It is always a pleasure to get feedback from customers, and it’s normally by email. Today in the post, I had a lovely note and two photographs from a customer who’s wedding ring I made a few months ago. It was so nice to have a handwritten note and actual photographs! So here’s to good old stamps and the postbox!
Congratulations Mr and Mrs Merrick - you look beautiful and so happy!
Sue making jewellery.
Well the weather has been good, and the sun is blazing through my jewellery studio windows! We have the last jewellery making course of the year on Saturday 31st July. We will be making silver bangles using cold forging techniques with Georgina Franklin. This course is fully booked but we will run it again in 2011, dates will be here soon.
Last Saturday, Bronwen Tyler Jones taught a jewellery workshop about making lockets, including hinges and catches. The images from the day can be seen on the student’s gallery page.
August is the time for me to be making and bringing together ideas to add new pieces to my jewellery collections in preperation for Goldsmiths’s Fair, soon after followed by Dazzle and The Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair. I will add images of the work in progress on my twitter page, so do follow for all news and info. I will be adding new pieces of jewellery to my online contemporary jewellery shop in the coming weeks ahead too.
On Saturday 24th july Bronwen Tyler Jones taught a locket making workshop, here at the studio. It was a great day, everyone had some experience of making jewellery already so were interested to find out more about hinges and catches. Everyone made a very nice finshed piece, some students choosing to add more detail when they returned to their studio. Here are some images from the course.
Getting started, Bronwen demonstrates using the fly press to make the shapes.
One of the locket samples for students to follow and one halfway through.
Nadine, Rachel and Michelle preparing to press the silver forms.
The shapes are drawn around with a pen to help see the cutting line, and a lip is left to attach the hinge to.
Rachel exploring using letter punches within her design.
One of Bronwen's samples that students could make, including a simple hinge and clasp.
Tube is cut for the hinge, soldering 2 pieces to one side of the locket first, then soldeirng the 3rd tube to the other side of the locket. This can be a bit tricky!
Soldering the tube, using a piece of brass as a riser to get the hinge to just the correct height.
Soldered tubes in the correct position, now the locket is pickled to clean away the oxide that built up during soldering.
Crimping the hinge to hold the wire in place.
The open locket.
Nadine's finished locket.
Maxine's locket, she was going to add more decoration when she returned home, she was really interested to learn the skills and do the rest at home. I would love to see it when it is finshed!
Inside is as good as out!
Michelle's locket.
Rachel put the detail inside and planned to add beading when she got home.
Back in March, I blogged about casting in the jewellery studio when I recycled some rings for a couple who wanted to make one new wedding band reusing the metal. To make the ring even more special, the couples family visited my jewellery making studio and all had a hand in applying a finished texture. Here are some images of the family all adding their individual mark!
Checking the wedding ring to make sure it is a good fit.
Applying a planished finish to the wedding ring.
Again, applying a planished finish to the wedding ring.
And again, applying a planished finish.
Watching the work take place.
The finished wedding ring.
The weather has been lovely, and a few days ago it was hay making time here…
My Dad checking out if the grass is ready to cut.
The grass has been cut and left for a few days in the sunshine.
Baling the hay into small square bales, though some large round ones too.
I am a contemporary jewellery designer maker based in rural Herefordshire. My collection is subtle and pure incorporating clean lines and a soft finish. I pass on my skills through teaching jewellery workshops from my jewellery making studio.
