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

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 :)

New Designers

Back Home.....

I'm back home now after 10 brilliant days in London. The first week at New Designers had been really great. I  met some lovely people and had a lot of interest in my work, which is always great. After we packed up on the Saturday I went and stayed with my other brother and sister in law for 3 days...It was a really nice wind down from the past 3 years, finished by seeing Take That at Wembley(Amazing!!!) on the Tuesday night. The only downside was that I missed my train home at Kings Cross due to the 45 minute tube journey there talking 1hr 10 minutes (yes I know the exact minutes, and it was painful to watch the time ticking by!) I had to literally beg the ticket guy at Kings Cross to let me catch the next train home using my original ticket (could have charged me whatever if not!) I had to go through my entire tube journey, explaining all the delays until he eventually allowed me to catch the next train, and the next train only for which I had 6 minutes to get to! It was so stressful, and because I live a little over 200 miles away, they could have charged me £100 to get home. I should be grateful, but the train I got on was only half full all the way home, so where was the harm in allowing me to get on it without all the fuss it caused....It's just mean spirited really, but hey, thats the way it can work in the UK. Anyway, apart from that it was a great 10 days. I'm now working on my first collection as a professional jewellery designer (Get me! I'm a pro designer now! :) The rest of summer is going to be very busy...I have to get collections for 2 galleries ready by the beginning of August and a full, commercial range ready by mid August. This will consist of around 50 pieces of jewellery...Wearable, fun and tactile, but not found on the high street, if you see what I mean. Right, better get back to it....Bye for now x

New Designers and Price list of Work on Display

Hi there
All is going great at New Designers. I have met some fantastic people and seen some amazing work...and still with 2 more days left! I have had some really wonderful feedback on my jewellery (at the Sheffield Hallam stand...Top floor, very far right corner) and a few enquiries on prices, so I will leave a price list at the end of this post for all pieces that are currently on display at New Designers. If you want a commission at this very moment in time, my turnaround will only be between 2-3 weeks, or if anyone really wants a piece to take home there and then, i will be doing that from Saturday afternoon for the last few hours of New Designers.
i will be posting pictures of us there later next week and I will list my fave designers from the event(if there's enough room on my blog!)

A big thank you to everyone for taking the time to look at my work x

Jewellery Price List:

Contrast Lariat with one 2mm white lab diamond- £120

Erosion Brooch, silver plated with sterling silver granulation and one 2mm white lab diamond- £90

Contrast Rings with one 2mm champagne lab diamond(set of two)-£110

Chunky Erosion necklace, silver plated with sterling silver granulation and one 2mm champagne lab diamond set in 9ct gold-£70

Erosion Earrings, all sterling silver with one 2mm champagne diamond in each-£45 pair (these are a matching pair with slight differences)

Sterling Silver and 9ct gold granulation ring with a 1ct white lab diamond, coupled with a single band and gold and silver granulation-£250 pair of rings. note= This pair can be made completely in sterling silver for £170


As with all my jewellery, it can be custom made completely to your own requirements..No job is too big or small.

*Prices may be subject to change after New Designers*

Thank you for your interest, I'm very grateful for all your support. Louise x

Graduation Work And Beyond

Hey, pictured below are images of my graduation work. This is on display right now as part of the Creative Spark Exhibition (see post below) Some of these pieces will also be at New Designers in London at the very end of June. Right now I'm working on a collection all based on my graduation work. For the most part I won't be recreating any of the pieces exactly but I am making a series of 'pod pendants' on tan leather cord and a variety of silk coloured cord. Smaller 'oozing' brooches with matching wire/torque style necklaces with earrings to complement all of the work mentioned. I will also be adding one off rings (like the diamond ring) in the most popular sizes...I will be more than happy to remake any one off design though. Anyway, Here are the pictures....

                                                                    Contrast Lariat

                                                                     Erosion Brooch

                                                                Contrast Layer Rings

                                                                Contrast Necklace

                                                                    Exhibition shots

Creative Spark now on...

Creative Spark exhibition is now on. The Metalwork and Jewellery exhibition can be found on the third floor of the Sheaf Building at Sheffield Hallam University(just across the road from Sheffield train station) It runs from 11th - 25th June...Opening hours are 10am - 4pm (you can find fashion, product design and furniture there too)

 The Private view on Friday was great and everyones work looked amazing! Can't quite believe its finally finished...


Here are a few photos from the exhibition....I don't want to post images that includes other peoples work..The reason being is the exhibition has only just started and I'm sure other students will want to post their work themselves on their own blogs/sites, so just a little preview