Website

Have subscribed to MrSite, finally, and got my website on the way...

www.codejewellery.com




Had some good feedback so far - really easy to edit, will need to add the shop section next, and need to educate myself re. tags and keywords - think I'm most of the way there and it should be easier once the full text is on the site, will work on that tonight.

Happy New Year!

OK - 2008 here I come. Calendar is now updated with major details so far, will keep checking to see if it's following through from Google to Blogger...seems to be OK so far.

Need to stick to the list I made a few posts ago re. big things to do, a couple already crossed off, need to make sure I don't stall now I'm back at work and it's getting to our busiest time of year.

Shouldn't have to do any overtime this year though so fingers crossed will still have enough time to get things done. Silver and copper all on it's way, along with a few more bits of kit to boost the workshop - now just need to perfect the art of soldering without setting the attic smoke alarm off :)

Blog nightmares...

...apologies for the ridiculous delay since my last post - have had major password and access problems with my blog and it's only just been sorted out. Lesson learnt in terms of reliance on 'virtual' means of maintaining records!

Luckily I kept a written log, so I can now transfer all of that to the blog, with dates as relevant.

Exhibition 'theme'...

...I seem to have unknowingly developed a theme for my exhibition pieces - all the things I come up with seem to be aquatic or oceanic in nature - sketches below...





The pearl cluster ones are based on oyster shells, concave silver domes with pearls attached...

Using the techniques I learnt at the smithing course, and the bursary money equipping me with the tools I need, I cna now start in earnest.

SPEED scheme business mentor

To complement Jo mentoring me on the practice side, I now have Peter Wyer (Head of Centre for Entrepreneurial Management at Uni) as my business mentor for the bursary scheme. Met today for our first session, and it was really reassuring for someone of his experience to sound so confident in my propsals for going forward. Also nice to know that I'm not talking/thinking complete nonsense when it comes to any business know-how I've picked up, whether it's from my CIPD qualifications, trying to get Ruby Rose off the ground or resource gained from the Connect programme.

Even more motivation to get things going - there's so much support available!

To follow up:
Monthly updates to Peter re. progress (email, brief)

Sound investments!

Have now taken delivery of the smithing kit I need, thanks to the first SPEED bursary instalment - £600 worth of workshop gear, excluding materials. Can feel the momentum building now, just can't wait to get going once Christmas is out of the way.

Big things to get done:
1. Beyond the Gallery proposal submission - 17th
2. Meeting business mentor Peter Wyer - 18th, and submit progress report to him by end of Jan
3. Order silver & copper to start work on 'prototypes'
4. Early Jan, contact Fashion Studies PLs again to re-establish intentions for Degree Show
5. Get three pieces made and ready for (a) Connect brochure photos on 21st Jan and (b) pitching to Fashion Studies students as per BTG proposal.

Silversmithing

Just got back from silversmithing course with Jes Marshall and Fran Barker at flux'n'flame in Dorset. Images of my first silver pieces...







This was exactly what I needed and managed to cram loads of techniques onto my very steep learning curve. The courses are so flexible, you just go and learn what you need to learn, no set agenda and LOADS of support - can't recommend enough. So for someone with no smithing expertise at all, not bad! Has also spurred me on for my designs for the exhibition, now have the know-how to realise my imaginings for the Connemara beach stuff, as well as other techniques to follow the 'oceanic' theme...