Feast or Famine

Wilberforce series, leaf brooch, copper,  2009/2010

One can never guess when the quiet lull of the last quarter of summer break will strike a gold rush . But all of a sudden I have a lot of commission work - and I'm definitely not complaining! I'm glad I've been able to keep my jewellery muscles in enough shape this break and it's a great feeling to have people appreciate your work enough to want to own a piece. Things are looking up and I'll admit I've had the Mario Kart 64 Rolling Credits theme song  in my head all day ( hey, it's uplifting).  Thanks for all the support guys! x

Old as New

Over the summer break, I've re-visited some old pieces and given them a new look in terms of surface and use. A few subtle changes can shed an object into a whole new light.




Twig Ring, from Wilberforce series, originally taken through a dipping process to deepen and highlight parts of the silver...


...now heat-treated white, said to look more like bones than twigs. It has been converted to a pendant, simply hung on knotted cotton thread to not detract focus from the central piece and to keep an organic feel.




Other pieces I've made over recently are my ready-to-wear kite tail inspired bow ring and bangle, transitioned from the cover piece made last semester:

Original cover piece, inspired by Roksanda Ilincic and kite tails..




Transitioned into Ready To Wear :hand forged, heat-treated white silver bangle and ring with organza kite-tail bows









I scored these flash pics while collaborating with other fashion and photog students for an end of year shoot. Lucky I brought some of my own pieces along to snap.







Photography - Adrian Mansueto

Threads - Erin Boubli

Location - Raffles Design College studio, North Sydney


Makeover: I replaced the frayed edge for a more tailored take on the over-sized bow. Shame I haven't got these remakes photographed so nicely. Good shots make all the difference.

Dissonance

My first exhibition! Both my works previously posted, Wilberforce (2009) and Warm-blooded (2009) were both accepted in COFA's annual Dissonance exhibition at Kudos Gallery. The exhibition, put on by the College of Fine Arts Women’s Collective provides an alternative platform for feminist discourse and aims to represent the diverse influences that characterises feminism in art. It was a rush to feel my work had been considered exhibition standard, to be seen by the general public. Thanks to all the girls who put the show together.

...I used an Oak branch with notches to display Wilberforce





..Warm-blooded on its heat bag

Adding a ring to it.

Sorry about the false start. I set up this blog then didn't post for a while. I guess I'll start off with this piece I finished last semester. This ring was in response to the significance of my childhood experiences of a place I often visited growing up. My Opa (grandfather) planted thousands of Oak trees on this property after migrating from Germany. Our family's horses now occupy the area.

Wilberforce Ring, 2009, nickel silver, copper, horse hair

The piece was created from forming a dome that was then hammer textured and burnished. Copper wire formed the acorn cap sprig and horse hair was sewn into the centre as a nest.

here's some close ups..





some supporting material..

Twig Ring, 2009, cast silver.

Carved from wax and cast in silver, I uses a dipping process of sulpher, ammonia and bi-carb to achieve the colouring on the surface.

Oak Leaf, 2009, brooch, nickel silver

Roll milled with a paper stencil, this brooch was saw-pierced to create it's veins.