Making balls

Just thought I would share some of my processes that I use to make my jewellery. Don't know if you ever noticed the 3 little balls in the centre of my flowers? Well, I make these individually. I find this quite therapeutic and usually make them when I'm not in the mood to make anything else but still need to be productive. It can be quite fiddly, but then again I like fiddly!

It's an age old process called granulation, and it's great for using up scraps of silver that are too small to be used for anything else. Here I'm using spurs I've cut off some castings.

Heating them to melting point turns them into little balls.

Then I apply them to the centres of my flowers.

It was nice to discover they made great little 'everyday' earrings on their own.

These are now for sale in my etsy shop

Silver Owl

As commissions go this was one of the more unusual ones! I love it when jewellery I make develops its own personality and this little owl somehow looks a bit indignant! Or cross, as my customer put it.

Hand cut and textured sterling silver with a gold beak and goldplated feet, and lovely sparkling Moissanite eyes, I hope he made someone smile!

Goldfinch

I spotted a lovely little goldfinch in my front garden this morning...

Indian Elephant

Elephants are thought of as symbols of strength, wisdom, happiness and longevity and there is a general belief in many eastern cultures that an elephant with the trunk pointed up "stores" luck and one with the trunk down "dispenses" it.

So you can see why I really enjoyed making this little Indian elephant, with its diamond eye and ruby blanket.This was a lovely commission from my friend Dal for her sisters special birthday.  

Red Thread...

I recently sent a selection from my Sewn Up range to Gill Wing Jewellery Gallery in Islington. The red stitching is exclusive to them. I think it looks very dramatic, but also quite romantic for Valentines...

Red Thread

I made this Sewn Up collection with the red thread exclusively for the Gill Wing Jewellery Gallery, Islington.

Gold Moonstone Ring

I was recently commissioned to make a ring for some friends whose daughter was celebrating her 21^st birthday. She knew exactly what she wanted, a white opaque moonstone cabochon in a simple 9ct yellow gold setting, on a round section ring. 

It looks stunning on her long slender fingers!