Edinburgh jeweller

One of the benefits of starting the Make A Ring A Month movement is that I get to choose the theme each month! I had already settled on t exture as the theme for January and had a good idea of what I wanted my ring to look like. And weirdly it has ended up as I imagined it would (that doesn't often happen!). I decided to create a hollow form ring because I am a bit obsessed with making box forms at the moment. If you'd like to learn how to do that I suggest taking a look at this online course  with Tracey Spurgin. I then carved into the silver clay to make the texture. I use the  dockyard micro carving tools .  I kiln fired the ring (I always recommend kiln firing rings as they need the strength of a long hot firing). I fired at 880 centigrade for 1.5 hours. Although I'll add here that I'm pretty sure my kiln is underfiring at them moment meaning that it is heating up to lower than the temperature it states. I need to do a proper kiln test f...

I've been overwhelmed by the number of people being inspired by the Ring A Month challenge. At the time of writing, we have 351 members in the Facebook group and 300 followers on Instagram. If you'd like to join in there's still time! Facebook group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/makearingamonth/ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/ringamonth/ I have decided to announce the theme for the coming month a week before the start of the month. This is to give people time to think about their designs, particularly those that are busy and have a lot to fit in. The theme for February 2019 is .... music and lyrics Here are some ideas to get you thinking about how to interpret the theme Be inspired by A song/piece of music you love A specific lyric from a song  A style of music e.g. classical, metal, rap, funk etc A musical An instrument/s Music artwork (CD/LP sleeve or music video) A concert you went to (or wish you went to!) A music festival Choose ...

Rent a studio or work from home? Some thoughts on how to decide There comes a point when you need to decide if you’ve outgrown your jewellery making workspace at home. So, what are the pros and cons of renting a jewellery studio versus working from home? It took me a while to decide to rent a desk space in a studio to work from rather than work at home. I currently share a studio at Hill Street Design House in Edinburgh. This has been a really great move for me for lots of reasons but might not be the right choice for everyone so I wanted to give some of the pros and cons and my thought processes on it if you are also thinking about it. Hill Street Design House event hire room Jewellery making from home Pros Cost This is the main consideration for me. It doesn’t cost me any extra to work from home plus I don’t have additional costs e.g. travel Time The time it takes to travel to and from the studio could be more usefully used making jewellery from home (an...

I started the  Make a Ring a Month 2019 challenge at new year (there's still time to join in, you can find the group here > ). We have members at all levels of experience in jewellery making so I thought I'd write this blog post sharing some online ring making classes for those that are beginners, those that want to make more advanced designs or those that fancy trying a new technique. I am only covering classes I can personally recommend here (with the exception of Hattie Sanderson I know all the teachers listed below). I have no doubt that there are loads of resources out there but this will hopefully give a start to those that are interested. If something catches your eye then do click on the link to find out more. (Just to be clear, I do work for Jewellers Academy but have not been asked to promote their courses and these are not affiliate links). For beginners in making silver rings Make a silver ring with Rosie Sanders -  £45 Jewellers Academy link ...

The theme for January for the Make a Ring a Month 2019 challenge is texture (find out more about the Ring a Month challenge here > if you don't already know about it) Here are some prompts and ideas: stamping engraving rolling mill found textures bought textures carving woven hammered drilling The main aim of the ring a month challenge is to make a ring a month. If you already have some design ideas in mind then feel free to carry on, you don't have to stick to the theme. I know I find themes helpful so I will continue to have one each month.

There have been lots of jewellery challenges going around for the last couple of years including make a pendant a day, a ring a week, a bird a week etc. I do love these kind of thing but know that committing to making something every day or even every week is just too much for me. So I've been thinking for a while about a monthly challenge, something that would be some work but would still feel do-able. On new years eve I decided to go for it and set up a Facebook group called Make a Ring a Month 2019 . I posted about this group on one jewellery forum on the evening of 31st December and before the new year arrived 30 people signed up! By the next day, we'd hit 100 and we are currently on 189 members from all over the world. When I first set it up I really didn't know how it would go. I thought that it might be me and about 20 other people that I know. I'm so glad that others have joined in too, it goes to show that it wasn't just me wanting a challenge for 2019....

I'm excited to have an article in the latest issue of Making Jewellery magazine.  Issue 125 is a business and professional issue and my article is on Craft fairs - should you take part? I was fortunate to have help from fellow jewellers Nina Mason, Jackie Moore and Susan Rowley who gave me their opinions and experiences too. It's a great issue so do check it out. You can buy a digital copy here >

I am just getting ready for two special shopping events that are coming up so I'm busy busy busy! Arienas Collective open day Saturday 1st December, 12-7pm Free entry 2 Dublin Meuse, Edinburgh, EH3 I'd love to see you at the Arienas Collective this Saturday (1st December). Drop in any time between 12 and 7pm. I'll be alongside other artists for the Collective chatting about workshops and sampling some mulled wine. I'll also be doing a silver clay jewellery making demo (before I start on the mulled wine!) and I'll have some of my jewellery available to buy. There will be other demos including soap making and lino printing and I think it'll be a great way to spend a Saturday! We're just 5 minutes walk from St Andrews Square so really centrally located. You can find out more here > Independent Zebra Thursday 6th December  Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh Many shops in Stockbridge are opening until 8pm for a special shopping evening. I ...

Fancy bezels, prongs and bails online course, Jewellers Academy It's Black Friday again and even before the day arrived there were lots of deals around (and surely more to come). Black Friday is fairly new to the UK but it's always good to look out for a deal! Here are some of the best I've seen for metal clay artists. Do share any I've missed in the comments and I'll add them in Clay, materials and tools Cookson Gold has discounts on clay and tools I haven't seen any other discounts on metal clay but there are a lot of discounts on gemstones and beads out there including Beads Direct and Kernowcraft . Elsilver  also have discounts, it's worth checking out their 25% off offer on dies. Online courses Jewellers Academy has 50% off their courses including 3 metal clay courses. Tip: buy the bundle with Julia Rai's metal clay charms course and my stone setting torch fired course as it's the same cost as my course on its own! There's al...

Make your own silver christmas pudding charms at Arienas Collective  It’s exciting to see a change in the way we look at Christmas and how much we consume. So I wanted to share with you some of the fun things you can do to prepare for a handmade Christmas at the Arienas Collective in Edinburgh. I am one of the artists that is part of the collective and we run creative workshops in Edinburgh. We love sharing our art and craft with you so here’s what you can learn to do to make your Christmas unique! Make decorations 🎁 Join Panna to learn some calligraphy skills and then hand decorate your own glass baubles. What a lovely thing to create for your own tree or as a gift. Christmas cards 🎄 Make your own unique lino print christmas cards and gift tags with local artist Suzanne. Handmade presents 🎁 There are a few options for handmaking thoughtful gifts with us this christmas Festive soap and skincare 🎄 Join Jenny from the Scottish So...

I wrote a blog post for Jewellers Academy on how to have a sale without having a sale. I am not a fan of discounting handmade jewellery, particularly if you can make to order. However, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up I've looked at 5 ways to have a sale without devaluing your brand and ways you can clear out old stock. Take a look at the full post here

50% off this brand new online metal clay class  In the last couple of weeks, I've been fortunate enough to have had a preview of this new stone setting course by metal clay artist Julia Rai . Fancy bezels, prongs and bails is an online course from Jewellers Academy . I've watched the whole thing as I was working on making sure Julia's excellent notes lined up with the order of the videos (there are 11 individual videos in the course). The downloadable notes are now done and the course is currently in pre-sale and will go live on 13th November 2018. AND if you buy before then, you can get 50% off! When it goes live it will be £79 but right now you can buy it for £39.50 (and I really recommend that you do). What will I learn? This course covers stone setting in silver clay. It is for those that have some experience of working with silver clay. If you've done one of my taster or beginners classes then it will be good for you. You will learn How to set an ir...

I'm excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for the Creative Craft Show at Glasgow SEC in October. This was such a fun event last year, I'm really glad I'm doing it again this year! There are so many fab exhibitors and lots of retail therapy especially for crafters - definitely bring a shopping trolley! I will be exhibiting some of my jewellery work, doing some demonstrations and answering questions on my stand. I will also be teaching a silver clay workshop each day in the Creative Den. Tickets for the workshop are purchased separately from the entrance tickets and do need to be purchased in advance. My silver clay classes sold out early last year so don't delay! Workshop at last years Show Here are all the details What? T he Creative Craft Show When? Thursday 25th October - Sunday 28th October 2018 Where? Glasgow SEC Tickets Click here to buy a ticket > Currently £10 per person (early bird price) 90-minute silver clay workshop with...

The lastest issue of Making Jewellery magazine is out now and it’s a metal clay special. I’m really pleased to share that the editor Sian commissioned me to write an article for it on hallmarking metal clay. It is a topic I have spoken on at the You Can Make It residential conference organised by Metal Clay Ltd . To research it I visited the London Assay Office to take a tour (definitely worth getting a tour of your Assay Office if you get the chance, it’s very interesting). My article is on pages 30 and 31 so I hope you have a read! This special issue of Making Jewellery magazine is absolutely fantastic for metal clay artists so do get a copy of it if you can. It’s available from the larger WH Smiths and some supermarkets. If you're not in the UK you can still purchase a digital copy . Artists featured include Anna Mazon , Joy Funnell , Julia Rai , Lisa Cain  and  Tracey Spurgin  and they share some fantastic techniques and projects. Well worth a read.

It’s been nearly a year since I started teaching silver clay jewellery classes in Edinburgh (time flies!). I’ve been so fortunate this year to meet and teach lots of enthusiastic learners. As well as my taster class and the beginners class I have already added a ring making in silver clay class to my schedule. And now I am pleased to share that booking is now open for my new intermediate class for those that are keen to learn more. Based on feedback from my students I have designed a class called Soldering silver clay jewellery . I’m not sure the name is that exciting but the class is as it covers what people have told me they want to learn next.  It's a class I've taught for the London Jewellery School and at the You Can Make It Metal Clay residential conference. The class is suitable for those who have used silver clay before either at home, in a taster or beginners class. Silver clay stud earrings, Jewellery School Scotland What will I learn? I’ve designed t...

This is a very indulgent blog post! But I really enjoy listening to podcasts and I love hearing about the podcasts people listen to so I thought I would run down some of my favourites. I have previously blogged on this , coincidentally it was almost exactly 3 years ago today! And I also did a post on my favourite podcasts for creativity . But these are the ones I listen to right now for fun! Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin I love Gretchen's books so I've been listening to this since it started. Happier is a weekly podcast that Gretchen Rubin makes with her sister Liz Craft. They talk about how to be a little happier in everyday life. I've particularly found the discussion about different tendencies and how they affect our happiness very helpful. You can find out more and listen to the Happier podcast here > Binge Mode podcast Binge Mode Harry Potter This is my current favourite but it is definitely not for everyon...

Sketches I did on the course with the Edinburgh sketcher at Arienas Collective As a tutor at the Arienas Collective I’ve been looking at the other courses available and deciding which to do first! Although I do a little sketching as a jeweller to get ideas down on paper I haven’t done any drawing or painting for quite a while so I decided to do the speed sketching taster class with Mark Kirkham aka the Edinburgh Sketcher . I really love his sketching style and the ability to do quick sketches of different scenes appealed to me. First things first - tea! I had a lovely cup of tea and a chance to chat and get to know the other members of our group. Our host Lynn was very welcoming and the creative space is gorgeous so it was a very relaxed start to the day. When everyone had arrived Mark did a brief introduction and passed around some of his sketchbooks to give us an idea of what was to come. We then went straight out for a walk and did three short sketch projects in Edinburgh...