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I’m so grateful to my Dad for making me the perfect storage for my glass rods.  It helps to have all the colours organised, makes it easy when I need to find a particular colour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have this idea for a new earring design that required me to buy a new tool!

Can you tell by looking at it what it does?

It’s a tube cutter!  I can put sterling silver tube in there, set it to the right length, and then hold it in place easily while I saw through it!

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put the necklace and the bracelet together to make this gorgeous necklace that can be worn in so many ways!

 

  

 

When I started making jewellery, everything I made was from op-shop jewellery that I had found, pulled apart and put back together!  It was more of a financial than an artistic decision back then (er, it was a lot cheaper to buy a necklace and pull it apart than to buy new beads)!

These days I make my own glass beads.  I’ve been making beads for the past 7 years, and there are times when I make jewellery and it doesn’t work (er, that means it doesn’t sell)!

When that happens I feel like I have a few options.

1. Persist.  The right person may not have been into the shop to buy it yet!
2. Move.  Put the pieces into another shop!
3. Sale.  At the end of the year I actually do put a lot of my prototypes and older pieces on sale!  Stay tuned for that.
4. Renew.  Take the old jewellery, break it apart, and put it back together in a different way!

So, for example, I took this bracelet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I took this necklace:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I ended up making this extremely funky and cool new necklace that will be perfect for summer!

I have been a bit obsessed about making my own silver chain recently.  Made from recycled sterling silver, the organic nature of this chain has a huge appeal for me.  I like the recycled chain with my recycled glass beads.  A great story.

Here’s how to make silver chain in 10 easy steps:

1. Wind silver wire around a round object many, many times
2. Cut individual silver “links”
3. File the ends of the silver links so you get a clean joint
4. Solder the first link
5. Solder the next link, continue soldering links until you reach the desired length
6. Using 2 files, shape the links into an organic/leafy shape
7. Place the finished chain in a solution of vinegar and salt to clean the oxidisation
8. Tumble the finished chain in a tumbler for an hour
9. Dry the chain
10. Add a tiny clasp and wear it!

 

 

 

 

One of the key fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2013 is Black and White.

I was flicking through photos in a glossy magazine online and started wondering…would you wear black and white jewellery with the clothes?  Or would you go for a splash of red or another colour?

I can’t quite decide!

Visit my online shop for more inspiration: www.aussiejules.com/shop

  

Thought I would share some photos from my “Upper Glass” exhibition.

 

 

A selection of Coopers Ale jewellery.  Assorted wine stoppers

 

Necklaces made from beads collected from op shops and various travels over the past 20 years!

 

As you know I’ve been madly working on my “Upper Glass” exhibition for SALA.  We set up on Thursday, and the exhibition opens on Friday August 2 at 5.00pm.  Local Images at Penola are hosting my exhibition, and I can’t wait to see it all hanging.

I have to show you my favourite piece.  I made this from a Tally wine bottle from the Balnaves of Coonawarra winery.  The colour is stunning, and I have etched alternate beads for contrast.  The little green beads in between add to the fantastic colour.

As part of my SALA exhibition “Upper Glass” I set myself the challenge of making beads from a “Tally” wine bottle from the Balnaves of Coonawarra winery.  The challenge was to use ALL of the glass from the bottle, and make all sorts of beads.

 

It took a few torch sessions to make all of the beads that I could possibly make and the end result was: 274 beads!

 

Now to make the jewellery!