F is for Fantasy Necklace

Fantasy Necklaces are a type of necklace by Trollbeads (a beadmaker brand) with a super thin chain and a dangle on the end - you thread beads onto the chain which hangs vertically and it is a different way of wearing your beads, a useful addition for anyone who is Addicted to Beads - more ways to wear beads, yes please!!

I have two, a very long Pearl Fantasy Necklace and a much shorter Onyx Fantasy Necklace.

I wear my Onyx Fantasy Necklace a lot more than my Pearl version: it's shorter so it's easy to thread a few beads and off I go plus I find it's easier to match being Onyx.  

I guess convenience, as much as style, has a lot to do with my choice!

What jewellery (if any) do you wear most and why?

Dark Fae Fantasy Necklace - Trollbeads Holly Bushes

I was delighted to receive Holly Bushes as part of a fabulous Secret Santa package back in December as it was one of the beads on my wishlist from the Winter 2014 Collection.

Holly Bushes is incredibly small but jam packed with details, which is amazing given it's size.  It depicts 3 Holly leaves on each side; one side has 3 berries and the other has 5.

Originally my plan was to use this as an end bead to my Wrapping Paper Christmas Bracelet... but then I had another idea.  I love to read fantasy books and the last few series I've read have been based on human & fae stories.

The majority of the fae in one of the last books I read were depicted at best as the traditional mischief making characters through to the downright evil, with only the tiniest hint at any neutral fae towards the end... thus these books sparked an idea for a darker Fantasy Necklace (FN).

It didn't require many beads but I think it was quite effective...

Dark Fae Fantasy Necklace

Used on a FN or a bracelet, I think Holly Bushes makes a great end bead; it partially covers the ring where the dangle or lock attaches which is a trick I love to use with some of the larger cored silver beads.

I had a lot of fun designing this necklace to match my book, but it's also good to wear!

Smaller beads... what do you do with yours?

Quick Bead Play - Stones & Trolls!

I've been having a crazy busy week since I published all the lovely stories from World Trollbeads Day; it's a been a whirlwind of work, catching up with friends and we even managed to fit in some time in the Bus despite the Wind warning but that's another story... consequently there's not been much (er, actually, hardly any) time for writing or bead play... but I, er, I have managed to squeeze in some bead buying! I know, I know, my budget's ruined!

Part of my haul including picking up some lovely preloved stones and this led to a very impromptu bead play late one night, and several dark and fuzzy photos.

In the morning I thought the bracelet at least deserved to be photographed in the light!

World Trollbeadz Day Bead 2014

I love the soft greys with the orange and a splash of black onyx, the only thing I would change now I've seen the bracelet in the light is to swap out my lovely flashy labradorite for one of my more grey toned ones!

World Trollbeads Day 2014 Bead - Grey & Orange Bracelet

Trollbeads Grey & Orange Bangle

So glad I took the time to take some proper photos of these two... right, back to the grindstone!

Trollbeads Bangle - Green & Orange on Black with an Lemon Twist!

There have been some lovely new uniques from Trollbeads recently and the centre bead in this bangle was one that was part of the UK set available from Macrow Beads.

It was the only one I bought (see I do try and be good sometimes) and it's taken a while to get around to using it in a new combo as I've been so enamoured of the bangles and bracelets I already have made up!

I knew I wanted it to feature prominently in it's first combo, and I love that it has a black base so I took inspiration from this and paired it with my new (to me) Onyx Beads.  I was lucky to pick this fab pair of onyx beads preloved and the twist was that I threw in some lemon prisms for contrast.

Once this bangle came together, I suddenly realised that it might just compliment another bracelet I have made up, what do you think?

I love my new orange/green/black unique.  I'm being good and haven't picked up any of the newest batches but I love all the variety, something for everyone!

What new beads & brands do you have your eye on?

I can't believe I need to cut back just as it's all got very exciting again!

Hit the comments and share what you're currently coveting!

Back from holiday & new adventures!

Hello everyone, it feels like such a long time since I last sat down to write a post; given that my Post Card #Flashback series had to be finished before I went away, I guess it technically has been quite a while!

So how is everyone?

Unlike my previous holiday the weather this time was glorious, if you follow my Twitter or Facebook Page you would have seen the lovely blue skies and scenery I posted whilst I was away, I came back so relaxed I could barely remember my name.

I love to stop and stare at scenery and was often late meeting friends and family because I was lost in the glory of such lovely light!  As usual these were all taken on my phone, so I can only begin to imagine how they would have turned out had I taken a camera!

What did I take with me to wear in such a lovely place?  Well as regular readers will know I tend to travel quite light jewellery wise when I'm away.

Two necklaces, Trollbeads Naughty Dragon on a Trollbeads silver chain and a Green Amber pendant on a Trollbeads black leather necklace.  Neither of which had much wear after Day 2 as even with Factor 30 and shade, I was still tinged a pale pink in my neck area!

Bracelet wise I took 2 Trollbeads bangles, one red themed and one Onyx & Labradorite, my Rebeligion Skulls Bracelet and my Links of London Skulls Bracelet.

Ever one to mix and match I moved Naughty Dragon onto my bangle one night!  Excuse the different tones on the photos, although as you can see I'm sporting my new favourite polka dot dress in both pics!

I'm curious, what jewellery do you take away on holiday with you?

A few favourite pieces? Something for every outfit? Nothing at all?

Hit the comments and share all!

I'm back home now and whereas I would usually be suffering from post holiday/back to work blues... I am already planning my next adventure... I've bought a bus!

Fantasy Necklace Designs

I've written about Fantasy Necklaces before, specifically in this introductory post and again at Christmas when I designed this necklace (Pearl, 120cm) to go with my Christmas Bracelet...

Since I bought my black onyx Fantasy Necklace it's become one of my regular necklaces.  Being shorter (80cm) I'm finding it's a lot more versatile for throwing combinations together and wearing everyday.  Here's  a quick reminder of what I've been doing with it.

My last incarnation of my Onyx Necklace, before I lost myself in the Carved Ambers, saw me swapping a few beads around ready for a brief trip to the Lake District.

View from my bedroom window, wet, wild and wonderful Windermere!

I kept the Silver "In Your Heart" pendant in the design again.  This pendant has been really good value for me, it's only come off my FN recently to make way for my carved ambers!

I've used the triangles silver at the bottom with a prism bead on top, and I sat the Heart pendant on the Two Sides to Everything silver charm, popped the snake back on, but inside the Heart this time, and changed the zodiac star on top from onyx to garnet and voila!

I teamed this necklace with a red and black bangle and my Rebeligion See No, Hear No, Speak No Evil skulls bracelet.

Here is how my Onyx FN necklace looks today, unsurprisingly it's still made up with my carved ambers!

How I'm wearing my Fantasy Neckalce this week!

I used to swap and change general necklace lengths frequently, but up until recently I'd only been wearing shorter necklaces (45cm) with a pendant; my 2 Trollbeads Fantasy Necklaces have ignited that passion for wearing longer necklaces again.

Speaking of which I really must revisit my Pearl FN as that's not been worn since Christmas... but I have a new idea for that so I shall save it for another post!

How do you wear your necklaces, short, long, inbetween or not at all?

Hit the comments and tell all...

Copycat Combos: Carved Amber Fantasy Necklace & Bangle Set

When Victoria from Endangered Trolls posted her giant carved ambers on a Fantasy Necklace (FN), they were so fabulous, I knew I had to copy the idea!!

Carved amber & silver combo on an onyx Fantasy Necklace

I've never put any of my ambers onto a FN before; probably because all my other ambers come in a myriad of shapes, sizes & colours and I think it might look a little odd.  The 3 carved ambers I've used here are all tea-coloured and similar in shape so they work really well as a co-ordinated combo.

I've had this made up for a while now and originally my bangle design was just my Rose carved amber (I told you this was a copy cat combo), the only difference was I paired mine with Trollbeads "Two Sides to Everything" silvers to create a tapering effect to the stoppers.

This is actually my favourite version of my carved amber bangle; but a delivery yesterday led to my Carved Amber Indulgence Bangle.

Rose carved amber bangle

We were sat in the kitchen at the back of the house when the arrival of the postie was announced by the clang of the letterbox flap falling off, I dared to hope, but didn't actually think my new amber beads would have got here that fast - I think it is fair to say that yesterday was a good mail day!

I did tell you that I have no off switch where carved ambers are concerned didn't I?  I couldn't resist adding these two to the bangle as well!

Carved Amber "Indulgence" Bangle: Rose, Turtle & Ladybug

My turtle is lighter than my other carved ambers and is just beautiful, when I first saw the carved ambers appear a turtle was quite high up on the wishlist of beads I wanted; wish granted!

A ladybug was also on my wishlist, and this one happens to be extra special - whereas most carved critter ambers have 4 of everything, mine is quite a small bead but with 3 very plump ladybugs instead of 4 small ones!

Close up of my new beads: A 3-ladybug bead and I love the turtle crawling up over the ridge of the middle bead!

I couldn't be more pleased with my new additions, or how I'm wearing them.

Clearly huge thanks go to Victoria for showcasing the giant ambers on a FN in the first place as I wouldn't have naturally paired my ambers with my FN and it seems such an obvious match in hindsight!

Carved amber FN and Bangle Set

I love the carved ambers, I would happily eat beans on toast for a month to acquire another/others; not so sure my husband feels the same way (he likes the ambers but hates baked beans).  For me, I put these on the same level as the LE Chinese Silvers of 2009, yes I love them that much!

I don't believe I've indulged myself this substantially since I collected a full 2nd set of the Zodiac Birthstone Stars after they'd retired from the Collection.  I think it's true to say that I threw my budget out of the boiler shaped hole in my wall!

What have you indulged in?  Any tales to tell?  

Hit the comments and let me know I'm not the only one... 

or am I?

Black'n'blue Fantasy Necklace Design

I fancied returning to the dark side for my next Onyx Fantasy Necklace Design.

This necklace was still made up in my lush red and black theme until I needed to borrow the red prisms for my Valentine's Bangle for Jess *mental note to self* buy more red prisms...  That necklace has had a LOT of wear and  I wasn't tired of the design at all, but after the brightness of wearing Sunrise Blossom Bracelet, I fancied a change and after all; the beauty of modular jewellery is not only that you can design your own jewellery, but that you can chop and change designs as the impulse comes upon you.

I wanted a necklace to wear with my Sky at Night Bangle and some of my X by Trollbeads and Story Bracelets.

Trollbeads Onyx Fantasy Necklace - Beads from bottom up:
Triangles, Blue Tiger's Eye, Chinese Snake, In Your Heart, Luccicare bead, onyx zodiac star.

I love my tree & crescent moon bead from Christa at Luccicare so that went straight back in.  Also a cert for this necklace was a blue tigers eye I picked up last month; so dark it almost looks black but is that lovely inky blue and ideal to compliment the darker blues in my Sky at Night Bangle.

The retired triangles silver bead I used at the bottom of the necklace I found in a sale in November, and in all honesty I wish I'd picked up the others that were available at the same time, unbelievably I was actually sticking to a budget on that purchase but for once I regret being good!  Above the stone I put Chinese Snake, who had been living on my Garden Bracelet but I'd recently broken this one up as I hadn't worn it in a while (I tend to wear it more in Summer) so it was time to recycle the beads!

I love the zodiac stars and onyx was the natural choice to finish this off in order to keep the design dark... I struggled a bit trying to capture how lovely this is with a photo, so whilst I'm happy with my new necklace, I perhaps need to work on my photography a bit more?!

The Fantasy Dilemma

In a long and distant past I had a bit of a love affair with Maths, there was the whirlwind of romance, that amazing honeymoon period where we just flew along, the comfortable snuggling and then slowly we began to drift apart... I was young, easily tempted and so many bright and new shiny things to experience for the first time... and the slow burning realisation that perhaps that wasn't the life for me.

Now before you think I've been at the Christmas Sherry or that you've accidentally stumbled into a parallel universe where Mars talks Maths and not Beads... fear not!

Or perhaps do fear a little bit as I've not quite finished... you can of course just skip to the pretty pictures; go on I really don't mind... when I was deciding upon the blog title I thought to look up the precise definition of Dilemma and got beautifully sidetracked by Logic and Dilemmas, an autobiography of a mathematician, which randomly led me onto some fabulous blogs and a klezmer group... which I'm currently listening to as I type this blog.  I love the process of blogging!

Thanks to the usual heads up from Victoria at Endangered Trolls I partook of the Danish Christmas Gift Sets and bought an 80cm Onyx Fantasy Necklace (FN), complete with new In Your Heart pendant from the recent Christmas Collection and a red prism bead for less than the price of the necklace alone.

I was keen to make up a combination with some new beads that had just arrived and with this matching bracelet I was all ready for my night out - I literally threw this combination together but as it's turned out I've been wearing it non-stop for the last month without changing a thing. 

I've actually got more use out of this in a month than my 120cm Pearl Fantasy Necklace that I've had since the Summer, and therein lies my dilemma.

Long or Short? Pearl or Onyx?

Now I know that there are other things to consider, like it's Black Onyx and not Pearl, so it goes with a lot of my other stuff quite easily; plus there's the new little black and red tunic top I've just bought and wear a lot so it's not just long vs short... however over the last month I've been mulling this issue over quite a lot and have come to the conclusion that being shorter, that "Wash'n'Go" element about it is wonderfully appealing.

My long FN can be worn a myriad of ways, making it very versatile, although a tad more fussy to arrange and wear, but it's length makes it a show stopper when it is worn; it can be quite the statement piece.

So what exactly is the dilemma you might be wondering?  I have one of each; problem solved surely?

My dilemma is more a typical Mars one... Should I take advantage of the still available Christmas Gift Set price to get an 80cm Pearl FN for everyday wear, given I already own a 120cm one?

...to be continued