Back to Base-ics: Instant Gratification

Hello!

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, and really I'm not complaining since it's such a joy, but metalsmithing is often a rather slow process. Especially for me, as a bit of an amateur and *whispers* uptight perfectionist.

So, a couple of weeks ago whilst between a couple of projects and on a night when my attempts at being zen and experimental were mostly making a mess (and validating my careful planning and painstakingly slow making practices) I decided to indulge in a quick fix. I wanted to make something simple. I wanted to make something quick. I wanted to hit something.... So, I did.

Reader, I confess, I loved it! I got to do some sawing (my one true love), to use the big fierce blow torch and I got to give this piece a good bash. Yes, that is the technical term.

It wasn't, as you may have guessed, fine jewellery. It was this simple hammered dish.

Rustic, yes, but check out the colours and texture. Perfect for displaying little treasures too.

SSx

 

Back to Base-ics: Forging Forward

I'm going to start this post with a rather dirty word...

Copper.

Yes, that's right, the learner metal-workers grubby little friend. Over the years I have developed quite a soft spot for copper (don't worry silver, you're still my number one!). It is cheap and cheerful, soft and pliable and reveals all manner of beautiful colours when heated. Lovely. However, we're not entirely bosom pals because it also has a nasty habit - extreme mucky-ness.

For someone who has always loved arty crafty pursuits, I have a little secret... I dislike getting my hands dirty!

Personal issues aside, copper has been fantastic for experimenting techniques in class. This term that meant getting to grips with the ancient art of forging. I was pretty excited about learning something with such a long established practice. It also meant getting to do a lot of hammering, great for releasing the build up of those day to day tensions.

Our mission was to use a single thick piece of copper wire and create a fibula brooch. We all set to work using the rolling mill to taper out the brooch end and a good old hammer and stake combo to stretch out the front of the piece, annealing like crazy in between when the work hardened. It was quite a slow process but ultimately a rewarding one, like much metal working. I've kept my brooch fairly rustic and haven't polished the metal. Now all I need is to find a good sealant (any recommendations?) to avoid copper staining and a nice chunky knit to set it off!

What do you think of my Viking-vogue?

Happy advent to any advent types!
SSx

Autumn Promise: Russet Leaves, Rusty Blogging

First order of business, a promise for autumn. With a new year of jewellery classes unfurling possibilities like fiery leaves departing the trees I'm making a resolution. I am determined to make this the year to make more and share more.

There's some tumbleweed rattling around this here blog due to extreme neglect, but I'm back to set that straight and bring it back to life! The good news is that I kept up some good habits workshop-wise over the summer so do have a couple of shiny things up my sleeve. You'll have to stay tuned for when they tumble out.

With that in mind you might like to consider following me on Bloglovin.
 <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4992823/?claim=gvxtjp93u8p">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>!

(apparently pasting this link is necessary...!)


Big toasty warm autumnal wishes - hope that you're all embracing the delights of the season - fruit crumbles, custard, knitwear and long walks in the countryside. SSx

Riveting!

I'm learning all about mixed media in my current jewellery class. This is awesome! I'm experimenting with texture and colour and will hopefully finish one of the projects I enigmatically started last October (no I haven't forgotten/given up!). It's great to have a chance to dig around for inspiration and things to accompany the metals as well as just jumping in to PLAY.

I'm an avid lover of coastal walks and often return home with a pocket full of salty treasures. I can't help but pick up a smooth sea beaten stone or perfectly carved shell. One such find had been accompanying me to class for a couple of years and it's time had finally come. When my tutor proposed rivets - a means of attaching metal to other material without heat - the stone suddenly became a piece of jewellery (in my mind!). I had a vision of a bug perching jauntily atop the pebble and promptly set to work sketching and, of course, my all time fave - piercing :)

Sawing that fiddly little bee-st was no walk in the park mind you, and despite my piercework passion I went through more saw blades than I care to mention. I'm still mulling whether I can use this as another argument in my case for absolutely NEEDING this - the world's sexiest saw frame, oh and the most expensive too.

Sadly another bit of kit let me down (I know a bad workwoman and her tools etc, but...). The drill bits in our workshop were not the sharpest in the box and after winning the battle with the bee, I lost the war with the stone :(. My attempt had worked but had taken a chunk out of the back. In the spirit of experimentation I persevered. I was delighted my first time riveting worked but in the process a crack developed on the already weakened back.

So, I now have to decide whether to consider this a test piece or shore up the back somehow. If I do give it some TLC I think it could make a rather nice brooch. Or maybe I'll start over with some silver. 

What do you guys think? Any riveting stories to share?

Happy Bank Holiday to any lovely UK folk out there - enjoy the SUNSHINE :)

Putting the Chang in Chiang Mai

It was a trip of many firsts for me, first time in Asia, first journey on an overnight train and first to travel first class. Since it was our honeymoon we decided to push the boat out and travel from buzzing Bangkok to the northern city of Chiang Mai in decadent style...

Ok, busted, Orient Express it was not. But, it was our very own cabin and we were being whisked into the hilly north and new exciting adventures in the walled city. If anyone is tempted to follow in our footsteps and take this service here is my advice... 

Take snacks and water - there is food on board but it's limited and it's fun to have a train picnic. Make sure you have a cardigan or similar - this was the only part of the trip where I really had to put on warmer layers, including socks. Don't trust the timetable - a prompt service it was not and we reached our destination a good few hours late. Be aware that this will not be a smooth ride, or necessarily one of your better nights sleep. And most of all - try the dining car! :) We had so much fun in the dining car! You can get a proper hot meal, the atmosphere is great and there was lots of retro music (think Mark Knopfler and Neil Diamond), which the train policeman was happily singing along to!

Sunrise from our cabin :)

After getting our weary train shaken selves to our hotel it was time to explore our new home! 

In Chiang Mai I fell in love with the relaxed pace of life, beautiful atmosphere at the temples, bells, local crafts in the markets, weekend walking street. We also discovered iced coffee - a brilliant pick me up when like mad english folk we were out in sweltering mid day heat. Two of the central Chiang Mai temples were particularly special to me - Wat Pan Tao and Wat Phra Singh. The former for its simple rustic beauty - a stunning teak structure removed from the bling of many of the glittering bangkok buildings. The latter due to its extraordinarily serene environs and its fabulously resonant gong.

By this point in the trip Mr S and I were missing some of our routine daily activities and decided it was high time we got back into the kitchen. That's right, it was Thai cookery class time :). It was so much fun and really sociable. We tried not to get too jealous talking to others in the group who were on a much longer sojourn from real life on backpacking adventures and concentrate on the task at hand. The day started with a trip to an amazing local food market to learn about and source our ingredients, then it was back to the chopping board, frying pan and pestle and mortar. I made Pad Thai (but, of course!), Massaman curry (YUM!) and Sticky rice with Mango. Whilst there were day courses in which it was possible to make more dishes, I am not sure we could have eaten any more. We went away very happy and very full!

Pad Thai Perfection

So, could our fabulous time in Chiang Mai possibly get any better you ask?

Quite simply - YES.

Whilst in Chiang Mai we had one of the absolutely top moments of our whole trip. Thanks to some very special, very big creatures...

I had been really sceptical about this before the trip, but our time with the elephants was amazing. We chose our location very carefully and visited an elephant park which worked to save and care for rescue elephants. We knew that the park in question didn't make the elephants perform or ride them with chairs fitted to their backs. The staff there clearly cared deeply about the elephants and I learned so much about them. Thank you so much Baan Chang Elephant Park for an absolutely amazing and unforgettable day. 

Ah, happy memories!

One last thing on Chiang Mai. If you are reasonably respectably dressed and have the baht, do go for a drink at The Chedi. It was honestly like walking into The Sunday Times Style magazine. Decked in candle and firelight it is a sleek modern minimal paradise. The drinks aren't bad either!

P.S. In other news - I am finally back to my jewellery classes. Not much to report yet, but many exciting ideas on the go. So many that I've got a proper brainstorm chart of them. Getting back to designing and making and can't wait to share some creations once more. Happy Sunday everyone.

S.S.x

Germany, Japan & The Deep Blue Sea

Hello! Guten Abend! Whew! It's been a busy couple of weeks. I've been to Germany and back...

Can any of you guess where I went/ what I do just from this iconic statue?

ps. Each morning walking past this just made me want to hit the studio and some metal!

Whilst there I met with over 40 international clients (from the day job) in 3 days. Wonderful to see folk in person who I email for the other 300 odd (who's counting) working days of the year. Except one client who did the european cheek kissing thing then announced he was ill with flu!!!

As much as I like to maintain that this extreme networking and travel is hard work (it is - really!), I have to confess the best bit is dinners shared with friends I've made over the years. This trip was a truly eclectic mix - German on Tuesday, Italian on Wednesday, German again (rude not to) on Thursday, paving the way to the gastro-pinnacle an amazing and beautiful Japanese meal on the Friday night.

Even the place settings were a work of art. They kindly let me bring one back as a poor substitute of the dining experience for Mr Silversmith

So, if any of you find yourselves in Frankfurt am Main seeking somewhere to eat, I most heartily recommend Kabuki. Don't be put off by the location but do be sensible travelling in that area if on your own - it's slap bang in the red light district. Gorgeous flavourful Teppanyaki creations handcrafted by expert Japanese chefs in front of your eyes - mesmerising! My companions and I were in awe and vowed to return come Messe-time next October.

What else? I've had 2 of 4, evil but necessary, travel vaccinations for an extremely exciting forthcoming trip(!)

And... oh yes! I did manage to make one or two of my jewellery classes (despite the day job enforced absence).

I can't resist returning to the deep blue for inspiration! I'm developing a new creation based on an old favourite design. A complementary piece for my fishy bangle. At the same time I'm dreaming up a new narrative inspired design and technique (repousse!) incorporating a larger crill-loving water-dwelling mammal... 

Pierceworking fishies was how I broke in my fabulous bench :)

Copper test for new design - can you guess what it is? (Its ribs our ceiling beams, its guts our carpeting!!!)

Because I'm in a minxy mood I'm going to leave you all guessing about these until I'm ready for the grand unveil. Both (particularly the latter which isn't fully designed yet) need more work, but I will give you another, equally enigmatic pictorial clue about the second piece....

Mwahaha! ;) 

Happy weekend to all my readers, whoever and wherever you may be! As for me, well I'd best get into my shed and get smithing. Or how will this mystery ever be solved?!

A Sable Silver’d: or the printmaking class that never was

Back in ye annals of history… Well no, a couple of years ago, I hit one of those uncomfortable phases. A low, a rut, a downer, a funk if you will. I felt like I was drifting aimlessly. My then wonderful bf, now wonderful husband, kept urging me to do something (!!!) – in a supportive way, you understand. However, being a somewhat obstinate creature I plodded onwards with determination for quite sometime in my funk.

Looking back I’m not sure what it was that did it, but the resolve came for me to venture out into the world once more and try my hand at something creative. The dusky environs of evening classes beckoned and I spotted an evening class just down the road in printmaking. I had tried my hand at the same as part of a City and Guild course in Life Drawing and really enjoyed it. I decided the time for action had come!

I was wrong.

Due to insufficient interest the class was cancelled, my cheque was returned and I was sorely disappointed.

That could so easily have been the end of the story. Return of the funk.

Here’s the good news – it was just the beginning! The beginning of a far superior story. The story of how I became a silversmith…

A sable silver’d: Fish Bangle

The thing you need to know about the dead, decapitated fish is that it genuinely seemed to be smiling at me.  I simply couldn’t resist a close up:

I want to start my adventure with blogging by sharing my favourite self-made piece of jewellery. One of my first pieces, designed and made by yours truly and I really love it. It had a joyful but macabre start to life as a dead and decapitated fish washed up on the beach. As I sat contemplating what on earth I was going to do with the gift of 2 hours a week to spend amongst interesting creative people in a well stocked jewellery studio adjacent to the river cam, it came to me – that fish! The dead one, the one that had been decapitated from the head down. Well, it was so cheerful! How could it translate to jewellery? Yes, of course! How about a dead fish bangle…

Well, I feel very lucky to have come across that fish. I think it turned out pretty well. Don’t you?

Small, sweet and shiny!

Review. Pearl Knotting Workshop (July 2012), The Beaderie, Cambridge  

I was very excited to count myself amongst only 4 craftsters for an intimate and highly in demand workshop led by local pearl stringing aficionado Sally of ‘The Beaderie’. Due to the cosy nature of the venue – it really is teeny tiny - they can only squeeze four enthusiastic jewellers in. And, in order to be ‘in’ one has to literally leap on an email the second the class is announced. This was second time lucky for me.

The start was a little brusque for my liking, with not much in the way of introduction or general banter. Instructions said arrive early in order to prepare. Apparently there’s no messing with keen knotters and it was straight down to business. Sally made it look a breeze and I sat there confidently thinking, oh yes, I’ll master that. A slight case of overconfidence on my part as I swiftly did all sorts of strange things with my tweezers. As a small workshop one on one time with the tutor was ace and I was soon happily knotting away. It’s a very methodical thing to do and I just switched off and enjoyed. The class was on one of the hotter days (there have been a few, really!) and I didn’t enjoy the heat in the shop so much. It would have been great if we’d been advised to take a bottle of water. On the flip side being in the heart of the shop meant being surrounded by the glittering gleaming shiny seductive temptation of all the fantastic beads and gems. Warning to the wallet! The longer you sit knotting the more attractive all the beads look. I left the class with a solid understanding of the knotting technique, a sweet pearl necklace, more confidence in finishing a strung piece and a bag full of goodies for my next go (as yet unaccomplished). A good night out!

Hammer and Pickle ratings:

Value – 5/5 Hammers: Affordable (if you don’t get carried away in the shop at the end), all materials included

Vibes - 3/5 Hammers: A reserved friendliness and a focussed atmosphere

Pickle rating – 1/5 Pickles: Other than the aforementioned tweezer tweak this really was a walk in the park, but one in which I learned a useful jewellery stringing tecnhnique. Don’t get that in many parks round here.