Coral Reef Sculpted Necklace

I'd wanted to create an organic pendant, inspired by the Coral reef, as part of my Shipwrecked Jewellery Collection (as seen HERE). The collection is based on the idea that precious art jewellery are marooned on shipwrecked vessels beneath the sea

Over time, barnacles, and other marine life settle and grow over them, creating new organic, part living, sculptures. These are in turn discovered by Mermaids, searching through the shipwrecks, for lost treasure.

I usually sculpt this collection in sterling wire, but I wanted to add another dimension to it, by fusing metal clay sculptures with the wire.
Below is my original sketch. I wanted to emulate hard coral, with those finite repeated patterns and arching forms, which I found wire weaving lent itself to. The fine silver clay was sculpted to create a chamber for the gemstone, and to create that flowing "fin", that gives the whole piece that sense of movement and directional flow. I think the fused wavy wire work on the right side , resembles turbelent water flowing around the coral



I then used fine silver to add the little organic embellishments such as the seashells.The gemstone is a flashy Labradorite (the same stone seen in an earlier post), it has proved to be very inspirational. The colors within it are unbelievably bright at times, with yellows, golds,greens and blues are captured within it.

Anyway, here are the rest of the photos, showing different views of the piece. I'm really happy with it, and am encouraged to do more sculptures combining wire and metal clay

Inspirational New Directions

Gorgeous gemstones and my obsession with Marine life , especially invertebrates, are the driving forces behind my new direction.

I'm going to be playing with my wire sculptures, and combining them with silver clay sculptures, to try to emulate these creatures in their natural habitat. I've no idea how I'm going to achieve any of it exactly, I feel there'll be many mistakes on this road...oh well...if you don't try, you don't get anywhere, right?!

Below are a couple of my most beloved pieces, I've just put up in the shop.
One from my Goddess Collection, the other from my Mermaid Amulet Collection. They're both tricky to photograph, they're so much nicer in real life, but I think they've turned out OK on the listings

Reflective Musings On The Selling Process

I haven't posted here in a little while, how remiss of me!

In truth I have been a busy little bee, starting the new Etsy shop properly, while still recovering from the mammouth London Jewellery Week

I've made exactly one ring since coming back, which is odd for me, as I do tend to work/create all the time. I think I lost my mojo for a little while there, but I'm not panicking about it...yet LOL

This morning has been spent taking a ridiculously large number of photographs for a few items, that will appear in the Etsy shop this week.

Its a weird business selling online, compared to selling in person. The online selling world is strangely sterile and quiet. I loved chatting to customers, and especially learning what occasion the jewellery was being bought for, or for whom. Even people that were not buying gave me so much in feedback and opinions, and shared parts of their lives in conversation

I am really looking forward to doing the big Contemporary Jewellery show later this year. I'll get to meets lots of people again, and hopefully will be able to impress enough, to do more shows throughout the year

Thats the plan anyway. Just knowing I'm doing the show, is already freeing me up creatively speaking to be able to make some really standout pieces of sculpture. People I'd met in London Jewellery Week, also gave me the confidence to believe in my artistic vision, so I'm going to try and take all that and put it into my work (hopefully)... but for today, it'll just be more photo editing for the Etsy shop LOL

Bye Bye Babies

Pearl Barnacle Cluster Necklace (Shipwreck Jewellery collection)

I had a wonderful time at the Jewel East event, London Jewellery Week.
Being as I work from my home studio, I don't get to meet many other artists, and I was surrounded by loads of them for a whole week!

The most amazing thing for me really, was exposing my work, to the public for the first time ever. I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and I'd tried to cover all eventualities. I'd made lots of more commercial looking pieces, at all price ranges, in case people did not take to my more unique jewellery pieces.

However, I could not have been more wrong, because the response was unbelievable. Even people who could not afford to buy anything at the time, felt compelled to tell me how much they loved my art work

It turned out that the more unique, "out there" pieces, which are my main passion, were the jewellery collections that really connected to people. They loved them, and wanted to know all about the creative process too

I was thrilled I can tell you! The whole experience has given me such a boost, and has given me a lot more faith in my creative self. I don't think any artist can ask for more really.

By the way, I am in the process of setting my Etsy online shop. There will be jewellery available to purchase from 20th June 2011 if all goes to plan :)

Anyway, here are some of my most beloved pieces that have now been sold, and gone to new owners and new homes. I will miss them terribly LOL


Aquamarine Necklace from the Mermaid Amulet collection


Pearl Barnacle Cluster Bracelet (Shipwreck Jewellery Collection)


Peridot Genie from the Genie In A Bottle Collection


Persephone from the Goddess Collection


Lemon-Smokey Bicolour Quartz and sterling Necklace

Samantha Braund Jewellery To Exhibit At Jewel East

(the latest press release)

Samantha Braund Jewellery's signature organic free flowing style is encapsulated in her Gemstone Circles Collection

The idea behind these sculpted pieces, was to create a vignette of a natural landscape, that can be worn

Inspired by natural forms seen in nature, these pendants contain intricate vignettes of tendrils and swirls, weaved in sterling silver. The gemstones lend themselves to being interpreted as flower buds, or dew drops, given their faceted glistening nature.

The whole scene is captured within a circle, where the negative space created by it, balances out the "chaotic" organic elements, mimicking nature itself. The overall appearance is very satisfying

Each gemstone circle is unique and has its own character, and inspirational source. The Spring Awakening Gemstone Circle is full of green faceted gemstones such Fluorite and Peridot to represent the feel of the first flush of green seen in Spring. The Ocean Cluster Gemstone Circle contains freshwater pearls and a Blue Chalcedony gemstone inspired by ocean sea life

This collection, amongst many others , will be available to purchase at the Jewel East event, at Old Spitalfields Market, 6th -12th June 2011.

To view other collections to be presented at Jewel East, go to the Gallery pages of www.samanthabraundjewellery.com

www.samanthabraundjewellery.com
mail@samanthabraundjewellery.com

The Countess Collection

**Click the thumbnail to view the full Countess Collection**

Ages ago I made this little creative breakthrough combining my sterling wire sculptures with fine silver, to create this pendant blogged about HERE

I finally got round to creating a collection around it. The original one is my own, but I have made 5 new pieces.

I called it the Countess Collection, because they all look rather grand and ornate (they look better IRL, it has to be said)

They will be with me at Spitalfields Market, Jewel East event during London Jewellery Week. Prepearing for this event has been both stressful, and equally has proven to be an amazing motivator

Anyway, here are more pics...

Genie In A Bottle Collection

Contemporary Sculpted Genie Bottles - The spirit of the genie is captured within the gemstones. The pendants are sculpted in sterling silver, and contain various large AAA quality cubic zirconia gemstones

The Genie In A Bottle Collection, is a collection that has been a longtime in the making for me.

I made my first prototype genie bottle in 2009 with silver plated wire,a nd not a lot of experience LOL. I am really proud of these Genies and will continue to make them for the shop, as an ongoing collection.

I am taking these six necklaces with me to London Jewellery Week.I will confirm where I'll be exactly, during that week, soon...

I've posted images of all six genies below. Enjoy all the pretty!!!