Pearls

Undoubtedly the most important element of my work. The beads I use are glass, Japanese and mainly from the Miyuki brand, some from the Toho brand (also Japanese). The particularity of the Miyuki is that their range of “Delica” pearls is perfectly calibrated for a smooth and regular finish. I recommend them if you want to get into bead weaving

All their varieties of beads come in an impressive number of colors and textures! Frosted, matte or transparent, metallic, galvanized, with a glaze or crystal finish, all these pearls allow a mixture of textures that give depth and vibrancy to the jewel. Nothing to do with coarse plastic beads made in China.

Still in the pearls, I also use faceted glass beads from Bohemia (part of the Czech Republic), an emblematic place for the manufacture of crystal.

The crystal

Speaking of crystal, this is a material that I also use a lot. Previously, I favored Swarovski elements, which unfortunately are no longer made. From now on, I get crystal from the Préciosa brand, of the same quality and the same calibers as the Swarovski brand.

Pure, limpid, with perfect transparency and a brilliance that creates rainbows, crystal is undeniably one of my favorites. I use it in cabochons of different sizes and shapes, set, and often in drops, sometimes cubic or heart beads…

Thread

The threads that I use for hand embroidery in a “needle painting” style are in DMC stranded cotton. They allow a large choice of tones and are of good quality. The thread used for Lunéville crochet embroidery (also called “Haute Couture” embroidery) is called “glove thread”. It is a cotton thread, slightly glazed which, as its name suggests, was formerly used for making gloves. Finally, for some of my hand-embroidered jewellery, I use extremely strong nylon thread, also from the Miyuki brand.

Chains and finishes

The chains I choose are either silver, gold plated, or gold filled. These metals are a guarantee of durability and protect you from allergies. Sleeper earrings and ear hooks are also either silver or gilded with fine gold. Brooch pins are made of steel or gilded with fine gold. For the smallest finishes, such as certain rings and rods, when I can’t find elements gilded with fine gold or silver, I get pieces without nickel and other allergenic metals. You can wear Mythik Mystique jewelry safely

The suede

To cover the back of my jewelry, I use suede with a soft and comfortable feel. I avoid leather out of respect for the animal cause. I am still considering a more eco-friendly option.

The tools

To work, I use various pliers, to bend or to cut, needles or hooks to embroider, but above all it is my hands that do the most. Stitched many times during the creation of each piece, we can say that there is love and the will to do well in all these jewels! The last essential tool for my work are my eyes! For the most precise details and clean finishes, it takes a hawk’s eye. ^^

From now on, you know a little more about the composition of my creations. In each description of my products, I play on the transparency of the origin of my raw materials. I invite you to ask me questions about this in case you want information that is not indicated

To create quality jewelry, you need quality products and materials. This is what allows these creations to last over time. In addition, with each order, you receive a little notice to take care of your piece and keep it impeccably!

If you are curious, here is a little article to enlighten you on the subject

Luneville, what is it?

Lunéville is a town in Lorraine. Long known for its lace and earthenware, it is mainly for its embroidery technique that this place is now known.

This technique is also called crochet embroidery, Haute Couture embroidery or beadwork.

Since when ?

Around 1800, during a visit to Lorraine, Joséphine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon, fell in admiration for the lace of the region. Thanks to the future Empress, the fashion for lace and embroidery is revived. At the time, embroidery was done with needles, then machines appeared and the mechanization of embroidery became tough competition for small workshops. Manual embroidery must diversify. Around 1865, beaded and sequined embroidery was created, identical to what is still done today. The development of this technique progresses until the Roaring Twenties then the crisis of 29 and the second world war undermine this Art. But thanks to the Parisian fashion houses, Lunéville embroidery was reborn after 1945, where it gained worldwide fame.

The technique

The embroidery of Lunéville is practiced on a fabric well stretched on an embroidery frame. Both hands work: one hand is placed above the loom and holds the hook (de Lunéville) and the other hand is below the loom and brings the beads or sequins strung on a thread towards the surface of the fabric. With the hook, the embroiderer (or the embroiderer, if there is one) creates a chain by trapping the beads and sequins in the loops.

The particularity of this technique is that we embroider on the back of the work, blind, without seeing the pattern take shape. In India, there is a somewhat similar technique, which also requires a hook, but where the work is done on the front of the loom. Very good embroiderers (mostly men) especially if it is gold embroidery. However, this technique is less precise when it comes to applying sequins.

Depending on the complexity of the patterns and the number of elements to be installed, the realization takes more or less time. A few square centimeters of embroidery can take several hours. Some designer dresses require hundreds of hours and many embroiderers just to make the embroidery! This explains their very high cost.

This technique is used in Haute Couture because it is faster than a needle to add elements such as pearls and sequins. The best embroiderers are able to embroider on all kinds of fabrics and even on leather!

This know-how requires dexterity, meticulousness and patience! And good eyes! Regularity and precision are essential for an impeccable result.

Supplies

Lunéville embroidery requires a certain material. The amount of the budget can quickly go up!

To begin with, the first essential element for embroidery is the embroidery frame. It consists of four long pieces of wood, placed on trestles, which will allow the fabric to be embroidered to be stretched to the maximum in order to facilitate the comings and goings of the hooks in the fabric and obtain an impeccable design.

For embroidery, the Lunéville crochet hook is also essential. It is thanks to him that we catch the thread and form the loops that will hold the pearls.

Then, various and varied threads are used. The most commonly used for stringing beads and sequins is gloving thread. It is a cotton thread, slightly glazed, which helps to lay the selected supplies in the chain stitch. Then, any thread whose texture, shine or color can inspire the embroiderer can be used. There are several sizes of hooks which adapt to the size of the yarn chosen

Finally come the pearls, sequins, sequins, cups, crystal shards, ribbons, feathers, in short, the elements to be placed, which are commonly called “supplies”. The possibilities are limitless. As proof, a few years ago, Chanel created clothes embroidered with concrete beads… Anything is possible!

Given the range of colors, materials, sizes and shapes of all these elements, the extent of imagination and creativity are the only limits to what is possible to create. This still promises beautiful unique pieces in perspective in the shop!

I am open to custom orders according to your desires. Do not hesitate to contact me via the site if you have any questions!

See you soon !
Audrey Wollbrett

They are inspired by the work of the famous painter Klimt. You probably know him, if not by his name, at least by his works. We find reproductions of his paintings everywhere, on many supports, such as posters, mugs, mouse pads and what not, “The kiss” being undoubtedly his most famous painting. Its very decorative universe has conquered hearts.

Klimt’s Style

The reason for its success lies, in my opinion, in the beauty of its universe. A very feminine, poetic universe that seems to come out of a dream. His universal subjects, such as joy, youth, love or death, speak to the greatest number.

I have admired his world for a long time. As a teenager studying graphic arts, I often had my nose buried in art books of all kinds, and inevitably, one day, at the turn of a page, I met Klimt. Its very sensual universe, the richness of its patterns and the magic of its gilding enchanted me. The graceful feminine is an element that I have found in my own drawings since I was very young. Maybe that’s what appealed to me about this artist in the first place.

At Klimt, the honor is with women. His portraits or allegories, not always idealized, but always graceful. His subjects of mythological or allegorical inspiration join my love of legends and tales. In his portraits of women, I find a few fairies, a few witches, certain monstrous creatures and other enchantresses. These characters let the imagination invent stories and a life for each of these women. They become folktale beings, which amaze me so much.

Her stylized flowers, her mixtures of colors and interlocking patterns create a most original pavement, wrapping her feminine beings in an unreal veil.

Also, I who am not really interested in landscapes in general, I appreciate those of Klimt for their decorative side. They are often painted on square canvases, a bit like Seurat, with an extremely high horizon, where we see as much a vibrant geometric composition as a forest.

For the moment, Klimt’s works have inspired me with a few brooches, but surely there will be other jewels of the same ilk to my credit in the not so distant future And many other little treasures… Keep an eye out! ^^

Brief history of Klimt

For the context, Klimt begins his painting around 1880. He is an artist of the Viennese Secession. He braved the straitjacket of the rules and the established codes of painting of his time, which would of course cause him setbacks. His work “Philosophy”, planned for the ceiling of the hall of the University of Vienna, was then considered as a provocation to libertinage and an attack on good morals. He is criticized for his overly erotic paintings, and even wonders about his mental health. Another place, other customs, he received a gold medal in 1900 at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for this same work. It will later be destroyed by the Nazis (speaking of Nazis and Klimt, I recommend the movie “Woman in Gold” with Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, if you haven’t seen it).

Klimt had to give up seeing his works at university, but he kept the integrity of his style and his vision.

The painter visits Italy and studies the heavily ornamented gold Byzantine mosaics of the Basilica of Saint Vidal in Ravenna. It is a revelation for the artist. His taste for hard work has just been born. In Paris, he discovers the work of Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Bonnard and Matisse who will also greatly influence him.

The Beethoven frieze (which is a representation of Beethoven’s ninth symphony, hence its name) was supposed to be on temporary display for an exhibition by the Viennese secessionists, but it was bought and kept, and it is still there for us. dazzle. This says a lot about the success of his work, which I am sure will continue for decades to come.

Inspired by traditional Russian nesting dolls, they bring a touch of light to the sad days of the cold season. But do you know the story of these Russian dolls?

The Russian Doll, is perhaps the best known symbol of Russia in the world. We also sometimes speak of a nesting doll, in reference to the puppet of the Mother Gigogne, which represents a tall and strong woman surrounded by children. In Russia, the Russian Doll is believed to symbolize the traditional values of Russian society: respect for the elderly, extended family unity, fertility and abundance, and the search for truth and meaning. In fact, the idea that truth is hidden in many layers of meaning is a recurring motif in Russian folk tales. In one such tale, a character named Ivan searches for a needle representing the death of an evil character. The needle is in an egg, the egg is in a duck, the duck is in a hare, the hare is in a box, and the box is buried under an oak tree. Thus, the Russian Doll, with its many layers hidden within the larger doll, is a perfect Russian symbol for Russian popular culture.

However, this popular toy has its origins in China. Created for storage and decorative purposes, the Chinese invented the nesting of wooden boxes inside each other in the year 1000. The concept consisted of a large wooden box which, when opened, contained a box wooden box almost identical, but smaller, and inside this smaller box, another still smaller box, and so on. This concept then evolved from nesting boxes to nesting dolls, serving as the basis for the world’s first nesting dolls.

This approach quickly migrated to Japan, where the idea was applied to create the wooden dolls of their own deities. The Shichi-Fukujin or seven lucky gods – believed to bring good luck in Japanese mythology – were among the first to have wooden nesting dolls made in their image. The Japanese god of happiness and longevity, Fukurokuju, has the form of a wooden doll that can be taken apart and inside which are the six other gods.

However, the concept of nested objects was already present in Russia at the end of the 19th century, for Easter eggs: we can notably cite Fabergé’s first egg, dating from 1885, which contained a yolk, containing a hen, containing turn a ruby pendant and a miniature replica of the imperial crown.

Anyway, during a trip to Japan, the little nested doll caught the attention of a young woman, who brought her back to her country. This person is Elizaveta Mamontova. wife of the Russian patron Savva Mamontov. The “father” of matryoshka dolls is Sergei Maliutin, a popular craftsman working on the Abramtsevo estate belonging to the industrialist Savva Mamontov, where he would have seen the small Japanese dolls from which he was inspired.

Yet, including in Russia, matryoshka dolls are often mistakenly thought to be inherited from hundreds of years of Russian woodturning tradition. This doll, which quickly became very popular in Russia, immediately received a typical peasant first name, Matriona, whose diminutive is Matriochka. As early as 1900, this toy caused a sensation at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, where it won a bronze medal.

Later, The Space Conquest generates a whole host of cosmonaut dolls with helmets and diving suits, fitted into a rocket…

After the collapse of the USSR and the arrival of liberalism, matryoshka figures caricatures of politicians in place appeared. And today you can find dolls representing Lenin, Vladimir Putin or Barack Obama in souvenir shops in Moscow.

For some, the matryoshka has a more sacred dimension. Each of these seven figurines embodies a layer of subtle bodies and auras invisible to the naked eye.

It is the description of the body which superimposes seven thicknesses of life from the most trivial to the most ethereal. The challenge of each person is to reach the most subtle layer during his existence. There are seven shells:

1. Red represents the physical body. It is the color of blood and of life, therefore of vital energy. Its vibrations are insufficient to elevate oneself spiritually. If it infuses the force, in case of loss of energy of the Earth, the physical body weakens;
2. Orange symbolizes fertility;
3. Yellow corresponds to health and stability. It is also the color of the will;
4. Green helps to acquire mental strength and develops intuition. It is also the center of love;
5. The color purple enhances expression and communication with openness to others;
6. Blue is the color of higher abilities. It corresponds to creativity and understanding of the laws that govern the universe;
7. Purple corresponds to the ultimate stage. It distributes energies of all types in the body.

This symbolism is less marked today, but it remains the legacy of an ancient tradition from Asia. That said, Japanese, Chinese or Russian, these colorful dolls have not ceased to amaze young and old. And they continue to inspire me to offer you cute little brooches to chew on!

On the jewelry market, all materials can be used. A little creativity and you can even use electrical cables and old forks. However, gold has always had a prominent place through the ages and continents (the oldest gold pearl dating back more than 6000 years: https://www.beauxarts.com/expos/des-chercheurs- would- discovered-the-oldest-golden-object-in-the-world/ ).

Today, gold is used in many forms. But do you know the difference between pure gold, gold plated, Gold filled and gilded with fine gold? If you are a lover of gold jewelry, you probably know this. If not, let me enlighten you on the subject!

PURE GOLD

Real gold jewelry is the most expensive and the purest. The value of real gold comes from its brilliant color and its resistance. It is also very popular because it keeps its shine and does not tarnish over time because it is non-oxidizable. But you should know that pure gold is not always the best solution when you want to buy gold accessories. One of the particularities of real gold is that it is very flexible and malleable. It is therefore not recommended for jewelry that is worn every day. Indeed, it is fragile and scratches are inevitable if no rhodium plating is applied.

Pure gold is hallmarked and indicates the number of carats (from 10 to 24k). If you bite into gold, the softer it is, the purer it is. You may remember the old movies where hackers biting into a room to verify its authenticity? Well, it was the “soft” pieces that assured them the quality of their loot.

With regard to the carat, it is a unit of measurement of purity. A carat representing 0.2g, the weight of a carob seed, which is the origin of the word. 9, 14, 18 or 24K. If in an alloy of 24 grams there are 24 grams of gold, then it is a 24K jewel, that is to say pure gold. If there are 18 grams of gold there, then it is an 18K gold jewel, and so on. However, it must be differentiated from the carat of jewelers, which measures the weight of precious stones.

For information, in France, only jewelry with a minimum of 18 carats of gold can be qualified as “gold jewelry”. And if you were wondering, to obtain pink gold, you simply add a little copper to the alloy, as for white gold, a little more zinc, silver or nickel and that’s it. is played. Also, gold is not magnetic. It’s a good way to recognize a real gold jewel!

THE GOLD-PLATED

To obtain a real gold-plated jewel, a minimum thickness of 3 microns of gold must be deposited on a more common metal, generally a brass, a copper or zinc alloy, or even silver. A micron is one thousandth of a millimetre. There is no maximum limit to this thickness of gold but there is therefore a minimum threshold below which a jewel cannot be qualified as “plated”. The gold plating is made by electrolysis, the jewel is immersed in an electrolytic bath of gold, this process is called electroplating.

The hallmark of the gold plate is square and often bears the initials of the manufacturer as well as sometimes the number 18, or 14, or 10, 20, this corresponds to the carats of gold used. It is advisable to remove your jewelery before going to the swimming pool, playing sports or before doing household chores and store it carefully in a dry place and in separate pockets so that you can enjoy its shine for a long time. Indeed, the longevity of your jewel can vary according to particular factors such as the acidity of your skin, the use of abrasive or alcoholic products such as hairspray or perfumes.

Gold-plated jewelry is therefore a good option for anyone who loves gold but needs to watch their budget. The disadvantage of gold plating is that the gold layer tarnishes and loses its luster over time. Indeed, the molecules of the base metal are slowly transferred to the fine layer of gold and can alter it.

GOLD FILLED

Gold-filled is a thicker form of gilding than gold-plated: it contains 50 to 100 times more gold! Indeed, for a jewel to be qualified as Gold-filled, the weight of gold in the final jewel must be equivalent to 1/20th of its weight. Made with 14K gold, Gold-filled jewelry is therefore extremely resistant and can last a lifetime if taken care of. They are of course a little more expensive to buy than gold-plated, but the lifespan of the jewel is worth the investment.

Gold filled is created by mechanically pressing a layer of gold onto another metal. Although Gold filled is not sold as real gold it has the same properties and the same appearance. It does not tarnish, peel or change color. People allergic to certain metals can wear this jewelry without fear of a reaction. Although the layer of gold varies between different manufacturers, it is much thicker than that of gold-plated jewelry. Gold-filled accessories can be worn every day without fear of them fading or losing their color for 30 years.

GOLDEN WITH FINE GOLD

Obtained by the same process as for gold plating, that is to say by electrolysis, jewelry gilded with fine gold differs from the previous ones by the layer of gold applied. It is almost 10 times thinner (between 0.3 and 1 micron, often called “flash”). It is therefore necessary to be vigilant and particularly careful by avoiding friction as much as possible to preserve the shine of these jewels.

I hope you now see more clearly among these different options! Maybe it will help you choose your jewelry better. See you soon for a new article!

WHO ?

I’m very excited to see my little shop take off. My name is Audrey Wollbrett and I am the one who created everything you can see on this site. I like to learn by trying, trial and error and “fiddling around”. This is how I acquired most of my skills. A little sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting, embroidery and assembly of beads and threads… I customize old clothes and I have been making jewelry of all kinds since I was little. Lately, my favorite is bead embroidery.

So far, I have worked in several fields unrelated to jewelry, always hoping to one day do something with my flamboyant creativity. From executive assistant to floral designer, I tried several things without managing to get rid of this frustration of not creating with my hands in complete freedom. I even went on an adventure abroad hoping to find what I was looking for beyond the seas, counting on luck to bring me what I wanted. But the problem was not geography! My lack of fulfillment on a daily basis would not be resolved by waiting for a miracle. So here I am (finally) taking matters into my own hands! After years of disappointing professional attempts, I decided not to wait any longer to finally do what I love!

WHY THIS BLOG?

This blog exists because I want to share my universe and promote my work and my inspirations (many!), which deserve to be talked about. The reality of daily life can jostle us and be quite ugly, here I intend to focus instead on the “Beautiful”.

Let’s talk about jewelry from all walks of life, embroidery through the ages, beads from around the world, trappings from distant tribes, tales and legends, superstitions and folklore and what it all inspires. Without forgetting the treasures of nature, artists of all kinds and illustrious characters who are themselves legends.

Revealing oneself is a challenge but the pleasure of sharing remains very strong. I like the idea of discovering creations that have sometimes required dozens of hours of work and of marveling people with little bits of glass and crystal and long lengths of wire. J

Creating beautiful beadwork pieces is fun, but it’s not enough. Passing on some of this pleasure to customers and lovers of beautiful objects is also very rewarding!

WHO IS HE TALKING TO ?

If you are a lover of beautiful things, know-how and stories of all kinds passed down from generation to generation, you will undoubtedly come across articles here that will speak to you. Sentimental people who give power to the objects that touch them and who admire the work of creation will surely appreciate some of the writings I will post on this blog.

I hope to have the opportunity to surprise or amaze you, to teach you something in the course of an article and to make you discover a facet of the Men of this planet by their art and crafts or by the world in which they live. Everything will depend on the inspiration of the moment!

THE GENERAL PHILOSOPHY

• QUALITY: I like solid and precious objects as well as well-made things. I consider that handmade creations carry a bit of the soul of their designer. This brings them even more charm and value in my eyes. There is love in it, craftsmanship and pride. There is also a lot of time invested in these kinds of pieces. As for me, I apply myself to producing neat finishes, to choosing materials with care and to making solid creations that last a long time.
• NO ANIMAL SUFFERING: Another important aspect for me is the issue of animal suffering. There are therefore no materials of animal origin in the composition of my jewelry. I’m the first to find the colorful feathers beautiful, but it breaks my heart to know that they were ripped from a bird that didn’t ask for it. This is a subject that affects me personally and I find it consistent to extend my opinion on this subject in the professional field. Glass and crystal already offer great possibilities without having to make our animal friends suffer.
• 100% HANDMADE: At Mythik Mystik, everything is handmade. Thread, needle, beads, imagination and patience, these are the main ingredients of my creations!
• EACH MODEL IS UNIQUE Each jewel that comes out of the workshop is absolutely unique. You can’t come face to face with someone who has the same! Each piece that arrives at your home becomes YOUR piece.

This is what awaits you on this site. I hope to supply this blog as often as possible with beautiful content that makes you travel and invite you to discover. I wish you a good visit on the site and I say to you soon!