Why I love my hands...

I love my hands because they are creative hands. Hands that doodle and draw, paint, cut, colour and more...

I love my hands because they hold the small hands of my children. Walking along or simply sitting, we link fingers and we are one.

I love my hands because they hold up the book I am reading and turn its pages. Books are my escape, my little sanctuary from the everyday humdrum.

I love my hands because they hold my camera up to my eye and press the shutter to capture what it sees. Seeing the world in detail is a delight - and to capture that image forever is a thing that brings me great joy.

I love my hands because my nails are growing strong. Which tells me that I am in good health - and after being in only so-so health for so long - that makes me very, very happy.

A Square Peg in a Round Hole

I have been working on a bespoke piece based around the idea of a 'square peg in a round hole', for an 18th birthday in Jan.

The birthstone for Jan is Garnet, so I have used a 5mm square cut garnet as the focal point of the piece, with 24ct Keum-boo gold added as a highlight.

The first picture below is the piece at 'green stage', this means the silver art clay has dried but can still be worked as if a ceramic article rather than as a hard metal piece.


I have now fired the piece ready for the addition of the 24ct Keum-Boo highlight.
Keum-boo is not gold leaf, it is a much thicker gold foil which can be cut, torn, cutter punched etc, and applied to the silver using heat.
I wil attach the gold to the silver using a butane torch and an Agate Burnishing tool to give a smooth finish and a strong bond with the silver, but others may use different tools for the same effect.


Here is the finished piece...for a square peg in a round hole. With love and my best wishes


Notes: This piece was for an 18 year old young woman, with an eye for stylish high fashion and unique creative art.
Since a child she has always felt different to her peers with her take on life and a razor sharp creative spark.

I wanted to create a unique piece of wearable jewellery to be enjoyed for many years. Something that would symbolise the wearer, without shouting out its meaning.
The traditional key or 18 hanging around her neck would simply not have 'cut the mustard' so to speak, I hope this does...

Namaste
Helen 'Lizze' James x

Twitter: LizzieJArt

Keum-Boo explained by Wikipeadia

From Dull Clay to Sparking Silver

I thought I would blog the process of how silver clay ends up up as a wearable piece of silver jewellery. What I am going to illustrate is the part of working with silver clay that I find the most fascinating and exciting. Turning something that starts off so brittle and delicate and ends up as a shiny solid pendant.


The picture above is a disk about 1" in diameter in what is known as its 'green state'. This is where the silver clay has been left to dry and is ready for firing. It has a dusty grey look and feels rather delicate to handle. At this stage it can be filed, sanded, drilled, carved, and pretty much anything you can do with regular clay.
Before this stage while the clay was moist, I stamped it and made holes in which I set 3x small Ruby's, 1 x Garnet and 1 x Peridot ready to be fired into the piece.
Its not perfect I know, but this was my first attempt so things can only get better with time.

After firing with a torch the piece takes on its metallic feel with a dull white surface that looks and feels dusty. This is not a dust, it is silver particles not laying in a uniform pattern to reflect the light so it looks dull.

The picture below shows the difference it makes to the areas that have been burnished to lay the silver particles flat with the back of a stainless steel spoon. An agate burnishing tool is most useful at this stage but mine was at the bottom of the tools box when I was at this stage so needs must and I grabbed a spoon to use instead. It has a long way to go yet so I have time to dig out the burnishing tools for additional shine.
The area with the bright shine around the edge of the disk shows where I have just rubbed the back of the spoon across the surface to burnish it.



This next picture shows the back of the disk, and you can see the indentations from the Teflon sheet I used to roll the clay out onto. You can also see the holes I made for the gem stones, and the bail made from a piece of fine silver attached with clay paste onto the pendant.



Finally you can see that now the shine is beginning to appear and the disk is looking more like a piece of silver jewellery almost ready to be worn.



I fired it once more to raise the rough surface again in order to apply an area of 22Kt Gold Keum-Boo then burnished again to set the gold in place.
It is nearly ready to wear now, I just need to give it a polish with a good cloth to further smooth off any scratches and it will be ready to enjoy.


I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, and I hope it inspires you to give silver art clay a go for yourself.

Follow my thoughts and ramblings on Twitter @Lizziejart

Getting to grips with Silver Clay

I have always enjoyed ceramics but have always disappointed that the pieces I made would be so fragile it was hard to keep them safe from little hands.
Having recently discovered the pleasures of crafting handmade silver jewellery, it came as a joy and inspiration to learn about the wonders of silver clay also known as precious metal clay or PMC. For me this was like the ultimate combination of my favorite things. I get to work initially as if with ceramic, then following firing the techniques change to some silver smithing techniques I have been attempting to get the hang of.

I cant tell you how addictive working with silver clay is, the possibilities are vast. As a relatively new product to the market many traditional jewellers remain rather wary of using PMC. However, it is gaining in popularity with artisans and home crafters, especially as it is such a pleasant non toxic product to craft with.

What is Silver Clay?

First developed in Japan Art Clay Silver is made of finely powdered pure silver, water, and binders. When heated to 800-850 degrees C., the organic binders burn off, leaving a pure silver piece.


Precious Metal Clay, PMC, is an exciting material developed and patented in the 1990s by Mitsubishi Materials of Japan. Microscopic particles of silver are mixed with a moist binder to create a material that has the feel and working properties of modeling clay.
Using simple tools, objects are easily given shape, texture, and character. After air-drying, the objects are heated to temperatures approaching the melting point of the metal. The binders burn off safely leaving the fine silver particles to fuse together to make a dense, fully metallic object.
Once fired the piece can be polished, soldered, enameled, and enjoyed like any other silver item. It may then also be stamped .999 or hallmarked traditionally as fine silver.

As I explained earlier I have only been using Silver Clay for a month or so, but as I am sure you too will find out it really is a joy to work with, and I can see this becoming a long term interest as I learn more about it and explore its possibilities in the coming months and years.

Lizzie J Art Hand wrapped silver signature bangles

Quickly establishing itself as my favourite design, this hand wrapped bangle has captured the eye of many friends and next table coffee drinkers who have noticed it.


The simple beauty of this design is that it begins life as a length of cold silver wire, lifeless and waiting to be transformed.
Through careful bending, wrapping, and finishing detail, this wire soon takes on its own life, becoming a delightfully comfortable and unique article of jewellery.

It's my greatest wish that it may become an heirloom cherished item, passed from one generation to the next with love and many a happy memory.



These bangles are custom made to ensure a perfect fit for comfort and daily wear.

Designed to be barely felt on the wrist, always enjoyed by the owner.



For all enquiries email: Lizziejart@hotmail.co.uk
Lizzie J Art FaceBook Page

Hearts n Oysters Necklace

Or how about a few pearls?

Tethered heart necklace

Ive been bending n twisting again with a little sterling silver and here is what I came up with.
16" necklace with 2cm hammered silver heart, hand wired dangle and swarovski crystal bead.

love n light,
x

A little patience and The Apprentice

I love silver jewellery, the colour, the feel of the metal, and the fact that it can be worked in so many ways, that a unique piece could be made for each and every man woman and child on the planet many times over.

Recently, I was trying to explain a design I had in mind to a jeweller without him quite getting what I was after, that it dawned on me I should make it myself. Afterall, I didnt think I was asking for a complex design. So I got my creative on and went away to make it myself from .925 wire.
All it took was a little patience while watching The Apprentice, cheers for that Lord Sugar.

BTW without wanting to be sound too harsh, it makes me sick that those people are considered the cream of our future industry! WTF, No wonder our economy is in trouble! If I had their flannel Id be a flippin squilionaire!!!

Sorry back to topic:
I have wanted a roman style bracelet for eons but just haven't found what I was looking for to buy before. Which is why I was asking a jeweller to make up my design for me in the first place.

So here we are, this is what I had in mind and is now sitting comfortably on my wrist.
Yesterday Hemp Soap, today a silver bracelet. Both made with a little patience, alot of love, and for the bracelet a dose of The Apprentice.

Back with new inspiration

Sorry its been a while....to say the least, oops!

I ve not bee resting on my laurels or hiding away in a dark corner though. No this creative chick has been getting her life n order and back to that creative chick I always have been.
The previous posts did result in a long and fraught conversation with my mother, which hopefully may result in a better relationship in the long run. I have to admit though, that at the moment the dust is still settling while we both get used to the new beginnings. Fingers crossed eh and if nothing else I have been honest and have no regrets, only hopes for a better relationship for us both.

Anyway, pastures new and upto date.
I am still painting when I get a moment and enjoying it all the more, but the idea of selling any of my work is far more difficult than I ever imagined it would be. It wasnt until I was approached to sell Purple Shores my first painting after all those years, that I realised that and declined the offer. Weighing up money v selling a part of my psyche, was more punishing than anything I known for a long while.

Happy to announce creativity is bursting through me again, business is running smoothly, and I am already looking forward to Spring.

I love a challenge, and view creating products with my hands pretty much all in the same vein.
To me there is little difference between creating uber eco skin care for Innocent Oils, Organic Modelling dough for O'Dough, building a studio to work in, painting the walls or artwork for my walls.
It's the challenge of having an idea in my head and finding a way to make it happen so I can touch it for real, that brings the biggest challenge and joy.

My upbringing has taught me that if I need something I can make make it. If I cant make it, I have to make something else that I can use to get me to where I want to be, and to enjoy the adventure the journey along the way.

This is my journey along the way whatever it may bring...

A creative woman...

Being creative makes me happy, so what on earth was I thinking allowing disappointment to prevent me from being creative?

Having had a good ol moan in my post yesterday. Sorry about that btw. :( Time is now to pick my sorry ass up, and get my mojo back in shape again. :)

In my search for that butt kicking moment, I came across the blog from inspirational woman and creative kindred soul on Twitter @wildheartqueen who says in her intro "You are in the right place if you are creatively stuck, blocked and frustrated." Yep Im there... But not for long now...:)

Reading through her inspirational Blog, it was refreshing to read such wonderful honesty, which in today's highly critical world is often hidden or avoided for fear of repercussions.

So to hell with repercussions. I am me - dangerously creative, and bursting with life.

Life is short, so Im gonna get back to living it the best way I know how.

BEING CREATIVE... :D

Namaste,
Lizzie J X


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