Burning the candle

Floral Blanket Necklace, silver, oxidised silver & rhodonite £260

After a weekend of both work and play, I have to say I am over it! There was no getting away from the fact that I had to drag myself to the studio both yesterday and today! I have been working on a small collection for the reopening of Redbarn, a lovely gallery in Cumbria not far away from Penrith. I have had work with them ever since they first established themselves five years ago.
It was time for a refresh of my work and so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some of my new work there in time for the reopening on the 6th March. Redbarn has been closed for a couple of months since the festive period was over, so hopefully people will be flocking there next weekend!
The necklace above is the main piece of the collection. The stones are rhodonites. I love this pink colour with the dark grey speckles through it and thought it would be perfect to have a combination of both silver & oxidised silver to compliment the stones. The bud in the centre has been oxidised. For those of you who don't know what oxidization is, it is simply dipping the silver in liver of sulphur to get this black or dark grey finish.

After receiving my lovely stones and silver in the post this week, I am dying to get on with making. However, the Goldsmiths Fair application deadline is just a week away. Very tedious indeed! The Goldsmiths Fair happens once a year at the Goldsmiths Hall in London during october time. I have exhibited at this prestigious fair a few times although haven't done so the last couple of years, so fingers crossed!

I will post some more pics of the redbarn work this week. It is a mixture of old and new but works quite well as a group.

Right I'm off to curl up on the couch!
Dx

Framed

For those of you who came to the Open Studios at Coburg House in December you will have seen how I displayed my new work. For those of you who didn't, above is a photo! I didn't take any photos myself (shame on me!), however I was pleased to find that Erin Daly (also a Coburg jeweller) had! www.erinjdaly.blogspot.com
Thanks Erin :)
Originally, I found these 1950s/1960s photo frames in charity shops around Stockbridge and Leith, and I am now on the lookout for some more! If any of you know where I could get hold of any, please let me know. I've already had a peek on Ebay, but no luck unfortunately. I realise it's quite difficult to see from this picture the details on the trims, but I hope you get the picture!
I'm hoping to add some more to the display for the 'Craft at Coburg' Exhibition in June and the next Open Studios in August.

I have ordered some stones today, mostly labradorites and garnets just because I love them! I plan to make more work in the snowbud and mirror ranges as they have proved to be very popular and have hardly hit the galleries yet! Before I go full speed ahead though, I must finish what I have been working on first. Again, I promise they will be posted up soon!
I have had some lovely time off recently, spent with family and friends, wining, dining and retail therapy!! Now, I'm just finding where I left off again at the studio.

Remember the 15% discount is still on until the 1st March!!!

Dx

Jewels & Flowers at Valentines

Welcome to my first posting this year! My apologies for being slack with the blogging. I have been meaning to write since the new year, but have been concentrating my efforts elsewhere. Mainly tax returns and accounts. Let's not go there! So, for the past couple of weeks, I've been working on more new pieces which are yet to be finished or photographed, but as soon as they are I will post them up.

Now, I know I'm a bit late on the whole Valentines thing and reminding you of my lovely jewels for your ladies! Therefore, I am taking the opportunity just now to give you a 15% discount on any piece of jewellery that is ordered before the 1st March. That includes any of the work you see on here or my website www.diversegallery.com (apart from any pieces that are one offs and have already been sold).

I won't be in the studio over the next couple of days so I won't be able to take any orders for Valentines now (another reason to make it up to you all!).
However, I will be working at the flower shop as from tomorrow. So check out narcissusflowers if you would like to order some beautiful bespoke flowers for Valentines!

Hope you have a good weekend :)