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This week in Folkestone, we have had all weather; sunshine, wind, rain and hail, and that was in one day!
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Running a business at Folkestone Harbour is very weather dependant - on a good
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weather day we have lots of visitors, on a bad day it's like a ghost town! As I write this, the weather has been kind during the weekends and the dry weather has brought out the footfall. It's been lovely interacting with visitors again and my sense of purpose has been restored!
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We are open throughout Easter; on Friday 3rd and Monday 6th, 11-6, then 11-6 at weekends and 11-4 Wednesday to Friday. It's worth checking social media for updates though, if it's a wet week day I might take a rain check!
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If you are looking for another place to visit over the holidays, don't forget there is a well stocked inSilver cabinet at Curio in Sandgate - I spent the day being shopkeeper there last Wednesday. It's a lovely shop with handmade items from local makers, artists and small businesses. You can visit Curio at 99 High Street, Sandgate, CT20 3BY on Wednesday to Sunday 10-4.
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These beautiful sparkly rings I made have come back from the stone setter and had a quick visit to the photographers before being collected by their owner. I was delighted with the images - I especially love the depth of the Amethyst (purple stone) and how the purple reflection is captured at the back of the band. The customer was delighted with the rings and wore them as she left the hut, keen to show them off! I'm looking forward to making more show stoppers like these!
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I get a lot of requests for jewellery repairs, often items of high sentimental value. I had this vintage eternity ring in from a fellow hut owner recently. It belonged to her mother and she plans to hand it down to her daughter. The ring had been caught on a door handle had been badly damaged. It pulled a point into the band, twisting the setting and shattering the stone, causing it to come out. I carefully reshaped the gold outer edge of the band and rounded the entire ring - this was done with a metal shaping tool as hammering wasn't an option - it would have damaged more of the settings and stones.
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Finding a perfect match for the bright blue shade of the missing stone was tricky, until I tracked down a blue spinel - a natural gemstone, similar to a sapphire, often used in jewellery of this era. The ring needed a good clean before replacing the new spinel, it had been worn daily and as is usually the case, dirt had built up inside the settings. A simple home cleaning method is all that was needed - you can follow these simple steps to clean up your faceted stone rings to give a 'good as new' sparkle! I do not recommend this for any stones that are glued in, such as fashion jewellery,
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marcasite's or delicate stones such as opals, malachite or other soft stones. If in doubt, don't risk it, or ask me for my opinion along with a photo for reference.
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Before you start, look carefully at the setting, checking for cracks or damage in the metal of the setting and the stone, which may result in the stone coming out! If it all looks good, follow these simple steps:
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You will need a small bowl, an old toothbrush, washing up liquid, warm water and kitchen roll. Fill the bowl with warm water and add a small drop of washing up liquid. Allow the ring to soak for around a minute.
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Dip the toothbrush into a drop of neat washing up liquid and give the jewellery a gentle brush around the front, sides and back of the setting. Give the jewellery another swirl in the warm water and repeat the cleaning process - the back will often require more effort as the setting will be fairly deep to house the tip of the stone.
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Rinse with clean water into the bowl and dry on the kitchen roll to enjoy your renewed sparkle!
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Always check the jewellery to make sure that the stone/stones are intact before tipping the water out of the bowl!
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Over 15 years ago, I started Silver Handprints - a part of my business creating personalised silver jewellery from handprints, fingerprints and handwriting, or drawings from loved ones. It was a big part of inSilver and over the years it came to include working with a charity for life-limited children and funeral directors - personally taking the prints for families as a loving memorial keepsake. I also
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sidestepped with Silver Paws, working with paw prints from dogs, cats and even a ferret print!
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I closed that part of my business when I moved to Folkestone. Recently I have had enquires for handprint, fingerprint and ashes jewellery from those contacts that are now over 150 miles away! Funnily enough, while I was working on a one-off order for a funeral director, I received another one out of the blue. I have completed these pieces and have welcomed a steady trickle of orders again. I plan to build up my displays over the next few weeks and add imprint jewellery to the website again.
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The moral of the story is never say never!
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Aimi x
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Google reviews really help a small business like mine to be found! If you would like to leave a Google review, please follow this link.
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