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.

Stunning Pendants!

I have been very busy working on a set of four new pendants.  I have some lovely drusy stones and I wanted to showcase them.  I hope I have done them justice.

Off on our holidays soon.  We fly to Dubai where we will see my stepson and his wife and our little grandson and then on a cruise back to Southampton.  Really looking forward to it.

Our garden is looking good - I took a great photo of a pot of anemones - they are such beautiful flowers.

I have also been having a good clear out of stuff.  Lots of expensive evening shoes - all gone to the charity shop in Romsey - some only worn once.  I am looking for comfort over style these days!

I took all my jewellery items to the Rum's Eg in Romsey for the ACJ exhibition in May.  It's a lovely gallery full of wonderful things and not just my jewellery!  They also have a great cafe upstairs for lunch.  I'll let you know how I got on at the end of May when it finishes.  I don't know how I am going to manage not being able to work for 3 weeks.  How sad is that.

Anyway better go and do something I guess ....... take a look at my flowers and my pendants.

Spring has Sprung

How lovely that the rain has gone and all the buds are on the roses, trees etc.

As promised I am attaching a picture of my flush set CZ pendant - it looks great and I wish I had gone for a amethyst and had more confidence!  I am exhibiting some of my work at The Rum's Eg gallery in Romsey from the 29th April until the end of May so I have been busy making some lovely pendants and earrings.

I took part in the first Salisbury Farmers and Artisan market on the 2nd March.  Despite the weather which was dreadful, I did very well and have booked to do the rest of the year.  I am also back in Andover on the second Sunday during June, July and August.

Sophie was 8 years old yesterday.  She had a special dinner, a bath and a sport relief lamb - who could ask for more.

Anyway I will leave you with some piccies of my latest work.  The final pendant is the flush set CZ.

2013 was wonderful 2014 will be even better!

I was determined to grow my business last year and I made some mistakes ie wedding shows, village craft fairs, expensive directories an advert in Vogue, and the Salisbury Xmas market, but if you don't try you will never know.

I also had some great shows; a conference at the BIC in Bournemouth in March, a couple of village fairs, the Romsey Show, and finally the exhibition in December at Hilliers near Romsey which was a huge success!  I also did very well with my smaller items in the Discovery Centre in Winchester.

Now a new year and I am looking into what to do this year.  There are some things that are definitely on my list, and some things that I am applying for so watch this space.  I had a lot of commissions last year and would like to grow that area.

As I am largely self-taught, my latest project has been rings.  I have always used cabachons but I wanted to try setting some cut gemstones.  I set a couple of stones in tube settings, tried a claw setting which was a bit of a disaster and yesterday I had my first try at flush or gypsy setting.

I had been told that flush setting was not for the faint hearted so, armed with my books, I decided not to start with a ring but to try a pendant and set a CZ so that if it was a disaster it wasn't too expensive.  I had to make sure I had the right thickness of silver sheet so that my stone didn't stick out the bottom so had to solder 4 x .8mm silver discs together.  That went well.  I then had to drill a hole with a 3mm drill bit right through the 4 discs.  That took ages as it was very thick.  I then had to set about using my burrs to burr out the silver so that the stone would fit.  I used a round burr and a setting burr and had to keep trying the fit.  It took quite a while but it was a success.  I then had to push the silver over the stone to keep it in place.  That is such hard work.  My fingers are not strong as I have fibromyalgia but I would do some pushing, go away and do something else and just keep going back to it until it was fixed.  It looks good.  It has been through the tumbler but needs further work to get rid of scratches so I will save the photo til next time.

I will attach a few piccies of rings to keep you going.  Happy New Year X

The Romsey Show and a weekend in Whitstable

Had a great day selling at the Romsey Agricultural Show last Saturday.  Luckily the weather was good and I met lots of lovely people!  Having a bit of a break until next month.

Me and Richard are off to Whitstable for a long weekend.  Richard bid for the holiday at a charity auction and we have no idea what to expect, especially as he'd had a couple of drinks at the time!  We went there once before for the day and I remember there were lots of nice fish restaurants.

I have been making lots of fused silver pendants and really enjoying it.  I have been adding 5 and 4mm cabochons to them and I think they look amazing. 

S&M are doing fine apart from having harvest mice (sorry harvest mites) which are very common when you live in an agricultural area full of fields.  I have front lined them and they seem much better now. 

I'm off - it will soon be Christmas (I know, big groan) and I have lots to do.....

Preparing for Christmas!

Yes, I know it's a bit early but we are already focusing on getting things together for a very busy December.  I will be back at Hilliers with the Association for Contemporary Jewellery and also sharing a chalet at the Salisbury Christmas Market.  The latter is a first for me and I have no idea what to expect, how much stock I will need - all a bit scary really but if you don't give it a try you will never know.

My stock of earrings is getting very depleted so I have made a few more.  I have done very well at the art and craft markets in July.  Especially Bert and Gert's vintage and art and craft market in Andover.  I will be back in Andover again on 11th August.

I am also taking part in an exhibition in a gallery in Salisbury in October.  I have been getting a theme together for that one as I only need 10 pieces.  I want to do silver flowers with gemstone centres but is that too summery for October?  Do people like flower jewellery in October or Christmas?  Not sure but I love making them.  So many pretty flowers in our garden.  My new rose garden is looking amazing.

I have also had a few commissions from friends and my sister, it's all busy busy.  Better go and get on with it.  I will leave you with some photos.  The large flower has a druzy stone in the centre which is beautiful - it is sold though!