Wato wato all. Very long time no communication eh!
Lots of water has passed under my bridge, as for sure yours also, since the last posting on silversmithblog. My new job at the Jewellery workshop in Porthleven has been a mixed and varied bag of delights, horrors, failures and victories that will no doubt continue to crop up in the coming posts. Looking forward to sharing the experiences that will help you to realise its only you in the way of making what you envisage in your head. Remember, all I know is technique that can be learned with ease if the application of the craft is exercised in the correct manor.
Its appropriate for me to now state that, at this time, looking to the types of work needed to service commissions. Also items bought in for repairs and adjustments has rendered me a bona fide Goldsmith. Never in my earlier wildest fantasies did this enter into my mind. The challenges have been both frustrating and rewarding to say the least. Enough of that for now, lets get on with the real passion, silversmithing. Well copper for now anyway.
A long while ago a promise was made to video the circle cutter that I am very fortunate enough to be the custodian of. The link at the start of this post will take you, (with luck I have done all the right things for this to happen) to YouTube to see said video. Had no idea you couldn’t upload a video here, you live and learn eh.
For those who watched the clip, sincerely hope it was enlightening, perhaps even entertaining. Please do give some feedback as if you wish, more clips can be added if you so wish. I know YouTube is awash with really great content, though bound to say haven’t trawled through it for some time myself. I will not add to the numbers if it’s not relevant, up to you. Better still, encourage me to post something you may wish to have better explained that will help with more visual content.
I showed the model that has been an experiment, now it will go further with the four copper bowls that are, finally, on the way.
Reen makes wonderful quilts, probably mentioned this before. Pictured here are two of her creations that led to the idea of the designs to follow.
As you see, they convey wonderful movement, along with wonderful patterns. The model in the video, if you look closer, uses these lay out patterns, or at least like them, to start. I wondered how the raising process would effect the geometric, straight lined patterns. The distortions are very pleasing to my eye, wishing you may agree. They lend themselves very well to chasing and repousse decorative techniques, don’t you think.
Missing the larger scale work, working on small scale jewellery at this time, most of the time. Bound to say, I have been pining for more hammer work and less soldering/constructional work. Looking forward to seeing where this goes. As those of you know who have followed this blog from the start, major influences remain Hiroshi Suzuki and his hammer chased vessels. At least one of the bowls will employ hammer chasing, if you return to looking at his exquisite creations, the patterns I will use will be of a similar flavour to his signature natural forms. Not forgetting the awesome and wonderful human being that is David Huang, have I mentioned him before 🙂 I intent to give these bowls a rim, with my own ‘twist’ as a nod to his massive, incalculably huge continuing influence on my approach. This blog was in large part influenced by his generosity, for those of you who have not, please do look him up, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
I do not want to go on too much as I know this is a continuing personal failing. Suffice to say, its good to be back on the blogasphere. Please do get in touch.
I will be telling you more of my adventures as a jobbing jeweller in a busy shop, as well as my wonderful times as a tutor for the workshop. In two weeks I was fortunate enough to enable 60 people, including my now weekly 8 week beginners course that is rolling out continuously for the foreseeable future.
Until then, all my very best wishes.
Stu
silversmithblogdotcom 
Hi Stu
I love your video I’m looking forward to seeing you make that bowl. Its much easier for me to understand if I see it and video is perfect for this. Reen does make beautiful quilts from what I can see. Does she also have a website?
That cutting machine is great- lucky you!sure beats sawing my hand.
Fantastic to have your input, greatly appreciated. Playing with adding the video was something to try for some time.
Reen is part of a quilting club – lighthouse quilters in Falmouth. Afraid she isn’t impressed with blogs and webpages. Try as I do, not yet able to convince her to give it a go. In the past she has been bemused at my doing this. As a result, she is a far more prolific maker than me.
Glad you liked the machine, more to show in the future. Please do continue to write.
Kindest regards.
Stu
Welcome back, Stuart! I enjoyed watching your video. What a wonderful piece of equipment this disc cutter is (such a time saver)! And with so much history. Looking forward to seeing your new copper bowls. And congratulations on your new job!
Many thanks, truly wonderful for sure. Would have been great to have the chap who used it for all his working life, alas, I didnt keep in touch as he lived a way away.
Thank you for the congratulations. Being a new shop, also the workshop opposite, combined with the summer holiday season, has left little time for my own work. Haven’t made anything of my own for some months now. Autumn is on its way, determined to do more at home.
Hope alls well with you and yours. Looking forward to spending some time here, online, in the near future catching up with others and enjoying reading of their adventures and creations.
Very best wishes.
Stu
Stu!! Long time, no hear! I do hope all’s well for both you and Reen. I’m enamored w/ your circle cutter and as was said by others above – fascinated by its history, too. I hope the new job is teaching you skills and new perspectives (just as I’ve said before – I’ve also worked in a high-production jeweller’s workshop prior for several years.) Keep in touch when able, and I hope you’re having a great Fall season in Cornwall (So jealous about that, by the way!) 🙂
Patricia, please forgive me, how very remiss of me for not checking for messages. I really must get more consistently into the technology. Think I told you how the Internet is very much feast and famine for me. I get guilty for spending a lot of time, other times, like this, guilty for not!
The circle cutter is a beaut isn’t it. I wanted to convey with the video, the nature and character of the tool that makes it so very much more than a mere time saver. As you gathered for sure, very much an old tool freak me.
Congratulations on your achievements. It is very rewarding to see your successes through the pictures you post. Still get quite a kick and a chuckle in seeing a pictures of someone, such as yourself that I have corresponded with, though never met.
I have found a new skill I didn’t know I had, teaching. Whilst at the shop as a jobber, as you know, was given the task of starting the teaching over the old workshop. Long story short, absolutely love it. I started a beginners course, one off making courses and wedding rings, also one to one for people with specific goals. Also work with youngsters, smashing to see the wonderment and share their sense of achievement.
I have decided to follow my heart, took a deep breath and have given notice to quit. At the time of writing I no longer work at the main shop, just doing the classes now and taking home work from my bosses and doing it at home.
Looking for premises for my own teaching workshop with some limited retail space to allow me to better make a pleasant and bearable living. Reen has also expressed an interest, her photography and wood turning will also be included. Fair to say, at my time of life the decision was made, now or never. Stay tuned, as I progress I will post more.
Thank you for all your continuing kindness. Very best wishes to you and all your family from Reen and me, again, so very sorry for my not checking sooner for messages.
Stu, your lovely post here made my night!! It has been a horrendous day here w/ rain and wind – but hearing your good news was just the right thing. Too much enthusiasm from me to share here about yours and Reen’s new pursuit!! My friends that live not terribly far away from you (in Redruth) have come back on-board recently to social media after a break (as just as you said, it’s either feast or famine.) So it is definitely a ‘good omen’ as the saying goes that everyone I presently know in your part of the world has got exciting projects on the front burner! Yours a new business – and in the case of my friends – a new living space. I am beyond thrilled that you’ve embraced teaching and found a love for it so that you’re going to make it a more permanent pursuit! Please do stay in touch – as I really do enjoy seeing what you’re up to w/ your metalworking and teaching. Happy weekend!
Congratulation! Very nice video.
Thank you very much, it means alot to know people are getting something from it. I love to introduce old technology wherever possible. sorry to have taken so long to reply. I havent touched this site for months due to starting JMC. Please continue to keep in touch. Greatly appreciated. Very best wishes. Stu.