Scotland Highlights #1 – Handa Island

In late August I travelled to Scotland with my mum. We wanted to see the country of our ancestors who were displaced during the Clearances. We knew our family hailed from the northern Highlands and Orkney Islands, so endeavoured to see as much of that area in the two weeks we would be there.

Since returning home many people have asked me what were the highlights from the trip (good question to ask so you don’t get the entire monologue). Somewhere in the top five of that list is Handa Island. I’m not much of a birder though Handa Island has one of the UK’s most significant populations of sea birds including puffins (not around when we were there). I love a boat trip, crossing water to somewhere and a walk or hike, so Handa Island fitted all the requirements of a great day adventure.

I won’t go into all of what Handa Island is about – you are better off reading the official website for the island. The boat trip was 20 pounds (cash only) return, and departs from Tarbet which is a short drive north from Scourie.

Below are some pics from this trip. The last few are from our return drive to Scourie taken along the backroads from Tarbet – the scenery was breathtaking and ranks amongst the most beautiful we saw during the entire trip.

We spent two nights at Scourie and stayed at the Scourie Lodge B&B hosted by the wonderful Hamish and Elisabeth. The Lodge has a year round restaurant offering a great menu, the included breakfasts are hearty and varied and the location is divine. Scourie itself has a lively pub at the caravan park offering a great array of beverages and snack food. There is also a 24/7 laundrette and a fuel station.

Miniatures

At the beginning of 2023 I felt an undeniable urge and irresistable itch to try something new in a creative sense. Since I was very young I have loved miniatures – not dollhouses per se, rather, little things in little worlds that I can create and dive into via my imagination. I’m greatly inspired by the work of Heather Tracy of Thicketworks, who offers many great Medieval inspired designs for you to make, along with a wealth of mixed media and surface techniques to elevate any design.

After trying a few out Heather’s designs, such as this medieval chair, I went deep down the rabbit hole of miniaturists around the world.

I’ve long had my own Wunderkammer – a cabinet of treasures that I’ve written about on this blog here and here. So I challenged myself to make a Wunderkammer of sorts in miniature. It was a nearly six month process and I’m thrilled with the result.

The box sits in my book case which conveniently has space for a few more of the same size. This box is made in 1:12 scale and measures about 55cm across, and 30cm deep and wide.

I made the floor from popsicle sticks, laid out, nail holes hammered in, stained and waxed like a real floor. I designed the wallpaper using a sample from an old catalogue, worked a bit in Photoshop, printed and then glued on.

I made most of the furniture using my Xtool laser cutter to cut the pieces from plywood and I really enjoyed decorating the pieces with my aged wood techniques.

Equally fun was searching for and collecting the items I have displayed in the room, made by talented artisans from around the world. Many are 3D resin printed which is something I want to learn (but not this year). I also made the little books which are easy to make using printed covers and foam core board.

I still need to add lighting, which I have chosen and will order once I am back from my next European trip which I leave for tomorrow! So stay tuned for some updates from Barcelona and Rome, coming soon…

Poetry

If only…

If only I had stopped

For a moment

To think about

How easy it all seemed.

If only I had looked

Deeper into myself

And examined

What I really needed.

I probably would have realised,

It was not you.

(c) 2021 Melanie Dooley

I’m baaaaaack

Hey, where did the past four years go?

If you have been following me for a while you will know that I built my own website some years ago and it was an immensely enjoyable project for me. Alas, as life got busier, I moved towns and changed jobs, my website became sorely neglected. I chose to close it down, but not after archiving the content so I can replicate some of it over here on my old blog.

My creative activities have evolved as have my Etsy stores. I’ve moved on from some creative pursuits and picked up others along the way.

The main trigger to revive my blog has been some time I spent the other week reading through all the old posts. I really miss those times and that aspect of my life. I realised that with the progress I have made in my career (which I LOVE) and changes in my lifestyle, I have lost touch with some of the things that bring me JOY.

So here I am, taking back control and getting back into the things I love. I miss the interaction a blog can bring, and the ability for it to be diverse, reflecting the topic of the moment.

I have been sending newsletters and I need to think about how I will manage that in future – keep sending them or channel it all through the blog.

I have many projects on the go – my interests and passions are broad and I intend for this blog to be the central place for it all. Creating, researching, writing, designing…

…I have so much to tell you.

Looking back

As I pack up my home once again in readiness to move into my new home (I WILL stay there for much longer) I have been going through old files, updating my digital existence onto a new hard drive and reminiscing about the many hundreds of designs I have made over the past few years.

I started jewellery designing in 2008 and I always enjoy seeing how my style has evolved. I can look at photos of past designs and see times when I was inspired to make what I think was my best work, and other times when I was clearly struggling with designer’s block.

The purpose of this post is to share some of those past designs, many of which were never posted on this blog or in my Etsy shop. Some of the pieces I have a little regret at selling, or more a wistfulness wishing I could see the design again in person and maybe not sell it. For most of them, I am glad they are with their new owners and giving joy all around the world.

Necklace with an antique mirror locket

Rabbit medallion necklace

Necklace with antique powder puff pendant and rhinestones

Necklace with pocket watch style pendant

Earrings with antique spoons

Rare cherub pocket watch case with chunky sapphires

Bracelet with vintage rhinestone clasp and coral

Charms from a charm necklace

Necklace made with antique powder compact and pearls

Earrings made with 1920s blown glass drops and green glass beads

Leather cuff with silver brooch adornment

Necklace made with multi colour gemstone chain and rare enamel cherub brooch

Another favourite – a multi gemstone strand with a mirror locket

Necklace with small leather purse and rhinestones

Earrings with old mother of pearl beads

Black vulcanite heart pendant with multi gemstone necklace chain

Paris souvenir mirror locket necklace

Lava cameo and pearls necklace

A selection of bracelets

Mother of pearl disc and onyx earrings

Special necklace made with St Rose reliquary

Necklace made with antique silf roses set into an antique silver watch case

Earrings made with mid century glass medallions

Necklace made with antique locket and baby blue Amazonite stones

Necklace with picture pendant, a butterfly and a silver shoe

Necklace with tintype photo set in bezel under resin

Necklace made with Victorian mourning locket and multi strands of mother of pearl beads

Earrings with Paris souvenirs

Selection of necklaces

Necklace made with an old leather coin purse

Bridal necklace made with an antique rhinestone brooch and pearls

Resin pendant necklace

Cuff bracelets made with various embellishments

Bracelet made with porcqupine brooch and mother of pearl beads

Necklace made with antique enamel locket and rubies

Necklace with small compass Fob

Necklace with mourning hair centrepiece and a mini compass

Mourning necklace with Whitby Jet locket and coral

Probably one of my most favourite necklaces, sold to a valued customer.

Bracelet made with rhinestone bow clasp and mother of pearl beads

Earrings made with Chrysoprase and coral

Bracelet made with antique fleur de lys shoe buckle

Necklace with carved bone peacocks and mini binoculars

Reliquary Necklace

18th century snuff box with turquoise chain.

Necklace made with antique match case focal

Two classic necklaces – a miniature painted portrait and a carnet de bal

Watch bracelet with tintype photo set inside

Wrap bracelet made with antique beads

Necklace with Paris souvenir bracelet and Paris souvenir carnet de bal

Ermine necklace

Earrings with pearls and 18th century watch coqs

Cameo and tassels necklace

Earrings with Salamander charms and rubies

A selection of assemblage bracelets

Bracelet with antique lava cameo and old rhinestones

Collection of necklaces

A selection of necklace

Necklace made with ivory mirror locket

Necklace made with gemstones and a little starfish

Earrings with silver Marie Antoinette medallions

Necklace made with French sacred heart pendant

How we mourn

Mourning jewellery and art is quite collectible but not overly popular, since many people find it creepy to own something with the hair of someone long dead, not related to you. I appreciate the sentiment that went into creating mourning jewellery and artworks, and some of the pieces are incredibly intricate – works of art, really.

Above is a French memorial plaque which would have been set into a locket. When I bought it, it was not in a locket but I have since set it onto an old daguerrotype frame. I hope to one day find a locket to set it back into. The detail of the work is incredible!

Another piece of fine hair work, this locket has the hair set onto a mother of pearl disc that is in turn inserted into a slider pendant. It would have been attached onto a thick piece of ribbon or velvet and worn as a choker, or possibly even on a belt. The chain, which I added, is made from ivory – very old ivory.

This incredibly intricate pocket watch chain is, believe it or not, made from woven hair. The quality is outstanding and the work is very fine and detailed. The hardware and clasps are gold fill, and this piece comes from France.

A favourite way to wear mourning jewellery is in rings. I particularly like the pearl surrounds, and love this unusual photo ring. I am also searching for one with a coral surround, but have yet to find the right one for my collection. The two pearl rings date to the early part of the 19th century, and the photo ring dates to the latter part of the same century.

In a similar style to the rings, these mourning brooches have been transformed into pendants for necklaces. The one on the left, with garnets, came to me via my aunt who had it in her family for many years. The one on the right is possibly quite early, even late 18th century, and is in silver with paste stones and a rough lock of hair set inside.

This delightful collection of lockets date to the 18th century. The top one is a double sided locket and has some more hairwork on the other side, and the locket does open. Left to right at the bottom are: a polychrome French mourning pendant, with a locket opening at the back, a detailed sepia mourning pendant which has hair set into the trees, though most is hand painted, and another French locket with its pearl surround still intact.

A piece I treasure greatly and wear on occasion is this delightful 18th century mourning bracelet. It came to me un-strung, so I added the pearls. It has a beautiful sepia and hairwork design set inside under glass. A real treasure.

Next time I will show you some of the hairwork pieces I have in frames. They are, at the moment, packed away as I will be moving soon, but when I get time I will photograph them and share them with you.

New listings and SALE items

I don’t often have sales in my jewellery store but today I marked down quite a few pieces that have been slow to sell. They are lovely but maybe they weren’t priced right. See all sale items HERE.

Meantime I am making the most of the Easter long weekend to put together a few new designs from beautiful antique elements that I have been hoarding for quite a while now. I have a batch of new gemstones on their way to me from India and will be getting down to more making very soon.

Firstly, these colourful and elegant earrings made with antique French bracelet links, along with Prehnite and Apatite gemstones. You can see the full listing HERE.

Today I also made this rather stunning necklace, which features a rare and unusual antique French aide de memoire along with a very ornate Art Nouveau belt buckle. The big blue gemstones are Kyanite. You can see the full listing HERE.

If you like antique fashion prints, there are some I have recently listed in my other store, HERE.

I am an avid collector of antique fashion prints, and the ones listed in my store date to around 1830 – all are original, such as the one below.

Some interesting book lockets

For many years I have been buying, selling and collecting book lockets. These tiny little souvenirs were popular in France in the mid-1800s through to the mid-1900s. Most that I deal in come from the latter part of the 1800s.

I couldn’t tell you how many I have sold over the years – many! It is always hard to let them go because I never know when I will see another one the same. Some designs and styles are more common that others. For example a Joan of Arc or Lourdes book locket is relatively common. More obscure lockets become available from time to time and I try to buy them

I have a few of these book lockets worked into designs that I wear, and there are a few that I’ve not yet used. Here are four of the more unusual ones.

First up is this delightful purse locket commemorating aviation pioneers. The pictures show various people involved in developing the aviation industry.

I’ve never seen another like that one so didn’t hesitate to grab it when I saw it.

Another rather rare book locket is this 1910 calendar, also from France. The rather long concertina pages that pull out have the entire name day calendar for the year of 1910, so you can look up your name day. Sweet!

Napoleon book lockets can be hard to come by. There are a lot of collectors of Napoleon-related things and I felt lucky to come across this one, showing the chateau of Malmaison – home to Josephine Bonaparte.

Last, but not least, is a favourite theme for book lockets – Paris. Paris book lockets come in all shapes and sizes and the reason why this one is a little different is that it has the gargoyles of Notre Dame featured on the front. Most Paris book lockets have either the Eiffel Tower or a generic ‘souvenir’ cover.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of book lockets. Next time I write about them I will feature the ones I have used in designs which are also quite rare and too special for me to let go of.

Weird and wacky visions of the future

I found these intriguing images while searching around online at WikiCommons. These postcards were produced in France in the late 1800s and early 1900s to show a vision of the future for ‘France in the 21st century’. I’ve not posted all of the images here, but there are a lot that are to do with flying – flying police, flying people, flying battles. It’s very interesting to see that the future, as foretold in these images, still has people dressed the same as in the day, using machinery that looks the same as in the day – it’s the function that has changed, not the design or style.

People flying around La Place de L’Opera in Paris

An air ship

Roller skates with motors attached at the back

Facetime – as they saw it over 100 years ago

Getting the newspaper via audio

There’s a reason why…

…I haven’t written much lately. It’s because I have:

1. finished a job
2. packed up our house
3. sold our house
4. moved interstate
5. unpacked our house
6. bought a car
7. found a new job
8. started working in a new job.

Today was the first day since I arrived here in Brisbane a few weeks ago that I’ve had a moment to stop and relax (though I spent the day doing last year’s tax return). The reason for this lull? A cyclone has been lurking up further north, which sent two days of torrential rain down our way. You can’t really go anywhere unless you want to get drenched or slip off the road.

That does not mean I haven’t stopped making things. Au contraire. The local post office doesn’t know what has hit it, with all my parcels of treasures coming in from France and around the world. Here is some of what I’ve made.

Antique Assemblage Necklace featuring a rare Joan of Arc book locket, Lorraine cross, medal, antique mother of pearl rosary beads and antique chain.

I’ve been collecting Joan of Arc bits and pieces for over a year new. They are hard to come by and this necklace is chock full of very rare pieces. In particular, the book locket that is the centrepiece is quite a rare design. The photos inside are in great condition and they portray the life of this revered and popular French saint.

I made another Joan of Arc piece, this time a more simple necklace that features a beautiful rosary chain with hand cut beads, little medallions and a lovely Joan of Arc mirror locket.

The centrepiece was once a brooch and features a blue enamelled brooch that has the Lorraine cross and two griffins either side. A lovely, ornate piece. Here’s a close-up of the mirror locket.

And what about these delightful spoon earrings? I originally bought the spoons thinking that they were full size, and I was going to cut the tops off to use in an earring design. When they arrived I found that they were quite small – salt spoons. So I kept them intact and used them in this design with a simple embellishment of garnets and pearls. Here’s a closeup of the tops:

I absolutely love this sweet necklace. The chain is very ornate but quite dainty. An original photo brooch has been featured as the centrepiece, and the necklace also includes the original fob and clasps from the chain.