Helloooo!

Long time no speak!

This is a short post here, just to let you all know that I now have a blog at

http://www.rebeccacrabtree.blogspot.com/

I'd be grateful if you would follow me over there as I will be making that my main blog.  Keeping a blog for each area of my businesses is proving a headache!  So the new one is all about me and whatever creative things I'm working on, be it new classes for Fired Silver, new jewellery for my own site or new things at Tiny Charms

See you there!

Haydock Park Bead Fair

It was the Haydock Park bead fair today, and I got to go as a shopper this year!!

Because it is dangerous for me to be let loose at a bead fair, I literally ran in bought what I "needed", chatted to a few friends and left again!! I was only there about an hour!

So, here are my essential purchases

This is a Titanium Drusy Cabochon, and I love it!! It's a really pretty bronze colour and very reflective as you can see!!  Lots of pink hues in it too.

I may be slightly addicted to these!

Now this one is really girly and thats unlike me!  Bright Pink - it must be summer.

These will be made into jewellery soon - I'm hoping one of them will fit into a Masters Registry project I have in mind, so you won't see that one for a while!

Of course, I couldn't pay a visit to a bead fair without hunting down some lampwork!  There were less lampworkers there this year which I thought was surprising, but I still bought a corker of a bead

Its a devil to photograph, but its a beautiful transparent purple with gold fuming.  I absolutely adore it.

Anyone got a fairy???

I could really do with a fairy to come in and blitz my job list!! So if any of you can lend me your job fairy that'd be great!!

This weekend I will sort out my webpage listing for the PMC Starter Kits - yes this has been an ongoing saga, but they're finally ready.  I'll be offering a couple of different level of kits, with basic tool kits starting at £25.  I wanted to include the best quality tools so that you don't waste money on cheaper versions which then need to be replaced.

Also top of my job list now is to re-write the PMC Certification pages on my website.  I put the exisiting pages up as a temporary measure so that everyone could see what the modules covered.  I'm trying to get sample pieces made up so that there will be at least one photo example against every project.  But at 20 projects in total that isn't going to happen overnight!!

Hopefully I'll have a couple of pictures for you over the weekend if I get to finish some of the sample pieces.

exciting new stock

I'm still furiously working on new products for the website.  I want the webshop to contain a really good selection of products, but I don't want to stock products just for the sake of it!  So, all the products I stock are things I use myself.

I've got a whole new range of cutters on the way which is really exciting.  The reason I haven't stocked them in the past was because I couldn't find a range that I was happy with - I hate cutters with big seams because then you have to sand/repair.

The cutters that are on the way are beautifully made - in the UK, yay!

Easter Break

Happy Easter everyone.  Hope you've all eaten too much chocolate!!

I've been taking a well earned break from the computer!  The last month or so has seen me working constantly on my website design, ebay or etsy listings and I was getting to burnout with it all!

So what have I been doing?  Obviously spending time with my family, and trying to get back on track with my creative side which has been very neglected lately.  I've started making up some sample pieces for the PMC Certification Modules.  So far, I've been leaf painting, ring making and mould making!  I'd forgotten just how therapeutic I find leaf painting!

I've also been having a first play with Art Clay Copper - just made some really simple pieces as tests.  They all need to be fired now. I even let my 4 year old loose with the copper!  She's made 2 pendants herself, and seems to be a natural!!

PMC Certification Classes

Another bit of exciting news is that I have become one of The PMC Studio's Area Training Centres.  This means that I am now able to offer PMC Certification classes at my studio.

This is really exciting.  In the past I had looked into offering Art Clay certification classes, but after doing Art Clay Level 1 certification I changed my mind and decided for various reasons it wasn't for me.  So I stuck to my guns and carried on teaching as I always had, because I believe in doing something that you believe in.

When the chance arose for me to teach PMC Certification, I knew it was right for me.  The new modules are great and cover a really good range of techniques.  I believe they really set you up with good quality training and knowledge.

My website now has details of the projects covered, and also a calendar of classes available for the rest of 2010.  I can't wait to get started!

Remeber Me??!!

I know, I know I've been hopeless at blogging recently but that'll change now I promise!

There has been a lot going on here at Fired Silver HQ!  Probably too much to write about in one post, and certainly at this time of night, but I will update you fully over the next few days - promise!

News Item No 1 - A number of weeks ago, I took over all the stock from a company called Craftgemz.  I have been a customer of their's for a number of years and they stocked the most gorgeous range of fireproof gems to use in PMC and Art Clay.  When I found out they were closing, the opportunity to buy all of their stock was just too fabulous to turn down!!

So a number of weeks later and I've finally finished sorting and bagging the stones - over 40,000 of them!  I've got most of them uploaded on the website now and you can see them on the Gemstones page of my website.  I hope to get the rest of the stock uploaded over the next few days.

More news to follow............................

Coming out the other side

I think we are finally starting to get over the horrid bug we've had here. Don't get me wrong, I still feel like death warmed up! But I'm getting to the stage now where in my head, I feel like doing things, even though my body isn't quite there yet!

I thought I'd cheer myself up a bit today, so I've had a bit of a lazy morning, followed by some housework!  Now I know that doesn't sound like something to cheer yourself up, but the state of the house, having been inhabited by 3 poorly people was starting to get to me LOL!!  So now I'm feeling a bit happier, I'm going to move onto the thing that'll really cheer me up - PMC!!  I probably won't get any clay out today, but I do need to get on with creating some templates that I need and creating a pattern for a photopolymer plate.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Positive

So, a friend told me she was taking part in Word of the Year.  I decided it'd be fun - I don't do resolutions.  So, I picked the word "positive".

I am the Queen of deciding I can't do something even before I've started or thinking too much about something rather than just getting on with it.  I'm a month in and so far, its been quite helpful!  I know this may sound daft, but just reminding myself to be positive and get on with it has really helped me.

Why am I writing about this today?  Well, I've been unwell this week, so has my hubby and my little girl.  We've all been at home, no school, no work.  I've already had time off since the New Year when I had a migraine which wiped me out for a few days, and now a week off.  We're feeling really rubbish and run down, and I've realised today that my "positivity" has vanished!!

So, writing it all down may help, hopefully after 5 days of this we're through the worst and we'll all be back to normal soon.

New Additions to the Shop

This has been a job on my list FOREVER! As well as supplying a range of clay, I've wanted to stock my shop with a range of good quality tools at the best possible prices. So I've been trawling the web, dealing with manufacturers, and I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere!  There's a long way to go with some of the things I want to source and it seems to take forever for some of the companies to come back to me, which is totally infuriating.

This clay shaping tool is one of my most used tools, I love 2 tools in one, because you never have enough hands!!

I've managed to reduce the price of this tool by £1.00

Another double ended tool, this one is SHARP! I use mine to cut out freehand shapes from wet clay and also to scrape away at unwanted dry clay.  This one has been reduced by £1.70

I'm on a mission to find the best value tools I can now! Its becoming quite addicitive LOL!

These tools are up on the website now HERE

Masters Registry - initial thoughts

Initial thoughts may be slightly mis-leading given that I've been registered since April 2009!!  Maybe it should be latest thoughts LOL!

I've mapped out which 10 projects I'm going to attempt for Level 1 - actually I've mapped out all 5 levels!! They are not set in stone though and I'm happy to change along the way. I wanted to make sure that I got a good spread of projects.  I know what I'm like, I'll wimp out and leave all the tricky ones until last and then never finish!

I've started the design work on my first project and so far i'm really pleased with my progress. Of course I haven't actually "made" anything yet!!  I'm learning to be restrained and to only open my pack of silver when I actually know what I'm making and how it all fits together!

Enamelling

There's a number of topics I could've blogged about today!!  But I chose this Grains of Glass

I saw a link to this site on Joy Funnell's blog yesterday and went over and joined the group.  It seems like a great place to hang out - lots of information on enamelling and some GORGEOUS pictures to drool over!

I'm hoping to really advance my enamelling techniques this year so this is going to be a valuable resource for me I'm sure!

Just one of the lovely pieces in Trish White's photo album on Grains of Glass, a gorgeous copper bowl:

Masters Registry

So with the "no selling in 2009" decision a few weeks behind me, how do I feel now about it?  I still feel that I've made the right decision for me. Phew!!

Back to the subject in hand - Masters Registry

I am making a serious start on the Masters Registry and to say that it's challenging is an understatement!  I am in no rush to get through all the levels.  I've had a good think about what I want to get out of this - and its to build a collection of work that I am proud of. So if it takes me the next 10 years of my life then so be it LOL!!  Although I hope it doesn't take that long!

I regsitered for the Masters Registry back in April 2009 and have just had no time to really devote to it.  That has been one of the major influences in how I structure 2010 - I really want to progress and challenge myself, the MR will certainly do that!

So, full steam ahead with the MR!!

Clearout Sale

So, the important bit first - I'm having a clearance sale on my website, here's a LINK

The next thing is - Why?  Well, as you know I've been re-designing my website and I will be concentrating on building that up and teaching workshops.  Add to that my day jobs and I won't have time for much else!!

I am going to ensure that I have creative time, but I don't want that time to be clouded with having to make to sell.  I am doing a lot of work on my design skills and expanding my skills and I'm having fun with that.

I don't want to have this stock just sitting around, so I've decided to just clear it all out.  There are bargains to be had and they're going fast because its 50% off!

Bring it on....

Happy New Year to all of you.

I don't make resolutions, but I do have a plan for 2010 for both personal and business.  I know that this year will be another hard one, but I'm ready for it.  My focus will very much be on my day job for the next 6 months at least as I'll be working pretty much full time.  Everything else will fit in during the evenings and weekends.

So what does this mean for Fired Silver?  Well, I will continue to teach a full program of classes as these are weekends anyway.  I won't be able to get to the studio as much, so i will be taking a small assortment of tools home. 

In all honesty, I will probably still end up making as much as I do now (cos it hasn't been very much!), but I will be much more focussed during the time that I do have.

So, I wish you all the very best for the coming year, and here's to a creative and happy year for all of us.

Wowee!

Wowee, aren't I being a good little blogger!!

Last night I did a bit more tinkering with the website and now I've managed to get my blog to feed in to the home page!!  Quite an achievement for me!

Not so much to report today as I've had a day off with my mum and my little girl.  A bowling competition on the Wii with the 3 generations!!

A great design idea has been worked out today though after a conversation with my mum, so watch this space....

New website live

As usual impatience gets the better of me!!  I decided to just upload the new look website and add to it from there!

So I hope you like the new look - Fired Silver

It needs lots of pictures and a new banner but i'm sooo much happier with the focus on this site now.

The new look webshop is active too, although I've only put the Art Clay products up for sale at the moment - Fired Silver Online Shop

So I have a LOT of work to do!!  I've just sat and gone through each page and written a list of the jobs that need doing - lets just say its a pretty long list LOL!

Changes for 2010

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and I'm sure many of you out there are looking to 2010 now and planning your resolutions.

I don't make resolutions, but I do try to write down achievements that I want to strive for during the year.

In order to get one of my achievements, I'm having a re-hash of my website Fired Silver The site will now be for Tuition, Supplies and Tutorials only.  All of my jewellery will be for sale on a separate website, which I'll be developing this year.

Here's a sneak peak of the home page so far - New Home Page I still need to add a banner, and some piccies, but the essence of what the site is for is there.

I'm already working on my first tutorial. It is my plan that some of the tutorials will be free and some will be paid for, and I will also be building up the Resources page with lots of information.

There are also lots of new class dates listed on the site HERE 

Finally, thank you all for stopping by and supporting me during 2009, and I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

....and relax

That's that then!  All of the fairs are now finished for me for this year.  I have really enjoyed getting out there this year and showing my work.  It is completely nerve wracking but enjoyable!

I have a couple of lessons next week, but then I'm taking a break until January.  My little girl has 3 weeks holiday from school so I'm going to play mummy - I can't wait!!

I will working behind the scenes still, i'm writing new content for the website and the studio needs a really good clear out!  I'm sure I'll manage to fit in some creative time too ;o)

I'll leave you with a picture of one of my favourite makes over the last few weeks:

Some gorgeous twisted beads by Becky Fairclough and a bit of chainmaille by me!!

Its that time of year ....

where everything else goes out of the window in order to prepare for Christmas Fairs!

I have been pretty poor at blogging (amongst lots of other things), but I've come to realise thats just the way it has to be for now.

I've made a stack of earrings for the fairs, mostly stud earrings - some just silver, some silver with resin.  I've also got a couple of necklace/earring sets together and maybe 2 pendants.

This is NOT enough!! 

I will try and get some pictures up of the work I've finished so far.  I've been faffing around with new backgrounds for my pictures, so it'll be a chance to test them out!  I might try and get a trip down to the workshop tomorrow ;o)