Silversmithing Projects

 

My newest creative endeavour is silversmithing! I have longed to make something for myself to wear that resembles the very expensive pieces I’ve seen in the shops so last November I started taking a silversmithing class.

Once a week I make the half-hour long trek to Manningtree to sit in a freezing studio with three other silversmithers and my teacher. I had to make my way through the requisite projects every newbie makes and I had to overcome my slight fear of a blowtorch, which stems from the scary one my mom uses to make her beads.

I have since made a necklace charm inspired by two of my favourite things- shapes and Art Deco. I finished my first ring that fits well though the gem is so big it flips around my finger. Next I’m going to make something for my mom’s birthday but only have a few more weeks of class to do it in- eek pressure!

The exciting news is that my class has been invited to Goldsmith Hall in London for a workshop in May.

“The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, more commonly known as the Goldsmiths' Company, is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London and received its first royal charter in 1327.

Founded to regulate the craft or trade of the goldsmith, the Goldsmiths' Company has been responsible since 1300 for testing the quality of gold, silver and, from 1975, platinum articles. The word hallmark originates from the fifteenth century when London craftsmen were first required to bring their artifacts to Goldsmiths' Hall for assaying and marking.”

Super cool! Its right by St Paul’s and at the end of the day I’ll get my own personalized stamp! It’s the little mark you see inside rings that tell you who made it and how what type of metal it is.

Jewellry Projects

From the age of 10 to my late teens, I made most of the jewelry I wore. I loved making friendship bracelets, bracelets with my name on it with little alphabet beads and macrame necklaces.

Ten years ago I began seriously investing in good quality beads to string jewelry as a way to make some money during my summer's home from university. I had a little fan base of women who loved what I was making and would buy up every piece, but it just wasn't practical to keep it up at uni and later in my interning years.

Since my Mo'ma's visit in July I've been making a lot of jewelry. I have had constant deliveries from the states full of jewelry making supplies and I am really excited about projects I have planned. I wanted to learn wire wrapping and knocked out my first project in about five hours and I really love it.

I had to relearn simple loops to make earrings with headpins as I haven't made any jewelry since migrating to the UK. I have been sketching out ideas for bead loomed projects, more wire wrapping including a ring!

I am considering taking a silversmithing class in the next few months as a lot of the jewelry I want to make will require a bit of soldering. Mo'ma (pronounced like the Museum of Modern Art because my husband's Scottish tongue doesn't allow him to say momma with a southern twang) makes her own glass beads in her home studio in Florida and I'd like to work with her beads in my own jewelry. She doesn't think her beads are good enough to sell online, but I really disagree.

Mo'ma makes beautiful glass beads that she fires in her own kiln and I think between us Anderson Women we can make some nice pieces. In fact most of my family has the jewelry making bug including my 18 year-old nephew who made my mom an amazing necklace out of chainmail.

I will hopefully have a lot of pieces to put up here in the next few months in my attempt to have jewelry to go with all my outfits.