Frit Blue | Gold Filled
Karen Southey
$65.00
Frit Earrings Blue on Gold Filled
Handmade lampwork glass beads made with a base of 'Effetre' super clear glass then val cox Lemuria frit is melted into the surface.
Hooks and Glass Beads are handmade by Karen
Hooks, beads and findings are 14/20 Gold Filled
Length from top of hook: approximately 38mm
Gold-filled jewellery is a much higher quality than Gold plated jewellery. It is composed of a solid layer of Gold (typically constituting at least 5% of the item's total weight).
Most high quality gold-filled pieces have the same appearance as high carat gold, and gold-filled items, even with daily wear, can last 10 to 30 years. The layer of gold on gold-filled items is 5 to 10 times thicker than that produced by regular gold plating.
About
Karen Southey is a glass bead and jewellery maker based in Te Kopuru, Northland. She has been creating jewellery for over a decade and loves every step of the process from the making of glass beads to j=bespoke jewellery pieces.
Having experimented with various styles and techniques in her jewellery making journey, in 2014 Karen took a weekend course at 'Born to Bead' and fell in love with the process. She has been making her own beads ever since then.
Each bead is carefully crafted in a very hot flame and then immediately put in a kiln to cool gradually for several hours to cure. Karen mainly use Italian glass (Effetre) and some American (Double Helix) and also enjoys transforming broken antique bottle glass, found in Kaipara, into beautiful beads and sustainable jewellery for everyday use.