Happy New Year!!!
A lot has happened since my last blog post. I've given up working as a teaching assistant to spend more time designing and creating beautiful jewellery. I am also working part time (due to Jersey's weird Social Security rules) in the shop that sells my jewellery, I also help with the running of the website too.
I also went on a beginners silverwork course down in delightful Devon. The course was run by Lisa from The Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery in a lovely studio in Bickleigh (which is between Exeter and Tiverton), it's right by an old mill which is now used as a beautiful shop selling arts and crafts and does the most amazing food too!! I learned how to solder, make rings, make my own findings and use a piercing saw. I sat down at the bench and for the first time in my life, I felt I was somewhere, doing something that I was meant to do. I was in heaven!! It was only a 2 day course but I could've stayed there for weeks....months even!! There was just 3 of us, which was great and I learnt so much. I hope that Lisa will do an intermediate course at some point as I'd love to go and do more. She specialises in silver clay teaching too. I stayed in Exeter for 3 nights and it was lovely having some me time. All in all I had an amazing few days.
Having acquired these new skills, I had to go out and buy tons of new tools! How excited was I when my new purchases began to arrive?? Saws, bench blocks, soldering equipment and a lovely big tool box to keep them all in. Haven't had as much time to experiment as I'd like yet as December has been manic, I did a four day fayre in the centre of St Helier which was fantastic. The Christmas spirit was high (despite some lousy weather) and people were out spending and really embracing the quality and ethos of handmade goods, which is all us crafters and artists can ask for. After that I have been working in the shop, even sold a few of my own pieces, which is always nice.
January is set to be a tad calmer I think, so I can start to put all my ideas into action, and before too long I hope to have a whole new collection of jewellery. I want to build on the hand-stamping and use more precious gems this year. So, watch this space!!
Finally, I hope 2015 is a great year for you all and brings you health, wealth and happiness.
Bye for now
S x