Stained Glass Re-Creations
by Tamara Summers.
(Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)
Hi Everyone,
A few months ago I was in my favorite secondhand shop, and something special caught my eye. It was a large colorful exotic bird, made by wire-wrapping different colors and shapes of glass with thick copper-plated metal. It was a beautiful creation just as it was, but all I could think of was that I wanted to take it apart and make jewellery out of it! It sat on one of my worktables until recently, when I decided “it was time”. The first part of the bird that I went for were the wings. They contained beautiful pieces of pink opaque stained glass.
The copper plating had worn away in some places, but I thought that it had a beautiful vintage look. My first thought was to make a pair of earrings out of them, but as I held them in my hands and played with them, I noticed that if I held them together in a certain way, they looked like a beautiful pair of angel wings. That was significant to me because within the past few months I have started to create a line of angel jewellery. So I wired the wings together as the starting point for my necklace. I added some chunks of rose quartz, red glass beads, and pieces of recycled chain.
I chose a vintage clasp to complete the look. When I held it up, I decided that the wings needed to sparkle, and I had just the right amount and color of aurora borealis flat-back swarovski crystals. I also made a pair of matching rose quartz earrings. I was very happy with my new angel-wing necklace and earring set. Because of the warm tone of the copper, and the shades of fire in the crystals, it’s lovely with Tangerine Tango!
I noticed that there were a few more pieces of the pink stained glass within the body of the bird, so I went excavating again. In looking through my supplies to see what I would like to do with these lovely pieces, I found a large vintage filigree pin. I decided to use that as a base. I wired them on, including some fuchsia freshwater pearls. I added some mauve Chinese crystals this time for sparkle, and attached it to a cord I had in just the right shade of pink. I made sure the pendant could slip off the end of the clasp so that it could be worn either way. Something that struck me was how the same pieces of pink stained glass could make jewellery with a cool look with the silver metal and mauve and fuchsia elements, and a warm look with the copper and hot tones of the aurora borealis.
These pieces have already been sold. I sell wholesale to someone who lives about an hour away from me, and she spoke for them. She has a display of my jewellery in a hair salon, and also, recently, in a spa.
Tamara Summers
Pink Pearls by Tamara
Comments:
Thank you, Rena
by: Tamara
Rena, I just wanted to thank you so much for choosing to post my submission in the newsletter! Especially since it’s the first time I’ve submitted any of my work to your website. It was a thrill for me to see it there. It’s actually the first time my work has been posted online anywhere. I’ve had a jewellery business for 2 1/2 years, but all of it has been done off-line. I’m not technically-inclined, and it’s only been the past several months that I’ve been learning how to photograph my jewellery and use the computer to best benefit my business. Your website has been key in motivating me to that end. One of my first goals for this year was to submit something here, and I’m happy to have accomplished that goal. Thank you again for your support in that!
Lovely!!
by: Beverly
Just loved this Tamara!
Thank You
by: Tamara
Thank you, Beverly! So nice of you to take the time to tell me so!
Wings of creation
by: Rena
Tamara, it was my pleasure to feature your work in the newsletter! And I’m always thrilled to see all the things everyone posts here in the gallery.
I’m honored that your first-ever showing of your work online was right here!
I really like your innovative approach to making jewelry, and I enjoyed the story of how the unique piece featured here came together.
Thank you for sharing your artistry with us!
Exceptional!
by: ‘a little bit of everything!’
Oh Tamara! How lovely your work is!!! You are so very creative and I’m so happy your work is here for ALL to see! It deserves at least that much!
Please keep me posted with all your new works of Art.
Thank you
Liana
Thank You, Liana!
by: Tamara
Thank you so much for coming to my page and leaving such a nice message, Liana! It means so much to me. Of course, I’ll always let you know what I’m up to … my jewellery-business roots are with you!
Such Vision!
by: Dr. Gail Devoid
I find it noteworthy that you could see a piece and have the vision to know it would make some great jewelry pieces. What you did with the glass is excellent work, and I am glad you are now using the Internet to share it.
I come from the opposite end of the scale when it comes to the Internet. Because it is difficult for me to get around (I have mobility issues), the Internet provided me a way to learn, to share, and finally teach and sell.
Your pieces are wonderful, and I am sure you have many more that are just as lovely.
Thank You!
by: Tamara
Thank you so much, Dr. Devoid, for looking at my work and taking the time to leave a comment! Your compliment means a lot to me.
It is so interesting how we all create and sell jewellery, but our journeys and stories are so different. I feel that the stories are as important as the pieces created.
