cornucopia

There are some things I just don't want to part with. I've spent years collecting the bits needed to make it, and ages working on the finished piece, and its all turned out beautifully. I know I'll never make anything quite like it again, as I have used unique antique and vintage parts to create it. Its sad to let go but brilliant that someone else is now enjoying it-like Pinochhios wooden boy it only gets to livw if you let it go. 

I feel this way about' Cornucopia', a pendant necklace made from the skeleton of a 1950's brooch:  all  in gold coloured metal, with an array of bright colours bursting out of every available nook and cranny of the leaf like frame.  The oldest material I've used is Victorian branch coral-lobster hot in colour and from Italy. There are vintage glass beads, semi precious stones, flowers and a general riot of the kind of colour that just can't help but brighten things up. I've used a mix of bold primaries and slightly more muted tones to keep it tasteful and complex, and to ensure it goes with absolutely everything. 

Want it? Go to the etsy shop Moth and Magpie by clicking on the etsy badge to the right. Or we could talk about tailoring something especially to your taste and colour preference, maybe even using your own old jewellery. Then, as well as it being something precious in itself, it will be extra-special to you right from the start, plus you get a bespoke jewel that you have helped to dream to life. 

Email ruth@mothandmagpie.com or call 07882509493 to discuss making something from scratch.

The day I crossed over to the dark side...

How much do you hate being stopped in the street by a person with a clipboard?

I take the most umbrage to the people who try to get me to give to charity by standing order. I'll do my giving based on measured, responsible research to the [usually low profile] charities that I feel a particular affinity to, not because someone flirted me out of frugality, I tell myself. It is begging for good looking people. What do you mean, spontaneous generosity?! Has Ebenezer Scrooge hacked my computer from beyond the grave? No, I really AM this mean! And, dear reader, what is worse is that I have crossed over to the dark side. No, not death. I mean customer research. There were sweets, there were smiles, there were prizes and yes, there was even a clipboard too.

I'm talking about the York Does Vintage fair, where I rolled up, suitcases in hand, to ask the good [and more generous] vintage shoppers what they thought of my upcycled vintage jewellery. It is in the ancient and historic Merchant Adventurer's Hall, right in the heart of York. Even its name thrills me.

But why? Why oh why did I sink this low? Its like this. Its all very well diving into a swimming pool but its riskier if you don't know how deep it is. Same goes for business and finding a market for my goods. Gotta ask the public if they'd actually buy my stuff. Simples.

With the promise of the chance to win gift vouchers for my jewellery, I asked 'how much would YOU expect to pay for this necklace?' and got people to write the cost on price labels to pin on the dummy next to the necklace [which I will tell you all about one day soon]. Pin the tail on the donkey, with a twist!

My lasting impression was that people are very eager to help, very enthusiastic about upcycled pretty jewellery, keen to come to my classes to learn how to do it for themselves, and wonderfully supportive. 

Has it changed my view on street canvassers? Perhaps I'll be a little more empathetic, but on the other hand, I now know how to use/wield a clipboard ...

But what do you do all day?

It is a question I get asked rather a lot.

If I said that I swan about draping myself in silk, eating grapes and spending many hours in Paperchase, it'd only be half true.

 Much of the time I'm doing internet type things, plus making lists, painting, strategising, sourcing materials, doing hard things with numbers. Generally working towards launching my business [and my Etsy shop]in the late spring. But occassionally I get to create. And at the moment I'm in a glorious flurry of vintage jewellery assemblage. Well, a girl needs something to sell if she wants a real shop... 

These photos are taken looking up through the current chaos on my perspex desk- a 'knee's eye view' of my creative process, if you will.  Pliers in hand, I set about transforming broken heirlooms into, well, future heirlooms. It is actually 80% designing [fiddling with pretty stuff], 20% assembling. I've got 30 million projects on the go-they look like piles of beads and chains to anyone else-to me they are potential one-of-a-kind creations. Now and then I actually latch on to one and see it through to completion. And then my unique upcycled vintage triumph ends up in my Etsy shop. If I can bear to let it go, that is. And in goes another grape.

Sweet Spring

It was the Jewish spring festival of Purim on Sunday. Which I'm taking to mean that spring is officially here. That and crazy York birds (of the feathered variety) singing at stupid o' clock in the morning!

So, visions of pastel coloured macaroons, Japanese sakura blossom, evening sunshine, and the only time of year I will flirt with the idea of wearing mint green.

I've been tinkering around with some beautiful vintage lilac purple beads that I've just bought from Canada. They glow vaseline blue/purple when the light hits them, casting a sunset yellow pool of light, otherwise they are a cloudy moonstone blue. Love the way they change in the light.  They are actually from an old pearl necklace. Back then, to create an inner glow, they used coloured glass and even low grade real opal beads, which were then painted to resemble pearls. So next time you are about to ditch your great aunt's flakey pearl necklace, do see what lies beneath!! You'll easily be able to chip the paint off with your nail. 

My inspirations for this ring? Spring flowers, Gaudi, Monet's waterlilies series, Art Nouveau excess. It'd make a lush statement at a wedding or party, and if you are a red head or have a cool skintone, these colours are made for you. 

These earrings were made to match the ring, but are daintier, softer. The vintage purple curved shells somehow remind me of those oriental hats or parasols;  Geisha's crossing bridges in an idyllic scented garden. 

I'm not sure if I'll do more in this series. Who knows when inspiration will strike! I've popped them in my online shop, Moth and Magpie, so now I get to see if anyone else is searching for spring....

A few of my favourite things-slate to pearl

...raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens...

 Well, I think whiskers on bears are more fun and gloves are less scratchy than both woollen mittens and kittens. Indulge me whilst I show you a few of MY favourite things instead!

1.

2.

3.

4.

1. silver plate of shell petals on an antique marble dish, antique Welsh slate milk bucket cover. I love the heavy hard sound of the shells and how cold they are when I bury my fingers in them

2. iridescent vintage trochus shells and thrifted soft satin thread ready for crafting-too good to disturb

3.upcycled battered and tarnished silver bangle-Victorian paste button, big shiny real pearl pendant, taupe feather plucked from a duster

4. birth of venus re-imagined; silk throw by John Rocha, mother of pearl shell for caviar, brooch made from freshwater pearls, Georgian cameo, shoe leather and glue soaked looroll. An in-convenience truth!

Salvaged Fabric Bangle-Wear your art on your sleeve

You've got a dress full of memories; its never let you down and the fabric is to die for. But now its got a wine stain that won't come out. Or it doesn't fit.Or you realise its now too dated and no longer compliments you. Read on for a bit of thrifty fresh-cycling inspiration...

With the gorgeous fabric saved from my mum's favourite coat, [see my last post], l also made a Scottish themed bangle.It feels quite Vivienne Westwood. To my surprise, it goes with everything.[Which is more than could be said of the coat, tee hee!] 

 You can try making one for yourself- just sew material around your old bangle, with the join on the inside, or outside if you think your old jewels will conceal the stitching. If you like things neat, glue or stitch grosgrain ribbon on the inside to cover the sewing. If you have no time, glue on the fabric rather than stitching. Then choose jewels that won't snag, and stitch them on [before you cut to size, if I were you. The circumference is likely to be longer than you'd think!].

This would be a great way of using up bridesmaid's dresses you'll never wear again or stained evening frocks. They'd look stunning if you sewed on your odd earring collection or tarnished diamante necklaces. 

Looks as good on display as it does on the wrist. The trick is to choose toning colours, and a thread that blends into the material.

Wear your art on your sleeve with pride. There are so many possibilities with fabric bangles, making them could easily become a hobby! For further inspiration, you could check out the other bangles I've made in my Etsy shop, just click the Etsy badge on the right. 

Tattered tartan: A necklace upcycled from coat lining

New Year's resolutions? I think its healthier to aim to dream big instead of do big. Less punishing, more potential. One of my dreams is to work out how to do what I love for a living: taking things that are precious[because of memories, age, association, rarity] but broken and making them into items and jewels that are functional and wearable. The hip word for it is upcycling, but that sounds too much like exercise! I already do this with my own bits and bobs, and sell the results in my Etsy shop, but I'd like the challenge of custom designing for others too.  I'd run classes and do a craft session at parties to inspire women to transform their own worn-out treasures, as well as rejuvenating damaged or unwanted stuff on behalf of customers. 

My darling, oh-so-supportive mother spearheads the revolution.....



For years, my mum had a Jaeger coat she loved...sadly it swamped her tiny frame. It was just her colour, being a dark khaki, and her very favourite thing about it was the gorgeous smokey blue/ grey tartan lining. She asked me to make something just for her from this most beautiful of materials, and l spent hours obsessing over the lay-out of the buttons, card and bottletops that l covered with the fabric. I then backed these 'flat beads' with leather reused from jumble sale shoes I cut up.



These fabric covered, jewel encrusted disks l sewed to a rope section from a jumblesale hippy necklace;  its faded green colour perfectly blended with all those seafoam, moss and washed teal tones. All the colours of the Emerald Isle, a fitting compliment to mama's Irish roots and complexion.



Arranging precious antique turquoise cabouchons alongside vintage glass beads felt a touch irreverent. Mixing it up made it zing!



Displayed on an antique screen, the orchids painted by a female ancestor. I think she'd be pleased to know the family crafting tradition continues...

The vintage round iridescent lime green cabouchon in the middle of this shot is known as Dragon's Breath. Its a highly sought after type of glass that really does look like its come straight from The Hobbit.

Moss, agate, viridian, emerald, peridot, turquoise, avocado, teal, mint, forest, sap, chartreuse, duck egg, pistachio, sea foam...there must be getting on for 42 shades of green here. 

Green with envy? We could talk about tailoring something especially for you. I've got some of this fabric left. And you get to help me make my dreams come true! Contact me through Etsy or email ruthclaydonart@yahoo.co.uk