unique handmade art jewellery designed & assembled

by

Jennifer Dangerfield

 

 

 

 

Welcome to The Gallery

 

This showcase displays a selection of just some of the pieces of jewellery which I've created.  The beads featured in these pieces are made by some of the finest glass, polmer clay and ceramic bead artists currently working in the UK, Europe & the USA. Their beautiful & dramatic beads turn jewellery into a portable & kinetic work of art. It is a joy & privilege to have the opportunity to work with these beads and I owe an immense debt of gratitude to all the artists featured here.  

 

 

 

 

A River Runs Through

 

These beads astonish me.  I will never let this bracelet go - it will become a family heirloom. Beverley Hicklin's hypnotic

beads and the fabulous organic Ice nuggets by Sally Carver  need no ornament whatsoever - just a dash of clear quartz

tubes to keep the attention focused solely on the beads. These beads are Wearable Art - I challenge anyone to deny it!

 

 

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Swim

A stunning sterling silver chain bracelet featuring art glass beads made in an array of watery & oceanic tones

by Laura Sparling.  Clear glass beads by Rob Johnson and freshwater pearls have been added to the mix.

 

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The Midas Touch

These polymer beads by Emma Ralph are simply DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!!

 

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This Year's Blue

 

I've seen these shades of blue walk down so many catwalks recently, but as the fashion journalists will tell you, blocks of

this blue can be a little difficult to wear.  The key to this colour is to use it as an accent so here's the answer to a fashion

editor's prayer. 

I'd wear this no matter what trend was in fashion because the combination of Emma Ralph's polymer beads

& Sally Carver's art glass leaves is such a juicy, succulent combination.  Peridot & Blueberry Quartz briolettes

add  their own vibrant charge & the result, as I hope you'll agree, is a rather luscious little number.

 

 

 

 

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The Blue Crab

                                                                                                                                                             

Judith Johnston's stunning focal is framed by Sally Carver's curled leaves and free-trade Karen Hill Tribe 99.5% silver tusks. The

remaining part of the bracelet consists of two strands of sterling silver saucers which are strung to form the back of the bracelet

making this extremely comfortablle to wear so don't be deterred by the tusks! This is a bracelet that draws excited attention.

 

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Ocean

 

A very special lady & a born story-teller told me a tale about the sea & I was so moved that I assembled a bracelet

in return for her memories.  'Ocean' is the result. 

 

 

 

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  Blossom

 

Another heirloom for which I send grateful thanks to Emma Ralph.  My daughters may be eight & six, but i shall do my best to

chase one of them (if not both) down the aisle wearing this breathtaking necklace.  Ellie & Lula adore these beads -perhaps

my dream will come true?  

 

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  Apples

These polymer clay beads by Emma Ralph are so enticing.  If I had an evil step-mother who offered me a bite, I'd turn her down immediately. 

How could one damage something as perfect as either apple here?

          

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Whisps of Colour

 

 

Ethereal beauty - early morning mist drifting over the surface of a pool.  Cobwebs draped

with dew.  A meadow  revealed at dawn.  

Art by Emma Ralph.  Isn't it extraordinary?

 

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Prom Queen - In The Pink

 

I love putting Prom Queens together - they're full on, drop dead, in your face, glamour.  'In The Pink' is particularly coquettish

& attracts flattery like a magnet.  Declare your décolleté a teasing zone & wear a 'Prom Queen'.

 

 

Emma Ralph is the artist responsible not only for these magnificent polymer beads - just look at the pearlised lustre - but

also for the sweetly beautiful Daisy Paperweights.

 

 

 

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Diving Belle

 

I am completely & utterly smitten with these Deep Teal Ice Queen beads by Emma Ralph.  Isn't the colour extraordinary?

 

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The Sophisticated Wrist

 

Laura Sparling's delicious & mouthwatering art glass beads feature in this sterling silver chain bracelet

to which silvered glass cubes from Murano, pearls, sterling siver and mother of pearl droplets have

been added.  Laura's heart shaped 'Mocha' pendant elicits enslaved attention!

 

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Kandinsky

 

Painterly art glass beads by Beverley Hicklin are framed by hand-worked sterling silver wire & rings to form this dramatic set of

necklace & earrings.  I have borrowed Beverly's own name for this fascinating set - I'm sure that Kandinsky would be honoured

by Beverley's remakable homage to his work.

 

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Put A Spring In Your Step

 

Shimmering polymer beads by Emma Ralph & curled glass leaves by Sally Carver surround large & luscious

peridot briolettes to form a feel-good, pick-me-up, good-vibe bracelet. Guaranteed to refresh.  

 

 

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Cherry Choker

 

Though called a choker, this can also be worn as a deluxe pendant.

Laura Sparling created both sets of the beads which feature in this piece  - they're dazzling! As soon as I saw them

together, I decreed that I would arrange a marriage & here it is.

I hope they'll be blissfully happy together!

 

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Scarlet & White Wave

 

I'm sure you can guess who made the beads? The intricate detail of Laura's beads is

magnificent. No wonder her beads sell within minutes of appearing on her website!

 

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Picasso's Dog

 

Sally Carver's beautiful hand formed beads & some sterling silver wirework add funkiness to whimsy!

 

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The Kronos Crab

 

The stunning focal bead was made by Sally Carver & it has two handmaiden beads by Beverley Hicklin.  You can also see some

Karen Hill Tribe silver tusks and sterling silver saucers & clasp.

 

You may look at the Crab bracelets & wonder if they're uncomfortable to wear.  Let me reassure you on this point. 

I wear my Crab & were it not for all the compliments I receive, I could almost forget that I'm wearing it.  I am sensible though.

 Mixing lace, cobweb shawls or anything that may snag is inadvisible.

 

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Cool Trade

 

If you browse in Emma Ralph's online store,  amongst the vintage beads you will find a selection of antique trade beads which date from the

early 1900's.  If you're really lucky you might also find some of her Ice beads for sale but as they are usually sold within seconds of being released,

this will be a rare opportunity. When I use trade beads, it's my habit to incorporate them into a warm colour scheme.  This time however I've

travelled to the opposite side of the spectrum with the results which you see here. Lashings of sterling silver saucers & beads add to the cool theme.

To visit Emma Ralph's shop: click!

 

                 

 

 

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The Power & The Glory

This chain bracelet features a scrumptious set of beads by Melanie Moertel called 'Dark Chocolate'.  The organic shape of the beads

& the coolness of the glass are heavenly to the touch making this a soothing tactile charmer.

 

 

I've tried to keep the other elements low key so that the full beauty of Melanie's beads can shine.

  Purple quartz briolettes, amethyst Swarovski rounds & cubes and a dash of Czech glass

tubes are taking the back seat.

 

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Rock Pool

 

The focus of this bracelet is a bead by Beverly Hicklin which is so evocative of memories of the coast that I want to dash

down to Cornwall immediately & have a mooch among the pools beneath the cliffs.  The addition of olive & aqua Czech

glass coins continues the theme. Sterling silver discs & fittings complete the bracelet.

 

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The Marriage

 

Emma Ralph's pink polymer beads with mauve detail have married Helen Brodt-Savage's ( Sarah B) lilac raku tiles. The bridesmaids are

vintage Czech nuggets & spirals.  In my eyes, it's a love match!

 

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Leather Garland Necklace

 

Now what have we here?  Leather, hand dyed silk threads, rocailles, wooden beads, a sterling silver fastening

and a lot of knotting, threading & sewing.  One of my labours of love!

 

 

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Sculpt with Colour: Swoon!

 

All words are insipid when it comes to describing colour or indeed the work of any of the artists featured within these pages. Aren't these

beads spectacular?  My dear Emma Ralph - thou art one of the Bead Queens!

 

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Blush Baby Set

 

Once upon a time there was a set of pretty dappled beads from Murano who sat in a bead tray feeling very lost & lonely. They were an unusual colour & though the bead addict loved them, she wasn't sure if she would ever find some other beads to keep this set company. Fortunately there was a bead artist called Emma Ralph & she made THE most delectable marbled beads.  Out of her flame she produced a set of beads that were the perfect partners for the Venetian beads and so the Blush Baby necklace was born.

The Blush Baby necklace lay cossetted in her box feeling reasonably happy but in her heart she knew that with a little more attention, she had the potential to be something so pretty that all the dainty girls in the neighbourhood would want to wear her.  Would her dream ever  come true?

 

 

Another glass artist now enters our story and her name was Laura Sparling.  She made exquisite beads in delicate colours and one day she created a set so cute that the bead addict swooned.  Fortunately she bought the beads before she swooned because she had the sense to remember that Ms Sparling's beads are snapped up the minute they appear on her website and they might not be there after the fainting fit had passed.

The day came when the postman delivered Ms Sparling's beads & in the company of the Blush Baby necklace, the bead addict unwrapped the package with trembling hands.  Joy of joys - the Blush Baby was filled with delight because she had finally found the beads that would make her dreams come true. 

So that is the story of the Blush Baby Set which is now patiently waiting for a dainty girl to call by.

 

 

 

 

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Beach a.k.a. The Postcardian Prize

 

This link will explain all.

 

 

 

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Clear Vision

 

Melanie Moertel creates some of the most extraordinary beads in the world - she's a bead artist's bead artist! As the lads & lasses  who make beads are bursting with talent & taste, there is no finer accolade in Bead Land.  Designing a 'frame' for Melanie's beads is a challenge - they're exquisite works of art so the utmost care is required!   Holding them in my hand made me realise that it would be a sin to 'drown' them in a sea of silver or crystal, so i decided to do nothing. Doing nothing is not the same as not doing anything.  'Doing nothing' means that I've added opalite moonstone nuggets and my trademark stacks of semi-precious stones - in this instance, clear crystal quartz chips.  'Doing nothing' means that your view of Melanie's beads is not obscured. 

So, having done nothing, I can relax & enjoy the view!

 

 

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        home       

 

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For more information about the SRAJD scheme, please follow this link: SRAJD

Click on the link & you will find a roster of artisan jewellery makers that you can trust.

 

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art_of_curiosity@btinternet.com  

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Photography by Jennifer Dangerfield. All designs, contents & images are the property of the designer Jennifer Dangerfield and are copyrighted.. None of the aforementioned items may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission of Jennifer Dangerfield. Please note that any breech of copyright may result in legal action.