Iceni

While catching you up a little on what I've done so far, I've been working on my first ever bead embroidered collar, and boy was there some work in it! It's finished now, but it won't be going up on Etsy or Folksy just yet, as I have been invited to share a little shelf space in a brand new shop here in Norwich.

Anya Designs is run by Hannah Oxberry, who some will know from the Jewellery Makers channel on satellite TV, as she has made a few guest appearaces there as a designer, and has been featured in the morning programmes this weekend. Hannah is a jewellery designer and tutor, as well as a qualified silversmith, and while she has been teaching many aspects of jewellery-making has now gone full time in her new venture. Having met Hannah at a local meet a few weeks back, I took some of my bead embroidery pieces to show, and this resulted in Hannah offering me some shelf space in her new shop, with mine being the ONLY bead embroidery in there.

I had been planning this necklace for a long time, and had just plucked up the courage to actually start making it. I've had the central Unakite cabochon for more than a year, and have built my design around it. Finally I bit the bullet, after spending months collecting the right beads to fit in with the design, and made it. Now, because of Hannah's offer, I've decided to make it exclusive to her for as long as I have the space, or until it sells.

To see Anya Design's website, click here, and be sure to look in the news section..


Meanwhile, here is the necklace. Centred by a large unakite cab, it has Swarovsky rivolis, leaves  and freshwater pearls, bead woven Russian leaves and fringes with glass daggers and unakite beads. The side arms are joined to the front with more unakite beads, and feature three more unakite cabochons and freshwater pearls. The back is a double closure, with two large bronze tone leaf toggles, with a swarovsky rivoli in the centre.

I wanted to achieve an ancient British feel with this necklace, and I think I may have done it. I've called it 'Iceni'.