Mila Jewellery

Here is a bit of a sneak preview of a few new pieces of jewellery that will be making their way onto the website soon. These are organic reticulated silver pieces which are all very unique and will be sold as "One Off" pieces. During the making of each piece I subject them high temperatures using my torch which changes the surface of the silver giving it unusual texture, but it would be almost impossible to recreate an exact copy.

The first of these two pendants below have been set with Spinel stones and the second, set with pink and white Topaz and a Sapphire.

I thought I'd take a few step by step pictures whilst I was making my latest piece and put them up on here so you can see the sort of thing thats involved in making a piece of jewellery.

Picture 1. I cut a piece of sterling silver to length and bent it round my steel triblet to make this ring shape. Next I need to solder the join together.

Picture 2. Once it is soldered and joined together, I put it in a pot of pickle to clean it up, as heating up the silver causes it to turn grey/black. In the meantime I measure the stone and make a setting to fit out of sterling silver.

Picture 3. Once I have checked that the stone sits nicely in the setting, it needs to be soldered onto the ring. When this is done I drill a small hole in the ring to let the light into the back of the stone and also to enable me to re-postion the stone before setting it.

Picture 4. Once this is done, it goes back in the pickle pot  for a bit, then I clean the whole poece up with various grades of emery paper. I then put it in my barrel polisher which contains steel shot mixed with water and a polishing compound. When it comes out all that needs to be done is for me to set the stone, which is a lab created 5mm Square Tanzinite. I decided to give the piece a satin finish which shows off the colour of the stone very well.

I've just realised I've not updated my blog since the start of the year! Time has flown by and I have been spending lots of time making new pieces to add to the website and to take to the shows and craft fairs I'm attending this year.

I have started to work with silver clay a bit more and so there are now some fine silver pieces for sale on the site. For anyone who has not heard of silver clay or PMC as is sometimes known, it starts life a very tiny silver particles mixed together with an organic binder which forms a "clay" like consistency. This can be shaped and formed to create all sorts of patterns and shapes. Once I have made the pieces, I dry them out to ensure all the moisture has gone and then I fire it in the kiln. This process burns off the organic binder, leaving the silver particles which, in the high temperature fuse and bond together making a solid silver piece. I then can then go on to oxidise or polish them, depending on the design etc.

I am also please to offer my handmade "Keepsake Jewellery" which is a fine silver pendant, inscribed with a special date, ideal for anniversaries and birthdays, or as a special present for new Mums. These are designed so they can be worn on their own or with others.

I have also included some stone set pieces on the site - I have made a selection of contemporary silver ring bands, silver pendants and earrings set with semi precious stones such as Blue Topaz, Pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Iolite, Padparadscha Sapphire and others.

I have added a guest book to the website now, so please feel free to add you comments as I'd love to hear what you think to the new pieces (and old ones!)

Thank you x

Happy New Year to everyone!

2010 is set to see some exciting designs being developed. There will shortly be a range of Men's Jewellery available to buy on the website and later in the year, a range of Bridal Jewellery will also be available

I've added to the website is a new Silver and glass bead necklace. The glass beads are so pretty with silver foil inside, they really catch the light. The necklace is 16" long.

Just added a few new pieces to the website. A silver pendant with freshwater pearls and a glass bead and silver necklace with matching earrings in a gorgeous teal colour.

I recently bought some beautiful handmade glass and lampwork beads, so I have been working with some of these today making a couple of new pieces - a necklace and matching earrings.  I also designed and made another pendant which will be part of my new range which includes silver and freshwater pearls

I'm hoping to have a few new items to add to the website shortly! There will be some more munro glass pendants, an addition to the hammered heart range and the first piece from my new range of designs which include freshwater pearls.

The silver bangle seen on my earlier blog is now finished and on the site  here

http://www.milajewellery.com/braceletsbangles.htm

Just a quick update - I'm currently working on a pretty silver necklace which combines solid hand formed silver shapes and handmade silver chain links, some earrings which are another addition to my range of Hammered Heart jewellery, and a silver hammered ring. I also am hoping to produce a new range of pieces in the next week or two so watch this space...!

I have also made a couple of new Munro Glass Pendants to go on the website, they are just awaiting their photo shoot!