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Newest Arrivals: Gorgeous Enamel Jewellery Pieces That Will Wow You! Hey there! Brace yourself for some jaw-dropping jewellery pieces that are bound to leave you speechless. I'm thrilled to introduce our newest arrivals - a stunning collection of handcrafted enamel jewellery that will simply wow you. If you're a fan of unique and eye-catching designs, then you're in for a treat. Our latest enamel jewellery pieces showcase superb craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each piece is meticulously handmade, ensuring that you receive a one-of-a-kind treasure. From vibrant necklaces to delicate earrings and colour-pop brooch pins, our fresh arrivals in enamel jewellery offer something for every style and occasion. Whether you prefer bold and daring designs or subtle elegance, we have it covered. These new additions feature the latest trends in enamel jewellery, with intricate patterns, mesmerizing colours, and innovative techniques. They are not just accessories; they are wearable works of art that will elevate your outfit and make heads turn wherever you go. So get ready to be captivated by our newest handmade enamel jewellery collection. Explore the beauty of these exquisite pieces and find your perfect match. Don't miss out on owning a piece of wearable art that will truly make a statement. Visit www.maisyplum.co.uk  These stylish triangle earrings are the perfect drop and come in a selection of colours to suit your mood. They are cut from copper sheet, filed and sanded before they are fired in a hot kiln at 830 degrees. I use two different enamels to create this effect and colour.   These stunning raspberry pink  copper enamel earrings are textured with a metal stamp and then torch fired once the enamel is applied - 5 layers and 5 firings create this wonderful finish. A patina is then applied and polished, to enhance the texture.   If you love a brooch then these will certainly update your outfit, whatever the occasion. Inspired by nature and  I now offer contemporary floral pins and a more traditional style. Each are made by hand and therefore sizes differ, making each one a one of a kind gift.  

Enamel is essentially powdered glass that is fused to metal using heat. This can be in a kiln or via a hand or blow torch. The most popular metals to enamel on are copper, silver and gold, although steel is becoming a more popular choice. The powdered glass is mixed with oxides to give it colour, of which nowadays there are hundreds to choose from. It can be purchased in various forms which allows for different applications: as a liquid (the powder is suspended in water) lump form ( where it can be ground down in a pestle and mortar)  powder (which is generally sifted or wet packed using a fine brush or a quill).  The earliest enamel technique was cloisonne, where very fine wire was used to create cells where the powder was placed and then fired. This method is believed to have originated in Cyprus as early as 1350 BC. Another technique, Limoges was introduced in the late 15th century. This new method involved 'painting' with enamels without the use of wires to separate the colours, so they touched each other, therefore appearing more like a piece of painted art. Basse Taille is the French meaning for "low cut. It's a where a low relief pattern is  created in the metal prior to enamelling. Camaieu is a technique where a build up of white enamel is used to create highlights and light areas. A transparent base is laid first, beneath the whites. Champleve Enamel - the earliest known pieces date back to 400 BCE. Troughs or cells etched, formed with dies, or cast into the surface of the metal and then filled with enamel.   Plique-a-Jour dates back to the 6th Century AD. Very few pieces remain as the technique is very fragile. Enamel is loaded into the cells, but with no backing to them, giving them the appearance of stained glass. Plique-a-jour means to let in the daylight. Once applied, enamel is fired using a kiln or torch to between 800- 830 degrees. The powdered glass turns molten and fuses to the metal, resulting in a glossy finish. They can also be heated to the point of appearing like sugar grains, just fused but not molten which can look fantastic and gives it a more modern appearance. You can buy opaque enamels where the colour is of solid appearance as well as transparent colours where the colour allows the metal background to shine through. I find cool transparent colours work well on sliver and the warmer colours are beautiful on gold.Most opaques work well on all metals but it is advisable to test each colour first. I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and can understand my love of this wonderful craft. If you would like to see some of my work, then visit my website www.maisyplum.co.uk . You can also sign up to my newsletter for updates on products, sales and all things jewellery. Best Wishes, Jo   

Hi Plummies! It's occurred to me that I have a lot of customers asking me how to look after their jewellery once it is purchased, so I thought I would share few tips and tricks with you. Enamel jewellery is essentially glass powder that is applied to metal and then fused to it using heat,  if looked after carefully it can last a lifetime, however, if you're not careful with how you wear it, it can crack with abrasion and age. So here are a few ways to look after it:- Clean it with lukewarm water and a soft cloth and a hand soap, house hold cleaners will eventually damage the glass and is not recommended. Place your jewellery on a soft surface or cloth, preferably somewhere safe like a jewellery box so as to prevent the risk of it being knocked onto a hard floor or surface. Rings and bracelets or bangles take on a lot of wear and tear and can easily bang onto surfaces, causing the enamel to break and erode, so be extra careful with them to ensure they last. Tips For Cleaning Silver Use a jewellery cloth gently rubbing it over the piece until it buffs the silver to a high shine. Mix baking soda with white wine vinegar in a bowl and carefully place your silver jewellery in it for about an hour. Then wash it in clean water and dry thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth. Store your jewellery in anti tarnish bags Soap can build up on jewellery, especially rings and intricate designs, so using a soft toothbrush with water is a great way to get into difficult to reach areas Tips for Cleaning Copper Use white wine vinegar and soda in a bowl and soak your copper jewellery for about 30 mins. Rinse in clean water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Lemon juice and baking soda works the same way but the copper will need a longer soak, preferably overnight. There are plenty of commercial copper cleaners on the market that make easy work of copper, they are easily found in hardware stores nationwide.    

Lately, I have been on a real 'go slow' with my handmade jewellery business. I'm not sure what it is, but I've definitely struggled a little more lately.  When I first started making enamel jewellery, I was one of only a handful of people that I was aware of, that really enjoyed this art form, especially when working it into jewellery designs. However, it has really taken off over the past few years, and I love to try and create unique pieces that haven't been seen before, however, that is proving more and more difficult these days. So I have taken a bit of a back seat to see if my creative juices would return......I think I am there!  I'm excited to say that I am currently in the throws of making a new collection which features sterling silver, texture, geometric shapes and STYLE, all of course, mixed with a little fused enamel. Subtle colours will be teamed with sterling silver earrings, pendants and necklaces. Think how a lime green dress would look great with lime green and silver earrings but teamed with a silver and purple pendant? Colours that 'pop' and bring silver to life :) I have already started this journey and over the coming weeks I will be slowly adding items to my website.  I hope you like what you see and I am looking forward to creating some wonderful and unique jewellery for you all. If you are not already signed up to my newsletter, feel free to do so here  as there may well be a little offer on the way for subscribers only :)  You'll also receive special SUBSCRIBER ONLY discounts on new products and early bird discounts on any future sales!  So I am pleased to say I am back in the game so watch this space for some funky new designs coming up!  Have a great week Love  Jo

Well what a wonderful start to the first quarter of 2022! I'm absolutely delighted that MaisyPlum was recently selected as one of the finalists for the jewellery category in the Modern Maker Awards and also selected as one of their Top 100 small businesses for 2022.! It's such an achievement for a little business like mine and I am so thankful to be recognised for all the hard work that goes into creating colour inspired enamel jewellery that captures your unique sense of style. The awards were hosted by Bizbubble who are a small independent business network in association with Kraftspace UK  & Brandstorm Consultancy. There was stiff competition from some amazing creatives so to make it to the Top 100 was a real boost. Thank you to those of you who have stood by me over the years and supported my ventures - if you have just discovered MaisyPlum Jewellery and you love a little colour then head on over to my shop to see new and unique enamel, silver and copper jewellery that you won't find anywhere else!  If you wish to check out some of the other finalists also in the Top 100 then visit the Bizbubble website. Here are a few of my favourite small businesses that entered some of the other categories.... Fairley Bohemian FirstTMaster Jasmine & Lily Floral Wreaths Samm Designs  I Love Dolly      

Well here we are, another year over and a new one begins.  It was a strange year last year, but I for one, want to leave it well and truly behind me and look forward to whatever 2022 brings. Hopefully we can say 'sod off' to Covid 19 once and for all and get back to normal. On a positive note....2022 brings us more challenges, but hopefully more fun too.  I'll be embarking on some new ventures this year and finally starting a course I bought this time last year, but didn't have the time to get going with. It concentrates on glass fusing, something I love but still have loads to learn and my aim is to make art pieces that can take pride of place in my house and hopefully some of yours :)  As for my enamel work - I will be selling copper pieces wholesale for those of you who are into making enamel jewellery etc as well as those who are just getting started, so watch this space as I shall be listing them on my website soon! I shall keep going with what I do and love, hopefully introducing new ideas along the way. I really appreciate any feedback you can give me regarding my products, but safe to say, I will be continuing with my most popular pieces as per normal, but may introduce new colours as the seasons change. Thank you for reading my inane ramblings and also for your support with my buisness - I feel very blessed to do what I love. Wishing you all a safe, healthy, fabulous and prosperous 2022 Love Jo  ❤