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)

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!!!