Fine silver rings I made this week...

I wanted to show off these fine silver rings that I finished making this week. The ring on the far left also includes dichroic glass. I made the glass piece from several layers of bullseye fusing glass and dichroic glass. There are actually 2 layers of dichroic glass, so you get an array of colours including reds, pinks, oranges, blues, yellows, purples, greens. Unfortunately it's so difficult to capture a photo showing all these colours. The colours sparkle as the light hits it and can constantly be reflecting different colours. It will certainly draw peoples attention to it as the ring sparkles away.
I have made all 3 rings using silver art clay. This is also available as precious metal clay, or PMC. Silver art clay is tiny particles of real fine pure silver mixed an organic binder. I've got a Skutt kiln which I just love. I've got my own timed programme I use for firing silver clay which will burn off the organic binder leaving you with 99.9% fine silver (or .999 fine silver).
.925 Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% pure fine silver and 7.5% of other metals usually copper.
My own personal favorite ring is the middle one. I like the way the grooves are darker and stand out more. I've just listed all 3 rings in my Etsy shop. Click here if you would like to take a closer look.

The Magic of Paint Shop Pro

I thought I would show off some pictures I have taken and then jazzed up using Paint Shop Pro. The picture on the left is the original picture I took...
The cream cat is our own cat Chloe, and the black cat is a stray that we have named Bramble. It was probably a bad idea naming the stray as I'm sure he thinks he lives here! Paint Shop Pro is just great though for creating really cool banners and graphics and for creating special effects.

I've just joined the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy

I was recently contacted by another seller on Etsy recommending the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy. (http://www.cgge.org/) I'd not heard of this website before and immediately went for a look. The seller that contacted me was FormFire Glassworks who has some absolutely stunning pieces of glass lampwork in their shop. (http://www.formfireglassworks.etsy.com/)

The cgge has promoted some lovely work on their website and feature additional information about Etsy sellers too. They also have their own forum covering many different issues. I immediately sent a request to become a member and have just received my membership confirmation this week which I am really thrilled about. I've discovered so many glass shops since joining the cgge. It's always amazing to come across so many different shops with glass, and each shop is unique and has their own feel, own style, and their own creation. That's exactly what I've been trying to do with my Etsy shop. I think that some of my jewellery pieces are a little bizairre... but hey, I guess it's still my very own creation and no-one else will have one!

Please take a moment to browse on the CGGE website. You will definately find lots of beautiful glass pieces on there & lots of interesting information.

Here's just a few pieces from my own Etsy shop. The stripey earrings were my first cool creation by accident. I made them with 1mm glass stringers, and Bullseye fusing glass. The plan was to make a small bowl, but something went wrong and I ended up breaking the glass into smaller pieces. I fired the smaller pieces again with some clear glass over the top, and they came out like little droplets. I thought they would make a lovely pair or earrings.

The Refuge - Auction to raise funds for animal welfare.

I was contacted by a friend the other day that helps run http://www.therefuge.org.uk/. I have copied the message I received as it explains what they do really well...
'The Refuge is an animal welfare and rehoming internet forum which has over 2,000 active members and in the last 2 years raised over £30,000 which went directly to different animal rescue charities and organisations, both in the UK and abroad. Our most successful fundraisers are online auctions, where members donate and bid for items with all proceeds going to rescue.
In order to try and make this auction as successful as possible and of course to benefit two very worthy causes, I am writing to ask whether you might be able to donate an item to our auction. No matter how big or small, all items donated will go a long way towards helping animals in need and by way of a thank you, we will of course publicise your company on the forum, we average 800 – 900 posts per day and around 2.8k page views per day which will rise considerably during the auction period. Our own members are donating items and all the staff on the forum are running the auction in their own time. '
I have just donated the glass necklace pictured above which will be in the auction. The auction starts on the 8th May: http://www.rykat.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=37864
I think this is such a great cause that I just had to blog about it. If you are interested in donating an item for their auction, I'm sure the people at The Refuge would love to hear from you.
http://www.therefuge.org.uk/

I'm featured on Etsy Favorites Blog

My dichroic blue glass bangle has just been featured on Robin Lynne's Etsy Favorites Blogspot which I am really chuffed about. Robin also has an Etsy shop selling handmade one of a kind jewellery & other baubles which is just gorgeous. Click here to check out Robin's Etsy shop.

My dichroic blue glass bangle is currently for sale in my Etsy shop priced at $38.00. I have several other dichroic glass bangles in my shop aswell as necklaces, pendants, jewellery gift sets, fine silver rings, sterling silver adjustable rings, earrings and bracelets.

Derbyshire Craft Fair, Matlock on Sun 4th May 2008

I will be having another table at the Derbyshire Craft Fair in Matlock in May. The fair is being held on Sunday 4th May at The Whitworth Centre in Darley Dale, Matlock. There will be a variety of crafts for sale. I am going to have my handmade jewellery and some glassware items on my table. If your in the area, please pop in and say hello. The organiser Paula had a craft fair at this venue in February which I also did. It was a fabulous day and attracted many visitors including the local newspaper.... (newspaper pic is on one of my blog posts below!!)
I'm also thinking about doing a jewellery party. I've been reading some write ups from people that have had jewellery parties and they seem to go down really well. I've just emailed some friends to ask for their feedback. I feel completely at ease hosting a party and showing off my jewellery, and talking about it, but not all that great getting a good crowd together to begin with. If anyone has any advise, I'd love to hear from you : - )

Just made these glass earrings this week...

I just finished making these dichroic glass earrings this week and I am really pleased with them. I've called them 'Rainbow Twizzler Earrings' and just added them to my etsy shop.
They are made with 2mm black glass and some pretty coloured rainbow dichroic glass. The glass has been layered together and then fused in a kiln. I have left the dichroic glass exposed which gives it this lovely vibrant colourful effect. You can fuse clear glass over the top which would give you a really glossy finish, but I love this this particular dichro glass being exposed on it's own.
I've put them on sterling silver ear hooks and the bails are also sterling silver.
www.chloesdesigns.etsy.com

www.mycamper.co.uk... Posters, Tshirts, Gift Cards & more

I thought it was about time I mentioned my other work that I do. I originally started this blog to talk about my jewellery & glassware. However, my work originally started many years ago with Volkswagen Camper vans. We bought our first VW splitscreen campervan a few years ago and have been to many shows and even travelled as far as Rome one year. I started to make posters and prints to hang on our wall and decided I would try and sell some of them on ebay. I was very pleased when they started to sell : - ) I've recently added in mens and ladies t-shirts aswell as gift cards and framed prints. All of the photography and artwork has been done by myself. I have A4, A3+ and A1 posters available. Come and check out my website at www.mycamper.co.uk