I forgot about you bloggy - sorry.

Yeah it's been a while. I'm rubbish at keeping any form of diary for any great length of time. Been ill for a while. I got a head injury at my regular day job, last year, and have been out of crafting action for a while now. I plan to try and blog about all those crafty things I have been and am currently doing. It has been a loong day today so I shall leave this blog writing shenanigans until tomorrow, when I should, in theory be refreshed. In theory :P

Amulet Bag Necklace - Black with Purple Stars

This is my first attempt at making an amulet bag (or purse to those in the US!).  I am very happy with the finished necklace.

Amulet bags are used to carry important, small, personal treasures, charms and such.  The necklace design means the amulet bag can be worn as jewellery, and your treasures kept securely on your person.

This is another piece which uses tubular peyote stitch.  I used a design that I had previously used in peyote stitch bracelets.  The fringe of this necklace is laden with semi precious gemstones of many different shapes, colours and sizes.

I will be making more amulet bags shortly, and plan to add them, along with this one, to my website for sale very soon.  

Secret Scroll Necklace - Cream & Lilac Daisies

This necklace will soon be for sale via my website.

Another one of my secret scroll necklaces.  This has a runic spell for protection on the scroll.  As I stated in my last blog, I was a putz and and forgot to photograph the scroll before sealing it in the necklace.  As soon as I get around to making another secret scroll, I will post the photo here.

I love the colours used in the necklace.  They are very traditional, and kinda bridal.  I have echoed the daisy motif used on the necklace pendant in the chain of the necklace.

I hope to have this for sale on my website as soon as possible.

Secret Scroll Necklace - Protection Present

I have a few secret scroll necklaces for sale via my website, this one was made as a gift for my hubby.  

All of the secret scroll necklaces have a scroll of paper, with a runic spell painted on it, sealed inside a peyote stitched hollow tube.  This spell can be customised to a customer's specific needs, or replaced with a personal message.  The tube is sealed up so as to keep the message safe and secret.

The few, pre-made, secret scroll necklaces that I have on my website currently, have all got love spells sealed inside them.  Last year my other half had to do a lot of travelling abroad.  I always get nervous and worried when he has to travel without me.  I decided I would feel better if he had a little protection on him. So I made this necklace for him.  He has worn it religiously whenever he is travelling or away from home.  Which makes both of us feel better :)

Now I took this photo just after the necklace was made last year (about October), and I could have SWORN that I took a few photos of the protection spell scroll inside.  I didn't.  The real annoyance is that I went ahead and made another protection necklace (to sell) and didn't photograph that scroll as I thought I already had a picture.  Grrrr!

Now I have to make another one.  This time I had better remember to photograph it before I seal up the necklace.

Special Birthday Gift

It was my youngest sister's (not the one that's getting married!) 18th birthday recently.  I decided to make her a necklace as a gift.  

I know that when we go out next weekend (for my other sister's hen party) she has a black and white, sixties style outfit planned.  Mum also told me that 'lil sister is also into the whole monochrome thing at the moment.  Armed with this knowledge I began my search for the perfect ingredients for my new project.

I remembered that I saw some exquisitely, expensive, lampwork beads in my local beadshop last time I was there. There was a wonderful selection of lampwork beads for me to take my pick from.   I found what I was looking for.  A black and white, funky patterned, square bead.  Which is a work of art in itself.  Each bead produced is totally unique.

I had to do justice to this work of art bead.  I thought long and hard about what would work.  Played around on my beadboard for ages trying this and that.  I knew what I had to do had to be bold to compliment the lampwork pendant bead.  That's when I came upon the idea of having one half of the necklace beaded black with white moonstones, and the other white with black tourmalines and snowflake obsidians.  I used a sterling silver toggle and loop set for the clasp.

I called up my mum and described the finished necklace over the phone.  She thinks my wee sis will love it.  *fingers crossed*  Will find out for certain next weekend.

Repairs - Crystal AB & Millefiori Necklaces

I was asked to repair some vintage jewellery recently.  These two necklaces were in amongst the repairs.

 There's something very satisfying about making old necklaces look like new again.

 Both of these necklaces are currently for sale in Chic & Unique in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

Redesign - Faux Pearl Necklace

I was asked by a customer to redesign an existing necklace.  It was to be a present to the customer's daughter, to be worn on her wedding day.

The necklace started out as a long, single strand, vintage faux pearl necklace.  The customer requested that the necklace be shortened by 15 pearls, and these be used to make a matching bracelet.  I interspaced the pearls with clear, swarovki crystals to make the bracelet long enough.

Both the customer, and her daughter were delighted with my finished work.  I have to say that I'm quite proud too :)

It was a difficult job, as silk thread was too thick for the holes in the pearls.  I had to then use 2 doubled strands of nymo on two different needles.  I then had to double, sometimes triple knot in between every bead to give the hand knotted look to the necklace and bracelet.  There was lots of tears and tangles but it was worth it.