Chit chat

There doesn't seem to be many people writing on the forum lately. Come on otherwise Cookies will shut us down.
I will start by telling you what I have been doing for the last six weeks. Packing and then moving house, then unpacking and trying to find room for everything in a smaller house. Hubby and I decided to downsize as we don't entertain as much as we did, several good, cheapish hotels in Exeter now so more flexible accommodation especially as they normally end up sharing a bed with two border terriers (luckily the labrador hasn't sussed this trick out yet).
Well setting up the spare bedroom as a hobby room, hubby into computers etc, and of course mine is making and selling silver, and gold if I can afford to buy the metal to make jewellery. Made my bench, got a length of 25mm ply and two cupboards with five drawers each, a big batton screwed onto the wall and the ply screwed onto it, and onto the drawers units,. result -. solid.
Cut-out made and then altered twice to get right shape. GRS attached so ready to get cracking again, when all the other things have been done that is.

I read the forum every day Pat, but lately there is nothing that interests me or that I feel like commenting on. I do read and comment a lot on Facebook groups though. I am an old school trade trained goldsmith and I don't know much about or even care about modern manufacturing methods, The age of computers with 3D printing is killing the trade as I knew it. I am glad to have been working at my trade during a period when quality of work was appreciated and most items were made from sheet and wires by skilled hands. At the ripe old age of 70 I do less and less in my workshop these days, but I do enjoy giving advice on traditional manufacture when I can and if anyone asks.

James

James Miller FIPG ( Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and Freeman of the City of London.)

A little less of the ripe old age of 70. I will reach that age in 6 months. My mum, who we have just bought another new laptop for says that the old one is too slow and she is 98, December she will be 99. I often get texts from her telling me that she has sent me an email and why havent I answered it. So we are in our teenage years still. There are a lot of people that use computers to entertain themselves, mum is obviously one of them, but she looks after my step dad who is ten years younger and also a three bed bungalow, so quite a busy girl. My interest in jewellery making only started as a hobby 7 years ago, out of bravado really when I lost my eye. It is still a hobby, but I often sit with a pencil and paper and design. I won't make two things exactly the same, although I do sometimes see a design that I like and alter it a bit, so not to copy. Most of our (my daughter makes too, also as a hobby) items are made from silver sheet and wire, really the only things we buy is stones, sheet, wire and thin chain. Otherwise you are not making properly, just putting together components. I do have a web page but as yet only seem to sell at craft fairs locally. All the old familiar faces seem to have gone from here, just a few of us remain, keep up the good work James we would be lost without your help and comments.

I also read every day, and comment where appropriate.

I don't feel the need (or have the time) to chat much on forums, I'm not on facebook, twitter or other social media, and I'm not interested in them - I love the forum format that allows for proper question/answer and problem/solution threads, and can provide such a wealth of technical expertise - especially from people for whom I have a huge amount of respect.

Sadly, the instant gratification offered by facebook has dramatically affected forum use across almost all subjects, especially because of the move to mobile devices and the ease of uploading pictures. It's much easier to just 'like' something rather than taking the time to comment or ask a question about it.

I have one of my old jobs coming in later this month, for a clean up. I made it 15 years ago. My old customer also wanted a new replacement insurance valuation, which I have done and am quite surprised that the cost for replacing is 4 times what I charged for it back in 2001.

This was the piece,

Attachment 9071 Attachment 9070

James

I read the forums each as well, I only comment if I think I have something to add, although jewellery is basically a paid hobby for me I agree about 3D printers my trade as a Cabinet maker is suffering a similar fate and George I am relieved to find another person in world who is not on facebook, twitter etc.

I read it every day but only comment when I have something to add. I would imagine there should still be a need to learn all the basic bench skills before going on to all the new technology. FB is just a lazy way to keep in touch, pressing like means absolutely nothing when a phone all or something would mean so much more. It would be nice to actually have a conversation with somebody now instead of being sent a message which when you reply doesn't get answered

I am not on Facebook, Twitter or the like. I do look at Facebook sometimes but only to see what Andrew Berry has been doing.

I'm often away from here when I'm utterly shattered (small boy is going through Interesting Times at the moment, so that is often). Aside from that, I'm finally (touch wood) seeing the end of a very protracted quiet period work-wise, and aside from commissions, am working on some new pieces for my first photo shoot in years in a couple of weeks. Quite excited, as working with people I really like, but also nervous as is a fair bit of coordinating. In other news, the hike in metal prices has made me a bit blue, I am planning my very first tattoo, and I've just finally bought a safe for my studio. :-D

I read the forum as much as I can, its so full of useful advice it would take a lifetime to take advantage of it all - its a wonderful glory hole! I'm afraid my contributions to it are pretty well limited to rookie questions, so I am one of those who takes out more than I put in - but who knows, maybe one day I will know enough to give advice too! I hope you have settled in to your new home Pat, I'm having a bit of work done in the spare bedroom (my jewellery making room) this week, so hopefully I may be a bit more organised once I have a place for everything! But its such a nuisance when not able to get on with tinkering away in there, so frustrating. I hope people don't stop using the forum - its worth its weight in gold, and I love to see what all the familiar names have to say, and what they've made, especially when they are as stunninng as James' pieces, so I don't want any of them to go away. Perhaps there's not much going on at the moment because its coming on for peak holiday time and people are away or busy doing fairs etc? Thanks to you all for all your wonderful advice and help.

I tend to read in gaps when things are in pickle, I probably should be getting on with something else but am just after some 'input' and always discover a bit of information I didn't previously know. In fact it was reading the forum that gave me the impetus to go for it and open my Etsy shop! Its a virtual Aladdin's cave of knowledge! (Must post more questions and not worry that they're too simple)..

I drop by most days, and sometimes it's busy, other-times quiet. I think that flux of traffic is just 'part and parcel'.

I don't do facebook and tho I have a twitter account, don't really use it.

The 'news' 'round these parts is that I've been setting some huge stones.. that is, just about finished building a patio. It has taken me an age, but something I've been doing to strengthen my back, so just chipping away. We're looking at the possibility of glass / steel balustrade, but for now theres a ~1.25m drop.

Elsewhere, the Mrs is threatening to evict my jewellery tools from the back bedroom unless I sort out to contract splitting the large upstairs bedroom into two as my little girl isn't so little and needs her own room now. Its not a difficult choice... [-X

I think we must heed Patstone's warning, that without regular contributions from our members, which are numbered in thousands by the way, this forum will go the way of its sister- the one we used to call 'the other side'.

As jewellers, both professional and amateur, all your contributions are valuable even if only to stimulate further discussion.

Some members are quite shy and when they finally take courage to start a thread, it must be quite daunting to have it ignored as often happens here. A member ignored is a member hurt.

I don't do social media, but it seems that the 'like' button is partly responsible for lack of critical thought. Surely as jewellers, any relevant thread should draw out our personal insights and constructive ideas. OK rant over. Dennis.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dennis

OK rant over. Dennis.

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It was a particularly mild-mannered rant, Dennis, as rants go.

On the lack of traffic, is it perhaps safe to say that very few professional jewellers/goldsmiths have much interest in sharing their hard-won knowledge unless there's some money in it for them, and many of the ones who aren't after money have little interest in talking about their job when they're not at work earning a living? Let's face it, in all walks of life, most of the real enthusiasts are amateurs.

Given silver work is a hobby for me and I'm pretty rubbish I don't post my work. I do answer threads on the rare occasion when someone else is stuck and I've figured out a way around the problem. At the moment I'm dealing with a husband in failing health and inspiration has gone out the window.

I do FB as well and find some of the groups very useful. To name one, Jewellery Metalsmiths UK, which is one of the places where if you are having trouble finding something the answer is not Rio Grande or Monsterslayer or some other U.S. based supplier. The other site is Aspiring Metalsmiths which is also fantastic IMO. For both sites people post pictures of their work in varies stages ... either to show off or to try and highlight a problem or simply because they are new and proud of their first piece. No one is afraid to ask questions and any question is answered by several people (sometimes too many) offering their advice.

I don't Tweet or Instagram .... but I do Pinterest.

I'm awaiting the arrival of baby number 5 and still suffering from a particularly nasty case of hyperemesis gravidarum, so I've been quiet (sick and sleepy) for quite a while now :)
Still working and stopping by the forum and various facebook groups almost daily, but only contributing if I think I'll be any use.

I guess for a lot of people facebook is more visual and perhaps easier if you're having to update business pages anyway? But I still prefer the forum as as a knowledgebase.
It seems to be one of the few places left where professionals will share their knowledge with those still learning.


As Aquarius has already said above - It's difficult to find long standing professionals or trades people who want to share their knowledge, which is such a shame and perhaps why certain parts of the jewellery trade have succumbed to new technology.
Finding a good hand engraver, for instance, is like searching for hens teeth. Many I've worked with over the last few years have now retired and the skills have disappeared with them :(

Wow Lucie, Kudos to you. Baby number 5 and hyperemesis must be such a nightmare - I was hospitalized with it with baby no 2, so I know how horrendous you must be feeling (apart from the whole 4 other children to care for bit)! Hope you're feeling better really soon.

I think the strengths of this forum come from the fact that it isn't just a case of pressing a 'like' button - which isn't really that helpful. Here people give constructive criticism along with their valuable help and advice which is so freely given. Also, Stacey - if you do decide to post your work I think you would find that people are really supportive and positive. It's not one of those nasty internet places where people delight in being mean and tearing each other down at all - its a safe place to put yourself out there, and get really useful feedback - honest.

The fact people at all levels are posting their work helps to make this such a vibrant and interesting place to be. I don't have experience of any other forums, but I've gradually learnt how things are done on this forum, and pretty well feel at home with it now. I have tended to disappear frequently, but that's due to life interrupting!

Also, unlike things like facebook, where its all about pressing a like button - I think this forum is more personal, giving a certain level of familiarity that you would never get from however many 'likes'. It feels like a great network of people, and for me - it helps me to feel connected in some way.

I think I am guilty of reading the forum most days during my lunch break at work, but then not really having the time to interact as much as I would like to.

Also, I'm generally not much use for answering questions, as I'm still learning most of the time, so I don't feel like I can contribute an awful lot at times.

I find this forum invaluable though, and would hate to see it wither and die, so I'll try to post more stupid questions for you all!

I'm not really on facebook much (my own business page is woefully neglected!) so I don't see all the stuff that's posted on the Cooksons page. I'll have a look at it later...

[QUOTE=joella;88663]Wow Lucie, Kudos to you. Baby number 5 and hyperemesis must be such a nightmare - I was hospitalized with it with baby no 2, so I know how horrendous you must be feeling (apart from the whole 4 other children to care for bit)! Hope you're feeling better really soon.

Thank you sweetie. 34 weeks of throwing up is not much fun ;) I'm just about keeping up with orders and my oldest kids (10 and 8) are an amazing help.

I completely agree that the forum helps me feel connected too, even if I do just pop by to read the feeds. It's sometimes the only adult contact I have for weeks at a time lol.
I'll have to try and think of some more questions for everyone! Would hate to see it disappear.