Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets!

Hello folks, thanks for joining me today. I hope you've had a chilled out week. WIth autumn nipping at our heels and only 73 days to Christmas, I've been busy making party wear for Caprilicious. I've acquired a load of micro pave diamante studded beads, clasps and findings and am enjoying putting them together. This time, I've taken pictures as I've gone along. I've also managed to persuade Lorna, a very pretty lady who works with me, to model them for me and will have a reveal date soon.
Last week I made Feria and I decided to wear it - a trial run if you like. The necklace certainly attracted a lot of attention and I was pleased with it.

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 I decided to make a second one with accents of pink and purple.

So now there are two of them - which one do you like?? The one with the blue accents or the one with the pinks and purple?

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One of my customers asked if I would make her a necklace with baroque pearls interspersed with little gemstones that resembled sea glass. She had once borrowed a necklace such as this from a friend and was keen to own one herself. While she looked for a picture of the original piece, I sent her pictures of the beads I had in my stash that looked even vaguely like sea glass, knowing all the while that she obviously had something specific in her mind and nothing else would fit the bill. And as I brought out string after string of gemstones, I designed this necklace in my mind - I put the baroque pearls with tiny apatite and peridot beads as I felt that anything larger would detract from the beauty of the pearls which are about 13-14 mm in size and colour enhanced to a pale silvery grey. I named it Danieli - after the lovely Danielle, as she was more or less responsible for this piece, and the most beautiful hotel in Venice - I saw it in a movie and knew that I had to stay there, it is a baroque palazzo converted into a fabulous hotel. I have to say it was every bit as wonderful as the film made it out to be, and I loved every minute of my stay there.
​I'm pleased to report that the necklace has been snapped up!

The Danieli Hotel, Venice

The rooftop restaurant at the Danieli

Magpie Moments

The next three pieces have used up pendants that been sitting in my stash - well, I'm ashamed to say I've been hoarding them ever since I brought them back from Jaipur a couple of years ago. I take them out at regular intervals and stroke them, enjoying the way they shine and then put them right back in their box. I decided that I would string them and share them with the world. So here we are....

Lola

This necklace is so pretty - I love iolite and in combination with yellow topaz and silver, it is irresistible. 

Snowflake

Not that I'm wishing for snow or anything, but this snowflake pendant, set with garnets seems apt for this time of year. Garnets are so sumptuous, I decided to pair them with a pale, icy blue quartz - these beads are to die for. Faceted to reflect every bit of light that comes their way, they are uber gorgeous and I kept the rest simple, with little seed pearls separating them. And the clasp - oh, it is so pretty that it gave me so many pangs to actually use it, I just love looking at it so. It will, however, be equally good to share it with someone when it gets its forever owner.

Solar Flair

The beads in this necklace are made from slices of stalactites that have been colour enhanced and are called solar quartz.
Solar quartz is a natural agatized quartz that is sliced from stalactites in clear, white or gray, with mossy inclusions. It is thought to be an energy enhancer, connecting to spirit and harmony, and is said to bring emotional strength to the wearer. Solar quartz is often dyed vivid colors as natural stalactites do not have any coloring.
The edges of the beads are irregular and because I thought they would be rough on the neck, i used shiny glass beads at the back of the necklace. The Fleur De Lys pendant also came from Jaipur - and this is the last one in my stash! I'll just have to go and get some more, won't I?  

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And that's a wrap for this week, folks. Have a lovely week, and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place.
Until then
​xx