I've been fusing!

I had a go at fusing fine silver wire last night. It went surprising well, apart from when my husband said 'What happens if you keep heating the wire up?' I held the butane torch over the wire and we watched it get hotter and hotter and then bubble, turn into little balls and then pretty much disappear! That was quite an expensive experiment - I hate wasting valuable materials.

Anyway, here are my first pieces of jewellery made from fusing silver wire. Firstly I made some Super Shiny Hammered Ring Earrings. They are light and delicate but surprisingly strong (an hour in my tumbler helped to polish and strengthen the rings).


Then I made a larger ring from 14 gauge wire. I found fusing thicker wire easier than thinner wire. I used the ring to make a matching Super Shiny Hammered Ring Pendant.

Please click on the photos for more details.

All in all, I found fusing very satisfying. I had a very late night last night as I went straight on to fuse some slightly smaller rings from the 14 gauge wire which I intend to use in a bracelet design.

Battling the elements

I found an hour this afternoon to photograph my latest Flower Earrings. Although it was very chilly outside, the sun was shining so I decided to venture outside, as ever looking around my garden for new backgrounds and textures for my photos. To start with I was getting frustrated because the sun was just too bright, so I moved under the gentle shade of my willow tree which is just starting to shoot. Here I discovered some moss mottled paving stones. They have a great rustic feel to them.




I then looked at the tree trunk and wondered how that would look as a background. I decided I wanted my earrings to be hanging off a twig so had to construct something for the twig to be supported on. I created a very temporary structure with a vase and a box and was able to take these 2 photos just before the cold wind blew, the twig slipped and the earrings fell off!





I tried a few more times but the weather was having none of it and kept blowing my earrings around so I couldn't get a clear focus. Shivering and stiff from lying on the ground, I gave in and went inside to download my photos and have hot drink.

Simply the beads

I've had these beautiful swirl wrapped silver beads for a long time now. I bought them from an overseas seller and they were quite expensive. I put them in my collection for a future design and have since taken them out severals times, looked at them and then ended up putting them back in storage waiting for the right moment.

Well, I have finally decided their moment has come! They don't need to wait any longer because I have realised they are lovely just as they are and all they needed was the right earwire to set them off. I chose these large hooped handmade earwires and they sit pefectly and swing gracefully.


These are the largest earwires I have made so far so I decided to make a few more and add some other beautiful beads from my collection. I'm really pleased with the results. The earrings below feature some lovely sparkly faceted crystal quartz beads.



Both of these earrings and some others are now listed for sale in my eBay and Folksy shops (please follow the links on the right of my blog).