A collection of Crystals and Keepsakes

A collection of crystals on hand-crafted wire stands in my lounge. The snake skin in front is from my resident Mole snake, Mollie, which she shed a couple of weeks ago

A collection of crystals on hand-crafted wire stands

A vintage bowl filled with earrings and brooches and a display of some of the insects I make

A few watercolour bird paintings and some Keepsakes jewellery

Rose Quartz crystal wand on hand-crafted wire stand

Rose Quartz crystal wand

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A collection of art and jewellery

A collection of paintings and jewellery. The birds are painted in watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm.

The clock-face and orange jewel bracelet is from my "Keepsakes" range, as is the Pin Brooch with photographs and the necklace with photographs, lace and a rose petal.

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Goggo / Insect range - Baboon Spider

This Keepsakes range consists of insects (for the insect-lover!) to display as ornaments but some of them can also be fashioned into brooches. Hand-crafted with silver, copper, pewter, glass jewels and silver wire, each Goggo/insect can take 3 or more hours to make. Only materials of the highest quality is used and great attention is given to detail. Although the items should be treated with care, each item is strong and sturdy. Taking care and cleaning of your unique insect is as easy as scrubbing gently with a toothbrush and Sunlight Liquid and giving it a good rinse with cold water, drying gently with a soft cloth. A natural patina develops over time, adding charm to the item.

Each insect comes with a descriptive card :

Baboon Spider
Ground-dwelling, these hairy spiders are among the world's largest, ranging from 2-6cm (body length). Various species exist in South Africa, all of them living in burrows. They have large fangs which can inflict an unpleasant bite but without serious envenomation.

From my "Earth Range" and inspired by Nature.

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"Keepsakes" Necklace

Three photographs of my grand-children, one rose petal and a vintage piece of lace, placed between two pieces of glass and soldered closed with silver solder, hang from a simple silver chain to make a memorable 'Keepsakes' necklace.

 Detail of photograph encased in glass

 Detail of photograph encased in glass

Detail of vintage lace encased in glass

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"Keepsakes" Pin Brooch

This pin brooch from the "Keepsakes" range contains 4 items. Two are vintage photographs sandwiched between two pieces of glass and enclosed with silver solder. Other items can also be used, like a piece of lace from a Christening or Wedding gown, a piece of vintage material or rose petals for romance, leaves to symbolise life or any other sentimental objects. The other two are an amber clear glass jewel and an Indian silver baublet on short chain links. All these are attached to an ordinary nappy pin, a clean and simple design.

All links are soldered closed for strength and to prevent the loss of any of the items.

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The passage of time...

To live in this world

you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it

against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
- Mary Oliver

A vintage watch face and amber glass jewels hand-crafted into a bracelet. The beauty of this simple, yet striking, design is that you could make it with inter-changeable, different coloured jewels or any other beads of your choice.

This bracelet is from my "Keepsakes" range.

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