Let's talk about...Jewellery

We are at the end of the Christmas Wonderland journey!
Today's post will focus on the final step of Clara's visit in magical Land of the Sweets from Nutcracker -meeting Sugar Plum Fairy. In the story, she governs over the Land of Sweets in absence of the Nutcracker Prince with her Cavalier.
This ultimate symbol of a ballerina, dressed in lovely tutu sweeps through the stage accompanied to some of the most beautiful music created by Tchaikovsky - romantic yet full of melancholy Pas de Deux and ethereal Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

It's interesting to note that in the original book the story is based on, there is no Sugar Plum Fairy. Nutcracker Prince has sisters that Clara meets. There is also a story within a story, explaining how he became a Nutcracker in the first place - he was saving Princess Pirlipat cursed with ugly form, but after an accident became cursed himself. Pirlipat rejected him, after which he was stuck in the form of Nutcracker.
None of it seems a good explanation for Sugar Plum - who personalises everything good and sweet. It is my personal opinion that she is meant to be a representation of Clara from the future.
Well, enough of that - let's get to designing!

I wanted to design something extra special for Sugar Plum, so I've designed a set of pendant and earrings.

 Did all of you have a lovely time at Christmas? I hope you did because mine was great! It's last day of the year 2016 - so as a special gift, another triple feature from Christmas Wonderland series inspired by Nutcracker.

This time we will see Russian Dance celebrating candy canes, Dance of the Mirlitons/Danish shepherdesses celebrating marzipan and Waltz of the Flowers.





I knew almost instantly that for my Russian piece I will draw influence from kokoshnik - traditional Russian headpiece. Seeing how - so far- all the pieces were different parts of jewellery, this time I decided to go with a comb.



 As I learned Dance of the Mirlitons is a play on words, because mirliton is a type of flute, as well as a pastry. Quite fitting for the Land of the Sweets!
In an original version, it was to be danced by Danish shepherdesses or French mirliton players, but I couldn't find anything that interesting costume wise - what I looked at instead were French shepherdess costumes inspired by Watteau paintings.



 While I did have necklace already, I was pretty much set on designing choker necklace - so there you have it!


 Finally Waltz of the Flowers. This is a self-explanatory piece and the theme of my design is clear as well. I was a bit torn between designing a bracelet and/or a brooch - I went with a brooch, but I might design bracelet as well when time allows. Enjoy!

It's been a while, but here it is! Triple feature of Christmas Wonderland series inspired by the Nutcracker! The last post showcased Waltz of the Snowflakes, this post will be about Spanish Dance, Arabian Dance and Chinese Dance.
As a side note - dances that take place during Clara's visit to the Land of Sweets celebrate sweets themselves. Spanish Dance, for example, celebrates chocolate, Arabian - coffee and Chinese - tea.
Today I  will begin with Spanish Dance - Chocolate.


The most distinct feature of flamenco - traditional Spanish dance - is a wonderfully ruffled costume of the female dancer. Additionally, I looked at some traditional Spanish jewellery to see if I could find any inspiration, but ruffles- that seemed a perfect starting point.





The bitterness of the coffee is represented in a melancholy melody of the Arabian Dance, yet the costumes worn by dancers are usually quite flamboyant.

For more inspiration, I've looked at Arabian jewellery. It's very bold and full of stones. I wanted to somehow incorporate coffee bean motif into my design.



 Final earring design - front and side view

Originally I've looked at elaborate Chinese headpieces for inspiration, but while beautiful, I wanted something quite simple and more modern looking.
 I've turned to fans for inspiration.

 Final studs design

It's December already! It's hard to believe haw fast the time is passing - I already have my Christmas tree all nice and pretty, because the Christmas is almost here!
I'll tell you secret guys - I adore Christmas - the tree, fairy lights, Christmas ornaments, Christmas Eve - I love it all! And because I love Christmas so much, as a treat I've decided to start new December post series -I would like to invite all of you to Christmas Wonderland!




I'll start off with inspiration...
When putting up Christmas tree, I kept on remembering one of my most favorite Christmas ornaments ever from childhood - a ballerina. I'll bet you didn't see that coming!


 Ballerina = ballet, so, of course, my mind went to one of the loveliest  Christmas-themed ballet - the Nutcracker.


You might wonder why I love it so much? Well other than incredible music, wonderful costumes, it happens that as a young girl, I was a proud owner of the book ballet is based on - The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A Hoffmann. I loved the story, so I love the ballet as well.

The story is quite simple - it's Christmas Eve and a girl called Clara receives a gift from her godfather - the nutcracker  in the shape of a small man. Clara is overjoyed by the gift, so when her brother Fritz accidentally breaks it, she is heartbroken. In the night she wakes up, only to encounter a terrifying battle between the army of Mouse King and toys lead by Nutcracker. Terrified Clara throws her slipper at Mouse King, allowing the Nutcracker necessary opening to kill him. The Nutcracker transforms into a Prince and takes Clara into his kingdom - The Land of Sweets where a great celebration is held in the honor of Clara.



It seemed as the perfect inspiration for magical, Christmas related series of jewellery designs.


Waltz of the Snowflakes is the first on Clara's journey into the wonderful Land of Sweets - that's where I will start.




 For Snowflake necklace I wanted to design something very delicate with ephemeral quality, designed with white and light blue stones to represent ice.

Remember Opal Auctions Competition I've been drawing Titania Necklace for? Well, if you are interested here is the link to the website displaying some of the other submissions - among mine!

Today's post features the final Goth-ember Sunday design - Vampyre Brooch! There can be no Halloween without infamous bloodsuckers - vampires; and the search for inspiration started with all time classic Dracula. How many of you have seen film Bram Stoker's Dracula from 1992? If you haven't - you should definitely check it out, if only to see some of the coolest costumes put on screen in a movie about vampires, like in this blood-chilling scene.