45/52 Joyful Parrot Fob

I couldn't post this one before Christmas as it was a present! :D

It is made in fine silver and about 4cm high. The colour is all enamel. It is a fob...designed to be attached to a pocket watch chain, hence the style of clasp on it. 

It's double sided and both sides are enamelled so it doesn't matter if it turns while it is being worn. 

It's quite thick to make it nice and strong.

I've been promising to make this piece for several years! Somehow each time I tried to start it I just couldn't come up with a design or style that I liked.

Parrots are very special in our family (my maiden name is Parrott ;) ), so any old parrot just wouldn't do - it had to be right!! It also had to be very bright and colourful (of course!)!! This is based on a macaw.

This year I've been making a lot more enamelled pieces in this sort of style and when I thought about it I realised, at last, it was perfect way to make the parrot. 

 I now have one very happy brother ;)

Have fun!

Joy x 

At Long Last Those Photos...

I kept promising you these photos and today while I was at my parents I actually remembered to take them!
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The story of these pieces is that a couple of months before Christmas when I was over at my parents my Dad pointed at their placemats (pictured above) and said could I make Mum a set of jewellery based on them for him to give her for Christmas. We decided a change of flowers would work better and this is what I came up with. Our family name is Parrott so anything with a parrot on is always a collectible to us!! :-)
. The pendant and matching earrings are made in Art Clay silver with lab grown rubies (Mums favourite colour stones) fired in place. The second set of earrings are very light and just an everyday pair to match in with the pendant when she does not want to wear the more formal silver ones. The quality of the photos is not too good but I had to improvise with a chair seat as a background!!

She really liked the set so there we are - just goes to show you can get inspiration from anywhere :)