Coral Drops and Commissions

Lakshmi Goddess II


White Pearl Coral Drop necklace

I've spent most of January trying to get my head around events I need to prepare for, while wanting to leave room for creative thinking

I know it sounds like a pretentious term, but I have come to realise how I tick as an artist over time. It is neccessary to do commissions which invariably involves revisiting "old" work. This can feel like a stranglehold when all I want to do is work on the latest ideas trying to burst out

It can become pretty frustrating at times lol, so I'm trying to lighten up about it, get better organised and look at it in a different way.The necklace at the top of the post is a commission piece, a reproduced similar version of my Lakshmi necklace from the Goddess collection, here's a link to the original one


I really moaned and dragged my heels over making it, but knew that if I wanted my precious free time then the sooner I got on with it the better. To my surprise I loved the process and using techniques I'd left behind (for no good reason really) - it was strangely reinvigorating, and I love the final result too. I'll post up more views of the piece at the end of this blog entry

I've also been busy making using up my Mokume Gane Polymer sheets for pendants. I didn't realise how many had built up lol. They have such vibrant colours and patterns turning into a funky little collection. I've posted a few of them in the slideshow below... Im thinking of doing another Etsy shop just for these sorts of pieces,I have so many sitting around the studio - it makes sense to try to sell some lol



The White Pearl Coral drop necklace will be going into the Etsy shop this weekend too. It's inspired by the patterns seen in coral, and is a pretty little tightly woven nugget of a pendant.

Anyway, here are the pics as promised. I'll put up the scanned version of my artists profile article from the Metal Clay Artist Magazine next time











Samantha Braund

Pearl Barnacle Cluster Necklaces

These necklaces are part of the Shipwrecked Jewellery Collection, based on the idea that gemstones and jewellery pieces are left on marooned shipwrecked vessels beneath the sea

These pieces lost in time, accumulate barnacles and other marine life, creating part living organic wearable sculptures

The Barnacle cluster collection is very much inspired by the theme, and each necklace contains clusters of freshwater pearls handwoven in sterling silver, nestled amongst fine silver barnacles and shells

I am taking this collection with me to the Desire Fair I'm doing at the end of the week. It will be one of ten collections I'll be exhibiting there...no wonder my hands are so tired

I've spent the whole day with the hubby arranging the layout of pieces and props, for the show. It was exhausting, and fun at the same time. I still have a few items to make unbelieveably, and have almost run out of time.

Anyway here are the photos of the rest of the collection...

















Hope you enjoyed the pics!!





Samantha Braund xx