Congrats to Shari, who has won herself a pair of azure handmade Czech glass and sterling silver earrings in my latest newsletter giveaway. Way to go Shari!
Next month’s giveaway is a pair of aqua Czech glass earrings. You’ll be automatically entered in each month’s draw as long as you are signed up to receive my newsletter – if you’d like some too, make sure you’re subscribed so you have a chance to win next time, won’t you?
I love all the cabochons I source, and it is a bit of an obsession with me! I’d love to keep them all, but that’s just silly – so one of the many joys of being a silversmith is sharing these gorgeous finds with nice people.
Once in a while, though, I come across a cabochon that I just can’t part with. This botroidal carnelian is one of those.
It’s a great ring to wear with earth tones, which I’ve been more drawn to lately.
If you’d like a custom made gemstone ring of your own, check out my gemstone collection, and let me know which one you’d like to wear!
St Dunstan’s College in Catford, London, is a school attended by various members of my family since the early 1900s. Recently my Granny told me that St Dunstan was the patron saint of silversmiths. I hadn’t known that!
St. Dunstan was born 909 and died 19 May 988 AD. There is a full story about him on Wikipedia, which tells us that Dunstan became patron saint of English goldsmiths and silversmiths because he worked as a silversmith making church plate while he was living as a monk at Glastonbury Abbey, where he took holy orders in 943 AD. He is also the patron saint of blacksmiths, locksmiths and musicians.
His Feast Day is 19 May, which is why, before the restoration, the yearly span of London Assay Office hallmarks ran from 19 May one year to 18 May the next, not the calendar year. This was changed at the restoration of Charles II in 1660 so that the hallmarking year began on the King’s birthday, 29 May.
There is a story that Dunstan nailed a horseshoe to the Devil’s hoof when he was asked to re-shoe the Devil’s horse. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after he promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is over the door. This is claimed as the origin of the lucky horseshoe.
Also, according to a late 11th-century legend, the Devil is said to have tempted Dunstan and to have been held by the face with Dunstan’s tongs; hence blacksmith’s tongs have become a symbol of St Dunstan.
Thanks to my little granny for bringing this interesting fact to my attention. I wonder what her dad (my great grandfather), who was a blacksmith, made of all that!
Congratulations to Ellen, who won the newsletter giveaway for last month. She has chosen these beautiful lavender drop earrings as her prize!
Next month’s giveaway is a pair of azure Czech glass earrings. You’ll be automatically entered in each month’s draw as long as you are signed up to receive my newsletter – and you’ll get news, discounts and eye candy galore!
Congratulations are due to Jane, who won the newsletter giveaway for last month. She has chosen these fabulous apple green tube earrings as her prize!
Next month’s giveaway is a pair of purple Czech glass earrings. You’ll be automatically entered in each month’s draw as long as you are signed up to receive my newsletter – and you’ll get to see news, pretties and discounts!
Stephanie was the winner of last month’s newsletter earring giveaway, so congrats to her!
Next month’s giveaway is a pair of green Czech glass earrings. Make sure you’re signed up to receive the newsletter – you’ll be automatically entered in each month’s draw as long as you are!
Lots of people like to know the process behind the creations I produce, and I sometimes forget – just because I know how I do this, doesn’t mean everyone does! These lovely dangly gemstone earrings were a wedding gift from my friend and client Natasha to a dear friend of hers.
Natasha found these sparkly amethyst, Rose de France and aquamarine rose cut cabochons in my gemstone collection.
First I shaped the bezels. A bezel is the part that goes around the stone and holds it in place on the piece. I take a strip of silver, bend it into shape with my half round pliers, and solder the join. Once the bezels have been immersed in pickle (an acid solution) to remove the buildup of borax and the oxidisation, I rinse and dry them and hammer them into shape with a mallet on my ring mandrel.
I solder the bezels onto a silver backing plate. After I pickle, file and emery the bezel settings, I check that the stones all fit nicely into their little housings.
Then it’s time to add some links to join the bezels together. I create the links, line them up and solder them on.
I add the ear wires. As always, I am amazed that something that looks so unappealing will soon become something beautiful!
After some more cleaning up, I mount the earrings in sealing wax to hold them still while I set the stones with my engraving ball and chasing hammer.
After yet more emerying and finishing, the earrings are ready to go off to their new home!
In case you want more, I have written before here, here here and here about my processes. Happy reading!
It was nice to be invited to participate in the Mount Eliza Art and Design Show again for 2016. I sent down a selection of pieces to the show, including my new shadow box pendants.
It looked as if there were some gorgeous exhibits there. My lovely friend Donna from Little Boubba Designs, is part of the Mt Eliza team, and very kindly took the time to send me some photos of my pieces on display. Thank you Donna, such a thoughtful person!
Congratulations to Francek, who was the winner of last month’s newsletter earring giveaway.
Next month’s giveaway is a pair of blue Czech glass earrings. Make sure you’re signed up to receive the newsletter, that’s how you get a chance to win each month! Have a good one!
Spring has sprung – and so have Pantone’s 2017 Spring colours. Find yourself some up to the moment fashionable stones in my gemstone collection!
If you see a gemstone you like the look of and you’d like me to create you a custom piece, let me know.
I bet this is a fabulous read!