So after another excellent night of learning silversmithing techniques I’m beginning to get the hang of it thanks to Magnus and Bella.
My teapot is currently looking like this: Which I’m quite pleased with. It does need a good bit of sanding and polishing to get it looking super shiny.
Next I’m going to start the daunting task of cutting out all gaps in the bars of my bird cage! Wish me luck!
Lilly xx
So I’ve cut out my bird cage shape and of course a bird shape using a piercing saw. Tomorrow I plan to cut out in-between the bars by drilling a small hole in the sections that I want removed and then again using the piercing saw to cut out the negative spaces.
Now I’m going to sand the outside of the birdcage and the bird until they are perfectly smooth and gleaming!
Lilly xx
I’m starting to make a bird cage pendant using silversmithing techniques, using an alloy metal to begin with and then if it looks good creating a silver piece.
I created the image of the birdcage in Adobe Illustrator, printed it, cut it out and have now used spray mount to attach it to the metal so that I can cut it out.
Here is an image mid cutting out on a well used cutting mat- As you can see its at the beginning but already I think looking like it’s going to be pretty kitsch!
Lilly xx
So, I’ve been adding some new and exciting products to my folksy store http://www.folksy.com/shops/TeaStained
They are defiantly worth a look!
I am starting to upgrade the chains on my products to Sterling silver. I’m doing this to ensure that my products last longer in your jewellery case. Although it does render the items a little more pricey I think it’s worth it for the quality.
Teastained Jewellery is kitsch, classic and with a long lasting shelf life!
Lilly x
I’ve started learning silver smithing techniques with http://www.magnusandbella.co.uk/ - they are really awesome and have been doing an amazing job of teaching me.
A few weeks ago I mad a lovely dragon fly necklace with them. Yesterday I started making my own tea pot necklace in my workshop at home.
I’ve drawn it, cut and and sanded it down so far and thought that I would put a quick picture up of what it looks like at the moment.
As you can see some of the image that I have drawn on it has smudged off with me holding it so I have since used a scriber to slightly scratch the surface of the metal.
My next job is to drill some small holes in the areas that I want cut out and use my saw to cut them out and sand them down.
At the moment I’m using a non precious metal to practice with and if the design works out well I plan to make it out of silver.
Lilly xx
This is a demo how to make a necklace that I wear all the time and which will be available to buy in my boutique at some point soon.
You will need:
Pliers (I used flat and round nose)
Fimo rose bead and Czech glass crystal bead
Ball top headpin
Loop top headpin
Jump ring and Chain
Thread the loop top headpin through the fimo flower bead.
Take your round nose pliers and turn the excess wire into a loop – it will be used to put the jump ring onto for the chain to thread through.
Neatly twist the wire into a loop wrapping the excess wire around carefully.
Next take the Ball top headpin and thread it thorough the Czech glass crystal bead.
Wrap the excess wire into a loop as you did above to form a loop to attach to the Fimo rose.
Next open the loop headpin to allow the loop that you have just made on the glass bead and attach.
Once all of this is done. Add a jump ring to the top loop of the rose and place on a chain of your desired length. I find that a 16″ chain looks good.
Lilly xx
I am so pleased with this beautiful necklace!
The beads themselves being large (20mm each) means that the necklace is a little heavy but its such a statement piece that the weight reminds you how pretty your neck looks!
This one is just for me and I can’t wait to wear it!
Lilly xx
Tea Stained Home
Tea Stained Boutique
So I bought myself a small wire Jig the other day when I bought my beads.
As I’ve never used one before I was feeling pretty excited about having a go.
Here are my first attempts!
I’m thinking that it’s going to take a lot of work to really get good at doing it but practice makes perfect!!
Lilly x
