Over the next few weeks I’m going to stock the shop with lots of goodies for making jewellery. With competition being what it is I don’t expect to find many customers for a wee while, so I’m aiming for some customers for Valentine’s time, I have a stock of pretty hearts and plenty of pink that may attract some. Exciting!

Some things like books and magazines I have read and made good use of, but now I no longer need. Other items I bought and then wither used one or never used and just stored in a cupboard in my hoe office.
I have an unfortunate tendency to hoard items but I (and my cupboards) have reached critical mass and it’s time to start freeing up some space, and more importantly to you, making some of these fantastic finds available for sale- isn’t the Internet fabulous?

Starting from today I’m going to start listing some of the treasure trove of collected jewellery making and beading supplies that I have amassed over the years.

Each listing will have photos and a weight so that you can get an idea of the cost of shipping. I’m based in the north of Spain and I’ll include the shipping cost table. The magazines I started with (The Best Joyas) are pretty heavy though- they’re the glossy, coffee table variety. I may end up just offering them as a job lot for local collection, but having spent all afternoon configuring the shop, I feel I ought to leave it until next week at least before I change it all again!
I may end up just offering them as a job lot for local collection

Jewellery Supplies and  Jewellery Magazines are the first two pages that I’m working on. Check back later for more!

Anyhow, I was thinking that summer seems to be slipping away when I felt the leaves falling from the trees yesterday evening.

Made me think that I was too late to make any more “Summer”-type jewellery and that I had better start thinking  about Autumn-Winter colours., and it was such a shame as I had two little starfish crystals that I wanted to use.

Then I decided that I could just do what I wanted to and made this little set!

I teamed it with Swarovski crystals, pearls and black onyx gemstones.

I’m definitely going to get busy with black onyx over the next few weeks as I just love the way the faceted beads catch the light.

Funny thing is, I’m not a fan of junk food! But hey, it can’t do you any harm when worn like this. So if you’re a cupcake fiend then might I suggest you get your daily fix from twiddling these cute beads instead of eating real ones

Getting Off The Learning Treadmill

When we’re at school and university it’s like we think we’ll feel relieved once the barrage of information and learning stops, that life will be so much more pleasant once we can stop learning all the time.

Ha, what an idiot I was to think such a thing! Not only does the pace of learning pick up once you start working (at least that’s how it was for me) but every so often you find that picking up a new skill enhances your life so much that you just keep wanting to learn more stuff!

Anyway, getting back to the point, working with my hands to create jewellery is a skill that I really enjoy and am grateful for (obviously I still have a ways to go). It lets me make little gifts like these moss agate earrings for my mum. I made a necklace using these beautiful little briolettes and micro-faceted rondelles a while back and I always meant to make her matching earrings. Well here they are. They’re a beautiful colour green and I hope she’ll like them. I like sending gifts that are not expected, a bit like happy unbirthday gifts.

So here we are with a spanky new theme, customised with a new logo which reflects that it’s me (Tree) who makes all the jewellery. As of right this moment we’re having some technical difficulties, but with a little patience and some help from the nice small business website people, the site will start behaving itself better!

Citrine Necklace “Laura” with Dragonfly, originally uploaded by www.virtudej.com.

Ah more Spring things! This time, it’s lilac’s best friend- pale yellow.

Citrine shows up in all shades of yellow from the palest and most see-through to deepest amber.

Actually this faceted nugget reminds of the Jurassic Park gemstone that they find near the start of the film, well here I have teamed it with a little dangling dragonfly- much more stylish!

Oh it’s lovely to see all the spring flowers and feel the warmth of spring coming… With that in mind I made a couple of pieces this morning with Light Amethyst.
This is the necklace, it uses a large (20mm x 17mm) faceted pendant and little amethyst heishi beads.
Because I used one of my gorgeous toggle clasps, it is designed so that the clasp and pendant are worn to the front.
I also added a little dragonfly charm.
I’ll be adding it into my shop later and it’s going to be a one-off

Platinum Pearl Earrings, originally uploaded by www.virtudej.com.

Well my goodness it’s that time of year again!

In case the weather wasn’t enough to tell you then TV certainy will. One of my favourite shows “Bones” just had their Christmas episode and the main character, Dr Temperance Brennan was wearing some lovely drop earrings. She wore them a few episodes ago so I set about making my ownn version.

Here they finally are, and I used the new Swarovski “Platinum” pearls- they have a gorgeous soft sheen that’s not quite golden, but not silver either- lovely! So say hello to “Temperance”…

Fuchsia & Black Bracelet, originally uploaded by www.virtudej.com.

Ah the 80′s! Back in the 80′s fuchsia was one of those bold signature colours. This jewellery blends that shade of shocking pink with deep burgundy Garnet and black Onyx to bring it up to date and make it altogether subtler, but still on-trend.

I kept it simple and just alternated a pink with black and used some of my faceted black onyx beads. Swarovski crystals finish the ends and I’m currently in love with hammered hoops so there’s one of those in there too!

Just because the 80′s in back in vogue doesn’t mean you have to make the same fashion mistakes…!

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details. Available from 8 Nov 2009.