2nd Year...done!

I must say, I can't believe I am half way through University now.

Two years down, two to go. The hard stuffs just about to start.

But for now, I'm elated! Overall 'B' for my 2nd year, which is awesome! Will just need to make sure I keep up the practice over the summer, so I go into my 3rd year with fresh ideas, and good inspiration.

Off to see Aussie Pink Floyd tonight in the Clyde Auditorium, amazing music and amazing visual effects, bring on the photos!

Till later x

Celebration and Anticipation....

After assessments yesterday (which I must say, I'm quietly confident afterward, which must be a good thing!) all the Jewellery ladies truly celebrated the end of 2nd year! Several cocktail bars, the union and the 24hour bakery here in Dundee-I would say a very good night!

Unfortunately, feeling sliiiiightly under the weather today, that last 'Woo-woo' almost definitely cause the headache I've had all day!

And so to tomorrow, once recovered from last night, I will have a 10minute review with the tutors to be given my grades for the semester, broken down into 'Presentation', 'Metalwork' and 'Research and Development'. Will update soon...

Till later x

Presentation and Organisation...

Okay...so assessments tomorrow. Safe to say my stomach is churning at a million miles an hour. I'm quietly confident in my work, but then there is alway that what if! Heres hoping it will all go okay.

Think of me at 11.30 tomorrow morning!

Till later x

Extra time...

...means extra pieces!

Well...above is two pieces(the ring is kinda fun, not serious!...Lettraset is awesome, though you do end up putting it on everything, as seen above!) from the 'felt project'. Okay, it wasn't a project as such, but Teena(2nd year tutor) gave us all 3 pieces of thick felt,cut from the laser cutter, and we all were given the same shapes.

Being the way I am, I wanted to get rid of the softness as soon as possible...and the general cream colour.(In addition to that, the foul smell from being cut with the laser, the outer edge was singed.) So after 3 coats of varnish, then black acrylic paint, then another coat of varnish I was satisfied! Then, I became influenced by the almost egg shape, and so saw pierced a piece of sheet silver, and then etched it to give a texture. Then riveted(and hid the rivetts ;-) ) the silver sheet on the front and brooch fittings on the back and tra-la!

Over easter, we were all given certain 'tasks'. I was to develop my skecthbook form the armpiece project(seen in an older post) and so made a small pin brooch(very cute!)...
and a ring(a bit rushed and not really planned...but another piece all the same!)....So that's about all I've got to show at the moment. Please excuse the rubbish quality of the pictures, the light in my room was dwindling, and hate using my flash with metal giving such a glare!

Wednesday assessments, eeek!

Till later x

Home and Back again...

Back from spring holiday at home, too it easy for a couple of weeks, very easy! Enjoyed being back in my seaside town for a wee while, winding down from the hussle bussle of the city.

Unfortunately, it was too windy to get the family's wee speedboat out, and the larger boat was in getting some TLC after the winter storms hit the marina. I love being out on the water, its the ultimate relaxation/fun! This photo was taken on the way to Arran last summer, you can just see the Lady Isle to the right! The water was like glass-amazing!

Back to Dundee now and I foresee that this week is gonna be a busy one, because by next Wednesday after we have been assessed we will all be nervously waiting our results. Yesterday was quite productive! Managed to make another brooch(for the felt project) and a ring(bit of a fiddle, undecided if its going to be submitted or not!).

Today...not so productive, though I know I have to do some sketchbook work, to plan another couple of pieces to make this week, along with changing the clasp on my armpiece(picture featured on an older post) as the T-Bar isn't supportive enough for the weight of the piece.

Eurgh....stresses, though I'm sure, not as stressful as the current fourth years, less than 2 weeks till their degree show, so good luck guys!

More pictures as I finish the pieces, and even if your lucky, some final display pictures-if my presentation is any good!!

Till later x

First brooch...done!

My first brooch everyone! Not the best picture I have taken admittedly, doesn't do my handy work justice! The piece consists of 2 layers rivetted together, the base sheet is silver, smooth and oxidised to a shiny navy, and the top layer again silver, melted. Between the layers I have 'trapped' a piece of geodite (?). I was inspired by cracks in concrete and stone, from the drawing project, and so transferred this into metal.

Easter holidays now! Hope to have a little go of making some bits and bobs, so if I do, I'll pop them up!

Till later x

Tying up loose ends....

Well this time next week, I can officially say I have completed my 2nd year, oh how very scary!! (Well, can't say that until the assessments after easter, but hey I'm hoping to wing it!).

Today I completed my final project for Teena, our arm piece inspired by a piece of literature.
And this is the result!...I took on 'Echos' by Pink Floyd (I love the use of metaphorical phrasing in the lyrics). I found the line 'labyrinths of coral caves' particularly inspiring, and the whole idea of echoing forms creating a labyrinth of shapes on the arm.
Each link has been saw pierced from silver sheet and domed, and connects together with a half circle piece of silver wire, balled and flattened to allow as much movement as possible. The length is approximately 60cm long and can be wrapped around the wrist/arm/neck and connects together with an adapted T-Bar catch.

I must say, I am rather proud of the result! Let's hope that Teena thinks the same! Hehe.

Now onto completing my brooch for Sarah-almost done! Just to rivet all the elements together and put on a steel pin, then I'll pop a photo up! Fingers crossed it goes okay.

Then by Thursday we have to have our 2000 Design History Theory and Practice essay hand-in. I chose the first question all about the meaning within jewelery and who gives it, the maker or wearer, eurgh for the tedious source searching.

Till later x

Stone Setting Project-Done!

I must say, I feel rather guilty..... The stone setting project finished over a week ago and I have yet to put up my final 3 pieces! No time like the present I suppose!


All three final rings feature an element of acid etching, to compliment high polished smooth surfaces. In addition, to add detail, I used random granulation with complimentary stone settings to meet the brief.

On to the next project. Or projectS!

Every Tuesday for the next four weeks, one of our tutors Sarah will be running a project with us to make a highly finished brooch-very exciting! I'm basing most of my ideas on cracks in walls!...weird I know, but I want to have multiple layers riveted with stones set and hidden at certain angles...hmm....I feel a sketch coming on!

The main project we're going to be working on is an armpiece inspired by a piece of literature, I am undecided on my exact piece, but as soon as I know I'll pop it up!

Till Later x

Time flys by!....

I have noticed that I haven't written anything since November, shocking! So I better give a update on what I've been up to the past month and a bit! I have completed the 'Wire Project', basing my structure and brooch on light and shadow patterns through sketchbook drawings. My final 'brooch' had a sliding catch, so to attach it to the body, you moved that catch from its 'hidden' area to attach, and slide back into place when wearing.

And now for the next project!

The first of this semester(theres gonna be 2 overall) is a stone setting project where we have to complete a 'set' of 3 rings. So far I've just been developing my design sketches within my sketchbook, though I have made two rings! In silver! And I set a stone! Oh yes! All firsts, so I am very proud of myself :-D!

Till later x

Resin Project, done!

After a mad rush to finish our project, all of us 2nd year jewellers now have 3 finished beads each...phew! We are gradually getting over the fumes from the resin and clearing away all our rotten fruit, safe to say the flys are not amused!
I am quite happy with my final 3 beads, they could have been better finished, perhaps more simplistic, but they link to my thought process throughout my sketchbook, so I'm satisfied!

My idea was to not look at the fruit itself, but analyze the description behind it, so I used descriptive words to identify areas of my fruit!(Royal Gala Apple..!)

Sooo, just got our new project today...going to be wire base, so studying line in the environment around us for some inspiration....not excited yet! But I will get there! Now, to be alot alot alot excited about, tomorrow we're getting a workship on brooch fitting etc, woohoo! Bring on the Christmas present making! Hehe.

Till later x

Chilly Weather...

Don't you hate when it's at that 'inbetween' stage in weather, where the summers gone, autumns here, but you feel like winters days away? The chill in the air here is taking it's toll on all us early bird art students up at 9 in the morning, trudging down to the studio, barely awake, though shocked with the cold!

Then! At 4 o'clock it's pitch black outside and the thought of walking home again in about an hour, again in the cold....eugh!

But on a more positive note, the project is progressing well, though soon the slight panic will take hold of us all due to the thought of the last minute rush!

I am beginning to really enjoy using the resin and plastics, though I'm looking forward to experimenting with some designs that include using metal and resin, could create some interesting effects... oooh the possibilities!

Till later x

A little to begin with...

In May of this year I completed a General Art and Design Course at Duncan of Jordanstone last year and loved it!

So I then internally reapplied into my 2nd Year to do Jewellery and Metalwork, which I started in September this year. It's what I have allllways wanted to do, so I'm really putting my all into the projects we've been given.

The first project was based on texture-we made paper, then metal samples to lead onto a final vessel design inspired by the textures we had already experimented with-safe to say I burnt my hands, cut them, hammered then several times!!! Within the 4 week project we got taught some basic skills such as soldering, scoring, and using some other tools within the workshop environment. The course seems to be about self discipline and teaching yourself skills and techniques through making mistakes! Its a good way of working, though with those who haven't done jewellery and metalwork before(which is 14/17 of us!) its a bit hard to get your head around.

The project we are currently working on is....a bit random to be honest! All 17 of us were given a piece of fruit (I got given a Royal Gala Apple....) and told to research pour given fruit within a sketchbook in a 2 week time period. Not just the fruit either-we have to 'think outside the box (or the fruit)'. Now we have researched our fruit, we have to become inspired and experiment with resins and moulds to create/design 3 'beads'. THEN we will be split into groups to design/create a way of piecing all of our beads together to be displayed within the department.

Sounds....interesting?!

Hopefully will keep this blog up-to-date on what I'm up to in the studio and my inspirations out with Uni life.

Till later x