Black is the new everything

Last week I finally remembered to buy some black dye, and did up a small group of doilies and laces in the coal colour. Black is rapidly becoming my favourite colour. It's traditional for me to revert to a rather gothic state of mind in the summer time- I can't tell whether it's my stubborn denial of Australia's climate or the spiritual link to my Celtic shores is so strong it means my body lives by Northern Hemisphere seasons.

My total favourite black thing right now is a strand of raw tourmaline I bought from a fellow Etsy seller catdancingranch:

(Image from seller)

It's like little lumps of coal, I'm wanting to make some jewellery pieces that mean you can now give for christmas a lump of coal to people who you feel deserve it!

I'm also in love with these Victorian jet nailheads from beadbrats:

(image from seller's store)

They're so deliciously tiny! I had to have them. I also had to have this beautiful lace edging from mmmoonchild:

(image from seller's store)

...these tiiiiny black covered buttons from fabrichouse:

(image from seller's store)

...and these amazing midnight slab beads from CaladoniaMarch:

(image from seller's store)

...and these black brass sash stampings from Zivile:


Oh! so much beauty (so much shopping!) - now I'm all inspired! For a visual soundtrack to this post, I recommend watching the BBC's recent rendition of Bleak House or reading the original (which is pretty heavy going!).


Illustrations from an original publication: