Dichroic Glass Cremation Pendant.

I recently had what I thought was a strange request at the time. 

A Dichroic Glass Cremation Pendant.

But after googling the idea I realised that this was not a unique request and after a bit more head scratching I worked out how it could be done.

I worked out the price's and contacted Karen, the customer with the news. 

Karen is such a lovely woman, really friendly and smiley. She told me all about Brian, her late father and that she would love to have a pendant made to hold close to her at all times.

A few days later Karen, armed with a small heart shaped box of ashes turned up at the studio. It was a bit weird to think "I have a box of ashes in my hands" but once Karen explained how close she was with him and how much of a jocker he was. The weird feeling soon left me and I took a small amount of Brian's ashes for the pendant.

Karen had chosen the colours and size for the finished piece and she left me to it.

A few days later I had fired Brian on some gorgeous Dichroic Blue/green glass and for an extra bit (that I had not mentioned before) I had ground out a small heart shape in the back to put a little bit of the ashes there too.

As you can see from the following photos. The colours are stunning, the bail looks lovely and Brian sits well in his new home.  

There was a twist in the making of this cremation pendant. 

As I said before Brian was a bit of a jocker and as you can see. He is still working his magic. I have made hundreds of pendants over the last few years and have never before had this strange dimple on the edge, almost like Brian's up to his old jocks again, even in the afterlife. 

I will let you decide on that one.......

If you would like a Dichroic Glass Cremation Pendant of a loved one then please contact me on 

stevesmithjewellery@yahoo.co.uk 

and I will see what can be done. Price's start from as little as £25 and go upwards. It just depends on what you want.

Darlington Sundays Peoples Market 2nd Sept 2012

Hi to all my readers. Just to let you know that if you are in Darlington on the 2nd September 2012. I will be selling my creations of dichroic jewellery and up-cycled jewellery. So come along and have a look at my work and many others.

More information from:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=277427709030145&set=o.246954155410834&type=3&theater

Dragon Eye and Cats Eye Designed Bracelets

A few more designs from my Dragon Eyes and Cats Eyes Bracelet range. The bracelet is silver plate on copper (nickel and lead free) and the eyes are Dichroic Glass designed and fired in the kiln. 

Great fun to make these and every one is unique. You never see two alike. 

You can order via my website by clicking here or contact me directly via my e-mail: stevesmithjewellery@yahoo.co.uk

My way of firing multiple cabochons.

Well you've seen the home made glass cutting tool, the kiln and the finished creations. I thought I should show you how I layer very small, 1/4" pieces of dichroic glass on the kiln tile prior to the firing process. 

But first a bit about the kiln tile. You can see they look a bit pink, and they are. This is the kiln wash or shelf primer, a powder that is mixed with water and then brushed onto the tile. You need a minimum of four coats of this stuff and I usually do about five to six. Over doing some would say but when glass is fired and there is'nt enough kiln wash it sticks to the tile and damages it beyond repair. This pink colour will turn a creamish white after a firing. I usually get about 3 firings before the tiles need sanding down and the kiln wash re-applied.

That's enough of tile preperation for now but I will come back to it in the near future and give you my experiences of Thinfire paper, an alternative.

Now back to what I am posting about.

As you can see, when I do a firing I make sure its worth while. One hundred on the upper tile and about sixty on the lower tile. Fewer on the lower for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there has to be room for a ceramic tile spacer and secondly the lower layer cabochons fire slightly different to the upper layer. 

I don't know if you have noticed in the above picture but not all have a top clear Tekta Glass. About fifty (well fifty one, because there was a gap) small squares or glass are bare upper dichroic with a plain black base glass. This has to be done to get the thickness right. You always have to remember glass wants to be round and about 6mm thick. Keep that in mind when firing and the rest mostly follows. Oh yes, also don't forget glass sometimes just has a mind of its own and does something completely unexpected. Good and Bad!

A lot of these cabochons are ear marked (excuse the pun) for stud earrings. And on that note here is a finished pair of dichroic glass stud earrings set on solid silver posts and solid silver butterfly backs.

You can find these and many more of my jewellery creations at 

www.stevesmithjewellery.co.uk and also by clicking the shop button at the top of this page.

Hope you enjoyed reading my way of making dichroic glass cabochons. I am sure others will have there own ways of doing the same but this works for me.

Dichroic Glass Fashion Hair Clips

Unique Sparkling Dichroic Cabochon Fashion Hair Clips are a new design range from 

Steve Smith Jewellery. These come in loads of colours and are an affordable gift. 

Click here to see a range of these new fashion ideas. Normally sold in pairs but occasionally in singles.

Sparkling Hair Clips

Find these Hair Clips and many more gift ideas by clicking the shop button above. Prices to suit all pockets and gifts to suit ladies and gents of all ages. 

50 Shades of Grey

Well that title got your attention LOL. 
You have probably read or are about to read or know someone who has read this mentioned best selling book, 50 Shades Of Grey. On my last kiln firing I decided to make a streaky grey background pendant. I haven't got round to seeing if there is 50 shades but it wouldn't be far off LOL. ooops sorry for the disappointment :o(

The bright and vibrant colours have been kiln fired onto a streaky grey background glass (hence the connection) and looks quite stunning.

These three picture are all slightly different pictures of the same Pendant. I am trying to show how the colours change with differing lights (not succeeding very well I here you say, photography lesson needed. LOL). As you can see it has three inclusions of dichroic glass and these inclusions are made up in a mosaic style.

If you would like to see more of my sparkling creations, take a look at my website or click the shop button above. Hope you see something you like but if not then please return occasionally as I design and make every week and always have jewellery to list.

Thanks for reading and I hope the enjoyed my 50 Shades of grey pendant.

Dichroic Pendants with Decals

Quite a while ago I bought a few decals to be fired onto my dichroic glass pendants. I have just got around to having a go with them. After a few experimental attempts I managed to do just two that I was happy with (I expect there will be more to follow :o))

This picture shows a beautiful tree of life fired onto a multi-coloured background.

The colours are a lot brighter in real life, it was taken like this to show off the decal.

You can see this and more of my jewellery creations at Steve Smith Jewellery

Hope to post again with new design soon.

Design Collaboration from Lonely Soldier Design and Steve Smith Jewellery

What a brilliant holiday we had in Glastonbury this year. Lots of relaxing coffee's, cakes and us time. In between all this hectic relaxing we even managed to visit the opening night of the Glastonbury Art Collective show. Loads of great art in all media ranging from pottery to silk painted dresses and within all these creations was this wonderful twisted wire jewellery by James Ferris of Lonely Soldier Design and owner of Minerva Beads and Gems.

This next picture shows off his work beautifully.

Well of course we got chatting outside and I mentioned that I made Kiln Fired Glass Jewellery and that was it a great connection of two like minded people began. James mentioned that he has been looking for a collaboration with a glass artist for some time but couldn't find one suitable or able to meet his needs. And quite a few hours later we decided to meet up at his shop Minerva Beads and Gems in Glastonbury later on that week. At this point I would just like to apologise to my wonderful lovely partner Sue of Inspired By Script, who had to put up with us two jabbering on about the endless design possibilities for all that time.

The last day of our holiday we spent in Glastonbury, well that's not quite true. The first half of the day was spent at my glass supplier about 40 minutes away (second trip that week) oooops sorry Sue. Once we got back into Glastonbury we visited James in his shop and carried on talking about jewellery and the collaboration idea. (poor Sue). And here we are the two designers outside the shop.

I actually had a few pieces of my jewellery on me at the time and left a nice red with inclusions pendant with James to have a go and see what he comes up with.

I waited what seemed like an eternity but about a week or so later the collaboration was complete and he posted the finished pendant on Facebook and Pinterest. The joint design of my glass and his wire design skills made this pendant go from looking sparkly good to outstandingly beautiful.

And here it is, the finished 1st collaboration piece of Lonely Soldier Designs and Steve Smith Jewellery.

http://www.lonelysoldierdesigns.co.uk/index.html 
Absolutely stunning if  I say so myself.

Dragon eye bracelets or Cats Eye Bracelets

I just couldn't decide what to call these. Cats or Dragons Eye Bracelets.

The titles fit both so I will leave it up to you to decide. :o)

I made one of these ages ago but never got around to maker more until now.

My full range of these can be found and bought by clicking here website or clicking on the shop button above. I have designed them in different colours so if you like them there should be a colour that suits you.

Thank you

End of Year Teacher or Friend Gifts

The end of the school year is very soon, have you been looking for that unique affordable gift for your teacher or friend? 

These dichroic glass stud earrings are all one of a kind and are set on solid silver posts with solid silver butterfly backs. 

Gift a unique set for as little as £5 + p&p. The glass is designed and hand cut by me in our studio in Northallerton. If you would like to order a set for your leaving day then please click on the shop button above which will take you to my jewellery website. Here there is a large selection of colours and designs to suit all tastes. Order quickly as the end of school year approaches fast.

Thank you