Sunday, 23 May 2010

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

. . . 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 . . .






Monday, 11 January 2010

Snow, Christmas, Traffic, Snow

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 . . .









Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Leaf Evolution

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














Sunday, 29 November 2009

Rings on your fingers?

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




Thursday, 19 November 2009

Rings for my fingers . . .

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'.