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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Heather Smith Jones

I cant think of a better way to start a morning of creativity than by finding something inspiring, and today is my lucky day! I am delighted to share with you my new find, the work of Heather Smith Jones….

Heather Smith Jones is a paper artist. She uses loads of wonderful techniques but it was [...]

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Silhouette Earrings

I have just finished these earrings and am quite happy with the way they turned out. They were inspired by the curves of a womam’s body and I wanted to create something with a strong simple line and form, and add a soft edge and detailed surface to contrast.

When wearing the earrings I noticed that the sun shines through the pierced pattern, creating a silhouette effect.

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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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Carla Nuis

Lately I’ve been looking at the work of Carla Nuis. I think the way that she uses pattern, negative space and simple form to to visually texture and bring to life flat surfaces is done very effctively. Her work, although seemingly simply at first glance, entices one to look longer and further and gain an [...]

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Reflections

I am currently exploring jewellery as an expression of identity, and making jewellery as an expression of myself as the maker.

In reflecting on the bangle that I have just made, I picked up on two aspects of myself that are being expressed.

Childhood Memories: I grew up in Zimbabwe in an old Rhodesian house with decorative iron burglar bars. I would lie in bed and stare at the patterns trying to see if I could make other patterns within them. I have seen some reminiscence of the elements from those burglar bars in my work (this bangle included). The use of these elements in my work is a connection to my childhood and upbringing.

My Femininity: I like to embrace and celebrate my femininity. I think that the qualities of a woman, both inside and out are a beautiful combination of strength and meekness. I think it is important to note that the lace-look I have chosen for this piece is a rugged lace, not refined and perfect. This is a representation of how I feel that although the nature of a woman is delicate and refined, each of use holds a unique strength and character. We may have flaws and faults but it’s the little knots and tassels that when woven together create a beautiful lacework.

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Roughlace Cuff

I have been working on a bangle that sprouted from a wax impression casting I did not so long ago. It came out with a very lacey affect which set in my mind a clear concept for this bangle.

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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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Putting together the pieces

When putting together my display yesterday, I began having so much fun with the photo’s that I had taken of my jewellery, so I decided to make a fun little video clip. Hope you enjoy! =)

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Working with platinum

I am busy working on a piece for AngloPlat, and the theme of the competition is Anniversaries. I decided to celebrate the anniversary of New Life and so I wanted my design to have lots of flowing lines, freshness, life, patterns and layers. So I began by designing this pattern…

Because I am working in platinum, I needed to cut the pattern out of steel, which I then roll milled onto the platinum. I was quite surprised at how much the steel distorted and how insipid the pattern came out on the plat! This is the steel piece…

So, I was left with a long strip of very thin, faintly patterned platinum that I had to turn into something beautiful…hmm! After playing around with the piece, folding it and bending it I decided I was going to make a pendant, but after bending it around my wrist I realized it would work well as a bangle.

So then I worked with introducing layers which I did using a piece of etched silver but was a little stumped at how to attatch the layers together. Originally I thought bout using forged wires soldered to the two plates to connect them, but was worried about the different melting points of the silver and platinum. So I decided to try sewing them together with fine silver wire! This would also introduce another kind of layering, but very subtle. It proved to be a lot harder than I thought but, with alot of patience, it worked out ok.

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Victorian Patterned Bangle

Inspired by a patterned clay pot I bought earlier this year (see older posts) I designed a pattern and pierced it out to use as an impression. When it came out on the pieces I cast it was so beautiful! Some areas had been pushed out of the pattern while others held and it had such and old worldly, Victorian feel. As soon as I saw the piece I knew it had to be a bangle! so, voila!!!

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Patterned Pot

I happened upon a delightful little antique shop the other day that was filled with a wonderful array of the most beautiful things! It was very inspiring and I could have spent hours in there!
I ended up coming away with this ceramic pot with such a lovely pattern embossed onto it.

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Clay Pieces

This is just a bit of fun I had with oxiding the patterns left into the clay pieces I used. I think it has such a nice effect.

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Pattern Printing

I have been playing around with printing patterns. I designed this one and etched it onto copper plate, I then inked the plate and rolled it through a printing press and came out with some interesting results. It’s been fun exploring with different disciplines as well as jewellery, and I think I could use this printing as a method of documentation.

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Inspiration

What a beautiful set up! I just love this image! It’s simplicity really enhances the focus. I found it on decorati.com – check out the site on my ‘Inspirational Links’ its great

This painted and carved wooden frame mirror is also form decorati.com The atmosphere in this picture really inspires me…the old world, worn, warm feeling [...]

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Patterned Tiles

I’ve been looking at a lot of different patterning lately and how they link up into each other and repeat themselves, and I found these great tiles on www.anchorbaytile.com

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