Sceptre Necklace

The craziness continues, with no let up in sight.  This week has been a whirl of sketching and making.  I made a couple of necklaces that had been in my head (and demanding to get out).  Both of them feature some amazing crystals.  One is a cross, bearing an aqua aura crystal, and one a chain holding a pretty spectacular quartz sceptre point.

The cross was brought about after a conversation I had about the difference between religion and spirituality.  I cut it from heavy sheet, and did it freehand fairly roughly, before filing it smooth into contours. I wanted a contrast between the angles of the crystal and the cross itself.  I oxidised it partially to a blue that mirrors the aqua aura.

The quartz sceptre is so awesome just on its own that it needed a really simple setting.  I settled on a very simple, partially hammered handmade chain and devised a simple hammered cross-over setting to grip the stone.

Aqua Aura Cross

I’ve also uhmmed and ahhed with my conscience.  Symbols are very important to me.  I couldn’t make jewellery without using symbolism.  I don’t like symbols of violence, but I had an idea I really, REALLY wanted to make that used one.  I thought it would look very cool too. So, having wrestled with the voices in my head (uh-oh), cool won.

Being nice 0 – cool 1.

A bullet with your name on.  Very simple, and the idea that if there’s a bullet out there with your name on, surely it’s safest to have it yourself?  The result is two new products in the online shop – bullets, and shells.  Each are handmade in sterling silver, and are set with your choice of gemstone bullet cabochons.  They are personalised with the name or initials of your choice, and come in ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’.

There is something very, very pleasing about them.  I never wear jewellery.  My wedding and engagement rings come out only on special occassions, but they are tactile, and look good.  This is the first piece in ages I’ve made for myself and haven’t taken it off.  I hope other people like them too.

silver bullet with labradorite tip

The other new items to hit the shop are the ‘Mother’ pendant and rings.  These are available with a choice of gemstones. The pieces are based around the idea of the preciousness of the stone, and the silver cup protecting them.

'Mother' ring

To celebrate the launch of these new products, you can take £5 off any purchase of the Bullet, Shell, Mother Pendant or Mother Ring in the online shop.  Simply enter code BANG in the ‘optional’ box when ordering.

Detail from ‘Balance’ necklace

My hands are far from idle.  I expect January to be fairly quiet, but 2012 started with a bang, and hasn’t paused for breath since.  I have some projects I need to work on for Spring launch, but literally haven’t had a chance to get going as I’ve been busy with commission work.  I’m delighted with some of the pieces I’ve got in the pipeline, and it feels as though finally, I’ve found my own corner of the jewellery-making world.  My love of making found-looking pieces, and incorporating raw, untreated minerals and crystals, and uncut gemstones is finding both form, and followers. Frankly, I’m delighted!

I find it necessary to occassionally take myself out of my comfort zone, and try something I don’t normally do.  Character building! I was recently asked to design a pair of rings for two antique stones.  I don’t usually work with large faceted stones, but liked how the lady was thinking of using them.  I also loved that she wanted to wear something that had been kept for so long without being ‘used’.

I sketched a few ideas, and the two chosen were quite different, a very plain setting for an oval stone, and a fancier claw setting for a heart-shaped one.  To make matters slightly more exciting, it became apparent that the stones may be glass rather than gemstones, and were cut by a hobbyist, so had lots of uneven planes and unusual facets.

I took some advice on forming the claw setting for the heart, and thought I’d document the process as it may be useful for someone else.

Step one:  A ‘seat’ needs to be made for the stone.  As it was an irregular heart, I made it by eye, and constant checking against the stone.  It needed to support the stone just below the girdle.  I made it from 1.2mm round wire, then hammered it lightly to flatten it out.  Hard solder was used for the joint.

Stone and seat

A smaller heart was then made to sit at the bottom of the setting in the same way.

Hearts for setting

Now it gets fun. Two strips of wire are (hard) soldered into a cross, placed underneath the smaller of the two hearts, and soldered (using medium solder)  into place.  Then the arms of the cross were bent upward.  A piercing saw is used to cut the cross piece out of the centre of the heart, and the edges filed until smooth.

Cross piece and smaller heart

Next comes the possibly frustrating part.  The larger heart needs to be placed in the raised arms so it is above the smaller heart.  Enough distance must be left to allow for the depth of the stone.  Expect a few grade 3 swears while you flux, position and solder (easy this time) the heart in place.

Seat in place pre-soldering

It’s worth checking the stone sits comfortably at regular intervals.

 

 

 

Checking position

 

 

 

 

 

Trimmed setting

Once the setting is made, the arms can be trimmed down.  The whole is cleaned, pickled and filed cleanly, before being soldered (extra easy) onto the band.  I then cut out the area of band behind the setting, to   allow maximum light to pass through the stone.

Ring soldered and cut

Finally, grooves are filed into the arms at the point where they will bend over the stone, and the claws trimmed and shaped.  Then once the ring is finished and polished, they can be bent over and firmly seated against the stone.

 

The lady who commissioned the rings has yet to recieve them, so I am keeping everything crossed that she is pleased with the final pieces!

Finished ring

finished ring

I have a good couple of weeks’ work to get through before I can take time to sit and work on the Spring pieces, but hope to bring you some of them soon.  My current wait-list is around 4 weeks (excluding hallmarking turnaround).

An excellent start to the year – I’ve begun some lovely custom projects, a couple got married wearing wedding rings I made last weekend, and fabulous bullion supplier Cookson Gold have selected me to be their featured designer of the month!  You can see the article here.  I’m delighted!

I won’t be taking on as much custom work as usual this month as I’m working on making some new ready to buy jewellery that I’m very excited about.  Will be posting more as soon as I’ve got examples to show you.  This means I’ve very limited avialability in the run up to Valentine’s Day, so if you want to start dropping hints, now is the time!

Also ladies, if you are thinking of proposing (as it’s leap year), please do get in touch.  I love making jewellery for men, and would jump at the chance at making an engagement ring for a fella!  You can always reach me by emailing lydia@niziblian.com

I hope 2012 treats you all well!

Lydia

Mystic topaz and silver brooch

Iris and Daffodil sterling silver necklace

Today was my final day in the studio for 2011! This year has ended really postively, January’s first commissions are lined up ready to begin, and will have some exciting news in January to share.

I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has bought a piece of my jewellery this year, or commissioned a custom item.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and left such positive messages on the Facebook page!  You have all helped keep my tiny business going and enabled me to keep doing the job I love most in the world.

I hope to be showing you some fantastic new pieces in the new year, and look forward to making jewellery for more of you!

I hope you have a peaceful and merry Christmas, and see 2012 in health and happiness.

Lydia

Brass, sterling silver and lapis lazuli 'deco cat' brooch

Oxidised silver necklace with untreated quartz needles

There are now no more spaces for orders before Christmas.  However, there are still the option of gift vouchers, which can be used against custom pieces, or ready-to-ship items, which include some fantastic one-off items.

Please use the ‘contact‘ page to get in touch with me.

Stacking uncut peridot & garnet rings

Thanks!

Lydia x

Hammered cuff

I’ve decided instead of putting all the good shizzle into a newsletter that mostly gets filtered into spam folders, I’ll put it all here in the open.  Now everyone gets to have a slice of my festive cheer in the run up to Christmas ;-)

I still have time for a few custom orders in time for Christmas, but not many! If you want to order a bespoke piece, please get in touch now! Email is lydia@niziblian.com

Please remember that lots of pieces get previewed and the odd sneaky model sale go on my Facebook page, please join if you’d like to be a part of it.  I’ll be asking for input on some exciting plans soon!

This week you can find me on new site The Made Project - lots of local talent being showcased, and I’m very pleased to be included!

I am having an overwhelming hankering to work more with beautiful stones, so expect to see some one-of-a-kind pieces popping up on the site in the near future.

If you like what I’m making, please do pass it on.  Your support can make a very real difference to me being able to continue doing something I love (and feeding the kids, which is a bonus).

Am now off to spend the weekend assembling the workbench I won, and rearranging the studio to get me all ready for the next wave of making. Hooray!  I have my big Christmas lights up, and the iPod’s got the Christmas song playlist to get me in the mood come December…

Until next time!

Lydia x

'Cuffs' Model: Victoria Noir Photography: The Chaos Engineers

I have been the proverbial busy bee since my last post.  I had been asked to make some Autumn themed pieces for a photo shoot for an alternative magazine.  I had decided to make  large statement pieces,  and decided to experiment with brass and copper to echo the Autumnan colours.  The result was a large oak and ivy leaf necklace, and oak leaf cuff.

Brass & silver oak leaf cuff

The cuff won a design competition with Cooksons (where I purchase my gold, silver and tools) and I now have a lovely new jeweller’s workbench awaiting installation in the studio.

Excellent!

In other news,  I was  selected by  The Goldsmith’s Company Assay Office to feature on website Brand-i.org as one of their authorised jewellery designer/makers.

Brand-i lists genuine designer brand stockists, and in my case, offers reassurance that my work adheres to the UK Hallmarking laws.   All my work requiring hallmarking goes to the assay office at Goldsmith’s Hall, where it is tested, stamped with my maker’s mark and hallmarked.

Silver ring bearing my maker's mark and hallmark

It’s worth bearing in mind the additional turnaround time hallmarking requires if you are planning on ordering from me in the run-up to Christmas.

This past weekend saw another collaboration with photographers The Chaos Engineers.  This time, the fabulous Victoria Noir stepped in to model  a pair of silk bound hammered cuffs, and a concept necklace using raw quartz needles.

Cuffs are now available from the online shop, I love how bold, simple and elegant they look.

I’ve been using more gemstones and minerals in their natural uncut state, and it’s definitely something I’ll continue.  I’ve got some beautiful pieces planned which I hope to show you very soon.

I’m delighted with the images from the shoot, which will be featured in my online store and press releases – among other things.  Here’s a sneak preview.

Silk-tied cuffs

Silk-tied cuffs

Quartz needle & silver necklace

The pre-Christmas newsletter will be going out imminently.  There will be an exclusive competition, and some excellent discount codes for jewellery available from the online shop, so if you haven’t already, please do sign up by clicking here.

I’m extremely limited on spaces now to make jewellery in time for Christmas, so if you are hoping to place one of my signature gold-tied black boxes under the tree, please drop me an email, the address is lydia@niziblian.com

Thanks for reading, hope I can make you something soon.

Lydia x

]]> http://niziblian.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/countdown-commencing/feed/ 0 niziblian Niziblian Cuffs http://niziblian.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/because-i-love-you-more-than-they-do/ http://niziblian.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/because-i-love-you-more-than-they-do/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:11:12 +0000 Lydia Niziblian http://niziblian.wordpress.com/?p=364 Continue reading →]]>

'Audra's Wave' Pendant

I have been like a busy, torch-wielding, file-slinging, solder-picking bee. There have been engagement and wedding rings, necklaces and pendants and earrings made. Tomorrow will see more rings being finished off and a big parcel going off to the assay office for hallmarking. Then, I’m all yours. Potentially.

I spent a rare morning in town recently, and walking past a famous high street jewellers, stopped and had a look. I felt a little bit like splaying myself across the window and shouting ‘nooooooooooooooo, nooooooooooooo don’t do it!!!’ and folding my business cards into shoppers hands, gazing at them with imploring eyes. ‘Email me instead, go on! You’re worth more than this! More!’ I didn’t (obviously, I’m not a full loony), so I’m telling you instead.

'Two' gold wedding rings (work in progress)

When I have spent a few days exchanging emails* with someone, knocking ideas together, sketching, changing, sketching some more, you suddenly reach that moment of ‘Yes! This is the Thing! This is the beautiful Thing that is right, and has meaning and will be made and loved!’. That’s a wonderful moment. It’s one you should really share a cigarette over (except I gave up in 2004 and if they’re in Swindon it just doesn’t work anyway. But I digress…)

Then there is money paid and I get to make the Thing. This is good, I am at my happpiest in my troll-cave, cutting and a-soldering and making the Thing. Then, like I’m giving my new love the first Important present, I get all nervous. Will they like it? Will they be pleased? Will the Thing fulfil its purpose? There is a horrid, anxious time after I have emailed the photographs.
Then there is happiness! Yes! The Thing is beautiful, and just right. Phew. Then after it has been finished – I sometimes polish mechanically but always, always finish a piece by hand with repeated polishings – it gets boxed, and sent off. Then I wait (nail-bitingly wait), until I hear that the Thing has been received. If it’s a gift, there is a further wait to see how it is received. Then there is more happiness! The Thing is loved. Hooray!!! (Another would-be-cigarette time, but isn’t.) Does the Mr Jewellery shop fret if you like the mass-produced, cast-in-bulk shiny thing? No, he doesn’t. I do dangnabbit. And I only make one, yours.
So, if you’d like a Thing, just for you, designed for you, made for you, loved for you, send me an email. I can get it ready for Christmas if you email me soonish too. Awesome. Lydia@niziblian.com does it.
That’s me for now – I’ll be sending out a newsletter soon (and no doubt will find something pretty to give away in it), so if you’d like to find out more about what I’ve been up to – please sign up by clicking here

Lydia x

Gold, silver & mystic topaz ring

*I don’t mind talking on the phone if you prefer – I just say ‘errmmmm’ and ‘aaaah’ and ponder less by email Will email you phone number should you prefer the talky way, or even meet you if you don’t scare easily, and are local, or own a locomotive.