Silver Ink Tree

Experimental making

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:24:18 +0000

This week I’ve been making some regular pieces for my stock but also started experimenting with a silver bangle…the finished product will be something to match my Dew stem earrings. I just need to work out the best silver wire to use so that the bangle doesn’t bend out of shape too easily.

Fuschia earrings

I also had a fun time fiddling about and making a prototype of something that has been in my head for months…I was really pleased with how it’s turned out so far. The design is loosely based on a Fuschia flower. As a kid (much to my Dad’s dismay!) I used to love popping the flower pods on the bush that was at the end of our drive! I love the colours of Fuschias too – vibrant pink and purple, none of that namby pamby pastel nonsense. I’m thinking about developing it into a pendant on a long chain as well as dangly earrings. Watch this space…..

Button magic

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:15:03 +0000

Thought you might like to see the up-cycled cardigan (which I’m proud to say has had several admirers since it was given a new look!)….I especially like the sparkly button I found lurking at the bottom of my button jar.

Fusing and reticulation, every day’s a school day eh?

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:17:15 +0000

Today during my lunch break (in my real-life-day-job-that-pays-the-mortgage!) I had a little snoop around the shops. I work in Hebden Bridge. A very dangerous place to work, especially when on Honeymoon Economy Drive. The shops are divine. Hebden is FULL of amazing little independent shops and has a fantastic arts scene, in fact it’s won various awards for being, well, just so darned lovely. Anyway, temptation to spend was all around me but I stuck to the charity shops and also discovered a really tiny little gallery that I’d never seen before (even after working there for two years I’m still discovering exciting things). Low and behold, inside the gallery minding his own business (literally) was a jeweller called Stephen Roper and his well tooled workshop was based there with him. What a lucky man! A craft gallery and workshop combo…my dream! although I’m under no illusions about how hard it must be to make a living from making and selling jewellery. His stuff was lovely. Totally different from my style and I just had to quiz him about the techniques he used as the pieces had such an unusual finish. I’m sure I must have sounded very silly, as having investigated the techniques he quoted (‘fusing’ and ‘reticulation’) I find they are in fact used a lot in the business, I’ve just never come across them before. Actually, I think I’ve probably reticulated without knowing…I may have sworn at the time as I over annealed and melted the surface of something…little did I know that it was an actual technique…and when mastered it can have beautiful results.

My research then led me to a course on Fusing and Reticulation down in London. It was £510. Sob. I need to sell a lot of pieces before I can go on this….will have to experiment myself. I will keep you posted….!

PS – I did find a total bargain in a charity shop too. Biscuit coloured cashmere cardigan (£4). Currently a bit Granny looking for me (pearl buttons etc) but soon to be up-cycled with a load of random buttons from my button jar. In fact…that’s what I’m going to do right now….see ya!

Simply Charming!

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:04:30 +0000

This week I’ve started working on an interesting new commission….well, thinking about it anyway. I had an enquiry last weekend about making a charm bracelet and having read the email I went into a mild panic…”I’ve never made one before, where do I start”…etc…..but the more I’ve thought about it the more exciting it’s become. I’ve been daydreaming about lots of different types of charms and how I can personalise the bracelet. It’s really nice to have a new challenge and to be able to experiment as I’m often making the same sort of thing. So, watch this space. If it’s a success I might be developing a new item to sell in the online shop.

Vintage goodies

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:00:13 +0000

Braved the weather to meet up with a pal for a brew and gossip on Saturday. She has recently launched a business selling vintage furniture and homewares. Some great stuff on her website so please do check it out www.entwistles.net

I have my eye on some glorious kitchen kitsch in the form of this corkscrew and this sewing box footstool hybrid – surely this piece of furniture has something for everyone in our household? Storage for my ‘craft crap’ (how dare he!) and restage for his feet (often smelly). Anyway, I’m sworn off spending as we’ve just booked a BIG holiday (honeymoon actually!) so ecomony drive central at the mo. Maybe pay day.

Jewellery finds new homes

Anna — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:57:44 +0000

The crafting and silversmithing has been on hold for a week or so as the calendar seems to have hotted up and I’ve been a busy social butterfly all week. Last night was a highlight with a rare trip into the city lights with the Hubs to see King Creosote and Jon Hopkins perform at Leeds City Varieties. What at awesome sound. Truly mesmerising. Loving all that folky dokey goodness.

Anyway, my recent orders have now all been sent across the country…one made a second trip over to France and I’m so pleased with my new boxes and ribbon that I bought to package things up. My sister-in-law’s wise words ”it’s all about the packaging” are so true. Nothing nicer than getting something through the post which is all wrapped and special and present-like – especially if you’ve bought it for yourself as a little treat. Naughty but nice.

Jewellery snaps

Anna — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:04:10 +0000

A few little photos of some jewellery making in action. An army of little bird have been growing ready to perch on some earrings and these are now finished and available in my shop here: Perching Birds. I also wanted to make a quick pressie for a dear friend who was over visiting from Australia so the little E is for her.

A momentous occasion!

Anna — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:26:50 +0000

How exciting. My first online sale a mere few minutes after sending my eNewsletter last night! The Husband got very grumpy (although he was also super pleased) as I was then too giddy to watch the film we’d started watching for our Sunday night entertainment. I was also thinking that I wished I’d finished that star necklace I’d been working on in the afternoon then I could have simply popped it in an envelope and sent it off to a lucky lady whose Valentines present I happen to know it will be. Ssshhhh….don’t tell her! Still, it won’t take me long to finish and it’s so nice to know it’s a special present, a tiny bit of extra crafty love will go into finishing it.

A huge thank you to everyone who sent such kind and supportive messages, tweets, facebooky things etc and for forwarding my newsletter onto other friends. I’ve already had quite a few enquiries as the word has spead so that is really brilliant. I think I might have to schedule a ‘jewellery only’ evening or two every week…(maybe I can give up jogging as I simply won’t have time to go…Oh what a tradgedy that would be!). Not quite time to give up the day job yet though….!

Speaking of Valentines day…I’ll be adding some new little heart earrings to the shop super soon, a very wearable, simple and affordable design so keep your eyes peeled for those in case you need to drop some hints….or treat yourself. Go on, you know you deserve it.

PS – Since penning my post above I’ve made another sale. Double exciting! A little humming bird will be fluttering it’s wings down to London later this week.

The Big Day

Anna — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:55:09 +0000

Well, today is The Day that I’m going to start doing a little bit of promotion for my new website. I have generated a (surprisingly long) email mailing list and have whizzed people a little line to tell them about my site. Some addresses collected from people who have made enquiries at various craft fairs…but mostly it’s just family, extended family, friends, extended friends, colleagues, extended colleagues!

Hopefully this is a good place to start and maybe the word will spread but I have to let you into a secret. ..I’m a little bit nervous about putting myself ‘out there’. Making jewellery has been in my life for quite a long time now…gosh, maybe nearly a decade? But I’ve never really tried to make it anything more than an enjoyable hobby with the odd few sales at craft fairs or jewellery parties or through commissions. I’ve never had the time or the confidence to push it further really but after much encouragement and some very kind words and actions of support I thought it was high time to dip my toe into the world of online selling and see how I got on. There are so many amazing opportunities to sell (and buy) handmade work online that I thought maybe, just maybe someone somewhere might like to buy mine. We shall see!

Lobe stalker

Anna — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:57:31 +0000

I have become an earlobe stalker! but don’t worry, I haven’t been accosting random strangers with my camera, just willing family and friends. I’m going to try to keep adding images of pieces being worn to give a better idea of size and shape so look out for these on the blog.