African Queen, by Caprilicious

Hello everyone, how are you all today? I'm just getting over the food coma that was Christmas and now that I'm fully awake, it seems like Covid strikes again with Omicron running rampant all over the place. The hospitals just now are heaving, fit to burst at the seams and it would appear that lateral flow tests are the new toilet rolls and have become very scarce. Once again, it won't be possible to count the number of cases accurately during this spike - how can we, when there aren't enough lateral flow or PCR tests? Oh well, ce'st la vie, I guess.

I've been doing my best to stop the chattering noises of alarm going off in my head by trying to murder my eyesight. The project I've embarked upon can only be made a couple of inches at a time as it consists of glittery faceted haematite beads which are black, with a black central hole, sewn together using black nylon thread in a pattern called the Cellini Spiral. I made a piece approximately six to eight inches long, and found that I had run out of one of the sizes (my eyes heaved a massive sigh of relief) and had to send for more beads. I'm hoping to make an entire circlet that glitters all the way around the neck - it will look absolutley stupendous.                          

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African Queen

This is a necklace for a woman who want's to feel like a queen - the soft sea green African turquoise beads at the centre of the piece are gently faceted, and are offset by the vinyl trade beads that came to me from Ghana, via the USA. Vinyl beads are made from vulcanite, a vulcanized hard rubber and traces of vinyl. Older ones were made from recycled records and added a splash of colour to many African necklaces. I added a melange of colourful beads on either side - coral, faux amber, turquoise and lapis all went towards raising the colour quotient of the piece until I thought I'd achieved a perfect balance between regal and vibrantly playful. The clasp is made of a piece of moss agate, carved into a rose.

Siren Too

I have started to put together pieces of jewellery that have been comissioned by ladies in India who are part of the Caprilicious family. I had two of these silver comb pendants- I picked them up in India in 2017 and it took me a whole year to be able to bring myself to release one of them into circulation. Being a bit like Gollum, I sat on the second precious beauty till 2021 - a lady in India saw this photograph and wanted a similar necklace. Now that the day grows nigh, I thought I should make the necklace up, ready to travel in February (fingers and toes crossed).

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The little birds on either side of the comb are gilded - if you'd like to read more about the original piece, here's the link to the blog post related to it. It's always a compliment when people like the pieces enough to request another made to order, but I'm always careful that there shouldn't be too many of the same - I like the cachet that being a one-of -a-kind/limited edition jewellery designer brings.

Well, folks, it is time to draw the line under 2021 - a something and nothing of a year. Perhaps 2022 will be better? Have a wonderful New Year celebration, even if it is a sticky bun and a glass of sherry in front of the TV - stay well, and stay safe.
Have a wonderful week, and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place.
Until then
​xx

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