Scarlett Erskine Jewellery is now stocked in Neo Design, Dundee.
Come along and see some great contemporary jewellery just in time to get that perfect xmas gift!
I was very happy to find out Scarlett Erskine Jewellery had been chosen by Tanya Hendrie to feature in her Christmas Wish List alongside some other great jewellers. Check out her blog to see all the goodies on her Wish List this year!
All 9 of us Vanilla Inkers will have a selection of our work for sale at the DCA's Christmas Craft and Design Market on the 1st of December 2pm - 6pm.
Hope you can all make it!
What a weekend we had! Friday night was Vanilla Ink and Nikki McWilliams' Autumnal Delight Night. Thanks to everyone who made it and could enjoy our work on display with yummy mulled cider and delightful music and even raffle prizes!
Over the weekend was WASPs Open Studios where all the studios were open for the curious to come and nosey and buy some goodies! Scarlett Erskine Jewellery had lots of interest and sold some new pieces...very successful weekend!
Vanilla Inkers were lucky enough to receive an invite to Hayleys Scanlan's fashion show launching her new line Velvet Venom! It was a great night and much fun for the Vanilla Inkers to dress up and sip champagne!
On Monday I went through to Perth to the Tayberry Gallery. From Friday 9th Nov they are stocking my jewellery collection. They have such a beautiful gallery, well worth a visit! If you get the chance come down to the Tayberry Gallery from 6 - 9pm to enjoy some new delights!
To top off a busy week the gang and I got the sparklers out and celebrated bonfire night with fireworks!
Today Leanne and I shared our stone setting skills with each other today! Both sharing our little secret hints and tips.
We are collabortaing on a special commission of silver Ants with sapphires, peridots and garnets set in them. This is the ants before the stones were set.
Today I showed Leanne my secrets of setting stones with a hand drill and Leanne taught me her skills on the pendant drill and together we set the stones in our dinky ants!
Heres a sneak peak at the ants so far...
Picture thanks to @redjotter.
Last week in Vanilla Ink we had our first Professional Development class. Lauren Currie from Snook came to talk to us about our future!!!
We discussed our perfect day at Vanilla Ink, where we could see ourselves in 5 and 15 years time, what we are good at, our failings and looked into our shareholders. This helped me to realise that everything is always bigger than it seems! By writing these things down made me realise how I can achieve my dreams and highlight what areas I need to work on.
Our day was very motivational, we were all given actions we had to do to help us reach our goals, my first action was to invite a professional for lunch at Vanilla Ink, so keep an eye out for my blog on this. I would like to thank Lauren Currie for great day, it really helped boost my confidence in my business!
After our thought provoking day... we had some halloween fun in Vanilla Ink...Pumpkin carving!! This wasn't just any pumpkin carving it was a jewellers special - pendant drills and pretty much any tools we could find!
I must say it's pretty tough work on the arms!
Sawing an antler for my handle! Proper cavewoman stuff!!
Nearly finished just needs a wee polish!
Much to our amusement there was also some great toys for us to play with: and axe and a potato gun!!
Recently Leanne, a fellow Vanilla Inker and I were asked to make five silver ants for a client with stones set in them.
We were excited to do a different type of commission other than jewellery. When we realised the scale the client was looking for we realised this would test our jewellery skills. The ants were to be as life size as possible!! Luckily with a little space to scale up. We are to choose from a selection of red, green and blue stones to be set in the ants.
This is the stage we are at, one ant still needs some legs and then next week we are choosing the stones to set. So wish us luck, at the moment it's all been too easy!!
We were excited to do a different type of commission other than jewellery. When we realised the scale the client was looking for we realised this would test our jewellery skills. The ants were to be as life size as possible!! Luckily with a little space to scale up. We are to choose from a selection of red, green and blue stones to be set in the ants.
This is the stage we are at, one ant still needs some legs and then next week we are choosing the stones to set. So wish us luck, at the moment it's all been too easy!!
Today at Scarlett Erskine Jewellery we decided to document the making
of a silver and blue topaz gemstone ring for you all to enjoy!
And we luckily made it to the final piece!
Now time to put our feet up!
After my experience at New Designers I thought I'd note down some advice I would give to people going in years to come. And I know you always think ... 'It's ages away and theres loads of stuff I have to do first' but just keep this in mind.
It's in no particular order just what came to my head! Hope this can help.
1. Work on your press pack, press releases and price lists, business cards, postcards earlier than you think. These are what people take away make them professional and memorable. Make sure you have a class press pack with everyones work on it to give out.
2. Have a commercial aspect to your work if that's the route your looking to go down, show you can create commercial ranges too, but don't let go of YOUR STYLE.
3. Push business cards and get business cards off everyone you speak to.
4. Ask them what they do, note it down. This also keeps the conversation going.
5. Work in a team when loading and unloading the van - wear as little clothing as possible on these days! Its freaking hot work!
6. Keep eating, drinking and chatting in groups for off the stand - you don't realise how bad it looks.
7. Keep the classes spirits up - Remind each other to smile and stand straight. Work together talk about each others work if their not their, your a team help each other!
8. Take breaks, keep motivated.
9. Be CONFIDENT in your prices and your work - you made it, its all yours!
10. Talk to everyone, approach them in a friendly manner watch not to POUNCE on them...they'll run away.
11. Be yourself, keep your personality. Visitors will speak to loads of people during their visit and you want them to remember you.
12. Your group stand as a whole should look professional and eye catching WORK TOGETHER!
13. Don't overcrowd the stand with work and images etc keep it simple - it worked for us!
14. Find COMFY shoes. Do not wear brand new shoes! It's a long day on your feet.
15. Be good at night - don't drink TOO much alcohol, eat garlicy or smelly food.
16. Dress to impress. Show your personality but stay a little professional - too much boobs and bum for example is not the best idea.
17. Prepare a general statement to say about your work - think less degree show a little more professional, commercial, general statement. Some people hate the 'bullsh*t'. Talk materials, inspirations techniques just don't give too much away.
18. Even if it's not a gallery or a professional your talking to, still give them your time, you never know where things can lead to.
19. SMILE.... but watch you don't end up with a CRAZY tired smile! These things happen with long days standing!
20. Have fun, take chances, put yourself in uncomfortable situations, push yourself. This only lasts a few days its your time!
Over the past few weeks there has been some very exciting news for Scarlett Erskine Jewellery! I was chosen to exhibit my work in the ACS Jewellery Studio, Made In Scotland Exhibition!!!
12 very exciting jewellers were chosen to exhibit their work: Emma Baird who is the ACS jewellery studio resident jeweller, Angela Boag, Krzystof Borkowski, Helen Chalmers, Leanne Evans, Kirsty Fraser, Jaimie Macdonald, Joanne MacFadyen, Nicola Morrison, Audrey Reid and Jared Sanders
Today I visited ACS Jewellery Studio, inside holds a beautiful and quirky gallery space plus five jewellery benches in the workshop through the back.
Opening night is on Friday, the 14th of September at the ACS Jewellery Studio, Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, from 6pm - 9pm.
Hope you can all make it to enjoy some jewellery, drinkies and meet the jewellers themselves!
My Jewellery on display
snap!
The Auction Begins
Nervous!!!!
Sold...
Happy Days!
With the money still coming in and getting counted up it looks like we raised £1000 for each of the charities.... a very successful night! Congrats to Ian Nicholson for organising an amazing event and evening!
