Brooch a Week, the first month.

So I made my first 4 brooches/pins for January and it seemed to be a month of silhouettes and silver.  I don't mind though, this is what I like to make. I am just happy I have managed to stick to the challenge so far!
Next month I am hoping to use some base metals and maybe add some colour too.  I tend to settle on a design at the last minute so we will see.

Here is a mosaic for January.

New website, new pieces

First of all I have some new items in my etsy shop which I haven't blogged about yet!

Another pierced bird necklace with some stamping and also I have riveted on some sterling silver flowers.

This next one is slightly smaller and has the silver bird riveted on to a copper background, also with some stamped leaves.

Finally some poppy post earrings in oxidized silver which match this ring.

I have also made a new website with Big Cartel, at the moment it only has a few pieces in that are made to order items but I hope to be adding to them soon.  Etsy will still be my main site though and will have contain more of my intricate pieces, here is a screen shot.

A New Necklace

I have just finished making this new necklace.  It is a pierced copper pendant strung on sterling silver and it is now in my shop, hope you like it.

More Birds in Copper

Here I have a couple more pieces I made over the weekend, in copper.
I used my jewellery saw to cut out the graphic then sanded and tumbled and gave it an oxidized, brushed finish.

Next is another bird and branch necklace, this one was made the same way and I hammered the edges for a bit more detail.

That's it so far, I hope you like them :)

On another note, I am very excited as I will be starting my first metalsmithing class on Friday night which runs for 7 weeks.  I hope to learn some more advanced techniques and brush up on the things I have already taught myself.  I have started to collect a few cabochons ready for stone setting, so watch this space and I will keep you updated on how it is going :D

New metal piercings

As promised here are a couple of pieces I finished this weekend. I  am really happy how they turned out and I think my piercing skills are improving as well as my finishing skills!
First up is the bird on a branch piece which I blogged about earlier in the week saying it was my next challenge.  My first attempt went wrong as I cut out a piece I wasn't supposed to so this time I planned my cuts and all went to plan.

I love that one!
Next is a cherry blossom which is slightly domed and I put in a rivet for the centre part of the flower, a very sweet and dainty piece.  I am really loving the oxidized look on the copper and I think it gives the piece a lot more depth.

 I think I will add both to my etsy shop today, I have another couple of pieces but I just need to edit the pics so they are for another post.
I hope you like them :)

Work in progress- cake toppers

Here is an update on my cake toppers which I am hoping to get finished this weekend, all being well.  I have 3 dogs to make yet as well as the groom :S

I couldn't resist getting the saw out again, I received some new blades in the mail and the size I am using now is much better so made life a lot easier!  I have finished off the 3 from my last post and will post pics at the weekend but above is my next piercing project.  Can't wait to get started on that one now!