Heart Kids QLD Fundraiser

I was approached by one of my lovely customers who wanted to see if I could assist a friend of hers with some fundraising for HeartKids QLD.

HeartKids QLD

February is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Month, and here is what Sarah has to say:

“Heart Kids is an organisation with different offices all around Australia and I myself am a Heart Kid. I was born with Pulmonary Atresia and had my first open heart surgery at 36 hours old. I have since had 2 open heart surgeries to replace this valve as I have grown. I am currently waiting for a date for the 3rd valve replacement (and it may have to be a double valve).

Heart Kids is the first port of call for all families that have a CHD child born expectedly or unexpectedly. They are there to support the parents through the very traumatic and emotionally draining period. They are there to support the parents during the baby stages and surgeries dates.

As us Heart Kids get older they do special events each Christmas with a large Christmas party and they also do a Teen Camp in Jan for teenagers with CHD – as it is hard to be a teenager, let along a teenager with health issues. So this is a great networking weekend for all teenagers with CHD. I am still friends with people who I met on my camp when I was 17.”

Valentine's Red Heart Pendant. Sterling Silver Modern Contemporary Drop Pendant.

The fundraiser is to be held on Saturday 28th February at 10.00 am at 21 Luckie Crescent, Tivoli. There is a $5 door charge with a door prize. Raffle tickets are available, as well as an Intimo and PartyLite party to help raise funds. This will be followed by a $2 sausage sizzle.

Kids are welcome with a $2 door charge with their own special door prize. For all kids there will be a coloring in competition (free to enter), and free face painting. There is also a great play area and a jumping castle for them to enjoy.

Please RSVP to yarhams85@gmail.com by the 21st Feb (to provide Sarah with numbers for catering and face painting.)

I have donated a $50 gift voucher to be raffled, and I am pleased to be able to support this worthy cause!

The Daniel Morcombe Foundation

Parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe established The Daniel Morcombe Foundation in 2005. Their son Daniel was abducted and murdered in December 2003 while waiting to catch a bus on the Sunshine Coast. The Foundation was established as a lasting legacy to Daniel. It now has two main aims; to educate children on how to stay safe in a physical and online environment and to support young victims of crime.

Daniel Morcombe Foundation Logo

The Foundation’s belief and vision is one that incorporates a future which provides all children with protection, education and support in their lives. The objectives of the Foundation include educating children regarding their personal safety (including abduction); assisting victims of crime, particularly where crime involves children; and honouring the memory of Daniel by appropriate public awareness.

Where is Daniel

I have long been in awe of the strength and courage of Denise and Bruce Morcombe and their family. I was filled with admiration and moved to tears by their book ‘Where is Daniel?’

Red Leaf Czech Glass Sterling Silver Autumn Earrings

I’m proud to say that this month, I am again donating 10% of The Silver Forge proceeds to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to help with the marvellous work they do. Pop to The Silver Forge Shop and see if you can help!

The Silver Forge Selfie Competition 2015

After some customers posted some great pictures on my FaceBook page recently of themselves wearing some of their Silver Forge jewellery, I thought I’d love to ask you all to show me pictures of your beautiful selves wearing pieces I’ve created – it’s such a buzz seeing someone wearing something I’ve made!

With that in mind, I thought I’d run a competition ~ the prize will be a $100 voucher to spend in The Silver Forge shop. All you have to do is post a photo of yourself wearing your Silver Forge piece: either to The Silver Forge FaceBook page, or on your Instagram or Twitter account. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries across the board.

Most important – don’t forget to make sure you use the hashtag #silverforgeselfie so I can see you!

If you aren’t on any of these social media, don’t despair! You can email me your picture and I’ll make sure you’re entered in the draw.

If you enter the competition, I may post your pictures onto my social media accounts as mentioned above, or pop some of your pictures in the customer testimonial section or as part of my product listings on my website to show you off – just so you are aware! 🙂

The winner of The Silver Forge selfie competition will be randomly selected on 14th February 2015. (Valentine’s Day, I know!) You may enter one photo for each piece of The Silver Forge jewellery that you have – each photo will count as one entry, because it’s nice to have your loyalty rewarded.

I know I said ‘selfie’, but if you’d really rather someone else took the photo of you, I can bend the rules a little!

If you have given someone else a Silver Forge piece, it is fine to enter a picture of them wearing it, as long as you have their permission.

It doesn’t have to be your best glamour shot unless you want it to be; you can make it quick, make it fun, make it quirky – just show me your Silver Forge selfie! Darers go first, so they say, so here’s me with some pieces I’m wearing atm just to get you started. Go for it!

Drusy Agate – Orange Titanium Coated Cabochon

Orange Titanium Coated Drusy Cabochon

This orange titanium cabochon is 25mm long.

You can read more about what drusy agate is here.

Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina,  prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.

The titanium coating is applied to the natural drusy stone using an environmentally friendly process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that uses only electricity to deposit a thin coating of titanium, silver, gold, cobalt or other high-grade natural metal. Treat this titanium druzy as you would an opal or pearl. A mild soap and water rinse will maintain the color and clarity of the optical surface of your druzy for a lifetime.

I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:

Orange Titanium Coated Drusy Agate and Sterling Silver Ring

 

Knitting – Dollies

It’s been a while since I posted about the amigurumi knitting I did, so I thought I’d share a bit more of my crafty world with you. Knowing how I like to knit, my lovely London sister sent me a copy of “Knit Your Own Royal Wedding” by Fiona Goble. (This was back in 2011, as a tribute to the wedding of Kate and Will.)

I have gorgeous twin nieces, and I thought they might love to have a dolly each with a wardrobe of clothes!

The need for decoration on these tiny clothes saw me feverishly collecting sequins, buttons, ribbons and all manner of other embellishments – I love a good excuse to make a new stash!

Fiona’s book is beautiful, her instructions are clear and concise, and shoes, hats and handbags abound.

Knitted Dollies

I adored creating these girls for my pair of sweeties. Who knows, one day I may just get busy and make them little dolly husbands – and corgis!  🙂

Tumbler

Tool of the Month – Tumbler

Tumbler

 

One of the useful pieces of equipment in my workshop is my tumbler.

 

Tumbler

 

It can be hard to get a shiny finish on small pieces and pieces made from wire, so popping them into the tumbler with some steel shot, water and a tiny bit of dish soap does the trick!

 

Tumbler

 

The lid is cleverly made to seal completely, and bolted on tightly.

 

Tumbler

 

The base of the tumbler rotates the pot around and around, which rubs the shot against whatever you place inside, polishing it beautifully.

 

Tumbler

 

The tumbler I have is actually sold as a gemstone tumbler, but works beautifully for silver as well. Not that you can see in this last picture, but twenty minutes sees the finished product looking shiny and great!

 

Tumbler

December 2014 Newsletter Giveaway Prize Winner

Congratulations to Vicki, who was the winner of last month’s newsletter earring giveaway! She was very pleased, as she says she never wins anything. It’s so nice to make someone’s day! Vicki got to choose her own pair of fish earrings from my Aquatic collection – she chose these pearly white fish earrings.

Pearl White Czech Glass Fish and Sterling Silver Earrings

If you’d like a pair of some of these sweet fish, you can get yourself some here in The Silver Forge shop.

Fish Czech Glass Earring Collection

January’s newsletter giveaway is a pair of jonquil yellow Czech glass and sterling silver earrings. Everyone on my mailing list is entered in every month’s draw, so all you have to do to win is make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter! If you can’t wait, and you want some of these earrings right now, you can find them here.

Jonquil Yellow Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

A very Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope your 2015 dreams are already coming true!