Chain or bead?
I decided to remake a piece that I had made some time ago and really liked. I had made that with Aventurine but this time I wanted to make it with Rose Quartz ( I just love it and it is fabulous for the heart) As you may or may not know I have been out of the studio for a time now so it is a bit of an adventure for me as it is a long time since I set stones. I now have bruised and bloodied hands and my poor thumb is really sore but I have finished the difficult bit thank goodness! My only problem now is whether to mount on a chain or use with beads (as the original)… what a dilema!
Catching Excellence?
Perfection is something I have always striven for… it makes for a difficult life! Anyway I have some pieces that haven’t turned out quite as I had hoped but that are still good and I doubt if anyone would know what I am unhappy about. I have taken the decision to offer these pieces for sale and they can also be found on my Facebook page. If you would like to please click on ‘like page’ while you are there all the better! These need to be collected from my home so I am sure you are happy with them. Anyway I placed the first of these pieces yesterday, a bracelet. It is a large link one and is quite heavy. The bracelet here is available for only £40! It is not hallmarked but can be at cost. Take a look!
Sunday in the studio
Well that’s the plan! Mind you someone might visit and then as it’s Sunday the Pinot will come out and I shall spend the rest of the day slobbing in front of the tv! I have a bracelet that I want to put some texture on and have also been thinking of a necklace I sold some time ago. Whilst I don’t have the cabochon or beads in the same gem I do have them in another so may well make that. It isn’t easy to decide is it? Then of course I am supposed to be making myself a Sapphire ring in celebration of our Sapphire wedding anniversary – 45 years – so could start on that. So much to do I really should get started!
Time flies!
I cannot believe how much has happened in the last three and a half months. Suffice to say it has all been life changing and I am not sure I appreciate the experiences that have had such an impact on my life and the life of my family. I have found out who our friends are though and I am so grateful to have these people in my life – thank you, you know who you are!
Anyway I am sat here today thinking I need to get back fully into the swing of things and as I am alone it will be easier than of late when there is always someone around. I am hoping to put to use the Enamelling course I did, time will tell on that so watch this space!
Because of the trials we have had lately I have made the decision to stop bespoke work and concentrate on individual pieces for the moment so fingers crossed I can make some pieces that will appeal to people. It will be less wedding inspired I think – who knows what I will come up with!
Fine Silver Roses
Trinkets
This last week I had a little time to play so took a good look at my stash of pretties. I have been meaning to use a gem I bought a few years ago – a beautiful pink one. I have looked adoringly at it for a while now and I fancied turning it into a ring. It is quite deep so promised to make a large ring but I like big rings so that didn’t matter. I was devastated when, after spending ages on it, I managed to mess up the recess for the stone by filing it to fit over a ring and had to start again. It turned out really well and I am well pleased with it
I also found this Druzy. It is a gorgeous lime green. Dyed it is not the best quality but great for the summer anyway – and I just love lime green!
Not sure what to make next… and will it be for me?
April Showers?
It has been a busy time in our household… so much going on and so little time to do anything other than necessities. I am sat here at 4 in the morning grabbing a moment to write this. It is so very peaceful in the house with everyone else (including the dogs) sleeping and I am enjoying the luxury of the peace and quiet.
Apart from being hectic April has been a surprise… no rain! What happened to April showers I wonder! The flowers for the month are Sweet pea and or Daisy, so pretty and oh so sweet – I love both! I found this lovely picture of a bouquet containing both flowers. You can find it here
Aprils Birthstone is the Diamond. I don’t often work with Diamonds but I do adore them – who doesn’t? After all diamonds are a girl’s best friend!
Wild Rose Ear Studs
(Item shown has C.Z’s not diamonds)
I wonder what else April will bring us this year? Not much time left really but we have enjoyed beautiful weather, long may it continue!
February – Hearts and Flowers
February is a special month for our family as my eldest Grandchild will reach his 21st birthday – a momentous occasion for us but less so for you unless you are Pagan in which case you will be celebrating Winter Solstice! So what makes it special for you?
Valentines day is of course top of the list for everyone I am sure. Are you hoping for some flowers? Red roses for me – I just love them! But did you know that the flower for the month is Violets?
So very pretty and they make the most gorgeous posies. I found this lovely table decoration on Pinterest and just had to pin it!
Also around at this time of year is the ‘Christmas Rose’ (at least in my garden) I used to have four varieties but am left with only one now – shame!
The Birthstone for the month is Amethyst, a violet variety of quartz. According to Wikipedia the name comes from Ancient Greek and protects its owner from drunkenness (wish I had worn it more when I was younger!). The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and made drinking vessels decorated with it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. What you may not know is that Amethysts come in several different colours. Apart from the usual colour it comes in shades of pink through to deep purple, with hues from blue to red. Green Quartz is sometimes called Green Amethyst although it isn’t really… shame I love it!
Autumn Leaves
The dreaded lurgy has descended upon our house with 2 of the 4 of us having developed the latest craze in cold/flu type things and another is looking like she isn’t far behind. Mind you they are teens and I am not… so they will recover faster than me I am sure! It has stopped me working, I had to cancel the fayre I was booked to do last week because I wasn’t up to it which was a shame as I had been looking forward to it. Ah well it has allowed me to chill out in my dressing gown for long periods (not all though, to much to do!)
One thing I did have the energy to do was photograph some of the pieces I had made especially for the fayre. Copper and Bronze featured and I confess I was very pleased with the copper leaves jewellery I made. The copper looks great oxidised against the sterling silver elements even if I do say so myself! What do you think? Just one thing…. the photograph of the copper leaf makes it look like it curls under but it curls as the earrings do.
The pieces won’t become part of my normal range and are available to buy. They would make great Christmas presents! Contact me if you are interested in any of them.
Bronze Success!
At last I actually have something to show for all the bronze clay I have used lately and it is all thanks to my friend Chris Pate from Touchmark Studios!!!
Chris is the person who ‘taught me all I know’ and she is very generous when it comes to helping me out still (thank goodness!) There is always someone we will always need and for me Chris is definitely one of mine. The clay was okay to work with but firing was another issue… so much wasted it isn’t true. I had accepted a commission for a pendant in Bronze as well as one in silver. The silver one was easy and looks great but the bronze was another story. Well that’s it done now anyway and I adore the ivy I made. It awaits cleaning up and polishing but the colours are beautiful don’t you think? Just got to wait for some solder and wire in bronze to arrive from America and I can finish it all. Can’t wait!
Oh dear what happened to my Bronze Clay?
I made a pendant for a customer some while ago. Recently they asked me to make another 2 in Silver and a different metal. After discussions it was decided to make the other in Bronze. The original was in Fine Silver Clay and I made another in the same which turned out perfectly, even better than the original! Now onto the Bronze one… I have not used Bronze clay before so did some research and felt ready to get started. All went ok, the detail wasn’t as defined as in the PMC so I tried again. The second piece looked fine and I was happy with the detail so I fired the first piece in the kiln as a test. It fired perfectly… well apart from the heavy black coat it was covered in but I figured that if that happened again a good clean would sort it out. Into the kiln went the second piece, I wasn’t concerned at all…. silly me! Disaster!!! It imploded – totally collapsed. Oh well back to the drawing board!