Parisian prettiness

I enjoy making jewellery for myself, but it's even nicer to make it for other people. Here are two little bracelets that I made for my French friend using rocaille beads and charms.

As I know she loves mushrooms, I wrapped it up accordingly :)

1980s nostalgia

Last year, I ordered some nice flowers for my Mum for Mother's Day, but I wanted to make something this year in keeping with my handmade drive. It has to be postable, so that limits my options. I was going to do a painting, as the one I did for my Dad went down really well, but in the end I plumped for a bracelet. I'm pleased with the final result.

Family memories - 1980.

I'm especially pleased that I finally got to use these "magnifying cabochons". I bought them back in 2007 and had all sorts of ideas of what I could do with them, but it never quite worked. I picked them up from my favourite French haberdasher's/bead shop, La Droguerie (if you are ever in a French city that has one - go there!) and they refer to them as loups. I decided to scan and print some photos of me and my Dad from 1980 and put them in the cabochons. I then added some charms and used some pearls recycled from a broken necklace. I think my Mum will like it.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there!