NEW STOCKIST FOR CHILICHIC!

I'm delighted to announce Chilichic Jewellery's latest stockist.... 

 Y Galeri (Yr Arteri Arts Centre) in Caerphilly. 

Officially opened just last week, the gallery already boasts an impressive array of original artwork, handmade jewellery and pottery. 

I have plans for a completely new collection of Chilichic designs for Yr Arteri and will be working on that over the next few weeks. In the meantime I've created a small selection of the Chilichic favourite...Semi-Precious pendants. Each one is different and can be added to the Sterling Silver chain of your choice. Chains available for the pendants are sold separately, so you could invest in one of the lovely omega chains and choose several pendants that can be swapped for a new look each time or if you are buying a gift one of the delicate, fine chains will complete the look perfectly. 

Here's a few of the designs available NOW at Yr Arteri and visit Chilichic Jewellery on Facebook for the complete gallery.

With the focus on Welsh based Designer/Makers including well established jeweller Mandy Nash, the exquisite pottery work of South African born Christine Gittins as well as new and emerging talent, artistic director Jan Pennell plans to provide the area with a much needed outlet for creative talent. I was particularly taken with some clever artwork with a  unique, witty use for maps...and a lamp created using items that were unrecognizable from their original purpose! Don't take my word for it though, If you love original designs and quality handmade artwork, get down to 8 St Fagan's Street (Opposite Peacocks), Caerphilly and see for yourself.

Floral Inspiration

I'm not a very good gardener and what has survived in mine says more about the tenacity of plants than any effort I've made! However, I do love to see beautiful blooms and with this gorgeous sunshine it was the perfect opportunity to take some pics of what is currently hanging in there, waiting for me to remember they need watering...

Learning New Skills...and Making New Friends!

So...the Easter hols are over as are two of the busiest weeks I've had in ages. I've spent much of the time either attending or working on my PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learnning Sector) course and my head still feels like exploding from so much work! For anyone that knows me they will vouch for how nervous I am at the thought of speaking in a group so having to prepare and deliver two micro teaching sessions last week was..at first...terrifying!!! But, thanks in some part to the lovely people I was on the course with, I mangaged ok and was actually looking forward to the last one:)

It turns out I'm not the only person that is daunted by public speaking and this really helped put my fears in perspective. I delivered my first session by introducing basic jewellery making tools and materials and another on jewellery design and styles...

We really were an eclectic bunch of delegates and I'm going to miss seeing everyone. I learnt loads of new stuff from each presentation and definitely came away with a positive outlook.

Here's everyone in action...

The lovely Sarah preparing to talk about how to deliver good customer care. Sarah has adopted Wales as her home and her natural effervescence was infectious.

Emma is clearly not someone to take it easy (She is due to have her first baby any day!) and her advice on improving confidence was really interesting and must be a great help to the people she works with.

A tenacious Elaine sets up her food demo despite having fractured her arm the night before. Making peppermints and chocs also offered us the funniest moments of the course :)

Ever professional and efficient, I wish I had Lesley to organize my life....Mr Cameron should snap her up now to sort the country out...take her a week I reckon!

Brian, the token male on the course more than held his own against us ladies. An old hand at tutoring and training, he showed us how to keep our sense of humour despite the nerves.

And keeping us all in check was Dave, reassuring us we CAN do this :)

It's not over yet though as we have a month to get the written work completed..

wish me luck!

EVENT: EXPO 2012 Celebrating Entrepreneurial Women

To celebrate INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Networking Entrepreneurial Women@Glam (NEW) are holding an EXPO, showcasing a selection of work by women, with demos, talks, workshops and other events available. Stands will be open between 11am and 4pm situated in The Basement, Student's Union, University of Glamorgan, Main (Treforest) Campus, Near Pontypridd, CF37 1DL FREE ENTRY.

CHILICHIC JEWELLERY will have a selection of handmade designs available at the event along with some gift sets perfect for Mother's Day.

I'm looking forward to meeting new makers and it will be my first visit to The University. I hope some familiar faces will be there and anyone coming along please stop to say 'hello!'. I hope to use the day to also get feedback on offering workshops and what people may be looking for. Wish me luck :)

Making Jewellery Magazine April Issue

The latest 'MAKING JEWELLERY' magazine is a Celebration special, appropriate then that April sees my own big birthday (40...ssshh!) and so I am especially delighted to have a step by step article featured in the issue.

It was a very time consuming project that had it's origins in a previous (epic!) necklace design I made for an International Women's Day exhibition last year at stockist 'Lemon Blues'. This time it was suggested I try creating a similar design but in a gradual flow of colours. Due to time issues I decided to use larger seed beads this time to create what is a very dramatic statement necklace. The cuff bracelet uses memory wire and multi row crystal spacers to maintain shape. Impact jewellery for that special occasion.

Necklace, Bracelet & Ring

Original Inspiration Design

SUPPLIER UPDATE - I adore the colours and the beads were lovely, unfortunately Empire Beads where I purchased the materials has just shut it's doors and so I have looked around and suggest BEADS DIRECT for similar supplies if required.

Birthdays

I've been busy with boring stuff like paperwork lately and not been making anything so I took time out last week to make birthday pressies for two friends. First up was EC's day and as she doesn't wear fashion jewellery often I decided to make a bag charm. I really like the plated gunmetal finish on the findings and the square, cut out piece fit perfectly on a chunky semi-precious bead pendant I've had for a while. All secured with silver wire wrapping and a vintage red bead with dangling leaf charms to finish.

LD's is a Leap Year birthday and so for her 9th(!) official birthday I again used laminated butterfly images, originally done for a recent step by step Making Jewellery Magazine article. L had admired that necklace and I promised to do something similar for her. This time I wanted to give the piece more weight and so used a recycled, antique gold finish chain (almost genuine Vintage..it was mine from the 80's!) interspersed with a selection of semi-precious beads and spacers. I chose three different butterflies in similar colours and used long head pins to attach to each other,  folded over at the back, looping around each other to form a rigid frame. This gives the pendant some weight and will keep the butterlies in place.

I'm very pleased with the finished pieces and hope the girls were happy. It's SE's birthday next in March and I already have a lovely quirky design in mind. April & May sees my two oldest friends (R&G)and I reach our milestone birthdays and so I will have to pull my sketch book out and get some new ideas flowing in readiness to produce something special for them both.

 I will be spending my big birthday week attending a course to enable me to teach jewellery making skills to students. I'm really looking forward to being able to offer workshops and welcome any suggestions or interest in what I can make available to those interested in making bead designs.

Dragon's Den, Newport Style!

I got to channel my inner Hilary Devey on Friday as one of the 'Dragons' judging pitches by Nash College students. So, eschewing the shoulder pads, but with a  disturbingly similar hair style, I took my place on the panel along with some that would give the real Dragon's a run for their money! It was a fantastic experience and the teams should be very proud of themselves for what they produced. Four teams all with completely different visions and all delivered very, very well....some much better than those featured on the TV show, no joke. They aren't business students and yet showed not only creativity but an excellent understading of what is needed to carry ideas through to production. I wish them all every luck with whatever career paths they take.
Oh to be 19 again, going out into the world with it's infinite possibilities..
DON'T MUCK IT UP GUYS :)