Adventures with a new kiln

I have finally been able to afford a kiln. Until now I have been firing with a torch in the bathroom, but I have now stepped into the world of silver with a kiln. It arrived on Tuesday, but I have just been looking at it all week, too scared to turn it on. All the instructions keep giving warnings of all the dire consequences of what can happen if not used properly.

Tonight is Saturday night, and finally I have gotten up the courage to use it.. the following was my online stream of consciousnous:

awwwww! I have finally turned my kiln on! There is a little chimney of smoke coming out the hole ;-) Cats are very curious but none too happy (good). I am sitting here holding a glass of red wine and smoking furiously (bad) .... so exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and still a bit scary. Why do I not have any fear with a blow torch blasting out fire in my bathroom but am so trepidatious with an enclosed well insulated metal box? mmm room smelling none too good ha ha
(how long does it take to get to temperature?). Sip wine - calm down. Digi timer set and ready to go - come on.... mmm smell not good (or is that the cigarette?).
Cats eyeing me with suspicion and distaste. Cats leaving through catflap! Bye cats! (hope they come back).
Smoke stopped - temp getting there - now 530... now 636 (25 minutes so far) .. and now we are at target heat - Timer on! (no fear of charcoal fest tonight - unless I doze off in a drunken stupor in the next half hour that is .. now where are the cats!!
Blimey am I glad I have this timer - I forgot!! It is so quiet I expected whirring and clunking. 4.51 mins to go.
.........Now it's done. That took an hour for 35 mins heating time - mm that's good, in future I think I'll use that time to list my items. How long to cool back down - lets see.
Ha much quicker with the ruddy door open that's for sure!
Right - one and a half hours later I reckon I can go and get my treasur out of the safe - and then maybe go search for the moggies!! (Actually they've come back and are soundly snoozing).
Thank you for (whether you wanted to or not) sharing this adventure with me!

New Camera - So happy with the detail!!

Just got myself a new camera, as I was so fed up of not being able to get the beautiful colours and details in my photos. I just could not be happier, its just amazing, and so easy. On a bit of a high at the moment.

To launch New Website News Blog - Free Bracelet

To launch my new 'News Blog' on my website I am giving away free a stunning sterling silver David Christensen cane glass bracelet - worth £16.00 to the first 3 customers who order over £15 from the website, and leave a comment on the blog. Don't miss out, these really are lovely pieces and went like hot cakes last year when on show at the Havant Arts Centre.

Just click the link for more details (not that there are many more ;-)

Silver starburst pom poms!

I have these crystals and I have the silver and I love my designs!! But what on earth can I call them? starburst? explosions? fireworks? sea anemones? Dahlias? No idea. If any one can think of anything better please let me know cos I am at a loss, and am in the process of making tons more, but don't know how to describe them. They are solid fine silver, some have crystals embedded in them, and are quite chunky. (nearly 2 inches long). But what are they??? ;-)

Designing with crystals.

Latest designs from the holidays! I have a love of circles, circles appear everywhere in nature, nearly everything that has a regular form in nature is related one way or another to a circle. Check it out the next time you see a leaf or a flower, or even a rainbow!

So, while these may be quite abstract, I feel they reflect nature's treasure chest. They are made with fine silver and crushed minerals. My biggest problem is not having a camera with a spot function, and so they aren't as detailed and crisp as they are in real life. The colours shown here are a mix of greens, blues and teals. They catch the light and are so sparkly! I like the constrast with the heavy designs of the silver. I tried manipulating the colours in photo shop, but felt that was cheating a little, even though it does give a better impression of what they are really like. (The large pic is as it came, the small picture shows the manipulated shot.)

(And in case you were wondering - this isn't one necklace but 5 pendants!)

Now just got to get on and upload and list them. Sadly for the bank balance - I'm completely addicted - yet again!

Happy New Year!!

On the front page of Etsy

Oh Yes - lovely way to end the year - on the front page of Etsy!

Thanks to Lacocone.

Coming to the end....

The end of the year is nearly here, and my fingers are frazzled. I must have made forty gadzillion little peapods, each one a little bit different, and so many have new little homes. These last two months took me by surprise, I wasn't really prepared for the Christmas rush. Next year I will be! So, time to sit back, ponder on next year and dream a little. Thank you to all my lovely customers.
Oh by the way, I am having a massive new year sale (50% off) on my gemstone, lampwork, crystal and sterling items for the new year. If you would like more details sign up for the newsletter with the link above. Have a very happy and restful holiday period.

The Crafty Fox Pop Up Market

I'm going to the crafty fox pop up market next Saturday at the Dog Star Pub in Brixton. Really looking forward to meeting other Etsians and have a chance to set up my stall again. If you are around the area do pop in and say Hi, would be great to meet you. Click on the link to see who else is attending.

To the Lighthouse

Delighted my yachts at sea pendant is here - second up on the left - I was so pleased with this.

7 love momentoes

I was recently commissioned to make a lovely idea, 7 love momentoes to celebrate a couples anniversary. The gentleman who commissioned this had put a lot of thought behind it and came up with the following ideas:

A squid. ( a stuffed gift)
A walking stick. (a walk they had been on)
A disc with JMJ (A restaurant)
A scarf (knotted) (A gift)
two sets of footprint (barefoot) (from a walk)
A pot of congee - open or closed (from a meal).
A Kayak (from a trip)
I was sent some photos to copy and the above are the representations.