Category: Artisans blogs

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Well, that wraps up winter!

white painted jar with bee and daisy detail. brown hessian lid with pink band. brown tag with bird detail

As the season of renewal blossoms around us, we find ourselves nurturing not only our gardens but also our souls. Spring is a time when nature awakens, and with it comes an exhilarating sense of possibility. This year, I am elated to introduce new products that I have been thinking about crafting for some time.

 Our mindfulness jars and unique shotgun cartridge brooches and hat pins are not just items; they are an invitation to embrace the beauty of the world around us and to celebrate our connection to nature.

 Let’s delve into the essence of our mindfulness jars. Each jar is crafted with care, designed to encourage reflection and presence. Inside, you will find carefully curated items that stimulate the senses and inspire tranquility. These jars serve as a gentle reminder to pause amidst the busyness of life. Whether it’s a moment of quiet reflection, a meditative practice, or simply a way to reconnect with your thoughts, our mindfulness jars are perfect companions on your journey toward inner peace. Engaging with these jars, and their thoughtful contents allows you to slow down, appreciate the small nuances of life, and cultivate a deeper connection to your surroundings.

I have created a mindfulness jar, just for children too, in the hope that teaching them mindfulness as a part of their daily routine.

 In addition to my mindfulness jars, I am  also proud to present our shotgun cartridge brooches and hat pins. These pieces are not only striking accessories but also serve as a nod to the great outdoors and the countryside spirit that comes with it.

The point-to-point season is in full swing and these brooches/hat pins/bag decorations, are a fantastic accessory to your outfit at these events!

Each brooch and hat pin is meticulously crafted out of recycled shotgun cartridges and real Pheasant feathers that have been collected from the great outdoors, here in the Quantock Hills.

 As we unveil these exciting new products, with more in the offing, I also have exhilarating news to share: I have been honoured with the title of Gift Store of the Year for 2025/26! This prestigious accolade reflects our dedication to providing exceptional products and outstanding customer service. It is so rewarding to be recognised for the third year in a row!!

 Spring is a time of rejuvenation and exploration. It encourages us to step outside, engage with nature, and honour the beauty that surrounds us. Our mindfulness jars, shotgun cartridge brooches, and hat pins are designed to accompany you on this journey. They remind us that embracing the great outdoors and nurturing our minds go hand in hand.

 Discover the wonders of spring with our beautifully crafted products that blend mindfulness with artistic expression.  I hope you join me in my journey,  as, without you, my lovely customers, I couldn’t do it.

With each lovely review I receive, every sale that I make, reminds me that you really can live the dream.

 let the spirit of spring inspire you to live more mindfully and authentically.

Thank you for reading and take care!

Much Love

Esther

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Everything You Need to Know About Vermeil

Sterling Silver 18k Gold Vermeil Kelp Seaweed Inspired Rings with Kyanite Gemstone made by My Jewellery Garden

Everything You Need to Know About Vermeil

Vermeil is a thick layer of gold over sterling grade silver (925) or higher; silver is always the base metal for vermeil (pronounced as ver-may).

Why choose vermeil jewellery?
Vermeil offers you a luxuriant, lighter, durable and affordable way to add gold into your jewellery collection.
 
Is vermeil real gold?
Yes, vermeil is real gold. It should be 14k or above.
 
What carat gold do you use?
My vermeil jewellery is 18k gold over sterling silver.
 
How long does it last?
It is much longer lasting than standard gold plating as vermeil is, at a minimum, 5 times thicker than gold plating. Vermeil is usually 2.5microns plus thick whereas, standard gold plating is around 0.5microns thick.
 
Vermeil is durable when compared to gold plate alone. However, if you wear a vermeil piece continuously the gold can begin to wear away after around 6 months but this can vary.
 
It’s important to be aware that vermeil doesn’t wear off uniformly and you will see more wear in areas of contact i.e with other jewellery or where the piece makes contact with other surfaces on a regular basis.
 
To extend the life of your vermeil plating, you can choose not to wear the piece every day; remove it before any activities where it will make contact with hard surfaces or be scratched like gardening or working out at the gym.
 
I also recommend you take off your vermeil jewellery when swimming or showering – this is a general care recommendation for all jewellery, and you can read more on my jewellery care blog.
 
Does vermeil tarnish?
Yes, it can tarnish but there are easy ways to remove it.
Vermeil tarnishes because of the sterling silver base. When sterling silver comes into contact with moisture, air, or chemicals (including body chemistry) it can react and form a dark layer which can show through the gold layer, causing the tarnished appearance.
 
How can you minimise tarnish or remove tarnish?
Read my section on vermeil on my jewellery care blog.
 
Can I have vermeil re-applied to my jewellery?
Yes. Contact me and I’ll guide you on next steps and cost.
 
Please contact me if you have any other questions about vermeil. I’d be happy to help.
 
Thanks for reading, from Emma at My Jewellery Garden
 
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Caring for your Jewellery

My Jewellery Garden Complimentary Jewellery Care Kit
How to care for your handmade jewellery
Silver jewellery will tarnish; this happens naturally when it comes into contact with air, moisture, chemicals and the natural oils in our skin. To help reduce/ remove tarnish and avoid damaging your jewellery & gemstones, please follow this guidance:
  • Avoid wearing jewellery when showering, sleeping, swimming, washing dishes, cleaning with household chemicals. and undertaking strenuous activity or exercising. 
  • Allow cosmetic products to dry (inc lotions, perfumes, oils etc.) before putting on your jewellery. 
  • To keep your jewellery looking its best, you can polish it gently with a soft jewellery cloth and/ or wash it in warm very mild soapy water, using a soft toothbrush to get into any small crevices.  Avoid abrasives as these can scratch your jewellery.
  • Take care not to knock your jewellery on hard surfaces as this can cause gemstones to crack. 
  • Store your jewellery carefully to prevent scratches, protect from strong sunlight & extreme temperatures.
  • Don’t soak or immerse jewellery in water as this can damage gemstones
  • Don’t use silver dip ~ this can damage stones and metal over time.
Caring for Oxidised (patina’d) Jewellery
If your jewellery is oxidised (sometimes called patina – a form of surface darkening) you will notice that it changes over time. As a surface treatment; it is not permanent & will eventually change. This is a beautiful characteristic that reflects your unique life experiences.
If cleaning is required, use a soft tooth brush and warm soapy water. Avoid rubbing, hard brushes or abrasives as this can remove the oxidisation & scratch the surface. 
Do not immerse in any chemicals inc. jewellery cleaning solutions as this will likely result in removing the oxidisation completely.
 
Caring for Brushed/ Satin Finished Jewellery
Like oxidised jewellery, brushed and satin finishes are a surface treatment & aren’t permanent. 
Follow the care guidance above and in your complementary jewellery care kit to maintain the finish for as long as possible & enjoy how your jewellery changes over time & becomes unique to you.Add an answer to this item.
 
Caring for Vermeil Jewellery
To reduce the possibility of tarnish, any of the care tips described above should be followed particularly around abrasives and chemicals as these could wear down the silver.
To remove tarnish, clean your vermeil gold regularly using mild soap and warm water or by polishing using a soft, abrasive free polishing cloth. 
Always store your vermeil jewellery in a dry place as humidity can cause tarnish. And preferably in a soft pouch to prevent any accidental scratches which can cause the vermeil to wear more quickly and allow tarnish to happen more quickly.
 
Extreme Tarnishing or Allergic Reactions
On occasion, some people’s skin can have a strong reaction to precious (or any) metals. 
This can be because of a chemical reaction between the metal and your skin. This is often a natural  reaction with one’s own body chemistry which can result in heavy tarnishing or an allergic reaction. 
Sometimes it can be caused by the ingredients in a product you come into contact with like Chlorine, or use, like cosmetics, creams or hand sanitiser. 
 
Please contact me if you have any particular issues and we can discuss possible solutions.
 
Thanks for reading, from Emma at My Jewellery Garden
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Inspiration ~ The Sea Garden

Handmade Textured Sterling Silver Seaweed Earrings with Cushion Rose Cut Green Amethyst and Mother of Pearl | Bridal Jewellery

The Sea Garden is my poetic collection of ocean treasures inspired by the beauty of our oceans, the luxuriant tapestry of seaweeds that cling to our rocky coastlines (that I love to collect) and the captivating magic of kelp forests. 

My love of the sea and walking along beaches and coastlines has been with me as long as I can remember, but my seaweed passion is more recent. It began on a long weekend in Dorset in summer of 2022. I noticed carpets of spiral wrack seaweed on the rocks at low tide and I was immediately taken with their texture and form. That weekend, I collected seaweeds instead of fossils on the ammonite pavement.

The Sea Garden is also a collection that celebrates the ocean as a potent symbol for the ebb and flow of life as we navigate the shifting tide of life’s changes and challenges.  As we embrace and accept the highs and lows; our successes and setbacks; our joys and sorrows, that we come to move in harmony with this natural rhythm. 

Each piece in the Sea Garden collection has been thoughtfully crafted to celebrate your profound connection and appreciation of the ocean. 

Shop The Sea Garden collection.

~~~

Thanks for reading, from Emma at My Jewellery Garden

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Paczula – new fashion brand in The British Craft House

Hi there Everyone!

I’m Anna, a founder of Paczula fashion brand. A lifetime fashion industry professional – designer, pattern cutter, garment technologist, vintage fabrics collector, …

Please bear with me while I set up my store here at TBCH.

I am an Etsy veteran – I’ve run my shop there for 12 years, had many returning customers and 98% 5 stars’ reviews (never got below 4 stars!). Unfortunately, Etsy is not what it used to be anymore – the algorithms care more for mass produced cheap stuff over genuinely handmade artisan products. That’s why I’m trying my luck here.

I love textiles for the endless room for creativity, It’s both a branch of art and an industry. I don’t enjoy the speed and pressure of the fashion industry, where ‘copy’ and ‘paste’ are the most often used design concepts and products. I have experienced this as a full time garment technologist working on production for some of the biggest ‘fast fashion’ retailers. I have left my last fast fashion corporate job 2 years ago and hope never to go back that route.

I only use vintage and deadstock fabrics for my designs. A lot of my items are recycled. When I get bored with a top or trousers, I cut it into pieces and turn into a necklace or rug. This way a T-shirt which was one of 500000 pieces of exactly identical T-shirts can become something unique and one-of-a kind.

Greetings

Anna

 

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Waste not ~ to ~ want it – Week 4

ring making process

Week 4 and last in this series. This week it’s forging turning the recycled silver into wire.

Lots of heavy tools and machinery this week. Using my rolling mill and hammers and a lot of elbow grease to forge and shape the silver into wire to make rings.

I began with the usual melting of the silver, but just before I quench I use my wide brass tweezers to flatten the sides creating more of an oblong shape to the nugget.  Once quenched and pickled I start rolling it through the mill.  I begin with the largest wire grove and then work it through to the next size with lots of heating to anneal in between until it gets down to about 2.5mm.  Quick heat, quench and clean then onto the next stage.

Once I have nice clean square wire I begin to forge, essentially hitting it with a heavy hammer to flatten, this also widens the wire.  I finish off this part of the process in the rolling mill to get a nice even depth to the wire, usually around 1mm. 

Once this stage is complete it’s a final heat, quench and clean then I have a usable piece of wire.  For the rings I have rounded the ends and stamped along the entire length. Finally shaped around a ring mandrel, polished and a little enamel added to the stamped shapes.

I hope you have enjoyed my month of recycling silver and seeing the process.

 

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Waste not ~ to ~want it ~week 3

brooch making process

Week 3 and this week it’s a more creative process. Last week it was about using the rolling machine to imprint designs into silver, this week it’s using wire off cuts to create a scene.

No heavy machinery this week, just a pair of tweezers and my blow torch. 

For these brooches, I started with a copper base, a simple circle cut from copper sheet. Then I just tipped up the silver pot and started to create the scene.  A bit like mosaic you need just the right size and shape bit of wire or bead.  This process is very relaxing, like a puzzle and can take a long time to get the design just right.

What I particularly like about using wire in this way is that as well as creating the picture is adds texture and interest as it’s a raised design rather than flat.  I finished the scene by trimming, polishing and adding a dark oxidised patina to really bring out the detail.

Next week its using hammers and mandrels and so watch this space for the last blog on creative ways to use up my scraps.

 

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Waste not … to…. Want it ~ Week 2

collage recycling silver

Week 2 and this week it’s a different process. Last week it was about using hand tools, this week I got the rolling machine on the job for imprinting or embossing designs into silver.

My little pot of silver is starting to shrink and this weekend I started with the obligatory melting. Next comes the bashing to thin it down a bit.  I need to reduce the height of the silver nugget so that I can fit it into my rolling mill to thin it right down.

A rolling mill works to reduce the thickness of the silver gradually, this process takes a while as you need to heat, quench and clean in between. Over time I reduced the nugget from around 1cm down to 1.2mm.

Once I got it down to the required thickness it’s heated to soften and cleaned again then I rolled it through with a steel patterned sheet to imprint the pattern on.  A final heat, clean and polish and the drops are ready for use.  I have used them to make some unique earrings, both a little irregular in shape and random patterns imprinted, making them really unique.

Next week I’m getting creative so watch this space for more creative ways to use up my scraps.

 

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Waste not ~ to ~ want it!

One of the things I really love about working with silver and copper is the endless opportunities they is to be creative.  You can use every single bit of the silver and copper not wasting a single speck.

I use various techniques to make the most of these versatile metals. My favourite, without a doubt is using a small blow torch to melt down my off cuts. Even the dust created by filing and tiniest off cuts from cutting and shaping can be used as long as it’s clean and doesn’t include any contaminants.  To make sure this is the case, I clean down my bench between each project, or use of different metals so that I don’t mix silver and copper shavings together.  I keep little pots on my bench for each different metal to pop in my off cuts and sweep in the dust after filing to reuse.

Over time you can accumulate lots of metal from making and I have set myself a challenge for this month to use up my collection in as many creative ways as I can.

I have started with the easiest of all, making silver pebbles or nuggets.  To do this you simply pile a bit of  silver together and use the torch to melt it.  This causes the silver to ball up into a natural pebble shape. Once cooled you can turn this into anything from a charm to pendant or process to make sheet or wire. 

These two projects both began the same way, by making pebbles. For the heart I hammered it almost flat then used a sharp edged hammer to create a crosshatch effect.  I cut a little copper heart from a small scrap of sheet and soldered to the pebble then textured this with a diamond tipped hand tool to create that pretty frosted sparkly effect.

For the paw print I melted a tiny amount of copper in the same way and flattened with a hammer for the pad and used tiny off cuts from punching holes in copper for the toes.

Next week I’ll be using different techniques so watch this space for more waste not to want it projects.

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William Morris

William Morris, one of Englands most recognised artists, born in 1834 and died in 1896. An a English textile designer, artist, poet and writer and an around good egg!


He designed tapestries, wallpaper, fabrics, furniture and astonishing stained glass. 

Over 600 designs existed for textiles, wallpapers, often using natural dyes and he revived the ancient techniques and recipes that had been lost.

He was a leading light in the Arts and Craft movement, working with Ruskin among others.

A design that is loved today include The Strawberry Thief, you can find a shell features this beautiful design on my website

There is a fabulous House over looking Lake Windermere, Blackwell House.  A shrine to the  Arts and Crafts movement, a house full of panels, cravings and architectural design, ceramics,  all very nearly lost to the developers in the 90’s.