Silver Moss Jewellery

Earrings . . . for a friend

2011-09-08T16:10:00.000+01:00

It's always nice to have a special occasion to make someone special something special for. A dear friend I hadn't seen in a while treated me to lunch last month and, as a little thank you, I made her a pair of earrings.

These are they, and another pair I've made in the same design:

Silver Findings

2011-09-04T11:00:00.000+01:00

Ready made sterling silver findings are available in many online shops but I've always enjoyed the challenge, and satisfaction, of making my own. I've created many in the past, most of them long-attached to necklaces, bracelets and earrings and either sold or given away as gifts.

Here are some photos of a selection I've made this summer:

Earwires -

Catches, hooks and eyes - ideal for necklaces

Toggle clasps - ideal for bracelets

Little pieces of silver turned into pleasing shapes and designs and all with a strong purpose and goal in mind that informs the design - to hold things firm.

And, on a different note, I played around with the idea of making a silver key. It's only tiny, and quite simple, but I like it.

Green leaves . . .

2011-08-25T19:00:00.001+01:00

I love fluorite gemstones (both green and purple) and these chips are some of many I've enjoyed using with silver.

Incorportaing these into this bracelet with the little silver leaves just seemed a perfect way to use the beads and I'm really pleased with the outcome (hence the devotion of an entire blog post to the bracelet).

Forays into clay, part two

2011-07-02T17:50:00.000+01:00

A few more polymer beads I've created.

I'm going to buy more clay soon, experimenting with different colours and brands. I'm also hoping to get some liquid clay, at some point. But am trying to stay with the basics for now.

Forays into clay, part one

2011-06-17T20:50:00.001+01:00

I was given some polymer clay last year and have finally found some time to experiment a little with it. Okay, I was a bit nervous too. But I was surprised at how easy it is to get some rather impressive effects, even if I do say so myself. . .

More beads, and photos, to follow. I'm certainly not putting silver jewellery making aside (I have too many tools for a start!), but I'm enjoying exploring other fields a little. I plan to experiment some more with polymer clay and I also have some copper wire - I'm going to discover just how similar/dissimilar it is to silver.

Still around . . .

2011-05-31T17:56:00.001+01:00

My far-off thoughts of having time to throw myself into making jewellery this year have failed to make their way into reality and, given it's nearly June, I'm resigned to another 'slow' year on the creation front.

But, thankfully, people still insist on having birthdays and the like and so I've found myself piecing together bits of workshop and silver in various rooms (and houses) and finding time and room for these few items.

The ring was left unsoldered to allow it to fit any finger, or thumb, without needing measurements - asking always gives the game away.

The simplest of the three to make and rather fun allowing the curve of the silver wire to dictate the curve of the letter.

I enjoyed making the letters although getting them the same length was surprisingly challenging - I think rushing to a deadline doesn't help . . . But the posts were handmade and hand-soldered, which was tricky and not particularly fun work that proved rather satisfying once it was done. I chickened out of making the butterflies myself though. Time was far too pressing for that kind of commitment.

It's only May (just). Time still for this year to be abundant and productive. Here's hoping . . .

2010: A quiet blogging year

2010-12-22T17:20:00.007Z

SNOW

This is only my third post of the year. Not exactly great statistics. But, on the other hand, I should be able to do better than that next year. I hope.

Moving house one and a half times (next half some time next year!) has taken far more time, energy and patience than I knew I'd need. I've still silversmithed, still made jewellery, but at a far slower rate than I would have liked.

Still, a long-standing birthday gift was finished (more on that in a later post) and some Christmas gifts were started and completed, despite the sudden realisation that I had no idea where half my tumble polisher equipment was (many thanks to my mum for the ingenious tights-as-sieve hint!)

Snow has disrupted my life, like many others, this last month, and I'm spending Christmas far from where my plans expected me to. But it's still very, very beautiful . . .

Merry Christmas!

It's (been) oh so quiet . . .

2010-05-23T11:41:00.004+01:00

. . . on my blog of late. I'd fallen into a combination of busy, busy, busy in the non-blog world and a curious blogger's-block which meant that every time I sat down to compose a post I either couldn't think of a word to type or couldn't find a photo I wanted to share.

So I stayed quiet, until now. The dust in the non-blog environment is starting to settle a little, and that has helped free my mind also.

Like the spring after the winter, I feel I'm coming back to life.

So, what have I been doing? Well, I've moved house; nearly found everything I misplaced while moving house (including smithing tools!); finished a long and arduous Open University course; nearly finished a very long-standing silversmithing project; and I've got over the long, cold winter as it has melted into a late spring which is as warm as summer . . . until it turned cold again *sigh*

Something else I've been doing, after discovering where my silver had disappeared to, is a bit of jewellery making. Here are a few rings I've finished making, which gave a nice sense of satisfaction after such a time away from things, and also provides something for me to show you . . .

Snow, Christmas, Traffic, Snow

2010-01-11T11:33:00.003Z

Long time no post. I feel like I've been away for a very long time. My Christmas travels took in Scotland, snow, Manchester airport, snow, Yorkshire, snow . . .

and a nine hour drive south through snow-studded landscapes which were replaced by small traffic jams and then big traffic jams and more cars than I knew existed . . .

Now it's the new year, a time of beginnings. And more snow. I've yet to get back into the groove of making although design ideas are coming fast but, for now, I'm going to have a bit of a sale on some listings that are soon to end in my Folksy store . . . Do take a look as these photos are just a selection . . .

Leaf Evolution

2009-12-09T17:19:00.005Z

More leaf work . . . pendants, and some earrings, including some stylised ideas I've been playing around with . . .

Rings on your fingers?

2009-11-29T11:54:00.006Z

I've kept the very first scroll ring I made just for me . . . but I've listed a couple of the others on Folksy . . .

Rings for my fingers . . .

2009-11-19T18:51:00.008Z

With thoughts turning to colder weather and swirls of frost and ice promising an appearance soon, I've been playing around with ideas for rings these past couple of weeks.

I'm not great at sizing rings, tending to let them find by themselves which finger they want to fit, often because I've made them primarily for myself in the past and I'm pretty laid-back about such things.

And this particular style of ring does lend itself to reaching a size all on its own, depending on the curl created and where the ends meet. Part of the fun in making them is letting them form almost naturally, using the natural curve the silver wire possesses.

I'm doing a craft fair this weekend and so will take some of these along, see what people say. Sizing is more than a matter of whether a ring fits or not, feels comfortable and looks right, it's more than any measurement (large knuckles, anyone?); so it may make more sense to let any potential owner of a ring find out by trying it on, whether it does or doesn't 'work'.

Frightened of silver?

2009-10-10T10:33:00.007+01:00

A couple of years back I carefully crafted a cobweb in silver. It took a long time but it worked. I then carefully began to craft a second web. It became a small partially melted mass and I'd not returned to the idea since.

Until last week when, wondering if my soldering skills had increased sufficiently to avoid meltdown, I decided to take some wire, a small torch, a couple of spare hours and a lot of patience and I made this . . .

Update - The cobweb is for sale now at my Folksy shop.

More leaves

2009-09-20T12:08:00.008+01:00

The addiction continues . . .

I've listed a few leaf pieces in my shop and thought I'd post a few photos here of one of them, a bracelet I made, when it was still a work in progress and not all shiny and and polished and waiting to be worn . . .

I didn't take any shots as the leaves were being formed *sigh* but I did remember to take a few snaps when I was making the clasp up . . .

The leaves have all been created, along with the toggle clasp and connecting rings . . .

Making all those individual pieces one coherent whole . . .

Finished . . .

Return to leaving

2009-09-20T11:11:00.000+01:00

My mild addiction to leaves has resurfaced.

I've spent some considerable time this last week or so patiently soldering, filing, polishing, creating pieces of shining autumn.

Okay, autumn isn't quite here yet, or rather, parts of it are (the leaves are starting to fall, even if the changing colours aren't widespread), and different parts of the country experience the turn at different times. Plus, the sun has shone hotly a couple of times, prompting butterflies and bees to fly again. And I still saw swallows when I looked to the blue sky yesterday . . .

But the feel of autumn is in the air. And leaves, which it seems we can overlook with greater ease in summer and winter, are all the more apparent in spring, when they reemerge bright green, and now, in autumn, when they turn to jewel colours and fall around us.

I've experimented with different sizes of leaves, from smaller, and sometimes slightly more abstract forms, at just over 2 cm long . . .

to the longer length, at 4 cm, where creating the veins and texture is easier with a little more silver to work with.

Earrings are proving tricky as one of the things I've always liked about the leaves I create, their individuality, means forming a matching pair is, so far, a slightly frustrating task.

Hmm . . .

Finished articles coming very soon . . .

And the winner is . . .

2009-09-15T18:08:00.004+01:00

Using the random generator (and trying to ignore the fact I made what I shall call a beginner's mistake by leaving a comment on my own competition *blushes*) I am excited to announce that the number '2' came out and the second commenter was . . .

Laura Cameron!

Laura, I've sent you an email asking for your address so your prize can wend its way to you.

Many thanks to everyone who entered and a big thanks for all the feedback - it's been fascinating to read and invaluable to take on board.

50 Followers! And a giveaway . . .

2009-09-05T09:04:00.000+01:00

To celebrate having reached the magic number of fifty loyal and trusty followers, I've decided to do a Giveaway.

So if you quite like the look of this pair of heart earrings, carefully crafted by me, wrapped in tissue paper and a organza bag and sent though the post to the lucky winner . . . then here's what to do . . .

To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment, letting me know which of the photos of the earrings you think best shows them, and why. And if you fancy a look at my shop and telling me which your favourite item is (and why, if you like), then I'd love to know.

Closing date is - 14th September 2009

I'll chose the winner randomly from all the entrants.

Many thanks for looking, and reading, and good luck!

Wedding silver

2009-08-29T20:42:00.013+01:00

A family member got married last weekend and I made up a couple of napkin rings for her and her other half. I used .9mm sterling silver sheet, 20cm long and 1cm wide.

I took a few photos of work in progress - from the metal I bought (already cut to size - I'm no fool) . . .

. . . to how the rings (or, as they still were then, strips of silver) looked after planishing . . .

And then I truly discovered how tricky planished silver is to photograph. The camera I was using seemed confused by the throw of light from the differently angled silver. It may have had something to do with my lack of photography skills as well . . .

After the silver was planished, I then polished it as, once formed into shape, it would be difficult, time-consuming and no doubt ultimately unsatisfying to try and do any major polishing then. I decided on leaving the underside of the rings with a matt finish, and leaving the planishing marks on the top side as the play of light on those is always wonderful to see. Plus, a totally smooth and shiny finish easily shows daily wear and those tiny scratches that seem to come from nowhere . . .

And, given the curving design of the rings, the combination of the two textures (the silky grey of the inside (which is sometimes on the outside), and the bounce and glint of the outside (which is sometimes on the inside)) seemed to make the most sense.

After hallmarking, I bent the rings up around a steel mandrel by hand and hide mallet, getting them as identical to each other as I could, and then spent a fair amount of time making them fit nicely against the table surface without any wobbles.

Then a final swish with some magic polishing cream someone lent me, and they were done.

Floral linking . . .

2009-08-20T19:41:00.003+01:00

The fantastic Haptree and Me has taken my 'advice' (ahem) and created a wonderful Folksy Mini Treasury on the theme of flowers. Well, it is still summer . . . so the calendar says . . .

Do check out Haptree's great blog and very helpful photography hints.

Geen silver no longer

2009-08-20T10:05:00.004+01:00

I rather gingerly tumble polished the green-silver-gold bracelet yesterday, just for half an hour, and not only has it restored the shine (as expected) but it's also removed the green . . .

Hmm . . .

Green silver?

2009-08-19T09:59:00.004+01:00

And I don't mean ecologically sound.

I've heard about jewellery turning your skin green, never meant to be an indicator of high quality metal, but I've not come across jewellery itself turning green before.

This is what's happened to a bracelet I made a couple of years ago.

I've given it a bit of a clean up with a silver-polish impregnated cloth but the greenish tinge still remains. Next I'm going to do some more heavy-duty cleaning which will at least clean up some of the oxidisation.

The core of the bracelet is silver wire, with finer silver wire wrapped around it, and the ends are 9ct gold hollow beads. All I can think is the solder used to fix the beads and the finer wire to the main bracelet was low quality and this has caused the green to appear.

Any other ideas anyone?

Saturday Folksy Listing Frenzy

2009-08-15T17:44:00.005+01:00

Well, okay, it's only seven items but it seemed to take an age, as I sat in front of the computer with a tape measure and a clutch of necklaces and bracelets and a big, big mug of coffee.

Here's some photos (yes, taken on my old camera), but not of the big mug of coffee . . .

Click on the pic to go to the item in my shop if you fancy seeing more photos.

Emergency camera blog post!

2009-08-11T11:05:00.004+01:00

Okay. I've been trying to figure out just which camera to buy for ages. I can't do it. I've started to dream about it. This can't be good.

So I'm seeking help and advice.

This is the camera I'm looking at right now, a Panasonic Lumix DMC LZ10. It's not massively expensive but my budget is a maximum of £150 so that's a good thing.

This is what I want.
A good macro for taking jewellery photos.
A nifty movie clip facility with as much quality as possible 'cos I've not got a video camera.
At least a 4x optical zoom, although I'd rather have 5x.
Uses SD cards 'cos I've got loads of them . . .

I'm unsure about AA versus the lithium-ion batteries. I've got some decent rechargable AAs that are quite new, but I don't want to go insisting on them if a better camera takes the lithium-ions.

Ooo, it's all so difficult.

I'm hoping to do a photography course later in the year so I don't want anything too basic in terms of settings that can be altered.

So, please, any guidance would be most gratefully received!

Something for . . . me : Rings part 1

2009-08-11T09:14:00.006+01:00

I decided to combine a little soldering practice with making myself a couple of rings . . .

I think this a common crafter's affliction, whether you sell your work or not, may be to make things that always end up belonging to other people. I almost start to feel guilty about making things for myself, that the time and material cost would be better off going towards something that will perhaps sell or be a gift.

But I've collected a few small items for myself over the years, things I can't part with because I love them so much, or things I just stand no chance of replicating.

Sorting through my scraps box the other day I found some mangled and twisted pieces of silver sheet that looked as if they just might form rings . . .

Unfortunately I have yet to persuade myself to part with the money to buy a ring forming mandrel. So whilst I've been able to push the thinner ring, in the first photo, into some kind of wearable shape, the much thicker ring is still unwieldy and maintaining its decidedly oblong form that I had to persuade it into to solder it in the first place.

Tune in some time around the middle of September to see what they look like when they're finished . . .

In the meantime I'm working on finishing a necklace for, yes, me. The reason being is it's pretty much a prototype and I've been working on it an age and so this way I can give it a trial run and never have to part with it . . . photos up here as soon as it's finished.

Shhhh...the sound of the sea on a Sunday...

2009-08-03T18:18:00.007+01:00

Craft fair - fair to middling . . .

2009-07-29T09:02:00.006+01:00

On Sunday, less than a week after booking it, I did my second craft fair, my first outside.

I discovered some important things.

1) Craft fairs are only as good as their organiser/s . . .

2) Outside is very different to inside (you'd think I'd have worked that one out by now . . . ).

3) The wind can make a huge difference to everything. Yes, rain/sun is a big issue. But never underestimate the effects a decent breeze can have on lighter items of jewellery and that nice new table covering you'd treated yourself to . . .

4) The wind can also blow over earrings stands. It can even blow away earrings . . .

5) The wind can mean you have to completely rearrange your table design by removing earring stands . . .

6) The wind also moves your jewellery around the table. Constantly.

7) Beware of lavatories in corners of fields with no mains drainage. . . or toilet roll . . . or locks on the door . . .

8) All photos taken on the day will be rubbish and not worthy of being posted on the web . . .

9) If the fair isn't advertised, then no one will come to the fair . . .

On the more positive side, I did make a sale and got a commission (now completed) so I didn't lose out financially, I had some nice chats with other stall-holders, and I gained a lot of experience (mainly weather-related)!

Listing . . .

2009-07-25T10:26:00.006+01:00

I've listed some more items in my shop on Folksy. Always seems to take forever and is always a bit frustrating being away from making, but the finished pages do look quite nice, if I say so myself!

Shakespeare under a June Moon

2009-07-21T09:10:00.004+01:00

A little late, I know, but on the last day of June I was treated to an evening of Shakespeare under clear skies and with warm air (until the sun set when it got chilly and hot coffee was needed), and with a perfect half moon, and even a balloon setting off on a flight just across the way.

We went to Leeds Castle where we saw A Midsummer Night's Dream, performed by the Globe Theatre and it was just fantastic. A wonderful cast, an idyllic setting, and a play that still makes you laugh over four hundred years after it was written . . . not bad at all . . .

Soldering . . .

2009-07-17T09:17:00.000+01:00

o

. . . always makes me a little nervous, until I get started. 'Fire equals danger' seems a pretty sound basis to live by so it's been quite a change to get to the stage where 'fire equals just being a bit careful with a fire extinguisher on stand-by'.

I did buy a book or two on jewellery making without soldering but found it impossible to achieve the effects I want to. And since I've worked hard on getting better at this melting-solder-to-stick-silver-together lark, then it does make sense that I use my 'talent' (very loose meaning of that word!) when I think it needs using.

I'm lovely and now a winner . . .

2009-07-14T18:03:00.006+01:00

I'm rather pleased to say I've won this beautiful pair of earrings.

Rather than wait til the postie delivers them (soon, I hope!) and then taking my own photo, I've decided to use Kristin's because her pictures are always stunning.

Okay, off to wait by the front door now . . .

My blog is Lovely!

2009-07-13T10:58:00.001+01:00

Officially, it seems. Thanks to Tollykit for telling me so and asking me to find another fifteen blogs I think are lovely. Tollykit's blog is pretty lovely too and deserving of her award. And the lovely jewellery and exquisite mohair from her own goats are rather desirable as well. Plus, she has llamas. Which is extremely lovely.

The rules of the award are:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

This is my list of fifteen other lovely blogs, all of which I'd recommend checking out.

maxsworld

kitschycoo

widgetsyear

arohajewels

laurascreativeadventures

wallopillustration

abigailbrownscreatures

ksjewellerydesigns

metaxia

kerliandanimals

feltinginfibrespace

ceegeejewellery

askingfortrouble

steampunkglass

lindentreedesigns

Craftzine - online!

2009-06-27T09:36:00.006+01:00

Momtaz has published the craftzine online now - so you can download (think you have to register for that) or just read online.

If you prefer a paper format then you're still in with a chance of getting a fab free badge by Magic Alice with your copy!

More little gems

2009-06-25T14:52:00.003+01:00

I've a cluster of gemstones, recently purchased, that I'm planning to delve into shortly, see if I can turn them into anything more beautiful than what they already are . . .

Midsummer finds . . .

2009-06-21T09:32:00.006+01:00

Thought I'd reveal some gorgeous goodies that I've discovered on the pages of Folksy, with a very vaguely Midsummery naturey outside theme . . .

This wonderful vase, made by by Treecycle is a fantastic example of what nature can offer in terms of raw materials, and the beauty that can be enhanced by a skilled craftsperson.

Dreamy nights by the sea are shown in this beautiful fine silver pendant, made by Original Silver.

The truly beautiful works in Sascalia's shop include this evocative picture.

A fantastic fox dressed like this should prowl every wood . . .but for now he's in Abigail Brown's shop.

All these items make me feel all mysterious and summery and, oooh, I need to go outside and feel the grass under my feet for a while . . .

Craftzines!

2009-06-20T12:38:00.000+01:00

I've sent a little something off to the fantastic Momtaz to go in the next edition of her equally fantastic craftzine!

No doubt when it comes out I shall be posting links left, right and centre . . .

Didn't make it into this one . . . well, didn't send anything off . . . but it's still worth a look! So wonderful to see the creativity flowing in all directions!

Chickens on the street of London . . .

2009-06-14T18:16:00.009+01:00

Well, not quite.

I went to the big smoke for a hen-do, had lunch in the Oxo tower, where a fly-past of a variety of illustrious planes, including the Red Arrows had been laid on for the hen. Or it may have been connected with Trooping the Colour. We're still unsure . . .

Then we headed into three big cabs, headed across the city to an afternoon of bowling and karaoke. Our cabbie got a bit lost, despite the sat nav telling him which was to turn and the postcode logged in. But we made in and a good time was had by all, especially, and most importantly, the sweet and lovely hen herself.

This is what karaoke in a dark room on a Saturday afternoon looks like . . .

Then another expensive cab ride back to the station, down Oxford Street (briefly), past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament,

skirting Buckingham Palace (which still had a lot of tourists outside, faces against the railings, even though it was gone six in the evening), and then briefly lost (again) at Waterloo, before a slow return train trip to the sedateness of non-capital life . . .

Listed at last . . .

2009-06-07T11:54:00.004+01:00

I've finally made time, pushing other things firmly to one side (and considered throwing some of them out the window . . .), to do some listing on Folksy.

I've put some of the seashell necklaces I posted about here the other week for sale, and am hoping (but not promising . . . ) to have some solely silver things up soon as well.

I've also put something on sale, knocking the price down by around 25% which sounds an incredible amount!

And I've finally sorted out my postage prices for overseas selling, just in case, you never know, etc . . .

Oh, and I've twittered about it all as well.

And as the sun isn't really shining today, I think I'll finish with some sunshine from earlier in the week . . .

Daisy Love . . .

2009-05-30T11:32:00.004+01:00

It's amazing what you find in the grass sometimes . . .

Sea shells, sea shells, and silver and pearls . . .

2009-05-22T19:44:00.007+01:00

Here's a selection of pendants/necklaces I've made up, based around sea shells (all found by me on beaches on the south coast and in the fantastic Channel Islands), with a bit of silver and some gemstones and pearls. I'd love to know what you think and which one is your favourite!

Just a simple pearl added to this one . . .

Labradorite and citrine . . .

A heart made from rose quartz . . .

More pearls . . .

Citrine and rock crystal gems . . .

Rock crystal chip and an amethyst button . . .

Labradorite, pearls and honey jade . . .

Purple fluorite . . .

Fishes . . .

2009-05-19T10:55:00.003+01:00

I really really like these fish . . .

I found them on this beautiful blog where I like pretty much everything else too!

Ooo, I've just discovered, if you click on the screen (on the water) then you feed the fishes and they all rush over . . .

Commissions

2009-05-04T20:18:00.007+01:00

I don't tend to offer commissions because I'm always a little concerned I won't have the right materials, or a wide enough variety, in stock to make something with, or it'll take too long, be beyond my skills, or any of a number of reasons that make me pause and hesitate.

But I was contacted a little while back on Folksy by someone asking for a particular item, kind of an elaboration of a bracelet I'd already made and had for sale. I did a bit of research, was able to source materials I needed, and was rather pleased with the result. This is what I made, a bracelet with two gemstones, butter jade and moonstone, to represent birth months.

Then I made a couple more sales and was asked by this buyer if I could make some other things to order and, serendipity playing a part here, I had some of the materials I needed to hand from the order I'd made for the previous commission.

So, suddenly I've gone from only having taken commissions for family and friends to having made 5 items to order. And I did kind of enjoy doing it, once I knew I had the right things to hand, and in the right quantity, to do it with!

I was also rather touched by the personal stories behind the orders, and liked the idea of knowing where the jewellery was going and for whom. It was good to feel that connection with the buyer. I think because each item I make is unique (even if that was originally by default, as I found (and still do!) it difficult to replicate things exactly) I find myself getting oddly attached to things. I guess it's the idea of something being a one-off, never to be created again, and no longer to be owned by me, the maker. Perhaps I'm just sentimental!

But back to the post. Is it just me, or does anyone else find the thought of offering commissions (something I'm still not going to advertise I do . . . yet!) a bit on the nerve-wracking side?

Around the beaches . . .

2009-04-30T09:20:00.015+01:00

I'm back again. I've been away visiting family, friends, catching up with people I haven't seen in a long while. It's been good although busy. But I have managed an interesting feat of visiting all 'sides' of the mainland UK in a short space of time.

My first stop was the Moray Firth, looking north, lit by a wonderful fragile rainbow,

I flew by plane down over the Lake District, seeing a glinting stretch of the Irish Sea as I did so, and then visited it a little later, standing on the beach at Ravenglass where three rivers meet the sea.

Whitby and the North Sea,

seen also from a brief walk on the Cleveland Way, were dramatic and beautiful.

And York was full of tourists, sunshine and summer blue skies (but no beach . . .).

And then back to the Kent coast where, typically, I forgot to take a camera with me . . .

Now it's back to jewellery, to create from all that diverse inspiration. I'm also enrolled on an OU course, just starting, so creation and blogging may go a little quiet at times . . .

Guessing gems

2009-03-18T19:04:00.007Z

Here's a bit of a guessing game. A few days ago I was fortunate enough to be given a kind of lucky-dip selection of gemstones, chunky ones with holes drilled through, to use as beads.

Quite a few I can identify but some have got me stumped. So if anyone has any ideas, then please feel free to share and discuss! I'd love to be able to definitely put names to the gems.

Picture one.
1. Top left: Fluorite
2. Bottom left: Carnelian
3. Top right: Blue Lace Agate
4. Bottom right: Sodalite

Picture two.
5. Top left: Amethyst
6. Bottom left: Green Moss Agate
7. Top right: Smokey Quartz
8. Bottom right: Carnelian

Picture three.
9. Top left: Moonstone
10. Bottom left: Moonstone
11. Top middle: Moonstone
12. Bottom middle: Amazonite?
13. Top right: Fluorite
14. Bottom right: Citrine

Actually, having listed everything I seem to have been able to identify much less than I'd initially thought I could! All help, even guesses, gratefully received!

Added note - I shall add suggestions of stone names to their numbers as they come in but please feel free to disagree with them, especially my ones!

Another added note - Everything has got a name now. I hope they're the right ones! If you disagree with any, please let me know.

If I had . . .

2009-03-02T13:15:00.006Z

I didn't expect tools would mean much to me, once being merely a means to an end that lived in someone else's garage. But now, well, I have been known to retire to bed of an evening with a tool catalogue to flick through.

Over the weekend I began a sort through of my smithing/jewellery making drawers and sections. I find it necessary to do this periodically as things get put away in the wrong place, anywhere room can be found, or, even, naughtily, not at all. The latter is the case for some lost items which the clear-out, prompted by their loss, has failed to materialise so far. Oh dear.

But I did find a few things I'd forgotten I do have, including a couple of old hammers with fantastic bruised heads, full of texture to be imparted with one swift blow to some receptive (and annealed!) silver.

I'd be fascinated to know about other people's tools, which are the most important, which have sentimental value, which always get lost . . . do share!

Blue skies, buds, flowers

2009-03-02T13:02:00.008Z

It felt a lot like spring today. I dug down into the soil to move some daffodils and found the earth soft and rich and full of worm-life! I didn't take a photo of that but I did of some honeysuckle, against the blue sky and suitably fluffy clouds

Unfortunately, what you don't get with that photo is the sweet scent that was being gently released around me.

Some old hydrangea heads lurking in the shade looked a little like lace to me . . .

But my eyes were drawn back to the blue sky

Now to try and translate spring into silver . . .

Hootiful . . .

2009-03-01T10:05:00.004Z

I know. A bad pun as a title is never a good idea. But these little felt owl brooches from Fibrespace really are beautiful, delicate and sturdy all at once . . .

And they come on a lovely card, just right for giving as a birthday gift/greeting card all in one . . .

Unfortunately, I haven't got a birthday coming up but I know someone who has and this, having been bought on Friday and arrived on Saturday - how's that for fast!, shall be winging (ho ho) its way to her shortly.

Gems

2009-02-26T10:35:00.006Z

Migraine day yesterday - and still today - means everything else takes a back seat. But prior to migraine day was find some new gemstones day! So I've got some lovely colours to look at and get inspired by and try and figure out what to do with.

In this sweet little shop I firstly found . . .

. . . which is called red lined agate but looks quite orange, more like the richness of carnelian.

I found this amazonite bead too.

I'm not sure I'll be able to part with that one . . . It's wonderfully chunky, a gorgeous shape and I'm falling in love with the colour.

I bought a few other things, a few more nugget shaped beads but of a good size, that I'm tempted to turn into focal pendants. I used some silver yesterday, before the migraine struck, to create headpins.

Now I just need to find that inspiration.

Sprung!

2009-02-23T18:13:00.004Z

My leaves are ready. They've been soldered, filed, polished, hammered, even bent a bit - on purpose, I hasten to add. I've put some up on Folksy but I've one I'm not sure I'll be able to part with so have held that one back in reserve.

This isn't it, although I rather like this one too . . .

Deceiving clouds

2009-02-22T11:03:00.003Z

I was sent this photo from a mobile phone yesterday - hence the not completely wonderful quality!

A little cloud-watching is something I have a lot of time for. I plucked a cloud book from my shelf (everyone should have a cloud book! I have two . . . ) and discovered that my vague hunch was right, and this cloud is called Altocumulus Lenticularis. Okay, I only got the lenticular bit from memory. Unsurprisingly, it's often mistaken for being a UFO.

Leavings

2009-02-16T09:52:00.003Z

These aren't quite finished yet, still need some filing and polishing, but they're on their way now . . .

Spring, snow, sun, blue skies . . .

2009-02-15T10:59:00.006Z

It has been a slow silver week. I've got things done but only by edging forward, one step at a time. I had a good spell yesterday, worked on some more leaf ideas, developing the theme, playing around with it.

But the week feels dominated by weather and the results it's created in my world.

I found this earlier in the week . . .

A flower! Having seen snowdrops a little earlier, I felt all kind of spring-like.

Then this happened.

I added to the prints, inspired by some of the photos I've found through this wonderful blog

Yesterday, the sun came out. It didn't melt all the snow, which I was glad about, but it did make the sky glow.

A leaf from start to finish

2009-02-04T10:25:00.009Z

A work-in-progress gallery of a new pendant I've been working on.

Perhaps not overly fitting given the weather lately but when venturing outside I've found a few small crop of green shoots pushing through the snow, and some buds, just waiting, on a plant . . .

This is the pendant after it's been soldered. Not particularly attractive but the shape I'm trying to achieve is emerging. The small 'veins' were not easy to solder.

Fool that I am, I decided on soldering another 'vein' in. I think it looks more balanced, perversely, and more natural and authentic with an odd number.

How the pendant looks after it's been pickled out, the dark oxidisation from soldering lifted away by the acidic pickle solution.

A couple of rings have been attached (for hanging on a chain necklace) and excess solder has been, carefully, filed away. I tumble polished the leaf to give it a bright shine and then lightly hammered it to impart some leafy-looking texture.

Snow, frost, cold, silver

2009-02-04T09:57:00.006Z

Someone has to mention it. It's not been on the news at all and the papers haven't commented on it. But it snowed quite a bit these last few days in the UK . . . I even have proof . . .

Nowhere near as much as in some areas but, despite sun the last two days, it's still hanging around for the most part. Which is kind of nice, if a bit chilly.

Watching snowfall is a wonderful way to pass the time. I spent a while on Sunday watching it come down and, as I slowly became hypnotised by the dizzying flakes, I remembered a book I'd looked through in a coffee shop within a bookshop some time back. So I did some searching and found the guy who wrote it, Kenneth Libbrecht, has a website full of everything snowflake related.

It even has a link to a place where they grow their own snowflakes . . .

I also made these as the snow fell, which I think of as how snowflakes may look if they had curved and not straight edges (and, yes, were made of silver). I'm as yet undecided what to do with them so all suggestions welcomed!

Heading experiments

2009-01-31T17:33:00.004Z

I played around with banner headings today, reckoning it was time I tried to make one again after a not entirely successful attempt last year. Time always adds experience and little pieces of gleaned knowledge placed together can make a difference.

It certainly did so in terms of creation - in other words, I managed to finish something I was happy with today, finding some gadgets in Vista that I've not discovered in XP, although that may just be because I wasn't looking in the right place before . . .

Anyway, on its lonesome, in the middle of a white screen, I rather liked my new banner.

Uploaded to my shop on Folksy I'm not so sure.

It seems to have a certain fuzziness to both the photos and the text, and the colour of said text is just too pale. Plus the green space above the text seems to weigh it down. Hmm.

So back to the messing around in Paint again. Could think of worse ways to spend a cold afternoon!

Slowness . . .

2009-01-29T18:00:00.003Z

Apparently, slowness isn't always bad. But it feels like this has been a slow week that hasn't been good. I don't feel I've got anywhere fast despite having my first sale of the year. Which should be cause for great happiness!

I'm hoping to turn this around, gee myself up, get stuck into making again. I'm also going to list some more items.

I need to really, considering I placed my silver order and they're never cheap . . .

It's meant to be sunny tomorrow so I shall use that, try and get going again!

Silver, silver

2009-01-25T10:47:00.010Z

For those who make items in sterling you'll know how I'm feeling when I say I'm about to buy some more silver, always a nervous time as I try not to buy the wrong amount (too little can be as bad as too much!), make sure my measurements are right and double check I've not forgotten anything that I'm going to need in a week's time.

I've another big project on the very close horizon and, while I need to be a bit cagey about it here (just in case the recipient should stop buy and have a read), suffice to say it requires enough silver to make me gulp a little when I'd figured out the pricing.

How come no matter how much silver you end up accumulating it's just never the right size, shape, depth . . . ?

I buy most often from Cooksons Gold and they have a handy little page that shows you the pricing of precious metals so you can feel a bit annoyed at yourself that you either didn't stock up last week, three months ago or, even better five years back, before silver began to climb in price.

When I first started working in silver, around ten years ago, prices were relatively cheap and while it was still valued, and any left-overs pieces carefully put away for later use, it wasn't quite as painful as it is now when you make a mistake.

Having a wander around the net I've found a pretty scary site called Kitco which makes me think the sooner I place my order the better - although, naturally enough, the sooner I place it the sooner I can get started making which is probably more to the point.

I also found a graph (no, seriously, this is interesting!) showing the price of silver over 600 years; given the massive drop in its price around the mid eighties compared to what it had been previously, perhaps I'm wrong to even be complaining about the cost today at all!

Okay, back to figuring out my order and, despite the last paragraph, still seeing where I can cut back!

Bangle in progress

2009-01-23T10:04:00.003Z

Back at my silversmithing class last night and ended up with some D-shaped wire (5.25mm x 1.25 mm I think) that was no longer to be used for what I'd originally intended it for. So I managed to fashion one half of it into this:

It's unfinished and unpolished but I love the ribbon effect and the satin texture is so lovely that I'm hoping to recreate that in the polishing process.

Valentine's listings . . .

2009-01-21T19:14:00.005Z

At very long last, after much soldering and filing, more photographs than I can count being taken, and a few hours spent scratching my head in front of the computer, I've started to list some more items in my Folksy store, all with a Valentine (ie. heart) theme.

These are the first few . . .

More to follow!

I am featured!

2009-01-21T17:39:00.005Z

Dig The Earth has featured me on his blog, a lovely looking place, and so I'm very happy indeed.

Here's the direct link and I'm happy to be a fully fledged member of the Folksy Blog Circle . . .

Feature! Blackberry Crafts

2009-01-21T11:30:00.004Z

Feeling on a bit of a roll - and discovering a good way of procrastination - I've decided to blog about Blackberry Crafts as well.

Another knitter (you can't have too many really, not given the weather . . .) Blackberry has a wonderful selection of fingerless gloves in her shop although the lovely mossy colour on the trim of this pair makes them, naturally enough, my favourite.

And some good news is, they're on sale!!!

Also on the Folksy site is this very sweet - and again on sale - little mushroom decorated purse.

Makes me almost feel I could venture outside again, with a few magical golden coins in my purse to throw into a wishing well somewhere . . . Hmm. Instead, I'll stay in and read Blackberry's inviting blog instead.

Feature! Big Blue Bed

2009-01-21T11:11:00.006Z

My first ever feature on another craft maker! And the lucky person is . . .
Big Blue Bed, who is a fellow Folksian and a bit of a wizard with wool.

In her Folksy shop a lovely selection of covetable goodies are displayed. The one that really caught my eye, especially given the frost outside, is this fantastic scarf made from Icelandic wool.

The Dorset buttons are very interesting with an historical element tied up with them, reinforcing how important handmade goods still are today. This one caught my eye, with its wonderful heathery colour.

Big Blue Bed also has a blog which is well worth whiling some time away with as you contemplate that snuggly warm Icelandic scarf . . .

More hearts . . . and sunlight!

2009-01-17T17:49:00.004Z

Yes, the sun came back again today! At first tentatively, quickly hiding back behind the grey cloud cover, then pushing its way through in brazen fashion and giving a wonderful few hours of brightness.

I made the best of it and took a lot of photos. Then I got back to making things to take photos of. Mostly (okay, exclusively) hearts . . .

Hearts in January

2009-01-16T11:28:00.004Z

Very, very slow to blog this year, after Christmas and the turn of the year itself. Tut. But I've been making again (after that same Christmas and New Year malarky) and have spent a fair time this week making hearts in preparation for Valentine's Day, chasing away the dark gloom of the January weather in doing so.

This is them, as a work in progress, looking pretty dull after just being subjected to some creation by soldering:

A good few more are also in various stages of production.

Next is the description writing process . . . which sometimes seems to take longer than making the jewellery itself . . .

I Flickr

2008-12-21T10:22:00.004Z

Opened a Flickr account yesterday. Was surprisingly painless! Hopefully this is a sign of my increasing ability to know what I'm doing. It could have had something to do with reading the instructions carefully though . . .

Just photos also on Folksy right now but give it time . . .

Butterflies and fallen trees

2008-12-19T18:35:00.004Z

I saw a butterfly today . . .

And, not exactly winter cheer but certainly some brightness and colour, I took some photos of a fallen tree, dead for a couple of years and felled by a gust of wind too strong for its withered rootball.

Wonderful textures (and I do love texture!) and amazing to see, up close, the life within and upon the tree.

I'd have taken a photo of the butterfly but, in December, I really wasn't expecting to see one!

Folksy result!

2008-12-19T18:19:00.005Z

Things have gone well on Folksy. I've sold far more than I expected to in far shorter a space of time. Well, let's face it, I did suspect I might not sell anything at all. But, so far (and probably all that will be sold before next year. Assuming anything sells next year . . . ) I've sold five items to four buyers. Yes, someone even wanted two pieces of jewellery which left me feeling just ever so slightly chuffed!

So, if nothing else, I've covered the cost of listing although probably not the hours it's taken me, as I've found it very consuming of time; taking photos, getting them the right size (after finding out how to get them the right size), working out just how the listing works, then going back and doing it properly, then making right what went wrong and I didn't notice had gone wrong etc. But, that aside, it is a nice buzz when someone actually likes your work enough to part with money for it, and even nicer when you find out they really like it when they receive it too! I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever get over jewellery-related low self-esteem . . .

I've been experimenting with backgrounds and props with my photography, making the most of the sun when it came out on Saturday after spending what felt like a brief eternity sulking behind grey clouds. I'm quite pleased with the results and that I got out of my 'comfort zone' and tried something new. It may not seem dramatic but different coloured pebbles seem to have made a big difference to the way the silver looks, even if it's just to me!

I also used the elegant hand/arm prop:

I messed around with a black background as well but it dulled the clarity of the silver and meant the texture of it was lost so unless I learn a little more about cameras and perhaps have a better quality one at my disposal, I might well steer clear of that idea for now. The first photo is, obviously, on a black background. The second is, again obviously, not.

See what I mean?

But this (and Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, writing cards - all of which seems to have taken at least twice as long as it ever has before this year) has meant that actually making the jewellery, you know, taking bits of silver and then fashioning attractive items from them, has been sitting on the back burner, feeling a bit neglected and wondering if I've forgotten it.

I've not. I've got plans for the new year, have been looking through notes, letting ideas formulate and percolate . . . although I must try and remember that just because I've made something once doesn't mean I can't make it again. It'll never be exactly the same, handmade jewellery - made by me anyway! - just doesn't work like that, so I know when I find a design I like I can revisit it, even develop and adapt it. But I always seem to find the urge to try something new just a little too tempting . . . Perhaps a New Year's resolution is in order.

More items listed . . . and a first Folksy sale!

2008-12-13T12:25:00.007Z

I've listed a few more pieces on Folksy today, although not as many as I would have done as I needed to take some more photos and the weather has bee so dull and abysmal that the natural light just isn't up to it. Must make one of those handy white boxes I've read about . . . although I don't know how much that'll help with the light. Hmm.

But some more listings anyway.

And my first Folksy sale came on Thursday, just before I was heading out to my silversmithing class! One of my leaf pendants, which always attract attention.

I've another finished and one, a smaller one, as a work in progress but nearly done. I've also a tiny one nearly finished, and some potential tiny ones to create. They're all individual which can make them tough to part with . . .

But I've listed one of my silver ladies

and if I can part with them then I can part with anything!

Progress is slow right now though, with Christmas shopping seeming to take several years to finish . . .

Photos sorted! Big sigh of relief . . .

2008-12-11T11:59:00.004Z

Yes, my photos are looking a lot better now. Phew.

Many thanks to a couple of fellow Folksians who were generous with time and expertise in helping me figure out just what I was doing wrong. It was kind of obvious really. Ahem. But these things often are.

Anyway, check out the wonderful shops of Paperleaf and Random Hamster, both of whom are true stars and sell lovely stuff too!

More listed

2008-12-06T18:33:00.003Z

More items listed now. A bit tricky getting the hang of the cropping of photos. And I'm not happy with the quality of the photos I'm using anyway, although some seem better than others.

Hmm.

I've had a go at sorting things out but it's not gone too well. Or rather, I haven't been able to get the results I want. Google is all fine and dandy when you know exactly the right words to use . . . !

The shop is open!

2008-12-04T18:16:00.001Z

Well, just.

I've got one item up so far although I'm hoping the first one is the trickiest to do!

Have a look-see here if you fancy:

http://www.folksy.com/shops/silvermoss

Silver Hearts

2008-11-29T11:50:00.005Z

A selection of pretty silver hearts, all easily strung on ribbon, although a chain necklace could also be used.

All these hearts measure around 2cm (about three quarters of an inch) and I use about 28 inches of ribbon, to make it easy to tie a bow at the back.

Silver heart 1

Silver heart 2
on purple ribbon

Silver heart 3
on lilac organza ribbon

Silver heart 4
on round purple ribbon

Silver heart 5
on pale blue ribbon

First Craft Fair Done!

2008-11-26T10:56:00.005Z

The First Craft Fair is over. It's unjust to call it a disaster but not quite right to classify it as a resounding success. Jewellery was sold (two necklaces, two pairs of earrings), business cards were taken, compliments were received (more than sales!).

It wasn't an auspicious start though. Being my first craft fair as a stallholder I can't deny that I didn't really know what I was doing. So I rolled up at the venue, a couple of helpers at hand, and found the map that directed me to my table. It was by the door, the wide open door where all the other stallholders were entering and exiting by as they set up, and, confusingly, it was at an angle, as if it was an entrance table where people paid their fee before perusing the rest of the stalls.

So was I sharing the table with the entry fee takers?
Was I meant to be the entry fee table?
And just where was I going to put all my bags and bits and pieces if the back of my stall was in the middle of the room?

The kindness and helpfulness of other stallholders I'd heard rumour of came to the fore and the consensus seemed to be that this was the entrance only for stallholders, and it would be shut when the fair started, and my table moved in front of it (despite the fire exit signs above it . . . ).

Which meant I now knew just where the front of my table was and could start to dress it. Not easy to do though when you're as good as in the centre of the room, generally in the way, and having to contend with the cold from the door and the increasingly strong breeze that was making its way in as well. The latter certainly isn't ideal when the things you're laying out tend to be on the light side, especially pendants strung on ribbon, and the organza bags I was using as part of my table display (doubling up as gift bags) really didn't like this!

But we prevailed and the stall was set up (which takes longer than you think when you've nigh on 70 items of jewellery to lay out!), mostly to the plan I'd been practising with at home. The table was then, very carefully, lifted and moved into place. And nothing fell over or out of place! A success!

Here's what it looked like, although it was still a bit of a work in progress at the stage, and the table hadn't been moved into place:

The people who, apparently due to bad signing, thought this was the entrance to the fair weren't quite so impressed however, when they had to go all the way back around the building to the official entrance.

But, hey, I was set up, the (official) doors were open, and people were actually stopping to look at the jewellery on my stall! I decided against grinning like a loon and just sat looking interested but not pushy. Well, that's my hope anyway.

It took nearly two hours for any sales to occur and I was a nervous, but happy, wreck by the end of the transaction. Not long after, someone else bought a pair of earrings, one of my favourite pairs that had taken a fair bit of work and were made purely from silver. She seemed to really like them, and was buying them as a gift, which was quite a buzz.

Then a long lull. Admittedly I was pretty happy now I knew that I wasn't going home having sold nothing, but, still, I was rather hoping for a bit more selling than just interest. The interest was good though, don't get me wrong, and it was fascinating to hear people's comments. "Delicate" seemed to be a common one.

But the long lunch-time quiet came and went. Sandwiches were consumed - by pretty much all the stall holders - and for a while the room was empty of fair-goers.

I nipped to the loo. I returned to an interested customer! She liked two pendants and I offered her a deal but, sensible shopper that she was, she decided which she liked best and bought that.

And then it was almost time to put the jewellery back into all the tiny plastic bags I'd fetched it in, as neatly as rushing slightly allowed, and discover if it was possible to fit everything, including display props, back into the bags I'd fetched it in. It wasn't . . . And this discovery wasn't helped by the fact I was by the door the other stallholders all wanted to leave by. In the end, it was easier to carefully shift the table back into the middle of the room again, but that bit of added pressure may just have made it trickier to make all my things fit where they should. But, with minimal damage, and at least some sales, the day was done.

What did I learn?
Well, chances are you'll always find someone who has sold less than you and more than you - in this case it was on the stalls either side of me.
That other stallholders are pretty nice.
That a big dish of sweets on the front of your stall could be a good idea.
That cheaper prices is probably a better one.
And that my stall lay out seemed a little . . . flat.

So that's quite a lot to work with and be getting on with until . . .

The Second Craft Fair!

Right. Where next...?

2008-11-13T09:43:00.010Z

And, at last, here's some jewellery . . .

I should also very soon have some items for sale in my Folksy shop - I'll post the link here when it's done!

First Craft Fair approaches!

2008-11-12T16:50:00.006Z

Another long gap between blog entries. This time my excuse/reason/feeble explanation is by way of a trip to Scotland to see family. Naturally enough, this took place when snow appeared in October for the first time in officially yonks. I was lucky - flights were not affected (and Gatwick wasn't too busy despite an airline going bust on the morning I was due to fly). And I was even luckier when the plane began to descend above mountains in Scotland and I was rewarded with the sight of, well, why bother with words when I can show this:

Of course, snow means cold and we had a chilly few days but then things heated up (okay, weren't so cold, but the contrast with the snow-cold meant things seemed warmer than they were!) and the sun could be felt. We headed off to Roseisle

where I found a few of the wonderful pebbles that cover parts of the beach here, and at nearby Findhorn, and have fetched them home with me, hoping to be able to incorporate them with silver somehow,

and Dulcie Bridge, or rather, the view from said bridge.

But, hold on. Isn't this blog about, er, silver and jewellery and stuff like that? And doesn't a certain First Craft Fair appear to be looming on the horizon? Yes and yes. And so, back in England, I've been busy working through several lists (I made one big one then cannibalized it into three smaller ones, the first about jewellery itself, the second about how to display it and the third about everything that didn't fit into the previous two headings), and getting things done, making up on lost time a little too.

I changed the soap in my tumble polisher which has made a massive difference to the quality of the shine on the jewellery (um, hang on. I've just remembered I set it running and it needs checking. Back in a minute! Wait, I'm going to save this first . . . Right, Back again. Just swapping over from one chain to another as, having spent a good 15 minutes untangling two chains (despite them being wrapped around separate bangles) yesterday, I'm now polishing them one at a time . . .). And I finished this afternoon four pieces, two pendants and two bracelets that had needed doing for a long while now. I've also been making up some chains (hence the polishing) and finishing up any little things that should have been done and hadn't been done. Which seemed to be quite a lot . . .

I’m also working on how I’m actually going to set my stall out, how the table will be designed, where the various bits of jewellery will go. Apparently, the thing to do is take a photo of it when you like it, print it up, then use it as a guide on the day. So I shall try to do this, even as I’m increasingly convinced that as long as it all fits on the stall and can be seen then, this time at least, I’ll be happy.

Quick update before I post this! Today, I managed to break a plastic crate that I was going to store things in; I discovered three chain necklaces I'd made up were not able to be used as I'd managed to solder the clasps I'd also made on incorrectly; and the jump ring on a pendant came off as I tried to fix it to one of the chain necklaces that did work . . . Oh well. Let's hope I'm getting it all out of the way before the craft fair this Saturday . . .

Over the sea and back again.

2008-10-22T17:22:00.008+01:00

Been a little quiet as my boyfriend visiting and a trip away have put jewellery making very slightly to one side. We went to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and were incredibly fortunate with the weather for such a late season holiday. Hence much wandering around in the sun, commenting on the sun and wondering just why this wonderful sun was out and was shining on us so warmly when instead the weather should really have been either raining or windy. Or both.

Despite Guernsey having several silversmithing and jewellery workshops open to the public I managed to not get to see any of them. Probably down to that sun just keeping appearing and distracting me . . .

But I did find some wonderful beaches with shells in abundance and shells mean jewellery. I made up a few pendants last year, with shells garnered from beaches in Jersey, and I decided to collect a 'few' beauties from this holiday as well. So small bags in my handbag would just keep filling themselves up . . . I found a stunning array on a west coast beach on our first full day on the island :

And a day trip to the island of Herm led to the famous Shell Beach which, naturally, had plenty on display, but also the discovery of Belvoir Bay where the amount of shells, many so so tiny, piled up in swathes around the rocks made me a bit giddy in a Shell-heaven way . . . :

Again, on Herm the truly beautiful weather made a lovely day even more special. The beaches were almost deserted -as was the entire island - but the weather, while not balmy hot, was certainly short-sleeved quality:

Back to the real world now . . .

Signs . . .

2008-09-24T20:07:00.001+01:00

I have a sign now. For the craft fair, mostly, although it's kind of nice to look at anyway, and a good reminder of the work I still need to do.

Back to my silversmithing night class this last week, as well, where a fair bit of nattering and catching-up ensued and a little bit of filing some silver as well. It is possibly to to both simultaneously but it's not quite as much fun so first night back is always a little slow on the work front.

A slow week for making things . . . but always a silver lining . . .

2008-09-13T18:14:00.000+01:00

Not been the best weeks for actual jewellery making but rather more successful in finding things to display jewellery on! Yes, thoughts of the craft fair remain ever near . . .

A charity shop (Help The Aged - I'll give them a credit although it's never easy to find the same thing in other branches . . . ho ho) had a bundle of items out in the street (pedestrianised) and sitting right on top of them was this:

A potential jewellery display stand!

I hmmed and ahhed a bit. It was £2.99 which isn't much but is if you're trying to make money, not spend it. Then, indecision over, I bought it. The woman on the till (young. For some reason, Help The Aged seems to attract young volunteers, far more so than any of the other charity shops. If anyone knows why then please share! It's not important, I'm just nosy . . . ) asked what it was. I was stumped.

"I don't know," I said, "but I'm planning on using it to display jewellery." Which she agreed was fair enough.

Then I noticed a ring of metal within the structure, not dissimilar to the support you'd find . . . for a lightbulb in a lampshade. We commented a little on this, trying to work out exactly how the actual shade would fit over the curves.

I still have no idea. But I'm not too worried as I have a nice jewellery stand to go with . . . my other one!

This one is not second-hand and is what it says on the tin, or whatever metal it's made from. It is for jewellery display and should prove pretty handy for bracelets and earrings.

The first one will be more suitable for necklaces, I think, although a little experimentation at home led me to realise that it wasn't as tall as I thought and the necklaces wouldn't hang straight down. But it turns out this means the last third of them can be laid artfully on the table so not a disaster, in fact, probably a more effective display than if they just hang vertically as, this way, they should be 'more available to the eye'.

I decided to put that in quotations because it sounds like something someone who knows about such things would say. Ahem.

So, some photos, at last.

But, no, none of my jewellery yet. I see a new goal ahead - and will attend to it shortly! Honest! Otherwise you'll start to wonder if I actually make jewellery or just fantasise about it . . .

A First Post

2008-09-07T10:41:00.000+01:00

The blog has to start somewhere and this is where mine does. My first craft fair looms - okay, it's slightly under three months away but I want to be ready early.

So now I have a goal, an aim, and that's what I'm going to do, focus on that. And if it doesn't go too well, then a lot of family and friends are going to get jewellery as gifts this Christmas . . .

And since I have this aim, I decided I should start the blog I'd been meaning to start for quite a while!

Works in progress:

Two necklaces
One bracelet
Two pairs of earrings

All embarked upon with a soldering torch this past weekend, although they've been in production since I discovered the wonderful things you can do with a rolling mill.

Actually, the bracelet has yet to go under the soldering torch. That should happen today. Or tomorrow . . .

Other works in progress:

Pretty much everything else because, let's face it,most things always need a little more tweaking, cleaning, polishing, refining.

So my aim at present (as a minor aim to the major aim of the craft fair, if that makes sense . . . ) is to have a box of 'Completely Finished Items' and to ensure it grows weekly.

Also a work in progress is My Ultimate Craft Fair Preparation/To Do List. You can never have enough To Do Lists. I'm trying to keep this one to one page though . . and to avoid writing a To Do List about it . . .
You never know, it might even get posted here.

Tune in soon for pictures! No, not of the List . . . of the jewellery . . . but you knew I meant that.