progress

Wow I actually have a free moment! Been so busy recently, was in a show and been trying to finish my jewellery work. I haven't got any photos of my work yet, as I've just been working like a mad woman to try and get it done. Sadly it wasn't finished for today, so I don't know when it will. Finished 1 brooch today though!!! Got the other 2 to finish, hopefully by next week.

Each brooch panel represents Zeus, Poseidon and Hades (sky, sea and underworld). They can be worn or can be displayed. I moved away from just the underworld idea because I wanted to make different panels, so that ment setting different stones.

Will post photos when they are complete :)

New Project - Underworld theme

So I've decided to go rather dark for this next project. Looking through my big tangled mass of jewellery I found necklaces from my "goth" days. Haha... you know the ones where you think you look cool but you really don't. Yes... those days :P

Anyway... first of all I had to look up on religious/spiritual symbolism... not my kind of thing if I'm being honest... I have probably gone the opposite direction to most... I started thinking about hell (pleasant I know!! haha) then looked at black stones and came across Obsidian which is a natural glass (mmmm glass.... I need to remember to write up a blog about my glass work I did in highschool...) and it is said to have come from the underworld....

Recently I've just been looking up the greek mythology of the underworld. I honestly don't know where I'm going to go with this.... but we'll just have to wait and see! :)

Catwalk Project - Final Work

-my Elizabethan inspired catwalk piece-

"I wanted to produce a very unusual design. My work reflects this era with a modern twist..."

Exhibition was a success. Everyone's work looked so great on display! :D

Development of catwalk piece

I was ment to write this blog sooner but I've been really busy!

My piece is based on a hall that was built in 1570 (during Elizabeth I's reign).
Little Moreton Hall

This image is from wikipedia (I just randomly chose it from google images to show you).

Isn't it pretty? :)
I just love the patterns and the strong contrast.


I randomly came up with this design (and others but this is the one that I thought was best). The original image of the woman was from the book Tudor Costume and Fashion by Herbert Norris.

As I started making the piece, the design changed a lot. I believe I come up with ideas better when I am playing around with materials than working in a sketchbook.


This was the model I made 2 weeks ago to get a basic idea of how to make it.
The plastic part has been flocked with black, to follow the black out line in the Moreton hall pattern (3 hours of inhaling flock was not good!). Black and white together were Queen Elizabeth's favourite colours, so I wanted to incorperate this into the piece. By using the flock it gives the piece a more textile feel. The metal collar has been etched like this:


I did not want to show the final piece yet, it is almost done....
I am modelling it tomorrow, so will upload the photos at the weekend :)

Sam Gosling: Facebook

I recently have been reading Snoop: What your stuff says about you by Sam Gosling and I managed to read most of it in 2 days! Very easy read for me, normally it would take me a few weeks to read a book that size. It is very interesting book, makes you think beyond what you see in front of you. Also found that my worrying side of my personality is double the average... which is worrying :P

Just thought I'd pass on this link of an interview published on the Facebook blog yesterday.

Facebook Blog Link

In the book I skipped past the online parts (because I was trying to analyse a bedroom not a facebook profile) but this link shows what he is looking into now for those that are interested :)

"It becomes personal"

From reading chapter 4 of Guy Julier’s book The Culture of Design, I realised that it is better to have commissioned jewellery rather than mass produced jewellery.

Jewellery that is churned out will only have meaning if someone buys it for you. There was nothing special about it to begin with and you know many people will own the same piece.

Cheap jewellery is not significant. Whereas as a limited collection or even just one piece that is more expensive is significant. It becomes personal.

Jewellery that is commissioned is more personal. The commissioner knows or has spoken to the person that made it. It is not made for an unknown person. There is a connection between consumer and maker. This is what Ikea tried to do, where they created a relationship between consumer and production by letting the consumer build the furniture. Obviously the Ikea furniture is mass produced so there is nothing special about it, yet with commissioned jewellery it is special because it is unique.

I have a lot, and I mean a lot of junk jewellery that I’ve accumulated over the years, yet I only ever wear sentimental jewellery, not jewellery that I’ve bought myself (unless it is earrings).

Ever since I started studing jewellery & metalwork, I’ve actually stopped buying jewellery. I do not like the idea of mass produced jewellery (I’m not fully against it, I love receiving jewellery :D) and I know in a few years I’ll be able to make my own and it would be personal because I designed it. I have found myself either changing the chain, or taking off a charm on a necklace before.. it makes it different and looks better most of the time. So I think if I was to make my own jewellery it would be versatile pieces that you can change in small ways to make it fit with what you are wearing or how you personally want it to look.

I’ve gone a bit off topic…

Julier has mentioned many authors in the chapter and will try and maybe look into a couple when I find time - it just takes me ages to read and understand what I’m reading :(

Project 3: Research

This project looks like it will be a lot of fun. Our final piece has to sit on the body in an unusual way and/or be big and bold. Catwalk pieces are ment to be different from everyday wear.

I've based my project on the Elizabethan era because it interests me the most. The big dresses, the jewellery, the architecture, ship architecture.... Theres just so many patterns aswell. Elizabeth was a good leader from what I have read and the film I saw (as research ;) ) She brought back art, music and drama. She also had a colour code for everyone as a law e.g. only royalty were allowed to wear purple. Bad way for people to be judged I must admit. If you were seen wearing a wrong colour you would get imprisoned! Its fascinating learning about the past because it came before our time and is what shaped us now.

For the last two projects I've had a few ideas in mind before I even hit the research. I wanted to get out of that so this time I've had a clear mind and I have no clue what I'm going to be
designing! Will have to see where it takes me.


Doing eching today, so should be good :)