Amazing what you find in the bottom of a box...

I have a bit of a space issuse (putting it mildy!!) and I have boxes everywhere full of beads, findings and pretty much anything else you can think of, anyway, was having a rummage through one looking for some elastic thread for a bracelet...which I still haven't found of course, no idea what I've done with it so looks like I'll have to order some more!...but I found this copper chain mail bracelet that I made a few months ago. I made it using 6mm copper rings in a tryzantine pattern, it's a lovely looking chain and makes the bracelet almost square, I really want to make a Sterling silver one for myself when I have the cash to spare!!



I haven't really had the time to do any chain mail for a while but I think I may have to get the jump rings out again, not quite sure what I'm going to make yet so will just have to see what happens...some of my favourite pieces have been made that way!!



Handmade Monday :)

Ok I know it's still Sunday I'm not going mad, I'm taking part in the amazing Handmade Monday started by 1st Unique Gifts...if you want to know more click on the link and check it out!!

I'm going through a faze of simple, understated pieces at the minute and found these Swavorski crystals buried at the bottom of a box earlier so I had to do something with them, all the pieces are made with Sterling Silver and the bracelet I made from scratch using 6mm jump rings...not quite as productive as yesterday but I thought I'd allow myself  half a day off this week for being so good!

I made this set yesterday







Anyway, best go and get myself sorted out for my 'proper' job tomorrow :(

A very productive weekend so far

For once I seem to have got huge amounts done over the weekend, and with a few hours to go still!! I went to a fitness class yesterday morning and ended up talking about my jewellery making and it looks like I've sold a fascinator and a jewellery party...nothing confirmed yet but I'm still excited...and I managed to get two new pieces made in the afternoon plus re-take a lot of my photographs as the lighting was terrible. Oh, I started on a new tiara too!!

So far today I've added 6 or 7 items to my Folksy shop http://www.folksy.com/shops/thesilvershack I'm still very new to Folksy and really need to do some work on my shop but I have no idea where to start so I keep putting it off...any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated!! I've also updated my facebook business page and put some washing on so I think I'm going to reward myself this afternoon with making some more jewellery as I have a few ideas forming at the minute, just need to decide which one I want to start with...should probably finish the tiara I started suppose but it jut doesn't feel right to only have one piece on the go!!s

My helpers are of absolutely no use to me today (probably why I've got so much done!), they are firm believers that Sunday is a day of rest....

Really need to win the lottery...

I've finally found somewhere that not only offers an affordable Silversmithing course that's not too far to travel but offers courses on a Saturday and Sunday and has spaces available as early as March!! I'm so excited, got to wait until Friday to see if I can afford to book it or if I have to wait until next month but as it's my birthday in April I've already started on getting an early birthday present!! They do all kinds of jewellery making related courses and I've seen about 15 that I want to have a go at, most are just 1 day and the longest is 3 days so I should be able to fit them in, just got to find the money to do them all, going to be an interesting year for me I think :)

What have I let myself in for!!

I had the bright idea today to offer even more help for my friends wedding in September...because I have so much spare time on my hands at the minute!! I've already made a tiara each for her and her youngest daughter, will be making another for her older daughter once we've decided on a style, and I made a butterfly to go on a headband for her stepdaughter to be...

After my extremely generous offer today I'm now also making the table decorations and sorting out the wedding favours and place cards...I should have been a wedding planner!! I'm not complaining though it's nice that she thinks enough of my crafting ability to trust me to be so involved.

On top of all this I set myself up a folksy shop yesterday...I'm feeling very organised this week didn't realise how much I've done and it's only Tuesday. I have loads of work to do on there, at the minute there are only 2 items in my shop but I've decided I need to re-take some of my photographs and I want to take them in daylight so unfortunately that means waiting until the weekend...although I am getting tempted to see if I can book a days holiday on Friday so I don't have to wait quite so long!!!

Oh well, suppose I'd best stop writing about what I need to do and get on with it, I have a few ideas for the table decorations just need to see which ones works best in the budget I have...can see a few nights trawling the internet coming up!!

Easier than I thought!

Well I finally got round to starting a blog, now I realise how easy it is I kind of wish I'd done it sooner! Just need to get some people to follow me and remember to update it now :)