Welcome to my blog! This is where I try and write now and then about myself, the jewellery I make, events I attend and also bits about other crafters, artists and companies I find interesting. Feel free to comment!
Read a bit more about me on the About Me page, buy my jewellery in my online jewellery shop.
Hello!
I thought I’d have some fun designing some new pebble bracelets in between making up orders and working on a couple of commissions. I have been making my beach pebble “brangles” for a while now and they have always gone down really well, in fact most times I have sold out at fairs.
So, I thought I’d make some new ones and found some gorgeous African recycled glass beads that tone beautifully with the natural beach pebbles that I pick myself and drill. The glass is recycled glass that has been cut into beads and have really cool pitted and slightly frosted patina to them, which I think works really well with the the rawness of beach pebbles. I am planning on combining them with my own handmade white bronze satin finish spacer beads. You can see a few of them on the picture below, a couple have a brushed silver coloured finish and some are still unfinished.
I am making these bracelets on thick snake chain so they will drape nicely and conform to the wrist better. The photo just gives you an idea of what they will look like, but doesn’t actually do it justice, they look really lovely in reality. I will use a large chunky lobster clasp to make them secure and contemporary looking, plus an extension chain to make them adjustable.
So, now I am waiting for more snake chain, end caps and large lobsters from Cookson (the supplier I use for most of my raw materials) so that I can get on with making these. I will also need to drill a bunch of pebbles from my stash.
These bracelets will be gorgeously low key with their neutral, natural colours but I am also planning on making some with blue glass beads in them as well, for those who prefer more colour in their jewellery!
Will post pics of these as soon as I have made some finished ones up.
Until then – cheers!
Carin
Hello!
New for today is another awesome Chinese turquoise stone with shades of blue and green with black matrix. I have set it simply in silver and hung it on a strand of faceted black Spinel to pick up the black coloured veining in the turquoise cabochon. I also added a few smooth turquoise rondelles on one side for a bit of interest. I wanted something else than just a plain silver chain and I am quite keen on this kind of asymmetric gem strand.
And now for the pics:
That last photo is just to show you the back of the pendant where I have cut out the back of the setting to show the back of this beautiful stone.
Right, it seems like there’s been a lot of turquoise going on recently so I think I need to work with some other stones in the next couple of weeks or so. I have some really pretty aquamarines that I have plans to make a ring and a necklace out of, so watch this space!
Until next time…
Carin
x
Evening!
I’ve got a couple of new rings to show today. The first one is featuring a Sagenite Agate (more info on Agates) stone which has been set in silver with three small offset granules as a little extra. The stone is set on a textured shank which has a leather like abstract pattern. The agate stone is a light cream base with greys and specks of rusty red, with inclusions that look almost like small pieces of moss inside the stone. It is a lovely and subtle stone, perfect everyday kind of ring really. I think the colour is most accurately shown on the third photo.
The next ring has a really pretty little Larimar stone set on a double layered base which remind me of ripples on water when you throw a rock in. The seaside theme carries on to the ring shank, which I’ve given a wavy pattern by roll printing. The silver here has as usual been given a gunmetal grey patina which brings out the textures and really makes the sea blue of the Larimar stone pop.
So there we have it, a couple of new rings! Next time I think I will show you a new turquoise necklace if I can just get the stringing wire delivered soon so I can finish it off. Until then…
Carin
x
Hi!
Here we go, the turquoise ring I’ve promised for a few days now! Another of the stunning Chinese turquoises I’ve had for a while and finally made something out of. It’s funny, I buy all these gorgeous stones but then I have real trouble actually making them into something, I just look at them and stroke them now and then, almost like they are too precious to use! 
Must get over that and use up all the lovely cabs I have sitting in my workshop drawers… My husband keeps saying I shouldn’t need to buy any stones for years ‘cos I have so many already, but it’s a bit like shoes and handbags – you can never have too many, and there is always one even lovelier on offer!
Anyway, back to the subject in hand. This turquoise has greens and blues intersected by deep brown/black matrix which makes it look almost like a river delta. In fact that is a good name for it; River Delta… might go with that! I just set the stone in a silver bezel and textured the ring shank with a reptile like pattern. And here the pics:
Been doing a few rings recently, they are great fun so next up will be another 2 one-of-a-kind rings; with Larimar and Sagenite Agate. Then another turquoise necklace on a black spinel strand, that is almost finished.
Until then!
Carin
x
Hi all!
Before I show you the turquoise ring I promised, I thought I’d show you a turquoise necklace I made a while ago. It is also using a stunningly pretty turquoise stone, and would go very well with the ring I will show you next! 
This pretty turquoise freeform cabochon has shades of green and almost yellow, with fine lines of blue around the black veins. I dithered about this cabochon for ages before I made it into a necklace as I could also see it being made into a fab ring! I love these kinds of organic turquoises and have found a great supplier in China that I can buy them direct from which helps to be able to get exactly the type of stones I like.
I have set the stone in silver and added a few random silver granules around it. The pendant is then hung on my own handmade chain, which I made after being inspired by someone else who made quite “messy” and organic chain components, and I thought I’d have a go at doing my own interpretation of the idea. My chain components have balled wires wrapped around them and is quite a chunky chain with a lovely fluid and heavy feel. I think I will try some more variations of this on my future necklaces. Finished off with a handmade hook clasp, this necklace is definitely a favourite of mine and will be one of those that is hard to let go of!
Here’s a shot of the pendant itself:
The necklace in its entirety:
And finally a shot of the back. When I am out selling direct, people almost always look at the back of set stones! So, it’s well worth making the back of a set stone look good too, and seeing people’s reactions when they discover the little “secrret” on the back. Now, the photo:
There we have it! So next up really IS going to be the turquoise ring, perhaps even as early as later tonight. Tomorrow I will photo the sagenite agate ring I made and also a new ring I made last week with Larminar, so they will come next.
Hope to see you then!
Carin
x
Hello!
Here they are, the 2 pendants I made last week! First up is a pendant with a gorgeous fossilized coral. I love these stones so much with their amazing coral patterns; this one has lovely neutral sandy shades. I set it in silver and gave it a chunky wide bail which is new to me and that I think I will do again. I stamped the bail at the top with a pattern that mimics the pattern of the stone. I have hung it on thick tan coloured leather which is also a bit new to me. I like the way it tones really well with the stone.
Just realised that I forgot to photo the back of it… Oh well, maybe I will add it to this post when I do.
I have 3 more lovely fossilized coral cabochons that I will be working with in the next couple of weeks, so watch this space as they say!
Next up is a rainbow moonstone cabochon. This one is made really simply, just set in a sterling bezel and hung on a thick snake chain. This is a classic pendant with a lot of flash in the gorgeous moonstone. I hope to get hold of some cabs for rings at some point, would be nice to do.
That’s it for today folks! I have some pics of a turquoise ring and also a Sagenite ring to photo, so when I have done that I will post again.
Finally, last week I had a little helper in the workshop… My almost 2 year old son armed with a dustpan and brush!
Carin
X
Hello!
I posted a few pics of some studs yesterday but I forgot I also made these earrings last week, after making a similar pair last year (pic here). Those ones flew off the stand at a show so I thought I would make something similar. These are one of a kind earrings as I can not get exactly the same stones again. I do however have other turquoise stones that I can use, so if you fancy something like this just drop me a line.
This pair features my own handmade textured (roll printed) charms and set Chinese turquoise, beautiful stones! Full of character brought out by a dark patina.
Hmmm, I do like turquoise and I have quite a few in my stash, so we’ll see what comes next!
Off to photograph the pendants I made last week now so I can show you them next!
Carin
x
PS. Don’t forget that I am giving away a pair of earrings of choice to one winner out of the “likes” on my Facebook page – when I get to 200 I will do the draw!
Howdy,
Rainy day, made the most of being indoors and took a few pics of some new stud earrings I made in the last couple of days.
First up is a pair with gorgeous vibrant blue Lapis Lazuli, I’vd had these stones for ever and never done anything with them, no idea why! These ones were given a stripey texture on the little silver ledge surrounding the stones. They just ooze summer I think!
Next up is actually a pair I have made before, with rainbow moonstone, but a new photo. I really like these, smaller stones with faceting and I added a little dot pattern to these. As always (almost!) these are also given a gunmetal grey patina, which makes them look nice and mellow.
Lastly I made a pair of studs with turquoise. For these I made a double layered base, one layer plain and one with my “graffiti” texture stamp, and then a lovely smooth 6mm turquoise cabochon on top. Lovely and summery too!
Most of these little studs can be made with other stones, so if you have an idea of something else, just contact me.
Oh, and I also made a couple of new pendants this week, will post them next, one with rainbow moonstone and one with beautiful fossilised coral, so watch this space!
Carin
Today I am sharing a few photos of a recent ring commission. The client wanted an “alternative” engagement ring and liked an oval turquoise stone I had. They also sent me a few photos of rings they liked and this is what we came up with; an oval turquoise cabochon stone set in sterling silver with graduated fine silver granules surrounding it. Simple ring shank to give the stone maximum focus.
Here are a couple of shots of the ring in progress on my soldering block; shank soldered, bezel made up, and granules in made up sections:
Setting finished with granules soldered on, shank formed and a flat spot filed ready for the setting to be soldered onto the ring shank:
Then a couple of pics of the finished ring; taken on a reflective mirror background and on me!
Oh, and they were very pleased with the ring so happy faces all round – I do like a happy ending!
Cheers,
Carin
I am busy re-vamping my online jewellery shop but have had time to make a few new labradorite (my favourite!) pendants that I thought I’d show you. So here goes; the first one is a rectangular pendant set with a square 8mm labradorite cabochon and with 2 square cutouts to mimick the shape of the stone. Hung simply by a tube bail onto a mid weight snake chain. All silver has a gunmetal grey patina achieved by patination, hand brushing and polishing.
Next up is an oval Labradorite which I have set in an open setting which means the back is completely open.This is achieved by using a ledge inside the setting that the stone sits on. This one I left completely plain and just added a 3 ring bail to hang on a textured chain. Again, the silver has a gunmetal grey patina.
Next up will be a turquoise ring commission, so check back again!
Ta’da for now!
Carin