Thank you for the compliment!

I don’t stiffen my lace, I use it as is. I like the softnesss of incorporating textiles into jewellery. However, if I have cut out the pattern, I will put a bit of glue on my finger and run it along the edges. This makes sure that it won’t unravel or fray, and it gives the edges a bit of structure.

You just have to make sure that the design sits or hangs properly, and doesn’t flop. For instance, this neckpiece needed to be a choker, sitting right up against the neck (I made it a little longer at first, and it looked like a clown ruffle – not good! :D) It also needed a substantial clasp, not because of the weight of the piece, but for structure. Try a design, then see how it wears – if it needs a bit more support somewhere, add it. Adding slightly weightier elements, like the coral sticks I used, or metals, provides a bit of grounding to the piece, as well as adding interest.

Or you could start by adding lace flowers into a piece made primarily of another material. That way you could get a feel for working with lace.

Two Christmases ago I did some lace jewellery – long dangly earrings in black and in cream with crystals, and matching earrings. It was very popular. Because lace is light, you can wear big earrings. If you had a problem with earrings drooping a bit and you couldn’t add more support because of the design, that’s a case where you could probably add a touch of starch, but I haven’t experimented with that.

Have fun with it – lace is a joy to work with, and a delight to wear!

Did you do anything to the lace to “stiffen” it – I have another friend who makes lace ornaments and she uses starch (I think) to stiffen the lace first? That seems to me that it would be a little scratchy to wear. Just wondering if you used the lace “as is” or not. Your embellished lace is just gorgeous!!

The closest was the first picture, but I had to do that with the night setting, with the flash on, so I couldn’t get detail shots with that. The detail shots make the lace look very faded, not the beautiful bright spring green that it is.

You’re right about textiles causing a different feel to jewellery. I personally absolutely love it, but I also like to add a bit of weight and grounding to it by combining it with beads, metal, etc. That way I get the best of all! I’m definitely becoming more and more of a mixed media artist I think.

What a different feel lace brings to a necklace, compared to chain, cord, or a strand of beads. And I really like how you embellished the lace with the coral-stick flowers and other great details.

The filigree works well with the fabric lace – I like the idea of it as metal lace.

Thanks so much for sharing this lovely, unique jewelry set, Tamara!