time for an update

Whilst sitting on the floor last night attempting to see what I could add to my blog (as it has been quite sometime since my last update!). My cat - Buster - who I'd long forgotten was on the chair behind me, quietly does a little reshuffle & curls up a little closer to me, gently stretching his paw out to rest on my shoulder. Not so relevant to my crafty capers, but it was a very sweet moment...

my favourite ring

I had this idea to make a ring with an open design.  It was a loose idea that progressed into the following final object.

Below are the key concepts/factors which helped me determine the final piece:

• It had to be an organic looking design/shape.
• As silly as it sounds, I was sick of gunk building up under the face of other rings.  I wanted something that would let my skin breathe underneath.  Hence the open face design.
• I really liked the idea of using skin as a design feature, in much the same way that a gemstone is used.
• ...plus a little luck (as always).

silver brooch

...day at the markets

New knitting project... the result of walking into a store called 'wooladdiction'!!!

work in progress...

Sometimes I enjoy filing & find it to be most relaxing.  At other times, I wonder why I didn't file back the design when it was in its original, relatively soft clay form.  But no, I realise in hindsight that the design is marginally too think & am required to spend a fair amount of time filing it back in its newly formed silver state.  

There is still about another 2mm to file back before it is ready to have an earring post added to the back... the teeny silver filings sprawled all over my desk are however, a nice temporary byproduct.  Easing the pain of filing by a small fraction...

Russian wedding ring

The first project in my new jewelry class.