A Streak of Blue

Hello folks, thanks for coming back to Caprilicious for a look-see at the going ons here. I've had to go back to the day job and give it my all, knowing that a couple of weeks down the line, I will be on a plane back to India - so basically, I'm working between holidays! The week has been a bit boring in comparison to last week, but one can't be on holiday all the time,

 I thought I'd make a couple of necklaces to take back to India with me. I've decided not  to have a show this year as I am going to India in some of the hottest weeks of the year to celebrate my mothers ninetieth birthday. I don't think I'd have the time to do justice to a show, with all the preparation and work that a birthday party of that magnitude entails (some would call it laziness) in the enervating heat, but people who regularly pick up pieces from Caprilicious have been invited to come and take a look at a few pieces that I will carry with me. The necklaces I have on show below have no names as yet, but I thought I'd post the pictures anyway. For some reason the theme of the week was blue and only blue coloured beads seemed to come out of my stash - this was completely unplanned.

I love these lost wax cast beads - they came from Kenya via the USA and are relatively expensive, but their beauty is such that they enhance just about anything. I've had a string of them for a couple of years now and use them sparingly or I'd be in danger of getting lazy and adding one to every chunky piece I make - and that would never do!!

The Moroccan enamelled bead is another favourite element - I just love the colours and shapes and once again have to restrain myself in their use. The slab nuggets of lapis lazuli are very pretty too - this is my third iteration of this piece, but this time the slabs are pierced lengthways rather than at the top.

This one has chrysocolla/lapis nuggets and I paired them with another favourite element of mine - pyrite nuggets. They look like little chunks of gold, never tarnish and are reassuringly heavy in your hand. A couple of brass lost wax cast beads came in handy to add even more interest and texture. 

I've realised that the design ethic of  Caprilicious is all about colour,  texture and asymmetry, with more and more added until no more can go on. I love simple minimalistic jewellery, truly I do, but have to concede that I am unable to make or wear it, it is simply not my thing. Last week in Milan, I looked at the Dolce and Gabbana concession in La RInascente and it looked so colourful  that I stopped and took a picture of it. However, I've now decided that I don't like the decor at all - it looks like the colour fairy vomited all over the shop, the designers didn't seem to know where and when to stop. I shall keep this picture in my mind at all times and this will prevent me from overdoing it and turning my jewellery into a migraine inducing riot of colourful madness.

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 I posted a picture of a Sufi necklace I made a couple of years ago on Instagram and a lady fell in love with it and ordered one for herself. I made it up for her as soon as the elements arrived - do forgive the pictures, they were taken with my phone on the arm of the chair I was sitting in while making the necklace. I didn't have time to get decent pictures as the necklace was packed and posted out the next morning and it was raining too hard to go out to the conservatory with the camera.

And last but not least, over the Easter weekend I spent some time sanding the pieces I made at Polymania - they have yet to be finished, especially the ones I learned from Kathleen Dustin. I have yet to decide how they will be hung and don't want to make such decisions in a hurry, so they will have to wait till I get back from India. My roommate Sherril gave me some pieces of veneer from a batch that she made, and rather than use the whole lot in one piece, I cut it up, added some pieces of colourful clay on either side and got myself six little ring trays, which also needed sanding and polishing.

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That's me for this week, folks. I have loads of stuff to do this weekend - hubby is going to have the house painted while I am away, so I have to go out and choose the paint, a few bits of shopping have to be picked up - my mother is partial to ginger nut biscuits and chocolate, and I have yet to find a gift for my sister, who has moved into a brand new apartment. I also have to pack away the little knick knacks I have in my living room - unless I want hubs to just throw them into a cardboard carton willy nilly and leave it to fate whether they come out intact once the painter moves out of the room.

Have a fabulous week and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place.
Until then
​xx