Introducing my new Mermaid Jewellery Collection

This mermaid collection features handmade pieces of jewelry inspired by the ocean and endless seas. The collection contains jewellery made from real shells, amethyst points, quartz and precious gemstones.

My Etsy store will be updated in two instalments. Featured in the collection will be :

1. Lost treasure necklace , natural seashell attached with bronze hoop to a gold chain

2. Sands of Time pendant, spiral seashell with gold detailing

3. Mermaids treasure pendant, Large seashell with gold detailing

3. Beyond the sea earrings, turquoise dangle and drop earrings

4. Seawater necklace, Sodalite necklace in a tear drop design with gold chain

4. Lunar explorer pendant, Amethyst wire wrap necklace (release date TBC)

5. Cascade necklace, Quartz point wire wrap necklace (release date TBC)

6. Moonlit dreams necklace, Polished quartz wire wrap necklace (release date TBC)

Beyond the sea earrings

Mermaids Treasure pendant

Sands of Time pendant

Inspirations behind the Mermaid Jewellery Collection

While designing this collection I took influence from Victorian painters, the Pre-Raphaelite movement, the seashores, vast oceans, and other natural elements. All images are not my won and sourced from pinterest to create this virtual moodboard.

A Mermaid By John William Waterhouse (1901)

Endless Seas

The moon and stars

Huge waterfalls

Crystals and Gemstones

Stardust, Folklore & Magic

The fairies

The Fairies
by William Allingham

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!

Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain lake,
With frogs for their watch-dogs,
All night awake.

High on the hill-top
The old King sits;
He is now so old and gray
He’s nigh lost his wits.
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with music
On cold starry nights,
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.

....

My favourite nature books

I thought I'd write a little blog post sharing some of my favourite nature books, as it is a question I get asked so often on Instagram. This is the first, of what I will hope will be, a small series of posts on my most loved books. I do have quite a few so I thought I'd share little glimpses into a few of my most treasured.

Some of my favourite places to look for botanical books include thrift stores,  car boot sales, community/charity shops and local libraries. I prefer to buy the books second hand as not only is this more affordable but the older books often contain beautiful illustrations as opposed to modern colour photography. I often pay less than a few pounds for each book.

I use the books to read,  to draw from and for inspiration for my jewellery collections at www.owlandwallflower.etsy.com.

Flowers of the Countryside by Marjorie Blamey's.

It's no secret that I love Marjorie Blamey's work. Her illustrations are so beautiful. I few months ago I borrowed her book "Wildflowers by Colour" from a local library and fell in love with her detailed, colourful watercolour botanical depictions. Sadly, I had to return this book to the library but was kindly gifted with this book by my parents. It contains countless beautiful botanical illustrations and is so lovely to look through.

The observer's book of Butterflies

I love this little book so much. There was a whole series of these published (some of which I own and will share on future blog posts) and I love the older editions with the traditional linen colours best. It's a simple pocket guide and will easily fit inside a handbag or rucksack to take with you to identify your discoveries. I came across this book at a car boot sale a couple of years ago and purchased it for just 50p.

The Country Diary Herbal by Sarah Hollis

This book is so lovely. It contains beautiful colourful illustrations alongside detailed information and advice. I've been really interested in herbalism and natural healing for quite a few years so this has been a really interesting read. I was given this book for a Christmas gift this year by my Mum. It contains a comprehensive, alphabetical directory of herbs and their uses followed by descriptions of how to use the herbs for cosmetics,  healing and cooking. There is also a really interesting section on how to create your own herb garden that I would definitely recommend.

And of course the text is accompanied by the images of Edith Holden's beautiful original drawings.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year