Thursday 4 July 2013

In my Garden in July

THE BROAD BEAN HARVEST HAS STARTED!


Yes its time to Harvest broad beans again.

They are best picked young when the beans are tender and tasty.



A HOW TO  tip to 'get into' them!


I used to be one of these...twirl and peel...very tedious if you have a pile to do!


 UNTIL I discovered this method.
Just needs a sharp vegetable peeler.




 At their best peeled and cooked immediately.
There are some wonderful Moroccan recipes for using broad beans.
for you to try.

http://0.tqn.com/d/moroccanfood/1/0/d/1/-/-/fava-beans-in-tomato-sauce.JPG
In spicy tomato sauce

Monday 1 July 2013

With Weddings in mind!

Jewellery for that special day available from my Etsy Shop

ICE MAIDEN NECKLACE       € 45.00     Free postage


Silver, white, and crystal glass beads and white cotton cord.

Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, white cotton cord, Necklace for weddings
Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, white cotton cord, Necklace for weddings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, white cotton cord, Necklace for weddings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, white cotton cord, Necklace for weddings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, white cotton cord, Necklace for weddings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, white cotton cord, Necklace for weddings

The centre of this necklace is made from groups of silver and white glass pearls, silver textured beads and crystal faceted glass threaded onto silver plated wire. These groups are twisted around six strands of knotted white cotton cord. The white cord is threaded with silver seeds, knotted at intervals to complete the necklace.
I closed the piece with a silver plated clasp.

The necklace measures 46 cms. (18 inches) end to end. 


ICE MAIDEN EARRINGS   €  25.00


Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, pendant earrings
Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, pendant earrings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, pendant earrings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, pendant earrings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, pendant earrings Silver, white, and crystal glass beads, pendant earrings

The earrings are made from white glass pearls, silver textured beads and crystal faceted glass beads threaded onto nylon thread to form a geometric shape; they hang from silver plated ear wires.



SILVER SPRAY NECKLACE   € 45.00    Free Postage


White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace

White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace Silver Spray
White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace Silver Spray

Pewter crystal facetted beads, crystal and opal fire polished glass beads, threaded on supple silver Beadalon wire, hang in a collar shape from white satin cord.

I love these bold pewter crystal glass beads and used them as the main feature. I added milky white and opal glass beads and silvery balls. I threaded them all onto satin silver Beadalon wire so that they took on a subtle shape and sparkled as they moved. I threaded the seven dangles onto white satin cord and closed the necklace with a pretty silver plated rose clasp enhanced with a central rhinestone.

Wear this necklace with the matching earrings, soon to be in my shop, to sparkle on your wedding day or to shine at that important event.
 

The necklace measures
From end to end... 43 cms. (17 inches) ,
The centre dangles 10.5cms. (4.25 inches) in depth.


SILVER SPRAY EARRINGS   € 20.00 



White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings

White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings Silver Spray
White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings Silver Spray White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings Silver Spray

Gorgeous sparkly drop earrings made from white and pewter facetted crystal glass beads.
I love these bold pewter crystal glass beads and used them as the main feature. I added a milky white, a crystal and a silvery glass bead and threaded them all onto silver plated wire; I completed the earring with a silver plated ear wire.

Length: from hook 4 cms. (1.5 inches)





SNOW FLOWER NECKLACE  € 45.00   Free Postage


Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain

Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain
Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain

Dainty white Lucite flowers, silver balls, silver Beadalon wire and fine silver plated chain.

I threaded these pretty, lightweight Lucite flowers onto silver Beadalon wire in pairs with two sizes of silver beads between the two flowers. The flowers were crystal and opaque white alternately. In the centre of each flower I placed a Swarovski crystal and silver glass zircon bead, which added a beautiful sparkle to the necklace. Five pairs of flowers make the centre of the necklace with single flowers at each end; I then joined it onto a fine silver plated chain and closed the necklace with a pretty banjo clasp.

The necklace measures.....
From end to end... 48 cms. (19 inches),

SNOW FLOWER EARRINGS   € 25.00


Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver.

Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver.
Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver. Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver. Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver. Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver. Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver.

Clusters of dainty white and crystal Lucite flowers with Swarovski crystal zircon glass bead centres.

I made these earrings to resemble a wedding bouquet. I threaded each of the six tiny Lucite flowers in crystal and opaque white onto silver plated bobble pin and finished the wires with a scroll. In the center of each flower I placed a Swarovski crystal zircon glass bead, which give the earrings a wonderful sparkle and on top of each flower a tiny silver ball. I then put the six flowers onto a silver plated rings, then all five rings onto one centre one, this I attached to an ear wire that is also silver plated.

Length: from hook 2 cms. (1 inches)

WINTER WEDDING NECKLACE   € 45.00   Free postage


Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps.

Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding necklace
Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding necklace Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding necklace Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding necklace Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding necklace Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding necklace

Creamy ivory glass pearls with delicate silver filigree bead caps hugging each bead. In between each one is a smaller pearl bordered each side with a silver roundel. The necklace is finished with a fine silver chain and a box fastening.

The necklace measures
From end to end... 47cms. 


WINTER WEDDING EARRINGS   € 20.00
 

Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings

Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings
Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings

Creamy ivory glass pearls in four sizes with delicate silver filigree bead caps.The earring is completed with a silver plated ear wire.

The earrings measure from hook 3 cms.


 TZARINA NECKLACE  € 65.00    Free Postage

Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace

Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace
Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace

The idea for this necklace was inspired by Russian jewellery designs. I covered silver plated wire triangles with tissue paper sealed and coated with white pearlized paint and then wrapped each one with iridescent green glass seeds threaded onto silver plated wire. More wire was used to make loops at the corners from which I suspended fire polished glass beads in shades of green. The six triangles were then joined together and further embellished with seeds and fire polished glass beads. The necklace was finished with olive organza ribbon and a pretty silver plated clasp.

The necklace measures 52.5 cms. (21 inches) end to end, the centre triangles 6 cms. (2.5 inches)

TZARINA EARRINGS  € 25.00

Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings

Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings
Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings

The earrings are kite shaped and hang from silver plated hooks.
The idea for these earrings was inspired by Russian jewellery designs. I covered silver plated wire triangles with tissue paper sealed and coated with white pearlized paint and then wrapped each one with iridescent green glass seeds threaded onto silver plated wire. More wire was used to make loops at the corners from which I suspended fire polished glass beads in shades of green.
The earrings measure 6 cms. (2.5 inches), from the hook.