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The Blooming Star takes its name from the blossom decorating its center. A 5-petal bloom sits atop a 3-dimensional self-supporting star. A sparkly crystal center twinkles in the middle of this double sided Christmas ornament. Crystals are used to embellish the tips and spokes of the star. The petals are puffy and hollow and are self-supporting as well giving the star its 3-dimensional structure.

The Blooming Star is the perfect ornament to adorn your tree every Christmas or as bespoke family heirloom or as a very personal and precious gift for a loved one this Yuletide season.

The Blooming Star takes its name from the blossom decorating its center. A 5-petal bloom sits atop a 3-dimensional self-supporting star. A sparkly crystal center twinkles in the middle of this double sided Christmas ornament. Crystals are used to embellish the tips and spokes of the star. The petals are puffy and hollow and are self-supporting as well giving the star its 3-dimensional structure.

The Blooming Star is the perfect ornament to adorn your tree every Christmas or as bespoke family heirloom or as a very personal and precious gift for a loved one this Yuletide season.

What is a curl?

As a verb, to curl is to form or cause to form into a curved or spiral shape.

And as a noun, a curl is something in the shape of a spiral or coil, especially a lock of hair.

So what is our Curl? This Curl is a cubic right angle weave tube that has been shaped so that it coils. It coils around a Prismatic Right Angle Weave core tube and the curl section forms the focal for the bracelet. Although fixed to the core tube at both ends, the Curl is in fact a free standing and self-supporting moveable coil around the core.

Click here for the accompanying Curl Necklace.

The Curl Bracelet Tutorial Booklet

The Curl Bracelet eTutorial

What is a curl?

As a verb, to curl is to form or cause to form into a curved or spiral shape.

And as a noun, a curl is something in the shape of a spiral or coil, especially a lock of hair.

So, what is our Curl? This Curl is a cubic right angle weave tube that has been shaped so that it coils around a prismatic right angle weave (PRAW) tube. This Curl not only serves as a decorative pendant to the lariat, but it is also a clasp of sorts. Winding the curl around the PRAW tube will bring the 2 ends of the lariat together fastening them together. A small magnetic clasp is both ornamental as well as functional, to prevent the Curl from unwinding. Suspended from the internal PRAW tube is a beaded bead finial of luscious pearls.

The Curl is not just jewellery but is also a kind of fidget toy. Curl and uncurl your curl. Twirl it around. Play with it.

Click here for the accompanying Curl Bracelet.

The Curl Necklace eTutorial

Various cultures around the world have a great deal of influence on my work. La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise or The Chinese Jewel Box is one where the intersection of 2 cultures gave birth to this happy creation.

During my recent sojourn to the beautiful Loire Valley of France, I had the great fortune to stay at the beautifully restored neoclassical Château du Grand-Lucé. At the Château there is a beautiful room called the Salon Chinois or the Chinese Salon with beautiful paintings by Jean-Baptiste Pillement. Pillement was a highly regarded muralist of the 18^th century who counted among his patrons Louis XV, Mdm de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette. The murals in the  Salon Chinois is one of only 3 completely intact remaining today. Chinoiserie was absolutely de rigueur during the period and this beautiful room had it in abundance.

The beautiful Chinese pavilions depicted in the murals with their curved hip roofs (庑殿顶 or wǔdiàndǐng) and resting hill roofs (歇山顶 or xiēshāndǐng) immediately leapt out to me and La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise was born. The body of this small but intricate jewellery box is my interpretation of these Chinese style roofs with its elegant and seemingly interwoven curves. Embellished with nothing more than delicious magatamas or drop beads, the box is totally self-supporting and is woven completely in peyote. The lid is topped with a beautiful Czech gold foiled cabochon to create a precious “roof” for the jewellery box. The box sits on “legs” made of delightful Baroque cabochons. The number 8 is also extremely important to the Chinese as it is associated with wealth, prosperity and fortune. As such, La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise is woven with 8 distinct repeats and sits on 8 “legs” to ensure that the owner of the box will be imbued with the power of the number 8.

A happy confluence of Chinese inspired architecture found in a French chateau.

To purchase additional gold foiled cabochons please click here.

Czech Gold Foiled Bubble Cabochon 25mm