HANDMADE VS MASS PRODUCED

7 April 2013

There is something special about handcrafted jewellery and how they can express the artist's thoughts, care and attention to detail. It's appeal is in its uniqueness and individuality which allows the wearer to express their personality.

Today I am wearing a necklace I designed and made myself.

 

It is hugely satisfying to create something with your hands and you feel an incredible sense of achievement as well.

 

Crafting a piece of beaded jewellery especially one that has a lot of detail is very labour intensive and I have documented the process of making this pearl beaded flower necklace.

 

Materials for the necklace

 

Cream seed bead, size 11

Gold seed beads, size 11

8mm ivory glass pearls

4mm cream glass pearl

peach button for clasp

 

 

The first step is to create the beaded flower. I start with creating the petals. I bead 8 diamond shaped petals in brick stitch.

 

Now I have 4 cream and 4 light gold beaded diamonds

 

 

The next step is to assemble the gold diamonds together

 

 

When that is completed I attach the cream diamonds to the gold diamonds using square stitch and then finish off the flower with a centre pearl.

 

 

Once the beaded flower is done, the next step is to string 8mm pearls and cream seed beads to create the necklace. Then a button bead clasp is added to the finished strand.

 

 

 

 

 

I then repeat for the other half of the necklace and add a loop for the clasp.

 

 

 

The necklace is completed.

 

 

 

More and more people today are choosing to wear handmade jewellery and prefer the uniqueness of hand crafted ornaments. Artists try to create unusual jewellery that is appealing and attractive. There is a great deal of personal pride and finesse inherent in an artist's work and that is what makes it so different from machine made jewellery. And that is why most jewellery that is mass produced is quite simply run of the mill.

 

There is also nothing to beat that feeling of exclusivity and to know that no one else or practically very few people will be wearing the jewellery that you are. Mass produced jewellery is literally 'a dime a dozen'.

 

Until next time

 

www.amahlejewellery.com

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AMAHLEJEWELLERY





 

 

Wear green for St Patrick's Day

17 March 2013

Today I am wearing a green cuff bracelet to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

St Patrick's Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on the 17th March. Named after Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the day is celebrated by many people throughout the world with food, drink and all things green.

What though is the significance of wearing green on this day?

A couple of reasons exist. The colour green is one of the symbols of St Patrick's Day even though the colour of St Patrick is blue. In the 19th century the colour green became used as the symbol for Ireland. It is thought that the beautiful green landscape was the inspiration for the colour and because Ireland is also known as the 'Emerald Isle'.

Another reason cited is that the Catholic side of Ireland is identified as green and Saint Patrick is a Catholic saint credited for converting the island to Christianity. Protestants on the other hand are identified with orange and are often called 'Orangemen'. In Ireland, you only wear green if you are Catholic. Protestants wear orange.

Wearing the colour green is considered an act of paying tribute to Ireland and is also said to bring good luck to those who wear green on this day.

Will you be wearing green on this day?

Until next time

www.amahlejewellery.com