Happiness is a new Lark book

Happiness is my 2 great loves in one: a new book full of beautiful jewellery.

I have several books in the '500' series by Lark books.  They're like picture books for grown ups. If you're at all interested in jewellery, art glass and the like, definitely check them out.

This one is Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry. It's amazing. Even seed beads - which I considered the most pedestrian of beads - are elevated to an art form here. I have so much still to learn, and I love it.

 

Discovering PMC (precious metal clay)

I decided it's time for another fix.  A jewellery fix, that is.  Making silver jewellery, to be precise.  This time next weekend I'll be happily pottering away in a class, making some new pieces using silver PMC (precious metal clay).

I haven't worked with this medium before so I'm looking forward to learning some new techniques, and using some of the fabulous beads and cabochons I've been collecting.  The great thing about PMC is you can use it a bit like Playdoh, shaping it however you want.  It's then finished in a kiln, which burns away the binding material leaving you with solid metal.

In the meantime I've been sating my craving and getting inspiration with some PMC pieces other people have made.

ACS Ring by N Hasegawa, via MetalClay.com.au

Bronze Pebbles necklace by Pam Annesley

Brooch/Small Dish by Jeanette Landenwitch

Art Clay Hummingbird necklace by Xuella Arnold

Untitled ring by Ayako Kaku

Bronze clay bracelet by Vickie Hallmark

Bollywood

Is there anything not fabulous about Bollywood jewellery?  It has everything you could possibly want: colour, glitz, dangles, layers, matching sets, enamel... jewels as far as the eye can see.