1. Fox News - New Classes launch

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 15th Sep 2021

   The Fox Studios Well, I've got another jam packed 🦊 News for you, lots to share, exciting plans ahead! But first thing's first, if you've been waiting for the release of the 2022 workshops, then they will go live on the website today (Wed 15th).  Now, I'm going to put a disclaimer on this, because technology is involved, and I've made some changes to my website, and I'm about to update it again... so fingers crossed, things will go to plan and at some point today, classes will be live!  Now there's an announcement 😂. I have got loads planned.  There are some of the classic favourites and a few newbies being added too.  AND I have some guest tutors, although I am hoping to add more very soon.   I've got someone new to introduce to you in January, I'm just waiting for confirmation before announcing, but it's a very exciting workshop from another local Warrington jeweller who will be sharing her skills. Then I will be welcoming back Judith Brown in March to run her very successful wire work jewellery.  I had so much interest after Judith ran her last workshop, that I don't think there will be spaces for long.  Everyone had such a lovely day and all created some beautiful pieces. The Colourful Aluminium workshop has now changed to a 2 day workshop. There is so much to tell you that it's just not possible in a 1 day workshop anymore.  I've not fully written up the details on the website, but day 1 will be all about colour, pens, inks, dyes, resists, then day 2 is texture, cutting, forming, rivets, oh and the all important finishing of your work.  I'm really excited for this one! I've also got the lovely Gail Louise joining me in teaching the weekly classes. You can find out a bit more about her on her website.  She came in to meet the Tuesday night mob and brought in some of her lovely jewellery... she got the thumbs up!  You may even get to meet her on some of the one day workshops too, but we've got a few things to work out first. Which leads me on to say thank you to everyone who filled out my survey in the last newsletter.  It really helped me to plan the workshops in for next year. However, I've already run out of weekends!  I think I've got 22 weekends and 27 workshops, without repeating any!?!  Hence why I'll be roping in Gail, as well as a few other guest tutors.  If there is anyone else you'd like to see at The Fox Studios, then please do let me know!  Oh and I should announce the winner of the prize giveaway in the last 🦊 News, which was Lesley Sutton 🎉, who wins a £50 gift voucher! This was only supposed to be a short newsletter, but I think you've already realised that I can't keep it short and sweet!  But I did just want to ask you about Bench Hire.  I used to have a Bench Hire facility  on a Wednesday morning for those people who have already got basic jewellery skills and need a place to work on a regular basis.  Would this be something of interest to you?  I potentially have access to another room (right next door) that I may be able to convert in to a Bench Hire Space on a more regular basis.  If you'd like to drop me a message about your thoughts, I'd really appreciate it.  Although, I may do another quick survey about it.  We'll wing it and see 😁. Random Ramblings The Jewellery Cabin, Isle of Wight You may have noticed that I was away over the August Bank Holiday weekend.  We arrived to our accomodation quite late on the Friday night, but this was the view we woke up to on Saturday morning! Absolutely loved every minute of it...and had workshop envy too. I (nearly) wanted to come home and tidy up my workshop...but I haven't don't worry 😂. Oh and see a couple more photos below from the weekend.  That blooming big cricket wanted to join in the Colourful Aluminium Workshop, but luckily Rachel helped him back out the door.  No, I didn't panic...much! Cemaes Bay, Anglesey I'm started to get a couple of days off here and there, and we managed to pop over to Anglesey for the day. We started in Beaumaris, but it was a little too busy for my liking, so we headed over to Cemaes Bay.  The weather wasn't the best, to start with, but we sampled the ice cream.  Now, I'm really sorry to say this, but I'm really not fussed by ice cream.  One of my lovely ladies stared at me in horror when I said this and proceeded to ask how you can trust someone who doesn't like ice cream! Well, when we went to IOW, I did try a couple of times to make sure, but I'm afraid I can conclude, I'm really not that fussed.  I love Mini Rolls though, hope that eases the trust issues?? Heather Fox Jewellery I've not had chance to make any jewellery recently, so I thought I'd share a little more random ramblings.   I'm hoping to add a plastics one day workshop sometime in 2022. I made the red acrylic ring when I was on my evening course at St Helens College, when I first started to learn jewellery making from Linda Jeanne Jones I bought a few sheets of plastic ready to get making more, but nearly 20 years later and I've still not made them! It's funny how some techniques go, you don't make any for ages, then suddenly everyone wants to learn... collet setting is the current one.  I've been sharing some of the pieces on Instagram. I'll have to find time to upload some students work to the website, but you can scroll through Instagram without an account here, if you'd like to see more. And, as I've got the lovely Gail joining me, I'm hoping I'll have a bit more time to get making, so watch this space! I'm sure there was something else I needed to share, but it escapes me for now (phew I can hear to say).  As soon as I remember what it was I'll let you know. Take care and we look forward to seeing you soon!

2. The 🦊 News - £50 Prize Draw

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 8th Aug 2021

   The Fox Studios Hello, how are you?  It's been a while and I've got lots to tell you! Well, I had grand plans of emailing shorter newsletters and writing them more regularly, but that's clearly not worked has it!?! So, without further ado, I'll launch straight into things! I just wanted to let you know that, although the Government have slowly relaxed the rules around Covid, I want to keep a few things in place for a little while longer to keep us safe.  I will be your Mum and tell you to wash your hands regularly, but more importantly I will be keeping masks in place.  I do miss all of your lovely faces, but until we know a bit more about the impact of the relaxation of the rules, I'd like to stay a little cautious.  I don't want to put you at risk, nor do I want to have to close for 10 days to self isolate...rearranging the classes again would send me over the edge I think 🙈.

   The next 7 week term starts this week!  Have all the lovely students missed me??  I've only been gone for 3 weeks, but lots has happened in that time, a lovely Judith Brown workshop (we're hoping to get another workshop in next year), Summer School, Laser Cutter experimentation, Colourful Aluminium, I'm not sure I've really had a holiday, but I am looking forward to welcoming you back.  Have you got your projects ready? A couple of things I want to sort out this term though, if you're attending the workshops, you will be eligible for Student Discount from a number of suppliers, Cooksons being the main one.  We'll try and get those set up in the first week! Second thing I want to set up with the weekly students is ordering of chains.  I do have access to a company where we can buy chains at trade prices, however, they do have a minimum order of £50, so if this is something you're interested in, we can set up an ordering system and order in bulk.

   And finally, for now, I do have a waiting list for both the weekly classes and one day workshops.  If you'd like to stay on the list, can you please confirm by return of email, but again, if you'd like to come off the list please let us know.   Also, I have just released two workshops on the website, a Spinner Ring Workshop on 25th Sept and a 2 Day Jewellery Making workshop on 30th & 31st Oct.  Places are limited, so you best be quick!

   Random Ramblings

   Please help! Your feedback would be gratefully received.  I'm already thinking ahead for next year, but I really need your help to plan everything in.  Classes have been constantly sold out for a while, but I'd really like to change that.  If you've got 3 minutes (that's how long Survey Monkey said it would take to fill it in), it's just 10 questions.  It will help me build a bigger and better year for you!  Click here for the survey.  Oh and I think I'll do a prize too...not sure what yet, but everyone who fills in the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 gift voucher...see as I was writing that, the prize decided itself! West Kirby Well, I did say this was random ramblings didn't I??   As you've read above, I had grand plans of having a couple of weeks break...I didn't quite manage it, but we did get to have a glorious day by the sea at West Kirby.  Do you remember when it was sunny a few weeks back?  Remember that?  It's been pouring down for days now so it is a bit of a distant memory (oh and it has been leaking in the workshop a little too, but that's a story of another time!

   Heather Fox Jewellery

   Well, I haven't had chance to make anything much recently, but I did squeeze in half an hour and made the oxidised charm on the left.  I stumbled across the gold plated one that I made years ago, on the right, and really liked it, so set to and made another one.  I'm not sure what it's going to be yet, a pendant or maybe earrings, but just one step at a time eh?

   It's really lovely to get feedback from people about my random ramblings and The Fox News, I never realised they were so well read, so thank you.  I really appreciate you taking the time to step into may world for a short while.