News, news, news!

Hi - hope you're all safe and dry and haven't been flooded! What a horrible start to the year!

I've been keeping busy, it's that time of year when new ideas get tried out, some work, some don't and some don't work yet but I feel they will in time.  I've reworked a couple of old silver pieces which had been shelved and are now shelved again pending further inspiration!  I started off this year by thinking about the things which inspire me (rust - plenty of that round here with all the seawater being thrown around) and looking at how evident that inspiration is in my resulting work.  I realised that what floats my boat isn't always obvious and so I'm making a more concerted effort to find ways of showing that inspiration. Sometimes it's the colour of rust, particularly on old concrete and sometimes it's the lovely knobbly texture blistering through layers of old paint. With all this in mind I painted and dyed a sheet of aluminium last week which I do think represents my ideas.  I dare say the finished pieces (when they are finished!) will appear on here for you all to see.

A few weeks ago I had a fun day teaching polymer clay bead making at Orchard Learning Centre in Gunnislake, Cornwall.  For most people it was the very first time they tried using polymer clay and a great day was had by all, with much hilarity and some great results.  I'll be there again on the 2nd March if anyone would like to try their hand at making polymer clay pendants using foils.  If you'd like to book a place please book through Orchard Learning Centre direct - oh, and Jay the centre owner includes a lovely lunch!!
Here's some pictures of what the students made during the day.












The following picture is an example of the kind of pendant we'll be making in the forthcoming course so hurry and make sure that your place is booked and I'll look forward to another day of fun and giggles!

 

I've also been working on a statement piece of jewellery - the Dazzle neck piece is now available to buy on my website and I can even produce it in the colour range of your choice, be it blues, pinks, greens etc. All you have to do is let me know! Do you like it?

Dazzle Neck Piece 

In other news this week, I'm proud to announce that Created Gallery is going to be a new stockist and they are in Chesterfield so if you're in that area pop in and take a look. 

I'm also going to be exhibiting with Number Four Contemporary Art and Craft Gallery from 12th April for twelve weeks so I hope you'll go and see what they have to offer up in St Abbs, Berwickshire.  It will be a selling exhibition so take along your pennies!

Anyway, back to the workbench and I'll see you all soon.

It's Finally Here!

Hello world, have you missed me?

The last three weeks have disappeared into a fog of work, work and a little more work.  I did have a few days away visiting my parents which was lovely and completely internet and phone signal free too (although I confess to being a little panicky about what I might be missing.....).

So what is it that's been taking up so much of my life? It's the new website, that's what. It's now been launched, although there are a couple of little glitches in the way of logos not opening correctly, but the content all works and it does look pretty!  I've also co-incided the launch with the release of some brand new work so take a  look and let me know what you think. Most of the feedback I've received so far has been positive and centred mainly on the colour scheme which people seem to like.

Would you like a sneeky look at one of the pieces I've featured on the new site?  This is Digital and I loved the end result so much that I made myself a cuff and some earrings.  It has been printed on to the aluminium using acetate and then dyed.

Digital Necklace

Artist David Muddyman and myself will be taking part for the first time this year in Drawn To The Valley's Open Studios and will be doing so as part of Plymouth Arts Trail.  There are 101 artists taking part altogether at various points along the Tamar Valley with 27 of us around the Plymouth area.  If you would like further details about our opening times please see Events, however if you would like details about the entire event please take a look at the Drawn To The Valley website. We really hope you'll come and see us if you're in the area, we will have paintings, drawings, jewellery and wall art available for you to buy and take home.  We will be accepting card payments.

So, now that the website's off my hands for a little while I might get back to making jewellery and blogging about it!

Bespoke or Commission

Hello, me again!

I thought this week, I'd look at an aspect of my work which you might be less familiar with - bespoke creations.

What does bespoke actually mean?  Traditionally it's a term used to describe clothing which has been tailored to fit a particular customer ie a made to measure suit, however, it is a term often used to describe other items which have been made in line with a customer's requirements. It is often also known as a commission. 

Bespoke seems to suit my jewellery better than commission does as my end product is specifically to match clothing.  I work with bride's mums who also want to their outfit to look special, often want to compliment colour schemes and who don't really want to come face to face with a guest wearing the same! My journey starts with ideas from the customer on shape, style and design and will then include colour swatches supplied by them and if possible a snippet of material, but if not then some good photographs of the outfit in question.  I dye several samples of aluminium until I'm happy that I've got a good match and then work on a selection of pieces for the customer to choose from. I'm also happy to work with customers who are not mums of brides but do have a special occasion to dress for though!!

Of course, I'm also happy to work on commissions! I recently had a customer ask for a blood red cuff via one of my stockists and the customer was very happy with it, but that highlights the difference for me - yes I was making specifically for a customer, but as a commission, not bespoke to match a particular item.

Anyway, I shall be starting to work on the new website soon and hopefully that will be live from the end of June and I plan to launch with a whole load of new work so make sure you take a look.

This week I've been cutting up a sheet of blue aluminium which is covered in writing - a bit different to my normal work but I'm quite happy with it so far, but I might keep you in suspence until the new site is launched!

This gorgeous pendant will feature on my website soon

See you all next week!

News update!

Hello everyone! Hope you had a lovely Easter whatever the weather where you were.

The last few days have been totally hectic - on Saturday I was at the newly branded Tavi Arts Market in Bedford Square, Tavistock, on Sunday I wrestled a blind into submission and finally up at the window and on Monday and Tuesday I had a delightful student with me.  She was with me to find out a little about working with and colouring aluminium and after much experimentation she finally left for Hertfordshire on Tuesday with a couple of pendants, a couple of cuffs and loads of inspiration and enthusiasm. Good luck with it Libby!  If you would like to find out more about courses just follow the link.

Yesterday I had a phone call from a lovely lady who I'd met at the Arts Market on Saturday and who'd fallen in love with one of my silver pieces.  She wanted to know if I'd still got it and her very kind husband popped over and bought it for her! I was quite sad to see this piece go as it was a favourite of mine! I might make something similar in another colour - what do you think - should I?

I'm currently working on some new designs to show you so I hope you'll like them when they're finished.

I will also be stocking two brand new galleries in the next couple of weeks, Craft Mafia in Nottingham and Porters of Station Road, Bovey Tracey, Devon so I hope you'll check them out when they fling open their doors at the beginning of May.  As well as that I will be restocking Studio 61 in Matlock and Boo Gallery in Northamptonshire with brand new work so pay them a visit if you're in the areas. I'll also be at Crocadon Producer's Fair, St Mellion on April 20th so why not come and see me - you might be able to pick up a discount or two!

So, I'm off now to put my loaves into the oven (I've been inspired by Paul Hollywood!) as the breadmaker is temporarily redundant!

See you next week!

Launching Bronze and Grey

Hello folks, it's been a couple of weeks since my last confession.......

No really,  I've been busy, busy, busy.  I've been working on new pieces which are destined (hopefully - they still have to get past the selection panel!!) for a summer exhibition by Flameworks which is being held in the Relegacy Gallery, The Barbican, Plymouth from 21st July to the 29th.  My husband, www.davidmuddyman.co.uk is also hoping to exhibit this time too. The theme is 'Pushing The Boat Out' and this is the first time that I will be showing aluminium, silver and bronze. Would you like a little sneak preview?

This bronze Wood bracelet is destined for the exhibition

This busy time has also seen the launch of my Bronze Collection on my website. http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page15.htm Why not take a look at these organic pieces and let me know what you think? It is possible to add a beautiful heat patina to bronze and that is what has been applied to the bracelet above and I plan to introduce more of that to the website collection soon.

So, what else have I been up to?

Well, there's been so much in the press and media of late regarding a certain trilogy of books and it made me think that I could start a Shades of Grey collection.  As there is so much interest and many people are posting pictures of shade charts and paint charts so I thought that there might be a demand for a simple, beautiful pendant.  I used dip dyeing techniques with aluminium dye, deliberately letting the dye dry in 'tidemarks' and repositioning the sheets every few minutes to create the lines you see as well as aluminium ink in black.  (My thumbs are still showing evidence of this 5 days later owing to a blowout in my latex gloves!) Every single pendant is different and are reminiscent of landscapes, seascapes or even cloudscapes and I'm really happy with the end result.  I think they look stunning and will certainly appeal to anyone who enjoyed the books and those who haven't read them.  These are my take on 'Shades Of Grey' and they have their very own Collection on the website http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page16.htm  Who knows - I may make another colour collection if these prove popular! 

So, if anyone would like to know more about any of my pieces, or about the forthcoming exhibition, or even where else you can see my work, please do email me at info@slicksilverjewellery.co.uk - I'm always pleased to hear from you.

I'm also looking for new gallery stockists, particularly in Cumbria and Wales.  If you know of anywhere do let me know.

Bronze and Blossom

Hello folks, today is our first wedding anniversary and so much has happened during the last year - very many changes on a personal level.  I no longer have a day job! Now I feel properly self-employed (my business was formalised in 2008 but was very part-time up until recently). I've expanded my aluminium range to launch my Signature Collection on the website, which marries the material with silver elements and designs where I can explore my creative ideas.

On leaving my job after 17 years, my lovely colleagues gave me some money 'to be spent on jewellery tools' and so I bought a kiln and I've been experimenting since it's arrival with textures from nature on bronze.  These are not yet available for purchase but will be in to not too distant future.  I'm always drawn to texture and colour around me and I've been making moulds from just about everything I can find! Even the cat's started to eye me up warily and not stay in one place too long!!

I've used silver clay many times in the past, but always torch fired it which was fine.  Bronze clay, unless it's a very small piece, doesn't fire as successfully with a torch and not all of the pieces fired successfully in the kiln, but I think I have the measure of it now. #crossesfingersandtoes









These pieces were cast from pieces of wood and the ring was taken directly from a lump of lavarock and has an adjustable silver ring band.

I've finally launched my Cherry Blossom collection on the website this week too.  Thank you to all those of you who've given me such lovely comments on this one.  I think it's going to be a favourite of mine in the same way that Surf's Up was.  You can find Cherry Blossom at http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page10.htm

So, in other news, yesterday was a bit of an emotional one! All mums out there will know that no matter how big your kids are etc etc.....
Yesterday I packed my very grown up son off on the train that would take him to London, then Heathrow, then Australia - where he's off travelling for 3 months.  He's going to have a fabulous time and he'd better bring me a wallaby back or else......

Tomorrow we're off to our favourite place in all of UK - St. Ives.  We went to St. Ives for our honeymoon so where else could we possibly go for our anniversary? Galleries, here we come!!

Galleries, Museums and birds

This blog is being bought to you this week from London!  We're house-sitting for friends and taking the opportunity to visit galleries and other lovely places!

Yesterday was a wonderful day which was spent at the Victoria & Albert Museum, where we idled many happy hours in the ceramics, contemporary glass, silver and jewellery sections.  My husband is an artist and we are both inspired by colour and texture and whilst we don't always like the same pieces, we are generally happy in the same sections particularly the more contemporary works! I found the more modern jewellery so inspirational. This gorgeous collection of blue birds were made as an installation by Claire Twomey using various shades of Wedgewood clay.

Today was shopping day - well, it has to be done, doesn't it?! Of course, we had to look at all the shoe shops and jewellery shops! We finished the day in Hatton Garden - it's a good thing that I'm not into diamonds!!  I did come away with a Cookson's new catalogue and plenty of ideas for my wishlist.

We're hoping to fit in a visit to Tate Modern, the Lanes in Brighton and as many other lovely arty places as we can.

On that note - I'm off for a cosy night tucked up with my Cookson's catalogue!

See you next week.

A New Direction!

Hello everyone and hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.  I also hope that everyone who received my jewellery as presents were happy with it.

Well, we had a crazy, but wonderful Christmas Day with 9 of us gathering at the home of my daughter-in-law's parents who are very good friends of ours for a lovely family day.  As is usual for any family gathering Jeff managed to set light to something, however, this time it was only a paper napkin in the bin! The indoor fireworks left us all staggered by their beauty.........

New Year was very quiet and saw me writing lists of things to do in 2012, mostly for SlickSilver Jewellery as it will be a period of change and hopefully growth as I plan to spend more time working in the business, funds allowing.

So on to some changes - I shall shortly be adding a Signature Collection to my website where you'll be able to see the highly individual pieces that form a crossover between my silver and my aluminium work.  I shall be featuring, as part of the collection, some new designs I've been working on which explore simple basic leaf shapes with handpierced centres.  The following design started as an idea for an alternative to hearts for Valentines Day, however, I feel that the shape lends itself to further exploration which I plan to do.

This example would make an ideal gift for Valentine's Day or at any other time of the year so don't forget to point the relevant people in the right direction!!

I had a week off this week from my day job and it seems to have vanished into a pile of paperwork for my tax return, however, it's all done now, but I have had a lovely treat to cheer me up.  Those of you who read this blog regularly will know that I often feature other artists in my collaborative items and you may recall that I featured Phiona Richards of Rare Notions with her exquisite recycled books.  I was thrilled to received this from her in the post the other day and I'm really looking forward to wearing it - thank you Phiona - do make sure that you check out her website http://www.rarenotions.co.uk

Ok I must get on with finding some more lovely artists to feature on here - suggestions anyone?

Craft on TV!

Well hello folks and yes I did promise another blog collaboration, but yet again it hasn't happened - sorry, but other artists must be very busy!

Did anyone else watch Kirstie's Handmade Britain last night?  It's so good to see craft on mainstream television.  Particularly good to see Phiona Richards from Rare Notions who recently started following me on Twitter which was quite a coincidence as I'd been admiring her work only a few days before in Nicola Hurst's lovely gallery in Plymouth! Phiona makes the most exquisite jewellery and art from old and damaged books - who knows, maybe I can persuade her to be a blog collaborator in the future so that we can find out a bit more about her work!

What was a joy on the programme last night was seeing Kirstie Allsopp's total enthusiasm for the crafts she was trying.  It can only be a good thing for the handmade movement that this programme is making it look cool and is trying to show that crafting is also loved by people of all ages and both sexes!  I do hope that more programmes are made that look at handmade, not only as art forms, but as businesses.  Theo Paphitis' programme focussed more on the business side when he looked at Liberty, Habitat and Boots, but it would be great to see a series that took an individual craft each week and looked at the experts, new businesses and novices within each discipline with a view to mutual support and inspiration.  Any programme makers reading this???

On another front - this week I've returned to my part time day job which funds my business at the moment following my shoulder surgery.  This has also meant a return to making jewellery and as I said last week I've been experimenting with deeper textures and combining silver with my aluminium as a signature range.



This piece was handpierced from a small amount of double-dyed aluminium which was textured with grasses and features a handmade silver toggle clasp and a reticulated silver component to the necklace. It sits beautifully at a the base of the neck at a choker length.

Right I'm off to try to push another piece of aluminium to it's limits and I'll let you know what happens!!

See you next week!