Celtic-style Curve earrings

Earlier in the year I was playing with curves in silver wire, mixed with some solder, and I ended up with these earrings. They were created as a gift, and I've now made three pairs as presents. I also have another pair in my shop.

I find them satisfying to make, especially the challenge of matching the curves as I'm forming them, and the finished loops as well as possible into pairs. The wire is pretty fine but a good amount of hardening the silver through planishing and polishing imparts a lot of strength; that and a fair bit of solder holding the curves together - each earring is soldered in six separate places.

The tiny pearls, used with even tinier silver beads, added a little weight and swing. Pearls can sometimes seem a little old-fashioned (or perhaps that's just me) but these ones are so sweet, and gently irregular in their shape which I love. I've used the same pearls before, when I made this necklace, and I'm pleased that I still have quite a few remaining.

Half a moon and a whole Pearl

The moon often seems a little bigger in the winter months... when it's not obscured by clouds or fog, that is. I suspect this has much to do with leafless trees and the coldness that descends on clear, dark nights. It's inspired me. The big moon, either full or waxing or waning, and my sooper dooper ever-increasing mandrel selection, got me thinking and experimenting, and this is one of the items that I came up with...

The pearl is such a lunar colour, and it also reminds me of those evenings when the moon has just risen and so has Venus, small but bright on the horizon. It can look a little like the moon also has its own satellite and so is a little less lonely in the massive evening sky...

This necklace is now, with a little regret, in my Folksy shop.

Sea shells, sea shells, and silver and pearls . . .

Here's a selection of pendants/necklaces I've made up, based around sea shells (all found by me on beaches on the south coast and in the fantastic Channel Islands), with a bit of silver and some gemstones and pearls. I'd love to know what you think and which one is your favourite!

Just a simple pearl added to this one . . .

Labradorite and citrine . . .

A heart made from rose quartz . . .

More pearls . . .

Citrine and rock crystal gems . . .

Rock crystal chip and an amethyst button . . .

Labradorite, pearls and honey jade . . .

Purple fluorite . . .