Happy New Year Folks!

Well, it's here! 2011.  And I hope it's a sight better than 2010!


I'm not going to moan about the rotten bug I've had 'cos everyone seems to have had something like it and it'll be gone soon enough - hopefully!


Bev's decided to stay working until the end of January (...provided the baby stays where he is that is...I'm not so sure she'll go that long...!) so I still have Ada until then and afterwards, the new baby, Tobias, too, although Bev's maternity leave should give me a well-deserved (...and much needed...) break!


I'll then have about eight months almost to myself and hope to get some writing done and perhaps jam a course in!


Something tells me it's not going to be that simple......


I didn't get many Christmas cards made this year due to lack of time but since New Year (...two days yet...!) I've been making some jewellery and repairing some broken brooches.


I have a Malachite and silver ring I bought last year but didn't have anything to go with it so when I saw these Malachite tiger's eye beads I snapped them up and then, coincidentally, found a necklace in a car-boot sale with beads that looked very like the other stone on the ring - Adventurine - so having a few days to myself between Christmas & New Year, put them together with some silver findings I had in my box including the Tibetan Silver bales and spacers. The ear-wires ans findings are all Sterling Silver.

This is the entire set I made. There's a necklace, two removable and therefore switchable pendants, a bracelet, and two pairs of earrings - a bigger pair for the necklace and a smaller, simpler pair for the chain & pendant.


I'm very pleased with it as it has a sort of antique, almost Baroque type feel to it.

Pendant 1

Pendant 2

Earrings 1

Earrings 2

Bracelet

I've attached the two pendants to silver lobster-claws so they can be attached to the necklace as enhancers or to the bracelet or to the silver chain or the necklace and bracelet can be worn with either or none or a different silver charm if preferred.






Another set I made was this simple silver and blue/white/crystal stone set.

Pendant

Earrings

The bale I've used on the pendant is the type which can be used on ribbon or a thong and also the on-trend snake chains currently used on Pandora jewellery.


The photos are giving the metal a bit of a gilded look which isn't there - electric light I'm afraid! All the findings and metal in my jewellery are sterling silver unless otherwise stated, such as the Tibetan Silver bales and the spacers on the Baroque set.


I made this set for my lovely Sister-in-Law Barbara who I don't see enough of but hope she will like this set, made especially for her.


I'm hoping to get back to my places on Crafty CardMakers and my new appointment at Top Tip Tuesday in the next week or so and you've no idea how much I am looking forward to it too!


My crafting has taken, not so much of a back seat as not actually been on the bus at all in the last few weeks!  Puppies don't allow you to ignore them for too long - and neither do grandchildren!  I BOUGHT Christmas cards for God's sake....! (...please don't tell anyone - I'll never live it down...!) 


Fortunately, I had a handful made which went to VERY special people, so if you got one, count yourself very special indeedy!


Hope you like them!
Hugs
Ei
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