Long hot summer just passed me by … the Summer Elements Blog Hop

Today is the reveal date for the Summer Elements Blog Hop, hosted by Toltec Jewels on the Jewel School Friends blog. Now, while it’s winter down here in Australia (and boy oh boy, it’s definitely winter here this week!), the summer has started in the Northern Hemisphere and after the winter they just had, I’m sure it’s welcome! As for me, I’m already wishing it was summer again!

Anyway, the brief for this blog hop was to share something that celebrates a favourite element of summer—Air, Water, Fire, Earth or Spirit. The hop is not restricted to jewellery, it could be  about a jewellery creation, pretty photos, a summer recipe, a campfire song, a craft, family memories, a poem. I thought I would share a couple of things inspired by the summer elements Earth, Water and Spirit.

First of all, summer food! One of my favourite things to do on summer weekends is to get together with friends for an afternoon barbeque, lots of wine, the kids playing cricket or splashing through the sprinklers, lazing the afternoon away. And this salad, from a blog post last year, is a perfect accompaniment. Made using freshly-picked corn and tomatoes from our summer veggie patch, it embodies Earth.

Then there is the music that reminds me of summer, embodying Spirit and evoking an instant mood. The Style Council’s Long Hot Summer takes me straight back to the long summers of my teenage years. The Kinks’ Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon is a classic. And in this dreary Melbourne winter weather, The Mamas and The Papas classic California Dreaming fits my mood, I miss summer!

Still, I can make jewellery that reminds me of the summer, and especially that all important element of Water. This little set, using a seahorse pendant from SlinginMud, reminds me of the beach.

And here are my Tropical Sunset earrings, with lampwork beads by Genschi. Swarovski crystals, and a sweet little silver palm tree bead.

Please visit the other bloggers in the Summer Elements Blog Hop!

Toltec Jewels (Hostess)     http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/

Marlene Cupo                   http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                        http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Ailsa Cordner                    http://www.bramalfiebeadsetc.co.uk/

Robin Reed                       http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                         http://www.wirednan.blogspot.com/

Sherri Stokey                     http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/

Christie (Charis Designs)    http://charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Carolyn Lawson                 http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com/

Susie Harris                        http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Andrea Glick-Zenith           http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nelly May                          http://smellynelly.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger               http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/  <- YOU ARE HERE

Dini Bruinsma                     http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Kathy Lindemer                 http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Cory Tompkins                  http://tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com/

Robin Reed                       http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Gina Hockett                     http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Karen Martinez                 http://www.fairiesmarket.blogspot.com/

Liz                                    http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                     http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com/

Solange Collin                    http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com/

Gerda                                http://gerdascraftsblog.blogspot.com/

Karla Morgan                    http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Anindita Basu                     http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache                http://www.allprettythings.ca/

Andrea Trank                    http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Fanucchi             http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Tanty Sri Hartanti               http://tjewellicious.blogspot.com/

Shaiha Williams                  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars                    http://mlhjewelrydesigns.com/

Becca Sirevaag                  http://godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com/

Lennis Carrier                    http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Regina Wood                     http://www.gina-design.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy                     http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Breeding             https://www.facebook.com/99BOBOTW

Some new jewellery for The Handmade Show this weekend

A quick update to show you some things I’ve been working on for The Handmade Show, where I have a stall again this coming Saturday. Hopefully the wintery weather won’t put people off coming, it’s inside and it’s warm! If you’re local to me, come along and have a look!

The two pendants, in case you’re wondering, are from Peruzi. And those lovely luminous round beads are cultured sea glass, which seems to be all the rage in the jewellery world right now. I love the combination of turquoise and lavender, might have to make something for me along these lines I think!

I’ve got a variety of earrings and a bundle of bracelets for the show too. Here are just a few …

This Sunday is the Summer Elements Blog Hop, and I’ll be posting a set with a real summery feel to it. Pop back in to have look.

I’m planning to get an online shop of some kind set up in the very near future. I’m not sure which way to go, though—should I set up on Etsy along with what feels like millions of other jewellery designers, try one of the lesser-known marketplaces, or use one of the emerging Facebook e-commerce platforms? Advice, experiences and suggestions would be welcomed!

(And finally, apologies for sending a half-completed blog post out into the world yesterday! Hit the wrong button and off it went … eeek!!!)

Victorian Charms — The History Hop 2

It’s time for the second History Hop, hosted by Leah Curtis. I did this hop last year, creating a necklace and earrings inspired by the Art Nouveau movement. This time around, I’ve focused on Victorian jewellery—specifically English Romanticism and mourning jewellery.

The Victorian era spanned the long reign of Queen Victoria, who ascended the throne in 1837 and died in 1901. Queen Victoria, who was only 18 when she inherited the throne, loved jewellery, and her tastes in jewellery and fashion influenced the world!

Victorian jewellery is classified into three periods: the Romantic period or English Romanticism, which spanned 1837-1860, the Grand Period from 1860-1885, and the Aesthetic Period from 1885-1901. English Romantic jewellery featured stylised and symbolic themes from nature, including flowers, leaves, grapes, and berries, as well as motifs such as snakes, birds and insects. Gold was the prominent metal, but due to its scarcity at the time—the US and Australian gold rushes didn’t happen until the mid-1800s—filigree and other light forms such as chasing and repousse were popular. Gemstones and natural materials including tortoise shell, lava, jet, agate, bog oak, ivory and coral were frequently used. Jewellery was largely still handcrafted during this period.

The increase in English tourism to destinations throughout Europe made jewellery a frequent souvenir, with cameos from Pompei, micro-mosaics from Rome, enamelled plaques from Switzerland and more coming back to England. Cameos had been around since Roman times, and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the Victorian era, in materials including shell, coral, onyx, carnelian and agate.

Brooches, bracelets and rings were the most popular jewellery forms, in part due to the high necklines and bonnets of daytime fashions. Necklaces tended to be worn close to the neck and ranged from simple chokers, ribbons and chains displaying a pendant or locket to elaborate designs incorporating gemstones and more. Queen Victoria also loved charm bracelets, and would often give her family members charms as gifts.

Mourning jewellery was also prevalent during Victorian times, although it had been around for a few centuries. Hair jewellery was very prevalent, with elaborate woven pieces of jewellery made from human hair, as well as simple lockets holding small locks of hair from deceased loved ones. But mourning jewellery really came to the fore after Queen Victoria’s beloved husband Prince Albert died in 1861. The bereaved queen entered a long period of full mourning, with strict protocols requiring both black dress and black jewellery, utilising dark gems and materials including jet and onyx, black enamel and black glass.

So, after reading as much as I could find about English Romanticism and mourning jewellery I decided to create two pieces inspired by the era, a cameo necklace and a charm bracelet in a dark gothic style inspired by mourning jewellery.

I found it difficult to find images of cameo jewellery specifically from the Victorian era—plenty of cameos, but mostly on fairly simple chains. Most of the pictures I found came from the mid-20th century revival of Victorian style jewellery and later. My version has a green and white cameo on an antique brass frame, with some  brass connectors.  Although probably not particularly authentic, I used freshwater pearls and some faceted Czech crystal to highlight the green background of the cameo.

The gorgeously gothic dark tones of Fallen Angel Brass inspired the mourning charm bracelet. I used a lovely heavy chain for the bracelet, and dangled a series of charms from it including hearts, flowers, an acorn, a tiny hinged book of love, a dragonfly, a lock and key, a swallow, interspersed with black and smoky grey crystals set into pronged settings, dark grey pearls, black Czech crystals and even a few tiny garnet red Swarovski crystals. I did plan to include some fabulous black intaglios (reverse cameos with the image carved into the glass) set into an ornate frame, but I ran into problems getting the glass to stay glued in the frame, and decided to save that for another day.

Now that you’ve seen what inspired me, please take some time to look at the creations of the other blog hop participants. There is a wonderful range of time periods and places represented amongst them!

Leah Curtis – Indus Valley – beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk <– Our Hostess!
Laney Mead – Māori – laney-izzybeads.blogspot.co.uk
Becca – Art Nouveau – godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com
Melissa – English Romanticism and Mourning Jewellery – beadrecipes.wordpress.com <– You are Here!
Tracy Stillman – Native American – tracystillmandesigns.com

Gerda – English Romanticism and Mourning Jewellery – gerdascraftsblog.blogspot.com
Liz E – Native North American – beadcontagion.blogspot.com
Ahowin – Māori (New Zealand)  – blog.ahowinjewelry.com 
Jasvanti – Indus Valley – jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Lizzie – Art Nouveau – theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk

Julia Hay – Merovingian – pandanimal.blogspot.co.uk
Dini – Celtic – angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
Caroline – Art Nouveau – blueberribeads.co.uk 
Charlie – Moche of Peru – clay-space.com/blog
Karin – China – maverickbeads.blogspot.com

Niky Sayers – Rome – silverniknats.blogspot.com
Marcia Dunne – Celtic and Mourning Jewellery – thealternativefoundry.blogspot.co.uk
anafiassa – Mesopotamia – anafiassa.blogspot.com
Kokopelli – Native American – kokopellidesign.blogspot.com
Christa – Native American – adventuresofwonebeadywoman.blogspot.com

Clair – Roman – obstinatepursuit.blogspot.co.uk
Susan Bowie – Native American – susanbowie.wordpress.com
Gloria Allen – English Romanticism – gloriaallendesigns.blogspot.com
Sheila Garrett – Early Russia – 4brownowl.blogspot.co.uk

Bits and bobs

I’m working up to another market in mid-June, not sure what it will be like as by June it’s pretty cold and wet in Melbourne, which could drive down the numbers a bit. Still, as long as I can sell a few things, I’ll cover the costs of being there.

I recently took part in a swap through Bead Swap-USA with the talented Lennis Carrier of Windbent. Our swap was to be a finished piece (or pieces) of jewellery with a woodland theme. I think we both laughed when we opened our respective packages and found we had gone down the same woodland path. Lennis made me this necklace:

I love the mixture of metals—copper, gunmetal, brass and that wonderful rusty iron pendant—and the eclectic mixture of glass beads (see the owl bead?). And there is a coordinating pair of earrings there too.

Here is what I sent Lennis. See what I mean about sharing inspiration?

The pendant is from Peruzi and I chose a mixture of brown and green beads to go with it. I also made a cute sari silk and copper wrap bracelet for her. It’s long enough to wrap twice around her wrist, and works as a choker necklace too.

In the next couple of months I have a few challenges and blog hops coming up. First up is at the end of this week, the second round of the History Hop, hosted by Leah Curtis. Then I’ve got Toltec Jewels’ Summer Elements hop in mid-June and  Lisa Lodge’s Seasons Blog Hop in early July. Mid-July will see Lori Anderson‘s Bead Hoarders blog hop, and in late August there is the Summer Colour Surprise blog hop, also hosted by Lisa Lodge. You can see buttons on the sidebar for most of these hops (a few of them haven’t had official sign-ups yet). All of that should keep me on my toes!

Oh my!

Yesterday I got quite a shock. There I was scrolling through Lori’s blog post about the 46 (!) winners from the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party contest. And all of a sudden, my name, and a big picture of the bracelet I made from Jane‘s wire-wrapped piece of batik cloth, popped up as one of Lori’s runners up!

At this point, I have no idea what the prize is, and to be honest, the thrill of seeing my name and my little bracelet among such exalted company is enough! After all, with some 900 jewellery creations for Lori to choose from, what are the odds it would be one of my pieces!

All I can say is, thank you again Lori for putting together such a wonderful Bead Soup Blog Party, while coping with some pretty painful personal challenges. Thank you Jane for sending me a fabulous bead soup to play with. And thank you again to everyone who has commented on my blog posts about the BSBP, it means a lot to me!

And if you haven’t already, go have a peek at the other winners. There are some absolutely SPECTACULAR creations among them! Congratulations to all!!!

Crunchy beef stew!

I haven’t posted a recipe in ages—not since the Christmas flurry! It’s not that I haven’t been cooking, I just haven’t had much time to cook anything exciting. It’s been more of that subsistence cooking we all fall back on when we’re busy.

Anyway, I was wandering through the supermarket last week looking for inspiration and saw the cover of the latest Australian Good Taste magazine, a gorgeous beef stew with a crunchy-garlic bread topping. Thankfully the weather has been cool of late, pulling me into a slow-cooking, hearty dinner kind of mode.

The basis of this recipe is a simple beef casserole, slowly cooked over 2.5 hours. It would make a great pie filling too. Then, Turkish bread, sliced and soaked in an eggy, cheesy, garlicky mixture topping the beef. And meltingly soft onion jam tucked in between the slices. All cooked until the bread is golden and crunchy. What’s not to like?

Serve it with a green salad, or a side of green beans.

Slow-cooked Beef with Onion Jam and Crunchy Garlic Bread

From Australian Good Taste Magazine, vol. 18 no. 5 (May 2013).

Serves 4-6

For the beef filling:

40 g plain flour

1.5 kg beef chuck steak, trimmed and cut into 5cm chunks

2-3 Tbs olive oil

400g can diced tomatoes

250 ml beef stock

185 ml red wine

3 bay leaves

3 sprigs thyme

300g bacon rashers, coarsely chopped

1 leek, washed and sliced 1cm-thick

 

For the onion jam:

1 Tbs olive oil

2 onions, thinly sliced

2 sprigs thyme

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 Tbs red wine vinegar

 

For the crunchy garlic bread topping:

3 eggs

250 ml milk

25g shredded parmesan cheese

1 Tbs fresh flat leaf parsley, leaves picked

2 garlic cloves, crushed

300g Turkish bread, sliced 2cm thick

12 cherry tomatoes, tossed in olive oil and roasted for 30 minutes or so until soft.

 

To make the filling:

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Toss the beef with the flour and season with a little pepper. Heat 1 Tbs of the oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in 3-4 batches, using more oil if necessary, and transfer to a 3.5L/10 cup capacity casserole dish or dutch oven.

Add the tomatoes, stock, wine, bay leaves, thyme to the dish, cover and bake for 2.5 hrs.

Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and add the bacon and leek. Stir for 5 minutes, until the leek softens, then add to the beef and stir to combine. Bake for another 30 minutes or so.

To make the onion jam:

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and thyme and cook for 20 minutes, stirring frequently until the onion starts to caramelise. Add the sugar and vinegar and stir for 3 minutes until the mixture thickens and the liquid evaporates.

To make the crunchy garlic bread topping and assemble:

Use a couple of forks to shred the beef into smaller pieces. Spoon half of the beef filling into 1.75L/7 cup overproof dish or pan. Freeze remaining beef mixture for another use.

Whisk the eggs, milk, parmesan, parsley and garlic in a bowl and season with pepper. Soak each piece of bread in the egg mixture until soggy (about 30 secs) and place on top of the beef, overlapping slightly.

Spoon the onion mixture around and in between the bread slices, and pour over the remaining egg mixture. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the bread is crunchy and golden.

Scatter the tomatoes across the dish and serve.

Notes:

1. For a larger crowd, use all of the beef mixture and double the bread and onion jam. Otherwise, the leftover beef can be used to make another crunchy beef stew or served over rice or mashed potatoes, or even used as a pie filling.

2. Roast the tomatoes at the same time as the assembled dish. Small truss tomatoes can be used instead of individual cherry tomatoes.

Nina Designs Blog Partner Program

If you are looking for my Bead Soup Blog Party post, it’s right here!

Back in January, I saw a post on Facebook from Nina Designs, one of the jewellery component companies I like, asking for jewellery designers interested in joining their blog partnership program. I shot them an email expressing interest and was put on their list of potential partners. Then in late March, I was sent a package of Nina Designs goodies to make some jewellery and blog about it!

I received a number of components in the company’s natural bronze finish. It’s a beautiful colour, a soft and shiny warm gold. Among my goodies were a big horn sheep skull pendant, feather and lotus petal charms, a small branch textured toggle clasp, and ten small circle links, along with a pair of earwires and a bundle of sage green deerhide leather cord.

As soon as I saw the contents in the package I knew where my inspiration would come from. My family has a long relationship with the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. When I was 3 we moved to Colorado and lived in the shadow of the Rockies near Denver for 18 months, spending many weekends camping and exploring the beautiful mountains. Then in the early 90s, a couple of years after I moved to California from Australia, my parents moved back to Colorado for about 5 years, this time living just up into the mountains. And although they have now moved back to Australia, the relationship continues, as they bought a cabin above a tiny, almost ghost town called Marble, more or less on the other side of the mountains that surround Aspen. I’ve spent many a holiday up in those mountains. It’s a magical place, soaring mountains surround the valleys, groves of aspen blanket the mountainsides, emerald green lakes and flower-strewn green meadows abound, and then up high, the craggy rocks above the treeline.

Now, I don’t think I have ever seen a big horn sheep, they stick to the highest parts of the Rocky Mountains, and according to Dad, are not commonly seen in the part of Colorado I’m familiar with. In fact, at the end of the nineteenth century, they had almost died out, and over the last 100 years or so, have slowly been re-established in Rocky Mountain National Park and other places. They spend most of their time up in the high alpine tundra, and come down to the alpine meadows in Spring and Summer to feed.

Using the colours of the Rocky Mountains as my guide, I dangled the big horn sheep skull pendant from a lampwork bead from Indian Creek Art Glass, Then I made a necklace for it using some of the circle links, a pair of lampwork beads from local artisan Emma Sweet, of Puddle Glass Art, and some rainforest jasper, finishing it off with the sage deerhide leather and the clasp. A few tiny Czech glass lentils adorn the rings. I mixed the natural bronze with a vintage bronze wire, which I think worked well.

With the remaining 4 bronze links, and the earwires I made some earrings, again dangling the tiny Czech lentils from the circle links. At the bottom I hung the tiny lotus petal charms, which remind me of aspen leaves.

I still have plenty of the deerhide leather and the two feather charms. I’m seriously considering ordering a few more of those circle links, they are great components (and they come in several different sizes too, as well as in linked sets). Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of the Nina Designs Blog Partnership!

The materials above were provided as part of the Nina Designs blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.