My new shop is open...

It was all a bit of a rush and I still have some shop fitting to do, but my new shop is open. I opened on 4th Dec and it has been manic ever since.

I am actually looking forward to Jan, so that I can catch up on e-mails. I have a whole bunch that I simply haven't had time to respond to.

You can see more pics of my shop on my flickr page

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-parry

Signed today

Things are gettingvery close to completion now. I have signed all the legal paperwork and I am just awaiting a confirmation of a handover date. Then we are looking at a couple of weeks shopfitting before opening hopefully early December.

A busy month is loming....

New shop getting closer

All so very exciting.

I will be signing the legal stuff within the week and will take possession of the empty shop hopefully next week.

I am then looking at a 2 week shop fit before I move the contents from my current shop down to my new larger shop in town.

So I am working to a speculative opening date of 1st December.

On holiday...

The school half term is here and I am away on a short holiday with my family. I will be travelling the roads in Wales but will be back to work on Monday 2nd November.

Feel free to drop me a message visit my websites or make a purchase.

All messages and purchases will be attended to upon my return on the 2nd Nov.

(The picture was a quick watercolour sketch that I did when I was last in Wales.)

Bye for now

Chris

It don't look much....

OK. It doesn't look a million dollars at the moment. This will hopefully be my new shop once all the legal stuff is done.

Some shopfitting, a lick of paint, new signage and it will be my new home.


-- Posted From My iPhone. Blogging when I am not stuck indoors.

Alarm bells ?

Off to meet with my Alarm company at my new shop premise. My business insurance requires the fitting of a state of the art, all singing, all dancing, makes you a cup of tea in the morning kind of alarm system. I still think my kids would be better !!!

So a quick chat with them at the new shop, where to install the trap door, the poisoned arrows, the 20 ton crushing anvil that drops from the ceiling.

I am slowly pulling together a colour/design board for the shop fitting which will hopefully commence in Novemeber. The shopfitting and then the moving into the new unit will probably take 2 weeks in total.

So I am very much hoping that I can move in by mid Novemeber, but this all hinges on the legal stuff being completed on schedule !!

Moving on…

Very excited as I will soon be moving shop.

I am currently in a smallish shop which suited my needs 2 1/2 years ago, but I have now outgrown it.

I have been negotiating with the agent for the landlords who own the shop. The shop is located smack bang in the middle of town. It is in the primary shopping center and on the main drag along with the big retail boys.

Located just yards from the likes of Boots, Argos , Whsmiths, and the Post Office. Not to mention a gaggle of other high street brands.

The move will mean that my retail environment will more than double in size and that my workshop space will quadruple in size. It will be really great as my current workshop is really cramped. And having the extra room for all my tools will be just ace.

Now we have agreed the terms for the new shop, the legal stuff will probably start tomorrow. Unless there is legal complication, I should be moving into my new shop in November.

Tis all very exciting.

-- Posted From My iPhone. Blogging when I am not stuck indoors.

Off on my Summer Hols.....

Welcome to my blog.

Feel free to have a look around and a gawp at my Flickr pages or personal website.

I am not around though. I am on my summer hols and will be back 4th September.

Thanks for stopping by.

Fingerprint Rings

Been away from the blog for a spell. Just hectic with work and with the family, but I am back to my old routie, so a little time to spend blogging.

Here is my latest creation. I take the clients fingerprint and using some special magic, I make a ring using their unique mark.

I can make these rings to any given width and in any metal. Silver, gold, palladium or platinum. The golds, I can make it in white, yellow or red gold.

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival... So what is a blog carnival? I hear you ask.

A small group of Etsy Metal members with their own blogs write a short article on a given day subject. We will be doing this the first Friday of each month and our topic this fine May is

"What/who inspires you in making jewellery?"

I like drawing and I have more sketch books on the go than you can shake a stick at. Here are a couple of my brain storming sketches. These are largely derived from still life studies.

The whole point of sketching for me, is simply exploring ideas, whether they ever get translated into jewellery is a whole different matter.

I work largely to commission so I end up working on clients own pieces and therefore I am guided by their preferences.

I keep promising myself that I will get back to making one-off pieces that satisfy my need to play with materials be it platinum, concrete or wood.

Jewellery is about adornement but we get so hung up on perceived value by using precious items.

I have a whole stack of ideas and in all honesty I could probably make new items for a couple of years without taking a breath, but in the meantime bills have to paid and my commissions keep me off the streets.

So my inspiration for my personal work comes from distilling observational drawings.

That is my story...please go and have a look what the others have to say.....
http://ninadinoff.blogspot.com/
http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
http://deliasstudioinc.blogspot.com

Spent a cloudy day in Whitstable. It is nice to get out and unwind for a bit, even if you do have to go back to the workshop.

There is a great little coffee shop we always go in. "Rendez-vous. "



-- Posted From My iPhone. Blogging when I am not stuck indoors.

First time for everything...

Got myself a new gadget. So far I like it a lot,as it allows me to access everthing online whilst I am out and about. So this is my first test post.

Here is an acrylic canvas I did with the kids when they were young. A surprise for my beautiful wife.


-- Posted From My iPhone. Blogging when I am not stuck indoors.

Your finger print on silver cuffs.

Is this the perfect gift for the groom on the big day?

How about a special anniversary or the next birthday?

You just can't get a more unique idea than your finger print on their cuff links.

Each pair is made from scratch using a print supplied by you.

For full details CLICK HERE

Your finger print on your own pendant

I have been perfecting this technique. The process itself is my own little secret and I won't be sharing that here.

You can have your lover's finger print (or the kids, best mate etc.) transferred permanently onto a sterling silver heart shaped pendant. Complete with chain.

Click here to see more.

Not all that glitters is gold......

A little story goes with this ring.

A customer brought this into me and asked me if it was real. At the time it was a very shiny gold colour. (It had been gold plated.)

Inside the ring, you can just make out two marks a 750 and a 18k. Both presuming to mean that it is 18k gold.

However, when he gave it to me, the colour of the gold was wrong and the weight as well. The spurious marks also made me feel this ring was a fake.

So I put it under my torch and as you can see the resulting black mess proves that it is just a brass/copper metal underneath.

It does infact look like a plumbers olive. Something used by plumber in the UK when installing water pipes in houses.

The client had bought this ring from a beggar in Lonodon for £5 and his own words, "it was worth a gamble".

You could probably buy a 100 of these olives for a £5.

So the beggar was no ordinary beggar, as he clearly had access to a gold plating unit, so he was in fact probably a scam artist.

Then about six months later, a lady bought an identical ring in to me and I gave her the same bad news, but she insisted it had been in her family for years (Probably just embarrassed that she had parted with good money for a fake)

Be warned you all, not all that glitters is gold

Please help me by answering a simple question.

A sterling silver ring.

2mm wide and stamped with your own message.

Made just for you from scratch , to your own ring size.

These rings are great for stacking or just wearing on their own.

Please help me by honestly answering what you would pay for a handmade ring like this.

Blog Carnival -

I really enjoy the Blog Carnival. A monthly topic is discussed by several individual jewellery artists. We all discuss the same topic and you can visit their blogs at the end of this short article.

This month's topic

" What was your biggest mistake or worst workbench disaster? "

I am struggling to think of a huge mistake that I have made. Lots of silly little mistakes, but nothing that couldn't be remedied and hardly ever costly.

I have probably melted the odd earring post, as I have soldered them onto earrings.

(The picture shows a recent acid etched design)

I remember acid etching a design once. The point of the exercise, is to paint a design onto a piece of metal using special paint. You leave the artwork that you desire as clear metal and cover everything else in the paint. The piece is then dropped into acid and the exposed metal is eaten away by the acid. You leave it in the acid for an hour or so until the acid has reached a satisfactory depth.

You then remove the item, wash it, remove the special paint and hey presto your piece is ready for the next stage.

However on one ocassion, I popped the piece into the acid and then promptly went home !!!!!

The next morning I came in and the metal had completely disappeared, leaving the thin membrane of paint behind. DOH !!


Tonya Davidson
Lorrene Davis
Marco Fleseri
Tamra Gentry
Lora Hart
Elaine Luther
Kirsten Skiles
Angela Crispin

Just uploaded this little video showing one of my latest creations. Hope you like it. More photos can be seen here.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22509990

Repaired Rings - The result

So here are the two rings after they have been repaired.

I am very pleased with how they both turned out. The wedding band required re-sizing up 4 UK sizes, so had to have 4mm worth of new metal inserted.

The half eternity ring required a new sapphire and for the setting which broke to be strengthened.

All in all a pleasing result.

Broken rings being repaired.

A local lady bought two rings in for repair. The wedding band couldn't be removed as over the years her hands had grown in size. It therefore had to be cut off.

It now needs to be repaired and re-sized up 4 UK sizes.

The half eternity ring had simply broken across one of the settings. So a replacement stone is required and the ring needs to be fixed.

Some new pics.

I have been experimenting with a new photo set-up. Basically a new backdrop and a new lighting set-up. It isn't perfect but I think it is a step in the right direction.

I will be taking some more shots and tweaking the set-up over the forthcoming weeks.

It is fun, but quite time consuming as well.

A great UK tool catalogue

My father introduced me to these guys - Squires.

If you are based in the UK it is worth a look. If you are lucky enough to live near Bognor Regis, then I believe they have ashop there.

Their website isn't up and running yet, but you can ask them to send you a catalogue. Mine has just arrived and it is over 400 pages aand packed with all sorts of tools and some model and craft supplies.

Of course my interest lies in jewellery tools and there is a good selection to choose from.

I believe they are also bringing out some catalogues for other crafts, so drop them an e-mail.

Special Offer & Save $20

I am pleased to bring you this special offer for this week only. Available until and including 14th March 2009.

My First Album Cover.

Here is my first album cover.

Or what might be, if only I formed a band.....

Here is what you do

1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random... Read More”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

++++++

that's it, let me know what your album cover looks like.

Newsletter Winners....

On the 19th January, I posted this thread offering all newsletter subscribers the chance to win one of three rings that were up for grabs

The draw took place the other day and the three winners are

Heather Purvis
Claire Shearer
Amanda Cusick

They have all been contacted, and I am awaiting their instructions as to how they would like their ring personalised.

Each ring is made in sterling silver to their given ring size and a short quote is added.

Each and every time I run such a prize draw, I include anyone on my newsletter mailing list. So for your chance to win on the next draw (which will be announced later this week) simply sign your self up for my newsletter.

I stumbleupon, do you?

Soemthing I use when I am a tiny bit bored is Stumbleupon.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/

It is quite a neat little toolbar add-on for your browser.

In a nutshell, here is how it works. If you find a site you like, you can give it a thumbs up.

Other users of stumbleupon can then browse everyone elses favourites.

So you end up seeing some quite good websites which would have otherwise passed you by. You can also set it to show you only certain types of websites that interest you - like humour and weddings or perhaps IT and tennis. So whatever floats your boat, it is a good way for browsing the web.

Today is the last day of my hols and I am back to real life tomorrow. So any e-mails sent will be read and deleted then. This post was actually written 10 days ago when i was feeling all organised.

3D Art.

Simply beautiful and you can see their website here

http://www.deplastilina.com/editorial/ed2.html

Some brilliant work.

Just thought I would share.

you think you have troubles?

Today, I received my passport in the mail. They got my birthdate wrong. Then I picked up my birth certificate that I had sent in with the application. Turns out my parents have been celebrating my birthday on the wrong day for 16 years. FML

OK, this isn't me, but a website where people post their amusing stories.

Warning that some are a bit crude as it is all about "how life sucks.."

http://www.fmylife.com/top

I am back from my hols in a few days, so will pick up any e-mails you have sent me then. This post was written over a week ago and scheduled for release today, so no, I am not a sad loser blogging whilst I am on holiday. I am a sad loser who blogged in advance before I went away on hols. LOL

Bookmark!

Quite a neat idea from this blog

http://dsharp.typepad.com/dsharp/

simply cut the corner from an old envelope and grab a biro to create your very own and lets face it, very cheap bookmark.

This is a scheduled post, written a week ago, as I am still on my happy hols, with my happy little family.

On a diet?

Using the magic of the internet, this post was written a week ago and pre-arranged to be published today.

I am actually away on hols, but I still wanted to publish something on the blog whilst I was gone.

Here is todays fab find

laurawallstaylor.etsy.com

Looking to update your crockery? Look no further.

quite a catch....nursery room perhaps?

A sweet little print available to order form

GumballGrenade.etsy.com

now wouldn't that look neat on the nursery room.

So do you know anyone with a little one on the way? Plan aead and be prepared for the big day.

Anyone can buy some baby clothes , but only someone special will get soemthing this cute.

before you go sending me an e-mail....I am actually not here. I am away on hols and this is a scheduled post that I wrote a week ago. I am actually sitting by the pool sipping an ice cold beer!

I know Valentines has gone, but....

You got to plan ahead for their birthday.

five little ceramic hearts (with an adorable little bag as well)

raedunn.etsy.com

and yep, if you have been reading my recent blogs, I am still on holiday with my family. These posts have been pre-written and I have just delayed the blog posting date.

Hippo Birdie to you.

I am still away on my hols, and this is just a pre-scheduled post. Don't worry, I sm not negelecting my family on the beach so that I can run and post on this blog !

found this little fella on Etsy

bunnywithatoolbelt.etsy.com

Apart from making me smile, what a brilliant store name.

Come on, you must be smiling.

So you missed Valentines ?

I am away on hols at the moment, but the clever guys at "Blogger" allow me to write blog posts and schedule them to post whilst I am away !!

neat eh?

So Valentines has gone and you missed it. DOH!

Why not try to get some browny points back

Mudgoddess.etsy.com

Fabulous Wedding Idea

Commission your very own set of pebbles, each engraved with a name.

Full details can be found here

sjengraving.etsy.com

As you would expect, you got to allow 2 weeks , but what a fab idea.

Hearts - it appears are made in factories.

Friday Finds

It appears that hearts aare indeed made in factories.

This delightful piece can be yours for just a handful of dollars

PearsonMaron.etsy.com

Here is their blurb in their words.

Hearts are indeed made in factories.

I've grown weary of being told I don't have a heart.
If you are lacking a heart or tired of your heart being broken it would be wise to invest in your own tiny heart factory.

Miniature ceramic heart factory sculpture.
Twice fired glazed ceramic earthenware.
Signed and dated.

1 1/8" x 7/8" x 2 1/16"

Go on, you know you want to.

Custom personalised cuff links.

I am now offering custom cuff links in sterling silver for that special present.

You can have any wording or date in any font (Space allowing). Or you can have some artwork. There really is no limits to what is possible.

Perfect gifts on the wedding day for the groom, best man or father's.

They typically take 2-3 weeks to make.

You can buy them from my Etsy shop

www.chrisparry.etsy.com




Shown here area more traditional monogram pair of cuff links on a rectangular shield.

As these are made from scratch, you can actually have any shape shiled and personalise them in any way.

If you have any questions then please drop me a line

English Pewter Key Rings.

English Pewter Key Rings.

I have just started adding some of my latest gift ideas to my Etsy shop ThreeStarsDesign.etsy.com

Handmade and handcast English Pewter key rings.

I can also offer to make your own design with a minimum order of 50 and price breaks therafter. Please contact me for more details.

Twitter this and twitter that.

Twitter !

Just got on the bandwagon and started my own twitter page.

So if you are an avid twitter addict, then please pop over and add me to your contact base.

http://twitter.com/chris_parry

Mensa ® Signet Ring.

A "Mensa®" Signet Ring.

For those who aren't aware of the Mensa® organization. It is an exclusive club for those with a high I.Q.

You have to pass a test to prove that you are somewhere in the region of the upper 5% with regards to your I.Q.

I was commissioned to make this signet ring, carrying the Mensa® logo. Mensa® is a registered trademark so permission will be required for work of this kind.

It is made in sterling silver and to the specifications of the client. A wonderful gentleman living in Spain

Digital art. A portrait in progress.

Here is a part finished digital portrait.

This has been completely done in photoshop using an array of brushes.

As you can see, I have virtually finished the skin tones and i am just moving onto the hair.

You can see a slightly more aadvanced version of this on my flickr account.

I have still yet to finish it completely and it has had to take a side seat as I am a bit too busy at the moment.

Custom made cuff links with your own design.

Here is a recent commission for a pair of "Moles" Rugby cuff links.

A local Rugby club in Gravesend celebrating 10 years.

I can make cuff links in any shape and with any artwork requirement on the front.

So if you would like to turn your child's drawing, a company logo, a sports club badge or perhaps a hand written note into a special pair of cuff links, please drop me a line.

Nina Dinoff - Saturday Spotlight.

Another in my series of Saturday Spotlight. A very talented jeweller from USA. Here follows a brief interview and some pics of nina's work.


When someone asks you "What do you do?" What is your reply?

This is a hard question as I sort of live a double life. In terms of my jewelry, I usually tell people i design or make jewelry. I consider myself a designer first and foremost since my background is in graphic design and it really is how I approach my jewelry.

Why did you choose this profession?

I have always been designing and making things in some fashion. After many years of working professionally as a graphic designer (mostly in interactive media) I had a great urge to work with my hands on something more personally fulfilling and a lot less corporate. I quit a job I had in 2001 and started playing around with a lot of different things. Knitting, painting, jewelry making. Eventually, I took a metalsmithing class and for the first time in my life I felt like I had found my medium! I don't know if its because I can get a bit restless or not, but I love that when I work in the studio I always have several things going on at once. Its that wonderful combination of the intense concentration you have when you are deeply involved in an intricate detail of something and the energy of being able to move around from one station to the other... saw, sand, solder, pound, sand again, solder again... you know the drill.

Essentially, metalsmithing suits me as it allows me to realize my creative vision and design aesthetic while giving me a medium to work in that i thoroughly enjoy.

What is your favorite skill/technique?

Wow! That is a very difficult question. I suppose you mean one that I already have? As opposed to one I would like to learn? I do tend to love working on methodical things and there is something about hollow forming and bezel making that i really enjoy. I get great satisfaction out of seeing something look very geometric and clean lined.



What skill would you like to learn?

Ah that answers the above question! Right now I am really focused on wanting to improve my stone setting skills. But wax carving is up there. I'd also love to master some great forging techniques.













What is your workshop like? (Any photos)
I share my workspace with two other wonderful jewelers, Paul Deblassie and Martha Coté. I have pictures of the space posted on my Flickr page.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninadinoff/sets/72157605842452398/
What is your main goal this year?
I am working very hard to increase awareness of my work and get more wholesale accounts and into galleries. But as for the work itself, I want to keep expanding my collections and growing my skills. Really, what don't I want to achieve!






Please provide links to five of your favorite websites. (Blogs, Artists or Whatever)
Cal Lane http://www.callane.com/
Marian Anderson http://www.marianneanderson.co.uk/
Tone Vigeland http://www.cooperhewitt.org/EXHIBITIONS/archive/vigeland/start.htm
Betty Cooke http://www.modernsilver.com/BETTYCOOKE.htm
I dont read a lot of blogs but i should! i plan to start one soon. I'll keep you posted.

Where can people find you?

www.ninadinoffjewelry.com
ninadinoff.etsy.com
www.swizzlet.com
++++++++

Thank you Nina.

Valentines is coming....

Less than 3 weeks now until the biggest day for lovers.

St Valentines Day - Feb 14th.

So have you bought the card, the flowers, the present and put the champagne in the chiller?

Folksy - A new (ish) site selling handmade goods.

A fairly new website promoting individual designer makers like myself.

Think ebay but without all the mass made crap from china.

Regardless, of your craft, you can open a shop on Folksy.com and sell your wares for a modest fee. Or if you are looking for a bargain, you can treat yourself or a loved one.

Here is the link to my shop. http://www.folksy.com/shops/ChrisParry

It is currenlty on set-up for UK buyers and sellers, but in Feb 2009, they are planning to open the site up to all countries.

Personalised Ring Stands.

New Ring Stands Now For Sale

I am pleased to bring you these personalised ring stands.

You can find full details by clicking HERE

They can be personalised with your own logo or name. A fabulous idea for those who display their goods at craft shows, galleries, shops or simply want an eye catching stand for their photos.

Saturday Spotlight - Elizabeth Scott

Following my Saturday Spotlight series, here is a remarkably gifted jeweller based in USA. Following is a brief interview with Elizabeth.

+++++++

When someone asks you "What do you do?" What is your reply?

The short explanation is I'm a jewelry artist, but I usually end up explaining what Etsy is, since most of my sales occur there.












Why did you choose this profession?

I started out in art as a printmaker, but I think I always liked to work very small and more 3D, so jewelry was perfect for me. After grad school I felt like I just needed a break from all of the ideas floating around in my head. I didn't make art for a while, and focused on my teaching. I started making jewelry during that time because it was something I could easily do at home, and it turned into a full time business within a couple of years.







What is your favorite skill/technique?

I think fusing is my favorite; I usually use argentium, and I've been incorporating water cast pieces. I use fusing for organic designs but also I use it in place of solder- I like making pieces that are seamless whenever I can.

What skill would you like to learn?

Lately I've been incorporating more gold into my pieces so I've been thinking about keum bo.







What is your workshop like? (Any photos)

A mess. A horrible mess.


What is your main goal this year?

Do at least as well on Etsy as last year, and develop new work.

Please provide links to five of your favorite websites. (Blogs, Artists or Whatever)

http://www.etsyhacks.com/
http://www.ganoksin.com/
http://www.designspongeonline.com/
http://wikipedia.com
and of course http://etsy.com



Where can people find you?

http://esdesigns.etsy.com
and at a few retail shops.

++++

Thank you Elizabeth