly shaped nuggets of beautiful Chrysoprase were mined in Australia. This piece will be available at e.g.etal from tomorrow.

9ct yellow gold clasp, Australian chrysoprase, braided cord

chrysoprase |ˈkrisəˌprāz|
noun
an apple-green variety of chalcedony containing nickel, used as a gemstone.
• (in the New Testament) a golden-green precious stone, perhaps a variety of beryl.


ORIGIN Middle English (in the New Testament sense): from
Old French crisopace, via Latin from Greek khrusoprasos, 
from khrusos ‘gold’ + prason ‘leek.’

Revisting Black

Black Earth               

925, oxidised, vintage glass beads 

ancient greek inscription by Sappho

translation by Anne Carlson

photos by Terence Bogue

-some men say an army of horse

and some men say an army on foot

and some men say an army of ships

is the most beautiful thing on the black earth

but I say it is what you love

Wood and Forest Nymphs

These special pieces were delivered to e.g.etal last Saturday.

I have more to post and will do some catching up soon

wood nymph

neckpiece

matte carnelian beads,
sterling silver oxidised (blackened) clasp

forest nymph 

neckpiece

aventurine, onyx, sterling silver

the clasp has a gazelle in relief pressed

into it and a small coin shaped dangle

close up of the aventurine beads 
and the onyx bead

nymph |nimf|
noun
1 a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations.
• chiefly poetic/literary a beautiful young woman.

Neckpiece

oxidised sterling silver chain,

jet beads

detail of double strand neckpiece

Neckpiece

Sterling silver clasp, lapis lazuli &

one yellow Kandahar jade bead.

New Neckpieces

I delivered these two works to e.g.etal today.

These unakite beads are a mixture of pink feldspar and green epidote.They are about 10mm in diameter and I have strung them on jade coloured silk. The clasp is made from sterling silver and I have added a small lucky charm which can be seen in the second photo. I have named this piece lotus because of the olive green and pink colour of the stone. The clasp can be worn at the back at the back or at the side.

Sea bamboo beads, threaded on white silk cord with a sterling silver clasp. These beads have been dyed and they are a lovely coral pink colour not orange like my photo below.... 

Turquoise and Gold

Arizona Turquoise Beads & 9ct yellow gold.

This neckpiece is available at e.g.etal. After finishing this neckpiece I have to admit I did think about keeping it for myself. I have always loved turquoise and as a teenager talked my parents into buying me a watch with a turquoise band that I was sure I would wear for EVER. I havn't worn the watch in ages but I just might use its turquoise for earrings.......

'Ambrosia' Neckpiece

Sterling Silver, Orange Tibetan Banded Agate

Lapis Lazuli Neckpiece

This neckpiece recently came back to me to be rethreaded (beads and pearls need this extra care from time to time). It was like seeing an old friend. This may sound strange but I really enjoy seeing how a piece of jewellery I have made has changed with wear. I believe this is a really important part of a pieces history.

When I first made the clasp I gave it a brushed finish to compliment the matt finish of the tube shaped Lapis beads. Through wear it has polished up and has a lovely patina.

The clasp can be worn at the back of the neck or the side and amongst the beads are also three hand made 9ct yellow gold disk shaped gold beads.

Persephone's Spring Neckpiece

This Four strand Neckpiece is made from Sea Bamboo an alternative to coral which is rare and endangered. It has a sterling silver clasp and a triangular detail of slightly larger beads which are 10mm in diameter. I imagine a bright neckpiece like this could be worn during winter to remind yourself that Spring is on its way.

Persephone spent six months of the year in the underworld during which winter gripped the land. Each spring when she would again return to the world to visit her mother Demeter the first shoots would appear.

Available at e.g.etal.