Monday, January 23, 2012

Blog in process.....

Just playing around with the design of the blog at the moment =)  As I'm sure you can tell!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Gorgeous Chrome Diopside and Leaf Ear-rings...


I absolutely love this stone, its such a vivid green! Here I've teamed Chrome Diopside Rondelles with Karen Hill Tribe (fair trade) leaf charms to make these lovely earrings.


This Karen silver is 99.9 percent pure silver and can be cleaned with a little lime juice if need be in years to come.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Simply Pearls and Swarovski................


This is a very simple and elegant necklace with one creamy white 8mm freshwater pearl and a rare saltwater Akoyo pearl (the smaller of the two pearls) hanging from a fine gold filled chain.  I've also used some Swarovski crystals and Thai Karen Fair Trade Gold Vermeil beads to complete this necklace.


I have to say that I've found myself focusing on making jewellery with Gold Fill and Gold Vermeil recently.
Maybe with all these gray London winter sky's we've had recently, a little golden warmth is needed.

Gold Vermeil Venus Bracelet...............



This bracelet was inspired by Botticelli's the birth of Venus.
 

The beautiful gold vermeil scallop shells are Karen Hill Tribe and are Fair trade.  They are made to a very high standard and quality.  


Golden freshwater coin pearls, tiny peachy pearls and Swarovski champagne crystals hang from the heavy gold-filled chain bracelet that is finished with a toggle.


This bracelet looks beautiful when worn and I'm not just saying that because I made it =) 



Blue Summer's Night Apatite with London Blue Topaz Choker.....


 Beautiful blue Apatite ovals and London Blue Topaz rondelles, have been used to create this hand crafted choker necklace.  Small Karen Hill Tribe silver beads have been used to add detail to this necklace, without detracting attention from what I'd describe as a "Mid Summers Night " blue.


I Used what I'd call a medium weight Sterling Silver chain when crafting this necklace.  The wire and lobster clasp are also Sterling Silver.

Simple Teal Fluorite Necklace....


I love teal and I have to say that Fluorite comes in some gorgeous shades of it!

Hand crafted using Sterling Silver wire and Teal Fluorite square beads, this very wearable necklace has what I'd call medium weight Sterling Silver chain for added length and is finished with a Karen Hill Tribe Fair Trade heart toggle.

Golden Beryl Aquamarine Leafs Set.........................


Glorious Golden Beryl Aquamarine has been beautifully carved to create these briolettes.  Hanging from a fine 14k gold filled chain, the 1" pendant has two beautiful micro faceted Andalucite rondelles sitting above it, wrapped with gold filled wire.

I made matching earrings, which have lever back ear wires, as you can see from the above picture.

Star among the pearls.........



This beautiful choker features a Star Flower pendant and lovely creamy white Freshwater Pearls.  The pendant was hand crafted by Karen Hill Tribe Artisans, as are all the small beads and heart toggle.  The silver used by the KHT Artisans is .999 percent silver and can be cleaned with a little lime juice if needed.  I used sterling silver wire and chain when crafting this necklace.

Pink Gold in Bloom................

This necklace was hand crafted using 14k gold filled wire, chain and light peach Swarovski crystals.  Its main focal point is the beautiful Pink Gold Vermeil blossom pendant and the two leafs that hang below it.  All three pendants, small beads and toggle used to create this necklace, where Hand made by Karen Hill Tribe Artisans, their work being of the highest standard and they are Fair Trade. 

Welcome to Blossoming Silver!

Hi There and welcome to Blossoming Silver!

I've always loved being creative and using different colours together to create a certain feel, mood or vibe. I love beads and beautiful illustrations and my collection is ever growing.

I'm a stay at home mother and now that most of my children have gotten older I've started to have more time to use my creative skills and focus on my work.

Going back over 20 years, I first started making jewellery when I was in my teens, being inspired by some bead work my mother had bought when my family visited the Venezuelan Amazon and us trying to work out how it was done. Ever since then I've had a love of beads and found that I enjoy making wire wrapped jewellery. I love buying Shiana Fair Trade Silver and Vermeil, it may cost a little more, but I think its worth it. By using quality materials, my aim is to make my creations wearable and to be reasonably child proof. Meaning not fall apart as soon as it is pulled, as a mother of seven, the durability factor is always close to mind.

Another creative path I've found myself on is making digital stamps using some of my artwork, as I've been inspired by seeing so many beautiful cards being made by a friend of mine and it gives me a good reason to spend more time drawing =)