Tutorials

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.

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.

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.

Glittering and sparkling, a circle of 8 hearts radiate from the center of the pendant giving this piece its name.

The lacy ring of hearts lie on top of an equally sparkling crystal. Embracing this ring of hearts is a beautifully woven cubic right angle weave bezel. To ensure there is an even more sparkle the side of the bezel revels a rings of twinkling Czech firepolisedh beads.

The rope is cubic right angle weave with double cubic right angle weave accents woven with delicious tiny firepolished beads.

Definitely a statement piece for the bling aficionado.

Additional glass rhinestones are available here

La Dolce Vita or the good life, is a celebration of how wonderful beads are during these unprecedented times of global pandemic. The ability to indulge in my passion for beading is so comforting to me, as it must be for a lot of you.

La Dolce Vita uses Cubic Right Angle weave to form graceful arcs which embrace a beautiful Swarovski pearl. These arcs form a gentle curve to sit at the base of your neck. And suspended in the center is a magnificent crystal that glitters and shines brightly.

Sweet charming and just enchanting.

Incanto is a stylized flower woven completely out of Cubic Right Angle weave.

Individual petals are woven then assembled together and embellished with a sparkly crystal to form an enchanting flower. More petals embellished with crystal chatons form part of the centrepiece of the necklace. A unique double toggle is the closure for the necklace allowing the closure to be made from either the right or the left.

Built the heart of the Palais de la Cité. in the middle of the 13th century by Louis 9th, the Sainte Chapelle was built as a royal residence. A sumptuous intimate chapel within the residence was intended to house precious Christian relics, including Christ's crown of thorns, acquired by Saint Louis.

Stunning stained glass windows adorn the beautiful chapel. Arranged across 15 windows, each 15 metres high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments recounting the history of the world until the arrival of the relics in Paris. 

Today, the architecture and famous glass windows of the Sainte Chapelle represent a major example of the Radiant Gothic period. 

La Manchette Sainte Chapelle is created to honour these beautiful stained glass windows. Cubic right angle weave units form the frame of these “windows” with pointed peaks at each end of the frame to reflect the time honoured shape of these windows. Beautiful back lit cabochons that mimic the light through stained glass are encircled with exquisite twinkling firepolished beads, fill the space within the frames just like the beautiful windows of Sainte Chapelle. 

Built in the heart of the Palais de la Cité. in the middle of the 13th century by Louis 9th, the Sainte Chapelle was built as a royal residence. A sumptuous intimate chapel within the residence was intended to house precious Christian relics, including Christ's crown of thorns, acquired by Saint Louis.

Stunning stained glass windows adorn the beautiful chapel. Arranged across 15 windows, each 15 metres high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments recounting the history of the world until the arrival of the relics in Paris. 

Today, the architecture and famous glass windows of the Sainte Chapelle represent a major example of the Radiant Gothic period. 

Le Collier de Sainte Chapelle is created to honour these beautiful stained glass windows. Cubic right angle weave units form the frame of these “windows” with pointed peaks to reflect the time honoured shape of these windows. Beautiful back lit cabochons that mimic the light through stained glass are encircled with exquisite twinkling firepolished beads, fill the space within the frames just like the beautiful windows of Sainte Chapelle.