Hi and as we near the end of May, I thought it was about time I wrote another update about what I’ve been up to, and also a bit about what I won’t be up to this summer…

Commissions and hallmarking

I’m working well towards completing my latest batch of commissions and currently have several “in progress” pieces both on my bench and off being hallmarked at the Birmingham Assay Office. I know it can be a sight worry sending work away in the post, but hallmarking is something that has to be done by law for any piece of jewellery (over a certain weight) that’s being sold in the UK. (More info here)

I also personally think that even if it’s not up the required weight, that it gives a piece some provenance and proof that the metal is actually what I’m telling you it is. I often remodel old jewellery that’s not been hallmarked for whatever reason, and so I do think its important even though a “remodel” could potentially be interpreted as a “repair” and therefore not officially needing to be hallmarked, that its tested and marked. This way, if some day my “reincarnated” pieces are passed on and remodelled again, there’s no question about the quality of the metal.

Summer Events

Ok, so this is a bit of a trick sub heading as essentially, I’m not doing any. Having opened my studio for the FarOpen for the last four years and taken part in group exhibitions for H Art for the last two, I’ve decided to have this year off.

Every decision in any business is kind of an unknown, but I’ve been thinking for a while, am I just doing these events because thats what’s seen as “the done thing”?

Yes, I’ve taken orders and sold my jewellery during the time they’re on, but would those people have bought from me anyway? Perhaps I might loose one or two smaller sales, but the cost, both in making stock (as I’ve found that people do want to have something look at and buy there and then) and the time it takes me to prepare and then be “on call” all week I’m sure is way more than I actually earn.

I’ve never been one to follow the grain, so I’m going to just see how this goes.

Finally, here’s a few photos of “May 2025 at my studio” so far…