A tiny frog

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I am making it as part of a larger pendant in Art Clay silver. Here are some of the tiny pieces at an early stage, before I began to assemble the frog. It will be peeping over the edge of a leaf in the final piece.

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If you would like to design and make your own unique piece of jewellery I teach jewellery making in many different media here in my studio in Yorkshire. Courses include traditional silver jewellery making, silver clay, enamelling, metal clay, bead making and jewellery using plastics. For more information see my website or email

Not much change there then!

I was searching the Internet for something enamel related and came across an old article from 2008. It really made me smile to read it. I think my jewellery making skills have improved substantially since then. Although I gave up working as a University tutor I didn’t really give up teaching and now run jewellery making and enamelling classes in my own studio. I still like to experiment with non-traditional materials in jewellery making from time to time too.

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Included in this montage are a ring made in felted wool and a necklace of white flowers made a few years ago from the very everyday plastic milk carton.

I have all kinds of interesting classes here this year, look here for more information or to book email

Bright turquoise enamel

Setting up my new display cabinet in the studio has given me an opportunity to review some of my work.

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This spot twist pendant is vitreous enamel on silver and in a beautiful summer shade of turquoise blue. The reverse of the pendant is textured and has gold highlights using the tradition Korean technique of Keum Boo. The piece is part of a range of jewellery with a twist and I can make this using a variety of enamel colours. The twist means that the pendant moves around while you are wearing it, sometimes giving a glimpse of the other surface. It creates quite an animated piece of jewellery, fun to wear. If you reverse it then the coloured spots are almost hidden from view.

If you are interested in learning to make your own unique piece of jewellery then email me to book a place on one of my courses. More information about enamelling, metal clay, art clay silver or PMC classes can be found here

I love the variety of effects that can be created using enamels on silver. Here are two pieces I made when I first started using Art Clay Silver and had just begun to experiment creating textured pieces to enamel onto. They date from around 2006. This type of piece is easily created in a beginners enamelling workshop and can be completed and ready to wear within a day.

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The right hand pendant is made by taking a small mould from a limpet shell and then pressing the silver clay into the mould so that it picks up the wonderful textures. These raised areas of texture create cells to enamel into and offer the enamel a bit of protection while the pendant is being worn. The patterns of nature are a beautiful thing.

Jewellery making classes

I have had a lovely day ‘tweaking’ my main jewellery display in the studio. This really is the final stage of my refurbishment and the studio is looking lovely, all the tools and equipment are in place ready for classes.

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For details of my class schedule go to my website and email to book a place.

I have made a few more large holed beads and am planning a series of brightly coloured beads for summer bracelets. After annealing in the kiln these will be ‘cored’ using my wonderful Mango Beadliner Press and will be part of a new collection of work for North Yorkshire Open Studios. My studio will be open for that event on 9th, 10th and 11th June and 16th and 17th June (and by appointment during the week in between) and I am excited about being part of this event once again.

The weather here has been unusually mild so I have taken my coffee breaks sitting in the garden (astonishing for March). My flowering cherry tree is just coming into leaf although it has been flowering almost continuously since last December. It is looking particularly beautiful at the moment so I think it must be time to make some flower inspired work!

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Mango Beadliner

I have never felt the need to do a tool review before but am so thrilled by my Mango Beadliner that I just have to share this. My partner bought me the press as a Christmas present but, due to the building work in my studio, this is the first opportunity I have had to use it.

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When I began making lampwork glass beads it was the large holed charm style bracelet beads I was really interested in, making them to compliment my silver and enamelled jewellery. I have always been frustrated that, even with my existing silver smithing skills, making the successful silver core was such a stressful operation and I was just as likely to destroy the bead as make a successful core. I tried a number of different ways of doing this but always reverted to gluing Silver end caps into my beads rather than putting the pretty glass beads at risk.

The Mango Beadliner is the result of collaboration between Manda and her partner David and is a system incorporating a flaring press and a finishing press. Their unique Finishing Dies gently flatten and then turn the edge of the silver on the surface of the hole. I can vouch for this being extremely effective. Their dies are designed to prevent chipping and cracking and their unique shape ensures that pressure during this second stage is not applied to the contours of the bead hole which is what causes cracking and chipping. Instead one die flattens the flared silver to the bead whilst at the same time supporting the inside of the tube preventing ‘crinkling’. The Finishing Die ‘secures’ the silver tube by gently turning the edge of the tube down on the surface of your bead ensuring no pressure is applied in the wrong place.

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The press was delivered with a small section of flared silver tube set between the flaring dies to remind me what to do.

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This is my second successfully cored bead followed by a photo of the first five, all easily, successfully and perfectly cored.

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I tested it on beads of a variety of thickness and with different depths of dimples and it coped with them all. This Mango Beadliner is beautifully engineered and is very easy to use. I love it when a tool works so well, it makes the job of adding a silver core to my beads a pleasure (I love Manda’s beautiful beads too).

Ryedale Artworks

I am thrilled to have been accepted as a member of Ryedale Artworks

This is a fantastic group of very talented artists and makers based or working in the district of Ryedale in North Yorkshire. I applied with a little trepidation both because they are all such talented people but also because I strictly live ‘over the hill’ and just outside the district. I do sell quite a bit of work within Ryedale and often go off in that direction armed with sketchbook and camera, so do produce ideas for work there! Anyway, I am honoured that they have allowed me to join and am looking forward to meeting up with other members and collecting my directory at the meeting next week.

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This is one of my landscape panels, done some time ago but from sketches made in Ryedale. I am hoping for a trip over to Ryedale Folk Museum again soon as it is also full of inspiring objects (and fantastic displays of old tools).

A little on the gothic side

I have been doing research with other volunteers at Whitby Museum and helping to design a small display about Bram Stoker’s visit to Whitby in 1890. My work is often influenced by historical ideas and artefacts but I didn’t really make a conscious decision to create something with a gothic influence. There were a few brightly coloured beads in the batch I have just annealed and a batch of tiny black beads ready for use in a necklace but here is the best of the batch of large holed beads, suitable for wearing on a bracelet or necklace.

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Fresh from the kiln, they still need cleaning and finishing.

If you are interested in buying any of my large holed beads then please get in contact

I also teach classes in metal clay, art clay silver and enamelling here in my purpose built studio in North Yorkshire. For more information please visit my website

Book now for exciting new class

Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th July 2012
I am very excited to announce a Special Two Day Enamelling workshop with Guest Tutor Tilly Wilkinson here in my studio in Glaisdale. Tilly was formerly an Art and Design teacher but has now been enamelling for quite a number of years. She is a Craftsman of the Guild of Enamellers,
regional representative for the Guild for the Northwest of England and North Wales and the Guild’s Chairman for 2011-12. She works work mainly on copper and silver and design and make all of her own pieces.

Images into enamel with Tilly Wilkinson

Enamelling on copper and steel using riso screens. Learn how to make your own silk screens to produce a range of images, either from existing illustrations/ photographs or from your own drawings. Produce colourful and beautiful wall panels from these images on either copper or steel. Suitable for those who are new to enamelling or those with some enamelling experience. A range of ready made screens will also be available for you to use. There will be a charge for copper and steel used during the course. The maximum size of copper or steel will be 100mm x 100mm, smaller pieces will be available. Riso screen material will be charged at £3.50 per A4 sheet.

Enamels and equipment are included in the course fee.
The course fee is £150 per person for the weekend. A deposit of £50 will secure your place and booking is essential as there are limited places available. To book your place contact Lynne
(Bring a packed lunch)

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This is the first weekend of the Guild of Enamellers Exhibition at the Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby so why not make a long weekend or short holiday and enjoy Whitby and the surrounding area as well.

Ready to go

At last the studio is ready for classes, initially just for small groups and individual workshops in art clay silver, metal clay, jewellery making and enamelling. All the building work was completed a few weeks ago and now it has been decorated and looks fantastic. I have ordered new display cabinets, another large work table and one or two other things, just to add the finishing touches but my first class is tomorrow, so today I have been tidying up and getting ready.

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This is the view from just inside the door looking down the length of the room.

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The studio is fully equipped with driers, kilns and a wide selection of jewellery making tools as well as a good ventilation system, a dedicated hearth for soldering and torch for lampwork glass bead making.

I am now taking bookings for the following classes -

Sunday 25th March 2012 Prong settings for beach glass £140
Friday 30th March 2012 Hollow beads in metal clay £140

Wednesday 25th April 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £125
Friday 27th April 2012 Silver clay ring making £140
Saturday 28th April 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £125
Sunday 29th April 2012 Silver clay ring making £140
Monday 30th April 2012 Hollow beads in metal clay £140

Saturday 5th May 2012 Enamelling £140
Sunday 6th May 2012 Enamelling £140
Wednesday 9th May 2012 Enamelling on art clay silver £140
Thursday 10th May 2012 Enamelling £140

Tuesday 29th May to Friday 1st June 2012 Colour and metal clay £540 (or £140 for individual days) – Four days designing and making colourful jewellery including adding patina, coloured pencil, resin and an introduction to enamel

Saturday 2nd June 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £125

Special open day Wednesday 13th June 2012 – Art Clay demonstrations (drop in session)

**Stop Press
**Saturday and Sunday 7th and 8th July 2012 Special Two Day Enamelling workshop with Guest Tutor Tilly Wilkinson Images into Enamel £150 per person for the two day class, includes some materials – see website for more details.
This class is the first weekend of the Guild of Enamellers Exhibition at the Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby – book early, there are limited places for what will be an exciting class!

**Saturday and Sunday 4th and 5th August Special Two Day Enamelling workshop
details to follow or email Lynne

Saturday 8th September 2012 Introduction to Art Clay Silver £125

(other dates by arrangement)

Art Clay Level 1 certification £580
Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th March 2012, Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April 2012
Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th August, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September 2012
This is a four day course following the syllabus set by the Aida Corporation (manufacturers of Art Clay Silver)
Seven projects are made over the four day period, including rings, earrings, pendants and a brooch. The course fee includes the materials to make the seven projects and the use of tools and equipment. The projects are assessed and if completed successfully an application for the certificate will be made to the Art Clay UK Guild. If any of the projects are unsuccessful then arrangements can be made to ‘remake’ them at additional cost to the student.

Master Classes

Plique a jour enamel in art clay silver with Lynne Glazzard £300
Saturday 28th July and Sunday 29th July 2012, a two day workshop. On the first day you will design and make silver earrings, learning the basic principles of design for plique a jour enamel and firing and finishing them ready for the second day. On day two you will learn to prepare the enamel and to apply it, firing and gradually building up the cells until they are filled. You will then give the pieces a final finish and add the findings ready to wear. The course includes small amounts of three enamel colours, enough to complete the project.

Cloisonné enamel on art clay silver with Lynne Glazzard £280
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October 2012, a two day workshop. On the first day you will design and make a silver pendant, learning about design for enamel.
On the second day you will prepare and apply wire patterns followed by thin layers of enamel, firing each layer in turn. You will then learn methods for finishing the piece to a high standard. The course includes small amounts of enamel, enough to complete the project.

Glass and art clay silver combination beads with Lynne Glazzard £280
Thursday 8th and Friday 9th November 2012 – two day workshop. On the first day you will learn to apply a variety of art clay silver products to the surface of glass beads before firing and annealing them in the kiln. On day two you will make some art clay silver beads to complement the glass beads before finishing them all to a high standard. Some glass beads are included in the course fee but not the art clay silver. A detailed materials list will be supplied in advance but you will need approximately 20g Art Clay 650; 10g Syringe type, Art Clay Silver Overlay paste

Other dates by arrangement. Booking essential

Email Lynne to book

Terms and conditions 50% deposit required to confirm a place, balance payable by cheque or cash 7 days prior to the first day of the class.

We require 7 days notice of cancellation so that we can resell the workshop place.
In the event of cancellation more than 7 days before the class the deposit can be carried over to another mutually convenient date.
Cancellation by the student less than 7 days prior to a workshop will result in forfeit of your deposit and course fee. Each class has a maximum number of places available and a minimum number before it can run. If we have to cancel a workshop we will give as much notice as possible and a place will be offered for an alternative workshop at a future date. Refunds will be given in the event of tutor illness or insufficient numbers booked for a workshop.
We reserve the rights to vary these terms and conditions at any time.

The studio is based in the beautiful village of Glaisdale approximately 12 miles from Whitby on the North Yorkshire Moors.

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Inspiring days out

I am extremely lucky to work in the creative industries and have had a couple of days feeding my own creativity. On Tuesday I went with a small group of volunteers from Whitby Museum to visit White Rose Candle Workshop, Wensley, near Leyburn. I love tools, processes and techniques and other peoples workshops so this was a real treat. Mick and Jen made us very welcome and it was great to hear Mick talk about the science of candles and how he works to make sure the candles they produce don’t smoke excessively or dribble wax.

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He has devised an ingenious device to help with the dipping process and his warning notice made me smile

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Today I attended a class with printmaker Dawn Brooks in Scarborough. I am taking a short 8 week course with her experimenting with a variety of print making techniques. I have never really done any print making before. Today we were introduced to this amazing press at Crescent Arts in Scarborough and were able to print from the Lino cuts we made last week.

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I have left my prints in the drying rack but here is a photo of the final attempt

20120222-213243.jpg I prefer one of the earlier versions but couldn’t photograph them as they were a layer below on the drying rack.

20120222-213347.jpg I work quite slowly but here you can see that the group managed to produce quite a large volume of work in the two hour session. Next week we are doing transfer printing. It is exciting trying out these different techniques and I can already see ways of using Lino printing with my enamels – always good to try something new, get out of my comfort zone (even get a bit messy)!