Amazing Amethyst

Amethyst is one of the most popular and to me most beautiful gemstones available. It has many different tones and clarities and is universally loved. Pairing it with other gemstones is no hardship, as it co-ordinates with so many things.

Amethyst, Amazonite and Rose Quartz:
A sherbety, summery set that looks good enough to eat! These shades pack a little more punch than your average pastels, but still remain wearable if you don't like things too bright, and are very on trend this season!

SOLD: Faceted Amethyst and Baroque Pearl.
Cuff bracelets are something I dont often venture into. Mainly it's because they can use up as many beads as a necklace, and I worry that people dont want to pay so much for a bracelet. However, I am always wrong, as they seem to sell when I do make them. This has taught me to go with my instincts when it comes to making jewellery: make something you think is beautiful, and people will pay for the quality of handmade goods and genuine gemstones without hesitation.

Amethyst coins Sage Amethyst ovals and purple Jade.
Creating a one-colour necklace using different shapes and cuts of stones gives a dramatic and classy finish. This longer necklace would sit beautifully over any maxi dress, plain white tee, evening dress...you name it. Its rewarding to make a piece that you can see has great versatility and that is fun and easy to wear.

Holly & Ivy

Moss Agate & Carnelian
I know with the sweltering heat we've been experiencing, this may seem like a strange time to bring out a christmas-inspired set, but here we go. I particularly love the earrings, the drop-style nuggets of moss agate fall prettily from the wire, while the vibrant orange carnelian stones are reminiscent of bright, juicy berries.

Pearly Queen

Pearls are such a classic, lovely organic gem. Having been the mainstay of, ahem, grannies for a number of years, pearls have enjoyed such a resurgence. This is in part due to the popularity of vintage style, but also the setting of pearls into simple modern design, and the availability of gorgeous coloured pearls. I personally am as much a fan of the classic white pearl as of the lovely colours, but coloured pearls definitely add a new dimension to a classic look.

Pink Baroque Pearls and Haematite
When I started making jewellery, coloured pearls and haematite was one of the earliest combinations I put together, and I still use it often to this day. There is something really special about the play of light berween the two gems that is very pretty and so popular. Baroque refers to the oval shape of the pearl. These pearls are different from round/ potato pearls in that they do not usually have rings but are smaller, and may have a slightly flat back.

SOLD/ Commission Set: Teal Baroque Pearls and Silver.

This is a great example of a modern take on a string of pearls. Using nothing but pearls, I integrated a simple flower design into the piece to lift the look and make it slightly more feminine. I added small silver spacers to the earrings to add interest, and make them pretty enough to be worn alone without the necklace.

Fabulous Fluorite

Fluorite is a glorious, multi-tonal gem with fluorescent properties (hence the name). It has a lovely transparent-translucent clarity with tones ranging from deep purples and lilacs to minty greens. Ideal with spring pastels and sorbet shades these gems also hold their own against darker colours and look stunning against white.

Sunset over Ayer's Rock

Mookaite is a wonderfully diverse gemstone. This set is made completely of the one stone, with colours ranging from cream to mustard to pinks, reds, purples and rich browns. Mookaite is a gemstone that is only mined in the Mooka Creek, Australia and to many evokes the feel and rich earthy tones of an Aussie sunset.

Here, different shapes, sizes and facets of Mookaite have been used to bring out the best in this unique gemstone. I have wired some of the beads to make pretty flower shapes and add an asymmetric design to the necklace.

A Myriad of Earrings!

I tended to make sets of earrings and necklaces until one colleague of mine told me she only really wore earrings- she didnt like the feel and fuss of having something at the neckline. I have since found this to be the case for a lot of women. There is something extra-gratifying about making a gorgeous pair of earrings: exploring bead shapes that would be more difficult to work with in a necklace, being able to tailor-make something exactly to the needs of the customer, because you only need a couple of each type of bead (how many times I've been frustrated not to be able to lengthen a necklace easily because I've run out of the beads that I'd used).

More importantly, big or small, a pair of earrings can really brighten the face! When I'm having a day when the mirror is not my friend, I put on a sparkly or colourful (or both!) pair of earrings and look and feel so much more awake. I love the way earrings look peeping through glamorous long locks when hair is worn down, and also the contrasting drama of seeing the whole earring and its beautiful silhouette against the neck when hair is shorter or worn up.

Left to Right: Black Onyx and Cracked Quartz. Garnet and Cracked Quartz (SOLD). Pearl and Cracked Quartz (SOLD). These cracked quartz drops are so full of depth and texture, and glimmer beautifully. They work with all kinds of colours, shapes and sizes of other gems.

Garnet and Cracked Quartz close-up.

Lapis Lazuli (1 pair sold, 1 pair still available) Lapis is so popular. The richness of the blue is like nothing you get with any other gem.

Aquamarine: small chips are used effectively for a dimensional earring with lots of movement.

Red Agate: these cascade beautifully when worn, the effect isn't seen so well when flat.

 White Pearl and Black Onyx: a Chanel-inspired combination.

 Red and Blue Tiger's Eye with black Jet. I am a huge fan of Tiger's Eye, and these photos sadly dont do justice to the depth and texture of the gems.

 Garnet, Black Onyx and Quartz. The faceted Bicone cut of these gems is one of my favourite cuts. They just seem to bounce light beautifully in all directions and bring instant glamour to any piece.

Hot Stuff

Shades of red are so popular in jewellery. From the bright crimson of Coral to muted tones of Jasper, reds offer something for everyone. Glamorous, fun, earthy, sexy: whatever you want from your jewellery there will be a red to suit you! I love that people who feel that they can't wear red clothes, or that it doesn't suit them, still love red jewellery as it can add a bit of pizazz to your outfit!

SOLD: Red and Leopard Jasper
The colours of this piece are really rich (it has paled a bit in the light on this photo!) and the variant tones within the leopard jasper compliment the red jasper beautifully. I love the more matt texture of Jasper, and it feels lovely against the skin. This is such a comfortable, wearable set.

Red Coral and Dalmatian Jasper
Its no secret that I love Dalmatian Jasper, and I often seem to pair it with coral as I think reds compliment it beautifully. The square shapes of the Dalmatian add a different look, and really make the design of the pendant stand out. Again, dress it up or down for night or day a really versatile set (apologies I had run out of earring hooks when I took the photo, but you get the idea!)