And mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up

Today is such an exciting day. I am delivering Ophelia to the RA for the second round of judging. 

This humble little print is my first attempt at etching and I absolutely loved producing it.

I'm not massively confident about processing further; to be honest I'm just really chuffed to have got to the second round, but there is still a chance of being accepted, and that mere thought fills me with joy. So, I plan to enjoy the experience and hope that I get lucky. It would be so fabulous to have a piece of my work hung in such an amazing exhibition alongside such wonderful artists.

All I can do after today is wait and cross my fingers! :)

Time flies...again!

How is it possible that it's nearly the end of March?
Sorry for not blogging sooner, but it's been very busy here with lots of good stuff.
My resolution to do more painting has failed miserably but I have been much more successful with my jewellery and my new love, printmaking.
Here are some of my first attempts:

Lino-print Robins

Mono-print Avocet

Etching of Ophelia

I think I love etching the best. There is something extremely satisfying about turning the handle of a printing press and then uncovering your finished print. Just brilliant.

The course has been amazing. Under the careful tutoring of Liam Biswell I've been introduced to all sorts of printing techniques and it's been so fabulous to be surrounded by so many creative and talented people. The whole experience has been a joy.

First blog from my Christmas pressy Ipad

Well last year's resolve to blog more didn't quite pan out, however it was still a great idea.
So here is my first blog of 2015!
May it be a healthy happy and successful year for you all.
I shall endevour to make it more productive and tell you all about it.



This is a pendant I've just finished. It's made from a beautiful and quite large aquamarine stone set in fine silver and mounted on Sterling silver with a cut out heart on the back allowing you to see the back of the stone.

Well, it happened!

The first 3 Cooling Towers at Didcot Power Station were blow to smithereens this Sunday.

Here are my commemorative mirrors and Magnetic Bottle Openers! :) 

www.etsy.com

Art weeks 2014

My exhibition has been on for a few days now and it has been so lovely to 

welcome visitors to my home and let them see my work.

I look forward to a busy weekend.

Happy customers

It's such a lovely feeling to finish a commission and be happy with the results. However there's nothing that makes me more anxious than the moments before I hand a painting or piece of jewellery over to my customer. You want them to be delighted, but you hope that they'd say if something wasn't right. I find it really stressful. It's only a split second before you find out, one way or another, and then ... relief! Ahhhhhh!
This week has seen me successfully deliver a number of commissions and work hard on a few new ones.

This is one of my favourites. The challenge was to make a fingerprint heart to sit on a chain with an existing pendant. The heart had to include the fingerprints of three grown up children. 

I used my newly acquired photoshop skills and my new photopolymer machine to help transfer the prints to silver and with a little engineering help from my friend Clare I managed to fit the two pieces together so they sit perfectly.

The result is a completely unique piece of jewellery and I couldn't be happier.

I may even make it available to commission on Etsy. It's such a nice idea to have your children's prints but also would be great for a bride and groom or an anniversary pressy. Possibilities are endless.

This is what it looks like on it's own:

I was also really happy to deliver a really great dog tag style finger print pendant and a painting of Instow to a very patient friend. I can't show you these as they are pressy's and I don't want to accidentally ruin any surprises.

Hope you all enjoy a relaxing half term! xxx

February already

Well, as with most new year's resolutions, things have not gone as well as I'd have liked.
However, I will not give up! My aim is still to post once a week, to marvel at my triumphs, tragedies and other general goings on! :)

I suppose Friday night / Saturday morning is a good time to look back on the week and ponder. It's been a good one on the whole. I have spent most of my arty time working on commissions, both jewellery and painting and I am pleased to say that I have finished my painting of the seaside town, Instow. Painted for a friend, it was meant to be a Christmas pressy, and is, I'm ashamed to say, very late. I do hope she likes it! I am very pleased with the finished work. I will post a photo when she gives the ok! :)

At JASSO (the local Jewellers and Silver Smith's Association I attend) I have been learning etching techniques to help me produce another commission. It seems to be quite a long winded process at the moment but I'm sure that will get quicker as I go along. I'm etching a design on to a small shallow dish. It's so exciting to see an idea that was sketched out on paper only a few months ago now developing into a 3D piece. I can't show you pictures of that either, as the recipients might see and the surprise would be ruined! Sorry about that!!!

Finally a little word on my studio. There are still more boxes of bit and bobs to be taken over and sorted but I am pleased to report that I have been able to do some work in there, and mighty comfortable it is too! Here are some earrings and bracelets that I've made this week using the most beautiful pearls. Done, boxed and now for sale in No Two Things.

Happy Days
Have a great week everyone! x

A New Year

Although many people did their soul searching about the New Year a couple of weeks ago, I have had a shaky start, and so my New Year starts today.
My sister has been gently encouraging me to write a little more on my blog, rather that just posting pics; so here goes!
I'm hoping it will be a bit more interesting to you lovely people on the world wide web and will help me focus my thoughts and be a bit more productive.
I have so many ideas and possibilities running around in my little nogin; add to that the attempts to make a small income...or at least break even and I find myself running backwards and forwards and achieving very little.
This week is shaping up to having a number of things to focus on. I have a seascape to complete, my new studio to finish moving in to and a number of silver projects which need to be made.
Please wish me luck and if you'd like to hear more do follow me.

P.S. If all goes well today, there will be prints available on Artfinder by the end of today

Flower ring

My flower ring is finally finished.

Hooray!!!

It's made with fine and sterling silver and is set with a pale yellow beryl.

I may be a sucker for punishment but I'd love to make a whole garden of these flowers! :)

Just mad about Harry......Potter! :)

Here's my latest silver bracelet, made for my cousin Charlotte.

Like me, she's a bit of a Harry Potter fan,

so the inscription seemed appropriate.

Artfinder Paintings under £200

I'm so excited to have the support of Artfinder, 

who have included me and my painting in their latest advertising campaign.

Click on the link below to see all the wonderful art works available for under £200.

http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=cab05aa04fc6aa9576d99dc35&id=9a4139e650

My new Artfinder shop is open!

I'm very excited to have opened an Artfinder shop

Go and check it out to see my latest art works for sale

This painting of a cold spring morning in Filey is available as a print.

https://www.artfinder.com/charlie-davies

Finger print jewellery

I'm really looking forward to doing some fingerprint workshops in the next few months at 

 Ladygrove Park Primary School, Didcot

11th and 16th October 2013

and at No Two Things on the Broadway in Didcot

on 7th and 9th November 2013

Jilly's button Bangle

I'm so pleased to be able to show you one of my new bracelets, commissioned by a friend as a present.

I love the little button and have now made a pendent and some earrings using similar charms.

Jewellery - Ready to sell! :)

Arranging selections of Fine Silver and Semi-precious Beaded Jewellery 

to send to Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot.

Erin's Birthday Bracelet

A delicate bracelet made for the lovely Erin Redford

using peridot (her birthstone) and mother of pearl

and a solid silver charm featuring her initial.

For similar pieces of jewellery and to see my other designs please go to:

www.charliedaviesdesigns.co.uk

Semi Precious Beaded Bracelets with Silver Charms

I've been having a lovely time making these pretty bracelets using my silver flowers and shells to make them really special. Using semi precious beads gives them a lovely quality and means that no two bracelets are ever the same.
See some of my other pieces on my website www.charliedaviesdesigns.co.uk

Seaside Cufflinks

Check out my seaside inspired cufflinks

charliedaviesdesigns.co.uk

Silver and Pearl pendent

This pendent was made for a dear friend's Mum for a special birthday. It has the names of her nearest and dearest engraved on it. A very personal pressy! :)

Artweeks

It's been a busy few months getting ready for Oxfordshire Artweeks and I'm so pleased with how it all looks.

Now I find myself over half way through the week.

It's been so exciting.

If you find yourself in the area.

Do drop by for a mooch and a cuppa! :)