A Galaxy Of All The Gems In The World

#39.

Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to keep any pieces for myself until I've got the shop stocked to the max but I just couldn't resist this piece with all the colours of the rainbow.

But don't you worry for I've got quite a bit of this happy fabric - Fredrika by Helen Trast.

Keep checking back here!

Alright, got to go sew now. x

A Strand Of Contaminated Turquoise (SOLD)

#38.

No, it's not going to turn your neck green, silly. "Contaminated", as in "slightly tainted by other colours". Which is pretty cool, I think.

This is the mother lode - a very very small piece of discontinued Marimekko fabric that I've been saving, hoping to find more so that I can make a bigger piece of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels. Haven't had any luck so I thought why not just make a simple strand of "gems"?

I mean, all the major labels have "entry level" pieces so why can't The Empress Dowager's New Jewels have some too? Pieces which are smaller thus more affordable but still retains all the qualities that makes it a unique piece of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels.

So here you go, hopefully the first of many "entry-level" pieces to come, A Strand Of Contaminated Turquoise. I'd grab it if I were you.

SOLD!

A Delicate Cascade Of Emerald & Pink Topaz Clowns (SOLD)

#37. Another piece for those who were clamouring for colours!

Pretty Spring-like, don't you think? The green of leaves and the pink of new buds?

Again, the "gems" are cut from the mad piece of fabric by Cilla Ramnek that I made #36 from.

On this, I used the wonky "emerald" and "pink topaz" squares.

Here is the crazy headache-inducing (to some) side of gathers looking like a garden in full bloom.

Go on! Wear some flowers on around your neck this Spring!

SOLD!

A Clump Of Musky Hot Pink Topaz (SOLD!)

#36.

Don't the "gems" look like those musk sticks that we used to eat as kids? But squooshed? Haha.

There have been some requests to see more bright colours so here you are (more to follow).

Don't get me wrong, I love colours (see back-catalogue in sidebar on your right). It's just that we've just had Autumn and Winter here in Australia and I kind of like making things in the (non)colours that I like to wear during the colder months?

Anyway, Spring is just round the corner so expect to see loads of COLOURS around here.

Made from this piece of fabric from Ikea - Katarina by Cilla Ramnek.

This Clump Of Musky Hot Pink Topaz is made from "gems" cut from the pink and white wavy bit at the bottom.

You know you want it! To wear with those cute little Spring/Summer dresses.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off - no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The smaller "gems" measure 3cm in diameter and the larger ones are 4.5cm
~ From the first "gem" on the left to the last one on the right: 31cm
~ Length of ribbon-tie: 38.5cm on each side (to allow for the wearing of your "jewels" at various lengths)

~ SOLD! ~

A Clump Of Russian Agate

#35. Finally, a new piece up for sale!

It's been loads of fun making pieces for my pals and myself but I have to put a stop to that for a while to keep the shop well-stocked.

Have had this piece of fabric for a while now - I shortened the length on my gorgeous Veronika Maine dress last winter, maybe.

And now, I've made the off-cuts into yet another piece of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels.

If you visit this blog often enough, you will know that I like naming the pieces after gemstones or minerals that the fabric "gems" resemble. This piece does look like Russian Agate, doesn't it? Or am I delusional?

Anyway, this Clump Of Russian Agate can be yours if you want it.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love.
~ Each piece is a one-off - no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ The smaller "gems" measure 2.5cm in diameter and the larger ones are 4.5cm
~ From the first "gem" on the left to the last one on the right: 31cm
~ Length of ribbon-tie: 38.5cm on each side (to allow for the wearing of your "jewels" at various lengths)

Price:
~ Given to Auntie Mei for Christmas!

A Galaxy Of Swirly Onyx

#34. For my bloggy-pal Ms Carpet.

She went slightly mad at Ikea recently and bought quite a bit of fabric for some super-creative home improvement projects.

I asked if she would like me to make her a piece of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels to match her new lampshade and draft stopper from her leftover scraps of Cilla Ramnek's crazy-swirly Saralisa fabric and she said, "Yes."

When we met up for drinks a few weeks ago, she brought me not off-cuts but at least a metre! And that was after she was done with her own DIY projects. Told you she went a little mad at Ikea. Haha.

Anyway, here it is. Her Galaxy of Swirly Onyx. Now she can wear it out together with her lampshade as a hat and her draft stopper a a belt.

And the generous Ms Carpet has decided that she wants me to keep the rest of the fabric! Thank you, sweets!

So keep your eyes peeled for new pieces in this loopy graphic print. Of course they will not be exactly like Ms Carpet's necklace because no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels will ever look the same, remember?

Edit-to-add: See the "jewels" on their new mistress here.

Broken (Pink Tourmaline) Dream

#33. And it is not for sale. Sorry, guys.

I have had quite a few requests for pieces made from this pixel-print "Pink Tourmaline" fabric since #11 but I'm afraid the tiny piece is all I have.

Well, had. Whatever that was left from making the first piece has now gone into this. And I'm keeping it (my Aquamarine Dream needs a sister).

Or maybe giving it to someone I know who would love it (and appreciate the work of Mike & Maaike) as much as I do.

It's called Broken (Pink Tourmaline) Dream not because the necklace is faulty but because the pink "dream" is "broken" by white "gems" at the end - ran out of fabric.

So, go ahead, perv all you want but you can't have it. *evil laugh*

But I promise, if I ever find the fabric again, you see pixellated pieces up for sale here.

And if you do find some, I'd be more than happy to make a commissioned piece for you.

A Galaxy Of Rock(Candy) - Sold

#32.

My third piece using this colourful stripey fabric - first one here and the second here.

I like how it looks normal on one side...

...and swirly crazy-mad on the other.

SOLD!

For Sale: Dainty Bullets Of Shimmery Turquoise

#31.

Turquoise is my favourite stone and I wonder why it took me so long to make a piece with it!

The "gems" on Dainty Bullets of Shimmery Turquoise are cut from a piece of glittery-plastic-coated cotton.

To see the tiny specks of shiny silver, click on image to enlarge.

Product Information:
~ All pieces are 100% handstitched with love
~ Each piece is a one-off - no two pieces of The Empress Dowager's New Jewels are the same
~ Each "gem" measures 2.5cm in diameter
~ From the first "gem" on the left to the last one on the right: 27cm
~ Length of ribbon-tie: 38.5cm on each side (to allow for the wearing of your "jewels" at varying lengths)

Price:
~ AU$49.00 (for currency converter, click here) - cheap for a one-of-a-kind piece compared to those mass-produced chainstore trinkets!

To purchase:
~ Click here for shipping and payment information

A Bunch Of Emerald Leaves (Sold)

#30.

Made from an old miniskirt that I bought many Summers ago, when I still had spider vein-free legs.

My leg-showing days are over and the fabric was too pretty to waste so here's A Bunch of Emerald Leaves for you.
SOLD!

A Galaxy Of Choco Powerpuffs

#29. For my pal, the Powerpuff, back in Singapore.

I don't usually show the "commissioned" pieces before their new mistresses receive them but no surprises here - the Powerpuff visited recently and picked the fabric and "setting" herself.

This strand of fuzzy soft brown suede will be on its way to her tomorrow. Hope it's how she's pictured it when she first placed her order a few weeks ago!

For those of you who might like something similar for yourselves, I will be making more in the same suede-like fabric, in a selection of colours, for sale soon. Watch this space!

Edit-to-add: You can view the Jewels on my pal here.