I am still here..I promise!

I feel really bad that I've been away from my blog for SO long! That city & Guilds course that I started has really taken up my time - loads of practical work and loads of homework. It's fun getting back to messing about with paint and doing wax crayon rubbings (the initial module is on the basics of colour, line, texture, shape and form before we move on to the textile work) but it means that I haven't had much time for other things. And now the Christmas craft fairs have crept up on me! I have a good amount of stock but there's less winter stock than I would like. I have been working on it in between making print blocks from foam and textures from sticks but almost everything I've made recently has gone to re-stock galleries.

The first fair is tomorrow night at the Christchurch Centre, Malpas, Newport. It's only a local charity fair so I think that the work I've got will be sufficient. I did make some new handbag charms that are a bit chunkier than I normally make. That's something I would like to work on as my jewellery has always been quite fine and delicate looking in the past.
My next craft fair is Saturday and Sunday (21st and 22nd November) at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. I had a great fair their in the summer so I'm hoping for great things but the weather forecast isn't looking good. Finger's crosssed for people!

Finally a summer top

Only a season too late but at least it's finally finished!


I made Simplicity 4695, a supposedly simple little shell top. Actually the pattern went together really well but I used the wrong interfacing so the facing around the armholes looked really stiff and felt awkward. Trimming back didn't help so I ended up unpicking it and top stitching around the armhole instead. I think it looks okay now and I'm really happy to have finished the top in time for next summer!

I'd like to make this top again but in a more relaxed fabric (this was a quilting cotton) and I'll lower the armhole slightly as it seems a little snug. I also find the collar too high at the front but maybe the discomfort comes from the stiffness of the quilting cotton. I might try lowering it by just 1cm for the next top.

I don't kow how much time I will have to make clothes from now on (I know I haven't been that brilliant at it anyway!) as I'm just about to start a City & Guilds course in creative textiles. I'm sure that it will take up a lot of my spare time but it should also increase my confidence in my abilities.

Textile Journeys

Just a quick post to tell you about an exhibition I saw on Saturday. It was actually the launch that I attended so there were lots of lovely artists to talk to but the work will be interesting even on a rainy Tuesday afternoon with no one else around. To celebrate their 10th anniversary Fibre Art Wales has created a touring exhibition entitled Journeys and from 25th September to 8th November it's stopping at Rhondda Heritage Park (which is just up the road from me). As it's a collaborative event the work is really varied, from a combined crochet and video piece to a jewelled, wirework shoe and whimsical embroidered vintage hankies. I love this sort of thing and maybe you will too so if you're in the area, go take a look :)

Double Published

I've got 2 articles in the latest issue of Making Jewellery magazine which was in the shops on Friday. The first is my regular page on artists and their inspirations. This month I spoke to Joy Funnell, the first person to become a Craftsman of the Guild of Enamellers using metal clay. Her Venetian Mask inspired pendant is so vibrant and really inspires me to try out enamelling for myself.
The next article I wrote is my own tutorial on making a Swarovski crystal cluster necklace.

Let's hope that people enjoy my work :)

What a busy time!

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. I've been doing a lot but don't have many photos to show for it I'm afraid. On 9th September I went to the International Jewellery Show at Earl's Court. It was my first time there and I found it really useful to speak to lots of suppliers and pick up all their brochures. I was particularly looking for new boxes to go with my new look and I've almost decided on a supplier. There were also lots of suppliers of lovely gemstones and I spent a lot of money on beads. It's definitely worth another trip next year.

Then on Saturday I had a stand at the Usk Show. Another first for me and I wasn't sure what to expect - how big it would be, what kind of footfall etc. I had to get up at 5.30am (!) in order to be set up in time but it was worth it. The show was massive with marquees for show fruit and poultry, a number of show rings for the livestock and loads of stalls. Even from the first moment there were loads of people wandering around, although it did take until the afternoon for them to really start spending. I ended up having a very productive day and it was well worth the early start!

Without time for a breather I then drove to Leicestershire on Sunday so that I could attend a seminar at Ferrers Gallery the next day. In a group of 12 artists I learnt about marketing for creative people - no boring business speak in sight! I learnt lots of things that I will be putting into practice as soon as I can. Finally my husband and I got a day off and went to Calke Abbey again in Leicestershire. A brilliant, quirky place - a manor house that got stuck in a number of eras and has been frozen in time. Finally some photos! Here are a few pretty pictures of the gardens:

And now it's back to the grindstone. I've got 4 galleries to re-stock so for the next few weeks I'll be concentrating on making.

A few festival photos

Over the August Bank Holiday I took part in the Talgarth Festival in the Brecon Beacons. I set up my jewellery stand in the countryside section which is housed in the cattle market. Each stall had one cattle pen and there was lots of variety to the stalls Including demonstrations of various crafts, people selling their own work and information from organisations like CADW and Glasgu. There's a lovely community feel to the festival and everyone chats to each other like old friends. I also sold quite a lot of jewellery which made me happy :)

My jewellery stand and a view of the cattle market. On the right side of my stand I had a sale section with reduced jewellery but also various beads and findings that I don't need anymore. I put them in rummage boxes with a separate price for each box and I sold quite a lot.

I fell in love with the alpacas! Such brilliant characters and looks on their faces.

Other animals that were being shown - 3 little ducks and Tigger and Bluebell the very well-behaved donkeys.

Demonstrations of country crafts.

New and improved...

Kira Jones Jewellery has been re-branded by a proper graphic designer and my new business cards have just arrived!

Clean, white front with only the details that are required and a simple logo then a picture of one of my new pendants on the back. I've got 1000 of these so I'll be giving them away at any chance! Website still to come...