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Penny: Posted on Saturday, May 05, 2012 3:56 PM
 Crimps are small metal beads that are used to secure beading
wire – for example to secure the ends of a necklace where you attach a clasp,
or as stoppers to hold a bead or series of beads in place at points along a
wire as in a floating or illusion necklace. They are used with flexible beading
wire such as Tigertail, Beadalon, Flexrite and many other brands (look out for
a future posting on the different types of wire!).
 There are two different styles of crimps –tube crimps are
cylindrical tube shapes, crimp beads look like little metal beads and are
rounded. For securing necklaces, I prefer to use tube crimps as I find these
easier to use and neater once secured. When using crimps as stoppers to hold
sections of beads in place along a wire, I use the round crimps, secured with
flat nose pliers (not crimping pliers). For this, you must make sure that the secured
crimp is large enough for the bead not to slide over the top of it, so check
the size of your bead hole against the crimp size.
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Penny: Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2012 2:01 PM
 I will be teaching another course for students new to jewellery making, starting later this month - if you've been wanting to try making your own jewellery, come along and join us for a fun, very friendly and affordable introduction! Beginners Jewellery Making Course
Monday evenings, 7-9pm, Golders Green, London, NW11 Five week course starting on 14 May 2012 Course fee includes all materials as well as information and instruction sheets to take away. Places are limted, so if you're interested, get in touch soon. Learn all the basics with a different project each week, including; - - Elastic bracelets
- Memory wire bracelets
- Stringing a simple standard necklace or bracelet
- Making a wire and bead cocktail ring
- Shamballa style bracelets
- Simple dangly earrings
To book and for more information, please call the community centre organiser - Avital on 020 8922 2901
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Penny: Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2012 9:09 PM
Monday May 7 2012 - Special one off day for Craft & Design Month...
Come along at either 10am or 2pm, bring an idea of what you'd like to learn, any questions you have, or a project you need help with and and pay just £20 per person for a 3 hour session. Fee includes all materials you use, use of my tools, instruction sheets to take away (if relevant), tea, coffee and biscuits! Please book in advance as spaces are strictly limited
Special offer open to new students only - try me out for a 3 hour 1-1 tuition session at less than half the standard price - just £35 instead of the usual £75 - contact me to check availability & discuss what you'd like to work on, before making your booking.
Take advantage of either of these offers at http://www.pitstopx.co.uk/Book-a-Workshop.html
Find out more about Craft and Design Month, as well as to find more special events, exhibitions, open studios and courses happening this month at http://www.craftanddesignmonth.net/ |
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Penny: Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011 2:10 PM
For this week of my challenge, I created bracelet using a mixture of gemstone beads from my stash. I used Rose Quartz , Picasso Jasper and Agate beads to create a bubbly pastel bracelet using silver chain and silver plated fittings.  I'm not usually a fan of pastel colours, which is why these gems have been in my stash for so long waiting to be used, but the Rose Quartz - with its translucency, and the lovely smoky textures often found within it is beautiful and contrasts beautifully with the opaque pinky cream Picasso Jasper. I added in a few of the mottled Agate beads for another layer of contrast which I think creates an interesting balance. The bracelet was made during a teaching session demonstrating how to create wrapped loops to attach beads like these to chain or other elements. The wrapped loops create a more secure attachment than standard loops and add an extra level of decoration at the same time. They form part of my Jewellery Making Intermediate Day. Rose Quartz is a stone that has properties traditionally liked with increased self worth, bringing the wearer peacefulness, a strong sense of love and some say lasting youthful looks. I also made a matching necklace and earrings to go along with this bracelet during the same class session, which make a pretty set for anyone who loves their pinks. |
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Penny: Posted on Thursday, August 04, 2011 9:56 PM
 Although I'm a working jeweller and jewellery making teacher and I've been studying and working in this field for almost 20 years, I still love learning new techniques and working to improve my existing skills. I love adding to my stock of techniques whenever possible, so that when I come up with a design, I have the skills to be able to put it into practice to turn my designs from ideas to real pieces of jewellery. There are a huge range of skills and techniques used within jewellery making, so there is always something new and new teachers and artists to inspire and teach me. With this in mind, over the last few weeks, I've been having a great time... - I am in the process of challenging myself to complete the Level 2 (senior) Art Clay Certificate, (taught by the fabulous Joy Funnell in Hastings) - I did the four day course and completed all my required pieces and they all passed. I am now working on my three independent pieces to send off later this month for marking.
- I went back to Hastings last week for a one day course learning about Joy's specialist Enamelled Accents technique - adding colour to silver clay jewellery with traditional enamels - lots of fun, but definitely needs lots more practice to get a nice even colour and coverage! The image shows one of my pieces from this day.
- A second wax carving day course at the London Jewellery School - lots of fun, i was concentrating on working to create neat joins between pieces of wax, so that as well as carving wax, i can start to add bits together to build up designs if i need to. Wax carving is used to create masters for lost wax casting - a model is made in wax which is then used to create a copy in precious metal.
- This weekend i am attending an Etching course at the London Jewellery School. Unlike wax carving and enamelling, this is something i know the principles of but I've never tried before, so I'm intrigued to see this in practice and see what i can come up with! Looking forward to Saturday!
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Penny: Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2011 9:07 PM
 This bracelet is one of my new teaching projects, but i made this sample as part of my gemstone a week challenge - using Jasper and Marble gemstones strung on a mixture of polyester, cotton and hemp cords, with decorative knotting creating an adjustable closure. I love the patterns within these gemstones, but they aren't a colour i'd normally use, so have sat in my store for a while, waiting for the right project to come along. The colours of the gemstones and the cords work well together for a summery, natural look, and i've had fun mixing around and deciding the best arrangement of bead sizes and knotted sections. This bracelet uses a simple half hitch knot (in the dark brown) and a square knot (in the beige) made in just one direction to create the twisting effect that i think works nicely. This bracelet now forms part of my Knotted and Braided Jewellery Day - next running on August 16th. |
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Penny: Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2011 9:43 PM
 Ok, so I am still doing my gemstone a week challenge, i just haven't photographed them yet. I ordered myself a lighting tent and lights to help me take better photos of my jewellery and i was waiting for it to arrive.... It finally arrived yesterday so i will be getting it set up and taking lots of new photos this week! Just so you know, I made a lovely little silver ring, with a blue agate teardrop shaped cabochon last week, and this week i have turned a gorgeous chunk of Labradorite into a pendant for a necklace. I'll post pictures shortly. In the mean time - I do have a picture of my gigantic new set of shelves that i built last Sunday though.... it turned out rather bigger than expected, but that's just as well, as i've filled it, and it has helped greatly in sorting out some of my jewellery making equipment, beads, books and other bits and pieces!! I also went on a Kumihimo (Japanese braiding) course taught by Jacqui Carey last week in Devon at The Old Kennels - to improve my skills on the Marudai (Japanese braiding stool) - i had a lot of fun, learnt a lot and have tons of new ideas now and a new love of Alpacas.... The Old Kennels is a gorgeous little rural crafting retreat, with fields of Alpacas that they keep for their wool. Photos of my sample braids from this course will follow shortly too, once i've got to grips with my little lighting tent! |
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Penny: Posted on Friday, March 04, 2011 7:56 PM
This month's featured class is the Jewellery Making Starter Day. The day covers making three different types of necklaces; a strung necklace, a continuous necklace without a clasp and a traditionally knotted string of gemstone beads. Each student will go home with three completed necklaces or bracelets, and will learn about choosing beads, designing and planning a necklace as well as attaching different types of clasp. This is a great introduction to jewellery making and a fun day. The day costs £65 including all materials and equipment, as well as information sheets to take home. Next dates; Sunday 20th March, Saturday 2nd April. |
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Penny: Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 4:18 PM
I'm having a busy couple of weeks with workshops at the moment, which is the way I like it! I've met some great ladies who have made some beautiful jewellery over the last week, and have another 5 or so booked in over the coming week. I'm loving teaching these classes and my students are having lots of fun too, so if you're interested in learning a new skill, or expanding on your existing jewellery skills, do get in touch to see how I can help! Tomorrow’s class is a 'Bring Your Own' day where students can choose their own selection of project/s from my whole range, or bring their own ideas for me to help them with - it looks like being a busy and fun packed day - I can't wait. See my workshops page for a current timetable and class descriptions, or have a look at the student gallery to see some of the beautiful jewellery that past students have made, to inspire you. Happy jewellery making! |
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Penny: Posted on Friday, February 04, 2011 3:36 PM
New Featured Class Make a delicate necklace using fine beading wire and crimps with a selection of beautiful semi precious beads or glass pearls. Discover how to space the beads, and how to neatly attach a clasp to the wire. Also learn how to use headpins, wire and chains to create dangly earrings. Attach the ear hooks professionally and create delicate cluster or waterfall earrings. If time allows, you may also be able to complete a bead charm bracelet. Next dates- Monday March 21st, Sunday 3rd April £65 per person including all the materials to finish several gorgeous pieces of jewellery. |
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