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!

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.

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

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.

Gorgeous Bracelet

I love seeing what happens to my components after they've been sent to their new home!

Yesterday, I saw this gorgeous bracelet which has one of my hammered sterling silver toggle clasps on and I just had to share it with you all

The bracelet is made by Wendy of Creeky Beads using her own lampwork glass beads.  The fact it is in my favourite colour blue probably helps!!!

FHFTeam Pick of the Week

I'm a member of the Frit Happens Forum Etsy Team (fhfteam if you're searching for us on Etsy!).  We have our own blog and this week one of our members (Jo, Kitzbitz)has picked out her Pick of the Week - Gifts.

I am pleased to say that I'm included!!   Jo has selected a pair of my nest earrings - these have been really popular at my last few events, I think the v-wires are really attracting people this season.

Please check out the rest of our team's shops on Etsy - you can find a complete listing HERE there really are some fabulous pieces of work available from our members at the moment.

Tiny Charms

I haven't been very good at blogging lately have I - I really must try harder!

Things are really busy here at the moment - I'm hopefully creating a new business that will continue to grow and generate a regular income for me.  That business is Tiny Charms, I have been creating keepsake jewellery for friends and family for a few years now, but have never made it a proper business.  As news was spreading around friends of friends, the inevitable question of "have you got a website?" kept coming up, and so I decided it really was time to do something about it!!

It has been a lot of work to get it to the stage its currently at, and its nowhere near finished!  I hope to have the full fingerprint range up this week.  Then I'll move on to the art ranges and hand/foot print ranges.

Of course, me being the way I am, having just the basic ranges isn't enough for me!  I will be adding a designer collection as well.  I have lots of ideas bubbling around for designs, but they'll just have to wait!

I knew that when I launched this site, I'd want to work with some charities, so I will be donating a percentrage of my profits to FSID and Tommy's.  Both charities fit in really well with Tiny Charms, and the FSID in particular is important to me personally, so I'm really happy to be able to give something to them.

I have set up a Tiny Charms Blog and I could really do with some followers!  Please if you think this may be of interest to you, or people that you know, pass the link on.  The more business I can generate, the more money goes to the charities.

Capesthorne Hall

I am really thrilled to be attending the Christmas at Capesthorne Hall event.  I'll be selling my jewellery, but I'll also be demonstrating how to use PMC.

Capesthorne Hall is a beautiful Jacobean style country house, set in 100 acres.

The fair is taking place on Friday 27th November 6.00pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November 1.30pm - 5.00pm.

So please come along and visit and don't forget to say hi to me!

The Art of Design

I had a fabulous day yesterday, I had a visitor at the studio - Becky of Chameleon Designs. She is such a lovely person and extremely talented.

We spent some time talking about Design. This is an area I'm not ashamed to say I struggle with. However, after a great chat with Becky I feel much more comfortable with the whole topic, that's not to say I completely "get" it, I think its too big a subject for one conversation, but I at least know in my mind some of the principles.

So, I've ordered myself a new sketchbook!


This is about to be filled with all sorts of inspiration - doodles, pictures, colours, patterns etc.


I think I may have found a new passion - buying sketchbooks! I really enjoyed browsing the handmade marketplaces looking for this book, and I could've bought lots more!





I'm busy preparing for the Made by Mummy event on Thursday 8th October 2009, in Wilmslow. I've been so busy preparing for The Big Bead Show at Sandown, that I kind of got side tracked and hadn't been making jewellery! I had a good day at the studio today though and did get some earrings made and a few pendants part-made.

Hopefully I'll get time to take some photos of the finished jewellery before it goes to the show.

New Etsy Listings

I've been busy today - photographing and listing on Etsy. My brain hurts now!

Here's a peek at some of the listings

That's enough for now! Off for a well deserved cuppa and biscuit!

Almost ready for Beads up North

I thought I'd take a break from my preparations to remind you all, that it's Beads up North tomorrow!



I'm about to head back out to the studio to get the last lot of bronze work out of the kiln. I'll then be spending the rest of the night bagging and displaying everything.



After the fair, next week I'll be concentrating on photograpy for my Etsy store. I have really expanded the range of headpins I sell and so need to get those listed. As well as silver, I'll now have a range of bronze and copper.

Once the Etsy shop is re-stocked I'll then be concentrating on expanding my range of components. I'm quite looking forward to next week - being creative, but without the pressure of a show.

A week to go...

....until Beads up North.

This is the second time I've exhibited here, and I learnt a lot from my last experience. The main area of improvement has been packaging - I've worked hard to create new display/information cards that will be on the table.

Also, deciding that the components will become part of my range of items has helped me to totally focus and I've been busy at the studio, creating what I think is starting to become a range rather than just a select few pieces.

I am pleased with progress so far, and I think the kiln will be working hard this week to get everything ready in time!

Don't forget if you're near to Haydock Park on the 2nd August, pop along and say hi. Here's the website - Beads up North

My thoughts on working with Bronze & Copper

A number of people have asked me about my thoughts on these new clays, so here you go!

Initially I started using Bronzclay. For someone who's used to working with silver clay, getting 100g of clay to play with is fantastic! I certainly feel that the nervousness you get when you're new to clay work and are given a little bit of silver to work with disappears when you're presented with a good size lump of bronze or copper. I am seriously thinking that new students would benefit from the beginners bronze class first rather than beginners silver - just because of the freedom to experiment a bit more.


For those of you used to working with silver clay, I do find the Bronzclay stiffer to work with. The main problem area for me has been cracking and bending. It does have a tendancy to warp as it's drying - especially if you're using a heat source to dry it, so really you need to remember to keep turning it over to keep it as flat as possible.

After the firing process I've also excitedly opened my container to find my lovely creations have cracked. I have been able to repair them by filling in the cracks with more bronze clay and then re-firing. So far, my straight forward designs fire the best. Cracking seems to be made worse on curved pieces.

Storage is another issue that will be new to many of you - unused clay has to be stored in the fridge after the pack has been opened. I find this a bit of a faff as I get to the studio only to realise that I've left my clay at home in the fridge!

This is one of the reasons that I now don't use Bronzclay, but instead use Hadar Jacobson's powdered Bronze & Copper clay. Yes, you have to mix it yourself, but it means that I only have to mix what I need - no deterioration of unused open clay. Another big plus for me is the working texture. Where I find Bronzclay quite stiff, I find Hadar's clay is a much softer consistency and it's much more pliable which makes it much more like working with PMC.

For those of you who are regulars to my classes or my blog - you'll know how much I LOVE Hadar's work. Her blog has been invaluable to many of us metal clay artists and it's great that we can share our progression with her. The fact that I can now give some of that support back by using her clay is great.

For me, one of the most exciting things about this medium is being able to make bigger pieces, for example here are two pictures of work by Hadar that she has very kindly let me post here:



This tile is 4" square and is made from bronze and copper clay. Hadar's blog says it was 6 hours of sanding on the front after it came out of the kiln!

I adore this corset! It's 2" square and weighs 90g! Again, a mixture of bronze and copper clay.


Please check out Hadar's Blog and her Website I have both of her books and would highly recommend them to anyone.

The idea of creating art from bronze and copper clay fills me with excitement! I can see wall art designs in my head right now!


Up until now all of my experiments have been with bronze - my next step is to play with copper clay. I'm just as excited at the prospect of working with copper clay because of the possibility of adding enamel to it. I love enamelling and am looking forward to experimenting on copper clay over the next couple of weeks.

You will be seeing a lot more bronze work from me over the coming weeks. My range of handmade beads and findings will be ready to launch shortly and I will have a range of bronze products as well as silver and eventually copper.

I am also holding a two day bronze and copper clay class on the Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September 2009. It's going to be a great class with lots of time for experimenting and getting to grips with these fantastic clays.

Inspiration - Textures

I am always on the hunt for textures! Any of you metal clay artists out there will totally get this obsession I seem to have! While there are a lot of lovely texture mats readily available to buy, if you want to create something more unique and unseen then making your own textures is the only way to go.

I seem to have lost my way a bit on this recently and have reverted to using a lot of the purchased texture mats. I always try to make them look different though - maybe by using a section of the texture that doesn't make it instantly recognisable, or by changing the look by adding enamels.

I have just finished this test bead made from bronze clay. I used a commercial mat, but have inlaid it with silver (that was the test part!). I'm really pleased with the results. And the bead has something different about it even though I've seen the texture used a lot elsewhere.

Part of my pledge to myself is to make much more use of my own designs in the future. I will still use the commercial mats, but I tend to use the more subtle ones for backgrounds or the reverse of pieces and I'll probably still carry on doing that.

So, the big question - where does my inspiration come from? I think my answer is probably the same as most people's answer and that's everywhere and anywhere! The fantastic thing about working with clay is that you can impress anything to make texture. Lace is fantastic (it helps that my auntie used to work in a knicker factory!!), everyday objects like bits of crumpled foil, sandpaper, bits of wire, toothpaste lids the list is endless.

I also sketch designs and turn those into texture mats, I love looking through source books for designs from around the world - I have a couple of books which I scan very regularly when I'm looking for a particular project.

I thought it'd be fun to show you some designs which I've found online that are copyright free images. I'm not sure how well they'll turn out as textures as you do need to have quite definite lines - but that's half the fun!!

So, keep checking back. As I progress through the different stages of turning these pictures into jewellery I'll update you on the progress.

A couple of piccies

I've managed a couple of hours here at the studio today. I didn't want to waste the time taking lots of pictures, so I've just taken a couple of quick pics for now.

This bead is made from Bronze clay. It is a solid bead so is lovely and weighty. I decorated it by rippling the surface - sort of like fondant icing!!

I think I'll polish it a bit more so that the high spots are really shiny.

This silver pendant has a hidden bail at the back and is domed. I've in-filled the flower with a gorgeous lilac enamel. This colours fires really well and I love the colour.

There are more of these waiting to be fired and they will definitely become part of my standard range of components.


I've been looking a lot at the Karen Hill Tribe ranges and they seem to stock pendants that designers are then adding their own touch to. This design lends itself really well to being strung in some way. My component range will definitely need to compete with the KHT Silver, so am keeping that in mind both in terms of how the pieces I design will be used, and also cost.

Any feedback on this pendant in particular would be appreicated!

That's it for now, off to make more jewellery.

Back at work....

....and it's great! I was at the studio yesterday with my weekly group. We've had a fab 6 weeks and they've produced some fantastic work. I'm really pleased with how well they've done.

A few are coming back next week for an extra week, so I must remember to take the camera and get some photos of their work to show you all.

I'm having a re-vamp of my website too. It was put together quite quickly as I didn't want to have nothing up! There are a lot of things I want to add to the site, including tutorials so that will be one of the things I will be working hard on for the next couple of months.

I have started to map out my class dates now for the rest of the year, so will be able to announce those shortly, I'll be adding some new topics including a Bronze and Copper Clay workshop. I am loving these new clays!!