New York Fashion Show

That's certainly a joke, I mean Fashion Show! Here is Paulina, my adorable and lovely granddaughter showcasing my beaded jewelry. On the first photo Paulina features Poppy Field Necklace.


On that photo Paulina displays Midsummer Night's Dream Necklace. What can I say? Though Paulina, my love and happiness, is a little bit more than 11 months here, she feels very comfortable with my beadwork on! Go, my lovely baby!

Indian Summer At The Door

It's already autumn outside... the grass is getting yellow... the leaves turn to red, brown and yellow... Some people can say, the nature is dying, I say it's falling asleep, and it makes us enjoy with its fantastic, cheerful and festive colors - Indian summer at the door!


When the sun rises, autumn colors flash out showing fall beauty, and water drops after night rain sparkle like diamonds! I like this season, and once I've already created the Autumn Splendor Necklace. This year the spring was pretty long and cold - but the fall is warm and beautiful, that's why I returned to the autumn theme.


Remembering my Tropical Blossom Necklace, I decided to use Swarovski pendants again, and that brought me to Artbeads.com. My husband said, "Good choice!" I have no idea what he meant, whether Artbeads.com or beautiful pendants they sell. In general, it doesn't matter, I found out what I was looking for.


I received red magma, olivine, light topaz, and copper Swarovski crystal pendants, and bought silk ribbons of bright autumn colors at the closest craft shop. Appropriate Czech glass teardrop and leaf accent beads, and TOHO 15/0 yellow and green seed beads should have been good much to my staff.


I wrapped up memory wire blank necklace and used it as the base of my piece, and embellished it with Czech beads; then I wound it with bead strings and made fringes with crystal pendants. The last touch was the brass leaf closure. The necklace could be named Autumn Wreath, but I call it Indian Summer, because Indian summer is outside!

Necklace

Code : V024 Price : RM50 (c/w matching earring)

Lenght : appx. 40cm, drop 2cm

Material : White glass beads, Red Coral Beads & Red wire

Code : V025 Price : RM50 (c/w matching earring)

Lenght : appx. 46cm, drop 5cm

Material : White glass beads, Red Agate and Chinese traditional "Jin-Tai-Lan" bead.

Code : V026 Price : RM40 (c/w matching earring)

Lenght : appx 48cm, drop 7cm

Material : Green crystal beads and "Jin-Tai-Lan" bead

I bought these shell findings from Phi Phi Island, Thailand. Perfectly matched with the black beads.

I have been keeping this Jade laughing buddha for almost 2 years since I bought it in Beijing. Only until last month I found some matching Jade beads to match it to a necklace. The mini Agate beads make this necklace even more attractive! I feel happy whenever the buddha smile at me :-)

Code : V028 Price : RM150 (c/w matching earring)

Lenght : appx. 43cm, drop 3cm (height of laughing Buddha)

Material : Laughing Buddha Jade Pandant, Jade beads and Agate beads

Double knotting a necklace

If you want to knot a beaded necklace with semi precious stones, but the holes in the stones are quite large, what's the solution?

I'd got these lovely S-shaped 'slab' beads in dyed turquoise agate (that's an agate dyed a turquoise colour, not huge turquoise beads, BTW!) and was keen to use them.  My favourite thing to make is always a knotted necklace. However, a single knot in the beading thread would just disappear into the rather large bead hole. Thicker beading cord might have been an option, but I wanted to use 6mm howlite beads with a smaller drill hole in between the large slabs - any larger round beads and the slabs might spin or pivot when worn and that's always annoying - so I was a bit stuck.


 I have some pearls which are double knotted, but the knots lie side by side, adding to the length of the necklace.  It looks great with those organic freeform pearls, but wouldn't have been right for this more structured design.

My solution was double knotting.  First, doing a normal single knot close to the bead.  I always use knotting tweezers, as this gets the knot exactly where I want it...



Next, I knotted over the knot I'd just made.  It took a little practice to get the result neat.  The best way seems to be to position the tweezers so that they are at the cross over point in the first knot, and very gently roll the second knot into place, not pulling as tightly as you would for a normal single knot.  Then the second knot was more inclined to sit neatly with a little overlap ...





 I liked the results.  There is still some movement between the bead hole and the double knot around the dyed turquoise agate stones, which adds to the fluidity of the necklace.  A big necklace that it too rigid can be uncomfortable to wear, in my humble opinion.  Also, there is very little pivoting of the larger stone, as the little howlite bead is very securely in place.  And because the knots look like little spacer beads, there's another shade of blue in the design. 

What do you think?

The finished design is in my Etsy shop.

Double knotting a necklace

If you want to knot a beaded necklace with semi precious stones, but the holes in the stones are quite large, what's the solution?

I'd got these lovely S-shaped 'slab' beads in dyed turquoise agate (that's an agate dyed a turquoise colour, not huge turquoise beads, BTW!) and was keen to use them.  My favourite thing to make is always a knotted necklace. However, a single knot in the beading thread would just disappear into the rather large bead hole. Thicker beading cord might have been an option, but I wanted to use 6mm howlite beads with a smaller drill hole in between the large slabs - any larger round beads and the slabs might spin or pivot when worn and that's always annoying - so I was a bit stuck.


 I have some pearls which are double knotted, but the knots lie side by side, adding to the length of the necklace.  It looks great with those organic freeform pearls, but wouldn't have been right for this more structured design.

My solution was double knotting.  First, doing a normal single knot close to the bead.  I always use knotting tweezers, as this gets the knot exactly where I want it...



Next, I knotted over the knot I'd just made.  It took a little practice to get the result neat.  The best way seems to be to position the tweezers so that they are at the cross over point in the first knot, and very gently roll the second knot into place, not pulling as tightly as you would for a normal single knot.  Then the second knot was more inclined to sit neatly with a little overlap ...





 I liked the results.  There is still some movement between the bead hole and the double knot around the dyed turquoise agate stones, which adds to the fluidity of the necklace.  A big necklace that it too rigid can be uncomfortable to wear, in my humble opinion.  Also, there is very little pivoting of the larger stone, as the little howlite bead is very securely in place.  And because the knots look like little spacer beads, there's another shade of blue in the design. 

What do you think?

The finished design is in my Etsy shop.

Bead Soup in Progress!

A few days ago I shared about my bead soup that I received from this rounds swap partner. Now it's time to share a little taste of the soup! It's done, and I'd love to tell you about the cooking process, but I can't show you the final product yet! The bead soup party is on the 26th and I'll be able to reveal all then. For now...

I truly believe in evolution. Not Darwin's kind, but I think that so much of creating is an evolutionary process! I don't think most people realize the work that can go into even a simply strung necklace. Why? Because it's constantly changing until you settle down on the final piece!

This piece started out with a handful of bead soup from Shai. I separated the beads into two groups and I thought I knew exactly what I was doing with this set! So, a couple of nights ago I put the beads on a paper plate (don't ask) and proceeded with my plan. It failed. Completely. I later figured out how I probably could have made it work, but that was after I had finally managed to create something I liked!

So plan 1 down, I was on to plan 2! That failed as well and I was going to make a simple bracelet. I was about half way done when I remembered a focal I had noticed earlier but put aside because it was definitely meant for a necklace.

Trust me - that close up isn't the most flattering - it looks much better as a whole! But I have to preserve some of the mystery don't I? Looking at the focal, and then at the bracelet, I knew what these beads wanted to be - a necklace!

For those of you keeping track - that was plan 3 down onto plan 4. But wait - there's more!

I was originally thinking of using some heavy cream beads (they look like a coffee with tons of cream!) to accent the main beads. I got them out, looked at them under my desk light (the rest of the room is rather dim) and noticed that the shell's Shai had sent me are a dark brown to tan with white accents! Yes, I said white. Bye - bye heavy cream! Onto plan 5.

I pulled out the white beads and started to string the necklace and decided the white was boring. It also didn't complement Shai's shell beads very well by itself. Back to the bead box! Plan 6 was to add in some brown seed beads.

It took a couple of try's after that to get the write count of seed beads to main beads, but I'll leave it at plan 6 because that is such an incredibly normal part of the process that it doesn't deserve it's own incarnation :P

*Phew* That was quite a journey for a simple necklace! It turned out lovely though - and I even have a name for it! I just have to wait until the 26th before I can show it off :) I have one more piece to make with her bead soup too! I'm looking forward to working on that one - hopefully it will be a less convoluted process. Especially because I have a lot of projects in my bead box right now!

Where is the time going?

Once again it has been a long time since I last blogged. I did say that I was going to blog about 2010 in the life of Zazu Jewellery but unfortunately my scanner has broken so cant put my press articles in!

I have decided to start a party plan business so if you would be interested in getting some extra cash please do let me know.
I have my first recruit who lives in the same town as me and she has her first party booked  in a couple of weeks time.

I have been busy refining collections like this:

Creating new collections like these:

Its only two months til the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) and i'm getting really excited. There is absolutely loads of stuff to do still.
I now have all the stand furniture and need just a couple more necklace stands. The hotel is booked and most of the collections are completed.
I do however still need to design some promotional material, make up a stock of jewellery and get a hair cut!
I am hopeless with my hair so I plan to get it cut the day before we go in the hope I can keep the style looking good for 3 whole days!

Popular!

Black Spiral Hemp Choker

One of my more popular items has been my hemp creations - especially this month! So it's the perfect time to relist this necklace with all new photos. It's 15 inches and only $15! I didn't do that on purpose - I promise! The bead in the center is a lovely pink lampwork bead that I picked up in my local bead shop - and fell in love with! Is this lovely piece going to be yours?

I also happen to have a hemp necklace in line to make for myself right now - I'll show you pictures when I get to it! Whenever that is...

Not Exactly a Piece of Cake

Piece of Cake

I thought it entertaining that today's item renewal on Etsy was my "Piece of Cake" necklace! Why? Well because  my focus right now is on setting and obtaining goals, and I'm quickly being reminded that they aren't necessarily a piece of cake! Some of my goals I'm doing great with. Others...

My goals for my business are:

~ 60 Sales this Year, which breaks down to 5 a month.

~ Increase Traffic. Breaks down to the specific goals of post or renew at least one item 5 times a week. Blog 5 times a week. 

Simple, specific, and should be relatively attainable right? 

I even made a little sheet to keep track of how I'm doing on each of my goals (business and life)! I'll blog about that tomorrow (hopefully) and it's telling me that I'm not starting out so great on some things. Such as my business goals. My weeks starts with Sunday, and this is the first time I've blogged or posted an item! Which means I better not miss a day the rest of this week :P We'll see how it goes! Off to my T'ai Chi class :)

Getting Stuff Done!

I've been really sick with a bad cold, and it hasn't gone completely away, but it's finally better enough that I can function as long as I have some cold meds! Woohoo! So what does that mean? I've been working like crazy tonight! Check it out:

First of all - just go check out my etsy shop. 

I've spent all night renewing anything that has a good picture!

That's a LOT of items ladies and gentlemen :)

Tomorrow - I start taking new pictures of old items that need it!

As for Artfire...I finally added something again!

Blue and Yellow Millifiori Necklace

This beauty is only $15 with free shipping! 

Ok - I've worked on a bunch of stuff since I last posted...

But I'm to tired to take any more pictures. 

So look for this tomorrow :D 

Fun Stuff All!

Shades of Nepal

This bracelet is a special one.

My brother sent me the beads from Nepal! 

I'm so tempted to keep this one for myself...

But I like how it turned out so much that it's up for sale!

If no one grabs it things might not stay that way though...

Spring Fling

Ok, I know it's not exactly spring right now...

This would still make a GREAT Christmas present though!

AND it's 10% off! 

Nothing new crafty wise today - but I plan on doing a bunch this afternoon!

Make of the day and a project (thanks to Mummy!)

Today I made this pendant which has a chunky faceted Rock Crystal drop surrounded by white freshwater pearls. 

This is going to become one of my collections which will have this pendant which is ideal for Bridesmaids, a fuller  necklace which will have a fan effect with the Rock Crystal drops, Earrings and a bracelet.

It will also come in a midnight version which will have oxidised silver and black agate beads instead of pearls - perfect for a glitzy night out!

My Mum also gave me a broken silver matchstick holder, it is really pretty and decorative and both decided it would make a fab belt buckle so that is what I plan to do!

LOTS of CHANGES

Oh goodness! What a day it's been! I can decide where to begin! Wow. I've had a lot of things I've been wanting to get done for a long time and I got so much of it done today! Maybe I should just list it...

Cleaning:
1. Kitchen
2. Bedroom
3. Some of the living room

Design:
1. THE BLOG - I'm going for red and green right now in honor of the upcoming holiday - can you tell? LOL
2. I also created and updated both banners and avatars (and on Artfire the color theme) in both my shops.
3. I made the little section headers I wanted to make! You'll see in a minute ;)

Cooking:
1. Breakfast: pancakes and sausage :D Don't worry I really was behaving! I used sugar-free syrup and they were turkey sausages :P
2. Dinner: (breakfast was at lunch time) BBQ Pork loins, mashed potatoes, and broccoli.

Wow - it was a full day! Now on to the things in my shop and and the crafty stuff I got done yesterday!

Wood and Tubes Spirals

These babies are on CLEARANCE!!!!

Pink Delight Bracelet

Wouldn't this be the perfect Christmas present?

Mexican Peso Necklace

This would be perfect to add a bit of travel flair to your

wardrobe - and perfect to wear at Christmas! 

This necklace is a commission for my friend Gypsy :D

If anyone's interested in something similar just let me know! 

I made something else yesterday too - but I didn't like how it turned out :P 

So it's being scrapped and no picture! 

Until tomorrow ~ Ruthie

Latest order and commission

A lovely lady from America contacted me on Etsy asking if I could make one of my silver spiral necklaces for her and a pair of earrings that she wanted to go with it.

She knew exactly what the earrings should look like and this is them. I hope she likes them.

They are being sent out tomorrow for her.

like birthin' babies

                                                                                                 mary jane dodd


gestation: n. the act of carrying young from conception to delivery


sometimes taking a piece from idea to execution can be just like that... replete with discomfort, moments of anticipation and planning, hopes for what it may 'grow up' to be... and a lot of anxiety as the due date nears... 


take for example a piece i have been carrying around in my head since may - this is not uncommon for me... my etsy shop doesn't have 4 pages of listings, i don't make things quickly... i admire those people, i am just not one of them... 

meet 'tenacity'... we are going on 6 months now... i know i am closing in on delivery - my chest pounds just thinking about it... 

the sketches are basic - nothing fancy, but it is a way to bring some kind of reality to the project... at night i just put down what i am thinking about... 


the defining components are made - 

resin paddles with antique dictionary paper... 'perseverance', 'tenacity' and 'blooming'... 

glass from patty lakinsmith... 

'tenacity' was born of her meaning - 'holding fast' ... there are things that we at times must hold fast to - if we do and carry it through, we blossom...


and, seriously, who can resist a good meanie?!