Waiting not so patiently

A couple of weeks ago I placed an order for gemstone beads from a company in Varanasi, India. On the 9th March I received an email to say that my parcel had been shipped, along with a tracking number. So I followed my package of Aquamarine, Peridot, Amethyst, Moonstone and Citrine from Varanasi to Dehli, Dehli to Singapore, and Singapore to Brisbane. Customs have to check it out and then it will be shipped to Mossman where I can pick it up. I can't wait to see them. I ordered a couple of KG of each. If these turn out to be great I will be ordering some more gemstones. I am actually going into Mossman tomorrow but I don't think they will arrive in time for me to pick them up. So it looks like Wednesday 16th might be the go, which means another trip in because I just can't wait. As soon as I have them in my hot little hands I'll take some photographs to show you.

Handcrafted Jewellery by Marina Gurtzis: Caterpillar Bracelet

http://www.etsy.com/people/DaintreeDelights?ref=si_prt

Ruby Zoisite Necklace

Well hello again. The weather has kept me indoors for the most part since my last blog but happily it was a nice day yesterday and I set up my market stall at the Mossman Markets. I love those markets. They are small but very friendly and while tourist numbers are down there were a few locals out and about. I had a great day catching up with people I knew and chatting to others I didn't know, and I am happy to know them now. Not only was it a great day from a social point of view but I sold quite a few pieces ranging from my basic ear rings that I sell for $5.00 a pair right up to some Sterling Silver necklaces. And I sold one of the rings featured in my previous blog and had lots of really positive feedback from people who came to see what I had on my stall. The $5.00 ear rings are made with my left over beads. If I have 2 beads left they generally get made into ear rings. The beads can be anything from semi precious gemstones, cultured pearls, freshwater pearls or glass beads, even metal beads. I do make other ear rings that cost more and they are a lot more involved to make and made of sterling silver or rolled gold.

As we have had nothing much more than rain since cyclone Yasi a month ago I have not been able to get down to the beach to take photographs of my work I as make it. You would have seen that from my last post. Indoor shots just don't do the pieces justice like natural sunlight does but hey, that's just how it goes. One of the pieces I sold at the markets yesterday is a Ruby Zoisite, Sterling Silver and Rolled Gold Necklace I made during the week, the result of being cooped up inside. I wore it to Mossman on the Friday to see if it felt good on, basically road testing it, and I received compliments from just about everyone I spoke to. So, I thought, I'll put it out for sale at the market. One of the women who I had spoken to in town the previous day had admired it and when she saw me at the market she asked, "Where is that lovely necklace of yours". I showed her where I had it displayed and told her I had decided to sell it. She bought it there and then and then later on came back and asked If I could make a pair of matching ear rings. I've given it some thought and I now know exactly what to make, so that will be one project to keep me occupied this week.
 

Ruby Zoisite, Sterling Silver and Rolled Gold Necklace.

I mentioned that it's been raining, raining, raining. Some nights we had in excess of 250mm of rain. That means little out door activity but the opportunity to play around with silver and gemstones etc. (If the sun was shining I'd be mowing the lawn, or whipper snipping or continuing to clean up after Yasi). Below are a couple more photographs of examples of the work I have been doing lately. I'll post the result on a blog when I have made them.

Sandelwood Seed and Sterling Silver Bracelet

                                                                                      

 

I've mentioned in a previous blog that among the media I use, I use natural material, like seeds, to make jewellery. Above is a bracelet made with Sandelwood Seeds, sterling Silver Beads, Sterling Silver Clasp and finished with a cute Sterling Silver Frog Charm.

Coral is another medium I use and while playing around to see what sort of beads I could make with Sterling Silver I thought I would try a spot of basket weaving, quite appropriate when you consider I was starting to go stir crazy with all that rain keeping me indoors. I came up with this fun bead, I call it my bead in a basket bead. I will have to make some more woven beads. I haven't woven anything since Primary School when it was a craft activity we did with our teacher. Believe me, that was a long time ago so I will need to practice to make something really fabulous.

Bead in a Basket Bead made of sterling silver and a Coral Nugget.

Post Cyclone Post

Hello again,

Well it's been 3 weeks or so since Cyclone Yasi blew into town and in a huge way. Heartfelt thoughts go out to all those people who bore the brunt of Yasi. The devastation was enormous and I count myself very lucky that in my area we only received the tail end of the cyclone, experiencing winds of 125kph. The rainforest was damaged and roads were closed for a couple of days and we now need to purchase 2 new water tanks because they were damaged by branches that were shorn off in the high winds. Since then we have experienced wild lightning storms, heaps of rain and, thankfully, a few days of sunshine so we could get down and clean up.

 The rain is back now with a vengeance and the silver order I have been waiting for has arrived, so naturally I sat at my workbench and made a few new items of jewellery.  Yesterday I made a few wire wrap rings. My mother gave me a heaps of tumbled gemstones, Rose Quarts, Smoky Quartz and Carnelian (Red Agate) that she brought back from Brazil on her last trip over and I just started wrapping. While the method is the same, each ring is different because you have to form the wire to suit each individual stone. I have used mainly sterling silver wire to wrap the gemstones but I was not happy with the contrast between silver and rose quarts, so I made a second ring out of Rose Quarts using rolled gold and I am much happier with the result.    



 A Close up up a Rose Quartz and sterling Silver Ring I made using 12 gauge Wire for the ring and supports and 22 gauge half round wire for the wrap.












I have also been busy making a few bits and pieces with the gemstone beads, lamp work beads and recycled glass beads that I bought a few weeks ago and those beautiful seeds featured in my last post.

 I used 6mm round amethyst gemstone beads and gold plated spacers and clasps to make this simple but effective necklace. I love amethyst.

Still on Amethyst, this necklace uses Amethyst Roundel Gemstone Beads and Tibetan Silver spacers and bead caps and is finished with a plain silver tone toggle clasp. It looks fabulous and feels great to wear.

The unusualness of the featured gemstone caught my eye so I just had to buy a couple of strands. It is called Dragon Vein Agate. It comes in a variety of colours but for some reason I always go for green. (Must be because I live in the middle of the rainforest - lol). I used 6mm dyed Jade beads with the Dragon Vein Agate and Tibetan silver spacers and bead caps. The piece is finished with a silver plated lobster clasp. A simple but very unusual piece.

 Most people shy away from yellow but these handmade lamp work beads are stunning and together with the white jade and black onyx beads I have used to make this piece, makes a very attractive, eye-catching necklace. I have used Tibetan Silver spacers and bead caps and finished the piece with a silver toned toggle clasp.

 The large seeds are locally known as Hamburger seeds. They are big and puffy and look delicious, but they are not be eaten. I have coupled these with acacia seeds and finished the piece with a silver toned toggle. It is a piece that stands out, being big and bold but still surprisingly light to wear.

 Still using those amazing hamburger beads I made this choker. I used waxed cotton string to macramé and weave the seeds into the choker with stunning effect.

 These amazing seeds are the Giant Ilpil. I have used them as the feature on this necklace and used recycled mother of pearl beads and Tibetan Silver Spacers on the extension. Black agate separates each of the seeds and the necklace is finished with a silver toned toggle clasp.

 Last but not least is this lovely necklace made with recycled glass beads, Poinciana seeds and rosewood beads. The piece is finished with a silver tone toggle. This is very comfortable to wear and very eye catching.

New Stock at Last

Hello again,

It's been a while since my last post. I was in Brisbane when the floods were on and when I got back home we were on cyclone alert. Lucky for us we missed the worst of what Yasi dished up, unlike the poor souls further south from where I live. We copped the outer arms of the cyclone and winds of about 125 kph, and some damage to the rainforest. We now have sea views to the east and mountain views to the west. We were stuck at home for a couple of days, until the roads were cleared. Since then we have had rain, rain and more rain, and last week some of the worst lightening storms I can remember in the 20 or so years I have been living here in the Daintree. The roads are flooding, we can't even get to the transfer station to get rid of our rubbish, but the mail can still get through and I am super excited about what I received in the mail today.

My latest order of gemstone beads has just arrived and I very pleased indeed. Included in this fabulous treasure chest of gemstones are autumn jasper, Fluorite, Rainforest Jasper (living in the rainforest I felt I just had to try these little beauties out), Ruby Zoisite (I have something really, really special in mind for these), heaps of turquoise because I just love turquoise, some marble beads and some lovely chunky coral nuggets to make something really out there.
 

I also received some hand made lamp work beads from a friend of mine as a belated birthday present and also some ceramic beads another friend picked up from one of her Art School friends. I am so lucky that I have friends who think of me and send me these lovely hand crafted glass and ceramic beads to incorporate in my work. Of course, as you give so shall you receive, and I always make my friends a little something by way of a thank you. So thank you to everyone who sends me these delicious little treasures.

I am also quite excited about my new cache of natural seeds. I have spend the last several weeks preparing these. Preparation includes cleaning them, polishing them and drilling them. Drilling is the hardest aspect of it and I have quite a few drill marks on my finger from little slips I have had while drilling. Good thing I am a quick healer. I also found some recycled glass beads while I was in Brisbane so I bought a couple of strands, one in clear glass and the other aqua coloured glass. You can see them among the seeds in the photo to the right.


I am waiting for my next consignment of sterling silver to arrive. I can't wait till that arrives. I am just itching to make a whole new range of necklaces, bracelets, rings and ear rings with my new acquisitions. As I make these I'll post them on this site for you to see. Some will be going to the Candlenut Gallery, some posted to my web site and I'll have to do some leg work to see if I can show case my work in a few more places.

New site

Well, it's taken me a couple of weeks but I have finally published my first web site. I used Yola. I was told about Yola by Linda at the Candlenut Gallery. It's free to use the basic package and it was easy. Really, the only reason that it took me a few weeks to put the web page together was because Christmas and new Year Celebrations kept me otherwise engaged. Now I am in recovery mode getting ready to celebrate my birthday, which is in a couple days.
 I will be adding to my website as I design new pieces. These pieces will also feature on this blog so keep checking it out and don't forget to leave me some feedback in the comments section.

Caterpillar Bracelet

 I am very pleased with the results of this Sterling Silver Bracelet. I call it my caterpillar bracelet because it reminded me of a caterpillar when I saw the photo that I took. 

I bought a sheet of 1ml sterling silver months ago and put off making anything for ages. One night I had a dream about this bracelet. When I woke up I did a quick sketch and then just went back to sleep. Then last week I found my sketch and started getting to work. I measured up the sheet, double checking everything, marked out the sheet and started sawing. Then I filed all my edges until they were smooth and rounded, drilled my connection holes, hammered each tile to texture them, made the jump rings and the catch and finally assembled it.   

The Photograph does not do the bracelet justice but in the end I thought I may as well post it on my blog.

It is featured at the Candlenut Gallery in Port Douglas.