Achievements

Wow, a few weeks and no update. Something big must have happened....afraid not but I did go away for a week’s holiday and the pain of getting back in to the swing of things again is real. But I'm back.

Whilst away I took part in Sweden's (and apparently the worlds however there is a longer one in Canada when I Google search but then again it also says the one I did was the longest - anyway I transgress) longest cross country ski race up in Dalarna, north Sweden. Its 90km's long and we had the best conditions they have had in 20 odd years. It was an utterly fantastic experience to be there with thousands of people all moving along like a pack and fighting the pain till the end. The last section was just magical, the light of the day was fading, the last stop (with 9km left to go) was lit up with soft street lighting and candles and they fed you up with warm sugary coffee and buns before you set off for the last time toward to the finish. As I set off the path was lit with candles for about 1km, it was twilight and I felt this overwhelming sense of satisfaction and pride that I was actually going to finish this course (before they close it off as they have cut-off times). It made the pain disappear for a few minutes and I just thought of getting to the finish line to see my husband and know he would look after me from there on. 12 and half hours after I started that morning in minus 15 degrees, I finished. It was minus 8 again!!

And the rest as they say is history! We then spend the next few days in a spa hotel which totally put me back together again (can't tell you how much a sauna does for you after being cold for soooo long)and then we got on a plain to Riga in Latvia for the hubby's birthday surprise. I think the surprise was that it was sooooo cold!!!

So back to jewellery....after all this is a jewellery blog. In actual fact the week before we went on holiday I was in London (quietly so apologies to all friends if you read this but it was not a social visit - it was a job hunting one) and whilst there I took advantage of delivering an order. Here are some pictures of that one:

Pear shaped name pendant

Free form moonstone and blue tourmaline pendant


Natural Turqouise set (window set dome pendant with dome stud earrings)




This week I am working on order for 2 rings. One of which I will be setting, a navette shaped Tanzanite stone that is stunning, as a family heirloom. Pictures to come.

So personal tax time is just around the corner but for companies here in Sweden we had that done and dusted in February. It is very hard to tell how well you are or are not doing when you don't have a full year of operation to reflect upon however with a little help from the accountant we could see that I made up a little of the debt the company used to start up which is a great sign. It is not a profit and that may not happen for a number of years but the figures are going the right way already and that is a great sign especially given that silver prices are going up. With that in mind I realize that my charity donations may be very long in the coming so instead I have decided to give a donation from the company every year anyway and not wait for the profit to come (that was rather too hopeful of me to think I would achieve profit within 6 months!!). So donate I will do. Having said that I have briefly researched this and found this article..
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703787304575075400171203026.html
..I will do a little more hunting around however I feel the donation may not be tax free. Well, it's not for my benefit but this is an interesting subject that I didn't realize about Sweden.....and if I am honest, it's not a deal breaker for me donating. One way or another if they get some cash and can do well with it then that is my goal. If in the process I get a tax break that is a bonus, if not...c'est la vie.

Until next time - when I hope to let you know about my experiences with some new Argentium silver and rubber polishing heads I have ordered. Just gadgets or are they time saving devices?

Don't forget to click on the title of this page to see my web shop ;o)

Spring in to Silver

(more pictures of my silver below)

Spring is here, the flowers are blossoming in the garden and the weather is as erratic as ever in Spring this far north. I have been working away building and decorating the new studio, ordering business cards (due this week), shopping for lots of silver and display stands\cases etc and trying to get my head around the bookkeeping!

So as summer edges closer every day I think I had better open a Silver by K8 website. I have purchased my own website and am developing it so that I can take sales direct from it but until it is ready to go I am starting up on Etsy. It's an American owned marketplace for people who create their own things, I love it just to buy something original now and again. Have a look around it, you could even sell your own things on there? Why not? If you do, let me know ;o)

Etsy.com

Expect my shop on Etsy shortly, until then a taste of things done and things yet to come......

The garage before building the studio




And after...






Some products of the studio

Pizza Fridays

Gotta love pizza Fridays and it a good time to update my blog whilst contemplating which kebab pizza I shall have tonight....with salad or chips on top?

This last month has been very busy and has seen me research spring/summer 2010 fashion must haves, produce a few more pieces and prepare the business for action.

Research
Layering of necklaces and bracelets, statement pieces, oversized hoop and chandelier earrings, large cocktail rings and floral patterns. And this is what will influence my current designs for my static line, of course always keeping in mind my philosophy of keeping it elegant and classic. More to come on my spring/summer 2010 line in future posts.

Pieces
I have made a pair of Swedish flag cufflinks to practice my layering of silver and sweating of solder techniques and 4 more pairs of earrings, 3 domed with different finishes and one square, similar to the rectangles already on flickr. None of these creations have had pictures taken yet as I am awaiting my first company purchase, a magnetic tumbler from the US. This little machine is able to polish gold and silver to professional levels in a matter of 20 minutes! I first used one on a course in London about 6 years ago and I promised myself one if I ever took up jewellery professionally.....so here I am waiting for it to arrive.
Otherwise I have been concentrating on the business side of life.

Business
I have applied for my VAT number and some help from the tax man in Sweden and guess what....they are coming to my house for the meeting over fika on Tuesday. Howz about that for service! I have also applied to register my company officially here in Sweden, just waiting for them to confirm "Silver by K8" before I get my logo designed and some business cards done.
I also had a look at the markings used on silver and the requirements here in Sweden for people who produce silver jewellery and amazingly there are no obligatory requirements for silver. There are for gold and platinum but not silver however, it is not permitted to mark silver incorrectly. So right now I am looking in to the cost of getting a Swedish recognised mark on mine so buyers have that piece of mind.
Very good article:
http://www.swedac.se/sdd/swinternet.nsf/webAttDoc/ADMR-64ZHGD/$File/Summary%20Swedish%20Hallmarking%20law.pdf
I have contacted the bank to open a business account too so I am really starting to feel like the business is coming together, still lots to do but making progress. How exciting.

Money where my mouth is....

So it's time to put money where my mouth is and produce some jewellery. In my Flickr link you can see the first few pieces that I have made. The stacking rings are simple, they look handmade but in a finished and polished way and they have an elegance to them. I got so much satisfaction from making these that I will try more in different finishes and sizes. I love wearing them instead of my wedding band and they go with everything.
I have also tried my hand at some repair/remodeling work for a necklace that did not hang right. I made a link to match the chain and took a size that would fit all three chains so they still had freedom to move. It was my first time mitering with such a small piece and although time consuming it was very satisfying.
I have made some earrings to match the necklace from a request by the customer and I have played with some silver wire to create a front fastening, customizable necklace. Simple and effective. I wear it all the time to advertise!
All in all a productive few weeks and with the green light for the company given I hope it will not be long before I have a shop set up on the internet.
So...time for some research on what is in fashion for spring 2010 and get my designer head on to produce my first ever spring line!

Where it all begins

My mission is to produce beautiful pieces of silver at an affordable price. They will represent the simplicity of life that, for me, is the answer to everything (not the number 42!)