My Process......

I have been enjoying making Bridal hair accessories and jewelery for over 13 years now. Over the time I have had both retail stores, local and international wholsale clients. At times up to 13 staff.
My various past businesses have enjoyed showings in Australia, the UK and the USA (where my pieces showed with Maggie Sottero).
My currently business, Lulu Splendor, is a wholly solo show! I create everything personally from my home in Melbourne, Australia. I have no studio, and spread my work all over my home (requires lots of patience from my husband and 3 children.... thanks!) I solder in the laundry, and do all the other metal work in the backyard shed. All the stone setting, beading, packing of orders and administration in my small dining area. Luckily my items are small.

Most of my componentry comes from the USA, with a selection coming from Italy and Germany. The base metal of all these are Brass. I choose specific pieces for their beauty and quality, and also because it really appeals to me that they are vintage tooled. Vintage tooled means that the dies that they use to cut and dap the metal pieces are original and as old as 1890, but the metal and process of stamping the pieces is new. Because I have been making as long as I have, I also have components that are genuinely vintage, and continually scour for more.
I have hundreds of different components..... here is a sample (and a messy workspace)

 I use my componets to make gorgeous pieces! I dont always accept the pieces as they are, and cut, solder, drill and dap them to suit my design and purpose.
When I solder, I usually make multiples, particularity on popular designs, like the Sabine comb.

After soldering, I send every piece away to be plated. I use a local plater, who does a brilliant job for me. I have been using them for many years, and particularly appreciate that they have a state of the art system, and have won environmental awards.
This Link will take you to my metal colour samples.
If the metal finish is to be 'Vintage Brass' or 'Vintage Silver' I oxidize and hand finish the surface colour myself, by hand.
After plating, they are all ready to set stones and pearls. I do this completely by hand..... every tiny stone. I only use Swarovski Pearls and Rhinestone. Nothing else matches it for quality, consistency and variety...... and its sparkles beautifully.
I stock a large Swarovski range, but not the whole range. I  often custom make  many of my items in other colors. I always stock pearl in White and Cream (Swarovski Cream is actaully standard ivory colour). I do have other colours too. I would love to stock more pieces finished in colour in my Etsy store, but currently dont have the time to produce them except by custom order.

I also have some Genuine vintage stones and beads and one day, when time allows,  will make a range to specially showcase them.

My Etsy store stocks a wide range of pieces I have handmade myself. They are all ready to ship. I also frequently do custom work, and work with each bride individually to design and create new pieces.
Some brides want and out of stock item, some want a colour change, or a small design change, others are looking for a whole new piece to be designed for them. I try to accommodate all requests, provided of course time is allowed for the full process.
Here are a few pics of pieces I designed for Alyssa. You will find her Wedding pics here.
They show the process from concept design to wedding.

So rest assured, when you buy from me, my pieces are made by me. They are well made, as I am a perfectionist about everything I do, and am serious about my business, which I love.
If you are looking for something truly handmade and unique for your wedding or special occasion, or require further information from me,  please contact me through my Etsy store.
Etsy is the only venue I sell through.

Carla x

Colour finshes..... Which would you like?

I am able to offer my pieces in a choice of colours, here are some colour samples for your reference.

Silver Colours

Shiny Silver. 

This one is sealed, it wont ever tarnish. A gorgeous glossy light silver colour.

Rhodium. 

A luxury finish. A darker silver that's great if you are looking for a traditional vintage colour. This colour is also known as white gold.

Vintage Silver.

Wonderfully antiqued, all done by hand. I have this silver plated, and then oxide and polish back by hand. This colour may tarnish a bit over time. It is not sealed. Its easy to care for, keep it wrapped in the acid free tissue I supply to avoid tarnishing.  A wipe with a polishing cloth every now and again will keep it looking great!

Gold Colours.

Shiny Gold

This Lovely Glossy is colour is in a fabulous warm shade.

Matt Gold

A beautiful shade, with a velvety finish

Vintage Brass

An Antiqued finish, hand finish for a unique patina. Great for vintage looks!

This finish is hand done and so subtle variations occur.

Very Important Christmas and New Year Production times for Lulu Splendor Customs.

We are fast heading toward the time of year when we in Australia take our summer vacation! During this time my platers close for 2-3 weeks which affects my production, as during this time I cannot get anything plated (all my work is beautifully plated). If you require a custom piece for your wedding in January/February please organise your order with me now, or at least by the end of November. March weddings should be organised by Christmas so that I can have all preparation work done for when the platers reopen in Mid January, for delivery during February.
I intend closing my shop over the Christmas / New Year period to have a break myself!
I am aiming to have my shop well stocked with favorites and one off pieces during the time when the platers are closed.
I hope this information helps you in your wedding planning if you have further questions please just ask!

Custom Sketches

I do a lot of custom work, and these pictures illustrate the 'sketch' I show my customers when designing the pieces, and also the finished product.

Most things start out as a raw brass vintage component. They are then soldered, drilled shaped, hammered, trimmed or whatever they need doing to manipulate them into what I need them to be. The pieces are then fully assembled and sent away to be plated as a whole piece, including the beads! I like to do it this way because the finish is beautiful, and the surface perfect. I never use pre assembled pieces or pre-plated pieces and simply assemble together. After the pieces are back from the platers, I set every pearl and rhinestone by hand. Its very intricate work!

This is why I need lots of lead time for my pieces, and I am unable to accommodate rush orders.