Happy Halloween!!

It is October and fall has set in here in Norway, for sure! To me, october brings back fond memories of going "trick or treating" with the kids I looked after when I lived in the States as a nanny years ago. We have since then adapted our own twisted version of the tradition here in Norway as well. However, based on movies from Hollywood with all their uncosy aspects of what you are supposed to do if you don't get any candy, it has for many turned into an egg buying day. Unlucky are you who happen not to be home if an "egger" shows up at your door and decides to punish you for your absence!!
The nice memories I have of walking the kids around the beautifully decorated neighborhoods, kicking the fallen leaves around, ringing doorbells and hearing them say "trick or treat" are luckily still with me, and no one can take them away from me!
To me October, and with it Halloween, is mainly about two colors; black and orange. I have let myself become inspired by these two colors and I have made several pieces of Halloween jewelry. I thought I would show them here on my blog:-)

SET 1: Leather necklace (44cm) with manmade carved pumpkin face and black 6mm bicone crystals. Bracelet (16-17cm) with manmade carved pumpkin face, black and orange 6mm bicone crystals, 7mm black twisted crystals and 2mm silver-plated nickelfree spacer beads. Earrings on silverhooks with black and orange 6mm bicone crystals and 2mm silver-plated nickelfree spacer beads. (The complete set: 200,- or as separate pieces: necklace 75,- bracelet 100,- and earrings 75,-)

Close-up of the bracelet in SET 1.

Close-up of the earrings and the necklace in SET 1.

Bracelet, SET 1

Another view of SET 1.

Bracelet, SET 1

Earrings, SET 1

SET 2: Necklace (42cm) made with black 6mm bicone crystals, orange 4x6mm rondelle crystals and clear embroidery beads on  black tiger-tail wire - the pendant measures 7cm and is made with the same type of beads and a manmade carved pumpkin face on silver wire. The bracelet (18,5cm) is made with the same "braided" technique as the necklace, as are the earings that I have given a round finish and put on silver hooks. (The whole set costs 400,- pieces sold separately: necklace 200,- bracelet 150,- and earrings 125,-)

Necklace, SET 2

Necklace, SET 2

Close-up of the technique used on SET 2

Bracelet, SET 2

Bracelet, SET 2

Bracelet and earrings, SET 2

I have also made a third pair of earrings that can be used with either set or on their own. Thei are on silver wire and silver hooks and are made with the same type of beads as in SET 2. (100,-)

In this third bracelet (18,5cm) I have used a braiding technique that I like very much. It is made with black AB 4mm bicone crystals, orange 4x6mm rondelle crystals and clear embroidery beads on braided black tiger-tail wire. And it too has the manmade carved pumpkin face (33mm). (150,-)

Bracelet 3.

I made this 4th bracelet (20,5cm) a while back and it was not originally inteded for Halloween:-)It is made on silver colored tiger-tail wire with 4mm orange ABbicone crystals, 4mm clear AB rondelle crystals and black embroidery beads. (100,-)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!

Long time no see!!

I am almost ashamed of how long it has been  since I last blogged!! It is not as I haven't made any jewelry, cause I have, - I just haven't felt like writing about it:-)
A lot has happened since I last posted in April, but I am not going to mention everything. I will just say that I have had a nice 3-week vacation in the States this summer and that my husband and I took part in a local community day here where we live, called Herredagen. He showed his local art there, while I showed some of my jewelry. I will include a few photos taken there. I will also post some photoes of some of my newer jewelry pieces. Notice the "fancy" names I have given them :-)

Me at our stand at Herredagen

Roman with some of his paintings at Herredagen

Roman and Herre motives

Both Norwegian and American motives

Our set-up!

Floral Happiness of Blue (Necklace and Earrings)NOK 200,-

Pink Wisdom and Hearts (Necklace and Earrings)NOK 200,-

Joy of Grey and White Dragonflies (Necklace and Earrings) NOK 200,-

The Key to Peace (Necklace and Earrings) NOK 200,-

Burgundy and White love (Necklace and Earrings) NOK 200,-

Love of Black and White Floral Harmony (Necklace and Earrings) NOK 200,-

Wisdom of Purple and White Hearts (Necklace and Earrings) NOK 200,-

Forever Green and White Just For You (Necklace and Earrings) NOK 200,-

Today I have gotten quite a few comments on my blog from co-workers. This spurs me on to blog some more and it makes me want to make more jewelry as well:-) So - I have decided to upload some more pictures to my blog, basically of older stuff that I made when I experiented.

When I first started out I needed to shop some essentials and I quickly found out that if I was to buy everything at hobbystores in town, I wouldn't afford to do this. So I searched the internet a little and found a couple of internet stores that I could buy from in the beginning. One of these stores was perlehobby.no.  A shope based in Andebu here in Norway. I bought things like hooks, stoppers/crimps, giftbags, my first chains, glassbeads, my first murano glass and even a thong there.
One item I fell in love with were these really cute plastic hearts they had there, and even though they vere plastic I thought they would make really good looking earrings, bracelets and necklace pendents. Here are a few examples:

 I have since destroyed most of these, as I quickly found that I needed to make items of better quality than plastic. I have saved one set that I made, however, a set consisting of earrings, a bracelet and a necklace. I find it to be quite cute and it is an example of what I started with:-)

Lately though, as I have received beads and other jewelry making equipment, I have become a lot more aware of the materials that I use. I am not saying that I use expencive things, (which I think my prices will reflect) but I try to only use nickelfree and silver-plated things like hooks and chains, as I am bothered with a feisty nickel allergy myself. I am also aiming to get a hold of more silver as I go along.