tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14252195467710788002024-02-07T04:42:35.187+00:00Quercus SilverA jeweller's blog. Mostly.Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-70174408713689729242012-08-06T14:09:00.002+01:002012-08-06T14:47:56.349+01:00Five Senses
Lavender outside my workshop
Smell
- I've been on holiday for a couple of weeks and when I opened up my workshop this morning and began to clean it, ready for work, it smelt wonderful.
Lavender bushes outside mingled with the evocative smell of my freshly oiled rolling mill, the sweet acid of the pickle I clean my work with and warm dusty wood of my workbench.
Sight - Colour has always beenQuercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-12334865998929007292012-05-20T23:52:00.000+01:002012-05-20T23:56:45.431+01:00Good Things
I just thought I'd share a good thing with you. I was really pleased to be the featured "Meet the Maker" in Frankly Magazine this week. In all honesty, it took a while for me to get the photographs together and answer Emily Barnes' patient questions.
The delay was all on my part and I was wondering why this was.
I think it's an uncomfortable thing for an artist to put themselves out there.Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-10714906359606029632011-11-23T20:46:00.002+00:002011-11-23T20:49:14.964+00:00Corners of my workshop
I was allowed a huge heap of self-indulgence this week. Brenda (Lindecise) asked me to blog about my work space for the Etsy European Street Team. It gave me the excuse to clean the windows ( nice view of a golden football) and sit back and look at all the odd little things that have found a home in my workshop.
Everything in my shed has a story for me and every tool is well loved. Here are a Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-56706683798296249912011-10-16T18:07:00.004+01:002011-10-17T09:10:58.865+01:00EtsyMetal 5th Anniversary Sale – Starts today! Sunday Oct 16-22I’m very proud to be part of the online metals guild, etsymetal – it's an international group of skilled and talented independent jewellers. This week to celebrate 5 years of etsymetal we're having an anniversary sale. Many of our members are participating and it’s a fantastic opportunity to start your Christmas shopping or treat yourself to something new and Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-84694823293205776062011-09-04T08:58:00.001+01:002011-09-07T21:11:47.580+01:00World Heart Day - September 25thThis month the etsymetal team challenge lends it's support to World Heart Day on September 25th.
Their message is "One World, One Home, One Heart" and you can see more etsymetal interpretations of this theme on the etsymetal blog here.
I chose to make a simple, graphic pair of earrings in square sterling silver wire.. I decided to make a logo for the cause. expressing the Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-13227799646263745362011-09-04T08:23:00.001+01:002011-09-04T08:25:22.229+01:00Etsy Front Page FeatureI was delighted to find my sapphire blue earrings featured on the Etsy front page today. They were in this gorgeous collection by Zrinka.
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Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-52300445494433659812011-08-11T18:27:00.000+01:002011-08-11T18:27:02.528+01:00The Alexander Calder Challenge - Part 2
Alexander Calder
Like many other etsymetal jewellers this month's challenge produced a glut of ideas.
Pendulum Earrings
Alexander Calder's work perfectly expressed form, balance and joy and with this in mind I went searching for his beautiful mobiles.
When I saw this perfectly poised piece I instantly saw a pair of kinetic earrings. Bench cleared, radio turned up - BBC Radio 6 isQuercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-25141627858715895292011-08-11T17:53:00.000+01:002011-08-11T17:53:34.514+01:00The Alexander Calder Challenge - Part 1Well, the challenge is where to stop!
The etsymetal monthly challenge for August was to make a jewellery piece inspired by the work of Alexander Calder, sculptor, artist, jeweller and and all round prolific talent. ( btw etsymetal is a team/group of like-minded metalsmiths)
mid-piece and sketches
Calder wire sculpture
I was delighted by his wire sculptures and this tempted me into Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-85203271836915959392011-07-11T13:01:00.001+01:002011-07-11T13:04:13.627+01:00Etsymetal Blog Carnival: "Influences"Artist's Work That Has Influenced My Own
This is a short spin around my virtual gallery of inspirational artists I turn to when I need to feed my creativity. Perhaps they don't influence my work in an obvious or direct way but they are there in the background, always. I could happily add so many others artists -Terry Frost, Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson. jewellers Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-91486038117558602412011-06-07T22:23:00.000+01:002011-06-07T22:23:06.333+01:00The thief of timeAhh, c'mon! you do it, too don't you?
Or, should that be "don't do it"?
Procrastinate- an overlong word for whittling time.
The art of the mundane
At best procrastination is such pure self-expression it's almost an art form. All those little things you do to evade the task at hand, so intimate and personal to the procrastinator, cleaning hammers, winding clocks or Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-64383082655805893372011-05-05T20:06:00.000+01:002011-05-05T20:06:18.736+01:00You are invited................to an Opening Night in Seattle
Ring 100 by Victoria Takahashi
Ring a Day
65 artists. 1 year. 365 rings.
May 5 - 29, 2011
Opening Reception: 5 - 8pm
First Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tonight is the opening night of the Ring a Day exhibition at the Punch Gallery in Seattle. If you can get there, do, please and take a picture for me. I have 6 rings in the exhibition which is just amazing but a sneaky picture or two of the Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-53686540706138407252011-04-09T23:38:00.002+01:002011-04-09T23:48:36.559+01:00Charm Swap - Oh yes please!
22 silver lilies
The etsymetal team, as I've probably told you already, is a pretty close-knit group of international metalsmiths with a healthy obsession with metal and we like to share. So, twice a year we hold a charm swap. We each make 22 charms, donate 2 to raise money for the team and charity and exchange all the others.
I've been involved in 2 previous swaps and have aQuercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-83464164423221653522011-03-06T21:06:00.003+00:002011-03-07T19:16:46.229+00:00What do I wear?These questions form this month's Etsymetal Blog Carnival. Etsymetal is a group of independent, rambunctious jewellers I am delighted to belong to.
My well-blinged left hand
What jewellery do you wear everyday?
Rings are my thing - you may have noticed - and the rings I wear everyday on my left hand are traditional but very special to me.
My simple wedding band I had madeQuercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-13712566320393533072011-02-28T22:07:00.001+00:002011-02-28T22:35:31.163+00:00DaffodilIn the gardens and hedgerows around Bath the daffodils are just about to burst out in all their golden glory. I don't know about you, but they always make me smile. I have a bunch on my kitchen table now.
I've had enough of tasteful, muted winter colours and I need something fresh and and blousy. Like those hosts of daffs. this season's citric yellows will lift your spirits.
Bright Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-52168828237961129772011-02-06T17:23:00.005+00:002011-02-06T23:36:20.215+00:00Super Bowl Sunday
superbowl
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverCan't resist a challenge, me! When I heard about the Super Bowl Challenge 2011 on flickr it seemed like a good excuse for an excursion into trinket bowls.
I wanted to make something free form and a little rustic, so I didn't make a mold. I just showed my rolling pin to some paper clay and set off on the journey.
painting on size before gilding
Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-4639387000955247652011-01-23T17:48:00.003+00:002011-01-23T19:48:10.204+00:00RAW 3/52 Dark Spiral
RAW 3/52 Dark Spiral
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverWell, today I've been helping my son with his homework. He wanted to make a barrage balloon-just a model, I hasten to add! - from steel and paper and it's taken forever and we are both covered in glue and varnish.
model barrage in the making
Sooooo, this simple but very long spiral ring is made from leftover steel wire. This weekend Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-71725825383023501522011-01-18T17:47:00.002+00:002011-01-18T21:15:24.258+00:00RAW 2/52 - Corner
raw 2/52 - Corner - Explored
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverThis ring is my second for the "Ring a Week" challenge.
It's a simple square of sterling silver with a square wire band.
My inspiration came from the pocket of my work apron, which often hides odd bits of half-finished jewellery. I imagined a precious stone, wrapped in a handkerchief for safe keeping..
The setting is quite Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-16047281466927944182011-01-16T15:16:00.002+00:002011-01-16T15:21:47.989+00:00Ring a Week
RAW 1- Sails
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverRing a Week is a development from the exciting explorations of Ring a Day last year. Hmm, you might have noticed, it's week 2 and already I am behind - what can I say? I like a deadline..
This ring is made of 2 lengths of steel wire fed through a sliver tube which I lined with rubber tubing. The Japanese koji paper is glued and sealed inQuercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-79747989421323666162011-01-04T11:04:00.002+00:002011-01-04T11:06:26.481+00:00Happy New Challenge
RAd 142 The Last Waltz
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverThis ring, in paper, steel silver and gold marks not just the end of 2010, but the end of the Ring a Day Challenge on Flickr.
I enjoyed the fun of making a new ring everyday from any material any method. I made 142of the 365 and used everything from business cards and leather scraps to gold and steel.
Some, a very select few, made it Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-73733069464617716712010-12-11T20:23:00.000+00:002010-12-11T20:23:15.485+00:00Etsy Blog - What Men Want
I am so proud that my cufflinks were featured on The Storque Blog on Etsy.
Ron, of Projector - a fabulous hand-printed tie shop -described them as "the epitome of cool" and I'll hide my blushes, but it did make me grin.
If you've still got blokes to buy for, this article makes great reading with shopping ideas from penguins and bears to rice bowls and dog pillows.
Read Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-29673340387743735102010-12-07T17:03:00.003+00:002010-12-07T17:08:38.882+00:00Leather Ruffles Earrings
Leather Ruffles Earrings
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverYou've seen the ring, now meet the earrings.
A real surprise to me this year has been the popularity of my leather rings, like the Ruffles Ring. They started out as experimental ideas from the Ring a Day challenge using silver and recycled leather.
Now I have designed a cute pair of ruffled earrings to match. Like the rings Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-59023715810882715952010-11-19T18:02:00.002+00:002010-11-20T12:09:22.467+00:00Ring a Day 2010 Number 133 Embrace Blue
RAD133 Embrace Blue
Originally uploaded by Quercus SilverUh oh!
The pull of the Ring a Day Challenge has proved to much. Having missed months and months, I've joined again for the final jog to the finish line in Decemeber.
So may beautiful creative rings have been produced for the challenge this year, and such a great community of compulsive ring makers has grown up, I must admit that they are Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-7046863150736920022010-10-11T17:14:00.000+01:002010-10-11T17:14:57.920+01:00Gorgeous FP from SteinschmuckI had to share this vibrant Etsy front page, The collection, mostly of fellow Artisan's Gallery members, was made by Michele of steinschmuckdesign and is full of energy, don't you think? I was delighted that my new indigo cuff links were here, too. For more about the Artisan's Gallery Team on Etsy check out our blog.http://artisansgalleryteam.blogspot.com/Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-25758536794707552502010-10-09T20:13:00.000+01:002010-10-09T20:13:53.909+01:00Etsymetal Team Anniversary Giveaway and SaleAs you know I'm a very proud member of that illustrious Etsy jewellers' team known as EtsyMetal. We are celebrating our 4th Anniversary this month and to celebrate this in style we will be having 4 $50 gift certificate giveaways the last 4 Fridays of October.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KathrynRiechert
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Fluxplay
For all the Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1425219546771078800.post-9615792743630631492010-09-12T21:21:00.001+01:002010-09-12T21:38:56.370+01:00Featured! My bumper Etsy weekendI was delighted to be featured twice this weekend on the Etsy front page for all to see. It's great visibility for my shop, of course, but I am also really proud to have been in such beautiful treasuries by 3Dots and MQuin
.Quercus Silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06288951079780976493noreply@blogger.com2