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.
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:
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
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!
I remember travelling to New York many years ago, visiting one of the art museums there, and seeing a Kandinsky “Concentric Circles in Squares” painting. I was transfixed by the colours and movement in the painting. I wanted to buy the painting! I settled for a postcard.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love dots and circles, so it’s probably no surprise that this painting became the inspiration behind a collection of jewellery that I started making. My Kandinsky collection. I’ve made assorted earrings, necklaces and bracelets for many years now. Here are some pictures of bracelets that I’ve made in various colours (thanks to Urban Cow for the photo):
However this year I was challenged to do something a little bit different for the T’Arts SALA exhibition, so I started playing with the idea a bit more, and created these beads which I will make into pendants. I’m excited about the colours in the beads, and the interactions with the background colours, and I can’t wait to see where these new pendants go in terms of experimenting with the design.
“Upper Glass”
August 2-25
Opening August 2 at 5.00pm
Local Images Art Gallery Penola
An exhibition of jewellery by Julie Frahm featuring recycled glass made into beads, and other up-cycled components.
I’ve been collecting, and also been given, a variety of glass over the past few years. Ranging from beer and wine bottles, to Green Depression Glass, and all sorts of other glass objects, I am turning these old wares into beautiful glass beads to be incorporated into my jewellery pieces. Along the way I have also found myself accumulating a selection of all sorts of other bits and pieces that I am also using in the jewellery…from vintage sequins to seed beads and old copper to biscuit tins! Part of the fun of the exhibition will be discovering what “old” things have been used to create these beautiful new pieces.