exclusive handmade & original art jewellery designed & assembled
by
Jennifer Dangerfield
Hands Up!
Time to say a few words about bracelets. Bracelets are deceptive creatures - if life were simple, it would be easy to compare the measurement of the length of a bracelet to the circumference of your wrist. Instead we have to bear other considerations in mind - chunky beads stand proud of the wrist, some bracelets are designed to have a tailored fit whilst others have a more accommodating design. So as you can see, we have to be a little bit canny when deciding on the right fit for you. In the past, calculating what bracelet would fit which wrist required a degree in gobbledegook. But HALLELUJAH!
A knight in shining armour has arrived from the USA in the form of a bracelet sizer. I was a nano-second away from kissing the delivery man because it's going to make 'Bracelet Life' so much easier. I can now give you the one measurement that we all need to know when we're buying a bracelet. What is the actual inner circumference of a bracelet when worn?
So that's one problem solved. We now have to think about the 'Comfort Zone'. If the circumference of your wrist is 7 inches & the bracelet that you're considering has a maximum wrist size of 7 inches, we're talking about a rather snug fit. But if the circumference of your wrist is actually 6 ½ inches, you've got a lovely 'Comfort Zone' of half an inch. Many designers recommend half an inch - wrap a tape measure around your wrist & experiment - are they right? Experiment some more. What's your 'Comfort Zone' for a looser fit? When contemplating a a fitted design such as a Barbed Bracelet, what would be a comfortable tailored fit for you? Bracelets which fasten with a toggle clasp like to drape & show off their clasps - you might like to review your Comfort Zone & allow for a little extra. Play with your tape measure - that's my advice.
Within reason, many of my bracelets can be resized, but due to the nature of some designs, it is not always possible to make an alteration. If this is the case, I will tell you so in my desciption.
Breathe a sigh of relief when contemplating the chain bracelets. The clasp that I use clips on to the links of the chain. The length of the bracelet should be all you need to know when assessing the fit.
If my rambling explanations about sizing have left you feeling confused, please email me & we'll have a private chat about what suits you, but I will just add a quick demonstration as a summary.
Mrs Tiggywinkle's wrist measures 6 inches. She'd like a fitted bracelet to go with her day wear. She doesn't want it to slip & slide around too much whilst she's doing the laundry, but she would like to keep the blood circulating in her paws so she opts for a Comfort Zone of half an inch. So Mrs T therefore requests that I alter her chosen bracelet to a maximum wrist size of 6 ½ inches. Her eye had been caught by another fitted bracelet but as it had a maximum wrist size of 5 ½ inches & couldn't be enlarged, she had to turn her little snout away & look for something else. For evening wear, she fancies something looser. She spies one which has a maximum wrist size of 8 inches. Her Comfort Zone isn't that large - she doesn't want to spend all evening searching the garden for a bracelet that's fallen off because it's too big for her, so she pours herself another glass of wine ( which I think we'll all agree that she deserves after a hard day at the mangle ) and settles down for another browse.
And lo it came to pass that Mrs Tiggywinkle finally found the bracelet that was everything she had ever wanted & more. It was chic & slick & modern and it accentuated her charms to perfection. Indeed it was just the thing to wear in bed at night when she was in the mood to slip into her Chanel No Five à la Marilyn Monroe. Lucky Mr Tiggywinkle! Now gather round & I might tell you which bracelet brought so much pleasure to our happy couple. Can you guess which one it was? The answer is at the bottom of the page.
== ◊ ==
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!
Actual length from the top of the clasp to the last link of the chain: approx 23 cm or 9 inches long
Price: £225 / approx $439
== ◊ ==
Watercolour
These tropical beads by Beverley Hicklin glow on the page reflecting their gorgeous vibrancy in the flesh. The dappled purple beads have
been etched and the soft warmth they bestow is enchanting. What else can I tell you about this bracelet? Not much - the pictures
are doing all the talking here.
Size of focal beads: approx 25 x 25 mm
Actual Length : approx 22 ½ cm or 9 inches long
Maximim Wrist Size: approx 18 ½ cm or 7 ¼ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £150 / approx $295
== ◊ ==
An Inner Glow
Time to look at some of Emma Ralph's beautiful art glass beads. I could stumble around for hours trying to describe this bracelet,
but I would have to give up because my stock of adjectives is too sparse. Fortunately for me, this is one of those cases where
the photograph can do all the talking for me.
Size of tab beads: approx 20 x 15mm
Actual Length : approx 20 ½ cm or 8¼ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6 ¾ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price for the bracelet: £115 / approx $225
== ◊ ==
All the Shades of Lavender
In the two bead sets featured here, Emma Ralph has cleverly captured the many shades of the lavender plants which one finds
in English country gardens. The pale shades of the pink Rosea, the much loved Hidcote & Munstead varieties, Blueberry, French
lavender - the list goes on & on. I love the speckles on the bicones - they remind of the lichens which I refuse to scrub off my
terracotta plant pots. Emma's work is enthralling - organic but edgy. She has a scintilating & glorious gift.
Width of ruffled beads: approx 20 mm
Actual Length : approx 20 ½ cm or 8 inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 16 ½ cm or 6 ½ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £150 / approx $295
== ◊ ==
Violets Chain Bracelet
Let me give you a recipe. Here are the ingredients.
1 set of polymer beads by Emma Ralph
1 set of glass beads also by Emma Ralph
Sterling silver chain & lobster clasp
Amethyst tubes
Cape amethyst beads
Purple Velvet Swarovski crystals
Sterling silver saucers, droplets & beads
Mix together & hand wire with care on to a sterling silver chain. Add the clasp & wrap around your chosen wrist.
Actual Length : approx 21 cm or 8¼ inches long
Price: £175 / approx $345
== ◊ ==
Romany
These dazzling beads were made by Emma Ralph - what a work of art! Let's have a closer look.
The personification of Wearable Art!
Actual Length : approx 19 ½ cm or 7 ¾ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx approx 16 ½ cm or 6 ½ inches - bracelet can be altered
Price: £125 / approx $244
== ◊ ==
Navajo
More painterly beads by Beverley Hicklin - isn't she talented? This time, her beads are accompanied by some lovely rustic & softly
polished turquoise wheels. You will have spotted the sterling silver beads, but the 20 mm wide clasp was made by the villagers from
the Karen Hill tribes in North Thailand & has a silver content of approx 99.9%.
My photographs are a little misleading - Beverley's beads haven't been etched. For some inexplicable reason, I could not capture
the shine on these beads. I endure regular battles with the English sun & berate it for not shining on demand. I won't tell you what
I shout at clouds & grey skies - this is no place for cursing!
This bracelet may be enlarged but cannot be shortened.
Size of main focal bead: approx 25 x 25 mm
Actual Length : approx 19 ½ cm or 7 ¾ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 16 cm or 6 ¼ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £110 / approx $215
== ◊ ==
One For The Glasgow Girls
Would you like to know who the Glasgow girls were? Please click on this link if so. This chain bracelet is my tribute to these
remarkable artists. Emma Ralph's beads inspired me to assemble this bracelet & I have used two sets of her 'Smoothies' beads
together with hematite tubes, stacks of Watermelon Tourmaline buttons, lashings of sterling silver and a light sprinkling of bling
in the form of 8mm Swarovski crystals.
Actual Length : approx 21 cm or 8¼ inches long
Price: £200 / approx $390
Warning: due to its magnetic properties, for safety reasons I must advise you not to wear jewellery which contains hematite
if you are pregnant or have any surgically implanted devices such as pacemakers.
== ◊ ==
Griddled Chocolate & Rose Shimmy
These beads are mouthwateringly lovely. Chocolates such as these are rare - not only were they handmade by Emma Ralph but they're
free from allthose naughty calories. Swarovski crystals & fluted sterling beads do the shimmy.
Actual Length : approx 21 ½ cm or 7 ¾ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6¾ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £125 / approx $244
== ◊ ==
Sweetie
Delicious beads by Beverley Hicklin are accompanied by a mix of amethyst tubes, charoite
ovals & beautiul candy coloured jade discs. This pretty mélange puts me in mind of
Ladies Day at Ascot making this a High Society bracelet!
Actual Length : approx 21 cm or 8¼ inches long
Price: £225 / approx $439
== ◊ ==
Sunset
We are incredibly lucky to have a house and garden that face west. Each evening we look across the valley & watch the sun go
down in a rich spectrum of colour. We never tire of it - how could one? Beverley Hicklin & Laura Spaling's beads have captured
the colours of sunset to perfection. I've seen the evidence with my own eyes!
Actual Length : approx 21 cm or 8 ¼ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6 ¾ inches - bracelet cannot be altered
Price: £115 / approx $244
== ◊ ==
Flower Power Shimmy
I love the floral decoration on these tab beads by Judith Johnston. I handwired this bracelet & it was a real pleasure to spend time
handling & admiring these gorgeous beads.
Average size of tabs: 20 x 20 mm
Actual Length : approx 20 ½ cm or 8 inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6 ¾ inches - bracelet cannot be altered
Price: £125 / approx $244
== ◊ ==
The Elegant Wrist
A beautiful etched bead by Beverley Hicklin joins forces with a delicious set of beads by Laura Sparling and the result of their labours
is a very stylish lady indeed. These beads need no embellishment - they're the power & the glory - so I've kept it simple by adding silver
discs & saucers and another beautiful clasp made by the Karen Hill Tribe.
Size of focal bead: approx 20 x 20 mm
Actual Length : approx 19 cm or 7 ½ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 15 cm or 6 inches - bracelet can be altered
Price: £115 / approx $225
== ◊ ==
Castellated Crenellations Go Retro
Helen Brodt-Savage's fabulous beads leap off the page. The hematite tubes echo the 'oil slick' surface of the beads
Actual Length : approx 20 cm or 8 inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6 ¾ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £150 / approx $293 SOLD
Warning: due to its magnetic properties, for safety reasons I must advise you not to wear jewellery which contains hematite if you are pregnant
or have any surgically implanted devices such as pacemakers.
Co-ordinating earrings may be found here - click!
== ◊ ==
Amber Stacks
I have many bad habits which we will gloss over, but I do have a good one which I willl now share with you. I'm very fond of building
stacks of semi-precious stones so whenever I get the opportunity to include some, I make the most of it. Nestling in between the
amber stacks are the bead sets 'Amber Classics' by Laura Sparling & 'Cherry Blossom Peppers' by Emma Ralph. Pearls & jasper
tubes emphasize the honeyed tones of this chain bracelet.
Actual Length : approx 21 cm or 8¼ inches long
Price: £175 / approx $345
== ◊ ==
Silver Disc Bracelet
These magnificent beads were made by Helen Brodt-Savage ( Sarah B ) and are accompanied by silver disc beads & Swarovski crystals. The
combination of the amber glass & coiled work on the discs is having an hypnotic effect on me - how about you?
Actual Length : approx 20 ½ cm or 8 inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6 ¾ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £80 / approx $156
== ◊ ==
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.
Actual Length : approx 21 cm or 8¼ inches long
Price: £225 / approx $439
== ◊ ==
The Peacock
Emma Ralph's extraordinary polymer beads are a fantasy made real. She is one of the leading polymer clay artists in the world - indeed
you may have read her books. It's an immense privilege to own her beads. I love wearing my own version of this bracelet - I say 'wear',
but most of the time I have to hand it around for people to see. Freshwater pearl sticks, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver components
including a handwired clasp with Swarovski hilt complete 'The Peacock'. It's a remarkable display.
Size of focal beads: approx 18 x 18mm
Actual Length : approx 19 ½ cm or 7 ¾ inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 16 ½ cm or 6 ½ i nches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £90 / approx $175
== ◊ ==
The 'Where Did You Get THAT?' Bracelet
I feel certain that these stunning beads are bound to elicit gasps of awe & envy - hence the name! Helen Brodt-Savage is the lady who
deserves a round of applause for creating these beads. I'm a green eyed gal & I love adorning myself in shades of green so I adore
this. I really, really do. Perhaps I should keep it for myself?
Average size of tabs: approx 15 x 17 mm
Actual Length : approx 20 cm or 8 inches long
Maximum Wrist Size: approx 17 cm or 6 ¾ inches - bracelet can be enlarged
Price: £125 / approx $244
To see co-ordinating earrings, please click!
== ◊ ==
Guaranteed to flatter hedgehogs everywhere, it was of course a (prickle-free) Barbed Bracelet!
== ◊ ==
== ◊ ==
== ◊ ==
For more information about the SRAJD scheme, please follow this link: SRAJD
== ◊ ==
art_of_curiosity@btinternet.com
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.