Spinner Ring and Sliding Necklace

 Since I reduced my working hours in May, I've been going to a weekly jewellery class where I've been learning lots about how to work with metal and how I can incorporate my glass creations into the mix.

Some classes have been frustrating, mostly where my soldering hasn't gone to plan, some have been successful, but I've learnt so much from each one.

So I thought it was about time I did a quick update on some of my favourate pieces form recent weeks.

Firstly is my sliding necklace.

I was at West Dean earlier this year learning about fusing glass.  When I set some pieces to fuse I added an off cut of plain glass just to see what it would do.  Well it came out as a lovely rounded length of glass and I knew right away that it would be perfect for a sliding necklace.

It took me ages to get there, but I finally had time to make a little silver cap for it, along with a silver ring for it to slide through and to add some chain.

I was very pleased with how it came out.  It's now on the possible list to wear at a big event happening next year, although I do have a few other ideas to try out too.

 

The other thing that I've recently worked on that came out very well was a spinner ring.

These are traditionally silver with two parts.  The main core and then the spinner outer piece.

 

I wanted to know if I could do the same with a glass outer.  So first I had to make a glass ring, before making a silver core to fit it.

 

This took a little work, but I was very happy how it came out with the texture of a leaf.  Then came the nerve racking bit - fitting the two together and flarring the ends of the silver ring so the glass ring won't fall off.

It worked a treat.  So now I need to see how safe it is.  Glass and metal can be a bit tricky together, so I've been wearing it and playing with it to see if I can break it.  So far so good.

 

 I have loved working on these project.  Not just the beautiful outcomes, but also the problem solving and learning new skills.

We've only got one more term left before Christmas, but I hope to have a couple more things to report on by the end of it.

Sculptural Sustainable Wood Jewellery

 

This weekend I was back to West Dean for the Sculptural Sustainable Wood Jewellery course.

I booked this a while ago and had been really looking forward to it.  I was not disappointed.

 

I love wood as a material, love how warm it feels and how versatile it is, so when I saw the things Sarah King, our tutor, had made I couldn’t wait to find out more.

 

It was a small class with 5 of us and we all had some knowledge of jewellery making so it made for quite a relaxed class with Sarah showing us techniques and then allowing us to use them in any way we wanted.

 

 

We started by making a hard wood pendent with silver dots inlayed.  The technique is quite simple, but looks very effective.

 

Next I made an ebony ring with more silver inlayed.  This time a strip along the top with some dots down the sides.  Getting the shape right took the time with this one.  Finishing both of these with wax made them sing.

 

On our second day I worked mostly in lime wood, which was much softer to work with.  Again I made rings, but this time more sculptural using holes and paint to give an interesting surface.  

 

 

I also made a laminate with I cut up to make a pair of ear rings, although I didn’t quite get them finished.  It won’t take long in my jewellery class next week.

 

 

Many of the things we worked on, we used superglue to keep in place.  This was very reassuring as I’d never thought using glue in jewellery making was very professional, but it shows there is a time and a place.

 

I really enjoyed the weekend and learnt so much.  Now I’m trying to work out how I could incorporate glass with wood, maybe in rings or brooches.  I love how going on courses like this builds on what I’ve learn before and while I might not have a fully formed idea now, it’s the sort of thing that will come with time.

Wild Glass Creations - The Shop

 

I make things because I am curious about how to make things and because I like to own things that are personal to me.

However, I'm starting to build up a bit of a collection of glass now, and every time I show someone a new ring or piece of jewellery I've made they tell me I should sell my work.

Seeing as I currently work full time I've never really been bothered about trying to turn my creativity into an income, but it wouldn't hurt if it could pay for itself at least.

So I have now set up a little online shop where you can buy things I have created.  Mostly in glass with a few other materials thrown in for varity.

You can find everything at wildcreationshandmade.co.uk and I'll be adding more as I make things.

(I did think about an Etsy shop, but their fees keep going up and I've heard from friends and family who have had really bad experiences with them, so I've kept it independent.)

Maybe I'll also try some craft shows at some point too.  This is the start of something...