Electrical work was not a problem , since my husband is an electrician , but we had never tackled anything on this scale before . After much thought and research , we decided either we build it ourselves or forget the whole idea , so we decided to go for it and got started .
The building had to meet full building regulations and we had several ‘ inspections ’ during its construction and I am very proud to say that I did most of the bricklaying since my husband was still working in a nearby school much of the time , and being impatient to get finished , I just mixed the cement and laid a few bricks on my own . It all progressed well . We constructed the rest of the timber frame , installed the windows , and many books and videos later , we pitched a 40 degree roof which was then tiled . Everything was done with reclaimed materials and it was starting to look great . We progress to the interior ; however , I can honestly say that after attempting plastering , I looked like the ‘ abominable snowman ’. Fortunately , as the walls were textured to match our cottage , a beautiful marble-like finish was not required . After six months and a lot of hard work I had a beautiful studio with a toilet , hot water and large butler sink ; it is warm , cozy , and now reasonably well equipped , as well as offering some great extra storage space for my home-made jams and pickles . But the final result seemed far too good to be referred to as just ‘ The Workshop ’, so we have had a sign made that proudly goes over the door naming it as ‘ The Studio ’. Curtains adorn the windows ( much to the disgust of my tutor ) and pretty ornaments hang from the beams of the oak-vaulted ceiling . It looks gorgeous if I say so myself .
And what of my silversmithing ? Well now there is no excuse . I have been beavering away since the completion of my studio and have produced a large
selection of jewellery . However , after a trip to France some years ago , I have never forgotten some beautiful pewter decorated wine glasses that we saw . The concept stayed with me and I was very keen to develop a wine glass with a silver grape-vine attached . I tried several ideas and had many failed attempts , until I finally engineered a design that looks good and can be easily removed , enabling the glass to be washed or replaced if necessary . The grapes themselves are then oxidised to blacken them , or plated in 18ct gold to give them a contrasting colour . I am very pleased with the end result as these glasses are quite unique and there ’ s nothing else like them on the market as far as I know . Having succeeded in this idea , I have since extended it to include champagne flutes , serviette rings , a water jug , wine-bottle coaster , and bottle-stopper . I am currently working on a matching candle holder and silver salad servers , also incorporating the grape-vine design . Any of these would make perfect wedding or anniversary presents , or just a beautiful way to adorn a dinner table .
As a lover of organic designs and natural form , much of my jewellery reflects this with a variety of unique and unusual creations . I particularly like asymmetry and texture , which I include in many of my designs . One of the skills I have particularly enjoyed learning and developing is that of stone-setting . There are so many different methods to master , that I can never get bored of and am constantly working to improve and learn new techniques . Of course , many of these techniques require a range and variety of specialist tools and machines . These , needless to say , don ’ t necessarily come very cheap , so any sales and profit I have made up until now , has been re-invested in tools and equipment , but as someone who relishes acquiring new skills , I do not consider this to be too much of a hardship . I set with a variety of stones , both precious and semi-precious , with some items including gold . I have also recently decided to extend my silver-vine dinner table range into jewelry , and I am currently working on grape-vines as rings , pendants , and ear rings , encrusted with precious and semi-precious stones as the grapes . Everything has to be endorsed as sterling-silver or gold if appropriate , by the Assay Office in London . This is done with my own hall-mark ; a lovely gift from my husband .
I am always looking to develop new ranges and as soon as I start on one , I have the next one in mind , often being unable to sleep at night as ideas buzz around inside my head , but I do have to pace myself as there just aren ’ t enough hours in the day . Sometimes in the evenings , when I am not in the studio , I will sit with a tray of newly cut jump-rings , which I have made earlier in my studio , and join these into a variety of chain-mail items . These are great fun to make and offer a wealth of possibilities for designs .
About five years ago I was lucky enough to be invited to join an Artists group in Horsham . This was through a friend also in education who is now a very accomplished and highly successful sculptor . She liked my work and asked me to come along to the group . This has proved to be a wonderful opening for me . Apart from meeting so many highly talented people working in a wide variety of art forms , it has given me the opportunity to exhibit my work at Art Trails and in some very prestigious venues . These have now become well known and much anticipated annual events in and around Horsham . The group is known as HAOS and is sponsored by a number of well known professional groups and retailers . This has brought me a number of customers , some of whom have commissioned me to make their own personal pieces of jewelry . We will be holding the HAOS Art and Craft fair again next October at the Horsham County Hall ; an event well worth attending .
I have often been asked if I give lessons in jewellery making so I have recently decided to offer gift vouchers enabling a 3 - 4 hour one-to-one lesson making a sterling silver wrap-around ring , incorporating a small diamond . This would be done in my beautiful studio with light refreshments included . It would be a wonderful gift to someone who is keen on trying a new creative skill . Being creative is the best thing in the world and is now recognised as being good for well-being and mental health , so if you want to give it a go , just get in touch .
By Denise Bliss Silverblissdesigns . co . uk
37