SketchbookSketchbookSketchbook!

Got our 3rd year degree assessments on Friday-eeeek! Busily finishing off my display-wish me luck!!!

Pictures of the finished product soon!

Till Later x

Narrative project...done!

Firstly, I am going to say, I don't think the photographs do my 3 final brooches justice, as the images project a very 2D result. However the multiple layers produced using the lazercutter, create a depth that a plain image just doesn't have. All 3 brooches show the same image-a scantly clad lady, staring at (or perhaps lusting after!) a man smoking a cigarette. All use both acrylic-clear,mirrored and gold, backed with silver or have silver brooch fittings.

Brooch 1 -Black and clear acrylic layered and riveted.

Brooch 2-Gold Acrylic

Brooch 3-Mirrored Acrylic and Silver riveted.

So now to get my artist statement completed!...I'll pop it up when I'm done, hopefully it'll make sense!

Till Later x

Auflux?! or Oflux....

These designs are by Aurorisa Mateo, an outstanding independent jewellery designer and recognized architect in Europe. You can see the works at Oflux his online gallery and store. Just shows that any skills can be transferred into multiple disciplines! I do enjoy sculptural and architecture forms. The rings,however simple, do have a strong presence...my favourite is the ring in the back of the photograph....very architectural!

I will soon be posting my final piece (s!?) for the Narrative project...10days and counting!

Till Later x

Narrative project...

We have been given a narrative project, and to create a final brooch that conveys a message/ideal/story. A list of around 20 phrases/political issues etc such as 'Vanity', 'Globalization' and 'Until Death do us part' were given to us to choose from...and I chose 'Lust'. I'm already struggling with this project, trying to convey a message or story in a piece however subtly is baffling me a bit. However I keep having images from the Film Noir style popping up in my head... corseted woman, detective smoking cigarettes in the moonlight, shutters half open-streaming light and shadow into a space. Almost deception that can never be proved? All very up in the air at the moment! But I have got loooooots of images of shutters to keep me amused-maybe those will inspire me!

A lot of pondering still to do...

Till Later x

Research Project...result!

Finally, I have some actual jewellery to show for this year! Third year has been hectic, but all studio design based stuff, not much workshop goings on! Safe to say, now that this project has ended, my poor little fingers are in pieces, my nails are non-existent...! Got to suffer for your art...right?!

This is my final outcome from the research project...a spine piece-but basically a long brooch!


It is made up of several elements...all similar forms though! Nice oxidised silver and yummy 24ct gold plating...noooice! Think the black on gold, may be a recurring thing in my final year work next year..hmm...

Next project is due to start at the beginning of the week...seems intruiging- a narrative project in whihc we will be purely inspired by NON-RESEARCHED inspiration, so no books, no internet, just a poem/story to create images from! Time will tell how I cope...it'll go either one way or the other!

Till Later x

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

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