La Vidalerie Comes to Bristol!

After 11 years of running jewellery making holidays here in France we are at last coming to the UK.

We’re running 4 half day project based workshop, each one very different and great fun.

The workshops are taking place at Creative Space, Bristol, a wonderful workshop space run by Emma – We hope to be running many more workshop here later.

All materials are included and there will be more for sale if you want to make more, use more gold etc.

Keum Boo Earrings

This was the first workshop to sell out and I’m not surprised, who can resist the glimmer of gold ?

This is a wonderful ancient technique of fusing 23ct gold onto silver using heat and pressure.

The earrings in the photo are beautifully simple, long and easy to wear, a gently textured swath of gold under random shiny lines created in the silver. The long handmade ear wires complete the look.

I’ve been working on some more Keum Boo examples and I’ll post them tomorrow.

Waitlist
If we get enough names on the Keum Boo waitlist I will try and arrange another Keum Boo workshop – put your name down and come and make 2-3 pairs of beautiful, unique, earrings designed by you.SOLD OUT

Stacker Ring Workshop

Come and make 3-4 wonderful silver rings. Each one will be different, textured, maybe stamped and you’ll have the option to add a semiprecious stone (either an 8mm cabochon or 4mm faceted stone.

You’ll learn how to measure your finger, cut the silver, form, solder and make the ring fit. You’ll even have the option to stamp one of the rings with maybe a name or special word.

Your stack of rings might be ornate or simple, they will be unique and you will walk out wearing them and feeling awfully proud of yourself.

Fold Formed Earrings

I love this workshop ! Lots of hammering, shaping, tweaking – and the end result – you won’t believe you made the stunning earrings you’re holding ! Wonderful, sensuous curves !

You’ll have the choice of 2 fold formed designs and the length you’d like your earrings to be – the finish can be oxidized (dark) or shiny. If there’s time you can also make a matching pendant.

Chaos Earrings

Argentium is a wonderful new type of sterling silver and one of it’s most amazing properties is that it can fuse to itself ! (it’s also tarnish resistant which is pretty fabulous too).

You’ll design your own earrings and earn to fuse silver wire to make a gorgeous pair of earrings. Everyone works at different speeds but you should also have time to make a beautiful matching necklace.

What’s Next

I have 2 more workshops planned, Briar Pendant and Simple Stone Set Pendant.

The Briar Pendant is a lovely project, fusing Argentium sterling silver wire into your design then adding a tube setting for a faceted semi-precious stone.

The Simple Stone Set Pendant is a great technique to learn to set larger, odd shaped stones or found objects. It’s great for sea glass, pebbles or semi-precious stones. You can bring something with you or use one of the beautiful stones I’ll bring with me.

I have lots more workshop ideas in my head – re-cycled tin earrings, Captured & Riveted (riveted, 3d semi-precious stone pendant, bangles with meanings, ear wire masterclass – Make sure you are on our newsletter mailing list so you don’t miss out !

Wishing you all a short winter, inspiring spring and the time to make something beautiful !

Karen

How to Make Earrings out of Bangles – OR – Serendipity Rules !

I’ve been meaning to make a beaded wire bangle for ages – you know that lovely silver wire that looks like lots of silver beads – I finally had chance and I though it looked great.

BUT…It felt a little flimsy.

In my rush to get creative I had ordered 2mm beaded wire – 2mm round is fine for bangles – but of course 2mm beaded wire is thinner between the beads.

I tumbled the bangle for 2 days, hammered like mad with a nylon mallet and still it wasn’t hard enough, i even tried hammering with a metal hammer, the bangle looked even better but still too soft.

I am just a little obsessive and can’t let go but finally I had an idea that I thought would work…..

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Serendipity – Lucky Mistake !
So here they are, 2 pairs of Serendipity Earrings, one pair all shiny and even, the other matt and more hammered/bigger balls in the middle – They are for sale (just cick on the images) but be quick, I might get the next bangle right 🙂

How – I cut the bangle into 4, evened up the lengths so I had 2 pairs, sanded the ends smooth and hammered one pair in the middle so the bubbles are larger then get smaller. All I had to do then was solder the stud pin on the back and check that the silver was still hard and hadn’t annealed. Voila (as they say constantly here) fabulous, long studs – they do look great on.

Coming to my website soon – Serendipity Bangle – A thicker version that will work !

New Sapphire Path Ring

Sapphire Path Ring
One of a Kind Ring – Hand Forged in Sterling Silver with Blue Sapphire

I love this ring ! Natural opaque blue sapphire set in the center of a maze like path, oxidized to show the dark paths between the walls of polished silver.

 

You can find this ring on my website Click Here but if it is sold or you need another size I can make one especially for you but each ring will be as different as the stone it is built aroundThe sapphire is faceted, opaque and completely natural.

Size approx Q, US 8.25
Approx 23 x 25mm

I’m thinking of making a similar pendant too .

Making Lemonade – Or Not Wasting Beautiful Stones

A while ago I ordered some specially drilled semi-precious cabochons for a particular project, unfortunately they all arrived with damage around the large drilled holes.  The supplier kindly sent replacements but it kept bothering me that the original very beautiful, but damaged, stones were sitting sadly in their box. Here’s one of the labradorites.

I thought I could rivet on a large bail to hide the damage whilst still showing off the beautiful flash (the thickness of the stone made it a bit awkward too).

I cut 2 silver discs, rolled them to make ovals and added a spiral texture and oxidized them.

I riveted the discs together so the stone is able to swing and a silk or chain can be threaded through the top.

Not perfect but not bad for a stone that was too good for the bin and too damaged to use.

Let me know your ideas for a stone like this ?

GiveAway No 2 – Wild Garden Straights

GIVEAWAY No2 ! Ear Wires Week –

Beautiful Wild Garden Straights Interchangeable Ear Wires

These ear wires are pretty enough to wear on their own but you can add and change the dangles when you want.

To win a pair just…

1 – Add a comment – Pearls or Turquoise ?

2 – Share !!!

3 – Like this post

Do all of that and you’ll be in the draw to win a pair – ends midnight tonight 26.7.16

http://www.lavidalerie.com/EarWires/Wild-Garden-Straights.html – Just £4 a pair !

Remember to check back Wednesday for 3rd giveaway

GIVEAWAY – Week of Ear Wires & a Passion for Handmade

Anyone who knows me knows I have a passion for handmade and that includes ear wires.  I believe that every pair of earrings that you design deserves a special pair of ear wires that suit the design – That’s how we ended up with over 50 ear wire designs on our website 🙂

This week I’ll be giving away a pair off handmade ear wires each day – you can enter via this blog or my FB page (here) or both.

I started late so today there will be 2 giveaways so make sure you visit later today so you don’t miss is.

The 1st giveaway is for a pair of my Long & Elegants – Gorgeous handmade silver ear wires almost beautiful enough to wear on their own but here they are with a pair of fabulous beads by Lush Lampwork (not included I’m afraid)

To win a pair just…
1 – Leave a commend with what stone etc you would hang from these
2 – Share this post
Do all of that and you’ll be in the draw to win a pair – ends midnight tonight 26.7.16
http://www.lavidalerie.com/C…/Long%20Handmade%20Earwires.htm – Just £3 a pair !
Remember to check back later today for the 2nd giveaway

Quickie Competition – What Am I ? – Win a Handmade Silver Charm !

Each morning when I take ChooChoo for his walk I am amazed by the changes in the countryside around me.

Now it’s the time if year when nature leaves these little gifts along our walk. What are they – visit www.lavidalerie.com/Give-Aways.html (or click on the photos) for how to enter draw to win a handmade Waiting for Spring sterling silver charm.

Ends Midnight tonight (16th)

Waiting for Spring – Handmade Silver Charm

Good Luck Everybody !

PS – Find us on Instagram – I’ll be posting new jewellery, workshop photos, photos from around La Vidalerie and competitions

Another Count the Ginges Competition

We’ve been so busy running workshops recently that I haven’t had chance to post so here is a quick competition and a promise that I will post again soon !

Every morning I take ChooChoo for a walk along our lane, it gives me chance to see how the seasons are changing day by day.  Each day we are joined by some of our cats – have a look at the photo and count the GINGES.

And click on this link www.lavidalerie.com/Give-Aways.html to see how to enter the draw to win one of my handmade silver Blown Away Wish Charms.

Ends midnight 1.9.15.

Students Work, Ted Posing It Up & The La Vidalerie Race Car !

May and June have been very busy months for us with lots of workshops and wonderful students making lots of beautiful Jewellery using a variety of techniques from silversmithing to fold forming, riveting to glass fusing.

You can click each of the photos to go into the individual FaceBook albums to see more details photos and read a little more about them  – you’ll see some of the new project we have added to the workshops too.

Margaret – Wonderful Week of Jewellery May 2015
It was lovely to see Margaret again, this time she wanted to explore fold forming, silversmithing and riveting.  She made some really beautiful jewellery including earrings with half drilled pearls and a riveted copper and silver pendant.

Lourika – Introduction to Silversmithing May 2015

Lourika came for 2 days of silversmithing, she had been making a lot of beautiful stamped jewellery in aluminum (and fabulous personalised books) and wanted to expand her skills into silver. Look at all the wonderful things she made in just 2 days !

Paula – Silversmithing & More June 2015

Paula tried our new project incorporating seaglass into a pendant as well as pearl drilling to make this riveting pearl ring.

Sally – Silver & The Sea – June 2015

Sally came back to explore more ways of bringing sea glass and the sea into her jewellery, her 3 days included silversmithing, wire work and stamping and our new project – a sea glass ring.

Larrissa – Silversmithing & Tube Setting – June 2015

Larrissa wanted to learn how to solder and this 3 day workshop gave her chance to learn the basics along with an introduction to tube setting and stamping. Here are some of the beautiful pieces she made.

Sarah – Introduction to Silversmithing – June 2015

Sarah came for Fold Forming but stayed for Riveting & Silversmithing 😉 3 wonderful days of interesting techniques and lovely jewellery – Here is what she made.

Gail & Ruth – Silversmithing, Stamping & Wire – June 2015

Gail and Ruth had a couple of days of jewellery making as part of a holiday, in two short days we visited silversmithing, riveting and wire wrapping.

Barbara – Silversmithing & Riveting – June 2015

Barbara came to us for our Introduction to Silversmithing but found time for riveting and stamping too.

Iseult – Silversmithing & Tube Setting – June 2015

Iseult wanted to come back to La Vidalerie to expand her silversmithing skills to include tube setting, here are the beautiful things she made in just 3 days !

Mary – Silver & Glass – June 2015

Mary joined us for a 3 day silversmithing workshop but wanted to include a taster session of glass fusing.  She made a beautiful (and difficult) textured anticlastic ring and it was her first experience of silversmithing.

Stephanie – 2 Day Introduction to Silversmithing – June 2015

Stephanie came to La Vidalerie for a 2 day Introduction to Silversmithing – Here are the lovely pieces she made.

Laura – Wonderful Week of Jewellery – June 2015

It was lovely to see Laura again for a fabulous week of jewellery making – She wanted to include silversmithing, etching & riveting. Here are the beautiful pieces of jewellery she made (including a gorgeous pair of etched copper and silver cufflinks).

Little Ted
Tim has had so many pictures to take of jewellery in the last couple of months it’s just as well he had Little Ted to help him 😉

La Vidalerie Race Car

Those of you who have met Tim might be aware of his interest in Scalextric racing – this is his work in progress, it will be branded with our logo and will eventually race against Steve’s Hotel Solomiac’s car 😉  Boys !

Count the Ginges and Enter The Draw !

May Competition – Count the Ginges !

This morning my walk with Choo Choo was joined by some of our ginger cats – how many can you see in this photo ? You can enter the draw to win one of my new Blown Away Wish Charms, handmade in sterling silver and perfect for a necklace or bracelet via my website – http://www.lavidalerie.com/Give-Aways.html

Good luck to everyone !  And if you can’t wait you can also order this charm and even have it personalised for you by clicking on the photo above.

Competition ends midnight Monday 4th May 2015.