What’s on the bench…

What's on the bench

I’ve had a busy few months working on my new jewellery collection ‘Echoes‘ which got it’s first outing at the Fife’s Creative Industries exhibition in Lochgelly last month – the exhibition runs until March so pop along and have a look. I’ve also been getting ready for other exhibitions, online sales as well as The British Craft Trade Fair in April this year.

What's on the bench

So the blinkers have been on and it’s been an intensive time. I wish I could do it every day, but I’m restricted to Thurdsdays and Fridays in the studio and I’m amazed at how much work I get done when I put my mind to it. However I do get distracted and have to devote a lot of my time to this little treasure too…

My Little Treasure

My bullet journal is definitely helping me keep organised, although I do have a habit of writing out mammoth to do lists that I never think I’m going to complete and then surprise myself when I do. I think this is mostly down to the fact that I’ve got a list to follow now rather than my wandering off at tangent after tangent brain. I’ve started planning out my tasks more effectively and having everything written down in front of me, I guess saves me from getting too distracted.

Everything starts with my raw material – antique sterling silver spoons – that get flattened through hammering and using a rolling mill.

Six flattened spoon bowls. #instasmithy #instajewelry #armmusclesrequired

A photo posted by Evie Milo (@milomade.co.uk) on

I use these to make the pendants, earrings and rings in the collection. Here are some earring components getting cut, ready for filing and polishing. I like to hand draw each element so that each and every item is unique, even an earrings within a pair. I love the individuality of each piece – just like you’ll never find a grain of sand the same as any other.

#steadyprogress #piercing #sawing #sterling #silver #recycledspoons A photo posted by Evie Milo (@milomade.co.uk) on

I collect and save all the silver dust from filing these and other pieces in a little pot and this gets used to add texture so some of the elements.

A sprinkling of #fairydust

A photo posted by Evie Milo (@milomade.co.uk) on

Earring components ready for assembly.

Work lined up for tomorrow. #earrings #echoescollection #recycledsilver A photo posted by Evie Milo (@milomade.co.uk) on

The collection was just going to consist of a few pieces but it’s gradually expanded as my ideas have grown. Here are some components for non rivetted pendants. I don’t have any photos of the finished pieces unfortunately as I had to send them off to the Assay office for hallmarking.

More bits. About to put these together.

A photo posted by Evie Milo (@milomade.co.uk) on

I’m surrounded by textures – I’m spoilt for choice living on a cliff with a beach on my doorstep and this collection tries to encapsulate these textures and juxtapose them. Even a tiny little headpin can have texture.

#hammered earwire ends.

A photo posted by Evie Milo (@milomade.co.uk) on

I’ll be photographing all the pieces soon so that I can add them to my online shop, so will post up some more photos when they’re done.