Lastly I made this commission piece. A lady and her husband came in with a huge diamond that the husband had bought. She wanted it made into something silver and she quite liked a flower pendant I had on display so I did this one for her. It's quite large, over 2" but it works well with the size of the stone. It was quite nerve racking working with such a precious stone as I mostly work with semi precious stones like peridot and amethyst. It was lots of fun to do something I don't normally do. Now that my shop is in a more prominant place I am getting lots of commission enquiries. My only problem is I'm really pants at pricing my work for commissions, I always undervalue my work, do any of you crafters out there do the same?

I've had quite a lot going on over the last few weeks, here are some pictures from my latest class. None of the ladies had made silver jewellery before but all did a fab job! We have 2 rings, 2 bangles, a necklace and earrings set and a pair of earrings!

I have a fantastic new assistant in my shop, my sis inlaw Amy! Here she is inside my lightbox that I use for photos. She sold me that she thought she could fit in it so I told her to go ahead! She managed it, well done Amy maybe try some work next time lol!!

I haven't posted for a little while as I have been so busy with my new shop! Here is a pic that kind of shows it, it was quite hard to take a pic as it looks better in person!! The other end is my workshop. It's a really nice space, it's so lovely to have all of my work out on display. My only gripe is that I don't have broadband!! The building is an old chapel and the wireless I used upstairs won't reach downstairs and all of those new broadband dongles won't pick up a signal!! Boo I love my internet for downloading music while I work!

Does anyone ever find that they have so much work to do that they just end up getting nothing done (in my case nothing except making lists of what needs to be done!!!)! I have so many things I need to do in my studio at the moment. I really want to make a big load of jewellery so that I have a decent stock. My studio has enough space that I can display all of my work but when I need to restock a gallery of something I end up using that stock. I have a bit of backup stock but it's always the things I don't have that sell! I seem to keep starting things but not quite seeing them though so I have loads of half completed things lying about everywhere! I keep telling myself that I'll have a day or 2 where I can get these things done but I'll get a commission or something which ends up taking up my time!! Plus my studio is such a mess, I'm sure that it is hampering my progress!

I've asked my baby sister in law to come in and give me a bit of a hand with the crummy jobs, she's only 19 but has been making bits of jewellery with me for about 5 years so I can give her jobs like making clasps and earwires. I can also shout my blog posts out to her to type up too!! Best thing is I can pay her in jewellery as she loves my stuff (at least she says she does lol)!!

I'm feeling all motivated now!! Shame the angry monkey is sleeping upstairs in his cot, I feel like working! Will have to wait till tomorrow, what's the betting I can't be arsed then!!!!

Grr I just did a nice long post and then lost the lot! Blummin laptop, I think I press keys by mistake cus it's quite diddy and I tend to get a bit erratic when touch typing!!!

Anyway a condensed version of what I wrote just now is that I have been soooo busy these last few months with shows, stocking galleries and doing online orders that I have barely had time to get enough jewellery made let alone do and postings!!!

I have made a few new bits, though they are more variations of older bits!! I've also had a go at doing my own pics as my new laptop has a better screen than my old pc and showed my how pants the pics on my site are (ones that I paid a fortune for no less!). I got a slate place setting in the sale at m&s for 25p last year thinking it would be good for pics, it then got stashed away and never used along with the light tent that was gathering dust!! I dragged them out a couple of weeks ago and snapped some pics and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. I stuck them onto my nothonthehighstreet shop (www.notonthehighstreet.com/lucykempjewellery) first as that is my busiest site and it's much easier to update! I'm hoping to do my site tomorrow.

The pic is of my mini silver daisy pendant I love it it's so cute! I'm starting a little girls range of jewellery. I have a niece who is 31/2 (going on 40 I think!) I took some bits over to her to see what she liked and let her keep her fav (free advertising when she wears it to parties!!). I recently did her a mini version of a cuff bracelet (see pic) but made it nice and girly with flowers and hearts on the beads. She loves it and it looks lush on her!

Anyway I'm going to upload the pics and then I have to go check the little man who is hopefully napping!

I promise to post more regularly, I should be getting a decent internet connection in my studio so I will hopefully be able to post from there!!! xx

Student work.

I did a class on Saturday and was very impressed by the standard of work the ladies produced!

Jane made herself a bangle with gorgeous charms and beads, her Mum Noreen made a wire bracelet and matching pendant with amethysts and Jackie made herself a lovely brooch!

I hope you agree that they did really well! I really enjoy teaching as I love seeing what people come up with. Everyone has access to the same tools and materials but still the outcome is completely different for each person!

Hope everyone is looking forward to the bank holiday weekend! 3 days off!! Though I think I will be working trying to get enough stock together for the Clothes Show!