Eleanor and Chris's Big Day - Almost..

Its been a while since I last posted, and I have lots to tell, firstly I held a special wedding ring workshop with Eleanor and Chris, they contacted me to ask if they could make their own wedding rings, Eleanor's was a little more complicated as it had to fit around a huge, gorgeous engagement  ring and my compromise was for myself to make Eleanor's wedding ring and for both of them to spend a day in my workshop making Chris's wedding ring, they would both have an input in its construction. It is a special ring after all...........

 

 

 

Believe me, it was hard work, Chris and Eleanor will vouch for that, a sizeable chunk of utterly lovely 18c red gold.

 

 

 

Delicate guidance in bashing the holy heck outta that ring.. Okay, the literary expertise is sadly lacking here, but that is what it took, the whole world may end up hanging out with the flying monkey's in the Land of Oz, but this ring isn't going anywhere.

 

 

Lots and lots of......

 

 

Almost there..

 

 

 

Sanding all those little scratches out, they both did a fab job, it can take as long as the construction.

 

Here we go........

 

Da Daaaa!!!!!!!

 

 

Just up to me to apply a final polish.

 

 

We had a wonderful day, a massive congratulations to Eleanor and Chris!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ouseburn Farm

I'm very lucky to be working in the wonderful city of Newcastle upon Tyne and just around the corner from my studio is Ouseburn Farm, a little green oasis in the middle of an urban industrial landscape. Entrance to the farm is free and there is a delightful little tea room serving homemade cakes and scones.

 

There are many residents to meet, pigs, goats, sheep - the Jacob variety, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs,  some real personalities such as the rather famous Baboushka (she of the fiery locks) pictured below, spooning with a 'friend'... A Do not Disturb moment...

 

 

You may wonder just what this is.....

 

 

Visit and find out.......

 

 

The farm is an absolute pleasure to visit, a breath of fresh (interesting aroma..) air, its a must for me, especially on a sunny spring day!

 

 

 

 

 

Personalised Bangle

I recently donated a personalised bangle to a Cancer Research Charity Auction held by the inexhaustible Rachel Turner, many many thanks to her for her time and effort!

Helen and Gary placed the winning bid on my bangle and after much deliberation over their quote, they settled on L 'Amour Sans Fin, Love Without End. A beautiful quote to go onto gold rings running freely around a solid silver bangle...

Thank you both.

A Very Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone!

 

I have my 2014 Winter/Spring workshop schedule sorted, so sign up if you want to get creative, have fun and make wonderful and personal pieces of jewellery! No experience necessary.

 

Wrap Around Ring

You do not have to solder to make these fabulous rings!

One day workshop Saturday February 1st and Saturday March 22nd, 10am - 4pm

 

 

Cost £60.00

 

Materials are extra, tea, coffee and lovely biscuits provided all day, lunch not included.

 

Beautiful Bangles

A big favourite, work in silver, copper, brass or all three! One day workshops, Saturday February 15th and Saturday April 19th, 10am - 4pm.

 

 

 

Cost £60.00

 

Materials are extra, tea,coffee and lovely biscuits are supplied all day, lunch is not included.

 

Make What you Want!

Make what you want in 5 consecutive Tuesday evenings, beginning Tuesday February 25th, 6.30pm - 9.00pm. Last class is Tuesday March 25th.

 

 

 

Cost £100.00

 

Materials are extra, tea, coffee and lovely biscuit's supplied!

 

Earring or Charm Workshop

Make fabulous earrings or charms for bracelets or necklaces in a one day workshop, Saturday March 8th and Saturday April 5th, 10am - 4pm

 

 

 

 

 

Cost £60.00

 

Materials are extra, tea,coffee and lovely biscuits are supplied all day, lunch is not included.

 

Metal Bead Making Workshop.

As promised, a great new workshop, make handmade silver/copper or brass beads to hang from a bracelet Pandora style or neck chain. This is a 5 week evening class beginning Tuesday April 8th and finishing Tuesday May 6th, 6.30pm - 9.00pm.

 

 

Cost £100.00

 

Materials are extra, tea, coffee and lovely biscuit's supplied!

 

If two or more people are interested in a workshop but these dates do not work please let me know and we can arrange a date to suit!

Groups of friends, hen parties, retirement parties, families, partners wanting to make a piece of jewellery for each other - please contact me to arrange a workshop!

 These workshops make wonderful gifts, gift certificates are available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Workshop dates

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!! After a couple of restful days I'm ready to 'make' again! I'm currently working on my Winter/Spring 2014 workshop schedule, so please check back very soon... they will begin in February.

A Special Request...

Earlier this year Andrew knocked on my studio door with a rather lovely request.... he wanted to ask his girlfriend Samantha to marry him, the set up was oh so romantic and sooo thoughtful, a walk they had taken on their first date, up in the gorgeous wilds of Northumberland, and then the presentation, a ring he had made himself...
Andrew had no experience of making silver jewellery but he knew exactly what he wanted, he wanted the ring to go to a point and a green stone to be incorporated into the design. Blue/green not yellow/green, he was very specific! I appreciated that as we had a very little time in which to make it. The next decision was.. the all important, so which stone...? We looked at a number of suitable green stones and a gorgeous tourmaline was chosen and ordered.

 

Andrew did a great job of making this unusual pointed silver band, all that was left was for me to do my job, make the setting for the tourmaline and set the stone...

 

 

The finished ring, we opted for a satin finish on the outside and shiny inside.

But what we really need to know at this point is ... 'So.. what did she say?'

Well it just had to be a big 'Yes' didn't it?? 

 

It doesn't end there, Andrew asked me if I would make a pendant to match the ring, a Christmas present for Samantha. So here it is....

 

 

 

This could be an on-going story, the may be back next year to make their wedding rings...

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah's Pendant

I love to create custom jewellery for a special occasion, something to mark and celebrate an event, to make something with meaning to be treasured. I was asked to create just such a piece recently, John asked me to make a pendant for his granddaughter Sarah's 21st birthday, he was very specific about the design and had put a lot of thought into it. The pendant was to be rectangular in shape, the main focus of decoration was to be her initials, the S was to be on the front and pierced out of the silver, the D was to be on the back and in relief. A sapphire was suggested for a September birthday. The pendant was to be nice to hold, with slightly curved corners, I suggested a boxed form rather than a thin sheet of silver, to feel more substantial. The font was to be Gills Sans, soooo my first job was to find Gills Sans......... then apply it to silver....

Here an S has been pierced out of a sheet of silver, the D has also been pierced out and is awaiting its union to the back plate - via soldering...

 

Some may not think it looks pretty at this point, but I beg to differ! The D is soldered into position and it will be placed into pickle to clean it up a wee bit.

 

 

The box has been created, the sides have been soldered onto the front and back pieces, I now have to cut the access away.

 

 

Okey doke, sides on - corners filed into a soft curve, a bail has been made and soldered onto the top and a bezel has been created to hold an ooooh so lovely sapphire.....

 

 

A little peek at the back with the D in relief, my jewellers peg is a busy place..

 

 

The back of the pendant, with a satin finish and ready to go...

 

 

I believe Sarah was very happy.....