I've been working on some commission pieces lately, alongside my new designs. One has led me to have another go at something I haven't done for a good while, namely stone setting. Or, in this case, sea glass setting. I haven't set any stones since I was going to evening classes at Leeds College of … Continue reading Sea Glass in a Silver Setting
I've been working hard on a commission for the past few days. My customer had seen and liked my poppy earrings, but wanted a pair featuring Hawaiian flowers. You know the ones - you see them on Hawaiian shirts. I have since discovered that they are hibiscus flowers, and that the yellow hibiscus is … Continue reading news from the workshop: hibiscus
You wait a couple of months for an order for a ring, and then three come along at once. As a result of which, I've mostly been making rings for the past few days. The first order was for a pair of hammered silver stacking rings, but in different sizes, so clearly not intended for … Continue reading news from the workshop: rings on their fingers
In fact, I have started several somethings over the past couple of weeks, but so far I have failed to finish any of them. I had some ideas for new earrings, so in a fit on enthusiasm, I set to and sawed out all the shapes I needed. I got as far as filing them, … Continue reading news from the workshop: I started something…
Great excitement at La Petite Maison last week, as I took delivery of this. It's a ring stretcher and reducer, and whilst it may not look that thrilling, it will allow me to make and accurately size closed rings. I do make rings at the moment, but they are all unsoldered, so that they can … Continue reading news from the workshop: a new addition
My latest creation is this sweet little mewing silver cat pendant. I've been mulling over doing a cat for a while now, but it wasn't until I'd finished my silver raven that I actually sat down and came up with a design that I thought would work. The original model was my very own Sophie … Continue reading news from the workshop: silver cat
I've not spent that much time in my workshop for the past week, lured outside by the autumn sunshine and unseasonably high temperatures. I've also been waiting for some new supplies to arrive before I start on a very special one-off order for a customer. I did, however, receive an order for one of my … Continue reading news from the workshop: copper oak leaf
I love moonstones, with their subtle play of milky blue colour, but the supplier I usually go to for my materials does not sell moonstone beads, so I haven't used them in my designs before. I recently decided to try another supplier, and found these gorgeous 6mm round rainbow moonstone beads. I'm so pleased with them. … Continue reading news from the workshop: moonstones
I had a bit of unexpected work to do this weekend. I usually prefer to make my jewellery pieces before offering them for sale, mainly because I find it less pressurised that way, and the customer can see exactly what they are buying. I do however, have a couple of designs that I make to order. … Continue reading news from the workshop: it’s all about the seed heads
I've recently added this new design to my online shop. It's an elegantly curved silver pendant, designed to mimic the curling bark strips of the silver birch tree. The silver pendant tapers gently from the bottom, and the top has been rolled over to form a loop, which carries a leather thong. It's intended as … Continue reading silver birch choker
