LEFT: Swallows necklace, sterling silver and freshwater pearls

It is spring at last! The weather has been lovely for the last week, and I have been distracted by the birds outside my window collecting food and nesting material. On the subject of birds, the new design shown left has been accepted for sale on the Hidden Art e-shop site, and seems to have been well recieved so far. Today I am working on a alternative version of the necklace with black swallows, produced by oxidising the silver bird forms to create a black surface finish. I am currently in the process of photographing recent work so more pictures will follow soon!

LEFT: necklace with freshwater pearls, sterling silver and oxidised silver.

I am working like mad at the moment to finish and photograph a few new designs, and have included this photograph as a sneak preview! I have used pearls in quite a few of my designs lately, particularly favouring cream/white freshwater pearls, in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Although it is now well known that pearls are produced by oysters in response to an irritant, many cultures have myths surrounding pearls and their formation; the two most common ideas suggest that pearls are either the tears of a gods/spirits/mythical creatures (Persia, Japan) or that they originate from rain/dewdrops (Ancient Rome and Greece, India). Within one country or culture it is not uncommon for more than one myth surrounding pearls to exist. I think one of the most fairytale-like myths is the one origionating from Persia that suggested that pearls were born when a rainbow met the earth, and that thunder was responsible for any irregularities seen in individual pearls.

In the designs that I am currently completing I have used white and cream pearls of a variety of sizes, both round pearls and potato pearls (ovoid, often slightly irregular). I will post more pictures soon!

LEFT: using a gas tourch to solder a ring band closed, prior to attaching the stone setting

Happy new year!
In the run-up to Christmas I had quite a few comissions for unique pieces intended as Christmas presents, as well as selling current designs. The number of commissions was greater and more varied this year, and provided me with some very interesting work- it is always interesting (and very informative!) to see which design clients go for when offered several options.

After a very busy (and successful!) pre-Christmas rush we were snowed in here in Devon for a few days, providing plenty of entertainment and distractions in the form of snowball fights and long walks with the dogs! It all looked very pretty but it has been nice to be able to get out and about again now that it has cleared. I am now back indoors and hard at work developing some new designs which should be for sale soon!