General;
Cord Bracelets;
Reef Knots;
Turk’s Head Knots;
Seagull over Wave;
Carbon Fibre;
Fish Skeleton;
Mussel Shells;
This gorgeous shell was cast in solid silver from a mussel shell - using a lost wax casting method, then the magic happens! A layer of solid gold is carefully heat-applied to the silver, then an iridescent patina is applied to mimic the outside of the shell.
read on for more details ....
This gorgeous shell was cast in solid silver from a mussel shell - using a lost wax casting method, then the magic happens! A layer of solid gold is carefully heat-applied to the silver, then an iridescent patina is applied to mimic the outside of the shell.
read on for more details ....
Pronounced - 'cum boo', this is an ancient Korean technique and literally means 'attached gold'.
It is nothing like gold-plating or gilt using gold leaf - this method actually bonds the gold and silver metals permanently together.
Of course, it is all in the preparation. The 24 carat gold foil can be sourced, but is very fine and great care is needed to ensure it is not creased or wasted.
The silver shell itself needs to be prepped, as the gold will only attach to pure metal - not sterling silver. We need to use sterling silver for affordability and durability, and the pure 'fine' silver is coaxed to the surface by repeatedly heating, thereby burning off the copper in the sterling silver. You see the shell is now a fine white color - that's perfect!
The gold bonds at a high temperature and when pressure is added, this causes an electron exchange at the surface between the two metals, creating a permanent diffusion bond.
I use a hot plate to heat the pre-prepared shell, then carefully and gently lay the foil over the area. The tricky bit is to brush it into the curves and crannies of the shell, then burnish it into the bond with an agate tool.
It's hot work as you have to keep the temperature high! and the burnishing needs to be both delicate, so it doesn't scratch or tear, and forceful to ensure good bonding pressure.
Phew!! But the results are magic!
You have to be a witch to stir up this black brew! The theory is simple - silver oxidizes and turns black with the application of liver of sulfur.
First cleanliness and a burnished surface is essential to achieve a permanent finish. Then the clever part is in getting the l.o.s brew just the right temperature, and strength and adding witchy ingredients like salt and ammonia to get exactly the right iridescent shade.
I love that it mimics the natural glistening black of the mussel shell!
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Amazing buzz from this Show - and very ready to look at jewellery as a break from the hard core sailing stuff!!
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I can't make enough of these elegant, smooth and heavy chains - the detailed work that goes into every knot makes them unique.
]]>I almost can't make enough of these elegant, smooth and heavy chains - even at this end of the price range they are so popular.
I guess everyone immediately sees just how much work and skill goes into it. Each half knot is formed into a loop, soldered and individually sanded before forming the shape and 'knotting' it with the second loop to fashion the full reef knot. It is still difficult sometimes to make sure the solder join is robust enough to withstand the knot forming.
After that each joining oval is soldered closed to form the chain. And every solder join has to be sanded and polished individually.
The fastener is very clever as it is hidden in the charm feature. The shackle makes an obvious closure - it is a perfect replica of a Harken bow shackle, cast in silver and polished smooth.
But it is the winch handle closure that makes me smile. A perfect little replica of the Harken classic Speedgrip winch handle, which acts brilliantly as a bar and loop closure.
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The trial piece looked like this! - so its already come a long way!
]]>Huge interest from all the members there when they saw how unique and niche my nautical designs are.
Good start to the winter season and prelude to Xmas promotions!
]]>They are also taking a display of gold and silver jewelry to show on their stand as a bit of eye-catching bling! Very appropriate for Monaco I think!
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I have donated a set of 'His n Hers' silver necklace and bracelet for the Harken competition being run on their stand at the Southampton Boat Show this week.
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These will be available in both silver and gold as a necklace, cufflinks, lapel pin, charm and bracelet.
The silver ones here are slightly bigger than the gold version, with the idea that the smaller version, when done in silver, will make a lovely set of earrings to go with a necklace.
At the moment these are not on my web shop; so give me a call if you would like one of these limited editions. info@cestlaviejewellery.com
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Yes, as of this weekend, my C'est La Vie collection of silver nautical jewellery is on display there. I'm looking forward to seeing how the general tourist and sailing fraternity will like it.
]]>My problems came when trying to model the keel and rudder, because they were so delicate. So I had to make them oversize in the clay model, cast in silver at home, and then re-shape and refine the keel and rudder because re-casting from this new metal model.
I also had a bright idea to solder the mast and sails. My problems with these is just trying to locate each small part very accurately and with a close fit for the solder. In the end I decided to use the casting (Delft) sand to make a 'jig' to hold the hull, mast and sails in position while I soldered. This actually worked well - but gave off horrible noxious fumes under the open soldering flame!
I have also decided to try and get the whole boat - hull and sails, cast as one piece. So I have sent it off to Merrell Casting to get it professionally moulded and cast. I'm keen for this to work, as it will make doing another yacht much simpler.
]]>The hull is modelled from clay with the help of lots of drawings and photos to get the lines just right. Plus I get my yacht designer husband, Andy, to critique the shape before I cast it. I think it's important that they are as true to form as possible, so that someone can have their own boat rather than a generic yacht shape.
I sand cast the hull at home in my shed; great fun playing with molten metal!
One of the trickiest parts is adding the rig as the sails and mast are much less dense than the hull, so are apt to melt when you try to solder them together. Add to that the difficulty of accurately positioning and balancing all the pieces together long enough to solder!
The sail number is another discipline. I think engraving at this scale is almost beyond me with my hand held engraver! But I can't yet justify a laser engraver of my own! It is still cool to be able to have your own sail number on your silver yacht though.
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But I can't believe how much 9ct gold costs! Still it is very special.
]]>Pronounced - "say la vee"
C'est la vie is French for 'That's the life' or 'it's the life' - so that works well when you consider that I am combining the best of my work and leisure and location and pouring it all into this new venture. Sailing, Harken and our seaside holiday location on the Solent.
Of course, my name is also Vie; so it is a pun on 'That's the Vie'.
And, when you don't see it written down it also sounds like 'Sailor Vie' - which is me as well!
So it's perfect, don't you think? :-)
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This gives it a more macho look and I'm hoping it will weight the bracelet more evenly.
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My first foray into gold - for the tiny shackle. Very excited to be able to offer my first gold piece of jewellery! I will probably launch it at the Dinghy Show 2017.
]]>It's easy and comfortable to wear, and I think I will be making many more of these. This first one is a gift for my nephew Jamie - a very cool dude indeed! He thinks it will make a good signet type ring for his little finger. I hope he likes it!
]]>I have a problem when I make my silver yachts; by the time I want to solder on the jump ring, the hull and rig assembly keeps trying to fall apart when I heat it.
So I experimented with trying to glue the jump ring on; and I've concluded that it just isn't possible.
Back to the soldering board!
]]>However, Andy found that a very hot shower would weaken the glue so that the clasp could pull off. So I have been experimenting with different types of glues and ways to mark up and mask off the leather. Not with complete success! I spent almost a whole weekend messing this up; but I think I've got there now.
My next challenge is to find good 20mm wide leather strips; I've had to try US and China!
]]>My newsletter in November generated some interest and I was very pleased with the level of orders for Christmas. But must get better organised in December, as I was out of the country some of the time and struggled to make sure everyone had their orders in time!
On the plus side, I proved that my website and orders could be managed from a mobile phone in Spain :-)
Nick Cox did really well, and helped despatch some orders for me, and generated their own interest with the walk-in customers of Lymington. A big thank you to Liz, Matt and Jess!
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I'd like to keep track of my progress and rate of learning, as well as recording some of my efforts and difficulties to make my pieces.
]]>Could be worn as a pendant on a silver chain, or a brooch, or mounted on a plaque as a trophy or prize.
]]>Should look good when it's finished. I will try to cast a silver shell to put into the middle space.
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