No question, it's hand made

I went out to dinner with some friends, one of whom is a silversmith, and showed them what I'd done in class. I really liked it, as I do the 'damage' pendants, but wasn't sure why.

But I think my friend understood - as she handed the bangle back to me she said "there's no question it's hand made."

We sometimes go around craft fairs together and speculate on what is and isn't mass produced. And while I have great respect for a lot of the silver jewellery I see, there's something too polished about a lot of it. I like seeing the tool marks, evidence that a human hand worked on it.

Simple is beautiful

I love these amazingly shiny Swarovski components - perfect for simple but eyecatching earrings, pendants, etc.

We're on display!

Some of my work, including the 'damaged' pendants pictured last week, are now on display in the main hallway of Thames Valley University's main Reading campus on King's Road. If you're passing, have a look in the perspex display cases inside the main doors!

Prototypes!

There seems to be something about exhausting my brain at work - I had a great and very productive session at my silversmithing class. My arms ache and the pads of my fingers and thumbs are sore, but it was well worth it!