Irish fairy and angel jewelry

Look what fluttered in!

Irish Connemara marble angel or fairy pendant

This little lady is made from rare, Irish Connemara marble. You can read about this ancient stone in my previous post A snippet about Connemara marble.

Irish sea glass fairy or Christmas angel

Sea glass is recycling at it's best as it is a material recycled and improved by nature! It takes decades for the ocean to naturally tumble a piece of glass, buffing and frosting it until it is fit for use in jewelry and other decorative items. This beautiful sea glass fairy or angel works as a sun catcher or a Christmas ornament. 

blue fairy pendant

The blue fairy makes a pretty pendant. As her skirt is semi transparent she too would look fantastic surrounded by fairy lights or hung in the window where she can catch the sunlight. 

ABC. F is for Fairies, Fluorite, Feldspar and Fan Necklaces

Continuing my ABC of Jewellery, (a not-so-comprehensive guide to jewellery, jewellery making techniques and materials I use, design inspirations etc) F is fun and fantastical with Fairies! In terms of materials it includes Fluorite, Feldspar and Findings and in design it brings us to Fan necklaces.  Encompassing a huge array of crafting supplies,  'Findings' will get a post all of its own next.

Fluorite is a semi transparent gemstone. It is the mineral form of Calcium Fluoride and comes in so many hues it has been nicknamed 'the most colourful mineral in the world.' The most common shades are blues, purples and greens, and next is yellow or clear. Often it boasts more than one tone and can have gorgeous banding.

The ancient Egyptians and the Chinese have carved the mineral for decorative purposes for centuries. In the 1700s the mineral was believed to cure ailments of the kidney. Apothecaries would grind the fluorite into a powder to be dissolved in water and ingested as medicine. Please do not try this at home folks!

 large labradorite pendant  and  amazonite earrings

Feldspar is a large group of rock forming minerals. Forming approximately 60% of the earth's crust, it is the most plentiful mineral group on the planet. (You  can find the science bit HERE on Wikipedia.) The name comes from the German 'feldt spat,' meaning field stone. Seemingly when it erodes, it releases nutrients such as potassium into the soil, enriching plant life.

The feldspar gemstones most often used for jewellery are amazonite, moonstone, labradorite, obisidan and a black tourmaline (schorl tourmaline.) 

labradorite pendant  and labradorite earrings

Of these, labradorite is my favourite. It is a feldspar found mostly in Labrador, Canada and is famed for its blue flash when it catches the light. Metaphysically, the stone is associated with the delaying of aging but let's not tell the skin cream companies.

red gemstone fan necklace

F is also for Fan necklaces, a currently popular style of chunky, statement neckwear and a cousin of the collar neck piece. As the name suggests, it is designed to fan out and is therefore, an excellent choice for breaking up a wide area of skin when wearing low necklines. It also can create a little drama worn over a high, plain neckline. The style has origins in tribal, African jewellery and other ethnic cultures including Native American, Amazonian, Aztec, Egyptian and more. The fan shape in this carnelian necklace is created with petal-like stones, drilled laterally at the top.

Ireland is a land associated with Folklore and Fairies, so they naturally belong in my collection.You can find 2 types of Fairies (and/or angels) in my inventory; larger sea glass ornaments and smaller, beaded charms or pendants.

sea glass fairy angel ornament or sun catcher

I wire wrap more unusual sea glass fairies, which are a type of art doll or home decor and usable as sun catchers, Christmas ornaments and large pendants for adults. They are not suitable as toys or as pendants for children but do make pretty nursery decorations to hang out of reach. 

Genuine sea glass has been tumbled, smoothed and frosted by the ocean over several decades. I believe the wire work should be just as aesthetic as the glass without overwhelming it. I have developed my skills to create a style of wrapping that is lightweight and pretty in appearance but very secure. This shows off the glass and makes for very light and airy looking sea glass fairies.

Irish belief in fairies goes back to, at least, Celtic times and is much more complex than our love of whimsy and story telling.  I found this interview with Dr Jenny Butler, Folklorist and Lecturer, very interesting from a social history point of view. Be aware, it's not short, so pop the kettle on.

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CLICK HERE FOR THE ABC SERIES SO FAR

or by letter:
A  B  C  (plus C for Crimping ) D E

Fairy Invasion

***News Flash*** The fairies have fluttered in in force to my Etsy shop!

The blue fairy (chalcedony stone)

These little ladies will look great on your Christmas tree but come January you can use them as a rear view mirror charm, zip pull or purse charm. You can also choose to receive the small fairies as a pendant with a bail instead. They are just the right size for a necklace.

carnelian fairy

This dainty little butterfly fairy is made with carnelian stone. Available as a pendant or ornament/charm.

Blue fairy with agate stone base.

This pale blue butterfly fairy (or angel) with clear agate stone base and baby blue glass will pick up the lights of your Christmas tree beautifully. She'd make a pretty miniature sun catcher come summer. Or how about that something blue, attached to the wedding bouquet, for example?

   

wire wrapped sea glass fairy made in Ireland

And for something a bit more unusual, my sea glass fairies make good conversation pieces for the tree or hung in the window.  They would delight a little girl if purchased as a decoration or sun catcher for her room. (please keep out of reach of small children. They are not toys.) The two with wire wrapped skirts are larger than the dainty beaded fairies and not really suitable for pendants, but the one with the stacked sea glass skirt is just the right size for an adult or older child. Please ask in advance of purchase if you would like them modified.

For more fairies, angels and Connemara marble ornaments, click HERE

Gift Ornaments, Fairies and Charms

Handmade by Amo'r is not just about jewellery and accessories. I also make wire wrapped ornaments, fairies, suncatchers and other pretty things to decorate your home, your festive tree or hang on your rear view mirror.

Irish Sea Glass Suncatcher, ornament or pendant

 Sea glass makes great suncatchers and Christmas ornaments as it looks spectacular with the light shining through it. I keep mine simple and versatile. You can choose where to hang it and if you prefer, you can even put it on your favourite chain and wear this one as a pendant.

sea glass and crystal fairy

  I teamed this drilled sea glass with silver componants and pink crystal to make a cute fairy. It will catch the light beautifully. The crystal adds extra sparkle and would be perfect for hanging in a little girl's bedroom. It would make a realy cool thank you gift for a young bridesmaid or flower girl.

 

So too will this pink heart and crystal ornament. But again, a grown up could wear either of these ornaments as pendants. Alternatively you could hang them on your Christmas tree or on the car rear view mirror.

For more ornaments, angels and fairies click HERE

More Fairies Listed

This summer I introduced whimsical fairy ornaments and buttterfly and angel charms into my Etsy shop. This week a few new ones have fluttered in:

 

This pink butterfly fairy charm is made with real coral. She comes on a cell phone charm and can be hung on your bag, used as a zip pull or ornament or attached to your rear view mirror.

This larger, cobalt blue fairy or angel is just as versatile. She would make a stunning sun catcher too as the light really picks out the deep sapphire of the vintage glass beads. She comes on a rubber tie for hanging, but I can remove it if you prefer to use your own ribbon or to wear her as a pendant.

And this seaglass butterfly fairy is very special as she is made with vintage, Irish seaglass that I picked up on the shore here in Dublin. Again, she can be used as an ornament, sun catcher, rear view mirror charm or worn as a pendant.

Watch this spot as more will fly in over the next couple of months......

In The Pink

Those of you who know my more serious work will think I am away with the fairies these days. And you would be right:

Butterfly Fairy Ornament

I've gone all girlie lately. Yesterday I introduced my new line of angels and fairies and other pink ornaments into my Etsy shop, Handmade by Amo'r. Today the frivolity continues.

Pink heart ornament

Baby girl angel charm, ornament or sun catcher

 And I have more to come! All this magic and cutesiness is making me dizzy. I blame it on my charming young niece. Click HERE to see how it all started.

I think I best list a few Irish seaglass and Connemara marble items and restore some order......