Featured jewellery design #45

A year ago a traveller called in to my exhibition at the Arts Centre and had a fantastic selection of beads to show me. Although beautiful I couldn’t really see anything I wanted, as I don’t really feature beads in any of my jewellery designs so I said thanks but no thanks. Then he showed me his selection of ancient glass beads from Afghanistan. I loved the subtle colour range, the imperfections, the matt finish and the ‘ancient’ feel of them. He said they had originally been used as anklets. I couldn’t resist them so bought some strands and since then I have held these beads in my hands, run my fingers over them and admired the colours many times over the last year but couldn’t think of a way to use them. I wanted the beauty of the beads to shine through and not be overpowered by anything else. I finally came up with a solution and here is the finished result. I have used sterling silver in between the beads and kept the silver matt and I’ve also oxidised (blackened) some pieces for contrast. I have created five strands all together and have called them “Earth and Sky”.

“Earth and Sky” by Deanna Gracie - hand made necklaces created with sterling silver and ancient beads ©

A while ago I promised to take an image of the sexy new perspex display props I  found – so here are a couple of images of the necklaces on the bust stands. The stands are two different sizes : – )

Thanks for visiting : – )

Photograph of my latest beach find – September 2009

Wow – there have been lots of blustery cold days here recently so walks on the beach have been a bit wind blown and wet – what on earth has happened to Spring! On Monday Moses the dog and I were walking fast, trying to beat the wind : – ) I glanced down at my feet and saw a perfect egg half buried in the sand. I have seen mating pairs of paradise ducks on the estuary for the last few weeks and wonder maybe it was one of theirs – as it is quite a large egg. Alas the perfect brown speckled egg was quite cold when I picked it up and cupped it carefully in my hand.

“The perfect Egg” by Deanna Gracie ©

Thanks for visiting!

Featured jewellery design #44

I have just finished these cute little koru stud earrings. I chose to incorporate this gorgeous subtle texture into this design and as always they are hand made – in this case in very solid sterling silver. I love the beauty inherent in all things hand made – the tiny imperfections, the hint of tool marks…and isn’t it great to know your piece is the only one exactly like it in the world. I love being an artist – to choose which finish, texture, colour or metal to use in my designs. There are no mass produced castings to ever come out of my studio! Each piece of jewellery I create, I guarantee has been created with labour and love – both of these in equal quantities : – )

Koru stud Earrings by Deanna Gracie ©

Thanks for visiting : – )

Jewellery Display…

I took an image of the latest jewellery display I have in ConneXion Gallery at present. I  compared this image with the one I took last year and realized I have much less on display!  Because of my collecting tendencies I find it hard  not to overcrowd – but judging by this photograph I think I have finally  overcome the urge. I’m much happier now with this less is more image : – )

… and here is a small part of the display on the second shelf down from the top : – )

Thanks for visiting : – )

Deanna Gracie

Rock hunting at Birdlings Flat….

My friend and I went to Birdlings Flat on Friday and had a fantastic time looking for the perfect pebble on the stony beach or in some cases the perfect rock! The windswept beach is well known for the treacherous surf so rock hunting was at times laced with a bit of danger as sometimes the stone we just had to have just happened to be right beside the tide line This gorgeous stone would have to be my favourite!

A sea of stones on a windswept shore…pounding surf and fresh sea air…perfectly shaped greywake flat and round…adorned with delicate patterns of circles and lines… sunlight is glinting revealing a colour…a gorgeous green gem is real beauty discovered…

Deanna Gracie

Some of these stones I collected are purely for inspiration and some I aim to use in my jewellery designs in the future – I’ll keep you posted!

Out of interest I researched a bit of background information about Birdlings Flat. It was originally named Poranui and is a settlement in Canterbury, New Zealand, close to the shore of Lake Ellesmere. Birdling’s Flat also commonly refers to the nearby pebble beach that is part of Kaitorete Spit. The beach is well known as a place to find small Agates and a variety of other attractive rounded pebbles. Birdling’s Flat is named for the Birdling family, who were the first Pakeha to farm the area. William Birdling, the first member of the Birdling family to arrive in New Zealand built a house, Waikoko, in the area which was later to bear his name. On 16 May 1882, a branch line railway was opened to Birdling’s Flat from a junction with the Southbridge Branch in Lincoln. This line became known as the Little River Branch, with the extension to Little River opened on 11 March 1886. The railway served Birdling’s Flat until its closure on 30 June 1962. The railway’s old formation remained well preserved and has now been revitalised into a public walking and cycling track, the Little River Rail Trail.

Thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie

Featured jewellery design #43 – Butterfly Pendant…

Golden korus …butterfly wings…pounamu stone … passion and love…worn with pride… a treasured taonga…..Deanna Gracie

My artist friend requested me to make a butterfly pendant for her as a commission. She paints beautiful butterflies and loves the symbolism behind them. So we got together, discussed some ideas and then she left it up to me to make something for her and this is the finished result. “Flying Free” pendant for Donna is inspired by nature and made by hand in sterling silver, 18ct gold and is embellished with a New Zealand pounamu greenstone. Donna loves the idea of butterflies symbolising freedom of flight.

“In life it is your choice to be whoever you want to be and you can if you take a chance to fly and live your life with passion!” Deanna Gracie

There are many other symbolisms associated with butterflies. For example in China, butterflies are deemed as symbols for beauty in old age when linked with plum blossoms. The Japanese regards butterflies as symbols of one’s soul, whereas two butterflies flying together are symbolic of a happy marriage. Ancient Aztecs believed butterflies to be the souls of warriors slain in battles, and that their fluttering wings were symbolic of energy and it is also no secret that from ancient days the butterfly has symbolized immortality.

You can check out Donna’s beautiful butterfly paintings here

http://donnasteel.co.nz/category/art-for-sale-birds-butterflies/

Thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie

Bay Harbour News Article….September 2009

Samantha Carstens a reporter from Bay Harbour News came to my studio last week for an interview : – ) Samantha has written a lovely article about my work and also captured a nice image of me (I’m not photogenic) down by the estuary on a very windy day! Like most artists I’m used to making beautiful things – but I’m not so used to talking about them : – )

Thanks for visiting!

Deanna Gracie

Featured jewellery design #42

Featured jewellery design #42 is a bracelet cuff from my ‘Over Land and Sea’ series. This solid sterling cuff, inspired by nature and crafted by hand is imprinted with a beautiful feather design. The feather was collected from Southshore beach on one of my daily walks and the cuff is also embellished with a cluster of amethyst cabochons set in sterling and red gold :- )

Just like the migrating birds who inspired this piece and visit Southshore each year from the other side of the world – it will also soon be winging it’s way on a return journey across the world as a gift to my very dear friend: -)

Thanks for visiting! – Deanna Gracie