TAKING ORDERS

A colleague asked me to make a selection of necklaces and earrings for her young children to give to their teachers as Christmas presents. I had no idea kids did that sort of thing. I certainly didn't when I was at school. When did this custom start ??

A polymer clay pendant with various glass beads including some of my favourites - "crackle beads".

Detail of the pretty polymer clay pendant.

Black and brown beads for a teacher with short dark hair who likes dangly earrings.

I was given a brief description of each person who was to receive a gift and the rest was up to me. It was fun if a bit worrying designing something for someone I hadn't met.

Detail of the dangly earrings.

Dyed shell and more crackle beads.

Glass beads with Swarovski bicones and freshwater pearls. This was the most expensive set to make.

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A selection of earrings, ready to be finished off with earhooks.

The word from the staffroom is - everyone was pleased with their gifts. That's a relief.

AUNT SALLY'S NECKLACE

A second colleague asked me if I could make a necklace and earrings as a Christmas present for her Aunt Sally. She liked some of the beads in one of my Christmas party earrings and the style of the "double trouble" and "lime cordial" necklaces.
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This is how it turned out. I hope Aunt Sally likes it.

A BIRTHDAY NECKLACE

A colleague asked me to make a necklace for her friend's 60th birthday. Interpreting her ideas was a bit tricky - the general design was to be for something bright and a bit wild and unusual.

I found it completely nerve-wracking to come up with something. I don't normally do wild and unusual. I used a polymer clay pendant that I got from an Ebay seller that I use fairly often, and just put in a complete jumble of beads.

Detail of the polymer clay pendant.

The requirement was also to personalise it with her name and "60" on the clasp. I couldn't find "60" as a charm anywhere so I decided to use letter beads and spell it out. The words are attached to the clasp by beading wire so she can snip them off if she gets tired of advertising her age !!

I hope she likes it.