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So having taken part in a few craft fairs recently I have had a back log of orders to complete. One of which was a buttercup brooch pin that someone asked me to make. It was requested in sterling silver, which is always difficult to enamel in 'warmer' colours as there is a reaction with the silver. However, this one turned out well and I am rather happy with it as the yellow is true to form. I made it from silver clay and applied the enamel very carefully in thin layers. I decided to torch fire it as I have a little bit more control of the heat and this is how it has ended up!  Buttercups are generally regarded as a weed, but I don't think they are given enough credit - they are a beautiful colour, reminding most of us of lazy summer days holding them under our chins to decide whether we like butter or not. I am a little bit smitten with this lovely flower so have decided to make a pendant to match........watch this space

    So already we are now well into the month of April and Spring has finally sprung! The sun is making more of an appearance these days and it has been a delight to make the most of the outdoors. This is the month of my birthday which is in a couple of days - I have to admit to being slightly in denial as I am now edging ever so much closer the THE BIG ONE! It is going to be a busy one this week as I am catching up with my friends for lunches, dinners and a few nights out so I am not sure I will be fit for much this coming week!  As a celebration of my special day I am offering everyone the chance to get free shipping on any order on Wednesday 20th April -FOR 1 DAY ONLY - so if you have seen something you like in my store www.maisyplum.co.uk then all you have to do is enter coupon code ITSMYBIRTHDAY at checkout !! Simples!  In the meantime I want to wish you all a fab week and happy shopping!   

I have had a fun-filled time these past few weeks! I saw a post pop up in my feed on facebook by a page called Vintage B Luxury Beeswax Candles where you can enter to be their 'Nose of the Month'. I rarely enter into anything like this but I love smellies and I burn candles all the time so I thought why not? Well would you believe it? I only won it!! I was, needless to say, delighted as it meant that I would receive some yummy candles to try out. All they want in return is a review on the products they send you.   To be honest, I thought I would receive two or three items....when my delivery came I was shocked to see that there were loads of goodies in there - this is it as I opened the box... These are the contents of those items....How many things?? There was a ceramic candle melt, as she knew I didn't have one, A gorgeous smelling votive in a very pretty glass, three different wax melts to try, six votive candles and a lip balm. The smells were to die for and I couldn't wait to get started! Aren't they beautifully packaged to? It really felt like Christmas. Unfortunately, my daughter took the votive candle, which was a vanilla & honey scent, for her room and so I can't really write a review for it, but it smelt delicious and she definitely gave at a huge thumbs up as well as saying that it burnt right down without any wastage! I have never known her room smell so good!  I went for the Amber & Lavender melt first as it was just gorgeous! It burnt beautifully and wafted around my entire house all day. Really gorgeous and even my hubby liked it. I haven't yet tried the others but will write again about those when I use them.  All in all if you want a clean burning, deliciously smelling candle or wax melts, that are handmade,  I would definitely take a look at Vintage B - I have to say so far I am really impressed!   

As you know, most of the jewellery I  create I do so with some enamel or colour added to it. There are many jewellery makers out there who do not know how to enamel but would like to add colour to their designs. It is always a challenge to find ways of doing so that is a little different.   So,  I decided to try my hand at making a batch of enameled headpins and I think they have gone rather well!! The vibrancy of the colours is amazing and will certainly  add some wonderful interest to handmade jewellery designs.  These headpins will be available in my store maisyplum.co.uk as well as in my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/MaisyPlum  If you would like to order 20 headpins of a certain colour then just email me at maisyplum1@gmail.com 

Well I don't know about you, but this past week my household has been plagued with the dreaded flu virus and as such my weekend was a little bit tedious having to spend most of it on my own due to most of my household either having the flu or feeling under the weather. Now I am good at keeping myself busy and so decided that my weekend would be best spent sorting out my work room. In fact, I was so keen to tidy my workstation up, I ended up moving the whole room to a different part of the house!!!! It really is one of those jobs I thought would be done and dusted inside of a few hours.....Oh my word...I am still here trying to organise two days in!  How did I accumulate so much junk - I mean- stuff? Geez...it really is never ending. How many of you have spent hours/days months even to get your studio or work area sorted? I sympathise. Anyway, 2 days in I am almost there and here is a pic of one area for you!  Feel free to show me your pictures, messy or not! :)

I was lucky enough this week to be contacted by a previous customer, who purchased from me last year. She was looking for a birthday gift for her daughters' 21st and decided that I was the girl for the job! How lovely! We organised a meet up for the three of us, where we discussed her requirements and I managed to get a feel for the young lady's style.  I discovered that she liked some of my granulation jewellery and so we went about sketching out a design that we felt would work. I have to say at this point, that this technique and I think it will make a way into a lot of what I do over the coming months. Did you know that granulation jewellery is thought to date back to about 5000 years ago......?  So, with the design sorted, I set about making  a disc with the centre cut out - a bit like a polo shaped disc. This is the bit that took the time - applying the tiny little balls! Oh my word! How much patience does one need? The silver balls were firstly made by heating pieces of silver in a variety of sizes. I then had to pickle them followed by a bit of a tumble in my polishing machine as some were covered in firescale! I painstakingly picked out the tiny balls from the polisher tryng not to lose any down the sink! I then added them to my disc using slithers of hard solder at the base and then sprinkling teeny pieces of solder over the top. Heat was applied until the solder melted, more pickling and then a polish. If only it were that simple......after the first polish, a load of granulation fell off! - that was not meant to happen !!  - Needless to say, these were re-soldered with more pickling and more polishing......finally, attempt number three and it was all done. Lastly I applied the bail. Here is the end result and I am happy to say that I am really pleased with it - more importantly - so is my client. So I would like to wish Annabel a very happy 21st birthday and I hope she enjoys wearing her pendant for many years to come!