Erin Frances Creative

Happy new year, sweet people!
I'm taking some time out to think carefully about my interactions on this platform and possibly restructure a few things on the social media front. I'm still here, in real life, the studio is open and classes will resume in February.
Please follow me on Instagram if you'd like to stay in touch on social media.
Otherwise pop me a mail [email protected]. The studio phone number is active again - 078 769 7344.
I'm not going anywhere.

Colocasia Earrings
Inspired by the leaf of the Elephant Ear plant, grown widely in Africa for its edible corms called Amadumbe or African potatoes.
Forged silver. R895
Part of my latest collection, called NEW JEWELS, available at www.erinfrancescreative.com

Found another gem for my studio library. Some of my best sources of inspiration are books like these. This one's from , the most magical book shop I've been into in a loooong time. Well worth a visit (actually, many visits) if you're into books.

My latest and last commission works for the year. I really enjoyed making these. Hand-carving signet rings out of silver is one of my fave jobs - no casting required and no two are exactly the same.

Ok peeps, I'm all set for tomorrow's shop update. I have some sweet NEW JEWELS that will available from 9.30am tomorrow, 16 December, for perusal and purchase from www.erinfrancescreative.com (including the earrings pictured here).

Shop update coming soooon!
A bunch of pretty new jewels will be available on my online shop from this coming Thursday 16th.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my creative playtime over the last few months and can't wait to share the results with you

Tuesday morning Silversmiths
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We've had some good times in the studio this semester and I'm going to miss these lovely ladies over the next two months.
Classes resume in Feb, bookings for 2022 opening soon.
Happy holidays!

Tomorrow is our last silversmithing class for the year. I'm so proud of my students for seeing this year through, for sticking it out through all the covid-induced stops and starts, pushing through the frustrations, digging deep into creativity and taking their skills to new levels.
Classes will resume in Feb. Watch this space for updates on 2022 class bookings 💎

I left a LOT of patina on these... What do you think?

Available online from next week.

Hello strangers! It's been aaaaages since I've posted here, the last few months have been one WILD ride.
I've managed to MAKE some time to play in the studio over the last few days and I can't tell you how good it feels to be reawakening my creativity.
Here's a sneak peek at my latest batch of one-of-a-kind earrings, available online next week.

It's time to SPRING out of your comfort zone! My latest email newsletter is out. Follow the link to see it and subscribe for silversmithing class & course updates and other interesting creative snippets...

https://mailchi.mp/6c8b4263230f/time-to-spring-out-of-your-comfort-zone

Time to spring out of your comfort zone

Chandni neckpiece, coming together slowly.

Playtime
is like a long slow pause;
going inward,
relaxing into myself
before the next outward phase
of teaching or creating for others.
Both are necessary;
the in-breath
and out-breath
of a Being creatively alive.

CABOCHON
[KAB] + [UH] + [SHON]

A common type of gemstone cut, typically with a rounded or curved top and a flat underside.

Cabochon gemstones work well in bezel settings (also called tube settings) but can also be set in other ways. Since bezel settings are usually the easiest kind of setting to construct, this is the best place for beginner silversmiths to start. Additionally, it's easier to keep a cabochon stable while setting it (because of its flat base and provided you've constructed the setting properly!). This is another benefit of beginning with a cabochon.

Join us later this week to set one of these beauties into your very own silver ring or pendant. Choose from Tiger's Eye, Sodalite, Jasper, Amethyst and a couple of others.

*STONE-SETTING COURSE NEW DATES*
29, 30 September and 1 October, 10am - 1pm on all 3 days.

More info and tickets available at www.erinfrancescreative.com. DM me if you have any questions.

See you at the bench!

Gemstones.. One of my favourite parts of being a jeweller. I'm always drawn the the unusual, earthy, interesting ones, the ones that look like they've been cooking for centuries, deep in the Earth's crust. The ones that speak about where they come from, the ones that remind me clearly that they are a gift from Earth.

These kinds of gems also readily remind me that my creativity is also a gift, and one of the ways I can express my gratitude is to show and share these gifts to their fullest.

This is what leads me to create and to facilitate. It's basically all about sharing my gifts with the world (and, of course, trying to make a living at the same time).

I'm running a brand new stone-setting course next week. Come and learn how to make a simple silver pendant or ring, featuring a bezel-set cabochon gemstone of your choice. More info & tickets available on my website, www.erinfrancescreative.com

*STONE SETTING COURSE*
Happening next week 💎

You'll get to make your very own silver ring or pendant featuring a bezel-set cabuchon stone.

In this three day workshop we will be focusing on setting. First, preparing the silver, then creating a bezel (tube) setting and constructing the piece, and finally, setting the stone.

Beginners to intermediate silversmiths welcome!
💎⚒️💎⚒️💎⚒️💎

More info & tickets can be found at www.erinfrancescreative.com (link in insta bio).

This week's email newsletter is about creativity, gemstones & gifts. Also highlighting a new Stone-Setting Course happening next week! Check it out and subscribe if you like x

https://mailchi.mp/f925fa6196d4/creativity-an-integrated-system-of-gifts

Creativity: an integrated system of gifts

Fresh out of this morning's silversmithing class... an elegant & successful design by Simone, so much so that she has made three pairs!

Tomorrow, we begin again ⚒️

Weekly silversmithing classes are currently running on Monday and Tuesday mornings. All info available at www.erinfrancescreative.com.
Come join us for your weekly fix of creative therapy.

Big changes afoot 💥

Copper & coral cuff
Another recent commission
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My portfolio page has just been updated to reflect all my most recent commission work. Go take a peek at www.erinfrancescreative.com (link in bio)
🧡🧡🧡

Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, silver polkadot.. errrmm... bikini??

SILVERSMITHING HOLIDAY CLUB starts tomorrow!!!
Last minute tickets still available on my website www. erinfrancescreative.com.
I'm looking forward to this 💎

Oh lordy.. I just couldn't resist showing you all three together!

Koru pendants in silver with Paua shell inlay and hand-carved fern detail.

A gift for a mother and her daughters to celebrate New Beginnings.

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

Thanks for all the positive feedback about this work ❤️ All my latest commission work is up on my website: www.erinfrancescreative.com (link in insta bio)

Koru Pendant in silver with Paua Shell inlay. My most recent commissioned piece. Actually, I made three of them!

Koru symbolises new beginnings for the Maori people of New Zealand. It's inspired by the spiral shape of an uncurling fern frond, as carved on the outer spiral of these pendants that I made.

I absolutely love carving three dimensional forms directly out of silver (no casting required). And now I can add shell inlay to my box of tricks too.

Give me a shout if you want your unique jewelry ideas made real. I LOVE commission work and would be so glad to work with you to create something spectacular. My portfolio is up on my website if you want to go take a peek.. www.erinfrancescreative.com

Just finished my latest commission work. Phew! This job was technically challenging and gave me so much inspiration along the way. This is EXACTLY why I love commission work. How awesome is this ancient lizardy tail-shape. Unfortunately I can't show you the finished pieces yet.. watch this space!

Give me a shout if you're wanting your unique jewellery ideas made real. I will happily re-use silver from any unworn old jewellery that you have lying around.

Not much jewellery to share with you guys at the moment, but here's a pic of the chickens having a dust bath outside my studio door yesterday. Aren't they just so cute? Moving my studio home was one of the best moves I ever made.. Thanks to covid.

Friday afternoons is GREEN TIME.

My journey into the world of plants is evolving. For a while now I have been exploring this as a way to balance out my creative work. Over the last couple of months I've been privileged enough to be working with and learning under Dr Caitlin von Witt, helping out on Friday afternoons at the Cape Flats Fynbos Nursery and learning about our incredible locally indigenous Fynbos.

Together we'll be opening a retail nursery specialising in locally indigenous flora. If you're interested in following us on this journey, follow on FB or Insta and .green.permaculture

I have long made peace with the fact that I'm a person who enjoys wearing many hats. My biggest challenge has been in learning how to NOT put them all on at once!

Latest email update is out! Check it out and subscribe to my mailing list if you haven't already

Creativity Unleashed

💎 SILVERSMITHING HOLIDAY CLUB 💎

Something unique for the kids to do during the July holidays. Also an opportunity for young adults to explore silversmithing as a possible study or career path..?

This one is specially for young adults between 13 - 18. We will make a silver ring, a pendant and a pair of earrings over three days, and, as usual, everyone gets to bring in their own design flair! My absolute favourite part is seeing everyone's creativity emerge...

More info & tickets at www.erinfrancescreative.com (link in bio)