Paper embossing

I was shown how to emboss the other day and I am so pleased with the result. I have a bunch of ideas to use it for jewellery tags and logos…

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Enamel motifs

A while back I wanted to try out using enamel to encorperate colour in my jewellery but didnt take the idea much further. Well now I am finally doing it and really enjoying the result. I think it has a very effective soft, lace-like look that works well with the wallpaper motifs I use. Here’s [...]

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Method in my madness

In an effort to identify the method with which I work, I printed out all my blog posts labelled ‘design & work process’. In laying them out in order I saw a pattern starting to form which looked something like this:

I often have an idea that I want to explore and end up making a couple of prototypes or test pieces. These are made with no intention of becoming a final piece of jewellery, but rather for the satisfaction of turning an idea into something workable and making something with an unknown outcome, and seeing where it leads.

More often than not, the unfinished pieces get placed somewhere on my bench or wall as I start working with another idea. What I have come to realise however, is that the threads of the ideas behind all these little test pieces feed other ideas and designs later down the line, linking up in a network of interwoven threads, slowly weaving a pattern.

For example; my idea of wanting to incorporate colour with ribbon earlier this year lead to a bunch of test pieces for interchangeable jewellery, then I carried on working with my metal lace concept for a while. After a few months, I found a test piece that seemed to link up with some sketches I had done and I ended up making ‘lace’ rings with coloured ribbon.

I guess what I am trying to illustrate here, is that for me the making of jewellery is an indulgence where I can explore the thoughts in my mind and tangibly work with and make sense of many of the influences and ideas in my mind. It is this making process that gives the pieces of jewellery I make value to me. Many of my little test pieces of metal I cannot bring myself to get rid of, yet somehow it is easy to sell a piece of jewellery. Where is the sense in that? Surely a piece of jewellery is more valuable…or is it?

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Lace Ruffles

I am hoping to take part in the next Red Eye event happening in Durban in September. I will be making a bold ramp piece of jewellery which I am intending to make with layers of metal, lace and paper.

The ideas I have come up with take reference from the flamboyant lace ruffs, collars and cuffs that were part of the court costumes in the 17th Century. Needlepoint lace was worn as a display of luxury and elegance by both men and women to demonstrate their high class and wealth.

References:

http://www.marlamallett.com/l-needle.htm

The Greenwood Encyclopedia of clothing through world history, Volume 2, by Jill Condra

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Thinking out of my box…

The time of the year has come for the Plat Africa competition. We have to base our piece on the courting traditions of a South African culture group. Coming from KwaZulu Natal it is apt that our pieces are based on the Zulu culture.

I have to admit that I am struggling to design something that captures our theme but still lies within my personal style. It has been a big challenge for me because my work generally has a very organic flow to it and I have worked through numerous designs and prototypes to try and incorperate it somehow into the structured geometric designs of the Zulu culture.

The above sketches show me working through ideas to integrate what I’m doing with my personal work and our Zulu symbol that my group chose. I had an idea of using wire elements woven together to look like lace, but it did not fit with our concept and metal restrictions well. I do however, want to take it further to use in my personal work…

My next attempt was to incorperate ribbon to bring in the colour combination and the Zulu symbol we chose, but this was quite a disaster I think, the ribbon was too wide and the symbol got lost between all the weaving in and out…

So now I am onto my next prototype, third time lucky I hope!

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Ribbon Rings

Here’s the next step in my ribbon rings! These were designed in Rhino and cast which allowed me to cut the flowers out accurately in a uniform manner. I millgrained the edges because I thought it would soften the look but I still feel the rings could look softer….

I like the colour and contrast of the ribbon integrated with the silver.

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Ribbon ring

I’ve been throwing around ideas for a ring that looks like lace or material wrapped around the finger…

After doing a few sketches I moved on to other things, then after a few weeks I came acoss a prototype I made a couple of months ago which seemed to run with the same concept of material tied around the finger. Fancy that!

A few days later I saw this lace and it prompted me to expand onto my ideas and make another prototype

I like the idea of incorperating ribbon to bring in colour and another layer and texture. I think the contrast to the silver works well. I am busy cutting some out in Rhino and would like to add some millgrain to the edges.

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Hot-glue lace

I have been messing around with hot glue to try and create a lacey-crochet effect. I’m not really sure where I’m going with it but I’ve enjoyed experimenting with something out of my ordinary. I love the translucency of it when the light shines on the glue and I think mixed with some silver elements it could evolve into an interesting pair of earrings.

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design development

I’m always tearing out pictures from magazines that hold a certain quality or essence in them that I would like to capture in my jewellery. Often the pictures just have a particular detail that I like, or a tone I want to capture, or there will be colours, patterns or a line that I think I could take reference from when designing.

Above is a working page of some rough ideas I’m playing with that take reference from a magazine picture. My eye was drawn to the lines created by the model’s pose. I like the obscure strength of her stance that somehow also retains the soft nature of a woman’s body. The soft, textured fabric of her dress reminded me of a wax impression I made a while back .

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Interchangeable Jewellery

” By wearing, owning and interacting with jewellery, we breathe new life into it. We activate it and set it on a life-long journey to collect and absorb its surroundings…’New’ jewellery has yet to find its vocation; yet to acquire the associations and values of a person’s life to shape its identity.”
Lin Cheung, New Directions [...]

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Jewellery as a tool for expression

I have been interested in the work of Anna Lorich for some time. The jewellery she makes deals with a number of issues, most of them revolving around and dealing with personal identity. Lorich sees her work as a reflection of who she is, using the creative process to question and search for her identity. [...]

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Cast impressions

I cast my wax impressions yesterday and was delighted with the way they came out, especially a new element that I used! I think it has a lovely lacey/croched look to it which is exactly what I was wanting.

I have realised that this technique is something I really enjoy working with and would like to use it to make some elements for my interchangeable jewellery. I would like to start by making a few bracelet ‘tops’ and see where that takes me.

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Adding some texture to my life *

I have been exploring other avenues with my jewellery lately, and focusing more on function and forms that will be practical to the functionality of my jewellery. I have realised though, that I’ve really missed working with my passion for pattern and texture. This has been reflecting in my ‘inspiration/ working wall’ for quite some time, and yesterday I thought it was about time I did what I love: play with pattern!

So…I got out my clay and wax and started making impressions. I’m really excited to see what will come from this batch , it’s always such a surprise to see the result of a cast.

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Colour with enamel

I have been thinking about different ways to introduce variety in colour to the interchangeable elements in my new collection. I have thought about using enamel for some time but have been unsure how exactly.

After browsing through Etsy Metal I found some pierced work with enamel that had such a lacey feminine effect, as well as the use of piercing as a stencil for enamel. I think this would be an interesting way to add colour to my elements. Which technique do you find more appealing visually?

These pieces can be found at Rubygirl.

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Colour!

I have always seen colour as a prominant form of expression, and a telling sign for people’s moods and personalities. I therefor, think that a main componant in interchangeable jewellery should be the variation of colour.

I have always been a collector of arbitrary things that I like the look or feel of in some way. This little habit has resulted in a box of assorted ribbons and lace in different sizes, textures and colours.I thought this would be a nice way to incorperate colour into my jewellery, enabling the wearer to build up their own little collection of cords, laces, ribbons etc.

Due to the recent credit crunch and recession in the economy,as well as an emerging consciousness for the planet, people are becoming a lot more aware of re-using and recycling. Being able to re-use ribbon, lace or cords from packaging, presents or gran’s old sewing cupboard and incorperate it into your jewellery is quite a fun concept I think.

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Online research

I’m busy doing research on my work to find out a bit more about how people respond to it and what I can do or not do in the future.

I would really appreciate it if anyone who reads this would take a minute to do the questionnaire below for me, after you have had a look at my work in my portfolio and blog posts. It is very short and won’t take long at all!

Many thanks!

Start Questionnaire

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Personalizing your jewellery

I am playing with the concept of the wearer being able to contribute to the development of a piece and personalize it to some extent. If the wearer interacts in this way I think it will allow my jewellery to go beyond simple adornment to a personal level with the wearer.

This has lead to a number of ideas for pieces where there will be a collection of various motifs and elements that the wearer can thread on to different cords and wear on their neck or wrist. These elements can also be attached to a removable ring shank allowing the wearer to create a combination of their own.

I am hoping this will be quite a marketable concept that will encourage people to buy new elements to add on, much like adding charms to a charm bracelet.

Here are a few working sketches of some of the concepts and motifs I’m working with….

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I heart Durban Market

For the past two Saturdays I’ve taken part in the ‘I heart Durban Market’. If you like anything different, handmade, old or new then I encourage you to come this Saturday! It is the last Saturday the maket will be held and it is worth it! A Day on the streets of Durban, fresh air, music, [...]

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New Copper patina jewellery

I’ve been thinking alot lately about putting together a range of jewellery that is a cheaper range than what I would normally produce. I am only just starting to make my way into the jewellery scene in South Africa and namely Durban, and so far it seems like people are very hesitant to spend money on contemporary jewellery. I do realise that one has to build up a name for themselves within a specific market and until then it’s generally a slow start. I am delighted however, that wherever I show my jewellery I get very possitive feedback and interest.

Since playing around with patina a few weeks back, I thought it would be a good idea to use etched, patinated copper to produce this cheaper range and use it as a bit of a tester or experiment and see how people respond to it. Personally, I like the look of the pieces for their rugged, worn feel and vibrant colour, and they have been fun to make.

Here are the first few, which will be followed by many more!

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My jewellery

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