Hello from newcastle!

[Matp85]

Hello am Matthew living and working as a apprentice jeweller in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Been doing this for few years and hope to make this my career.

Hope to find and give help whenever needed and think this forum is a good idea!

[bustagasket]

Hello and welcome to the nuthouse!!! Fantastic forum, i am sure you are gonna enjoy it here as much as we do. [[]]

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Hi Matthew...:~:. What a great career to be starting out on!! We can tack you onto the list of 'people who know what they are doing'!! Expect to have your brain picked regularly! It's a really nice little forum....enjoy!:D

[mizgeorge]

Welcome from me too Matthew. I'd have loved to have done an apprenticeship :)

[Matp85]

i love my apprenticeship! and would advise anyone to try and get one been doing it for about three years spent two years polishing and the other two polishing and learning about the trade.

Also Solunar Silver Studio i would be happy to help whenever i can, just ask!

[MuranoSilver]

:~: Welcome to the forum Mat
Glad you spend all that time polishing it's great to have a new "brain" :Y:
Nic xx

[kymbi]

Hello Matthew :welcome:

[Matp85]

The polishing was fun once i learnt how to do everything! although me mam complained when the bath went red time to time from all the rouge :D

[julie]

hi & welcome to the forum :~:

[Di Sandland]

Hi Matthew, look forward to picking your brains :~:

[EmmaRose]

:~: welcome Matthew!
Gosh would love and apprenticeship!
Do tell us what you get up to!
Em

[Charlotte]

Hello Mat, I'm from Newcastle too! Living in West Jesmond at the moment. Which shop are you working for? And do they need anyone else?;)

Welcome to the forum!:Y:

[lorraineflee]

Hi Mat
Welcome from Bedfordshire:~:
Lorraine

[Ominicci]

:welcome: Hello from me too Mat.

[The Dragon]

Hello Matthew or do you prefer Mat. If you love making jewellery you'll love this forum. Dive right in and enjoy yourself.

:welcome:
Annie

[Matp85]

at the moment we dont anyone else sorry charlotte. But i get up to loads of stuff! we cast in platinum, palladium, brass gold and so forth so we are busy with casting at the moment! my boss can also do wax carvings so we do on offs aswell. At the moment in my job i am based round repairs, serving and getting to know reps etc

[Charlotte]

Sounds cool! Nice and varied... its weird thinking you can get paid and do something you enjoy isn't it?! And something which you never stop learning about! So where do you work? I know all the shops... I've probably applied a million times anyway=:-O ..I hope its not The jewellers guild, I'm not a fan of theirs[-X;)

I'd love to see some of your work! Can you tell I'm happy I'm not the only person from Newcastle?;)

[Matp85]

the shop i work has been open for just over one year. But i must say i havent dealt with the jewellers guild before. And yes its a brilliant thing to get paid for something you love!

I will try and post some of the work the workshop, my boss does the hand making stuff. At the moment we have made a white gold globe with yellow gold land mass with a gimble.

[Charlotte]

Ahhh cool, I've not actually been to Monkseaton, only go through it to see the sea;) I'm thinking about getting a house in West Monkseaton though... that or Benton... don't ask me why I just have a good feeling about the two areas;) I've never applied for jobs outside the centre of Newcastle actually I should get out a bit more and see whats about. I look forward to seeing some of your work!

[Matp85]

monkseaton is a lovely area although i live in walkergate. The people who come in the shop are always nice and polite which makes the days and job easier

[Lindyloo]

Oh, a specialist. Great. Will post all my polishing questions. Oh, and I am hugely jealous of anyone who can do wax carving. I have dabbled, but really want to learn more. Can you post some pix of your boss' wax carved stuff? I may have to splash out on a course one of these days. Have seen one in London. Might have to beg the OH. :-"

[Matp85]

this is the only picture i can find at the moment.

http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=41&pictureid=247

[Lindyloo]

Cute. Looks like he spent hours polishing that to a nice shine.

[Matp85]

no polishing on the wax that is how it should look. the better the wax the better the cast. smoother surfaces means there is less filing and polishing to do.

[Lindyloo]

Surely it's been sanded though?

[Matp85]

nope, wax is smooth remember its not a rough material. using nice smooth strokes thats all!

[Lindyloo]

Wow, I have so much to learn. #-o

[Matp85]

my boss taught himself just keep trying start of with things like pyramids to see if you can get the shape right making sure all the sides are equal to each other and that the point isnt askew.

[Lindyloo]

What tools are best?

[The Dragon]

OMG I so want that for my weird & wonderfull fetish. Oops that sounds a little bad doesn' it? I mean I love anything that is a little different or makes me think diferently. Another skill to learn eventually. Wish I could afford an apprenticeship (lots of whistful sighs)

[Matp85]

you dont buy an apprenticeship, you apply and they pay you!