Charm bracelets!

I will never be a successful blogger - two posts a year doesn't quite do it!

Anyway, I have been as busy as ever this year.  Lots more sand cast items including my new charm bracelets which I love. 

We went to Woolacombe for a week and I found some new shells and also saw two live starfish!  That was so exciting - they were a little bigger than mine.  The doggies came with us and also had a great time playing on the massive beach. 

I am very busy working up to Christmas now, so I post some images for you to look at.

Oh and don't forget my Etsy shop.  lynettesilver.etsy.com.  Please take a look.

sand casting rings (again)

Yes, I have been making rings again although I said I wouldn't do anymore due to sizing issues!  A friend showed me some rings she had made and I was off again.

I did amazingly well over the Christmas period, my sand cast jewellery was very popular and I am so pleased because I love making it.  My husband Richard has been helping me as some larger things are not so easy to do.

Talking about not so easy, I had a commission for a lady in Scotland to do a particular shell and have now made three in total with another commission pending!  They are quite heavy and need hallmarking but they are very unusual.

I am so glad Spring is around the corner and I feel inspired due to having just had my first sale in my Etsy shop!  I was so surprised that at first I thought it was a scam email.  It wasn't and it has now spurred me on to do more to get people looking at my website and my Etsy shop which is relatively new.  My shop on Etsy is called Lynette Silver as I couldn't have my website name as that was taken apparently.  Do go over and take a look.

Anyway, my first selling day of the new year is this month and I am ready for it.  My time off was supposed to be January/February but that didn't happen due to commissions and having to re-stock after my bumper Christmas.  I will leave with some piccies of commissions, sales and new rings.

pelicans foot shell

Etsy first sale

commission for a friend

commission for a friend

commission for a friend

Even more addicted to sand casting!

Just checked and this is my first post since April of last year.  I have been sooo busy working.  I need to spend more time on admin but I love making the jewellery so much, it is difficult.

I recently returned from a wonderful holiday in Anna Maria Island in Florida and have returned with two different types of starfish and lots of shells.  No sea glass unfortunately but luckily my niece lives near Durham and has been visiting the Seaham Beach nearby so I now have lots of lovely sea glass to incorporate into my designs.

I am busy working towards Christmas at the moment.  Since moving from London to Hampshire I now have to post my hallmarking items to the Assay Office which is a real pain as the postage is such a lot!  I have been making larger items as the more items I send the cheaper each item is!  I am posting some of these items but they will not feature on the website until they gave been hallmarked, but will be there from 12th November.

Anyway, back to work and I promise I will speak soon.

CHANGE OF NAME

Hi - yes I know it's been a long time. 

The first thing I need to mention that I gave changed my trading name from Lynette Jewel to Lynette Vickery Jewellery.  You can still find me on Lynette Jewel for a while so you can use either.

I had a bumper year in 2015.  I taught myself sand casting last January and it really took off.  The main favourites were shells:  whelks, mussel shells, clams and starfish.   Then there were the acorns, poppy seed heads and poppy seed head caps.  In fact they all did very well. 

This year I am going to continue with the sand casting (because I love it) but incorporating more gemstones and sea glass. 

I am also doing a lot of fused silver.  I gather together different pieces of silver and place them artistically!  I then use my small torch to heat the pieces to get the effect I want without melting too much which results in a hole!  You never know what the result will be but if I don't like them, I just start again.  I think I must have been a pyromaniac in a previous

life as I seem to enjoy using my torches. 

I am also re-visiting etching.  When I first starting etching I found the results difficult to sell but just before Christmas it all turned around and the items were flying off the shelf.  Maybe it takes a while for people to catch up with me ha ha.

Anyway, please take a look on my website www.lynettevickeryjewellery.com, in the meantime I am posting a few pictures for you.

addicted to sand casting!!!!!

I know, it's been so long - last September.  I promised I would write up this blog every month, so much for that!

Every January I teach myself something new.  This year it was sandcasting.  I got out my books, watched some videos on youtube, bought my supplies from Cookies and away I went. 

My husband helped me, mostly in the beginning when I was scared of the molten silver but I mostly manage on my own now.  I am constantly on the lookout for things to cast including shells, twigs, pebbles, rocks, buttons, charms - just about anything. 

I am getting better now at getting things right but still manage to end up with half a ring most of the time.  I have found buttons and shells the easiest things to start with.  I am avoiding rings as after 4 attempts and no success it is very disheartening!

I am attaching some photos of my latest work.  I have lots of events coming up. In May I am doing the Salisbury Artisan Market on 3rd, The Kings' School Fayre, Winchester on the 16th and the Watercress Festival on the 17th.  I'll let you know how they go. 

eek - has it been that long!!!

I haven't written up my blog since April.  Where does the time go. 
What a lovely summer we had, I wish it would never end but I think it has.
I am working towards Christmas now (I know, dirty word) and I have two exhibitions this Christmas.  The ACJ "Winter Jewels" is back for another year.  Exhibiting through December at Hilliers near Romsey.  I am also doing an exhibition though November and December in Havant at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre.   The latter is a first for me so I am not sure what to expect.  Let's hope I do well.
I have been making lots of new pieces.  I have been etching which I was rather scared about but I have been thrilled with the results.  My next new thing is going to be casting in the new year.  Also a bit scared about pouring molten silver into cuttlefish or sand but must try it.  I have also revisited my fusing which I love.  I will attach some photos.
I am in Salisbury at the Farmers and Artisan Market on Sunday and then it's the Romsey Show on the 13th Sept.  I am looking forward to that one as I always do well and meet lots of lovely people.
I shall be trying to get away to see the alpacas if I get a chance as I love them.  I want one!
Our holiday in Dubai was wonderful.  Richard swam with the sharks in the Dubai Mall Aquarium and really enjoyed it.  See rather blurred image.  We then cruised back on the QM2 which was very relaxing.
I have got a bike and it has been a wake-up call as you know the saying "you never forget how to ride a bike" - very true but what they don't tell you is when you last rode a bike at the age of 10 it was much easier than it is later in life!  When going up hill I have to get off and push the bike as my leg muscles are not strong enough.  I will keep at it though and I am determined to get stronger.
S&M are fine.  Meggie had an ear infection and Soph had harvest mites but they get over these things.  Meggie had her dew claws removed which was not as bad as expected considering she is 7 years old.  I will post the photos now.