Rule Britannia - A Coin with a difference!

Hi everyone - I've just been inspired by two of the lovely ladies from Docrafts and another lovely lady called Annie who left  very first comments on my last post - girls you have lifted my spirits no end, so again thank you.  Just a quick note about the 'typos' - sorry guys I didn't proof read it!

Yesterday I promised a post about Jo Austin's Birthday gift from ALL of the ladies at the Members Day - and the fact that it just so happened to be made by Your's Truly in a former 'Life'!  What everyday pre decimal objects would you find Britannia on the tail side!  That would be a coin, you may answer - and I'm talking about the lost art of Coin Enamelling!  

It just so happens that I took with me a pair of cufflinks and a pendant, just to show the previous crafty endeavours that used to fill my days, and nights before the papercraft, crochet and knitting took over!

One of the ladies let it be known that it was Jo's birthday on Jubilee Sunday, so Katy produced a lovely Brit themed card, and I thought "how apt that the pendant I had with me was a Grand Britannia farthing" given that it was Jubilee weekend - just the job for an impromptu pressie - so to speak!  So that is what we did - we gave it to Jo.

- o O o -

Coin Enamelling, a Victorian invention - all those years ago someone came up with an idea that to colour both sides of a coin would be a  very good idea - so the craft was born!

Ground glass enamelling is the key to a well crafted coin.  The only difference in the two eras (1902 example using old method) is that the modern day craft 'normally' includes gold plating, in our case 18ct, which gives the coin an opulent look and feel!

Sadly, this is now a dying craft in the UK - there are still a couple of 'true' enamellers around but the majority now come from the Far East, so need I say more!! Just check out E-bay!  

I had to change direction because I needed a very still, steady hand - in the long run the process damaged the nerves in my right arm - so here we are five years on ...... I still miss it!

- o O o -

However, coming back to Jo - I think she was pleased with it, in fact I'm sure she was  - we both had a few tears and a hug!  It was all a part of that wonderful day! 

I'm glad I can tell you about some of the more unusual goings on at the University of Life known as Crafty Abi's Mum  ..... in the meantime ... Happy Crafting and Warm Wishes to You and Yours ..

from Abidog and I xxx