New Work...

Turquoise and Gold-Fill...

Green Amethyst and Gold-Fill, Gold Plated Birdies and Sterling Silver Posts

Peridot, Mother of Pearl and Fire Opal

Zircon and Gold-Fill...

Beautiful Rock Crystal and Gold-Fill

Freshwater Pearls, Zircon, Rock Crystal and Sterling Silver...

Turquoise, Sterling Silver and Garnet...

Chalcedony, Vermeil and Gold-Fill...

Topaz and Gold Fill...

Fighting With...

I cannot belive such a long time has gone by since my last post, especially as I began the year practically blogging every day!!  Sometimes there's loads to report on, and other times not so much, though this quiet period in my blog has mostly been caused by health issues - my Rheumatoid Arthritis has raised its ugly head once more and I just haven't had the energy to blog recently, and hey, who wants to hear about this bone hurting more than that one?  I sure don't and I'm pretty sure you don't either.  I've just been doing quite a lot of burrowing into my pillows and bed, reading and not a lot else, though I did manage to sneak off to my favourite health spa, Ragdale Hall last week for some much needed TLC.   It was lovely as always and I felt a lot better mentally if not physically for having had a bit of pampering.

I had thought I'd get away with sneaking off without anyone noticing, only to be updated by Mark that I had an avalanche of orders stacking up...this made me feel really guilty for being away, but he managed it and I want to thank everyone who was willing to wait a few days whilst I was away.  Usually I put a big message at the front of the site, and to be honest I forgot.  Apologies.  In any case, the avalanche is dealt with now, and I'm clear of outstanding orders so my conscience is salved.

I've been doing loads of cooking in the past several weeks, I suddenly got the bug for it and its nice to do other creative stuff, and I do think of cooking as creative.   I made the most AMAZING chocolate cake for Father's Day and had Mum and Dad over for dinner - alas I forgot to take any photos, so you'll have to take my word for it, but I love to cook....eventually we plan to knock a wall out to the side of the kitchen and make a much larger one but that's all in the pipeline under 'Manyana' because I have a horror of home construction projects as its a strong childhood memory that my parents must have been the original property developers; we moved a lot, and every house we lived in, my Dad was always knocking down walls, building extensions and putting new roofs on....its not at all that it was awful, its just anytime I think of all that dust and mess I start gibbering.

Well, we've adopted ANOTHER new pussycat; we had a bit of a tragedy as you know when lovely Blue died a while back and we adopted Harley who is lovely and cute but he immediately bonded to me rather than to Mark; so Mark was on the look-out for another cat and we've adopted Bailey, previously 'Ghost' who needed rehoming as the little boy to whom he belonged was allergic to him in a major way - Bailey is a Tiffanie cat (no, we'd never heard of the breed either) and as you can see from the pics, he is beyond beautiful.  Apparently Mark is a cat snob, because all the other three are mogs - the three have all bonded to me of course, and Mark is working on Bailey to get him to bond to him.  Bailey isn't actually living with us as yet because it turned out he had some sort of cat virus which we didn't fancy giving to our other cats so at present he is at Mark's Mum's on quarantine until we get the all-clear which shouldn't be too long away now.

The one thing I do know about my cats and Merlin my horse is they all instinctively sense when I am not well and do their own thing to try and look after me.   Harley likes to lie right against me and purr very very hard into me; it does make me feel better, because that sort of unconditional love is very very special.

So, its four cats now, and that is absolutely the limit - its a nice number and certainly the three we have in the house now make it feel full, like a home, as there's always something going on, and they bring warmth and happiness to the house.

I have been doing some new work and although I can't make promises as to when it will go on the site, where it does there will be lots of new pieces to look at - I've also got lots of fresh vintage stuff as well, but of course the progress of all that is health dependent.


I hope you'll forgive the total silence, and hopefully I can make up for it soon.


Love, Stephanie x

Nesting

I'm really pleased with my first nest, seeing as I've never made one before....usually I'd be happy to leave it to the experts (of the avian variety...) but I just had to try for myself.  Made from bronze and copper wire and laid with three beautiful faceted freshwater pearl eggs...the chain is brass as is the clasp.
I took the picture of the summer swallows this evening at the stableyard, I LOVE my new camera (its not so new now, its the one I got at Christmas - I take it everywhere with me.) 
I should have the site updated by the end of the week - had another horrid week just gone, as I got a call from my yard owner Sara at 6 am to tell me Merlin had colic.   It was not a nice day.  Happily, my lovely boy is all well again and I am so grateful to Sara for watching out for him.  Big hugs.

Arizona Necklace

This is another piece for the site, waiting in the wings. 
If in the meantime you can't wait for the tech-person to work his magic, you could always make your own - this is my kit of the month for September 2010 for my other website, BeadAddict- I've tried hard to make the instructions as clear as possible - there are written instructions as well as a downloadable PDF file full of step-by-step photos which should take any stress out of things. 

Everyone is creative, even my Mum has been making jewellery recently, and (no offence intended Mum, but I know you'd agree) she'd be the first to say she doesn't know her right hand from her left foot.  
I am considering teaching jewellery making classes again - notice I didn't commit myself. I love teaching, its fun - its a two-way process.  All the things I thought I knew, I can learn over from teaching, which is great.   I don't know, maybe, maybe.

Arizona Necklace; handmade copper and bronze wire circles, a copper key charm, patinated bronze and brass, Turquoise, faux Turquoise, Coral (various colours), Sponge Coral, and lots and lots of wire wrapping and attention to detail. The clasp is to the side, which makes the necklace easy to put on and take off, a lovely eye-catching piece which is light and easy to wear; over time the bright copper will patinate down (darken naturally). Measures approx. 20 inches / 50.5 cm; the pendant element measures approx. 2.75 inches / 7 cm.

 

New Jewellery Preview

A sneak preview of some new pieces for the site!

Petal Necklace; I've hand-patinated this brass petal-shaped focal which is wrapped with a gold-plated double leaf spray, added brass chain and enamelled wire, adding freshwater pearls, Czech glass and Swarovski crystal; the necklace is full of wire wrapped Swarovski crystal, Czech firepolish glass, freshwater pearls - a variety of contemporary and vintage components. The clasp is to the front/side to make the necklace easy to put on and take off and is finished with a brass clasp. Necklace measures approx. 16.5 inches / 42 cm; the pendant/focal/dangle element measures approx. 5 inches / 12.5 cm. 

Green Leaf Necklace; with an American artist-made Raku pottery lily pad leaf, this necklace also features antiqued bronze findings, a lovely copper leaf charm, bronze wiring, silk cord and a range of collected beads from around the world and through time - starting with a Victorian green glass bead, the green stripy satin glass bead (1930's), some 1960's Japanese beads, contemporary Swarovski crystal, Swarovski crystal pearls, contemporary gold-lined Murano glass, and ceramic spacers; the necklace is finished with hand-stitched green silk cord, so you can tie this at the length you want. Necklace measures approx. 35 inches / 89 cm end to end.

Green Leaf Necklace with handmade Raku clay pendant

Flying Necklace; with an American artist-made Raku pottery double wing pendant, antique and vintage beads and components including Victorian Venetian glass beads, 1930's Bohemian glass beads, 1940's Vaseline glass, a copper leaf charm, lots of freshwater pearls including a square and stick pearls, all the components are wrapped with bronze wire, bronze and patinated copper swallow, rings, beads and to-the-front clasp which makes the necklace easy to put on and take off; the necklace is finished off with a scrap of teal silk (which can be removed if you would prefer); the necklace measures approx. 18.5 inches / 47 cm and the pendant measures approx. 1.75 inches / 4.5 cm.

Flying Necklace

Green Leaves Earrings; these American artist-made Raku pottery leaves are beautiful - I've wired them with oxidised (blackened) sterling silver wire and green freshwater pearls; the sterling leverback fittings have been left shiny. The earrings measure approx. 1.5 inches / 4 cm.

Taking Flight Earrings; these American artist-made Raku pottery wings are gorgeous - I've wired them with oxidised (blackened) sterling silver wire and freshwater pearls; the sterling leverback fittings have been left shiny. The earrings measure approx. 1.5 inches / 4 cm.

Falling Leaves Earrings; these American artist-made Raku pottery leaves are gorgeous - I've wired them with oxidised (blackened) sterling silver wire and freshwater pearls; the sterling leverback fittings have been left shiny. The earrings measure approx. 1.25 inches / 3 cm.

 More to follow....

Finding a Spark with a Creative Block

(Disclaimer: Before you get excited, these photos are of OLD work, long gone...!) Sometimes I don't make a thing.  Not so much as a pair of pliers picked up, and though I have visited my felting wool regularly (so it doesn't feel neglected), I have no desire to make anything right now.  
Creativity is frustrating at this time, because obviously, no creativity is going on.   I find this happens when my balance is disturbed, and recent events - moving my horse from his long term home and the bad feelings surrounding it seems to have done that.   Sometimes balance can be

And the Winner is....

The winner of my May 'Win A Necklace' competition is Susan from Coventry - congratulations Susan, your necklace made with Murano glass, Swarovski crystal, sterling silver and seed beads is on its way!

Site Updated

I've updated the site today with fresh necklaces, bracelets, earrings and vintage items - you already know about the freebie offer and prize draw which I mentioned a few days ago, but this is just a quick heads up on the update.  

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Carolyn L. of Yorkshire who won this necklace made from sterling silver, Aquamarine, freshwater pearls, Turquoise, Swarovski crystal, Murano glass, antique glass beads, Peridot and Mother of Pearl in my April Prize Draw - your necklace will be on its way on Monday, Carolyn!

Comiserations to everyone else who didn't win but later today I'll be doing a mail out with a freebie offer and a new prize draw, so watch this space and your in-boxes!

Lisa Hair Vine Commission

This is a recent commission - a man in the States had me make a hair vine up for a friend - he was such fun to work with; we worked through colours until we came up with this hair vine.   I put loops on either end so she could thread some ribbon through and also wear it as a choker - its made in sterling.

I love working with customers, especially ones as fun as this one - he made me laugh so much - I hope his friend likes it!  

Murano Glass....

I'm back off to Venice and Murano; I used to visit twice a year to see my suppliers but since the advent of them all joining the current century and getting e-mail its not been necessary to keep travelling there (unfortunately!) but now and again its good to call in to them and see how they are  doing, especially as I've had some new suppliers recently.  I'm a terrible hoarder of beads...often I'll buy something and then hang onto it until I think I've admired it enough...

Sneak Peek....

Shown are a couple of pieces of work for the website - both lariats, I've been doing a lot of

The Currency of Beads.....

Sometimes, to keep things fresh, you have to go in a different direction.   When Mark and I went to trade fairs over the last couple of months, I was under strict instructions to be 'on the lookout for the next big thing'...not sure what the next big thing was supposed to be or how I was supposed to know this big thing when I saw it (unless, indeed it was actually just a 'big thing') I mostly got on with happily perusing the current 'thing' of jewellery, beads, beads, jewellery and - well you get the drift.

Necklace Commission

I just finished this necklace as a commission - with a Vermeil wirework heart, gold-filled wire, chain and fittings, Vermeil beads and beadcaps and lots of Swarovski crystal; I've used some chunkier beads in this piece which glitter beautifully. 

And the winner is....

The winner of my 'Be My Valentine Win A Necklace' competition is.....(drum rolll.....)....Teresa Wills.

Congratulations Teresa, your necklace will be winging its way to you shortly.  Comiserations to those who did not win, but there will be more competitions on the way....

Hope you all had a lovely lovely Valentines Day.

Love Stephanie xx

New Work - Venetian Glass Sautoir Necklaces

This is a sautoir that I have made recently in different colours - soon to go on the site - if you'd like details before it goes up on there, please contact me!!

www.slcdesigns.co.uk

Sautoir in various colours featuring handmade Murano glass hearts, Czech glass beads, Swarovski crystal, goldtone chain, findings and fittings...

More New Work

More new stuff for the site next week... (spot the theme)...

New Work

Just finished photographing a few new pieces - I am probably going to put these on the site next week some time - if you are interested in anything in the meantime, just let me know.  I've been attracted back to the sterling silver gorgeous hand-enamelled pieces I bought a few years back for earrings because they make up into such beautiful jewellery, and for necklaces I've been doing a lot of asymmetric long linear stuff that catches the eye against a lovely sweater...

Talia Heirloom Tiara

This is Talia Helirloom Tiara; I started with a handmade flexible wire band then added a patinated mesh butterfly which I had in my stash - this dates to around the 1960's; over time it has developed a darkened patina which I decided to leave as is rather than clean up and make it shiny so it looked like new - mainly because I wanted to use the gorgeous Swarovski crystal pearl colour 'Platinum' in the piece.  I made a Swarovski crystal, wire and rocailles (seed bead) flower and added Czech glass leaves, Swarovski crystal pearl and bead wired 'sprays; the colour that naturally goes with the Platinum coloured Swarovski pearl is turquoise and this looked gorgeous with the butterfly.   I finished off the piece by wiring Swarovski pearls on the band; its an unconventional piece for a bride, but I thought it would look lovely for a 'Midsummer Night's Dream' type wedding or perhaps for a bridesmaid.