Pillbox Hat

I’ve been working on some new hat ideas for a while now, and finally completed one based on a 1940′s style pillbox hat. This took some tweaking to adapt to wire and a miniature style, and to work out how to decorate it so that it doesn’t overwhelm the base. It’s made from crocheted enamelled copper wire, the same as the miniature top hats, and measures just over three inches in diameter. This version is beaded throughout with rocailles, and decorated with feathers, diamante and organza ribbon. It’s held on with an alice band the same as the top hats, although it’s considerably lighter to wear. I’m very pleased with the peak at the front, as it took several attempts to get that right!
I decided originally to make all the Top Hat models slightly different in some way so that anyone who bought one had a unique piece, and I’m currently trying to decide whether or not to apply the same principle to these. I’m inclined not to, as being able to replicate them will make the final product slightly cheaper and therefore more accessible to people wanting to buy one, however I’m open to feedback on that idea. I’m still finalising the price of these, but they will definitely be cheaper than the Top Hats. I have another base to decorate in ivory, and then I shall get these up for sale in the shop. If you’re interested in buying one in the meantime then please get in touch directly.

Jump Rings

Eight hours solid work, four broken saw blades, and one very sore thumb later and I’ve refilled my jump ring box with a selection of different colours and I’m all set to make up some new chainmaille pieces. Sometimes I wonder at the wisdom of making all my own rings over just ordering them made up, but it does work out cheaper and despite the sore fingers I do enjoy it and take pride in turning a roll of wire into jewellery. The first set I plan to make with this new batch will be red and black byzantine. It’s been a productive day all round, I’ve ordered some ribbon to finish off a brand new hat design, I’ve received some new recycled paper bags and boxes for packaging up my stall sales, and I’m just waiting on the findings to arrive to finish up several new crochet bracelet designs. Now time for a long hot bath and then to sort my stock out ready for the market tomorrow.

My work space

Freshly cut vivid red copper rings

My chainmaille box of tricks

Silver Chainmaille Bracelet

This was ordered by one of my regular customers last month – I had previously made a version of this design bracelet in copper and it was wonderful to work it up in silver. This is definitely one of the most fluid pieces I’ve ever made, it’s a very simple piece of 4 in 1 European Chainmaille and it just flows over the wrist.

Earrings

A selection of earrings I’ve made recently – some new designs, some variations of older ones.

4-1 Chainmaille earrings made from coloured copper wire.

Circle earrings made from crocheted copper wire with rocaille details in a variety of different colours.

Sterling silver byzantine chainmaille earrings with Swarovski crystals.

All of my earrings have sterling silver earwires – I’ve had to change the earwires on two many pieces of costume jewellery over the years to ever use anything else!

I’m currently working on updating the website shop to include all the new pieces I’ve been working on lately and also to cover the complete range of colours that are available. It’s taking a while due to all the photographs I’ve got to get taken, so in the meantime, if there is a piece you’ve seen here, on Facebook or at Greenwich Market that you would like to purchase/order then please send me an email: becky@silvernightshade.co.uk and I can sort that out for you directly.

A great start to 2012

Surprisingly this January, rather than being a really quiet time where I catch up on accounts and sleep, has proven to be remarkably busy! I’ve been given a Friday spot as well as Wednesdays at Greenwich Market, which is absolutely brilliant – although really, really damned cold at the moment! I’m very much looking forward to working there over the summer where I can wear sleeveless tops and sandals rather than so many layers I feel like the Michelin Man!
I’ve had a lot of enquiries about crochet pieces made to order and a couple of larger silver commissions which has been absolutely wonderful – and the majority of these are turning into orders, which is brilliant. It’s a great start to the year and if the rest of 2012 continues at this rate I’m going to be very busy and very happy!

This set was ordered by a lovely lady in America for her to wear to a Masquerade Ball this month, and I’ve been promised pictures of her wearing them which I am looking forward to seeing. It’s the Cicella necklace made from silver coloured copper wire with black rocailles with matching earrings.

A more detailed picture of the crochet earrings. This is a new design and I’m very pleased with it. I have a couple of pairs in different colours to list on the website shortly and they can be made in pretty much any colour copper wire. It’s nice to have a design that matches the crochet bracelets and necklaces properly.

Happy New Year

The last few months of 2011 became incredibly busy for me after I was lucky enough to get a Wednesday trading spot at Greenwich Market at the start of November. It has been a brilliant experience and I’m really enjoying my time there. The chance to talk to people face to face about my jewellery and get direct feedback has been just fantastic, especially as so far it has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s also given me some ideas and directions for new designs and future pieces. I’ve always had a soft spot for Greenwich Market as I used to spend a lot of weekends shopping there in my teens, and so being a part of it is just wonderful, especially as the traders are lovely people and the atmosphere is brilliant. So far the best moment has been the young girl whose mum bought her a Tiara so she could be a ‘proper princess’ and the look of happiness on the girl’s face when she got to pick the ‘sparkly’ one she wanted.

My Stall – with me!

However the run up to Christmas has been insane on both the work and the home front and I feel like my feet have barely touched the ground, so the last week I have had off from the Market, the computer and the day job, and just spent some time with my husband, which has been great. Feeling much more refreshed, I’m now back to cutting links for some new chainmaille pieces, updating the website and various social media, sorting out the tax returns (probably my least favourite job of the year!) ordering some new supplies for restocking and catching up on emails. It looks like I have at least one commission on the cards this month, which is a fantastic way to start the year. I also need to get the mailing list sorted finally and out to people, there really is no excuse for it having taken this long already.
I’m going to make a much more determined effort to update this much more regularly, and try to stick to it this time! I have some new designs to photograph and talk about and as I’m back on the market tomorrow hopefully a lot more stories about happy customers to come in 2012.
Happy New Year to everyone, thank you so much for your support over the last twelve months and I hope that the best of 2011 is the worst that happens in 2012.

Market Postponed

So at this point this morning I was planning on being in Woolwich setting up my stall, unfortunately, due to a delay with the licensing paperwork, they have had to postpone the market for the immediate future. It’s a bit of a disappointment, I was looking forward to the opportunity, however, all going to plan I will be able to take part when they set the new date, which should be in a few weeks time. Everything is ready to go, I have my stall layout planned, stock sorted and business cards all at the ready, so watch this space for updates on the revised dates. My sincere apologies to anyone that was planning on heading down there today.
In the meantime I shall make use of today to photograph some of my new pieces and update the webshop, and to finish off the mailing list newsletter, and if that all goes well, maybe start work on some new pieces.