Are the trends changing at last... ?

After 14 yrs of working with precious metals and dedicating time and effort into producing truly handcrafted items in Silver and Gold I think peoples mind set are beginning to change. The courses and workshops held are becoming recognised more and more as times go by. I'm hoping that the general public are beginning to actualy look at what they are buying. For a long time people, not everyone, have purchased items especially from jewellery outlets that are little more than massed produced items that in the main look the part but can hardly be classed as precious. That's one of the reasons , since the late 90's infact, that I have always described the pieces I produce to be "As Individual As You".

I was fortunate this weekend to be included in The Weekend Supplement of the Daily Telegraph - they ran a feature on top UK weekend courses, I was honoured to be included in this article, I was even more pleased when reading this over breakfast this morning to discover I was the only Silversmith and Jeweller to be featured in this article. The opening paragraphs on the front page predict that courses are certainly the way to go and that winter holidays and the like are a thing of the past as is buying products when there are some skills out in the big wide world that in we are not careful are going to be lost, so it was suggested that to actually "go on a course and make your own " is a fast rising favourite. Who can argue with that.

To view this article please look at :-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/7093829/Top-weekend-courses-for-the-arty-crafty.html

Some of the people who have attended my courses and workshops, 6 have now been with me for the past 6 months, are producing some really fine and elegant pieces of jewellery.It makes me very proud of them as they put their heart and soul into making items that they are so proud of and when finished it almost brings a lump to your throat.

Next week see's the move to the new studio. I'm pretty excited about that may even figure out one day how to post some pictures up of the new studio, some students at work and the items they produce.

Thanks for Reading..

Carl

CMJ Goes All GLASSY

Not been around for a while as the start to the year has been incredibly good.
Many new changes for the coming months I think the two biggest are the fact that with Lampworking running a very close second to Silversmithing and Silver Jewellery.

With the atrocious weather for the first part of January putting travel arrangements in total turmoil it gave me a chance to get some much needed work done behind the scenes.

As you will be aware Lampworking and all things glass is my second passion in life and with that in mind set about seperating the Silver and the Glass as they are completely different beasts and much easier for me to manage if they both had their own domain.

On the 11th January 2010 Wibbly Wobbly Glass was born to cater not only for my need but also the growing interest in flame worked glass.
So please check out www.wibblywobblyglass.com
You will find not only the hottest place in the south for this but also a good comprehensive range of tools and equipment.

16th January 2010 saw the 5th studion open day - this was the first time it had been advertised outside of the lampworking forum - Frit Happens. The attendance was nothing short of staggering. a total of 35 came through the doors , most stayed for the day to watch some of the best lampworking demo's available. We even had a a real nice guy from Australia who was visiting his son oon holiday pop by and give us a demonstration of his bead making.
In addiiton i also took 7 course bookings in both silver and lampworking for the coming month.

The end of January will see us moving premises, same business park , different number. So from the beginning of Feb we are moving to number 4 Brambles Enterprise Centre.

With this in mind February will see the official opening with a 2 day event on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th February 2010. Come along have a go and see what your missing.

On

The First Day of a New Decade - Shop Now Open

Well - a new decade a new dawning - the 1/1/10. I'd promised some time ago after many many requests for an online shop presence that i'd get one done for the 1/1/10. It's done , It's now open - and I'm pretty pleased with the way in which it has come out.
Go and check it out www.carlmartinjewellery.co.uk

Now looking forwards to the 4th of Jan when I can welcome back my students after the christmas break. Here to a fantastic 2010 to one and all.