Tuesday's Treasures: NeoAmour Marie Antoinette Earrings

Here they are! As promised, these are the matching earrings to the Marie Antoinette Pink Daisy Daisy Lace Necklace and Bracelet that I blogged about here and here. They are the perfect accompaniment for the bracelet and necklace, but are showy enough to stand on their own.
I used the same Czech glass beads and Swarovski crystal pearls as in the necklace and bracelet (see below), and painstakingly hand wove them into the same daisy chain pattern, giving them a light, flowing look that is all woman!
These will be for sale later today in my Etsy store, I do hope you will check them out :)
Here are the matching necklace and bracelet for the earrings:
Tune in next Tuesday for a bracelet inspired by Queen Elizabeth 1 !!
Until next time.....

Sweet Saturday: NeoAmour Marie Antoinette Jewelry Set Part2

**Update - this bracelet and its matching necklace are now up for sale on my Etsy Site!**
This is Part 2 from my post yesterday about the matching necklace to this piece.
This is part of my new NeoAmour Collection - Based on Powerful Women of the Past, Redesigned for Women Today.
Inspired by the femininity of Marie Antoinette, I decided to make a matching bracelet to yesterday's necklace. It had to be beautiful, feminine, and able to hold it's own with the necklace without being overpowering. I made this bracelet with Swarovski Crystal pearls in 'rosaline' (pink) and clear, silver-lined Czech glass seed beads. I again sewed a dainty Daisy Chain stitch and made the bracelet a little over 13 inches long.I then sewed pink ribbon on the ends to make a clasp, hiding the front stitches with seed beads, and sealing all ribbon ends with clear fabric glue to prevent unraveling:
The best part about the ribbon and the over all length of the bracelet is that you can tie the ribbon tighter or looser to make it longer or shorter (again, I would recommend doing a 'double bow' when tying it to make sure it doesn't come off - just tie a bow as usual, and then knot the bow again to make it extra secure.). In fact, the length of the bracelet is from 13 inches to just over 18 inches, so you could even use this as a choker necklace!
I do still prefer wearing it doubled around my wrist - it feels so silky soft against the skin.

This bracelet will be up for sale today in my Etsy store, under the NeoAmour Marie Antoinette Section. If you wanted to purchase this bracelet and the matching necklace at the same time, you will get a 10% discount!
Merci beaucoup!

Fabulous Friday: NeoAmour Marie Antoinette Jewelry Set

This is part of my new NeoAmour Collection - Based on Powerful Women of the Past, Redesigned for Women Today.
Inspired by the femininity of Marie Antoinette, I decided to make a beautiful necklace with Swarovski Crystal pearls in 'rosaline' (pink) and clear, silver-lined Czech glass seed beads. I started off with a dainty Daisy Chain stitch and made the necklace base a little over 15 inches long. I then came back and made small loops with more seed beads and Swarovski pearls to add dimension and swing:This captures the light, and emphasizes the neckline (and looks heavenly with strapless anything).During Marie Antoinette's time, there weren't many clasps to be found, and ribbon was often used as a closure for necklaces and bracelets (it looks more feminine anyway!). I sewed pink ribbon onto the ends of the necklace, sealed all the ribbon ends with clear fabric glue to keep it from unraveling, and used more of the seed beads to hide the stitches on the front side:Despite the weight of the necklace, the ribbon closure was perfect for this necklace as it also adds a bit of variability to the necklace - you can adjust it longer or shorter by tying the ribbon closer or further from the base of the necklace. I would recommend doing a 'double bow' when tying it to make sure it doesn't come off - just tie a bow as usual, and then knot the bow again to make it extra secure.
There is a matching bracelet, but this post is getting very long, so you'll have to wait on pins and needles for it to debut here tomorrow!
This necklace will be for sale starting today on my Etsy store, under the NeoAmour Marie Antoinette section in my shop.
Also, my TREASURY to help Epic Farms is expiring soon - please go look and click on the items and comment in the comment section to help this wonderful horse rescue.
A demain, mes cheries,

NeoAmour - Boudicca's Heart Necklace

~NeoAmour Boudicca's Heart Celtic Heart Copper Necklace Closeup~

~NeoAmour Boudicca's Heart Celtic Heart Copper Necklace~

I created this necklace after being inspired by a movie. What the movie was I can't for the life of me remember, but this necklace was the wonderful product. I am always inspired by the Celts, and Boudicca the Celtic Warrior Queen is one of those people that, despite the totally oral nature of her culture (she had to be recorded by the Romans, certainly no mean feat), has been remembered for the last 1700 years due to her sheer will and determination, and yes, great love of her people.
Made a Regent Queen after her husband died, she was thrust into power in a time when (though the Celts allowed women rulers) women were NOT to be in power according to the Romans, the largest threat to the Celts at that time. They actually believed that the fact that Celts allowed women to rule made the Celtic people more barbarous than ever! The Romans came, publicly beat Boudicca, raped her daughters in front of her, took her husband's belongings, tried to take her tribe's lands, and attempted to force the Celts to become slaves for the Romans.
Boudicca had other ideas.
Outraged at these atrocities, she fought back, winning a few major (and very bloody) victories before the Romans finally conquered her tribe, and left her to fade into obscurity. No one knows what happened to her, but I can imagine that after all of this heartache, she would have welcomed a life in the background.
I thought of her courage and decided to make a necklace made of hand formed hearts. I took copper wire and cut it into 21- 4 inch sections, then hand formed each section into a Celtic styled heart. I then hammered them flat to give them a slight luster finish and durability. To connect them I used silver rings and made a custom hook and eye clasp from sterling silver wire to connect it. For a final finish I attached Czech glass beads in a black dagger shape to dangle from a few of the hearts - as a tribute to her final 'heartache' at not being able to save her culture from the invading Romans.
This piece is currently for sale on my Etsy store, under the NeoAmour Boudicca Celtic section. I am able to lengthen or shorten the necklace if you desire, and I can also remove the dangles if you would prefer. I can even make it out of sterling silver wire, or 14karat gold filled wire, all you have to do is ask :)
Thanks for joining my time-travel adventures today!

Wordless Wednesday: More Silver Rings!

~Silver Celtic Spiral Ring with Garnets and Czech Glass From Front~

~Silver Celtic Spiral Ring with Garnets and Czech Glass On Finger~

~Custom Silver and 3 Crystal Ring From Front~

~Custom Silver and 3 Crystal Ring on Fingers~

These will soon be in my Etsy Store (at some point today) so please check them out!

Tuesday's Treasures: A New Ring!

I want to be clear that I have not reneged on my promise to paint my nails at least once per week - the last polish (Borgese Palazzo Lilac, if you'll recall) was fantastic and lasted a whole three days without chipping (a miracle on my hands, even the salon stuff doesn't last that long), but after gardening, tree removal, sump pump excursions and a host of other jobs, my nails needed some therapy. Enter the 3 steps of Witchcraft brand nail rescue! Though I don't like the name, it works, period. It is all clear, which is why I didn't want to bore you with it.
Instead you get to see a new ring!
I used Sterling silver wire and wrapped it in a Celtic spiral ring, but then I attached vintage reclaimed freshwater pearls and Czech glass firepolish beads to the center loop for extra sparkle and flair. For extra strength I then carefully hammered the ring, giving it a light mottled look that is so pretty. I can also use different colored stones or beads to change the look. I hope to list this on my online stores soon, so please do check them out regularly.
Hope you like it :-)
Have a great day,

Manic Monday - Some New Bracelets!

This morning did NOT go as planned: I had made my to-do list last night and planned to get up,work out right away after making hubby's lunch, eat breakfast, clean the kitchen and get right into laundry and housework so that I could get into more jewellery-making after lunch.
Not so, as my alarm clock decided that snooze wasn't going to work this morning, and so I woke up a full HOUR after I was supposed to, leaving poor hubby just 15 minutes to shower and get ready for work! That being said, I got him ready first, cleaned the kitchen, and I will work out...in a bit.
First I wanted to show you two new bracelet designs that, if all goes well, will be for sale in a store near Toronto that is currently carrying some of my tiaras and hair combs - fingers crossed!
They are made with sterling silver chain and wire and these are made with Czech glass fire polish beads, though the ones for the Woodbridge store will have Swarovski Crystals in them.
Gorgeous!
....Now, where did I leave my head again?

Sweet Saturday - What An Awesome Thank You!

I visited good friend and glass extraordinaire Louise Ingram from Fireseed yesterday, to pick up the beads I traded for the amigurumi dolls I made for her and her cat and wow am I impressed! The pink beads I asked her to make waaaay back in February and I have a design just waiting for them - aren't they fantastic?
She had mentioned that she had included a few surprises and when I got home, I found these stunning red beads too - don't they just look like candy? Maybe rubies? I can't decide - but either way they are so gorgeous, I made a bracelet from them right away, see below for more pictures :)Then, I peeked into the bag again and out came these beads! Wow, I can't wait to make things with them, they are so different and beautiful :)
Last but not least (not by a long shot!), I found that she had included her famous animal beads! The naughty-but-nice Louise had included a Bunkee Bead (her delightful Monkees dressed as bunnies!), a black cat bead, and a sweet little black dog bead that I swear she must have used a picture of my dog to make, the resemblance is staggering (she got the smile down perfectly, lol).
I have to say I feel very spoiled and I will have to do a few more monkey dolls to feel I have repaid her for her amazing generosity!
Here is a photo of the bracelet I made with the red-candy beads - I made links from individual rings that I had linked by hand to make a chain mail knot, then I attached each link to a bead. I made a square clasp to match the square beads - too cool, huh? I know Louise definitely brings out the best in my work - her beads are so beautiful they always inspire a piece that is (in my humble opinion) as much art as functioning jewelry. Thank you Louise!

Monday Monday Monday - I Couldn't Think of a Fitting Alliteration for Monday

~Simple Headbands: on the Top with White Swarovski Pearls, on the Bottom with Czech Glass Fire Polish Beads~

~Simple Headband on the Top with Cream Swarovski Pearls, Flower Headband on the Bottom with White Swarovski Pearls~

Flower Headband with White Swarovski Pearls and Small Czech Glass Fire Polish Beads~

I'm Ba-aaack! Well after an unplanned three-day Blogger hiatus, I am back with some wonderful goodies to show you! Here are the tiaras that I custom made for a store near Toronto. I made the bases from scratch using thick silver plated wire, hammered it flat, and then tightly wrapped the bases with fine silver plated wire. I made loops on the ends of the bases so that bobby pins could be inserted through them to hold the tiaras in longer hair if desired. I then used more fine gauge silver wire to wrap the beads on the bases in different patterns. I used Swarovski crystal pearls and Czech glass fire polish beads in clear AB for great sparkle and subtle, yet pretty impact. These tiaras have great weight to them, without being too heavy. They are child-sized, but would work well in a 'mini tiara' look on an adults up do as well. I hope you like them!!

Also, I got my hand painted pendant from Gypsy Mare Studios this weekend - and oh my is it ever gorgeous! I can tell you, I'm not taking it off any time soon, Thank you so much Jennifer!~My Beautiful New Pendant!~

Wordless Wednesday, or, the Benefits of Good Photography

It speaks for itself.
Before:

After:

After:

Meghann

Melodious Monday - Another Tiara

~Crystal Queen Tiara front~

~Crystal Queen Tiara top~

~Crystal Queen Tiara closeup~

Today has been a melodious Monday for sure! I woke up with energy for once in a blue moon! I am sore as usual, but I have energy, WOO! I got some housework done and then made this stunner of a tiara. I used a silver plate tiara base and Czech glass fire polish beads in 'crystal' then I used 6mm and 4mm Swarovski Crystal pearls in 'natural white' I attached them with over 5 feet of sterling silver wire. Not bad for a little over an hour! This is just beautiful - not too big and flashy, not too small to get lost in an up do. Just perfect for that Queen-in-the-making!
I hope the bridal store in Toronto likes this one, what do you think?
Meghann

Soulful Sunday - Oh the Tiaras You'll Wear!

~Fabled Forest Tiara front~

~Fabled Forest Tiara Flower Closeup~

~Fabled Forest Tiara Front, High View~

I had a request from a bridal store near Toronto to make a few examples of tiaras that they might be able to sell, and after they emailed me some idea pictures, I got to work today. I love making tiaras, I just forget how much I love it as I never make them! This was the result of a little over 2 hours of hard work - my "Fabled Forest Tiara". It is very feminine and delicate-looking, perfect for a wedding, prom, or even a communion - you could cut the ends of the tiara base with thick cutters and gently sand the ends to fit a child. It can be worn as a tiara or a headband, which is why I left the ends bare. The attachments are adjustable depending on how you wear it, just gently move and slightly bend the attachments to the desired positions to stand them up or lay them flatter. I would recommend that you be gentle though, as if they are moved to much they may become brittle, like all metal wire.
I used a gold plate tiara base, 8mm and 4 mm Swarovski crystal Pearls in natural white, 6 mm Czech fire polish glass beads in 'crystal' and Czech glass leaf beads. I also used Czech glass bell flower beads, which are out of production and very limited. I hand wired all components with over 15 feet of 14karat gold filled wire. The I have enough beads to make 3 more of these tiaras, though I need to get more large Swarovski pearls, which is fine as can get those fairly quickly from my suppliers. The small flowers have smaller Czech glass natural pink (not dyed) seed beads in them. I can also make this in other colors of beads and pearls, or in silver or copper if you would like. Silver and copper would be slightly less expensive.
I put it on and immediately thought that I have to come up with the money for my wedding this fall no matter what - and then make a version of this for myself to wear!
I hope the store likes it, but if not, I'll sell it on my Etsy store....or maybe just secret it away for those days when I need a little pick-me-up ;-)
Hope you like it...and here's a question...how much do you think it is worth?
Meghann