This week I promised to show just what I had managed to achieve at my course at Bournemouth University of Arts. 

One thing I didn't take a photograph of was my very blue finger!  My glove got caught in a lid and I didn't realise that it had a very tiny tear in it - so I actually not only managed to dye the jewellery - but my finger too.  However, all is not lost as my finger isn't steamed (as the anodised jewellery has to be) and therefore after 2 days it's nearly worn off - phew!

I found the second week of carrying out this process far more satisfying - most probably because I was able to see the end result and had also had time to digest the information provided by the course tutor and consider how I could use it for my own ends.

This cuff bracelet was my first ever piece.

Having posted a picture of it on Facebook, it was well received - so much so that an existing customer requested its cost!  However, I know it has faults (as with everything that one tries first time) and I'd never sell an item that I'm not 100% satisfied with - so the lady in question is receiving this as present from myself - being posted to her on Monday and I'm hoping she likes it as much when she receives it.

The same happened with these earrings - a lady who has purchased some silver and gold earrings from me previously wanted to know how much I would charge for them.  Although these don't have faults - I felt it only fair to let her have them.  As a thank you for this, she's rounding up her friends to vote for my jewellery in the Craft and Design Selected Awards.  These were put in the post to her today and she's thrilled.

All in all, I feel this is a process that I will continue to work with.  Once my new studio bench has been fitted (my workspace is currently only about 2ft as I've collected more and more equipment) - so a new 8ft bench is being built into the studio this coming week and it will allow me far more flexibility to expand my range of jewellery.

Please feel free to leave any comments - I'm always delighted to hear your thoughts, Lesley x

Having registered at the Bournemouth University of Arts to be instructed on enameling, I attended my first session on Thursday.  It does seem as if many processes are covered during the term and the first one being - making anodised aluminium jewellery.

A very interesting process and one that I'd attempted previously with no success.  I have discovered why!  The aluminium needs to be in its anodised state prior to working and it can be purchased as such.  Although I'd previously attempted to carry out the anodising myself - I'd not managed it correctly (and managed to spill some battery acid on my hand - ouch!) so I'd had to admit defeat.  Now that I know it can be purchased 'ready to work' then it becomes a lot more feasible.

On Thursday we carried out some work on test pieces, using various stamps to create patterns and then covering them with coloured dyes and the effects are truly amazing.

He's an image of some cuff bracelets produced  - although they're not mine.  Next week I'll photograph what I've produced and we'll see just how it compares.