Jewellery Classes

For the past three weeks I have been going to a Jewellery Class at Portsmouth High School. The tutor, Lucille Scott, is a Design Technology teacher at the school and is giving lessons in jewellery making each week.

In the first week, I explored different tools for working with soft metals and made a wire bracelet. It was good practice to see how to use the tools correctly and produce something entirely from bent wire - no soldering.

I started to make a copper ring in the second week of the sessions and although having done this before, I found I was re-learning many of the techniques. The whole sessions have been great to refresh my memory and skills. I also made a wire and bead bracelet which I will use the template for again to make further items of jewellery.

I have enjoyed the lessons so far and will continue to enjoy the next seven weeks as well as learning more skills to add to my repertoire.

November 2008

After my first jewellery party in 2007, I had some idea of what to expect, but my last jewellery party, earlier this month, just proves that every day is different.
I had a lot of interest into the jewellery party, many people had not actually come across one before so I was able to reach out to new potential customers. On the actual day of the party, I was surprisingly nervous and spent quite a bit of time preparing myself and getting things looking just right.
As people began to arrive I felt much better about the party and started to enjoy it a bit more. I had decided this year to lay out a selection of my beads and charms for guests to browse through and choose items to have made into custom designs. This idea really worked well and I took as many orders as I did sell actual pieces.
I feel that this years jewellery party was a success in that I found some new customers and I took many orders. I did enjoy the evening as it went on and found that quite a few existing customers remained.
As winter is approaching, Halloween and Bonfire night is behind us, the evenings are getting darker and colder. I have been somewhat lazy with making new pieces and especially lazy with photographing. That is why now I have many photographed pieces to show you.... I have pulled my finger out and got on with it!

Butterfly Sparkle Necklace

Here it is, as promised.

The photo of the Butterfly choker I made yesterday and tried to describe! Maybe you can let me know how well I described it and if it was how you imagined.

I have been quite busy today, I had a day off from work and relaxed at home. I made a few new items of jewellery and updated my Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=12340 with better descriptions, a new banner and avatar. Constructive criticism welcomed.

I have also put some earrings on Etsy to match a bracelet already listed. The daisy millefiore beads I used for the items are so pretty and summery. They really put some sunshine into a dull day. Definitely what's needed at the moment.

I am listening to my brother-in-law's radio show at the moment, good music and chat http://rarefm.co.uk/listen.php if you want to check it out - The Stefan Show. Every Friday evening at 8pm.

Now we are off to the pub to celebrate a friend's birthday, everyone seems to be born in February! This first part of the year has been very busy time for birthdays. It has been a great opportunity to catch up with everyone though, and enjoy some very good nights out.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Butterfly Sparkle

I finally made another piece of jewellery last night! I actually sat down and got everything out and made something! I am very pleased with myself. Unfortunately I cant show you til tomorrow as I havent had a chance to take a picture yet. I will try and describe it for you - you can let me know how accurate my description was when you see the pic!
At first glance you see a pretty pink butterfly, this was adapted from a pair of earrings found in Dorothy Perkins of all places. I have put this butterfly onto a memory wire choker that fits perfectly around your neck. I have used pink seed beads to co-ordinate with the pink butterfly and accented this with small silver seed beads and black chakri discs. The black beads bring everything alive and bring your eye down towards the butterfly. The silver really adds extra sparkle to the necklace which could be worn either for daytime as a fun piece with jeans and t-shirt or to add something special to an evening dress. It would really light up and catch people's attention when worn with black. The colour pink in the necklace is vibant and warm.
I have been waiting to use this butterfly for a long time and am pleased with the result. You are just going to have to wait another day to see it!