Since its inception over 60 years ago, Meals on Wheels has been a household name here in Australia. While age and disability may reduce some people’s capacity to get out and about, Meals on Wheels helps make it possible for them to stay in their homes (where most people are happiest), and maintain some independence.
Delivery of nutritious meals, social interaction and regular visits ensure a clients’ wellbeing and can help people live the lives they choose.
Each year, over 14.8 million meals are delivered by more than 78,700 ‘Meals on Wheels’ volunteers to about 53,000 recipients Australia wide in cities, regional and rural areas.
This month, I will be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge sales to Meals on Wheels. So pop over to The Silver Forge shop now, treat yourself, AND do your bit to help this worthy cause!
My beautiful Granny turned ninety-eight recently, and I created this sterling silver twisted chain necklace for her, to match the bracelet I made for her a while ago.
With around two hundred and eighty links to be made, joined and soldered individually, it took a while to complete. I love the simplicity and the gorgeous way it rolls.
I’m planning a little blog post on the creation of it, so stay tuned for that.
I created these earrings for Danni, who must be Liverpool Football Club’s number one fan! Danni wanted some dangling LFC earrings to be as ‘bling!’ and noticeable as possible.
I designed these sterling silver earrings using the initials of the club, and added a silver Czech glass bead at the bottom.
I was all set this month to write about what I was taught is called an Archimedes drill. While researching it online, I discovered that this tool is actually called a pump drill and an Archimedes drill is something different! So, no interesting information on Archimedes to be found here today. He was pretty amazing, though, worth researching if you can find the time.
The pump drill is composed of a long drill shaft with a collet on one end, a handle with a hole through the centre, a weighted flywheel, and a length of cord. The flywheel is attached near the bottom of the shaft and the handle slides over the top. The cord is run through a hole near the top of the shaft and affixed to either end of the handle so that it hangs just above the flywheel. To use it, the correct size drill bit is inserted in the collet, one hand is placed on the handle while the other hand turns the shaft to wind the cord around its length, raising the handle near to the top of the shaft, where the cord becomes tight. Holding the drill upright and placing the drill tip against the material to be drilled, a smooth downward pressure is exerted on the handle causing the drill to rapidly spin. Once the bottom is reached, the weight is relieved and the drill allowed to rebound re-winding the cord around the shaft and the process is repeated. It is a simple concept but a skill that takes practice to master.
The pump drill is a variation of the bow drill, which has been in use for at least seven thousand years. As well as drilling holes, the bow drill can be used to start a fire using friction. My occasionally burnt fingers can attest to the heat that can be generated by a drill spinning – silver is a great conductor of heat, and I have not only heated my fingers but made burn marks in my bench peg by drilling a piece of silver before now! As well as my pump drill, I sometimes use my flex-drive with a drill bit attached for drilling holes – there is something far more satisfying about using the lovely, simple, ancient pump drill though!
I made these annuli shaped pendants for a lovely customer. She is going to have them engraved with some dates that have a very special meaning to her, as part of a healing process.
Amy is visiting a couple of her dear friends in London very soon, and it will be their 30th birthdays while she is there. Amy wanted to give them something special! Together we designed a ring for each of them. A shared trip to the Andes was the inspiration for this ring:
and a love of cats is behind this one!
As quite often happens when I’m creating rings as presents, it was a challenge for Amy to find out ring sizes without anyone guessing what she was up to.. in the end she managed to get them though!
Thanks, Amy, and I hope the girls enjoy their new rings!
Do come along and check out all the divine handcrafted goodness, and make sure you stop by The Silver Forge stand and say hello. Saturday 12th October from 9am to 3pm at the Brisbane City Hall, Ann Street, Brisbane. A beautiful venue, too!
I was pleased to be contacted by the lovely Margaret, who asked if I would be able to create her a pendant from a symbol she had in mind.
She is an artist, and this coherent wave symbol has become an important piece of her creative process.
I created this piece for Margaret to wear to the opening of her latest exhibition, ‘Bliss’, at the Lethbridge Gallery in Brisbane.
Surrender – Margaret Ingles
Margaret was kind enough to invite me to the opening, and I am in awe of her powerful, vibrant, beautiful works! If you’re anywhere near Paddington, it’s well worth stopping in to see these gorgeous paintings. Thank you so much, Margaret!
The divine chrysocolla gemstone cabochon shown here is 30mm long.
Like malachite, chrysocolla has a high copper content, which is what gives it that fabulous blue/green colouring. The name comes from the Greek chrysos, (gold), and kolla, (glue).
It is believed to have a calming influence, and also to attract love. It is supposed to help heal burns, fever, and detoxify the liver.
