Crushed Grapes and Warm Molasses, by Caprilicious Jewellery

'Toast'

-Dear friends, thanks for joining me again, as always it is fabulous to speak to you each week. If you enjoy reading this half as much as I do writing it, we're both in a win-win situation.
​The summer has been particularly kind to us this year with sunshine - I'd better not say any more or I might jinx it!
Last week, Mike rescued a magpie chick that was almost on its last legs and so exhausted it couldn't fly, although nothing was really wrong with its wings. It was a plump little bird, crouched at the bottom of the tree on the front of our house and I named it 'Toast' apropos of what was most likely to happen when Wilfred the cat caught up with it. Mike tried putting it in the bushes, but it just came back over the road to the same spot.
Eventually, we put it in the cat cage overnight, fed it bread and milk and replaced it in the tree from which its sibling fell from the nest and perished a couple of days earlier.
​ I'm happy to report that Toast survives, and flutters past our house cocking a snook at Wilfred every time he goes past. Happy ending, then - for now!

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Serenity  

These two necklaces were made on the back of the coral necklace I made to order a couple of weeks ago. I pick beads and gemstones that chime with my spirit - they need to have a certain 'something' about them - their shape, or their colouring, marking, or texture - I very rarely picked simple round beads and if I do, I like to team them with an interesting clasp or component that makes me jump up and down with pleasure.
A few beads with a clasp on the end do not a piece of great jewellery make, and I do my best to put things together that chime with my joie de vivre. Sometimes I buy gemstones just because I like the look of them and then have to sit on them for ages before I can decide what to make with them.
The beads in these necklaces were purchased around two years ago and they sat in my stash serenely, occasionally popping up when I rummaged around looking for the perfect components for my next piece. Suddenly, I had a lightbulb moment and these two necklaces came to life.
Adding an interesting clasp and a few tiny beads in total simplicity elevated these two from being strings of beautifully marked beads to two exquisite necklaces.
Even so, I wasn't prepared for the sudden mini rush of orders. I hunted out the vendor praying that they still had them, and bought some more strings of  amethyst. The citrine necklace will take a bit more time to move on as yellow is not everyones cup of tea. They are a lovely warm molasses colour, though, and I know some redheads and brunettes that they would suit to a T - I'll let them come across the necklace in their own time.

The Social Butterfly

​I showed you the beginnings of The Social Butterfly last week. I pressed on with it all of this week and once I'd embellished the edges of the butterfly, I had to decide how I was going to string it. I found an image on Pinterest and decided a faux lariat style necklace would be the way to go. Unfortunately I cannot credit the owner of the image as it isn't mentioned on Pinterest. I had already decided that this was going to be a confection in pale pink and green so I used beautifully marked, faceted green agate beads.

A social butterfly is a slang term for a person who is socially dynamic, networking, charismatic, and personally gregarious and I found this amusing article on a website called Lifehacks - "20 Things You Should Know Before Dating A Social Butterfly". Everyone likes to be thought of as charismatic and gregarious even if they are not, so a bit of help is always welcome in my opinion - what do you think??

Silver Earrings

I did not make these, but found them on a website before I went to India, they are so pretty I couldn't resist them for my Caprilicious ladies - some of them were sold in India, and these are the few that remain. They are light, pretty and inexpensive and if you do like them, they are on the silver earrings page of the website. They are great as little gifts too. My nieces picked up a few and certainly loved them.

That's me for this week folks, have a lovely week and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place.
Until then
xx

"There’s so much sameness in the world. And if people are not going to change their manner of dress, at least change your jewelry so you don’t all look alike."
​Iris Apfel