Visitors make their own earrings and more

I closed my studio doors to visitors last Sunday feeling very pleased with how my 'open studio' had gone. It is quite a lot of work.....not just designing and making things but deciding on presentation and pricing, as well as personal advertising and social media.

As I do both textiles and jewellery I had quite a bit on display. The photo shows me in my gazebo with my textile wall hangings and quilts. There were also a few bags-mostly sold- and a few items such as cards and felted notebooks.  

I decided I would try to set myself apart from other jewellery makers in Cambridge Open Studios and offer a 'make your own earrings' service. This proved quite popular.  An early visitor and friend from Cambridge Quilters made quite a visual impact with her bright green top that I suggested she made a button necklace. Funky eh? 

Next comes Tania who works for Spirus, the marketing company used by COS.  Tania was inspired by these acrylic discs to make herself some earrings. 

Another visitor created these freshwater pearl drops

and Agnes put together range and purple to make these. Apologies for the not brilliant photo quality.

There were many more but I love these next earrings made by a good neighbour. Hilary was desperate to make some earrings to match the red skirt she was wearing. Red is a tricky colour to find in glass beads but we managed!   I think these earrings are stunning, especially when the red bead is teamed up with Swarovski crystals--not just tiny bicone beads but one which is more of a flat disc. 

This week has been one of sorting out my studio ready for more creativity including a special commission for another Cambridge Open Studios artist who asked me to make her a one-off pearl necklace.  It's quite an honour and privilege to make something unique that you know with be treasured by that person. 

Follow up to 'Sharing Happiness 2016'

Early in January, after seeing something on FaceBook, I shared this idea. The first five people who emailed be back to say 'I'm in' would receive a surprise 'something' during the year.  All they had to do was to continue the same idea to spread some kindness around.  I only got one reply from a young lady whom I used to teach many years ago. Amy Lousia has started to make and sell her Birdie Bags so I had the idea to make her a pair of 'birdie' earrings.  I made the earrings with sterling silver ear wires, added the birds, wrote a short note and delivered the surprise.

Here's the photo; hopefully you can make out the tiny bird on a perch dangling from her ear. 

Here is a photo of one of her bags. I wonder who taught her how to sew? 

Mary's projects

Mary's mum has kindly sent me a photo of the five projects made during our jewellery lesson last Saturday. The main necklace using a toggle clasp incorporated beads that Mary brought herself. We went on the test out making some earrings, then Mary made a pair without help. We then followed on with the bracelet on the right which used Stretch Magic and finally I showed Mary how to make a bracelet with Memory wire.  She decided to keep the beads loose on the wire instead of packing the beads on. It really works.