Finished necklace

I've finally taken a couple of pictures of the finished red necklace, it took me a while to make, as over 15 metres of silver wire and over 200 swarovski crystal beads went into it. To see more visit my facebook page.

Jewellery making

Firstly, here are some pieces I've made over the last few days, which are available in Shildon.
Tiny heart and butterfly pendant on chain, the sterling silver heart measures just 1cm across, and has a pretty pink swarovski crystal butterfly sitting on it. Despite its small size, I've added some detailing by crimping the edge of the heart, and giving it a hammered texture. It's just £25, and while I haven't yet added it to the online shop, you can reserve it by email.
  
 Sterling silver ring, adjustable. I have another very similar for sale here, but this one is a bit bigger, and faces in the other direction.

Sterling silver heart necklace with blue and green crystal, length on drop is about 7cm, £55. Again, get in touch if you'd like to know more or to reserve this necklace.
  
Now a quick look at my messy studio desktop, I'm making a red necklace with over 200 swarovski crystal beads, and over 15 meters of sterling silver wire. It's very fiddly and I've been working on it for nearly a week now, but it should be worth the effort.
 

New products have arrived

My new stuff has arrived! I now stock gorgeous greetings cards by Flytrap!
They will be available in the Church Street shop from tomorrow, priced at just £2 each. The cards are designed by artists across four generations of the Venus family, most of whom live just outside Scarborough.
I'm really happy about the quality of these cards, they are really lovely, and of course my busy customers can now pop in to buy a gift, which I'll wrap for free, and not need to go anywhere else to buy a card.
Would you like to see these available online?  What else would you like me to improve? Do let me know :)

Freya's Ball

I'm donating this one of a kind necklace, along with matching bracelet and earrings to be raffled at Freya's Ball on the 24th August at Hardwick Hall in Teesside. All are sterling silver and the necklace is hallmarked, I'd normally sell the set for around £170.
There will be loads of great prizes on the night, including items signed by olympic athletes, one of Davina McCall's dresses, and I've heard that there will even be a celebrity auctioneer!

It's all to raise money for Freya Barton, a local three year old girl who has been in treatment for cancer since December last year, and for the hospital that has been treating her (Newcastle RVI). Freya would like to visit Disney Land, and I think that she deserves to after all the operations and chemotherapy she's had. To buy tickets, donate, or just to read more about this great cause visit http://www.freyasball.co.uk/index.php

Shop online to avoid the rain

I've been updating my website and Etsy shop today - no major changes, but take a look at this firey necklace on Etsy, it's the perfect gift to yourself for warming up a grey summer. You can also find it on my website alongside these earrings (pictured above left) and the matching necklace (above right) in this seasons trendy must have colour. They are all for sale at www.glanceofshildon.co.uk .

I have also been choosing a necklace for the snazzy night out that is Freya's Ball - not to wear, but to donate to the auction/raffle. You can find out more about this event and the adorable three year old Freya Barton at freyasball.co.uk The necklace I've chosen (unless I change my mind again) is a one of a kind hallmarked silver chain necklace, with sparkling clear swarovski crystals hanging along it in small groups. It's an eye catching double necklace, complete with matching earrings, and I'd normally sell it for about £145. There will also be prizes donated by celebrities, and some amazing gift experiences; if you want a chance to win you'll need a ticket to the ball!

All about Etsy

I have a shop on Etsy as well as my main online shop at www.glanceofshildon.co.uk Whilst on Etsy I've made some friends, so there it's about time I told you about their shops too:

Fem makes gorgeous crocheted accessories, you can find her at
www.etsy.com/shop/TheFeminineTouch

Nadine has a selection of carefully selected vintage items at
www.etsy.com/shop/muntjacvintage

There are buttons galore at Susan's shop
www.etsy.com/shop/susansharpeceramics

Dawn makes the coolest (or should that be warmest) tea cosies you've ever seen, and more
www.etsy.com/shop/jarg0n

Loutul is the place for pewter, cleverly embossed by Louise
www.etsy.com/shop/Loutul

You'll find the cutest textiles at
www.etsy.com/shop/GracesFavours

Sandra has collected naturally vintage items from Halifax
www.etsy.com/shop/CollectiveMiX

Excellent quality yarns by Kirsty come highly recommended
www.etsy.com/shop/WharfedaleWoolworks

Beautiful art prints, I'd love these on my walls
www.etsy.com/shop/KitzieG

Alex make bright, colourful textiles and cheery bunting
www.etsy.com/shop/WillowsRoom

Catherine is an amazing artist, and her shop is quite eclectic
www.etsy.com/shop/VelvetBarnacle

Ana is a painter, her creations will brighten up even this summer
www.etsy.com/shop/ChanelledCreations

Carolina makes really pretty beaded jewellery
www.etsy.com/shop/blossomingsilver

To please your inner nerd, stop by and visit Dayz at
www.etsy.com/shop/CheekyGeeky
visit her profile for links to her other Etsy shops and loads more goodies

Take a look at these paintings by Louise, they're bright and beautiful
www.etsy.com/shop/louisemead

And don't forget to stop by my shops too, for one of a kind sterling silver jewellery, and art glass at
www.etsy.com/shop/GlanceJewellery
and bargain beads at
www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeadSale

New website

I've been working hard on my online shop recently, and have now got some products for sale on my website. Please drop by glanceofshildon.co.uk and bookmark the site because it will be improving all the time!

Etsy treasury and other news

I'm lucky enough to have my butterfly necklace featured in this lovely treasury today http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTExNDI1OTN8MjU3Njk5MTY3NQ/butterfly-and-fairy-win..
A lot of work goes into creating these collections, so show some support by dropping by and leaving a nice message.


In other news, I've opened a second online shop to sell my massive supply of glass and gemstone beads. I no longer use these as I have decided to work exclusively with sterling silver, swarovski crystal, and of course my own handmade glass.
I'm listing all my beads in £1 lots with postage at a flat rate of £3, so you can get a good variety of beads at a great price, and don't have to buy loads of the same thing. The shop is called TheBeadSale on Etsy, you'll need to set up an Etsy account to shop, but you can pay by credit or debit card via paypal without setting up a paypal account. Visit the shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBeadSale

New cards

My new business cards with my online shop address arrived today - they're not the same style as my other stuff, but hoping they will stand out in my shop because of it.

Don't forget - you only have ten days left to use discount code MARCH2012 at checkout in the shop for a 20% discount, so visit www.Etsy.com/shop/GlanceJewellery soon.

While you are here at Blogger, visit Shalotte's blog for a great giveaway.

Online shop is growing

Well my Etsy shop now has over 50 items listed, so it's worth visiting, and just to give you an extra incentive to have a look now, I'm giving 20% off every purchase until the end of March, just enter code MARCH2012 at checkout.

My shop is at http://www.Etsy.com/shop/GlanceJewellery don't forget to bookmark it!

My lovely colleagues at Etsy have featured me in a couple of their treasuries (collections of their favourite items) which is an honor.

The first is pretty purples and the second is butterfly brilliant and if you like butterflies this one is certainly worth taking a look at.

Hello again

Well, I'd forgotten about this blog, as I've been busy moving around the country, and packing/unpacking my tools too many times to count. I'm now settled with a shop in County Durham, designing making and selling sterling silver and glass jewellery, and have just opened an online shop too, click on the images below to visit. I'll be adding more items to the online shop over the next few weeks.

Last post for now!

I have my website up to date (for now...) and you can also follow me on facebook

Originality Gallery winter exhibition

The Originality Gallery winter exhibition opens next Thursday, with a drinks preview in the evening. If you would like to attend the preview please get in touch for further details, otherwise drop in over the weekend to see new jewellery and textile designs. Visit the website here for more details about the Originality Gallery.

Exhibition in Halifax

My work will be featured in the Christmas Crafts exhibition from 14 November - 10 January which is spread over the Bankfeild Museum, and Halifax Visitor Centre and Art Gallery in the Peice Hall. For more info please visit http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/leisure/museums-galleries/bankfield-museum/index.html#subcontent

New home for shiny glass

Its been a while since I posted anything as I have moved to Totterdown in Bristol. I have less space to work in, but I get a wonderful veiw from my workbench. I have been spending some time experimenting and being a bit more creative with my glass work, so there should be some exciting new designs soon.

Shiny Glass website and online shop

I have now updated my website to reflect my focus on dichroic glass jewellery. I am still making silver jewellery for existing customers, so please contact me for availability.

About Dichroic Glass

NASA originally developed dichroic glass for use in satellite optics and visors. The glass I use is manufactured especially for kiln work, and has a very thin layer of metal oxides on one surface, which give the glass special optical properties.

Dichroic means two colours; it has a transmitted colour and a completely different reflected colour, as certain wavelengths of light either pass through or are reflected. This causes an array of colour to be displayed. The colours shift depending on the angle of view. This makes the glass extremely beautiful when worn, as when you move, the colours shift. Glass is notoriously difficult to photograph, and dichroic glass even more so.

I engrave by hand into the dichroic surface of the glass to form an image or pattern. Sheets of glass with patterns laser etched are available to buy, but as these are machine made, they are identical. I prefer to use my own unique designs so that my customers know they will own a one off piece of art glass.

I then fuse this piece of glass with its engraved dichroic layer together with other glass pieces to make a pendant. I usually layer a clear piece of glass over the dichroic glass to seal in the design and give the pendant extra depth.

British Craft Trade Fair

I was lucky enough to be selected to exhibit at the BCTF this year alongside the best designer makers from around the country. I chose to share a stand with Jane Marsh of the Originality gallery in York, who are my main stockist in the North of England.

It was good to have the opportunity to meet so many gallery owners and buyers, and I was inspired by the enthusiasm shown by the people we spoke with.

Another new pendant

dichroic pendant
Originally uploaded by Jewellery by Zoe Marsh

Another of my newer pendants from the batch I fused last week. This one has been engraved further after annealing.

New glass jewellery from the kiln

dichroic pendant
Originally uploaded by Jewellery by Zoe Marsh

This os one of the dichroic pendants I have been working on recently. I plan to take this to the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate in a couple of weeks.

you can see this pendant in progress ready for the kiln in my previous post

New pendant in Dichroic range

aqua dichroic pendant
Originally uploaded by Jewellery by Zoe Marsh

This pendant has a layer of blue dichroic glass inside, into which I engraved in an abstract leaf pattern. I was not happy with how the pendant came out of the kiln, so I added a further engraving to both the front and back. As the dichroic glass in the aqua is fairly subtle, the surface engraving works really well, and the design appears to be in three layers - of course this is difficult to show in a photo!

kiln forming

some pictures of the experiments in kiln forming with frit, powder and confettti

kiln forming with frit

As well as finishing a few more glass pendants (pictures to follow) and preparing stock for the British Craft Trade Fair, I have found time to experiment with making some larger more sculptural pieces in the kiln. As I only have a small kiln they are not too big, the right size for paperweights or bookends. I love the way frit glass fuses to give me an object with depth and texture.

Today in my studio

I have been working on glass pendants this week as my stocks are low. The dichroic pendants are the most time consuming, as I engrave an original design into each piece of dichroic glass before fusing into a pendant.

The first picture shows all the bits of glass cut and engraved and cleaned ready to make 3 pendants, and the second is my kiln. The 3rd picture shows all the glass stacked up and ready for fusing. I can fit up to 12 pendants this size in the kiln if I need to.

I'll be taking these pendants to the British Craft Trade Fair next month in Harrogate (if they turn out ok). If you are also visiting please look me up on stand 321.

To see more pictures like these please visit my flickr portfolio.

Making rings

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Today I have been working on my new product - rings for the Twisted range. I have only made 2 today, but I should get a bit quicker once I'm used to making this design. I have had this idea for rings at the back of my head for a couple of years now, but it took a bit of work to get the design just right.

I made these with 0.3mm sterling silver wire and 3mm swarovski crystal beads. The wire is woven/braided to form a strong but flexible ring.

They are really pretty and sparkly, and once they're on the shape makes them hold onto your fingers so that the crystals are always pointing upwards. They're dramatic, but dont swamp your hands, and of course very light and comfortable to wear.

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Jewellery by Zoe Marsh website

I have finally managed to start uploading the new website at zoemarsh.co.uk This replaces bristoljewellery.com, which now redirects automatically to the new site. At the moment I cant get any images to load, but I hope to get it completed over the next few weeks, so keep checking back!

New portfolio available on Flickr

Today I have been uploading some pictures of my jewellery to Flickr. There are some new pictures of my 'Twisted' range, which I have been working on lately. Go to www.flickr.com/photos/zoemarsh to see how it looks.