It happens every November.
I’m not sure if it’s the changing light, of the approach of Christmas, but at the same time each year, I pull out my boxes of vintage Swarovski crystals and silver findings, and I start wrapping loops.
I find the process very meditative and the sense of satisfaction which comes from creating a new piece is incredible. This year I set myself a challenge – to see what I could make using only my existing (admittedly substantial) stash.
These 12mm Swarovski Tabac (tobacco) rounds are quite rare. I adore their smokiness, but the colour wasn’t popular and was quickly discontinued in the larger sizes. I’ve wired them very simply onto sterling silver…
This year’s earrings have a slightly hippy feel to them…
As I’m wearing quite a few of my friend Valentina’s vintage china pendants this spring, I’ve made a pair of white bell earrings to match. They’re Swarovski crystals (from the 1960s) in a rare opaque finish…
I think they work well together…
As do these ruby drops on large sterling hoops…
My lovely neighbour Michelle popped over this morning to pick up this set. The vintage Swarovski Montana crystals are a deep grey blue, and they match her eyes…
After a week of spreading out over the dining room table, completely absorbed in the design and making process, Pete finally said, “it’s time to put the pliers away, babe”. Bless him, he’d quietly cooked dinner for three nights in a row. So I’ve tidied all my boxes of treasure away into the study…for now…
Do you have a hobby which completely absorbs you?
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Beautiful!
My jewellery making urges come around every La Nina, I think. :)
The depth and breadth of your talents never cease to impress me.
Hmm, for me it would have to be blogging… sometimes dinner is late or slightly awry because there’s something important, interesting happening in the blog world. And reading, but it’s possible to cook dinner and read a book at the same time :)
They are beautiful Celia. What a talented person you are:)
I’d quietly starve in my sewing room, totally wrapped up in whatever stitchery was currently absorbing me, if the Husband didn’t appear and lurk plaintively in the doorway and mention quietly that actually, he was rather hungry… Your jewellery is classically elegant, simple and stunning. All this and sourdough too…
your jewellery is gorgeous Celia and of course I love the silver
You are a very clever lady, Celia. These are all lovely.
Evrything is stunning – and moreso because it’s made with love! I’ve just finished a massive patchwork quilt so Big Man heaved a sigh of relief that I’m not buried under it most evenings :) Little does he know that knitting season is about to commence!
Just lovely! I can’t believe the smokey colour was unpopular. It’s gorgeous.
Your earrings complement the pendants perfectly x
wish I was crafty! I would love to be able to make lovely things from crystal beads but am all thumbs :(
I love the Ruby… They remind me of Pomegranate seeds..
My hobby is baking desserts & gifting them. Just the smile on the recipient’s face is enough to give me joy for the rest of the day.
Beautiful, Celia…you really are multi- talented! I can imagine becoming absorbed in a hobby like this….lucky that Pete was on dinner duty! I don’t have pierced ears, but these beauties are enough to make me wish I had! They look lovely with your vintage China pendants from Valentina Jones :-) x
How did you build your collection of crystals Celia? I love the Tabac crystals, but I especially love the bottle they are displayed upon.
Right now I am sewing. I have a room full of fabric collected for years and I am sick of looking at it. I am going to have a Pop Up shop with a friend and I am madly making up my fabric. If it is successful I will do it a few times a year. It will take some time to work through my stuff.
As everyone else has said. They all look fab, Celia.
Wow ! Love your taste in Jewellry. I’d love to try making some one day. I go AWOL quite often with my art, Sketching and painting is a journey for me …….. And I love to travel. Love the Blog, Celia. 🤓
Lovely…you certainly have inherited the creative gene as can be seen from all your posts and all the things you do. There are so many things that just absorb me if I have the opportunity to just let it happen…blogging is one of them. And I love it.
They are just beautiful, talented lady. I have never been much of a jewellery wearer, but I’m consciously trying to change that now. I’d buy these if I saw them in a shop :)
Wow, Celia.All your creations look so beautiful. Those dusky smoke coloured ones are a rare find. Good to have a stash of treasure.
You said it first but when I looked at what you had in your stash (it does look substantial) I was envious. You’ve really got some lovely creations there Celia and I’m not sure I could chose which is my favorite because each is so unique.
I’ve just started collecting a new stash of crystals for jewelry making. I say new because I already have quite a stash of Swarovski crystals from when I used to bead and jewel up my daughter’s skating competition dresses. I need to start making some things for myself now that she’s done competing because I can’t let all those crystals and beads go to waste. At least crystals are popular on clothes.
Your jewelry is quite lovely. I used to have a treasured hobby but cannot do it anymore.
Gorgeous work! I dabble in jewelry too, and just love the Montana crystals as well as your earring designs.
Celia, you are so clever, truly, these are just gorgeous! xxx
Beautiful jewelry! I feel the same way about photography as you do about making jewelry. I’m just a beginner, but when I’m outside taking pictures, I am totally absorbed. It feels similar to a meditative state. Love it!
I love your jewelery I make necklaces but out of ribbon ,cord anything I can twist, knot, plait, intertwine beads into…have lots of beads and would love to know how to do what you do…do you fancy doing a blog post? :)
I wrote one last year on earrings: https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2014/12/17/swarovski-christmas-earrings/
Be warned, it can get very addictive! :)
Thank you, I will wiz over I have a lot of the bits just not the knowledge to do and if I’m not around for a while at least you know what I am up to :)
Just beautiful, Celia; you’re very talented. I can imagine making these would be very therapeutic and rewarding. I used to do a lot of knitting and I found it such a relaxing and rewarding thing to do xx
Shared this with my friend who loves making earrings xxx
Gorgeous jewellery Celia. I can see how it could become addictive! How lucky your friends are to be given any of this.
I still get completely engrossed in sewing despite it now being my profession. Tea sometimes has to be a rapidly made concoction that hopefully looks like I spent ages cooking!
How beautiful, Celia. I had no idea you also made such lovely jewelry. I can understand it being meditative. I knit and do some hand quilting, and after a project gets well underway I can completely lose myself in the rhythms of the stitching. I really think your works of art are lovely!
I wonder why the Tabac was discontinued? They are beautiful. Reminds me of when I was buying a turquoise wooden unit here and I asked why it was on sale and the assistant said no one likes the colour it’s horrible!!! So lucky for me I got it cheap and I still love it.