So anyone who nips over to my Etsy shop from now until Jan 1st 2012 will receive a sterling silver freebie (pair of studs, pendant etc...Handmade one off to go with your purchase) Either click on this link http://www.etsy.com/shop/FireopalAndTilly?ref=pr_shop Or click on my shop window just down the right hand side of my blog.
For Overseas customers, placing your order before the end of the week should guarantee Christmas delivery. UK customers can place orders up until 18th Dec to ensure Xmas delivery :)
Monday 5 December 2011
Monday 14 November 2011
Its been a while...
Since I last posted. I moved a few weeks ago and am starting a new job soon so It's taken me away from a lot of my Internet stuff...Pretty stressful time with a lot going on but I'm getting settled now. Where I live now is only temporary...For a year, well 10 months now and because it's only temporary, I decided not to move my old telephone number/land line and Internet connection to the new place. Most people call my mobile anyway. One thing I can't get used to though is having a dongle! Its pretty fast but I have to choose my time of day for it to be that way and for someone who has had the Internet in my home for the past 10 years, and super fast wireless broadband for 5 of those years, its hard (I know there are worse things in life and what did we do before the Internet...I cant remember anymore!)
I made my first Etsy sale this week..This ring to be exact http://www.etsy.com/listing/82160373/sterling-silver-fidget-ring-with-gold I also sold 2 of the full sterling silver fidget rings off etsy, for etsy prices which I don't normally do...Them prices are just reserved for Etsy but I'm not really one to pass up on making jewellery for someone who really wants it (or the money) My main collection(under my name) is still a work in progress....
I'm taking my time over it. I'll explain why. New Designers in July was a great experience and I met some great people and got some interest in my jewellery from the general public, but no one from the industry picked up on it. In all honestly, I don't blame them really. Considering my years of experience, my collection was naive, didn't fit well together and maybe even seemed rushed. BUT, thank god for New Designers because It opened my eyes to what I should be doing..What I should have done for my graduation project and what I should have presented at ND. I think the problem was that I had just done 5 years of non stop jewellery/silversmithing/designing studying and by the time I got to the last few months of my last year at uni, to put it bluntly, my mind was knackered (I should also mention that I worked for most of my studies and didn't move to Sheffield to study my degree, instead I did a 140 mile round trip daily to study at Hallam) Anyway, What I'm working on now is well designed, carefully thought out and something I'm very proud of. I think I can say that after all these years...I'm not blowing my own trumpet, I just believe in what I'm working on...Its huge though so I will have to pull it back a bit, but I'm very happy with it. I'll be having a website professionally constructed for me next summer and will work my butt off to launch it/myself in the industry properly. So maybe its a good thing that I can move away from my graduation stuff...Something fresh and new instead.
On a non jewellery note....Its almost Christmas! I've been buying some Philosophy skincare products tonight, even though I probably shouldn't...2 big sets which I'll split up for a few of the females in my family...Will be keeping a few for myself though! They have some gorgeous seasonal boxed collections
Can tell Christmas is coming(well, in 5/6 weeks) cos I'm talking about box sets!
Anyway, Its getting late so will leave it there...Bye for now :) x
PS: Thank you to all who spend their time reading my posts x
I made my first Etsy sale this week..This ring to be exact http://www.etsy.com/listing/82160373/sterling-silver-fidget-ring-with-gold I also sold 2 of the full sterling silver fidget rings off etsy, for etsy prices which I don't normally do...Them prices are just reserved for Etsy but I'm not really one to pass up on making jewellery for someone who really wants it (or the money) My main collection(under my name) is still a work in progress....
I'm taking my time over it. I'll explain why. New Designers in July was a great experience and I met some great people and got some interest in my jewellery from the general public, but no one from the industry picked up on it. In all honestly, I don't blame them really. Considering my years of experience, my collection was naive, didn't fit well together and maybe even seemed rushed. BUT, thank god for New Designers because It opened my eyes to what I should be doing..What I should have done for my graduation project and what I should have presented at ND. I think the problem was that I had just done 5 years of non stop jewellery/silversmithing/designing studying and by the time I got to the last few months of my last year at uni, to put it bluntly, my mind was knackered (I should also mention that I worked for most of my studies and didn't move to Sheffield to study my degree, instead I did a 140 mile round trip daily to study at Hallam) Anyway, What I'm working on now is well designed, carefully thought out and something I'm very proud of. I think I can say that after all these years...I'm not blowing my own trumpet, I just believe in what I'm working on...Its huge though so I will have to pull it back a bit, but I'm very happy with it. I'll be having a website professionally constructed for me next summer and will work my butt off to launch it/myself in the industry properly. So maybe its a good thing that I can move away from my graduation stuff...Something fresh and new instead.
On a non jewellery note....Its almost Christmas! I've been buying some Philosophy skincare products tonight, even though I probably shouldn't...2 big sets which I'll split up for a few of the females in my family...Will be keeping a few for myself though! They have some gorgeous seasonal boxed collections
Can tell Christmas is coming(well, in 5/6 weeks) cos I'm talking about box sets!
Anyway, Its getting late so will leave it there...Bye for now :) x
PS: Thank you to all who spend their time reading my posts x
Monday 26 September 2011
Thursday 22 September 2011
New Shop....
Hi there
I realised the other day that I haven't posted on here for a month...Warm and sunny August (well some days!) seems like a long time ago now that it's becoming autumnal. I have opened an Etsy shop though, Well I've had it since last year but as I had my last year at uni to finish, I knew It would be around late summer before I got around to setting it up properly. It's called 'Fireopal & Tilly' and is a (or will be) large commercial range of pieces that I hope will be seen as desirable. Its very affordable and I've tried to create the range so that it can be worn in a mix and match sort of fashion. Here are a few images
I will include the shop link at the end for anyone who would like to have a look :) (That means I hope you will) It's only been open for a few days and already has some 'admirers' on different pieces and the shop itself which I'm really happy about. There are 10 pieces in there at the moment and I'm trying to add around 2-3 listings every day or so.You will notice in the shop that the gold ring from the previous post has been listed. As this was a free re-design and my design (I also asked the lady I made it for if she had any objections, she didn't) I decided to include it in my shop as I have had a lot of interest in it. Just wanted to mention that incase anyone was wondering.
Oh, another thing is that I started my teacher training course...I'm really loving it and have also been told that because I'm actually on the course, I don't have to wait until it's finished to start applying for teaching jobs..My tutor told me that as soon as a teaching job comes up within the design area, I should go for it! And that is what I'll do...Its quite exciting.
Anyway, here's the shop link http://www.etsy.com/shop/FireopalAndTilly bye for now PS: I always appreciate comments so please feel free x
I realised the other day that I haven't posted on here for a month...Warm and sunny August (well some days!) seems like a long time ago now that it's becoming autumnal. I have opened an Etsy shop though, Well I've had it since last year but as I had my last year at uni to finish, I knew It would be around late summer before I got around to setting it up properly. It's called 'Fireopal & Tilly' and is a (or will be) large commercial range of pieces that I hope will be seen as desirable. Its very affordable and I've tried to create the range so that it can be worn in a mix and match sort of fashion. Here are a few images
Oh, another thing is that I started my teacher training course...I'm really loving it and have also been told that because I'm actually on the course, I don't have to wait until it's finished to start applying for teaching jobs..My tutor told me that as soon as a teaching job comes up within the design area, I should go for it! And that is what I'll do...Its quite exciting.
Anyway, here's the shop link http://www.etsy.com/shop/FireopalAndTilly bye for now PS: I always appreciate comments so please feel free x
Wednesday 17 August 2011
Re-design Commission
Hi...Here is the re-design commission I mentioned. I changed the white diamond for a champagne diamond and re-sized the ring to an M.
Before pictures are the previous post. The customer was really happy with her new ring and put it on immediately (a good sign I think) She liked it so much that she asked me to make her a slightly smaller ring to complement this one using the original white diamond. So, If she's happy, I'm happy :)
This is just a quick post. Ive been at work today...Tomorrow and Friday will be spent in the workshop working on another new range..The complete opposite to what I have been doing! I will post this weekend. Bye for now :) x
This is just a quick post. Ive been at work today...Tomorrow and Friday will be spent in the workshop working on another new range..The complete opposite to what I have been doing! I will post this weekend. Bye for now :) x
Monday 8 August 2011
New Commissions & Teacher Training
Hey There
I thought I would write a new post seen as I haven't for a while. I've been so busy since New Designers that I haven't seemed to have had the time, although I probably have..More like I keep forgetting :)
I was excited to see people have followed my blog...Just wanted to say hello and thank you, It's nice to know my blog/posts aren't just falling into obscurity.
As I type I am waiting to hear back from my local college about a tutor/teacher training course I want to go on. Now I have finished my degree, I'm free to do this. It was always the plan when I started 5 years ago. I was going to leave it for a few years because by the time we wrapped up at New Designers I was completely mentally drained..I really didn't think I could spend another year in education but I was thinking that while I am still in 'academic mode' I really should get it done. It's going to be 6 years of my life, and a few people have said 'well you could have been a doctor by now' My reply? Errr well yes, but don't you need doctor brains for that too! ......Just spoken to college, they're emailing me an application so I can enrol asap..Apparently almost all places are gone...Better get my skates on!
Another thing I wanted to mention is that I'm working on a few commissions, re-designing to be exact. I've done quite a bit of this kind of work and I really love it...I just love taking someones tired, old piece of jewellery (quite often hated piece of jewellery ie old engagement/wedding ring) and transforming it..I've had tears of joy before! Now that really is a good feeling(not the tears really but the fact you've made someone THAT happy) The thing is though, when I first started my jewellery/silversmithing education at college and the early times at uni, I would quite often just forget to take before and after pictures..In them manic days of the tightest deadlines and huge workloads, I just wanted to get the job done and get the money! So my portfolio is a bit lacking in the re-design department, so I've taken 5 re-designs on for free...Here's one of them
Scuffed, dented and looking very sorry for itself. The 3.5mm diamond had so much bezel pushed over, it looked 2mm (a big difference especially for a diamond I think...It deserves to be displayed in its full magnificence) The customer wanted it modern, fresh and wearable. The ring is in pieces now, the designs done..I'm on to it. I will post the picture as soon as its finished.
Right, better go now and get that application filled out.
Louise x :)
I thought I would write a new post seen as I haven't for a while. I've been so busy since New Designers that I haven't seemed to have had the time, although I probably have..More like I keep forgetting :)
I was excited to see people have followed my blog...Just wanted to say hello and thank you, It's nice to know my blog/posts aren't just falling into obscurity.
As I type I am waiting to hear back from my local college about a tutor/teacher training course I want to go on. Now I have finished my degree, I'm free to do this. It was always the plan when I started 5 years ago. I was going to leave it for a few years because by the time we wrapped up at New Designers I was completely mentally drained..I really didn't think I could spend another year in education but I was thinking that while I am still in 'academic mode' I really should get it done. It's going to be 6 years of my life, and a few people have said 'well you could have been a doctor by now' My reply? Errr well yes, but don't you need doctor brains for that too! ......Just spoken to college, they're emailing me an application so I can enrol asap..Apparently almost all places are gone...Better get my skates on!
Another thing I wanted to mention is that I'm working on a few commissions, re-designing to be exact. I've done quite a bit of this kind of work and I really love it...I just love taking someones tired, old piece of jewellery (quite often hated piece of jewellery ie old engagement/wedding ring) and transforming it..I've had tears of joy before! Now that really is a good feeling(not the tears really but the fact you've made someone THAT happy) The thing is though, when I first started my jewellery/silversmithing education at college and the early times at uni, I would quite often just forget to take before and after pictures..In them manic days of the tightest deadlines and huge workloads, I just wanted to get the job done and get the money! So my portfolio is a bit lacking in the re-design department, so I've taken 5 re-designs on for free...Here's one of them
Scuffed, dented and looking very sorry for itself. The 3.5mm diamond had so much bezel pushed over, it looked 2mm (a big difference especially for a diamond I think...It deserves to be displayed in its full magnificence) The customer wanted it modern, fresh and wearable. The ring is in pieces now, the designs done..I'm on to it. I will post the picture as soon as its finished.
Right, better go now and get that application filled out.
Louise x :)
Wednesday 13 July 2011
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