Thursday 16 December 2010

silver ring snaps and a bit flies across the kitchen!

The saga with the silver ring continues. When I was trying to solder the flower with purple heart zircona (made of silver art clay) I managed to solder it with the heart in the wrong direction. With the help of Richard we tried to unsolder it but must have heated the ring too much and it split and a bit of it flew across the kitchen. Neither of us were wearing safety goggles - a lesson learned there! Anyway, I googled how to unsolder and we managed to remove the bit that was left on the ring and although the ring is no more, the flower and purple heart are doing fine. After that episode I decided I was trying to run before I could walk and have been making silver rings with 1mm sterling silver wire, fitting them together like jump rings and then firing them with easy solder from a syringe. Then I pickle them and file and sand paper them and hammer them with my texture hammer. I have made some earrings and a pendant necklace. See piccies. I also made my own head pins by heating the end of 0.8mm wire with my torch until a little ball of silver forms and my own earwires for the earrings. All good fun. I have ordered some copper sheet from Cooksons to take to Somerset on Friday so that I can practise sawing shapes out of the copper with my jewellery saw.
The first picture is Richard snoozing the day after his office dinner dance joined by Megan who decided to sleep on his back!
Got the National Express coach from Victoria to Southampton last Thursday for a 'girls night out'. I stayed with young Wend who I have mentioned before. We had champagne at Pam and Dave's house and then a lovely meal in the Ferry Boat Inn. Got the coach back at 11am the next morning feeling slightly the worse for wear but slept most of the journey. My coach trip cost £14 return - amazing value considering the prices for the trains to Southampton! The 3rd picture is Pam, Penny and Wendy on the sofa (starting from the left).
I did a Christmas selling day at a bank in the city last Tuesday. I sold a couple of pairs of earrings and a ring which was disappointing but I handed by business card out to lots of people so you never know.
Off to Somerset on Friday and staying until 3rd January next year! Nothing to do but make jewellery, eat and drink - utter bliss. It has been great chatting to you and I hope to get a few more followers next year - thanks Claire! XXX
HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thursday 2 December 2010

Anvil on my knee!

Back again! What a day I've had. I decided to make a ring from sterling silver 2.5mm wire, solder it together (scary) and then solder an art clay (fine silver) flower or similar to it. I made a flower and circle and couple of small ovals, stuck some zirconas into them and left them in the airing cupboard to dry out. Then I started on the ring. I found I could cut the wire with my shears to avoid sawing it. It was already annealed so I could avoid heating and pickling it. All going well. Then I found that having made it into a ring shape it was too big so I would have to saw some off. I had to fix the bench peg into the anvil and fix them to my desk. It seemed very secure. I attached a saw blade to my saw and, resting on the bench peg, attempted to saw the metal. Suddenly the anvil flew off the desk and landed with a thud on my left knee - arggghhhhh. The pain was horrendous.
This afternoon I took the dogs to the park with my camera and took some great shots - see attached. When we got back I shut the bedroom doors as their feet were covered in ice, water and pink grit. I decided to shower Sophie's legs to remove the lumps of ice from her fur and when I came out of the bathroom I found that Megan had come in and decided to dance all over the bedclothes that were fresh on yesterday. Bit like the advert but no quite that bad. Life can be so cruel sometimes - damned dog!
Did a couple of craft shows. Wells was a bit of a disaster - not well advertised, not well attended and I only sold some rings and earrings. Not worth the £116 paid for the stand. Everyone left early. Then I did the village hall Xmas fayre where Richard played Father Christmas and my sister Gill helped me. Not bad, but not as good as last year.
Not sure if I mentioned my silver jewellery making class at the London Jewellery School in Hatton Garden. Had a great time - loved making the ring and pendant - in fact haven't taken the ring off since I made it!!! Richard has bought me all the equipment I need to get started as my Christmas pressie. Round in a full circle back to the anvil on my knee. If I ever get the ring made I will put a picture on this blog!!!