The Lunch-Break Ring...

Finally got some spare time to update The Jeweller's File. It's Sunday and I've just done my end-of-financial-year stuff, so I deserve a bit of me-time, don't you think?

I have a couple of interesting things to show you this post, firstly (as the title suggests), The Lunch-Break Ring !

OK, it has nothing to do with food....here's the story behind it.

I work (as a jeweller) in a retail store a couple of days a week and a ring came in for repair which caught the eye of one of the sales people, Donna. She just loved the general design of the ring and asked me about making a similar one for her. Being a simple, no-solder design, I suggested she try making it herself and I set her the challenge of making it in her one hour lunch-break. Donna, being the fiesty chick she is, was definately up for it. So, lunch-breaks sychronised, we set to the task.... and so created The Lunch-Break Ring!

She took to the tools really quickly and had a great time making her own version of the ring (and yes, she did it with those nails!!). It looks fantastic and really suits her. OK, Donna, next step......the torch!!!

Another custom design order I recently made was for a snake neckpiece. I was contacted through my Snake Jewellery website and quickly realised that Jenelle and I were going to get along well. She had this fabulous idea of a snake neckpiece and I customised a design to suit her. The neckpiece was just stunning. Here are some photos of the process and the finished piece. The pictures, unfortunately, really don't do it the justice it deserves; it's a gorgeous piece.

I'm also putting together the projects for Grafton Artsfest....plenty of fun things to make! Don't forget, time is going fast so enrol now if you are planning to join us.

Hope to see you there !

Time Flies

Well, they say "time flies when you're having fun"..... or if you're a frog, "time's fun when you're having flies". (OK, I'll stop with the corny jokes)

But seriously, where has the year gone? Who can believe it's nearly July? And that wretched end-of-financial-year paperwork is looming......ugghhh !

It's almost Grafton Artsfest time again. This year, Artsfest runs from Tuesday October 6th to Sunday October 11th. If you are planning on booking in to any of the great courses available, I'd recommend you do it soon as time really is running out.




My class will cater for beginners and those with some experience. Most projects will be adaptable depending on the skill level of the student. If you have any enquiries about my "Precious Metal Skills" class, please feel free to contact me and if you would like a printed Artsfest guide, which lists all of the courses and events, just let me know and I'll pop one in the post for you. You can also visit the Grafton Artsfest website http://www.artsfestgrafton.com/ for an online version and, of course, to make your booking.


I've been busy, not only creating some great jewellery, but also designing. Now all I need is the time to make the designs a reality! Following the Lego ring, I was asked to make two Scrabble tile pendants. My client is giving them as a gift to two of her close 'scrabble-playing' friends overseas. I just love these.... I'm going to make a whole lot more of them when I get the time. The back is also silver to allow for a personal message to be engraved.

Aren't they great? These are made with the classic older style tiles. When you actually look into it, there were quite a few variations of the humble Scrabble tile. Who would have thought!

I have lots more to show you, but time is getting away from me again, so check back in a day or so when I'll post again......

Thanks for stopping by.

Blast From The Past

Well, I've had a lovely day, working on something FUN!

Today I decided to just play. It seems everything old is new again. Those 70's and 80's toys are getting some good dollars on ebay and anything "retro" is definately in. That in mind, I dug out my old box of Lego and made myself a ring. Here's how it went.....


I made the 'setting' with stamped silver. The setting is tight, so there are no gaps visible down the sides of the Lego brick. The Lego will be glued in, so a snug fit is essential.

I soldered a wire post to the ring and drilled a hole in the centre of the brace under the setting. This helps to centre the setting on the band and helps hold the pieces together when soldering as you can see in the picture below. The post will also become an anchor for the glue.


Here's the ring and setting ready to be soldered together. I curled the post so that it is more secure when glued in. A straight post can pull out easily, this one's going nowhere! I thought the Lego brick was a bit chunky and sat up too high in the ring, so I lowered it by cutting some off the base of the brick.







And here's the finished ring.........

I used a red brick for the construction pictures, because red showed up best in the photos but I used a black brick for the actual ring. (see photo of me wearing it at top of this post)

It really is surprising how the humble brick of Lego can become such a striking piece of jewellery. Who would have ever thought !!

Now, I'm off to raid the games cupboard....