Inspirational Christmas Cards

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, not just because we get to eat, drink and be merry but because, for metal clay artisans, there is inspiration all around us if we only look.

There are so many textures on the Christmas decorations on my tree and I've been moulding away capturing them. The piece de resistance came this morning when I received a Christmas card from a friend that has a beautiful textured surface. The curly boughs on the tree are so lovely and I just know this will look so good pressed into some wet clay. I can't wait to see the results I get.

So don't forget to look carefully at those Christmas cards...your friends might have sent you more than just their Christmas wishes!

Photographing Your Jewellery

Within all the preparations for Christmas I'm sure, like me, even during the rush to get things done you're still casting your mind forward to the New Year and where you'll take your jewellery making in 2010.

One of the best ways to showcase what you do is to take good quality pictures of your pieces that capture their true beauty. In 2010, we'll be offering a jewellery photographing service to help you do this.


My business partner David Airey takes all the photographs of my jewellery and has had his work featured in Beads and Beyond Magazine, Create & Craft TV and has just been commissioned to photograph monthly step-by-step projects for Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine. We'll be offering a cost effective service where you can send your pieces to us and David will take 3 different high resolution images and send these back to you on CD, along with your jewellery. You'll have full ownership of the images to do with whatever you wish!

We know this service will save you a lot of time and expensive photography studio fees. In addition you'll have a set of fabulous images to promote your jewellery making and to give your promotional materials or website a polished and very professional edge.

Prices start from just £10 per item plus postage. Please get in touch on info@silverclaycreations.co.uk or 01422 241115 if you'd like to find or more.

The Beauty of Making Your Own Jewellery

I saw this photo of Sarah Brown at the British Fashion Awards last night and it reminded me of the magical talent we jewellery makers have.

Sarah's necklace is a lovely colour but is far too short. I'd have lengthened it quite a bit as the current length shortens her body and neck too severely. Ah the wonders of being able to customise jewellery and make it perfect....never underestimate what magical gifts you have readers!

Here Comes Art Clay Copper!

I'm so excited because Art Clay Copper has finally arrived hurrah! I've ordered my first packet and I cannot wait to get my hands on it and start playing.

I woke up in the middle of the night last night, dreaming about a design so had to draw it out in my notebook as soon as I got up this morning. So why am I so excited about Art Clay Copper? Well here's why:

1. It's Aida industries brand new product. They've been developing it very carefully, so although there has been another copper product (Coppr Clay) on the market since April 2009 it needs to be kiln fired for around 2 hours. Art Clay Copper can be fired in a kiln for 30 minutes and can also be fired with a torch...what a breakthrough!

2. Art Clay Copper is a really cost effective way to use precious metal clay. The price of a packet of Art Clay Copper is £15 for 50 grams. Yes, that's right 50 grams! So your designs will stretch so much further and you can use copper clay for all those big, chunky statement pieces you've been dying to make.

3. Different effects of colour can be created on the copper after it's fired by heating it with a torch. I'm itching to experiment with this part.

I'll let you know how my new adventures with Art Clay Copper go and I'll be adding some copper clay classes in the new year. Look out for these and also let me know if you'd be interested in adding copper clay to your repertoire.