Summer Flowers

 'Summer Flower' Necklace

Silver, 18ct gold & labradorites

Slowly saying goodbye to the lovely daffodils and saying hello to the beginning of Summer! This 'Summer Flower' Necklace is making it's way to Equinox in Hampshire as we speak! 'The Best of British Contemporary Jewellery' Exhibition opens on the 17th April. If you're in and around Fleet, then do visit!

Goldmiths' Fair 30th Anniversary Exhibition

'Oval Petal' Dish

Silver

2002

I can't believe that amongst all my talk of anniversaries, I forgot to tell you about the Goldsmiths' Fair 30 Years Anniversary Exhibition!
Around 100 jewellers and silversmiths including myself have been asked to participate in this which will be held at the Goldsmiths' Hall sometime next year. These makers have all received a bursary over the years from the Goldsmiths' Company to have a free stand at Goldsmiths' Fair and funding towards materials. We have each been asked to exhibit two pieces of work. One from our very first show and one brand new piece.
My first time showing at Goldsmiths was just a few months after I completed my Postgraduate Diploma back in 2002 (oh how that sounds so long ago!), a time when I was developing my fusing technique on a larger scale. I designed and made a range of silverware including, shallow dishes, a table centrepiece and some napkin rings. Each piece was created from hundreds of oval shapes fused together into patterns and then formed. The piece above is one of my favourite and will be my "First Exhibition" piece. This dish was also commended by the Goldsmiths Craft & Design Council at the Craftsmanship & Design Awards in 2003.
My "New piece" will hopefully be the beginning of a new development within my work. This month, I am pleased to say that I have received some funding from the Craft Maker Awards: Edinburgh, to undertake a course in stone setting to help towards developing and pushing my work in a new direction. The money will also go towards materials to make this special new piece.
I hope to make a piece of jewellery, that shows off a large surface area of fused sheet similar to that of the dish, and incorporate some stone setting, some how, some way!
These ideas may change through the development process, but I will leave it there for now. I will of course keep you up to date with how it's all going and how I get on at the course next month, which I am very excited about!
The "new piece" has to be finshed by the Autumn, so you won't have to wait too long to see the end product.

Ah, sorry that was a bit lengthy!

I'm off now to enjoy a pint in the sun! :-)

Anniversaries

This year seems to be a year of anniversary celebrations! It being my own 10th year in business, I thought going to the Goldsmiths' Fair 30th Anniversary party last Thursday evening could be an excuse for a little personal celebration of my own. The champagne was flowing and our wee clan from up here in the North took full advantage :-) The Hall was filled with beautiful scented flowers and of course all the Jewellers and Silversmiths! It was a treat bumping into makers I have met at the Fair in the past.
A trip was made to Hatton Garden the next day for some stone shopping. It really did take our minds of our slight hangovers :-) Shopping for hammers and mandrels too is what we decided was our "Sad fun"!

So, as it is both myself and Kaz Robertson's 10th year in business and sharing a studio at Coburg House Studios, we thought we would mark the occasion with a little gathering here in the Coburg Gallery. There will be some work on display and some vino of course to celebrate! We have booked the evening of the 6th July, so save the date! More details will be revealed nearer the time. Hope you will be able to make it!

It is also my Mum and Michael's 1st Wedding Anniversary in June. I didn't realise we would be gate crashing it when we booked our holiday to join them in Spain! Ooops!

I'm liking all these anniversaries, any excuse for a knees up :-)

Fuzzy February

'Snow bud Cluster' pin

Silver & labradorites

It has been a hectic month both in work and play. We have had enquiries after enquiries about our 'Make Your Own Wedding Ring' service. Something we think may have to do with a 'Don't Tell The Bride' episode last week where the Groom was making wedding rings for himself and his Wife-to-be. It has been a bit crazy to say the least! Keep them bookings coming in though! :)

I haven't been working much at the bench since Christmas, but I have yesterday, just sent off a new group of work to Byard Art Gallery in Cambridge and have also returned to an old stockist of mine, Ferrers Gallery in Leicester. If you're in those areas, go and take a look :)

Applications for this, that and the other has taken up most of my time. More on these later if any of them are successful, but for now I'll zip my lips:)

Oh and just to quickly remind you that there is only one more day to visit the Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition at the RSA Upper Galleries on The Mound. The pin above is currently on show as part of my 'Snow Bud & Floral' collection.

Apart from all this work business, it has been party month to say the least! Birthday parties (including mine) engagements, and general booziness! It's time for a detox!

xx

Visual Art Scotland Annual Exhibition

It's been a busy week and we're not even out of January yet! That is how I like it though, especially as I have been moaning how slow January has been this year! There's not been much work done at the bench, more applications for funding, competitions and preparing for our two Make Your Own Wedding Rings couples this weekend.

My 'Snow petal & Floral' collection of four pieces has been selected for the Visual Art Scotland Annual Exhibition this week. A sneaky peak of one pair of earrings won't hurt (pictured above). I never know whether to call these my 'Snow Flower' or 'Summer Flower' earrings. I'll leave it up to you.The Exhibition starts on the 4th February.

The Roamin' Rockets charity Event which was postponed in December due to bad weather conditions is now going ahead next week on the 2nd February, 7.30-10.30pm at Cargo, Edinburgh. Tickets are £6. Hope you can make it along!

Well, I'm off home now to get ready for my first ever Burns Supper! I got there eventually after 14 years living in Scotland!

Bye for now

Dx

January Blue Bargains!

 'Vintage Mirror & Oval loop' pendant

Silver, iolites & moonstone

was £110 now £77

(until the end of Jan 2012 only)

'Vintage Mirror' Necklace

Silver & iolite

was £180 now £126

(until the end of January 2012)

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and managed to get a good break! This year was my first Christmas ever where I had a whole two week period off work. All I can say is AMAZING! Just staying in Edinburgh with friends and a short trip up to Aberdeen for Hogmanay was just perfect. Lots of wine was drunk and delicious food eaten!

So it's my first day back at the studio today and I'm faced with paper work and the dreaded tax return! Now, I'm sure there are many of you out there who are facing the same dreary first day back or you may have already been back and just want January to be over.

To do my bit in helping you beat the 'January Blues', I'm offering 30% off on these two beautiful blue stone pieces from my 'Vintage Mirror' range only until the end of January 2012. The pendant is available in 16", 18" or 20" length and the necklace is approximately 16.5" long. There is only one of each, so if you are interested, please email me or give me a call.

And so back to the books!

Donna xx

'Roamin' Rockets' Charity Event postponed

Unfortunately, due to high winds and bad weather, the 'Roamin' Rockets' Charity Event tonight has been postponed until January. Will let you know when a new date is decided.

Bye for now xx