K S Jewellery Designs giveaway!

Ok so at the moment I do seem to be only posting about other people's giveaways, but I promise I'll be back after my exams! K S Jewellery Designs is giving away a gorgeous spiral loop pendant, and all you have to do is pick your favourite item from her etsy shop at K S Jewellery Designs and then comment on her blog! (It's actually very difficult as her designs are LUSH!)

Brilliant giveaway!

Just a quick one to pass on the news about this great giveaway! Junk Mammas are giving away some brilliant loot, and now I've got another blog to read!

Ollee

Bad blogger!

I have been terrible with this blogging lark haven't I! Been so busy caught up with end of year university stuff that I haven't had time to breathe, let alone make jewellery! Anyway, here are the final three mother's day commissions:



Apologies for the TERRIBLE photos, but you get the idea. Angela at the bottom, the necklace sits on the collarbone nicely, and is made from sterling, amber and carnelian.

Leah- not sure of this one!

Third in a series of commissions- Leah.



I'm not really sure how I feel about this one, I'll look at it and think it's gorgeous and perfectly suited to the recipient one minute, the next minute I'll be panicking and not knowing if it's good enough! It's gone now anyway, so I can't do anything about it, but the general consensus of opinion is that it's good, so I guess I should stop worrying about it.

Anyway, the details. Bali silver, sodalite, Swarovski and czech firepolish. Representing Kismet and a calm soothing energy (not that I believe in crystal energy, but I quite like the symbolism).

Feeling quite down today, not entirely sure why. I know I should get the beads out and finish the necklace for the Angela commission, but...I don't know, it's just not there today. The sun has gone in and I'm feeling a bit lost, I'm tempted to roll myself up in my duvet and just sit watching films all night (except I've got to go to Barry's tonight, so that plan of action is out). Oh well, hope for a better day tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,

Colleen

Life and such

Well, I got half a jewellery commission done! I ran out of components halfway through so had to order some more and just hope they'll arrive by Saturday! So, without further ado, presenting half of Angela:



There's a matching necklace still to come, but for now- amber (ovals and rounds), paired with faceted carnelian rondelles to bring out the colour of the amber and give a bit of weight to the necklace. These are interspersed with sterling silver spacers to add a bit of sparkle. I stayed away from crystal this time, I didn't want it to look too geometric and I certainly didn't want any hard angles messing with the organic texture of the amber and carnelian.



I really love these clasps. I'm not fond of fancy clasps really, although they definitely have their place (you just know I only don't use them because I can't do them justice!) but I do have a passion for clean, simple toggle clasps. Plus you can actually do them up by yourself, which is always a bonus.

Must get outside with the camera now that spring appears to have sprung! The light is so perfect for photographing jewellery. I'm impressed with how well these came out, especially considering I took them one handed!

Anyway, I'm in a fantastic mood today. I handed in my draft research project, so I can stop worrying about it for a couple of weeks! It's been a constant source of panic attacks and sleepless nights, as well as hair-tearing frustration, but finally, it's gone! I feel like a giant weight has been lifted from over my head. That's not to say I don't have lots and lots of work still to do, but the coursework is gone so I can now chug through it with no deadlines interrupting me. It was a perfect day for handing it in. Glorious sunshine followed me as I raced to university in my beetle (blasting out classic dance tunes, with the window down- nothing better!). Came home to the tune of classic Aerosmith, and I haven't felt this good in weeks! Considering I was in fits of tears last night, it feels good.

I am slightly worried that I may have overstretched myself with commissions however, I've got two complete commissions still to do, a necklace to finish to go with the bracelet I've shown you, and an iron in the fire regarding a very special birthday present for the girlfriend of one of my best friends. I was quite impressed- he showed her some jewellery (a Miriam set-In Blue), and she fair demanded that he needed to commission me for her birthday! It's going to have to be fairly spectacular, she makes jewellery herself and if there's anything more nervewracking than a commission, it's a commission for a fellow jewellery maker!

Anyway, hopefully my next post will bring two and a half more sets for you to cast your eye over!

Thanks for reading,

Colleen

Mother's day commissions

So, they're not actually made yet (I know, I know) but I'm very excited at the thought of being able to post some photographs that don't contain just varying colourways of the Miriam series! The customers are my usual suspects- Matt and Sean. Sean's mum has had a difficult year and we both want her to have something extra special for mother's day, so I'm giving a bit of a discount and doing a pendant as well as some earrings, in sodalite and some gorgeous bali silver. Matt wants something simple in dark red, so I'm working with garnet for the first time, and some more bali silver! I think I'm obsessed with it. I have to admit I'm pretty happy to be moving away from the Miriam sets for a while. I do want to make some more, as they're my signature range, but just not for a little while yet.

Once all the money rolls in from these commissions I'll also have enough to open a business bank account with! I'm quite excited about that, having a bank card with my business name on it makes it sound more legitimate somehow.

I really do need to find a better background for my photos though. The kitchen worktop is mock granite, and is gorgeous, but not quite matte enough. Got to be a sunny day to get enough light in there to avoid the use of the flash and avoid glare! I can't recall who, but one of the lovelies I follow (blogwise, not stalkerwise!) got some lovely slate from b and q, I might have to have a mosey down there and have a look.

Anyway, I'll post photos of the commissions later this week hopefully, can't wait!

Thanks for reading,

Colleen

Another commission finished!

Oh so much to talk about! So after my previous post I put a lot of photographs of my jewellery up on facebook, and a friend commissioned me to make her a necklace and earring set- the metal swirlies. After a discussion with my best friend, we've decided to call them Miriam. So, here is Miriam In Blue:



As always, sterling silver wire and chain, paired with Sapphire swarovski crystals. Fingers crossed that Charli likes it!

I'm preparing the forms to become self employed, I'm looking at a start date of the beginning of March, so I'd only have to do a month's worth of accounts. Good practice for the full year I guess! I must get on top of the accounts and cataloguing. I guess the best part is that all my stock should count as opening capital, so I can't possibly lose out!

Seeing as I got paid recently, I had a wee spending spree on The Silver Corporation. I've decided to start making stud earrings. I've got some lovely, but tiny, cabochons and some epoxy glue, so I've ordered a few more cabs and some earring backs, can't wait to get started! Already got an idea for the packaging so all that remains is to actually make the things. Even if they don't sell, well I like wearing stud earrings so I'll just have lots of funky pairs.

I was ever so chuffed to see I have two followers this morning! Hello lovelies!