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.

5 Reasons You Should Buy Handmade Jewellery From The Designer

1. The Price:
As a designer, the price you pay for an item of jewellery does not have to include the overheads that retailers have to cover. The designer can afford to offer discounts, free earrings or a whole set for a better price than the retailer. In other words you are getting more for your money, on both quantity and quality.
2. The Quality:
Each piece that I make as a designer is made with the utmost care and attention. If something is not quite right, I will start over and believe me it may take more than one attempt to get something looking right.
I always take the time to get to know each piece of jewellery I make, and can spend the time telling you what you are receiving. I will always be honest with what materials I have used and you can be sure the price accurately reflects the quality of materials.
3. Customisation:
You want something that looks the same but slightly different? As a designer, I can do it! If a piece is not quite how you want it, just ask. If you prefer a different colour, it’s not long enough; it’s too long; I can change it to suit you. In addition, if you have an old bracelet, or item you have bought elsewhere, that needs re-vamping, again just ask and I will see what I can do with it.
4. Uniqueness:
Each piece is a unique item that has been crafted in a certain way to achieve a unique look. As I said before, pieces can be adapted to suit you making all items distinct. Pieces are often one-off, but if you want the same thing as someone else, just ask!
5. Service:
When you shop from a designer you will receive a one-to-one service that will out weigh any you receive from a retailer. By having this special relationship with the designer, it enables you to have exactly what you want. If you are unhappy with the design process, you can change the outcome. Although many pieces are ready made for purchase, the great thing about shopping from the designer is that you can ask them to make something else specifically for you. Building that relationship with the designer will help you create the perfect item of jewellery.

Designers work to please you, their customers. If you are not happy with your purchases and the service you receive, you will go elsewhere. That is not our aim.

I strive to provide an individualised service to each customer, to enable them to feel comfortable in the knowledge that their piece of jewellery has been made for them.

This blog post has been adapted from the article at http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/buy-jewelry.html

Happy New Year

I am sorry for the delay in wishing everyone a happy new year, time seems to be going too fast already this year and I can tell I am going to have to be strict with myself this year.
After a lovely but very busy festive period I already feel I am behind with my own projects. I always seem to be saying to myself that I should make more jewellery, write more blog posts and in general ..... do more! So that is one of my new year's resolutions: to do what I say I will do! As well as this resolution I hope to have a more successful year with promoting my jewellery business. I am going to try to post a blog every week.... if I don't please nag me, I need it judging by last year!

Photographs

After taking a good look at my blog, I realised there are no photos on here!!

Here a few of the new items I have made in the past few weeks:



This is the Purple Jasper Necklace which has a ribbon tie rather than a traditional clasp. The ribbon enables the wearer to tie the necklace to any length making it very versatile for anyone. This would make a perfect gift for anyone who loves the colour purple.

The necklace on the right is the Starfish Necklace. I am really pleased how the glass beads capture the light and show the beautiful colours of the sea. This necklace is a heavy necklace with a lovely starfish charm that would suit any animal lover or simply someone who loves blue!

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!