Okay, hands up everyone with a solid colour wardrobe. You are not alone. Many of us have pushed prints to the back of the closet or left them on the sales rack in an effort to look professional, elegant and modern. And now, many women have no idea how to put colours together. I see and hear about this often when doing wardrobe consultations. So, while our mothers and grandmothers could pull all the colours for an ensemble from a print, that isn't an option for many women today. And you want to look pulled together and interesting. So what do you do? Well these necklaces are just the thing to get you started.
Designed to sit just inside the collar or neck edge of your shirt they add colour and interest. As for what colour you should have - if you like it - buy it. Odds are it will go with what you have on. It really is that simple!
Retailing at $50 these necklaces make a lovely gift for Mother's Day.
Available in bright, muted and neutral colourways, these easy to wear necklaces close with a sterling silver toggle clasp. The feature beads are glass, stone or ceramic. Plus sizes are available and custom requests are welcome.
And in the run-up to Mother's Day I've made a made a few for little girls - scaled to fit and with a magnetic closure. Because every woman regardless of age likes to feel special and pretty!
When summer comes along, I know I often get dressed and think "well, that is boring" yet can't bring myself to put on a statement piece of jewellery because I'm just too hot and the jewellery is too heavy. These necklaces have been designed to address that very situation.
They are lightweight yet have visual presence. They are completely metal free and slide easily over your head. The motifs are cut by hand. The glass, shell and pottery beads and felt are securely stitched with a strong silk thread.
Available in three motifs at present (circles, diamonds and flowers) they come in a variety of colours. They are just the thing to give jeans and a t-shirt that little bit of polish to show you made an effort.
Versatile enough to be worn year round, they retail for $45. They do co-ordinate with my line of scarves and wraps. Custom sets and sizing are available.
Thought you might all enjoy seeing my studio and my 'helper'. Meet Oscar - climber of desks and bookcases, batter of beads and pens, chewer of plastic bags and wires and the most enthusiastic chaser of an etsy button you are ever likely to meet!
Putting on a bracelet can be a very frustrating experience if you don't have anyone to help you. Not a problem with these lovely pieces! The closure is a freakishly strong magnet. While not recommended for anyone that has a pacemaker, the magnetic closure is slim, discreet, secure and so easy to manage.
Just wrap the bracelet around your wrist and click - you are good to go!
These bracelets co-ordinate with the tassel necklaces. They retail for $42 making a lovely set for $90. Custom sizing is available, although very small bracelets may require some design changes.
Ever buy a pretty necklace to come home and realize you can't do it up yourself? Or find that the chain or beads are grabbing those little hairs at the back of your neck and pinching? Well these fantastic tassel necklaces have been designed to solve both problems!
Beautiful stones form the focal point of these pendants with glass and pottery beads providing the accents. Available in a wide range of colours, they retail for $48.
A soft cord has been used to make the necklaces comfortable and lightweight around your neck. (For the fibre geeks in the crowd - it is soutache from the lovely folks at Mokuba.)
The 'tassel' composed of stone and glass is securely stitched to the cord - right through the cord and through another bead which acts as a stopper. No closure swinging to the front when you wear this necklace!
The closure is easy to manage. Made with a wooden bead or button and a loop securely tied and stitched in the cord. Even stiff or clumsy fingers or long hair are not a problem with this closure. Because really who wants to get to work in the morning and have to ask someone to help you finish getting dressed?
Matching bracelets are available and equally easy to manage. More about them tomorrow!
As long as I can remember, I’ve been comfortable with needle and thread. Growing up, we were not allowed to watch TV unless we were doing something else at the same time. Knitting, sewing, embroidery in all its forms were just the things you did in our family. You wore handknit sweaters. You made your party dress. Everyone made the art that decorated their home. As a kid, I just assumed everyone had needlepoint tapestries on their walls.
I’ve been sewing, knitting, embroidering and generally messing about with fabric and thread for over 35 years now. I have taught embroidery techniques and accepted private commissions, generally to supplement my day job and to fund more supplies. Highlights include embroidery demonstrations at the Creative Sewing Festival, having my designs published in Style at Home and Fab Magazine, seeing good friends light up when they put on the wedding dress I created just for them, and selling to celebrities through Etsy. (OK, so I wandered about saying “wow” every five minutes, told half the town who my first Etsy customer was, and insisted the women in the post office look at who the scarf was being mailed to… I was excited!)
In the fall of 2008, I decided to throw caution to the wind, leave the corporate world and pursue these creative endeavours full-time. I am much happier, on the whole calmer, and frankly more fun to be around. 2009 was a year of experimenting with designs and materials, testing the market and judging reactions, and investigating venues for my work. Although I still teach techniques and make bespoke clothing, I am increasingly enjoying making limited-edition accessories. 2010 has brought my first retail outlet, and I am looking forward to finding new and exciting audiences for my work. You can find out more about my range of services and contact me through my website.
My intention is for this blog to chronicle my work and my efforts to find those new and exciting audiences. At the moment I am preparing for a coming out party of sorts for a group of local artists and designers. We are calling it the Who Knew? Fashion and Art Event and you can find out all the details at www.whoknew.ca. I will be launching my new line of jewellery at this event and on this blog. The collection has been designed to be not only pretty to look at but comfortable and easy to wear. I hope women enjoy wearing it as much as I have enjoyed making it!
Designed to sit just inside the collar or neck edge of your shirt they add colour and interest. As for what colour you should have - if you like it - buy it. Odds are it will go with what you have on. It really is that simple!
And in the run-up to Mother's Day I've made a made a few for little girls - scaled to fit and with a magnetic closure. Because every woman regardless of age likes to feel special and pretty!
