As mentioned in my last post, I was super lucky to get a spot in a class for silver clay on such a short notice.

Over the course of five and a half hours we made three projects. The first was a pair of earrings, the second a mould for a charm and the third was a pendant with a set in stone. 

We began the day with a cup of tea and a small introduction. Anna, our instructor, then led us through our first project. I learned that this clay is fine silver and is close to 99% pure. Most silver jewellery that is marked 925, is more than often only 75% silver mixed with other binding metals such as copper. Of all the odds, I sat down in a spot that quoted Walt Disney… “Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths”. If that isn’t a sign that I’m on the right kind of path, I’m not sure what is.

I have to say I was quite amazed at how far the clay went. The package is teeny but surprisingly yields a lot. Most of the equipment is repurposed household items, making setting-up a work space cost effective.  

Once all our pieces had been cut and completed, we let them dry out on a stone. In the interim, we had an incredible spread of cheeses, breads, spreads and soup. It was nice to be able to socialize with all the ladies also taking the course. Some had come from neighbouring towns, others were from here. I learned our instructor is an Edinburgh-based artist who also teaches at the London School of Jewellery. She is incredibly talented and has been doing this for quite some years.

After our lunch break we got back to work and made ourselves a mold. This was made by blending two different coloured silicones, that when combined dry to create a flexible mold. I chose to do a pair of scissors given the obvious connection to my trade. 

Once our pieces were completely dry came the fun part. We then took turns firing them and transforming them from clay to solid silver! Talk about alchemy. Anna was kind enough to catch that fun bit on video for me (—> https://vimeo.com/363616500)

Upon firing, we then polished using 6 different polishing clothes. All in all, I had an excellent time and learned something new. I would love to expand this further by experimenting with the clay some more. I was amazed at how easy it is to work with and found that the hardest part was deciding what to make! Perhaps once I’m settled I’ll be able make space for a little studio set-up. 

For those you planning on visiting Edinburgh, I highly recommend checking out Anna’s courses (This is the one I took —-> https://www.thearienascollective.com/introduction-to-silver-jewellery). In addition to jewellery making, they offer painting, sewing, and so much more! I even noticed they have an Artist Way Creative Women’s Circle. Talk about *magic*! We all know how much I adore that book. The studio itself is very homey and bright, nestled away in a brick alleyway in the centre of town. This particular course was 95£ (approx. $155 CAD) and worth every penny. The lunch was far more than I had expected and at the end of the day I walked away with 2 sets of earrings, 4 charms and the know-how to do it all again! Thanks Anna & the Arienas Collective :)

It’s Tuesday and I’ve spent the last 4 days in Edinburgh, Scotland. Beautiful city. It’s kind of hard to believe that these buildings have stood longer than the country I come from.

I came here to take a small break from the hustle of London. I decided I wanted to see more of the country before settling down into what will be the inevitable grind. It’s just such a different vibe from London. Breath-taking views, a tonne of history, very grey and wet, but overall the people are extremely warm. 

I got incredibly lucky on my way in by way of an adorable airbnb that popped up the night before my departure and an empty spot in a silver clay jewelry making class. I’ll put that in a separate post given I took a lot of photos and want it to stand alone.

One thing I noticed is the doors and ceilings are super high here! It makes me feel that this place was once inhabited by giants or just people who appreciated their own space. Though with that comes the creeping cold that buries itself into the bones. The upside is the moist air keeps the plants and flowers flourishing. In all my years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen petunias hanging so heavy and rich in colour (pictures don’t do it justice). Definitely good material for future paintings or art.

On a complete other side note, I cannot stop listening to Scottish band The Cocteau Twins. This scenery just demands this level of dreamy soundtrack.

It’s always amazing to me how much one can fit into a week. I’ve been here over just 10 days and have had my mind blown by just how much I’ve seen. The scenery, the smells, the people, and best of all, the art continually reminds me I’m in another world.  

I lucked out and had a week straight of sun my first 7 days, so a lot of walking was had. I crossed Tower Bridge and took the obligatory photos of the Tower of London, which to modern standards, feels more like a fort and less like the towering giants we come to build today. 

By far, my favourite museum so far has been the Tate Modern. I nearly cried walking in to an original Meredith Frampton “Portrait of a Young Woman”. To my surprise, she was much larger than I imagined she would be. Stand-outs for me were all the surrealist art, Nan Goldin’s photos, Yinka Shonibare’s British Library, and Ellen Gallagher’s quirky mock up’s of old ads (pictured below). Feeling extremely grateful to experience all of this in person! I could get lost in that museum and mark my words, I will again.

The week fluidly made it’s way into weekend nightlife with a Montreal ex-pat and extremely talented dj, my gal pal Heidy. We were transported back to 2008 La Rockette and danced like mad. I spent the next morning in foodie heaven at the Maltby Market. Street food from around the world, tucked away in an adorable alleyway. Also I found the trench coat. I had been saying for weeks that I would wait to buy one here and it’s happened.

Needless to say, I’m enjoying my time here immensely and look forward to the job hunt that will come with my desire to stay in this city. In the meanwhile, I’m heading off to Edinburgh tomorrow in hopes of fresh air and come what may.