Wedding commission

I had the wonderful pleasure of working on a very special commission recently. An old friend contacted me to work on some cufflinks for her wedding.

I haven't made cufflinks in a while and I didn't have all of the tools I needed to do the job but I said yes straight away! The brief was quite specific which was great as time was short!

I have known the bride for a long time so the pressure was on to make the pieces perfect!

Cufflinks fittings and blanks

Letter stamps

The personalised messages was the hardest part of the brief, both in the actual stamping of them and trying to fit in the messages!

Lining up all the letter stamps!

I like to use my work bench as a sketchbook!

Finished!

 

Cufflinks for the groomsmen all lined up and ready to go!

The finished parcel ready for hallmarking.

Despite the Scottish weather the wedding was a big success and I wish the happy couple all the best for their future together as man and wife. Congratulations to Mark and Jenny Kirby!

The postie rang twice.

Today was a day for parcels arriving. First one was from my mum and dad who hunted down my tools that I had left behind by mistake during the move.

My dad is nothing if not efficient, every inch of box is covered in parcel tape!

It was like Christmas! I especially liked my hammer shaped presents.

My big hammer, mallet, ring sizers, mandrel, ring clamp, a vice, soldering iron, steel blocks, doming punches and blocks, disc cutters, hole punches, drill bits, stone setting tools and a few other bits and pieces are all now back in my possession.
I just need to find my steel ruler and get a new borax cone and there will be no stopping me!





If that wasn't enough excitement for one day then there was another knock at the door. A delivery man with my semi precious stones/beads.

I had not ordered from this company before so I was slightly nervous as well as excited as I opened my parcel. Everything seems of good quality and I will be able to make some very effective, striking pieces with these stones.

A great selection of agate, fossil, coral, jade, dyed turquoise,
fluorite, aventurine, chrysotine, and stabilised lapis chrysocolla.

Organisation....

A long, hard day of work yesterday, lots of paperwork but I was rewarded with this sunset at the end of it. A wee trip into Leicester at lunchtime broke up the day which had started at 8am. I am raring to go now, just waiting on a few tools and materials being delivered.

The view from my workshop.

Today, I tried to update my website but Flash and me don't mix! So I gave up and went into my workshop to sort out my space.

My toolbox was first on my list.

It is amazing what you find in a toolbox you've had for nearly 12 years! I remember at University every term Walsh would come for the 2nd years to pick their tools and I always had to buy something. Usually something I didn't really need. Did I really need 2 of my own ring mandrels in 3rd year? Probably not!

I don't even know what these are! I think they are a carborundum stone, an abrasive rubber polishing block and a stone used to take off fire stain (I can't remember what it's called!)

I found a huge stash of scrap silver which is a bonus.

This is apparently what happens if you fill a jar with excess cold enamel over 8 years then smash the jar!

This most important part of the process, I have my jars sorted out.
Soldering equipment, scrap metal and pliers.

My bench is taking shape now.

Progress

It has been a busy few days here in Newbold Verdon. Doug and I have been busy in the garage setting up our workbenches and clearing out space for the car.
After several trips to the cowp we nearly have a clear floor!


The next step was to set up my work bench. Building proved slightly problematic in that I couldn't remember what it was supposed to look like when built!



After unpacking lot of boxes I have realised that I don't have all my tools down here. My mallet, hammers, doming blocks and steel blocks are hopefully somewhere in my mum and dads house. But I will continue to set up the rest of my tools and equipment.

My blowtorch still works!

The two benches almost set up. It was really satisfying to see everything coming together and for the space to start looking like a real workshop. Doug didn't want to stop setting up for the night even though it was 7pm, freezing and we needed tea.

My kiln, ultrasonic, pickle, barrel and band saw all ready to use.

Today I am going to focus on tidying up in the office space upstairs. It needs some work. I have craft things and teaching materials everywhere. Poor Doug is surrounded in wool and beads while he is doing his college work. I will get quite a lot done today while Doug goes out to buy another bookcase from Ikea.


Busy busy!