7/3/2015
2015 ExhibitionsI am currently in a tizz. I am trying to get a new pieces designed and made for two exhibitions I will be attending in the next few months. Unfortunately, I wasn't organised enough to realise they run at the same time, so now I need TWO exhibitions' worth of pieces... argh panic! One of the pieces I am currently working on is a seahorse pendant. This piece has been inspired by a golden seahorse brooch I was given when I was little and which I really loved, but which I was horrified to discover was an actual REAL dried seahorse coated in some kind of gold leaf which eventually flaked off. My seahorse pendant is most definitely not real lol. He is created from sterling silver and will be set with topaz, peridot and green tourmaline - colours I've chosen to echo the sea. I've also been working on a new 'woodland' range of rings. These are gloriously chunky - my favourite kind of jewellery :) So far I have made the leaping hare with triangular blue moonstone and the soaring raven, also with triangular blue moonstone - can you guess I like blue moonstone? :) There will also be raven and black moonstone, badger and blue moonstone and fox and amber versions. I'd better get a shift on :) All designs and images are copyrighted to Cybersilver Jewellery Designs and remain our intellectual property.
4/12/2014
BFG Snow and Ice ShowcaseWell this month's BFG Showcase theme just had to be Christmassy so we unanimously chose Snow and Ice. I was inspired to make some 'Arctic' themed pieces - and doodled some designs for my magical polar bear and whale pendants. I chose some Canadian labradorite gemstones to use in the pendants specifically as they come from an Arctic region. I imagine that their beautiful labradoresence is what a frozen glacier must look like under the sea. According to Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador. A wandering Eskimo warrior found them and freed most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear, but some remained trapped inside the stone. They believed that it was these trapped lights which give Labradorite it's gorgeous colour and light. What a beautiful notion :) They took me a few days to complete. I like to add detail to my pieces and I put 100% into every piece I make. I pierced stars into the back of the stone settings and added a heart detail onto the back of each pendant. Making the chain that the labradorite hangs from on the whale was quite fiddly as the links are very small and I like to solder every link closed for security. I wanted the chains to have a suggestion of sparkling ice so I meticulously wire-wrapped eight silver beads with four clear crystal quartz beads in each chain. And finally they were finished ...... each pendant is constructed from thick sterling silver and measures approximately 40 x 40 mm. More amazing Snow and Ice themed handmade items are available from the BFG Monthly Showcase on Facebook.... Thanks for taking the time to read my post :)
10/10/2014
BFG 'Fight The Cull' Badger ShowcaseThis month I'm taking part in a Facebook showcase with other small businesses to help raise funds to fight the badger cull. BFG is a select collective of small businesses who run monthly showcases centred around a different theme each month. For October, the showcase is devoted to handmade items which are badger-related. 10% of all sales will go towards helping to fight the badger cull by purchasing items from Stop the cull's Amazon Wish list. I have designed this 'Ancient Badger' pendant as my contribution to the showcase. He is handmade from thick sterling silver pendant and on his body is depicted an ancient landscape to reflect the historic importance of our native badgers. He measures approximately 60 mm x 27 mm and hangs from an approximately 16 " sterling silver chain set with blue moonstone and labradorite beads, finished with a handmade silver clasp. The silver has been oxidised, brushed and waxed to highlight the detailing and protect the oxidisation. He comes gift boxed. This fantastic Badger Hooded Scarf is also featured in the album and has been entirely hand woven by the amazing Beth at LoomBin. The scarf is made from wool and alpaca mixed yarns in stripes of grey, black and cream and is very cosy and soft because of the this mix. In addition the hood is lined for extra comfort with lovely, soft, black jersey knit fabric to help combat cold. To see the whole range of amazing makes. please check out the BFG's 'Fight The Cull' Badger Showcase on Facebook :)
I'm taking part in an auction to raise much needed funds to help people with the skin condition, Ichthyosis. As you may know, this is a genetic skin disorder characterised by dry, scaling skin, for which there is no cure, or even treatment, as of yet. Lots of fantastic items have been donated by many different businesses. I have donated these striking and one-of-a-kind, chinese turquoise and sterling silver drop earrings. The auction takes place on the 23rd and 24th March and you can join in via the Crozier Family Facebook page. Check it out and maybe bag yourself a bargain whilst helping out a charity. Win, win :)
11/3/2014
How to make a simple flower pendantI recently made a simple copper flower pendant and thought you might like to see the processes and maybe give it a go yourself.... If you would like to see this video accompanied by some lovely Hawkwind, please check it out on my You Tube channel... Here I'd love to see your pendants if you decide to give it a try.....
28/2/2014
Phew.....Mr Fox is finally finishedI had had the idea for a playful Mr Fox pendant in my mind for ages and finally got around to starting him just before Christmas. I wanted him to be the most intricate and magical piece I had done so far, so I took my time working out his design and then drawing him onto the sheet of sterling silver. After I had pierced his shape out from the sheet, I soldered four small bezels for the stones on his body, one each on the three stars I had deliberately positioned along his body, and one where his eye would be. I also attached and soldered all the jump rings which would attach the chain and stars that would hang from his feet - a necklace is only as strong as it's weakest join so I always solder every jump ring in my pieces. I chose a ruby for his eye and two emeralds and a blue sapphire for the stars on his body. I love these stones, emeralds in particular, and I thought they were really fitting for such a fantastic creature. I love making chains, and Mr Fox's chain was going to be extra-special, so I chose genuine ruby and emerald beads to make it with, along with some small and larger solid silver beads. Much twisting of wire later and his chain was ready to attach. Once his chain was attached, I added the stars he is 'playing' with, to his feet, and after oxidising and waxing he was complete. My favourite piece so far :)
24/8/2013
Auction NewsStrawberry Tea Auction NewsWOW...the Mouse House Strawberry Tea Auction was a huge success, raising £714.74 for Breast Cancer Care. A really massive well done to everyone who bid on the items and to everyone who donated too. I'm sure there will be more Mouse House auctions for great causes in the future. Fife Rottweiler Rescue AuctionFor the second year running, I have decided to donate to the Fife Rottweiler Rescue Auction. I have a rescue Staffie myself and am very aware of how many unwanted dogs there are in Britain at the moment. Staffies and Rottweilers in particular get a bad press and they are both breeds who are most often abandoned and in need of good homes. Hopefully my 'Lasting Impression' pendant will help raise much needed funds for this fantastic rescue. The pendant features a silver paw print fused onto a 20 mm copper heart and is oxidised and waxed. It hangs from a matching oxidised solid copper ball chain. I love the effect of the fusing - it's like a cast from a paw print in the mud:)
There are some great items to bid on so please check out their event. The auction is under way and is taking place on Facebook until the 9th September 2013 - Fife Rottweiler Rescue Auction I am taking part in a charity event this month to raise money for a very worthy cause - breast cancer awareness. This auction, being run via Facebook, has been organised by a fantastic group of crafters, makers and small businesses collectively known as Mouse House, and has been given a 'strawberry tea' theme. There has been a fantastic assortment of items already donated, including gorgeous hand-made bags, cushions, baskets, jewellery and much more. The auction will run from the 12th to the 18th of August, and it would be fantastic if you could join us and maybe even share the event...the more people taking part the better:) I have donated two pieces, each made exclusively for the auction and, therefore, with a strawberry theme. Hope you like them..... A torch-fired enamelled copper strawberry pendant with silver seeds. Hangs from an 18" oxidised solid copper ball chain. Sterling silver strawberry drop earrings. Oxidised, brushed and waxed. Please join the auction page on Facebook to see the fantastic items on offer.....MOUSE HOUSE STRAWBERRY TEA BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AUCTION Thanks XX
10/6/2013
What A Brilliant WeekWell this past week has been absolutely brilliant. On Saturday the 1st, I ran my first-ever give-away, which had a fantastic response. Emmalene was the lucky winner of these pretty sterling silver and amethyst earrings. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and will be running more give-aways and deals exclusively for my newsletter subscribers.....so stay tuned :) More great news followed on Wednesday when I learned that I had won the Cookson Gold 'The Wacky and the Wonderful' Design Competition with my Etched Copper and Silver Raven Pendant. I was really stunned to have won the month-long competition, not only because there were some amazing entries, but also because I entered at the last minute and was debating whether it was too late to enter or not!
This pendant has really been a labour of love for me. I had been wanting to make it for so long and I'm happy to say that it turned out even better than I had imagined it would. And even more good news followed the same day, when it was purchased by a lady who it really could have been made for..... so, as I write, it is now winging it's way to the good ol' US of A. All images and designs are copyrighted and remain the intellectual property of Cybersilver Jewellery Designs
10/6/2013
The making of 'The Raven'Well, it was epic! Probably the most involved piece I have made, but I think it was worth it :) I've used lots of different techniques, and it took a lot of time...especially soldering each and every link of the chain. I drew my design onto think 18 gauge copper sheet. Crows and Ravens are my favourite birds, and after some research I chose the Raven for my pendant because they have a curved, rather than flat tail, which I think makes a more flowing silhouette. Cutting thick copper into an intricate design is not as easy as you might think, so, many blades and a bit of cursing later, I had my design cut...plus an extra piece I thought might be nice for some added 'movement'. Then to choose stones :) I decided on a lovely mix of colour from 5 garnets, 2 turquoise, 1 citrine, 2 amethysts, 2 green onyx, and 1 lapis lazuli. So I had to make 13 fine silver bezels .... ......and then I etched the copper. This involves applying a 'resist' to the areas you want to remain untouched and then suspending the copper in an etching solution which eats away the areas of bare copper. I wanted an 'organic' uneven etch so used a resist which would also be affected by the etch, but at a much slower rate. Etching take time and you have to check regularly that the 'bite' isn't getting too deep. When you're happy with how it looks, it has to be neutralised to stop any further reaction. When the etch had been neutralised and the copper pickled, which involves cleaning the metal in a mild acid solution, the bezels were ready to solder in place. And then to make the chain. Because I wanted to make every part of this pendant, I chose to make the chain, rather than add a bought one. I also wanted the chain to be strong and robust, so I decided to solder each and every link. So I made a LOT of copper links and soldered them together.... ....and because I wanted the chain to be an interesting part of the overall design, not just the part the pendant hangs from, I shaped each and every link. After assembling the pendant, it was time to set the stones. This took some doing...setting thirteen stones takes a fair bit of time, and because I wanted to add extra sparkle, I faceted each bezel. This means that I added angles around the bezel for light to reflect off. After oxidising, burnishing and waxing, it was done. An epic journey but one I'm looking forward to repeating. 'Raven' is a one-off design, so there won't ever be another, but I've got plenty more ideas in the pipeline :) All images and designs are copyrighted and remain the intellectual property of Cybersilver Jewellery Designs |