I made this set for a customer recently. The beads were made from a Peroni beer bottle. I have been loving the Peroni green colour. Here is what the customer had to say:
“Didn’t arrive until yesterday but WOW, it was worth waiting for. Looks even better than the photos! Just love the set. And thank you for my extra set of earrings.”
My pleasure!
This is version 4.0 of this necklace! If you click here, you’ll see where it all started. It took a bit of persistence to get to the finished result, but we got there, and I’m really grateful for the patience that the customer had with me as I tweaked the design to get it just right for her (Thanks Jackie)! This necklace is so, so pretty, and I can’t wait to make some more!
I’m excited to be part of this upcoming market in Belair. It runs from 10 until 4.
I have a special offer as part of the show bag that they are selling on the day, and that is “Buy a necklace, and get a pair of earrings for free.” Included in the show bag are a range of other offers from other people selling at the market, definitely worth checking out!
Hope to see you there.
Nearly 6 years ago I made a really pretty necklace for my “Anti-Depression Glass” exhibition. I only ever made one of them, even though I really liked it, and it sold. I am not sure why I was reluctant to make more, but I think it probably had something to do with how tricky they are to make!
I did feature it on my website for a while though, and a lovely lady contacted me to ask me if it would be possible to make something similar for her. I had almost forgotten about the necklace and how tricky it was to make….so I agreed to try to make another one.
So, this picture is of the first prototype of that necklace. It’s really pretty, but it’s not quite right yet. So, I am going to have another try at making the necklace, with just the paler beads on it, and with a few more beads on the chain so that they sit both ways. I can’t exactly remember how I did the last necklace, so it’s all a bit trial and error until I get it right.
I know some people would be reluctant to ask me to do this, but I am actually really enjoying the process with this customer. I enjoy trying new (old) things, and making jewellery that is just right. And when I do get this necklace right, it will be worn at a wedding in England…how lovely is that?
Some people would say that the success of an exhibition is measured by the number of red stickers on the wall. And while I agree that red stickers are lovely, I don’t think they are the only measure of success.
For me, the real payoff for an exhibition is in the creation of new ideas and new work. The pressure of the deadline certainly helps to push my creativity. And the confines of the concept help to contain the creativity. Looking for new ways to expand (or contract) my practice is the aim. Concept, design, creation, display.
I’m never going to feel disappointed if there are no red stickers on the wall. There can be so many reasons for this, only one of which might be the actual work! It can also include: not enough promotion, wrong customer base for my work, too many other things going on (SALA, Fringe), heat waves, rain, economy etc. A lot of those things are out of my control, so it doesn’t help me to worry about them. I just have to accept that there are many reasons why my work might not sell. But at least I have done the work.
Here is an example: I designed a collection of new work as part of a SALA exhibition last year. The beads were all etched, and there was a huge variety of pieces for people to choose from (and colours). I found the exhibition sales were OK, bits and pieces sold, and I was happy with that. BUT. Then I took the leftover jewellery and displayed it in some of the galleries that sell my work. I had some in one particular gallery that was seen by the manager of another gallery. I got a phone call about the work. “We want some of that in our gallery.” It went on to be the best-selling pieces over Christmas for that gallery and for me! So, the number of red stickers at the exhibition, did not match at all the success of that range of jewellery.
That is why, when I am happy with the work that I have created, that is when I feel successful. It may not translate straight away into sales, and I’ve learned to be OK with that.
p.s the necklaces pictured above have SOLD as part of the Resonate exhibition, showing at Gallery M until March 8.
These necklaces are a lot of fun to wear, very dramatic.
The top necklace is made from a Banrock Station wine bottle. The middle necklace is made from a Kronenbourg beer bottle. And the bottom necklace is made from a Bombay Sapphire Gin bottle.
They are featuring as part of the Resonate Exhibition at Gallery M, which officially opens Friday 20th February at 6.30pm. Wine and nibbles provided.
Now this is not only a Statement Necklace, but also a Conversation Necklace. I think I like that term, conversation. Because that’s exactly what this necklace does, it starts a conversation. I imagine the conversation would go something like this:
Person: “Wow, that’s an amazing necklace.”
Me: “Thank you, it’s actually made from beer bottles!”
Person: “Beer bottles? What do you mean?”
Me: “Well, I smash up beer bottles, and then make glass beads. These beads have also been decorated with gold leaf.”
Person: “Oh, that’s incredible, I love it. Do you use other glass?”
Me: “I can, definitely.”
Person: “Fantastic, I love it. I have this champagne bottle that I drank at my 50th birthday party, it was a very special bottle, and a very special occasion. Do you think you could make some beads from that, and a necklace like that for me?”
Me: “Of course I can, it’s what I love to do the most, make special jewellery for people.”
Now, that’s actually the shortened version of a real conversation I recently had with someone, admittedly I was not wearing this exact necklace, but I imagine it could start a similar conversation. What conversations could you have if you were wearing this necklace?
Person: “Wow, that’s a beautiful necklace.”
You: “Why thank you, I love wearing it, it’s actually made from beer bottles.”
Person: “Beer bottles?”
You: “Yes, the person who made it makes the beads from beer bottles.”
Person: “Oh wow, that’s awesome, and very eco-friendly. What a cool necklace to wear. You have excellent taste.”
You: “Thanks.”
(Sorry, that’s a little bit silly, but a necklace like this would definitely be noticed)!
This necklace was made from a Peroni Beer bottle. I embellished alternative beads to get a nice contrast in the beads. I love the beautiful colour of the Peroni glass.
Layered disk necklaces made from: