Chenoa Ellinghaus

I would like to introduce you to Chenoa Ellinghaus. Chenoa is a fellow colleague on Etsy that shares the same passion as my self in ancient times gone by. I will let Chenoa tell you more.

Temples, sun, sand, and mummies are some of the first images that spring to mind when thinking about ancient Egypt. In the early 20th century the mysteries surrounding this vibrant culture inspired explorers and cheap horror fiction. For all of the emphasis on death, the Egyptians where focused on the beauty of life, particularly the continuance of it.

Life is what I bring to my art and my jewelry. The deities of ancient Egypt are often miss represented, Anubis as an example is seen as a sadistic lord of the dead. This is far from the truth, for he what is called a “cool spirit,” a god that is calm and relatively neutral except when he protects and preserves the soul for its journey to the afterlife. To the best of my ability, through extensive research I accurately imbue each deity portrait with the meaning, iconography, and expression as perceived by the ancient Egyptians.

This holiday season my new line of sterling silver necklaces will be available in my etsy shop ChenoaEllinghaus. The eight deities that are currently included in my collection are Anubis, Bastet, Set, Horus, Nekhbet, Wepwawet, Hathor, and Thoth.

Check out my shop at:
www.etsy.com/shop/ChenoaEllinghaus

Here is some of Chenoas work. I am  sure you will agree it is amazing!!

Anubis Necklace

Anubis is probably one of the best known ancient Egyptian gods. Known as the god of the underworld, god of the dead. Associated with mummification and the protection of the dead and their journey to the afterlife.

I have been waiting for some time to find a suitable charm to portray him and I think that bronze does him good justice. Suitable for a lady or gentleman on an 18 inch matching bronze chain.

 This necklace can be purchased from my Etsy shop here.

Anubis Necklace

Micro macrame patterns and tutorials.

I have been asked on more than one occasion if I have any patterns for my micro macrame bracelets. If the truth be told my bracelets are normally made up from variations of lots of different patterns all together. So after giving it some thought I have just created my first ever pattern. I have illustrated it through out and it consists of 14 pages of instructions. It needs some knowledge of macrame and in particular larks heads knots and double half hitch knots. The tutorial does not give instructions on how to perform these knots but there is a lot of information freely available on the internet and you tube on how to do these knots.

So here it is. There are instructions on how to do the bracelet with or without a focal button. Have fun.

Micro macrame pattern


I have also edited this post to add a further three more patterns. The first bracelet is a little more difficult but the other two  are both quite easy to follow. The earrings are quick to make and the other bracelets require knowledge of just one knot . The double half hitch knot.

Micro macrame tutorial pattern

Micro macrame pattern for earrings.

Micro macrame patters for two bracelets.

Beads beads and more beads.

Beads beads and more beads.

Last week I received a huge stash of really lovely beads from  Best Beads and I have been working hard ever since. I am delighted with everything about these beads, the quality of them is just first class and to any of my fellow crafters out there I would certainly recommend them. Their shipping is really fast and the choice of different beads is also very very good.

Now then to show you what beads I chose and what I made with them.

Firstly I just had to have to have these beads as they were so reminiscent of ancient Egypt especially reminding me of my favourite building Ramses II temple and the colors it portrays. I combined these lovely marble coated beads with silver bugle beads and a sterling silver Egyptian charm.

Egyptian Necklace with sterling silver pendant.

Matching earrings.

Picasso earrings. Egyptian style marble earrings

Secondly I chose some really pretty colored peacock oil spot beads and complimented them with matching crystals and seed beads and featured a silver plated Isis charm.

Egyptian necklace with crystals and Isis charm. Egyptian jewelry.

SOLD

Matching earrings

Peacock earrings. Egyptian style peacock colored earrings.

Thirdly I chose some of these really pretty cone beads in clear and half coated copper beads which are so sparkly.

The first one using the copper and clear beads and complimenting them with golden crystal beads and a golden Nefertiti charm.

Egyptian beaded necklace with golden Nefertiti charm. Egyptian jewelry.

Matching earrings

Egyptian style earrings. Copper and gold earrings.

The second featuring the clear cones and combing them with silver filigree and clear crackle beads and a silver plated Isis charm.

Egyptian beaded necklace with silver Isis charm. Egyptian jewelry.

Matching earrings.

Egyptian style earrings with crystals.

Last but not least when I first saw these lovely fire polished blue beads I just had to combine them with some pure white frosted sea glass to create this lovely sea glass bracelet.

Sea glass bracelet. Beaded beach glass jewelry.

I also ordered some lovely aquamarine and silver lined seed beads which I am currently using to create a micro macrame bracelet. So stay tuned and I will show you that as soon as I have finished it.

I would however love to know which is your favourite because in all truth I just can not decide. I love them all!

Jar of Dirt

Ok so I am a Pirates of the Caribbean junkie. I have lost count of how many times I have watched all four films and still can't decide which is my favourite. Jack Sparrow though has got to be my hero. O'h to be a pirate drinking rum all day in the Caribbean and sailing the seas. I wish!

I was inspired a few months ago  to create a Jar of Dirt Necklace. I still go around singing. "I got a jar of dirt." When I ever I see them. I have sold a few of these necklaces already but wanted to show them to you for those that haven't seen them.  The one with the key and the white sea glass was my first necklace but today I thought I would create another with brown sea glass and a pirates flag charm.

\Which is your favourite?

I hope you like them as much as I do and you are a big fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean films like me. Can't wait for the next one to come out.

Keep watching my blog too as I will soon have a Davy Jones necklace coming soon!


Jar of Dirt Necklace 

Jar of Dirt Necklace

Sea Glass

I have been crafting now for some time and have my website and Etsy shop where I sell Egyptian jewellery, Micro macrame jewellery and sea glass jewellery.

My latest hobby of beach combing and searching for sea glass has become a bit if an obsession. So much so that I have far too many pieces of sea glass for my own use. So the solution was to set up a little shop on Folksy. The shop is still very young but if you need and sea glass for jewellery making, mosaics, sun catchers or any other craft project you have in mind please check out my little shop.
http://folksy.com/shops/EgyptianInspirations

GIVEAWAY. WIN THIS BRACELET

I have never done a giveaway before so now that the sun is shining and the snow has almost all gone. What could be a better excuse?

The bracelet I am offering is a silver crystal scarab bracelet with cubic zirconias. It's a stretch bracelet so one size fits all.

Now I suppose you are wondering how to enter.
Just visit my facebook page and like and share. Simples.
Entries close Midnight Tuesday 2nd April 2013
Here is the link to my facebook page

Egyptian Collars

I have spent some time recently creating some new and more elaborate Egyptian collars. Egyptian collars were worn from around 3000 BCE to 300 BCE, when the Romans conquered Egypt. Probably why today they are also known as Cleopatra collars. The collars were worn to stand out, as many Egyptian clothes were quite plain. Egyptian collars were also in very high demand in the 1920s when they were also seen in Vogue.

I used a traditional netting pattern on all the designs and elaborated on them slightly.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Egyptian Collar in Pink and Gold

Egyptian Collar in Turquoise and Gold

Large Egyptian Collar in turquoise carnelian and gold.

Owl Bracelets and necklaces

Quite recently I created a few new micro macrame bracelets featuring owls. Owl jewelry has become very popular lately and I thought I would incorporate them into a few of my new pieces..

As always I try and do a little research to find out if what I am creating has any relation with ancient Egypt. It often surprises me that on most occasions it does and this time is no exception.

There is not a lot of evidence out there about owls in ancient Egypt but the owl is used in the hieroglyphic alphabet as the letter M. It is quite unusual to as it stares straight at you. The owl is also said to have been the symbol of Thoth. God of wisdom and writing. Maybe that is why the symbol of the owl was used in the hieroglyph alphabet. There is also some evidence to suggest that they we also guardians of the underworld.

Below are some of my latest owl bracelets and just one necklace. Hope you enjoy them.

Owl Bracelet

 Owl Bracelet

Owl Bracelet

Owl Necklace