Silver Class - Spring Term Year 2

It was Friday yesterday which means it's back to silver class after the winter break. As usual after every break, I had intended to sort out my tool box, think about what projects I might attempt, maybe even do some homework. As usual after every break, I had not. So I went in with a blank mind and a messy tool box. But I came out with a pair of earrings ready to wear for work today so something must have gone right?! 

I have a collection of stones that I'd like to set and turn into something fabulous but the idea I had for them was a little more challenging that I could cope with yesterday, after a bit of a stressful day all I wanted was a quick fix and a chance to play with fire. And something I could show off to my new colleagues! A pair of earrings! I had this random circle of silver hanging about from a failed project last year so decided to use that. I drew on two stars and cut them out, I then drew on two more as I wasn't happy with the shape, one was really pointy and could have been slightly dangerous...

 I filled down the two I liked the best so they were a similar size and then soldered on some preprepared earring posts. 

After a bit of a polish they were ready to go. And I left class with a new pair of earrings in my ears! Not bad for a evenings work! 

A bucket list of sorts

So I guess I have a bucket list, I've got things I want to do, things I say I will do and many, many things I never seem to get round to. I'm not one for resolutions as such but I quite like having an aim for the year, I've written about 2012 being the year of gigs and 2013 sort of followed the same idea so maybe 2014 is the year I do other things, not just music?! 

▪️actually dedicate some time each week to my jewellery

▪️ go to New York - how many times am I going to say 'I want to go to new York' and not go?!

▪️follow a tour of a band - sort of working on this one

▪️see a band in a different country

▪️go to Paris 

▪️learn a new language 

▪️find a new favourite band - maybe not favourite, but something that I really love

▪️go to see a play at the west end

▪️go to see a ballet

▪️go to Mexico 

▪️binge watch a season of a tv show

▪️go to Las Vegas 

▪️get a new tattoo! Stop pinning pretty tattoos and feeling jealous and actually get some more ink!

▪️move out

▪️own a convertible

▪️reread Harry Potter

▪️read some 'classics' 

▪️go to a comedy show 

▪️go on a road trip

▪️have a pen friend (or just send my actual friends letters, we used to do this in college and I miss it)

▪️ride a gondola

▪️change my hair colour

▪️write a diary with a bit of consistency

▪️go to japan

▪️take more photos

▪️have a go at learning the saxophone

▪️host an epic Halloween party

▪️Have pizza and pasta in Italy

▪️own something fabulous from Vivienne Westwood

▪️read the bible - not in a religious way, just why not?

▪️sing in front of an audience

▪️see the fireworks at New Years in real life

▪️see more than one film at the cinema in a day

I think this could be quite expensive... So maybe not all in one year! 

2013

For the last few months I have well and truly neglected anything to do with my jewellery world. No Etsy. No making. No blog. Since September all of my time has been taken up with the Costa side of life. We had new starters to train and then I moved store in November to York which was really exciting, but tiring. Now I'm feeling a bit more settled I've been having a few jewellery related thoughts, some designs ideas, the actual urge to make something and I've been wanting to start writing again. The obligatory 2013 recap felt like a good excuse for a post! 

I wrote a post called 2012 - year of the gigs and 2013 has been pretty similar. At the start of 2012 I had promised myself more live music and that's something's I have tried to keep up in 2013. And will continue in 2014... This year I've seen The Gaslight Anthem, Green Day twice, Pitbull - don't judge me! And Dave Hause 3 times - I saw him as support for Alkaline Trio last year and he was fantastic. On this tour Northcote was support and was brilliant. Dave Hause played mostly on his own but was sometimes joined by Northcote and Mitchell Townsend, he said the idea was to play the songs from his new album 'Devour' as they were written, the album has a full band so to hear the songs stripped back to a guitar or piano was cool. 

I also tried to be a bit more "cultural" and went to the theatre for a few shows, we saw Beautiful Thing and Blood Brothers, with both I wasn't sure if I wanted to go but said yes anyway and both I really enjoyed! And then there was two Rocky Horror shows. This was a brand new production and it was awesome. We were a bit worried it wouldn't live up to the shows with David Badella in but Oliver Thornton was fantastic, as were the rest of the cast. 

I've been to London 3 times this year, all for gigs but on the most recent visit I went to the East London Design Show which helped fuel the jewellery fire. There was several jewellery stands, all with really different designs and techniques, some amazing work on show. 

I have continued with my silver smithing class, I missed the last few lessons because of work but am hoping all will be well for the new term. I made a rediculous bracelet, that took up the first two terms. Then loads of rings. Absolutely loads. I don't have enough fingers... And a couple of pairs of earrings. After the epic bracelet I have really just been experimenting (then turning the experiments into rings) and have discovered my favourite thing is the doming block. I love punches as well for making patterns but I think silver dishes is where it's at for my next few projects. I actually don't have any grand ideas for the new term so I'll have to have a think...

Here's to a great 2014!