New listings in the Etsy shop now

If you click on the Etsy link on the right of this page, you can purchase any of the items blogged below. Hope to get more listings done tomorrow, but for now it looks like awful light has halted my photography. (By the way... any photographers out there who want lots of jewellery to photograph, pleeeease get in touch!) x

Green Brazilian Amethyst ring

Re-make of the gorgeous one I made for my friend Allie, just because it was so perfect.

Just because I love the new boxes...

Three sets of bangles. One with a semi precious stone, one plain.

These are a great price, and make a gorgeous gift- especially now I have my new boxes and bags. The first is a rutilated clear quartz, its shot through with tiny golden needles.

The second is a very natural looking aquamarine, it reminds me of water.

The third is a freeform cut moonstone. There is just something magic about moonstones and the way they catch the light.

They all measure 21cm which is a fairly standard size. I will try and get them in the Etsy shop today.

Gorgeous Blue London Topaz ring

Stunning colour, I love this shade of Topaz!

Pair of joined bangles with gorgeous milky green Prehnite stone

These look lovely and there is a ring with a Prehnite too. It is one of my favourite semi precious stones right now.

The snow fell like dust....

....a couple of these back from Hallmarking.

1000 hits

Hurrah! Happy to report over 1000 hits have now been made on this blog. And from all over the world too. It is amazing how far reaching it has been. Who would have thought a year ago, that my jewellery would be winging it's way around the world? Latest posting today was to Sweden!

On another note... 34 items back from Hallmarking today. Hope to post lots of pics tomorrow.

Pop up Shop

Sneek peek of the venue for the Christmas Pop up Shop opening this week...

Two new rings

Definitely time for some jewellery postings. Here are two new rings that are finished, hallmarked, and for sale. One is a gorgeous Pale Green Brazilian Amethyst. This is the second ring that I have done with a stone like this one, as the first was so beautiful.

The second is a stunning brilliant blue Topaz, which is a 'Blue London' coloured stone (this name refers to this specific shade).

They will be £110 each. If you want one, please e-mail me. I am not sure if they are going on Etsy, in the Parkshot Gallery, or into the Pop up Shop- but if you contact me direct, I can put one by for you.

By the way... what do you think of the boxes. They arrived just in time for the fundraiser on Friday and I have already used quite a few. I was really pleased with them, and thanks to Rachel for managing to get the order to me for the deadline. Some international orders sent out today - USA and a couple of bits to Japan. How exciting!

And the aurora borealis danced across the sky...

...ahhhh just getting my fix of Frozen Planet on TV. The Northern lights over the Arctic. I just had to post this picture from my trip to the wilderness of Northern Finland earlier this year. You can understand why I came back full of inspiration.

This photo was taken by Stephen Worrall who was staying at the same hotel. He got some great shots.

Christening keepsake

I finished this today and I really love it. it is a Christening bangle, but more than that, eventually the small tags can be worn on a chain, or it could even be used as a key ring. It has the name, the date of birth and a perfect little blue Aquamarine which is the birth stone for March. I think it is very special.

Actually the last week has been very productive. I have been a busy bee. Unfortunately the camera has conked (I had to use my sons for the picture above, but could I get it to take any more decent macro shots?!?) Anyway I have finished a Blue London Topaz ring which is such a stunning colour, a huge green amethyst ring, (which definitely has my name on it!), a delicate rose cut, round pillow shaped prehnite ring, four sets of pairs of bangles, the paisleys have come back from casting so there will be four or five necklaces done. I have just set it all out on it's tables, and I am really pleased with the results. On Friday it is going to be at a Charity Fundraiser event, where I will be donating 10% of my sales to a Cancer research project: Childhood Cancer: searching for the genes behind the disease. It also means stock levels are up for the opening of the Pop up shop which is happening next week.

One door closes, and another opens...

I visited Sparkle at the Landmark Centre on Friday evening. I was originally meant to be taking part in this event, but pulled out as I thought it would mean family taking second place in the build up to it, and decided that this was not right for us this year. In the end I am sure I could have done it, and actually I wished I was taking part as I went round - there was such a lovely atmosphere. The big old converted church that this Arts Centre is in really is a stunning venue. ... Next year - if they will have me!

As the title says, one door closes and another one opens. Yesterday I received an unexpected e-mail inviting me to be part of a pop-up gallery / shop in the West End in the run up to Christmas, so looks like I could be pretty flat out despite missing Sparkle. Luckily I am taking part in an event this Friday, so was a busy girl last week working on items for that, so stock levels are OK.

The 'to do' list is long! Last night I was up late sewing the little bags that are part of my packaging, I need to get my castings back and polish them all up, I am waiting for my order of new boxes to arrive, I have to keep on producing, oh and I have a Star wars party to organise for thirteen 5 and 6 year olds on Saturday. Guess I might skip some sleep this week!

Hurrah!

The Birthday Fairy presented me with a rather special bit of kit today. My own super duper pendant drill. Non of that hobby drill business going on here. Is it wrong to get excited about power tools? My sister in law said I was a very modern woman, getting (and getting excited about) a drill, and also wanting to change the wheel when the car got a flat this morning. Only a shame the car didn't actually have a spare wheel! Celebratory Birthday Thai food was eaten last night, and cake scoffing will take place later today. Apologies to all of you who have tuned in to see the latest installment of some pretty jewellery...I leave you instead with a picture of a drill! Happy day!

It's even got an accelerator pedal!

Christmas sparkle

I have been trying to play around with my photography today, so I can give my Etsy shop a bit of Christmas sparkle. Typically the light is awful today, but I managed to find an old daylight bulb that I had. The tricky part was then finding a light it fitted in. Here are a couple of the results, I thought I would post them here before editing the shop.

Pleased with the results...

I have just finished hand piercing (sawing) some little shapes for the collection I was working on this week, and I am going to send these ones off for casting. (A mould is made of my original, and then they can cast sterling silver replicas for me to avoid hours and hours of hand piercing.) I am really pleased with them. I think the different scales work really well in different combinations, alone and with semi precious beads and the Indian hand painted Gods that you can see in an earlier post.

All week I have been wearing a chocker with these two bits below on. (They have not been 'finished' in this photo- just work in progress.) I have decided not to cast the bigger shape, but to cut and solder this individually when I need it.

I was playing about with how some of the smaller bits look, and really like them in this combination. It's quite delicate for me, but I know I'll wear one of these.

Some are going to be gold plated.

I can't wait to get them back, but will have to be patient for a week or so, and then I'll need another week for hallmarking. Ooooo - wish I could speed it all up.

The Parkshot Gallery

Just popped in to see how my stuff looked, and was really thrilled that someone loved and bought a pair of my bangles while I was there. There was a brilliant buzz about the place, and I think it will be constantly busy. Hurrah!

Progress

A little bit more done today. Happy with how it's evolving...

Inspired by India

Apart from my amazing trip to the Arctic, one of my other most amazing trips was out into the dusty landscape of Rajasthan some years ago. It really was a visual feast, and I know I will return there again one day. Anyway, I have known for sometime that my next mini collection would be of an Indian theme, but I was not sure exactly what form it would take. Today with the kids packed off back to school after a two week half term, I had the time to get working in the sketch book and then start working in silver on some paisly shapes.

I also recently picked up these amazing hand painted 'Gods' which I love. I found them when I was buying gems, as of course a lot of gemstones are cut in India so a couple of the dealers had these. They are so me - small pictures, set in silver, under glass!

Of course, the story will also feature stones, and I am thinking pink tourmaline, and possibly carnelian. Decades ago, the editor of British Vogue was quoted as saying 'Pink and orange are the navy blue of India', out in Rajasthan you can really believe it.

I'll keep you posted on progress. I really want to crack on with this while the ideas are fresh. Just wish I had instant access to some good gem beads.

Parkshot Gallery

Yesterday, I safely delivered 16 pieces for the new Parkshot Gallery which is opening next week in Richmond. I promise to post some pics to show them on display. I have no idea yet what else will be alongside my items, as there was nothing to see yesterday. It is rather an experiment, and I keep my fingers crossed it is a success.