Featured Jewellery Design #34

Crisp morning air…I walk fast to warm the chill from my bones then breathe in deep and fill my lungs with Autumn…Deanna Gracie

Although I don’t have much time – I do love gardening! Autumn is a great time of year to pull out any weeds and trim back plants and bushes to have the garden looking nice before winter. I love the idea of tiny self sown seeds lying buried in the soil waiting to germinate and the idea of the garden resting over winter ready to burst forth in lush new growth when Spring comes around again : -) “Regeneration earrings” are my response to the magic of nature. Inspired by nature and crafted by hand in sterling silver, titanium and 18ct gold.

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Featured Jewellery Design #33

I adore using texture and colour in the jewellery I create. With ‘Regeneration Pendant #3′ I was able to create a lovely contrast with softly textured silver set against the hints of colour from the deep blue titanium appearing through in places. I then added another dimension to the piece with a beautiful Australian opal set in red gold sitting next to a tiny fallen leaf. Although the image doesn’t show this very well – the opal has beautiful rainbow colours running through it.

‘Regeneration Pendant #3′ by Deanna Gracie is inspired by nature and crafted by hand in sterling silver, 18ct yellow gold, 9ct red gold and opal. It is quite a large piece at 63mm x 26mm and hangs horizontally across the body on a 45cm sterling silver omega chain (not pictured). Visit my website at http://www.Deanna.co.nz to see more designs

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Featured Jewellery Design #32

This landscape bracelet is another commission piece I created for a wonderful friend recently. This was a gift to her, from her family to celebrate a milestone birthday. I incorporated some of the things she loves including the tiny butterfly, mountains, trees, birds and water. I also kept to her favourite colour palette – the wonderful hues of Autumn! : – ) Made from my heart and by my hand – no two bracelets can ever be exactly the same : – )

Landscape Bracelet by Deanna Gracie is handmade in sterling silver, red and yellow gold, shibuichi, (an alloy of copper and silver) and the gemstones are peridot, citrine and tourmaline. You can contact me about having your very own bracelet made – or any other item of jewellery on this blog or on my website http://www.Deanna.co.nz - by email info@Deanna.co.nz

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What does Koru mean?

A link from uphilldowndale – who’s blog “Watching nature take its course, from the top of a hill in northern England” is a joy to visit:

http://uphilldowndale.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/a-fondness-for-ferns/

has another link to some of Karl Blossfeldt’s (1865-1932) amazing photography

http://karlblossfeldtphotos.com/photos_list_live.asp?ID=14

This got me thinking about the koru design.

As a jewellery artist I use the koru design a lot in my work which can represent both ocean waves and new beginnings, inspired by the unfurling of the new growth of a fern frond – so thought you might be interested in this definition I found of the word koru. The word koru is defined in Williams Dictionary of the Maori Language as an adjective meaning ‘folded, coiled, looped’. As a noun, the word means ‘a bulbed motif or scroll painting’ A popular explanation of the koru is that it represents the unfolding of a tree fern frond, as seen in the uncurling corm with its rolled-up inner leaflets. The koru also resembles a curling wave. Symbolically the koru means new beginnings, harmony, growth and life.

Maybe you can now understand why I love to incorporate this wonderful symbol in nearly every piece of jewellery I create : – )

This image is a ponga (tree fern) we had growing in a previous garden. I don’t think one would survive where we live now as it is too close to the sea. : – (

Featured Jewellery Design #31

This ‘Aotearoa Aroha’ wide band ring is reminiscent of everything I love about living here in New Zealand. It’s made from sterling silver, red and yellow gold and green tourmaline. Summer to me means pohutukawa in full bloom, the gentle lap of the ocean, the horizon in the distance, stretching for miles with nothing to see except the deep green liquid colour of the sea. This ring is available in Size S only. Visit the rings page on my website at http://www.Deanna.co.nz to view the dimensions of this ring and other rings in my collection. All unique and all made by hand!

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Awaken – Jewellery Exhibition – April 2009

The warm tones of red and yellow gold, sensual silver and sparkling crystal are combined to create this charming koru ring by Deanna Gracie – one of her latest designs on display at ConneXion Gallery in the Awaken exhibition. These four elegant designs are beautifully showcased in small hand made boxes. The exhibition will run during April, upstairs in Shop 27 at the Arts Centre of Christchurch.