Working with Sterling Silver & Cold Enamels

Over the last few weeks I've been busy practising my soldering skills using sterling silver sheet & metal. I finished making several sterling silver bangles which I sent off to be hallmarked at an assay office. I was so excited to get my jewellery pieces back officially hallmarked. I'm now working on my next set of bangles and rings which I will also send away to be hallmarked.

To add a little colour to my jewellery, I've wanted to try enamelling for ages, but I've read it's a little tricky, so I opted for a cold enamel kit which I've been testing out. I've had great fun with my cold enamels, and my soldering technique is also coming along.

I've only had 1 small accident while sawing some sterling silver sheet, when I left my hand in front of the saw and ended going through my finger. Ouch!! It wasn't too bad, but bad enough to learn to keep my fngers out of the way!!

I finished this ring a while ago also using sterling silver sheet for the heart and rectangle silver wire for the ring shank. This was my first ring using the cold emamels.

I've been a little side-tracked working with silver lately, although over the last few days I have been back on the case with my dichroic glass jewellery pieces. My next big craft fair is in September at Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre, so I really want to try and make as much as possible to take with me. My jewellery items are currently for sale in my ebay shop, so please come by and take a look.

Check out Chloe's Designs Online Ebay Shop

Father's Day: Sunday 21st June 2009

It' not long until Father's Day and if you are looking for that special gift this year, then why not check out some of my handmade gift ideas:

Handmade Glass Bowls Gift Boxed with Wrapped Werther's Sweets:

Click here to view the full range of glass bowls available.

These attractive glass bowls are handmade and one of a kind. All of the glass has been hand cut, so each bowl is different & unique. The glass bowls come gift boxed with a packet of wrapped Werther's sweets, making these the perfect present to give to someone special.

Handmade Dichroic Glass Cufflinks:

Click here to view the full range of Dichroic Glass Cufflinks Available.

These dichroic glass cufflinks come in a pretty silver gift box with a white cardboard sleeve.

Handmade Dichroic Glass Clocks:

Click here to view details about this clock.

This handmade clock includes dichroic glass and is one of a kind. The clock has a hook on the back so it can easily be hung on the wall and comes in a pretty gift box.

Don't forget Father's Day: Sunday 21st June 2009

Handmade Dichroic Glass Pendants

Here's a selection of my latest dichroic glass pendants which have been kiln fused. I hand cut all of my glass, so each pendant is unique and one of a kind. The pendants require several firings in the kiln before they are finished and can take several days to complete, but the final results are usually worth waiting for!

Shades of Blue & Green:

Rainbow Colours:

Bullet Shaped Pendants:

Hand Etched Pendants:

I have a wide range of pendants and other handmade dichroic glass jewellery available to buy now from my Ebay shop. If you would like a custom piece of jewellery making, please drop me an email to: anne@chloesdesigns.com

Click here to visit my Ebay Shop.

Fine Silver Jewellery made using Silver Art Clay

It was such a gorgeous day yesterday that I decided to take my work outside and finished polishing some of my latest handmade jewellery pieces. I have made these earrings & pendants using silver art clay which have been fired in my kiln leaving just .999 fine silver:

I have a couple more pieces waiting to be polished, so hopefully I will have some more pics soon. Just got these jewellery bits listed in my Ebay shop today, so please come take a look : - )

A couple of froggies in our pond .. enjoying the lovely sunshine...

Working on some new dichroic glass & silver jewellery pieces...

I've been wanting to make a sterling silver bangle for ages now, but my soldering skills are not the best. I havn't done much soldering, so I think I could do with a little training and lots of practise! I decided to jump right in and several soldering attempts later, I managed to solder a sterling silver bangle and also a matching ring. I wanted to keep the design fairly simple, to see if I could finish the bangle without noticing the join:

I don't think they are perfect ... but after alot of sanding and polishing, I was quite pleased with my first attempt and have decided I will keep the bangle for myself. I've ordered some more sterling silver wire this morning, so am eager to have another go!

I've also been working on some new dichroic glass jewellery gift sets. I have just finished these sets which feature pretty dragonflies:

I have been listing the sets pictured above plus some additional new pieces in my Ebay shop, so please come & take a look.

Back from my first craft fair of the year...

I've just finished doing my first craft fair of the year at Central Milton Keynes shopping centre. I arrived at the shopping centre last Wednesday evening to set up my jewellery & glassware stand which took several hours. The craft fair was on for 4 days and I really enjoyed myself. There was a good variety of stands to browse in the shopping centre and some really beautiful handmade gifts. Here's a picture of my stand just after setting up on the Wednesday...

I have been working on my display for some time now, and am alot happier with my lights. I bought a couple of 150 watt lights to hang over the back boards which worked very well. At about mid-day the sun would shine right onto my stand and that really did help make my dichroic glass jewellery sparkle : - )

I was so chuffed with all the lovely comments I received and was even more pleased when a couple of customers were wearing jewellery they had bought from me before. I sell my handmade glass pendants for £5.00 each or £9.99 on a sterling silver snake chain and they went down a treat.

I'm going to have a look for a few more craft fairs to do, but I am returning to Central Milton Keynes for their next Craft Fayre from the 3rd to the 6th September 2009. I have lots of ideas for some new jewellery pieces and am hoping to make my display look even better next time : - )

Getting ready for a craft fair

I have got my first craft fair of the year coming up next week. It's at Central Milton Keynes shopping centre in Middleton Hall and is on from Thursday 19th March to Sunday 22nd March 2009. I really hope it will be busy that weekend and I have been busy making lots of new dichroic glass jewellery pieces for Mother's Day.

There will be over 100 exhibitors in the hall, so a good variety of handmade crafts. I will be taking along all of my dichroic glass & silver jewellery plus my glass giftware pieces. I have lots of new handmade dichroic glass pendants, bangles, bracelets, brooches, necklaces, matching gift sets, cufflinks and more. The last couple of weeks have been really busy as I have been working on a new layout and getting some new display items. I hope it all comes together okay.

My stand will be by a shop called Woolfe. If you are in CMK between the 19th - 22nd March, please pop over and say hello.