Another string to the bow!

Bezel making technique finally achieved.... 

This has been, quite literally, the most exciting week in the studio for me! Although slightly worrying in some respects too because now I know this technique is achievable, I'm going to want to go on a spending spree for gemstone cabochons and fancy bezel wire!

It all began about 3 years ago when I commissioned a glass artist friend of mine (Jo Turner) to make a glass cabochon for me. I spent many hours researching how to go about making a setting and bought in all the necessary equipment. Low and behold, I was able to create this beast of a ring!

The basic ingredients - a cabochon, bezel wire & sheet silver

One huge ring!

I added the beaded wire to hide a few soldering mistakes!

So off I went on my merry way sourcing some more lovely glass cabochons!

These glass cabochons look like the contain mini galaxies or nebulae!

But could I solder those bezels?! Perhaps they were just too big and I couldn't get my silver sheet hot enough? Well, 3 years on and I have finally got this technique to work again for me - fluked the first try I guess, I'm not sure!
It's pretty hard for me to pick myself up after failure. Some people are able to bounce back no problems but for me, I stew for long periods of time. I consider the financial costs of having to purchase more materials, new equipment and question my own sanity - after all, isn't the quote about insanity something to do with repeating the same task and expecting a different outcome?!
So every few months I would come back to this technique, try something new but alas, fail. Until finally, last week, I had a breakthrough! What did it in the end? Buying a tripod with wire gauze allowing me to heat my silver sheet from below - it worked a treat! Here are some work in progress shots:

The bezel wall freshly soldered onto the sheet silver - no gaps!

Carefully sawing around the bezel wall

Soldered on a beaded loop to the back - ta da!

To prove this wasn't a fluke either I also successfully managed another 2 settings but these are a top secret personal project - all will be revealed shortly!

Thanks for reading!

Graceful Deviant hits the road!

Come and see Graceful Deviant jewellery in the flesh....

When I first founded Graceful Deviant in 2011, the aim was to get a nice & full Etsy store going with the possibility of starting my own website too.
I also found a few other online sites to sell through but in truth there really is nothing quite like selling face-to-face with the public!
It gives you the opportunity to see what draws people over, which items they lean towards and why they buy - all things that can be difficult if not impossible to judge online.
So I have set out to find some venues locally that will set me up to spread the word about my jewellery but it hasn't been easy and is still an uphill struggle! Why? Because a lot of events I apply for are inundated with people making jewellery and those sellers that have success at a venue tend to book in again for the foreseeable making the possibility of new talent entering slim to none.
That said, I am starting to get some positive responses and I am pleased to announce that from April this year you can find me exhibiting with Graceful Deviant in Bradford-on-Avon on the last Sunday of each month. For a full list of dates see my EVENTS page.

Come and 'like' the Be Creative, Be Yourself page to stay up to date with fairs and exhibitors

If you click on the photo link above you can come and see more details of the fairs and who will be attending each month - hope to see you at one of these in the near future!

Wanderlust Stud Earrings...

....and a hint of spring!

Would you look at that?! The snowdrops are appearing!

And the days are slowly but surely starting to feel longer - I worked in the studio until just after 5pm last week before needing to switch the light on!
So I was inspired to get back to The Blue Starfish table and get some bright, spring-like colours on the go:

New bracelets coming to the website - click on photo for link

It has been a long while since I've been inspired to get making new jewellery for The Blue Starfish and I think there are several factors surrounding this but the main one has got to be finding fairs/markets/shows to sell at - organisers are just flooded with jewellery applicants making it nigh on impossible to get in to any. I've even been trying with Graceful Deviant jewellery but no-one wants a silversmith either!
Still, there are lots of ideas kicking about for new designs and new avenues for selling will eventually appear I'm sure! Speaking of new designs, I was also desperate to have a play with my new metal stamps that came through from America - and here is the result:

Tiny silver studs - perfect for everyday wear!

To say I am thrilled with the possibilities for these stamps is an understatement! The studs are just the start there will be charms, rings and hopefully some stone settings all featuring some of these designs. The wanderlust theme is not going anywhere fast and when I spotted this gorgeous pendant handmade by Grubbi Ceramics I just had to have it!

A little treat for me!

Leather is probably going to be my material of choice when it comes to stringing as I want this stunner to remain the focal point of my necklace! As for the other little beadies - I'm not too sure what design to settle on but I think I might make a bracelet - I promise to show you all the finished results!
Until next time,......

Cheltenham Rock, Gem & Bead Show

A jewellers paradise!

This is one of my favourite shows to visit as it is a wonderful mix of beads and loose stones for jewellery making as well as a great selection of crystal, mineral and fossil specimens. Held at The Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham, it was a lovely way to spend a few hours, grab some lunch and have a walk around the grounds.

A bit of a grey & gloomy afternoon at The Pittville Pump Rooms

I think it's fair to say that I was fairly well restrained this time out! After my most recent makes I decided to focus on sourcing similar gemstone shapes and sizes to offer more colour options for my earrings. Here's my haul:

Here we have crackled rock crystal, hematite, picasso jasper, lava, faux sea glass, coral and larkavite.

These rock crystals will work so well with the sea glass style beads for a wintery, cool look but also with blackened silver. Last week I also cracked the key to hand polishing oxidised silver to a matt, almost satin brushed, antique finish using steel wool - messy but absolute metal perfection!
I was also lucky enough to visit the Bristol Museum to view the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition which was excellent and I thoroughly recommend having a wander to your nearest one - it is touring around 60 locations so keep your eyes peeled!
The great thing about the museum is that it's free to explore and so after some lunch we headed back to view the Egyptian display, dinosaurs and more rocks and minerals! I never tire! Just look at this gorgeous display of weird and wonderful Earth gems - all of these were found right here in the U.K!

Selection of U.K minerals and gemstones

Fingers crossed the weather gets better this week as I have some new pieces I'm looking forward to photographing but it's just so gloomy and I struggle enough with product pictures as it is!
Until then, thanks for reading!

New found inspiration

Upcoming road trip seems to have influenced me more than I realised!

Itchy feet have struck again readers!! This summer, my friend and I are planning our second road trip and this one will be even bigger and better!

We're jetting off to Vancouver to begin almost a month of traveling around the West of Canada and flights were promptly booked last weekend so it certainly feels more real now. Here is our rough route:

One big ol' loop from Vancouver taking in the best of the National and Provincial Parks

We absolutely loved our time in Yosemite NP on our last road trip around California and so are making the most of what BC and Alberta have to offer and I think it's fair to say that the wilderness has definitely made its mark on my jewellery recently.
Plus, new tools arrived from the States last week so I had to have a play!

Bear Face // The cubes of pyrite reminded me of a sheer cliff or mountain side!

Be Wild // Clear rock crystal and kyanite to give an icy river or lake feel

This bear paw stamp is one of my absolute favourites at the moment - I love how deep the claw impression is giving a sense that the silver may actually have been clawed at!

A couple of new designs too utilising my solid acorn charm:

Simple, but effective and on leather it can even be unisex

The ever popular tree illustration with acorn charm - I never tire of making these!

If you click on the images they all link to the website where these are available to purchase.
I am curious to know peoples thoughts on whether they enjoy reading this blog or would perhaps prefer a weekly newsletter? If you would like to throw in your tuppence feel free to leave me a comment on here or Facebook - thank you!

Until next time......