Some Special Christmas Gifts

I can now share photos of my latest engravings... some lucky parents recieved some special gifts for Christmas this year... these photos have been added to the gallery pages too.

Wishing all a safe and happy Christmas!! *smiles*

I have just added these photos of recent engravings to the gallery page.  It has been a very busy few weeks, orders coming thick and fast *smiles*... I took photos of some interesting glasses today, I will not be able to post them until after Christmas though :-(

Which burs to use?

While there is no right answer to this as every engraver will develop their own preferences here's what I found to be a useful start up kit. These are explained a little on the Hints and Tips page on this blog.

Cake Toppers

These lovely little cake toppers/decorations make a modern alternative to writing with icing on a cake, and make a great little momento of that special day. 

Drill engraved and crafted from 3mm clear acrylic with frosted edges.

Paintings now available on products through Zazzle

I know, I know... this isn't about engraving *smiles*...  but...  I have just opened a Zazzle store where products featuring some of my paintings can now be ordered *smiles*... click here: JeansArt to view the products (mugs, greeting cards, postcards, hats, magnets, bags etc) currently available, product ranges will be developed as time permits.

 JeansArt - Dublin Bay Rose

 JeansArt - Swingtime

JeansArt - Out Of The Shadows

New Pics Just Added to Gallery

Just added these pics to the gallery page, these were both engraved using a handheld drill and diamond burs.

Thoughts of Christchuch

This banquet goblet was engraved while thinking of the canterbury region after the 22.02.11 earthquake. The rose signifies the outpouring of love from all of New Zealand (and around the world), the jasmine to signify the passion of Christchurch locals for their city, the doves are a wish for peace and the forget-me-not's on the foot of the glass are for rememberance of those lost that day.

All of the engraving on this glass has been completed using a hand-held drill.

Thoughts of Christchurch

Does your engraving tend to chip at the edges?

Oh, my, it has been a while since I have posted to the blog, it has been a busy time for me *smiles*

Chipping of edges of engraving seems to be a common problem for a lot of learner engravers, especially when engraving standard glass.  It took me a while to get to the bottom of this very frustrating problem, so I have added some ideas that I have found useful to the hints and tips page, in the hope these ideas may prove helpful for anyone who is finding this an issue.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has found other reasons for, and ways to resolve, this issue.  Good ideas will be added the list on my "Hints and Tips" page with the permission of the contributor.

Hints and Tips - New Page

Just added the Hints and Tips page, the first little "Tip" is up there which is about how to hold glasses while you engrave them.  The pictures show the very simple, inexpensive and easy to make "tools" I use, with a quick explantion of how I made them.

Here I use double sided sellotape to hold the glass while I engrave on the foot.