Abelone and Stone

An Abelone shell (Perlemoen - Haliotis midae - rear view) encased in silver solder sharing a chain with a pebble surrounded by silver wire. The pebble is a separate pendant.

Abelone is protected along all South Africa's coastlines and in 2008 Abelone fishing was suspended to protect the rapidly depleting shellfish species from commercial extinction. Illegal fishing and increased inward migration of a lobster species that destroy abalone habitat are being blamed for a decline in the shellfish's numbers. Also, over the past decades, the poaching of abalone has reached such proportions that it has become a full-scale industry. A record 3 000 tons of abalone was poached from South African waters in 2007, compared with the annual allowed quotas of 1 000 tons of farmed abalone.

Most abalone in the southern hemisphere is found in the cold waters off the South African, Australian and New Zealand coasts. The animal is protected in South African waters, and harvesting of wild individuals has been banned since 2008, while commercial operations need a permit to export.

Abalone meat is generally not for sale in South Africa, although selected restaurants around the country do serve it - at a price. Despite these regulations, stocks of abalone are dwindling because of illegal commercial harvesting. Most of the illegal harvest - as well as the permitted catch - ends up in Asian markets.

This piece had washed ashore many years ago and it certainly was a lucky find!

 Abelone pendant with silver wire and frosty glass bead hanging from a silver rope chain - (Shell 3½" - 9cm)

River pebble (1½" - 4cm) encased in silver wire, hanging from a silver rope chain

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Clear Quartz

Quartz Crystal, or Natural Quartz Crystals, are the original powerful things. Clear Quartz Crystal, such as the Quartz Crystal Ball, has an archetypal energy, a consciousness that is rarefied and highly evolved, that is packed with wisdom because Rose Quartz Crystal or other natural Quartz Crystal have experienced wisdom.

A polished clear Quartz Crystal on a hand-crafted silver wire stand. Also in the picture, clear Quartz Crystals embraced by silver wire and on a silver chain. From my hand-crafted jewellery under the label "Afrika Street Jewellery". 

Quartz crystal has been around for a very long time. How long, no one knows for sure. We do know that crystals were formed in this Earth and suggest the mineral evolution of the planet. Their very being expresses the unity of the four ancient elements.

PROPERTIES OF QUARTZ :
Pure Quartz is colourless or white. It is also known as the "master healer" and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals. It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy. Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralising background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations. It balances and revitalises the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual planes. Cleanses and enhances the organs and subtle bodies and acts as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical dimension with the mind. Clear Quartz enhances psychic abilities. It aids concentration and unlocks memory. Stimulates the immune system and brings the body into balance. Clear Quartz (Crystal Quartz, Rock Crystal) harmonises all the chakras and aligns the subtle bodies.

Quartz is the birthstone for April. (I'm born in May, but I'm sure it was supposed to be April.... just LOVE clear Quartz!)

Clear quartz is associated with the crown chakra, but also works effectively to balance and energize all chakras. Chemical Composition: SiO2

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Pink Glass and Copper pendant

Connecting things - that's what creativity is all about! As you get an idea, it starts flowing and you end up just connecting the dots. A shape, or a colour, is enough to spark a whole new sequence of events.

Pink oval stained glass and crumpled copper  joined in union with solder and silver wire. A coat of black patina was applied and scrubbed with fine steel wool for an vintage look. Hanging from a silver rope chain.

 Matching clip-on earrings - pink glass surrounded by silver solder and long pink glass beads suspended on 3 silver rings

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Africa Embraced pendant

A Rose Quartz crystal in the shape of Africa, embraced by silver wire and hanging from an earthy leather thong but would look equally great on a silver chain.

Rose Quarts is often called "the Love stone". It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. The heart healing properties are the most prominent energy of the rose quartz. Rose Quartz signifies peace, so place pieces throughout your home. Wearing it close to your skin balances emotions, heals emotional wounds and aids in skin and cell rejuvenation.

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River Pebble Pendant

A 1½" (4cm) river pebble surrounded by silver wire and hanging from a leather thong.
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Inland pebbles (river pebbles of river rock) are usually found along the shores of large rivers and lakes. These pebbles are formed as the flowing water washes over rock particles on the bottom and along the shores of the river. The smoothness and color of river pebbles depends on several factors, such as the composition of the soil of the river banks, the chemical characteristics of the water, and the speed of the current. Because river current is gentler than the ocean waves, river pebbles are usually not as smooth as beach pebbles. The most common colors of river rock are black, grey, green, brown and white. 

From my "Earth Range" and inspired by Nature.

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Porcupine Quill Pendant

Porcupine quill wound with silver wire and soldered for a secure fit. A short dangling silver chain has a glass Mali bead. Pendant hangs from a silver chain, but some leather thonging can also be used for a more natural look.

No animals were hurt during the manufacture. All quills are collected from the veld after porcupines have shed them.

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Creativity is contagious

Have you ever noticed how contagious creativity is? How many times have you not been inspired by a picture, a few words, somebody's passion? Even from yourself. The more creative you are, the more you inspire creativity in yourself.

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Nature inspires - Feather brooch

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Nature provides us with the most inspiring items to use in our creations - feathers, pebbles, leaves, drift wood, crystals, glass - you name it, it's there for the taking!

Here I've combined a black triangle piece of stained glass, surrounded with silver solder, with a couple of rooster feathers, added a pin at the back and voila! a simple and elegant brooch for your jacket or coat lapel. Or you can even cheeckily pin it to your hat!

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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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Energy, passion and peace

The colour red is the colour of energy, passion and action. It is a warm and positive colour associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes a strong and powerful masculine energy. Wearing red clothing or jewellery shows a vibrant personality and a passion for life.

Being the colour of physical movement, the colour red awakens our physical life force. It is the colour of sexuality and can stimulate deeper and more intimate passions in us, such as love and sex on the positive side or revenge and anger on the negative. It is often used to express love, as in Valentine’s Day.

Vibrant red oblong glass jewel earrings. The ease and simplicity of these earrings make a statement on their own, but when teamed with a matching brooch, adds extra whammy!

Red oblong glass jewel brooch hand-crafted with silver wire and silver solder, clasp at the back.

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Blue is the coolest colour - the colour of the sky, ocean, sleep, twilight. Blue is often the chosen colour by conservative people. Blue is the calming colour. That makes it a wonderful colour to use in the home and to wear as jewellery.

Blue gives a feeling of distance. Artists use it to to show perspective. This is a good way to understand the energy of the colour blue - it allows us to look beyond and increase our perspective outward. It contains a cool vibration that is helpful to communication.

Round blue glass jewel brooch surrounded by copper and given a coat of patina for a vintage look. Clasp at back.

The vibration of blue can be used to open energy flow where it is blocked. So wear blue jewellery often to relax and encourage feelings of communication and peace.

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Bracelets - Bound Chaos

Bracelets (and rings) fashioned out of silver wire, some inter-laced with beads and some left plain.

From my Earth Range, I've named them "Bound Chaos". Just like in our daily lives, these pieces are gently woven together, trying to make sense of uncertainty and chaos, giving meaning to experience.

"Bound Chaos" bracelets displayed with two Crystal bracelets

"Bound Chaos" - Two silver wire bracelets inter-laced with blue beads

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Tamboti leaf Choker and Earrings

If you are a porcupine, the thought of chewing on the bark of the Tamboti tree is enough to send thrills down your quills. If you are a black rhino you will seek out the slender, leaf-filled branches and eat them with relish.

If you happen to be of the species Homo sapiens then beware - Tamboti spells danger! The tree contains a white, milky latex which is poisonous to humans. This latex is characteristic of all members of the Euphorbia family (Euphorbiacea). The tree does have important medicinal value and the roots, bark and even the sap (latex) are used to cure various ailments although nausea always results and a heavy dose may even cause death. A little sap dabbed on an aching tooth is said to bring relief but liberal quantities may result in permanent relief from all pain - an early grave.

The Tamboti tree (Spirostachys africana) is sought after for the making of furniture as it is a hard, fine-grained wood. An interesting contrast is created by the light, creamy sapwood and the dark brown heartwood. The heartwood is resistant to decay and termite attack and is therefore used for building huts and as fencing poles. Of course, great care has to be taken when working with the Tamboti wood as the sawdust is poisonous. Even the smoke from a Tamboti fire is poisonous and could result in you painfully re-examining the contents of the previous night's bush braai.  The wood should not be used for cooking fires, although once it has burnt down, the glowing coals can safely be used.

The small, green leaves turn to magnificent shades of yellow, orange and red and a grove of Tamboti trees in autumn is a sight to behold. It was during autumn, when my tree was ablaze with colour, that I was inspired to craft these Tamboti leaf earrings with matching choker, using silver wire and silver solder. The choker also has a single Tamboti leaf suspended.

Other common names: Tamboti (Eng.); Tambotie (Afr.); umThombothi (Zulu); Modiba (Northern Sotho); umThombotsi (siSwati); Ndzopfori (Tsonga); Morukuru (Tswana); Muonze (tshiVenda)

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Crystal pendant and link chain

Quartz Crystal encased in silver wire on a silver link chain 

I have quite a vast collection of crystals, clear quartz being one of my favourites. For many years I've just been displaying them in various bowls around the house, relishing the healing properties they bring to various rooms.

I've utilised a few of these in pendants, brooches and bracelets. Here I've surrounded a clear quartz  crystal with silver wire and added a simple link chain, ready to just slip over my head as I rush off to town!

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Cow in the stable brooch and earrings

I once had the cutest little pendant made out of pewter, with this little cow looking over the stable door, hanging on a fine little chain. Unfortunately it broke, so I decided to try and utilise it and incorporated it into this brooch. The door can open, revealing a little man sitting on a stool, milking the cow.

The brooch surround is silver wire, filled with silver solder and a brooch pin soldered on the back. It was then given a coat of black patina to give it a vintage look. One of my favourite brooches to wear.

The earrings are hand-crafted from silver wire and brushed with a patina to give an antique look.

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