thank you everyone for comments and helpful tips! i've been more or less knocked out by my arch enemy the mirgaine monster for the past two and a half days so i haven't been able to read everything or thank you properly before.

draconian and esper, i tried both sets of gem brushes and they are great - a bit uneven, though, some gems work a treat while others don't look good at all. i'll follow your lead and tweak them, drac.

gms9810: great job on the frame! is the bird a friend of yours?

erisian: thanks, brother! i agree on the gems, i think the knighthood was well deserved .

here's my latest experiment in royal jewellery, the triskell necklace:

Beauuuuuutiful!

thank you erisian! i like your new avatar

Thank you very much.

Very nice.

thanks he4rty!