Well so much for the hint of sunshine – let’s hope that June is brighter!

Here are my behind-the-scenes reflections on what I’ve been doing over April and May…

What I’ve been working on…

Focus for me these last few weeks is preparation for my Introduction to Silver Metal Clay class which I will be teaching at Nottingham Jewellery School next weekend.  Silver metal clay is a wonderful material that can be shaped and textured just like ceramic clay.  Made from silver particles mixed with organic binders and water, when metal clay is fired, these burn away revealing beautiful fine silver. I’ve really enjoyed planning the projects for the day and thinking through the key top tips I can share with everyone who comes.  We’ll be making charms for a necklace – I can’t wait to see what ideas the class comes up with! The class sold out pretty quickly, so if this is something you are interested in learning about, then keep an eye out on my website and Instagram – I’m planning on running some shorter intro classes from home too. If you’ve not seen them yet, the pieces in my Lunaria Collection have all been made using metal clay.

What I’ve been TRYING…

As part of my challenge to try 12 new crafts in 12 months, I’ve tried two new activities. The first was blacksmithing with Richard @hazelforged. What an incredible day it was! Richard took us through the stages of creating a set of coat hooks. The weather was foul, but we kept ourselves warm heating the metal and forging with very heavy tools! Next up was leather work with Ian @watermeadleather. I’m very proud of my smart new leather belt that I made during the day. Both Richard and Ian were the very essence of great teaching – hugely enthusiastic about their craft, very patient and determined that we would be enabled to finish the project.  I would thoroughly recommend them both!

What I’ve been reading …

Jane followed up the workshop with a fabulously creative list of suggestions for further reading. I admit I succumbed to several purchases (all found second hand!), including this beautiful book - Wreaths by Katie Smyth and Terri Chandler. It’s a volume of inspiring photos and creative ideas for displaying plants and flowers. There’s so much I’d like to try - so watch this space!

What I’ve been sharing …

I’ve been sharing my love of making with various folk who’ve come to the studio for jewellery-making experiences. We always have such a lovely time – with lots of nattering, and cake to keep us going. Particularly memorable was the day Jen and Rich came to make their wedding rings.  Neither had every tried silversmithing before, and the both did an amazing job creating really personal pieces.  Both rings were stamped on the inside with their initials.  Just gorgeous.

What I’ve been making …

I’ve been working on a new collection that I’ll be able to share later in the summer, but in the meantime, I’ve been exploring whether customers are interested in gold-plated versions of some of my popular pieces. It’s been important to me ensure that this decision remains one that aligns with my sustainability values, so I have selected to plate with fair mined gold.  Fair mined gold is all about ensuring ethical and sustainable gold. It's not a type of gold itself, but rather a certification that guarantees the gold comes from responsible small-scale mining operations. I’ll be writing a longer blog about this, so watch this space!