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The Caprilicious Jewellery Blog

Beautiful Handmade Statement Necklaces and other Fabulousness from Neena Shilvock - Inspirations and Designs From the Week Gone by

Reflections, Four Years Down the Line (1)

29/10/2015

3 Comments

 
Nice, promenade Des Anglais 2015 by Caprilicious Jewellery
Hello readers, it's nice to catch up with you again. At the end of November, Caprilicious will be four and as always, every year Mike gets me to think about where I am, and where I am going. This year is no exception and I shall share some of my thoughts with you. 

Meme by Caprilicious Jewellery
When I started out on this fun journey, I learned as many techniques as I could - resin, polymer clay, wire, precious metal clay, enamelling, and beading. I steered clear of fiddly techniques that involved tiny beads and needles - although I would have loved to make soutache jewellery, the fine needles used in this technique discouraged me. Wire crochet, knitting with wire, Kumihimo, Viking Knit - I tried them too, but they didn't float my boat.

I broke so many jewellery saw blades, that I gave it up as a bad job. However, I will return to it one of these days, but not just yet, I fear - there's too much else going on just now. 

Electroplated leaf skeletons, polymer clay ruffle beads and wire work by Caprilicious Jewellery
I realise now that there was method to my madness - I have ended up creating jewellery where I make at least one of the components - when I look back at the pieces I have made, these are the ones I am most proud of. I'm sure it takes a discerning eye to put various colours and shapes together to make a great looking piece - but I want to be part of the essence of the jewellery I make, not merely a 'put togetherer and prettifier' of someone else's components. I embraced polymer clay enthusiastically for this reason - the possibilities with colour, shape and techniques are endless; so much fun to be had!

Meme by Caprilicious Jewellery
My design ethic is asymmetrical, quirky and hopefully joyous, fun and interesting. Caprilicious attracts similar people - the kind who are not afraid to try new things, and to stand up and be counted - shrinking violets need not apply. People who like the jewellery I make have something in common with me - a love for the bright and the beautiful, the bold and the unconventional. When my jewellery is worn, it establishes a link between me and the wearer, and we share a common ground. 
Wearing the same look as everyone else is not for a Caprilicious woman, and neither is being in the same mood all day, every day. 

Picture
The decorative function of jewelry has historically been to provide visual accents, colour, contrast and texture, and one cannot underestimate the power of jewellery to enhance self-image and to alter social perceptions. 
​
I come from a culture where the word 'jewellery' is inextricably linked with precious metals and my mother mentally turns her nose up at a lot of my jewellery. Women in India sometimes wear their entire bank balance, especially at weddings.  

PictureMexican live beetle brooch, encrusted with Swarovski crystals
However, in other cultures, stone, wood, glass beads, leather, animal horn, coal, feathers, beetle wings, clay, cloth, straw, lacquer, shell and human hair have all been used as adornment at one time or another. Who am I to ignore  the world history of jewellery? I am not ashamed to admit that ​I have put all of the above except perhaps straw, and human hair to good use, and have added polymer clay and resin to the list.


Multi strand crystal and jade necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery, aventurine gemstone clasp
Personally, I am not fussed about what the materials I use are - my intentions are  to provide a rich visual experience which is fun and stimulating. Caprilicious appeals to discerning, contemporary women who are not hidebound by tradition. I would like to play to a wide audience, not just women who are lucky enough to be able to afford heirloom jewellery. So although I do have some pieces that I make in sterling and 99% silver, most of my pieces are fun and affordable, with a global feel.

I have also been thinking about what being part of the Caprilicious story has meant to me personally and I will share my thoughts with you next week. Let's take a look at this week's output from Caprilicious in the meantime.

Mini Tribal Necklaces

No, these are not for the vertically challenged of the pygmy tribe - they are smaller  necklaces with a tribal feel - the tiny little pendants come from Afghanistan, and I strung them with tiny gemstone nuggets, coins, glass petals, crystals and vinyl trade beads in pretty but unconventional necklaces. 
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
Mini tribal necklaces with pendants from Afghanistan by Caprilicious Jewellery
I have been making these for a while, but this is the first time they have all been revealed together and on their own page. Some of the materials I used are a bit unconventional for this type of jewellery. You like?? I love!

Wildwood Flowers

Ms Muse was in a pensive and wistful mood - a set of shiny silvery lucite flowers set her thinking about the country and Western song Wildwood Flowers - she got me to wire each one individually and then thread the loops onto beading wire. A couple of strings of shiny Aurora Borealis coated square crystals and some yellow fire agate beads and that was us done.
Wildwood Flowers by Caprilicious Jewellery
Styling Suggestions by Caprilicious Jewellery
Styling Suggestion
Wildwood Flowers by Caprilicious Jewellery
Wildwood Flowers by Caprilicious Jewellery
As this necklace is not over blingy, it can easily be worn during the daytime as my styling suggestions show - both the dresses I picked out are simple but stylish shift dresses - the checkered one is wool and the white one, leather. How would you wear it??

Mayuri (2)

I know I've called this one Mayuri (2) or Peahen (2) which is a misnomer if ever there was one, but it is the 5th and last peacock feather pendant I have in my stash. The edges are fringed with gold seed beads and I've touched the tips with superglue to ensure the beads do not come off, which was a problem we found with an earlier piece, which fortunately was salvageable. Here are the other four pieces:-
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Sold
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Still available
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Sold
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Sold
And here is the latest addition to the peacock feather necklace collection.
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Styling Suggestion
Peacock feather necklace by Caprilicious Jewellery
Picture
I have recently been putting a few styling suggestions on my pages at the request of some of you. Of course, there are as many ways to wear a necklace as there are to skin a cat, and I'm sure you have loads of ideas. Do send me pictures of how you have worn Caprilicious, I would love to see them.
Have a fabulous week and I will catch you next week, same time, same place
​xx

What do you think of the new styling suggestions feature - do you have any of your own?? Do leave me a comment below, I love to hear from you.

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3 Comments
Divya link
31/10/2015 08:22:11 am

"To provide a rich visual experience which is fun and stimulating" you have beautifully summed up what you do Neena. I believe this should be your elevator pitch. Gorgeous jewelry as usual, the highlight for me being peacock -nugget necklace. wishing you many many more years of awesomeness

Reply
Neena Shilvock link
31/10/2015 06:15:50 pm

Thank you very much Divya - I try :)
Neena

Reply
Lakshmi Jagannathan link
10/11/2015 10:46:41 pm

Really nice article Neena - you're artistic even in terms of writing style! It's great that you are so inclusive and make jewelry that is affordable. Ultimately, creativity trumps popular opinion. The joy you put into your work also shows - and that's more valuable then a designer label. I will never forget the giant box I got for my birthday. Love this Mayuri collection as well. I got some Peacock feather earrings at the Masai market. Also great that you want to make some piece as well - so many just assemble materials as you say.

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     I'm Neena Shilvock,  and I'm crazily addicted to jewellery.

    I've been designing and making quirky and interesting statement necklaces for over ten years and my passion hasn't cooled off one little bit - in fact it has got worse, such that I  even dream jewellery.

    I'd love to get to know kindred spirits like you, so drop me a line and I'll get back to you, and who knows, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

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