Umbel
This is my favourite flower form.
Each one is like a little firework. Some of the humblest wildflowers are umbels (’umbles?), from pignut and cow parsley to wild carrot, hogweed and ground elder (shown above).
My bronze fennel has been a favourite hoverfly watering hole for weeks.
The explosive yet simple umbel shape has been an inspiration for many.
Lucienne Day’s ‘Calyx’
I rarely get time to explore the designs crowding my own head at the moment but this summer’s umbel flowers have been shouting at me to make something. My enamel skills are still developing and I’m currently working on getting the consistency of the suspension right when I apply it to the clay. I don’t always succeed.
I’ve started with an agapanthus - a rather showy flower but one that reminds me of Cornwall. Mine is beautiful at the moment.
It’s very far from perfect but I’m getting there with this.
There’ll be more umbels to come I expect. An elderflower might be next.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Love it.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Beautiful! I love how your fascination with science and nature so inspires your jewellery!
Lucy x
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Oh how I love the umbels too, they attract me all year round - your pendant is so very VERY VERY beautiful - I covet!
Sending love
Carolyn
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Ooooh me too! Lovage, fennel, parsley, corander, angelica, alexanders, sweet cecily are a must in my garden
Then there’s the uninvited ones – cow parsley, hogweed, burnet saxifrage…
Fresh and flowery or seeded skeletons - umbels are beautiful
love the way the pendant is progressing
Celia
x
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Wow. That’s stunning. I might have to store that up as a possible Christmas present for my MIL this year, she’d love it.
xMx
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
One of my favourites too, your necklace is gorgeous.
Twiggy x
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
That is gorgeous! I have to agree the shapes these form are spectacular.
Have a lovely week,
Nina x
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Your pendant is gorgeous. Love it!
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I am a huge umbel fan too-such a simple design but strikingly complex too. It works so well in your pendant.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm
gorgeous I love umbels too. Elderflowers probably my favourite but also orlaya grandiflora if you can find it - just perfect.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Oh Missus P that is some beautiful jewellery work. If you let lettuces bolt far enough they too look a bit like that. Or so I have heard
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Love the necklace too - my agapanthus are glorious now as well, both blue and white ones. But I am most envious of those curls I see - are they yours? My brother had curls but my hair has always been straight as a die. It’s just not fair!
August 4th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Soooo pretty Ms. Pebble! I just love your silverwork. I’ve never heard of an umbel though — it reminds me of what we call Queen Anne’s Lace? I suppose it’s not the same???
August 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Those flower forms are really delicate. Well done in transfoming them into silver. x
August 4th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Emma that its just beautiful!
x
August 4th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Truly delightful!
August 4th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Really lovely!
August 4th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Another lovely post - I love umbellifers too and the silver necklace inspired by Agapanthus is beautiful! Thanks for commenting on Home Spun, hopefully it will turn into at least an annual event? Best wishes.
Lesley
August 5th, 2009 at 9:35 am
It’s lovely with an art nouveau feel to it.x
August 5th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
The silver necklace inspired by your agapanthus is really lovely, even though you say it is not perfect! I adore silver jewellery and have always preferred it to gold. Thanks also for your lovely comments over at mine.
Jeanne
x
August 5th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Oh Emma, it’s even prettier than I thought it would be when you were describing it! Clever girl!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
stunning.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Oh how beautiful!
Love
Lyn
xxx
PS Thankyou for visiting my blog!
August 6th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Hi Emma
I have nominated you for an award, without obligation, details over at mine
Regards Terry
August 6th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I can’t believe i didn’t comment on this..the phone must have rung just as i was about to. I think its absolutely gorgeous. I love Lucienne day too and the umbellifore (?) shape is a beautiful design motif.
Keep going with the silver ones.
Oh..your verification words are ‘brooding’ and ‘age’ how very appropriate for me.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
The silver pendant is beautiful. I love cowparsley and have been known to have a vase of it on the mantlepiece. The butterfly video and photo are so lovely. I found your blog via Professor Yaffle and will visit again. Keep up the nerdiness!
August 9th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Oh, this is beautiful. I’ve always admired this shape also but never knew about it being called an umbel!
August 11th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Those flowers are all stunning and include so many of my faves, including my absolute top flower, Agapanthas. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for coming to see me on my blog, cos it’s led me right back to you
August 19th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Hoverflies have been swarming around my bronze fennel too. Definitely a favourite of theres. An umbel is a great design idea for jewellery. x