Green leaves . . .

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

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

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 . . .

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

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!