It’s not often you get asked to handcraft a llama!
I was commissioned by a lovely client to create this pendant as a farewell gift for a psychodrama therapist, who also breeds llamas. Yes, a psychodrama llama farmer.
I was very taken, both by the notion, and by the recipient! A joy to create.
One of my clients asked if I could create a pair of earrings to match this raw ruby ring.
I was able to source her some matching cabochons, and here is the end result!
I think they turned out pretty well. I was fond of that ring, too, so it was nice to see it going off to a good home!
A client emailed me to ask if I could help her with a costume jewellery piece she loved that had deteriorated and could no longer be worn.
As she could’t replace the piece, and it had been created in a cheap base metal, I was happy to replicate it for her in sterling silver.
Now it should last forever. Ah, the joys of working with precious metal!
I was approached by a new father, who wanted to have a special piece made for his partner to celebrate the birth of their first child.
The design idea started with the baby’s birthstone, which is garnet, and her mother’s love of water. I provided a few quick sketches, and the lovely dad and I worked together to finalise the design.
The baby’s name is stamped on the back of the pendant, making it the perfect piece to treasure for a lifetime!
23 Jul 2012
For a while now, I’ve been taking random pictures of my workspace. Sometimes I post these on my Instagram page, and sometimes on my FaceBook page; but I thought it was time I posted them here for you to see. Look how clean my workspace was only a few months after I first got my jeweller’s bench set up! Look at that nice new engraving ball.
2 Jul 2013
A year later, and I’ve achieved the more lived in look. All clean work in progress mess of course! I spy the beginnings of the Elementals collection.
24 Jan 2014
As time goes on, storage becomes more of an issue, as you can see by the stacks of boxes full of Czech glass.
28 Feb 2014
Here you can see my jump ring winder… and I think those are parts of this bracelet and ring combination piece.
03 May 2014
That’s a wax stick for stone setting you see there amongst the tools and bits and pieces. I was working on this chrysocolla pendant amongst other things here!
15 May 2014
More joy, and more pieces in the works.. including this peacock blue round drusy ring, and this stormy blue oval one. That’s my ring sizing equipment in the top left hand corner.
19 Sep 2014
Besser brick is not very exciting, but I brighten up my space with a fabulous piece painted by a three year old, and I love my beautiful Granny’s landscape oil painting of the cliffs at Fairlight – it is calming and inspirational. And yes, I do drink a lot of tea!
I created this pendant for my client Nick using a star sapphire that was his mum’s, which has great emotional value to him. It was previously set in a ring; and then in a bangle which had seen better days.
I was able to free the stone, and send it down to my lovely friend Annaig of Annaig’s Gemstudio to have a little gem-cutting done. Annaig worked her magic and made the back of the stone flat so that I could bezel set it.
I know Nick was really happy with the end result, and so am I – a modern masculine look for a treasured sapphire! Thanks to Annaig, and to another lovely friend, Lisa of Springwood Porcelain, who referred Nick to me!
I do make more petite rings sometimes, and this pink faceted opal cabochon from my small gemstone collection was just perfect for the occasion!
My lovely son asked me to create a ring for a friend of his. Her favourite colour is pink – so what better stone?
I designed the setting to bring the pink opal away from the finger where it might otherwise be lost, but is still small enough for a dainty ring wearer! Love you my son. xx
After seeing a mohave green turquoise ring I created for another client, Karen fell in love and wanted one of her very own!
I was able to source another mojave green turquoise cabochon, and create this ring.
Thanks, Karen – it’s a stunner!
One of my dearest old school friends asked if I could create a bangle for his daughter’s 16th birthday.
He sent me a sketch of what he wanted, and described the ocean feel he was looking for in the stones.
This piece was truly a pleasure to create, it just flowed together beautifully. Happy birthday, Sophie! xx
Checkerboard black onyx is proving to be popular, and I was pleased to be able to create this ring for one of my wonderful clients.
Rosie has great taste in gemstones, and her collection of The Silver Forge pieces is growing!
Thanks, Rosie – I like your style!