Sway Silver

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being part of the Guelph Art on the Street show. As with every show there is much planning and prep work that goes into it. Not just the making of jewellery but the booth has to be weather proof, accessible and welcoming to the traffic. Early morning set up includes jockeying for parking near your booth, lugging heavy tables and wrestling with the wind as you raise your canopy. Yesterday was a hot day! At only 8 am it was a humid 22 degrees Celsius and it got hotter as the day wore on. The wind gusted playfully and unpredictably sending anything that wasn’t well secured flying to the pavement. Luckily jewellery isn’t very fragile and the wind is more of a nuisance than an adversary. However, nearby the sound of  breaking glass could be heard periodically from booths with framed drawings and photos and beautiful glass objects.  My heart broke for every piece that was shattered knowing the artist’s work and livelihood was lost with each broken piece.

You might wonder why artists and artisan’s go to such trouble with no guarantee of selling enough to even cover the cost of the booth space. Well for me, despite all the work and risk involved, the best thing about street shows is meeting the community. People come out to wander, to chat, to look at creative hand made things and be touched by what the makers offer. They buy with their hearts because these things are made by people that have lovingly made them with their hands. When you buy hand crafted you make a connection with a person who has a story to share. The art speaks to each person uniquely. It is my pleasure to meet each person. Each comment and question is welcome as it also sheds light on whether a design needs reworking or a price needs adjusting and keeps me talking about why I make jewellery, how it is made and what brought each item to be there.  Street shows enrich my  story as each piece made from my heart finds a home.

My booth at Guelph Art On The Street

If you attended the show. Thank you! I will be posting some of the work that you saw here. Some will make it’s way to the Cambridge Centre of the Arts Gift Shop others to Edissi Fine Arts in Kitchener and some may be posted on my Etsy or my icraft canada sites. Please contact me via email at heather@swaysilver.ca to find what you are looking for or have a special design made for you.  If you’d like to keep in touch email me and I’ll add you to my email list so  I can keep you informed of where you can find me teaching classes and where my jewellery is for sale once in a while.  (I promise never to share your info.)

Rustic Dandelion Ring, .999 silver, sterling silver, SOLD

Leather Bangle with Turquoise SOLD

Turquoise & Blue Striped Agate Bracelet (Sold), Hammered Pebble Links Bracelet, Turquoise & Smoky Quartz Confetti Bracelet (Sold)

Twig & Nest Necklace (Sold)

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

Most of my work lately has focused on the little things yet significant things in life. Tiny details captured from nature’s inspiration or a special moment in a child’s life that I form into metal charms. Every so often though there’s a time when tiny doesn’t cut it. I need to be bold, I need to make a statement! Petite girls (I’m only 5′2″) can make a splash too. Statement necklaces are all the rage in fashion right now. Chunky, beads, bib necklaces and strong colours radiate from necks and wrists all over the fashion world. Let’s celebrate bold!

Turquoise, Mookaite, Garnet, Oxidized Sterling Silver

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

Remember when she was born? That little bundle? All pink and squirmy? Precious and new? How fast they grow up. Now she’s a little twinkle toes twirling her dance steps across your kitchen floor.  Practicing, practicing for the big recital.  Tutus, ballet shoes, starlet in the making! What a proud moment for her as she’s made another leap to your Big Girl.

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

It’s been a year since I added Precious Metal Clay to my roster of jewellery making skills. I’m happy to say it has broadened my design capabilities and has made my life easier. Replacing my previous acid etching technique with new metal clay methods is less harmful to the environment and to my health and because it is made of recycled silver my solid silver designs are actually GREEN! Happy Earth Day!

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

Fine Silver Cross on cord $15

This silver cross design is very special to me for two reasons. First it is the symbol of my faith in Jesus Christ. Second, it was created in support of my sister and her family who are taking a leap of faith and following their calling to serve as missionaries with Operation Mobilisation for 2 years.

Each cross is hand crafted of fine silver, stands about 2cm high and is strung on waxed cotton cord with a slip knot closure for adjustable fit for children or adults. The proceeds from the sale of these crosses goes to OM to support the mission of the Blue Family.

To follow their journey go to thebluesandbeyond.wordpress.com

To purchase this cross necklace go to:
www.swaysilver.etsy.com (US)
icraft.ca/swaysilver (Canadian)

To see what Operation Moblisation is all about go to www.om.org

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

Semi-precious stones combine with freshwater pearls to create this earthy jewel toned bracelet. Nestled in the centre is a hand crafted bird charm made of .999 silver. Nature is a huge inspiration of my work. I often arrive home from walks with my head full of ideas ready to be sketched and made into one of a kind jewellery.

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

.999 silver hand sculpted leaf pendant sterling silver chain woven with gold vermeil chain, toggle clasp $120

contact me to order:        heather@swaysilver.ca

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

This fall I was privileged to teach several pendant making classes to high school and adult students. I find sharing information and techniques rewarding and I especially enjoy seeing what each individual does with what they are given. Precious Metal Clay is such a great medium to teach because good results are very quickly achieved with the magic of turning something clay-like to metal by torch firing.  Some people are naturals at designing and perhaps didn’t even know it! Others struggle a bit, working and reworking until they come up with something.  With a little effort each piece turns out with its own charm! It amazes me how different we all are, how differently we learn, apply instructions and share our creativity.

My next scheduled class is January 31st 2010 1-4 at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Create at least one pair of earrings and learn about earring findings and how to use them.  Register by calling the Centre for the Arts www.cambridgecentreforthearts.ca 519-740-4681 x 4376

If you are interested in learning PMC or beading and can get a group of 6 or more together I’d love to teach you to make your own wearable art!

heather@swaysilver.ca

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

original .999 silver twig with nest charm .999 silver bracelet with toggle

Summer has passed with lots of time spent with family enjoying the rare but appreciated heat and sun. Time to get back into the studio! Fall is a great time for creating! But in the meantime, here are some pics of work that I have been tardy posting.

dandelion puff original .999 silver charm with peridot and fw pearl .925 silver chain bracelet

.999 silver original twig with bird charm .925 silver necklace with spring ring clasp

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites

So much of the jewellery that I make is to commemorate milestones and celebrate life. By commissioning a hand made piece we can work together to put your heart into it too.  Whether it’s a baptism, a first communion or new baby there is a story to be told to generations to come through the jewellery you gift today.

I was truly honoured to take on this commission memorializing the life of a young son and celebrating the life of his surviving sister. The elements in each charm are extremely personal to the family and symbolize the times they’ve shared and the character of each child. Script is included on charms front and back.

Special Angel Bracelet

Fully adjustable to grow with baby, this silver bracelet is curved on the inside for comfort and flat on the outside so it can be personalized with a name or verse.  

First Communion Rosary

Love It? Share It!

Hide Sites