In amongst all the madness that is currently my life, I have managed to actually make something – *gasp*!

I am currently packing up to move, and my husband Nick and I have bought a van. We’re going to convert it to a camper and go travelling around Oz for a while!

So, my posts here will be few and far between over the coming months

Anyways, more on that later; back to the shiny things.

I got a parcel of Cubic Zirconia beads the other day, and decided to go minimalist with them. Since I’m going to be travelling, I’d like to be able to have a versatile array of jewellery without too much bulk.

I decided to wrap the beads in a simple anti-tarnish silver to add a loop to the top so I can slip them on and off of  a chain – or even onto silver earrings in pairs!

Here are some that I’ve made…

I kinda like the thought of being able to wear just one, or a bunch of different gems and charms all at once!

Of course, you can slip pairs of gems onto earrings or earwires as well, just like this…

I made sure to make myself a pair of spiral earrings to take with me on my travels – I’ve somehow lost my original pair!

I got these from Artbeads – from their Cubic Zirconia beads section. I think my faves are the amethyst ones above.

Hope everyone’s Christmas prep is going well (in this house it’s all “Christmas, what’s that??”).

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This week on My Crafty Journey we welcome Pat, from San Jose, California!

If you would like to be a guest blogger on My Crafty Journey, please use the contact form above to get in touch!

Pat

As a kid, I collected and saved my rocks mainly from the field behind my house, carefully saving them in an old bucket. I spent many afternoons dipping each rock into a pan of water and admiring the colors and patterns.

Later, jewelry took over as an interest, and finally matured into the realization that a lot of jewelry is made from gems and minerals, and rocks — all solid earth creations. Now I could work with both interests. But how?

Stud Earrings - TopazTwinkles

I joined a rockhound group, and during one of the shows, a friend was demonstrating how to make jewelry. I stood transfixed, admiring his ability and creations. He said, “Pat, you can do this!”

Really?

Yes… and so I did.

I’m fairly new at this, but have established a little fan club, and I don’t want to collect my excess creations in a bucket. Hence, I am working to establish a presence on Etsy to avoid the bucket scene.

Bracelet - Razzle Dazzle

Anyhow, I love doing this — from a small pile of beads to the finished product, and then the final touch — making sure each piece is at its best.

Now my husband and I are retired, and our four grown children and two little grandchildren live nearby. We enjoy lots of things including making jewelry, the challenges of preparing the setup and taking the photographs, writing a thorough listing, and deciding on lovely but simple packaging.

To see Pat’s work, visit her website:

http://TheSpeeceCollection.etsy.com

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