Cinnamon Jewellery

Every now and then I get a message through my Folksy shop or Artfire shop  asking if I sell wholesale. Yes I do and I'm happy to discuss my terms with the sender. There's just one catch - as it's a potential business "contract" I really do expect the initial inquiry to be business-like and professional. Here's an example of a recent wholesale inquiry - are you doing wholesale? if yes please let me know.I will buy. email --------- That's it, no contact name, no other information! Doesn't exactly fill you with confidence does it? I normally ignore this type of inquiry but I did reply pointing out more info and a contact name would be helpful and not surprisingly no reply was forthcoming. In complete contrast I was contacted by a fellow Folksy seller just before Christmas asking if I sold wholesale. She gave me information about where she would be selling my jewellery and a link to the the gallery so I could check it out. I know I don't h...

I've admired enamelled jewellery for a while now and not too long ago did a blog post about Etsy seller tekaandzoe  and her wonderful kiln enamelled creations. I didn't think at the time that it was something I would ever be able to do as the cost of kilns plus lack of space would be a problem for me. That wasn't until I saw an advert for a torch enamelling tutorial from US jewellery supplies website Beaducation  by Steven James . It's a great tutorial showing the basics on how to torch enamel on copper. Of course I bought it! I then spent hours scouring the internet for more information on torch enamelling, where to buy the tools I'd need and of course the enamel powders. There are quite a few UK sites selling enamelling supplies and tools but as usual I found the US sites had more choice (why do we always lag behind?) I bought some enamel powders from a couple of UK sites to begin with - Cookson Gold have a good selection but bear in mind th...

Issue 28 of Bead magazine is out today and features a variety of lovely projects including my green freshwater pearl and sterling silver wirework earrings on page 45! I forgot to take a photo of the finished earrings before sending them off to the magazine for photographing so here's a couple of the step-by-step photos I took plus a copper version of the earrings 

The New Year has inspired me to come up with some new earring designs. I'm going great guns at the mo - full of ideas and feeling like there's not enough hours in the day at the moment! I've even made a stock of ball-end earwires and headpins with my new torch ready for when I'm making earrings which is very unlike me, I usually make them as I need them. I love my new torch but I'm still at that "slightly scared of it" stage which I'm sure will soon pass! It's soo much better than using the ring on the gas cooker and means I can ball the end of copper wire now (the flame on the cooker isn't hot enough). Here's a selection of what I've made so far soon to be listed in my  Folksy  and  Artfire  shops. I've also just finished oxidising some heart inspired earrings ready for Valentine's Day - I said I was going great guns! Copper and riveted Sterling Silver Spiral Swarovski Pearl and Sterling Silver Wirework Lampwork Bead ...

Last Tuesday one of the things I dread happened and I lost my internet connection. Not a good thing when you sell online and especially at this time of year!  A phone call to my ISP informed me "everything's alright our end, you need to get BT to check your line". BT checked the line - it was fine so I reinstalled the modem drivers (yet again) but still no connection. Another phone call to my ISP and they suggested replacing the microfilters - "they only cost a couple of quid" the man said, actually they cost £10.99 each from Comet so needless to say I didn't buy them! So after yet another phone call to my ISP they said they would send me a new modem - which still hasn't arrived! In the meantime I had people I needed to email so resorted to using my mobile to get on the internet. Oh my God - how slow! Fine if you've got three other things to do at the same time as waiting for a page to load, they were taking at least five minutes. I did mana...

Are you looking for something different to give this Christmas? Fed up of the mass-produced stuff on the high street? Why not give handmade! Giving handmade means your gift will be unique and original, made by a skilled crafter who loves what they do. Show your love and give handmade this year! Nature Lover Ceramic Necklace  by Go2Girl on Artfire Kila, the artist behind Go2Girl creates earthy, handmade original necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories. Her designs are inspired by nature.

Looking through my Blog reading list the other day I visited wirework jewellery maker Linda Jones' blog The Wireworkers Guild  where I found a  tutorial  taken from one of Linda's books for her Orbital Rings. I liked the idea so thought I'd have a go at my own variation of the design. I used 22g (0.6mm) copper wire as it's easier to wrap and using a thick felt tip marker pen wrapped the wire five times around the pen to create the hoops. Instead of wrapping the wire all the way round the hoops I wrapped it three times at the top, made a hanging loop then wrapped three times at the other side before trimming the wire and tucking in the end at the back. I used the other end of the wire to make a few wraps at the bottom of the hoops for balance then trimmed the end and tucked it in at the back. As the hoops were a good size I had enough room in the centre to add a green opal bead which attaches in the gap left by the hanging loop and d...

Browsing Artfire yesterday I came across a fabulous shop selling handmade Lampwork beads made by Lisa of Art By Lisi . The bright and colourful photos drew me into her shop where I discovered a large selection of beautiful and very covetable beads. Lisa lives in Florida and discovered lampwork beads after picking up a copy of Bead and Button magazine back in 2002. She learnt all she could about them, bought the equipment and hasn't looked back since! As well as selling on Artfire, Lisa also has shops on eBay and Etsy. She regards the day she picked up that copy of Bead and Button as a blessing and I've got to say I agree with her! After much deliberation I bought a set of these Terracotta Turquoise beauties below. How gorgeous are they??!  To see more visit Lisa's Artfire shop :  Art By Lisi

It was such a lovely bright and sunny day today I thought I'd make the most of it and take some photos of the earrings I finished at the weekend. I'd got busy with my disc cutter again and made two copper pairs, a riveted Sterling Silver disc design and a pair with mint glass rondel beads and handmade Sterling Silver beadcaps! All oxidised and polished up while I watched the Man Utd game on Sunday!

A  couple of months ago I suddenly developed an interest in stamped metal jewellery. After reading Lisa Niven Kelly's book "Stamped Metal Jewelry" I went on a spending spree and bought myself some metal stamps, a disc cutter, hammers, a dapping set, sheet copper and Sterling Silver and hole punch pliers! I also managed to get a security stop put on my debit card due to all the online purchases I was making but a quick phone call to the bank soon sorted that out - very embarrassing when you're trying to pay for your shopping in Tesco!  So armed with my new toys and after teaching myself how to rivet I've been making some new jewellery. I've discovered I love circle designs and abstract holes and I have a bit of a leaning towards the geometric. I haven't gone down the stamped names on bits of metal route yet, I know it's very popular but it doesn't fill me with much creative joy to be honest, I prefer to let my imagination run free! Here are s...

Artfire  are currently testing their newest "gadget" called "Collections". Similar to Etsy's Treasuries, Artfire's Collections will allow users to browse the site and select items that catch their eye by clicking a button on the item page which will then be added to their Collections page. You then give it a title and set it free! Easier than doing an Etsy Treasury as you won't have to look for the item url AND the shop owners whose items are picked will automatically receive an email letting them know! Other people can see, rate and leave comments for each Collection and they will be used on the Artfire frontpage. Fab! It's still in the testing phase at the moment with the Artfire "mavens" doing the testing to find any last minute hiccups but will be unleased on the rest of us very soon. How fab! I was lucky enough to have three of my items chosen for three collections so far. Thank you StitchnTyme, ShinyAdornments and Drunkenmimes...