Summer & Winter Roses

Large rose cameos on ornate resin frames. These are rings (with wide-band silver-plated ring settings) from my private collection. I love wearing a statement ring (better known as "cocktail ring") as a focal point instead of a necklace. The same rose cameos and ornate frames are available as brooches in my Avalon range, but I'm happy to customise a ring upon request.

Two cheeky squirrels, Pipkin & Squeek, sharing an acorn lunch ...

Laser-cut acrylic pieces -- two red squirrels and a black doily cameo frame. Brooch or ring (with wide-band silver-plated ring setting).

Un mélange de fraises (A mélange of strawberries).

I love fresh strawberries. To me, they're the quintessential essence of a perfect summer's day. During my student years on continental Europe, having a small budget was no obstacle whatsoever. At the height of the strawberry season, I spent many a blissful Saturday morning at my local market, browsing  the tables laden with mountains of ruby-red deliciousness. After buying my weekly ration of two punnets, I would trot over to the ALDI supermarket because their vanilla ice-cream was (and still is) the cheapest. Back at my studio, I washed and sorted the fruit. The softest berries were sliced and diced for a strawberry vanilla ripple. The firmest ones I rolled in white sugar and chilled in the freezer. My tiny abode had an even smaller balcony, nestled in a sheltered alcove overlooking the enclosed courtyard of a centuries-old church. As soon as the sugar had crystallised into a crunchy layer on the strawberries, I would bring out the whole bowl to the balcony and settled down to watch the lengthening shadows of the setting sun over the church roof.

STRAWBERRY VANILLA RIPPLE:

Best made with soft fruit. Cut up the berries into small bits or thin slices, put in a glass bowl with a spoonful (or more!) of strawberry jam. (Given the acidic nature of strawberry juice, I avoid using plastic and metal containers.) Then add vanilla ice-cream and mix well.

CRYSTALLISED STRAWBERRIES:

I always use fruit which is firm to touch. Roll each berry in icing sugar or castor sugar. But if you're on a tight budget, normal white sugar works just as well. Chill well before consumption, preferably in the freezer compartment.

FRAISES AU VIN BLANC (Strawberries in White Wine):

Approximately 10 berries per 500 ml of wine. Tip the wine into a caraf or jug. Cut the fruit into quarters and add to the wine. Chill for several hours. This recipe works best with firm fruit. I learnt from my 1st attempt that the softest berries have the highest alcohol absorption rate ... 

Strawberry cameo brooches, strawberry short-cake clips (lined with quality grossgrain ribbon) and bobby pins.

Flamingo Retro

Think of those colourful "Hawaii shirts" which your dad or grandpa might've worn in the 1940s ...

Gorgeous pink flamingos daintily picking their way across wetlands, on a blue or hot pink ornate settings. Brooch, hat ornament or ring (on a wide-band silver plated ring setting).

His Lordship Cream & Chocolate Fudge Bunnykins

Brooch or large ring (with wide-band gold or silver-plated ring base). Rabbit cabochon on ornate black resin setting.

Swarovski crystals & pearls, Czech glass beads, pewter Celtic knots. Check them out at the WearableArt Celtique display during the Plenty Valley International Montessori School art exhibition & auction, 13-17 August 2013, St. Helena, Melbourne.

Swarovski crystal white pearls and pewter knots, part of the WearableArt Celtique display at the Plenty Valley International Montessori School art exhibition & auction, 13-17 August 2013, St. Helena, Melbourne.

Gethsémani au Clair de Lune (Gethsemane by Moonlight) & The Montessori. These are the centre-pieces for my display at the Plenty Valley International Montessory School's art exhibition & auction, 13-17 August 2013, St. Helena, Melbourne.

Gethsémani au Clair de Lune

Mixed media: Czech glass beads, hematite beads, sweetwater pearls, faux pearls, Swarovski peacock blue & white crystal pearls, petite pewter rosebuds & Celtic knots, seed beads, fligree diamante & rhinestone crucifix.

The Montessori
Mixed media: diamante & rhinestone crucifix, faux pearls, resin & plastic beads, miracle beads, hand-rolled & hand-dyed silk fabric string.

La Croix au Clair de Lune (The Cross by Moonlight)

I've just finished the newest addition to my "black-tie event" jewellery collection. Necklace with Swarovski jet-black diamond crucifix, rhodium flower clasp with Swarovski diamonds and black pearl, Swarovski crystal white pearls. Ear-rings with sterling silver hooks and Swarovski filigree jet-black diamond flowers, ditto matching ring.