New Stud Earrings - Copper & Sterling Silver

I'm currently teaching myself to solder. I love soldering, in fact I love anything that involves using a torch and bits of metal

I recently learnt how to solder on earring posts (I've only melted two so far!) which means I can now make stud earrings

So I did and here they are.......

Quite simple designs : torched silver sheet that I hammered, sanded and stamped and copper discs hammered, domed and stamped

Soldered and enamelled stud earrings coming soon too. I recently made some enamelled stud earrings and used G.L.U.E. to stick the posts on. Not a good idea. I wish I hadn't ignored the little voice in my head that said "are you sure you really want to use glue?"

More of that tale soon :D

Eclectic Handmade Jewellery By Little Largo

Folksy, a wonderful UK site for all things handmade, is a great place to start if you are looking for jewellery. Not just any jewellery but handmade, original and just that bit different. From classic designs to rustic, quirky and kitsch you will find it on Folksy

One of my favourite fellow jewellery makers on the site is Haldis Hughes, owner of Folksy jewellery shop Little Largo. Haldis is based in Scotland and from her home studio loves to create jewellery using her skills in metalwork

Haldis creates stylish understated earrings, bracelets and necklaces using sterling silver and copper on their own or together with a rainbow of colourful beads. From simple hammered sterling silver and copper disc earrings to hand forged metalwork, crystal and gemstone creations you will find it in Little Largo

Everything is beautifully photographed and Haldis also offers a custom order service for buyers who have their own design in mind

From rustic oxidised copper to classic pearls Little Largo has something for everyone!

Visit Haldis's new blog : Little Largo Jewellery

 

PMC Books & Tools For Sale!

Just before Christmas I decided to have a go at making some jewellery with copper clay. This medium fascinates me - I love the scope it gives you in shape, texture and design

I'd read that it was possible to fire copper clay with a torch which was great as I don't have a kiln. The distinct lack of definitive firing times for copper clay using a torch should have made me think about it a bit more! The brand I used recommended at least 7 minutes for small pieces......................


I tried and tried with my propane/butane mix torch to sucessfully fire my small and not very thick pieces to a fully sintered stage - where the clay has changed structure and become 100% copper. Up to 15 minutes plus on most pieces and did it work? No it did not! Being used to working with sheet copper and feeling slightly suspicious of the look of the fired and cleaned up clay pieces, I took my pliers to them and managed to snap every single piece quite easily, revealing a very thin layer of copper around the outside with the centre still very much in it's clay form! So disappointing! The thin copper layer tricks you into thinking the torch firing worked - the piece sounds metallic when you drop it into the pickle pot and looks like copper when you clean it up but attempt to bend it with some pliers and watch it snap! I contacted the manufacturer asking for some guidelines on firing times and was basically told what I already knew - fire for a minimum of 7 minutes, no other info at all. Very helpful! Firing them for longer may have worked but pointing a torch at a small piece of clay for 20 minutes plus is not time-effective, not very good for your health and would frankly drive me insane!

And the moral of this? Don't believe what the manufacturers tell you about torch firing copper clay - in my humble opinion it does not work. Correctly firing it in a kiln is the way to go!

Hence the reason I'm selling my pmc books and tools! Available in my eBay shop

 New Directions In Metal Clay by Cece Wire 

Metal Clay Jewelry by Louise Duhamel

Texture mats

Roller, needle cutter and circle cutter set

More texture mats

Etsy Treasury - CraftyFolky Team

 

This week it's CraftyFolky Etsy team member CShellCards turn for other members to feature in their Etsy Treasuries

I made this tree-inspired treasury last night featuring one of Michelle's pretty Spring Blossom greetings cards........

'Tree' by CinnamonJewellery

Tree-inspired loveliness.... In honour of CShellCards of the CraftyFolk Team :D

Custom Personalized Band Rin... monkeysalwaysl... $48.00	Sloth Tree Limited Edition P... apak $30.00	Spring Blossoms Greetings Ca... CShellCards $2.50	Earth Art Tree Rings earthartbywend... $145.00
Owl necklace silver - Whimsi... lulubugjewelry $98.00	OnSale - Tree Art Print - An... RusticGoth $13.00	Free US Shipping: Modern Tre... TinyTerrains $49.00	Tree of Life Tray kaytwoclay $95.00
Evergreen Trees Tiny Forest ... QuietudeQuilts $18.00	Branch Tree Ring TeriLeeJewelry $32.00	OnSale - Fantasy Art Trees a... RusticGoth $13.00	Messenger - Tree Rings - Lig... mediumcontrol $38.00
48x24 Original Modern Abstra... QiQiGallery $345.00	Trees in Bloom - Hand Embroi... mlmxoxo $38.00	Silver tree necklace, sterli... recklesseyestu... $255.00	Lampwork Glass Focal Bead Tr... jelvehdesigns $22.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Featured On Cuteable!

It was lovely to receive a message from Lynsey of Swirlyarts on Folksy to say my lavender enamel stud earrings were featured on Cuteable today!

Check out Cuteable for a Monday to Friday treasure trove of cute stuff for you and your home

Super Stud! New Enamel Earrings

I thought I'd try something different. I don't normally make stud earrings but browsing Cookson Gold a while ago I spotted their sterling silver stud earring fittings and suddenly thought " I could make some tiny cute enamel discs and attach the fittings and voila! Stud earrings!"

So I did and here's the results.......

A bit fiddly, the smallest size are 8mm, but fun to make and there's more colours on the way!

Currently being listed in my Folksy and Etsy shops.

10mm turquoise

8mm lavender

10mm Raspberry

8mm mint

group photo!