one small day

Oh and a new bag...

2012-02-01T00:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bookhouathome

It took no time at all to arrive at my door
(all the way from Canada)
and even had pretty string
and a little note saying
thanks for buying handmade.
Nice!

New Reading Material

2012-02-01T00:12:00.000-08:00

different kind of knitting

2011-09-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

kirsten perry hannah lawrence and me

2011-09-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

lunch break

2011-09-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

on the way to work

2011-09-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Country

2011-09-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

Earrings on the go....

2011-09-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

day at the museum

2011-09-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

2011-09-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

It seems when I'm not working I am quilting....

I am obsessed & a little scared

The other ladies at the quilting shop are frightening

Books Books Books

2011-09-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

New Rings Book

2011-08-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Current and Past Reading material

2011-08-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

New at home

2011-08-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

New plant repurposed from the BLESS exhibition at work, I have wanted one of these Pony Tails for ages

Also very nice Kiki Smith pillow cases- not so new but very yummy

My Emily Green necklace- a gift after all our work at D:M:T

with new perferated fimo bead- oh so lucky

And

my Kirsten Perry/Milly Flemming locket!

We made some beads together to the Exhibition Building; keep your eyes peeled

I had to take home our OPEN STUDIO decal from D:M:T

sweet mantel of mine

2011-08-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

2011-07-31T23:37:00.000-07:00

Post D:M:T
Totally exhausted and got the flu- of course
will be up-dating soon

But for now-
out of their hiding spots have come my secret and slightly embarrassing collection of wallets and purses

As I've been working on one of the tasks for
OBJECTHOOD

http://objecthood.tumblr.com

its going to be amazing

State of Design OPEN STUDIOS

2011-07-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

The most amazing thing that I have been working on is collaborating with Kirsten Perry for our shared space at none other than the ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING- WOOT WOOT!!

Much of it has been thinking up until now- but this week (after a quick meeting last week) I have shaken my tail feather and BEGUN!!!

We have just begun our 'conversation' with materials, experience and methods- exchanging some wax, molds and metals

I am such a massive fan of Kirsten's work and feel so blessed (want for a better word) to be working with her and getting to explore my ideas on some of her blanks (see images)

I dropped of these pieces this morning and get to pick them up tomorrow- I am so excited!

So the story so far- Kirsten gave me some molds of her lockets and I spent the evening decorating them and getting them pretty to drop off for casting

I gave Kirsten some great wax which is very different to the ones we normally use, a mold and blank for a ring which can have lots of different tops made for it. I will try and dig up some photos to add this week-

time permitting!!

Check her work:

http://repugnantcharm.blogspot.com
http://igheadquarters.com

cause it awesome!!

2011-07-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

I don't want to sit on your lap Andy

2011-07-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

and a yard
lose the blur and use your imagination

2011-07-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

a kitchen

a bathroom

a lounge room

and a couple of bedrooms

2011-07-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'd like to look this good in white
and hang out on a bleak roof top
send balloons on their way
and probably have a decaf a
bit later

Milly's Awesome Animal Farm

2011-07-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

We would have stacks of fun and all get along really well

2011-07-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

Remember too

2011-07-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

Cause everyone
tells you
not too

2011-07-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Before I die
I must
have a pink room

Inès Marie Lætitia Églantine Isabelle de Seignard de La Fressange (born 11 August 1957), is a French model, aristocrat and designer of fashion and perfumes. Name added to International Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 1998.

OBJECTHOOD

2011-06-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

Rose has been getting almost 60 people to respond to weekly tasks as part of her grad year work for Fashion at RMIT

I am one of her participants, but have been a rather bad one of late

The images she curates for her web presence, almost always take my breath away
I love being reminded that we are an amazing people and do manage to capture such exquisite beauty

thanks rose x

http://objecthood.tumblr.com/

stampel

2011-06-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I meet Andrea Shaw (through work) and she is the very clever lady behind

Stampel; based in Central Victoria, not far from my own stomping ground Andrea makes a range of very desirable goodies.

Her work is, in fact, so 'up my alley' that lucky little twin got one of the macrame flower pots for her birthday-its hanging in her new kitchen looking splendid!

Andrea makes her works almost completely from things she collects for nix. Clever cookie, recycling things from industry around her- timbre off cuts, paint chips. If she can't source it from a place she is recycling for and has to buy new then its done with plenty of research into the sustainability of the said item- commendable!

Organic bamboo scarf that Andrea hand stamps (back ground in textiles) (far right)
Necklace made from paint chips (far left)
And divine hall rack for light items- I must have hinted enough at work about my deep love and admiration for these- as I got one for my birthday from the ever so lovely ladies at work!
Yah- will take picture and post soon.

be sure to check in

http://stampel.blogspot.com

Milly

2011-06-26T18:38:00.001-07:00

Katherine Bowman is by far one of my favourite jewellers. I have been following her blog for sometime, and now am lucky enough to work with her at CVHQ.

After going to school and learning the some of the 'right ways' of doing things with metal, it has been a challenging and self motivated time in the studio for the past three years.

Katherine is one of those jewellers who uses metal in a way that inspires you to look at form, shape and composition in a different way- the way you might cut, colour, or finish metal pieces, or develop something in wax.

Here are some examples of her work:

I couldn't find all the details for this beautiful pendant, but had to include it

18ct yellow gold, natural Ceylon Sapphire and natural Tsavorite Garnets

Sterling silver set with Ceylon Sapphires; ruby, yellow and orange sapphires and chrome tourmaline's

detail below

In addition to being an amazing jeweller and artist Katherine also has a dog called

Milly

Getting ready for a walk

Look at those cute little paws!

Maybe I find it refreshing too, as all the other ladies at work seem to be cat people; I have always identified as a dog person.

http://www.katherinebowman.com.au/

http://katherinebowman.blogspot.com/

500+ Rings

2011-06-26T17:19:00.006-07:00

I am almost done with posting about the new books in my life;

just one very important one to go

Nicolas Estrandas New Rings 500+ from around the World

Could you get a more exciting book? well, maybe but

It is so inspiring, and made me want to run to the studio immediately and start making all the dream rings that have been bumbling in my head for years; and wish I could afford to work in gold.

It also has a great index at the back so you can track people down and see more work via websites and blogs, and what country makers come from.

The Australian jewellery sense is very lucky to be represented by

Bronwynn Lusted

www.banglesofwood.com

Djurdjica Kesic

www.djurdjicakesic.com

Julia de Ville

www.discmori.com

Mel Miller

mel.miller@gmx.com

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska

http://ahhness.blogspot.com/

Sean O'Connell

www.oneorangedot.com

Sim Luttin

www.simluttin.com

New Inspiration

2011-06-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

Cutting Edges

Contemporary collage

I saw this book a couple of months ago when wandering a bookshop in St.Kilda

And I haven't been able to forget about it

Then I saw it in the window of a bookshop near work

But it was gone when I went back

So I climbed the stairs to

the wonderful

Metropolis Bookshop and found it

http://www.metropolisbookshop.com.au

And we will never be parted again

Olga Bennett- photographer

2011-06-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

Olga Bennetts photography

and this lovely book caught my eye when it came into my work email- pre-publishing.

Environments

I am now lucky to have a copy, that I bought through her web-site.

http://olgabennettphotography.com

and she has a lovely blog worth checking into

http://olgabennett.blogspot.com

Olga has captured work spaces of many crafts people we stock at work,

and are familiar with from around Melbourne.

Her photography illuminates these work spaces into areas calm of creativity

which is nice, considering how crazy studios can feel at times.

The book includes:

Luci Everett

Elli Mucke

Belinda Kennedy

Marc Martin

Miso & GhostPatrol

Justin Lee Williams

Penny-Elizabeth Neil

Elizabeth Yong

Suzy Tuzen

Amber Wallis

Kim Kneipp

Delicate beauty

2011-01-26T12:33:00.000-08:00

A beautifully beaded fragment

Tiny little stitches, I wonder what the whole piece looked like?

Seed beads...

2011-01-26T12:22:00.000-08:00

New Work

2011-01-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Gilding metal and sterling silver earrings

Available from Craft Victoria

http://craftvic.org.au/

Gilding metal and sterling silver necklace

Large gilding metal and sterling silver necklace with sterling chenier and wire detail on silk

Large gilding metal and sterling silver neckalce with some oxidised pieces on silk
Hopefully it won't be too long before some of these necklaces can also be available at Craft Vic also...

oh my miss dani m

2011-01-25T19:54:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to be gifted two prototypes of the porcelain pillows my lovely friend dani m made for an exhibition she was a part of...they are only about 10cm long and I LOVE them

dani is one of my super cool friends who makes the most delicious jewellery that everybody needs find it at

http://danimdesigns.com

The Magic Mountain

2011-01-25T19:47:00.000-08:00

Well hello again, after a big end to the year, I am going to try and dabble back here in blog land...starting off with one of the cooler Xmas presents I received

A Magic Mountain

And watch it come to life...

Gorgeous to watch

with wonderful childhood memeories flooding back, ahhh

October Range

2010-10-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

Above and Below

These are the new enamel painted
leaves I have been working on
Their base is
sterling silver
which will emerge further with wear...

Summer-y sun-set goodness
I think I've just got my fingers crossed
about the weather finally changing

And a couple more pieces...

2010-10-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

Peacock and Sunset Pendants...

New Work finally....

2010-10-19T02:44:00.000-07:00

Have been playing around with some AMAZING wax that Raymond de Zwart from Black Finch (www.blackfinch.com.au and blackfinchjewellery.blogspot.com) put me on to which I got from Barnes in Richmond (Swan St, across from the Richmond railway station). It is really flexible, soft, sticky some times and FUN!!

I made these pieces last Thursday

picked them up from the casters on Monday

and ran to the studio to get to work on them

they make me so HAPPY

I busted into one of my studio-mates tin of enamel paints

went a bit crazy with the colours...thanks Elise IOU XX

But I'm thinking divine peacock

(perhaps the ones from school a few years ago NMIT?)

Shimmery summer light

which is really old powder paint from a family we hung out with way back when we were little in Daylesford and hanging in Glenlyon

oh....the country life

the ones (below) are'plain-jane' sterling silver

oxidized and rubbed back

as is this necklace, but

gentle leafy,

fluttery lightness all the same

I'll do some filing baby !)

2010-10-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Three new rings
Sterling silver with a nice smooth textured finish
They are manly...
not like the beach...

but the hairy chested type
which is bad, cause I test drove them and
I don't have hairy chest

Simon & Jemila

2010-10-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Oh, my goodness, I can't believe its mid October already....argh! Last post in July...what...here's some new snaps to prove I have been doing something....will get back in the saddle real soon xx

2010-07-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

Some new old

2010-07-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here, finally, is some new work...

a little birdie has been in my ear about taking photos, which I love to do, but time/effort and all those things we all know so well get in the way

its called resistance, and I am the Queen of it!

But I have made some 'one-off' rings and earrings and want to show them off...

They are all sterling silver and have been oxidized and the ones with colour have been spray painted with enamel paint- spunky orange this time round

Some 'embossed' detail on the earrings below

An organic piece was used in casting this ring, found on a walk one day

This one is MINE

got the pattern by rolling the wax on the lace in the shirt I had on that day

And here are all the little babies...

Bangles and Rings...

2010-05-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

Easter Weekend

2010-04-05T00:42:00.000-07:00

While some of it was spent working, some of it was spent playing...

with paints that I'm not very good at using...

That's what I thought too...

Some of it was spent moving things in the garden, like my crazy gold plaster hand that I've lugged around from house to house
A little time spent redecorating, ie., finding places for all this 'stuff' I could not live without

And some pure, delightful, stop and stare at the sky time...

Insert Coin...

2010-04-05T00:19:00.000-07:00

Michaela Bruton

made

my favourite pendant!

I got this during the Insert Coin Project, which Kim and Nella, two beautiful girls from Craft Victoria curatored together. A wonderful project which I hope, fingers crossed happens every year. I also got one on Kyokos beautiful books, like the one Lucy posted on

www.designfiles.net

The thing I love so much about this necklace is how five materials have been put together and work so seamlessly. It catches everybodies eye when its worn, I'm lucky to still have it, thanks Michaela x

Lisa Walker

2010-04-04T23:56:00.000-07:00

I got some catalogues the other day, and have been working through them slowly. I got to this one on Lisa Walkers work and was blown away with her body of work.

What a studio!!!

Both these images are taken from the Schmuck catalogue, and I think the photos were all credited to Lisa.

www.lisawalker.de

Interesting...

2010-04-04T23:39:00.000-07:00

This delicious pendant is by Natalie Dissel, which was shot for Sublime magazine also, issue 18 2009.

Rough crystal cluster and sterling silver

Check out her website, all her materials and making processes are interesting, ethical sorcing of metals and minerals etc.

nataliedissel.com

I fell in love with Nike Savvas work, when I saw it down at ACCA in 2005, 'Atomic: Full of Love, Full of Wonder ', polystyrene balls, paint, nylon wire and electric fans to gyrate the balls.

I would have stayed there for hours, it was full of wonder for me, so when I found an article on her in the latest Artist Profile (issue 10) magazine I grabbed it.

Portrait of Nike Savvas

New work, 'Sliding Ladder' which will show at BREENSPACE in Sydney from 29 April - 5 June 2010

I want to go!!!

BREENSPACE, 289 Young St, Waterloo, Sydney

www.breenspace.com

Sublime

2010-04-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

One of the perks in my life is free magazines, oh yeah that's right...I won't go into the details but, yes it is legal. Anyway it means that I get to look at mags I'd never buy, cause their all to expensive. But one that I've read a few times is 'Sublime'. And that is where this beautiful image above is from. An article on Derek Lawlor and his incredible 'lacing' method. Top secret technique, he is a knitwear designer, based in London, who has developed this formula which can only be understood by undoing the works.

He uses 100% cashmere and cotton cord and must have an amazing team of crafts people to make these beautiful works.

check it out: dereklawlor.com

Catherine Campbell has helped me welcome April, I bought her calender from her etsy site at the beginning of the year, it is so beautiful.

www.catherinecampbell.net

I love skeletons x

Welcome home beautiful print

2010-04-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

One of the places I work had an exhibition in February of work from Arnhem Land. There must have been almost twenty artists showing and I fell in love with this one 'Stone Axe' by Roy Ashley.

It is finally in its rightful place (above the mantel) after a brief stint on the kitchen table, awaiting one lazy new owner getting to the framers. Fitzroy Stretches (on Weston St in Brunswick) did a brillant job and I love it even more now its up and welcoming me home everytime I open the front door.

Roy is a senior Wagalak man. A musican and artist, Roy is involved with the Walking with Spirits events and Darwin Festival and has been in documentaries and film clips. He is a high-ceremony man throughout the region.

Back to the Studio

2010-01-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

That's right, the building I'm in has an amazing ceiling!
Some of the finished products...have been playing round with synthetic stones and loving the colour they bring to something simple...who knows where the year will lead but welcome 2010 x

Back to the coal-face, haven't been into the studio for a long time. But got some pieces cast last week and and ready to play again. Had such a great end to the '09 and have been looking forward to getting back into the studio routine.

Spoilt myself at the end of last year and finally got something to keep some drill bits in-love it!

You never know when a kebab stick will come in handy...finally got some of the rings that I've made over the last little while together and will try and get some pieces out into that big beautiful city.

Work Christmas Party

2010-01-25T14:17:00.000-08:00

I finally had one of my staff Xmas parties in the last week...I'm always happy to drag these things out, because its always nice to get presents!! The only thing was, it was at the most amazing place I've ever seen, and the next time I do, will probably be after working for two years full-time and travelling to Europe- golly gosh...

The incredible kitchen/dining room where our hosts cooked up a storm to remember...who has a kitchen big enough to seat that many people?

And then...just outside the kitchen lies heaven....what a place!? I did suggest that this place should maybe become works HQ, long dinners with staff meetings and pool parties, but I think they are pretty happy to keep it the nuclear family home at the moment...sad face

Baby Shower

2010-01-25T14:02:00.000-08:00

I would like to have been slow back into blog land because I've been on an amazing and rather long holiday, alas it has all been work, work, work...luckily though there has been a few fun things to keep me happy during the last few months.

Like the excellent baby shower we had for my sister, silly games, gorgeous friends and wonderful food.

I think we are all avidly watching as gifts are being unwrapped....and below is some of the super yummy food the ladies cooked up!

2009-11-18T12:37:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and was wondering what the sound was coming from the living room...I found a little minor bird stuck in the house. I don't really want to make bird jewellery, but maybe it will influence something? Anyway we negotiated the space and it easily flew out a window into the yard, hopefully back to a family?!

2009-11-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

ring a ding ding...

Wedding bells rang on my weekend...not mine, but two very dear friends tied the matrimonial knot and did it with rings that I made. They were the masterminds behind the designs, I was given a family diamond to incorporate into one of the rings and beautiful illustrations by the very talented groom (classic car/hot rod pin-stripper and graphic designer) and had an amazing engraving job done in town for his ring.
My fingers were crossed that on a sweltering day the rings would fit, and indeed they did, massive sigh of relief and a wonderful country wedding to celebrate with!!

Both these rings are sterling silver rhodium plated with a whopping diamond. My poor little friend didn't have an engagement ring for the big day, so two rings appeared for this lovely lady xx

Sorry about the flare on this pic, but she is so shiny and I ain't no Terence Bogue ;)

The groom designed this sterling silver ring which hinges open with 18ct yellow gold pins and has is a skull engraved on one side and a lotus on the other, significant images for the couple and they are surrounded by scroll work.

2009-10-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Craft Victoria Window Show: Sneak

Early next month (Nov) seven of my fellow graduates from NMIT last year are putting on a window exhibition at Craft Victoria, Flinders Lane.

The girls and I have been meeting every week for a few months to talk, eat and decide how and what each of us are making-in between much catching up!

I've been working away at my bench making these three pendants for the show and hope that you all come on down to see the show.

Sterling silver pendant with synthetic citrine and rubies

I have also be busy making wedding rings for two beautiful friends getting married next month- high school sweet hearts!! Gorgeous!!

These diamond studs where made for my sweet little sisters wedding early this year. There is also a hollow pendant that matches.

Hopefully I get into posting again, been chained to the bench.

Studio and...

2009-09-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Last night I noticed two well placed kicks..a meek smile and a button nose...nice after a long day working...
These are some new earrings that are being stocked at the gorgeous 'Five Boroughs' in East Brunswick, check out the shop at 345 Lygon St, and their cute blog at http://345boroughs.blogspot.com

And finally this morning a new snap of the creative studio HQ where all this fun comes from...

2009-09-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

These are some new pieces I've been working on. The light timber pendants are made from Huon Pine I was given by a beautiful funiture maker (Ben Sibley) and the almost black pendants and rings are carved from Ebony that I've been getting from a instrument maker in town. All the fittings are sterling silver, with the chains oxidised.
'Lucky Charm' Huon Pine Pendant, above

Faceted Ebony Ring

a collection: ebony studs and facet boulder ring

and my favorite earrings to wear at the moment, little sterling silver semi's with spots

2009-08-25T01:10:00.000-07:00

This is a little bit of what the studio was before the four of us moved in. It needed some lady love to get it ship shape before we lugged our benches in and started the year off. Middle of summer, so thankfully many hands made for light work....

It has lots of light and just enough space for the afternoon tea spreads that happen more often than not, and not always in the afternoon...its for brain storming!

This little mule has some other friends, in the way of a brooch and a pendant, but they are horses, pure-bred I'd reckon from their get up!! He just wants a pat every now and then, otherwise he is a very low maintenance pet for the hobby farm-ist in all of us. They are all sterling silver and oxidised.

This is an odd pair of earrings. On the left is a mild steel one and on the right its gilding metal, with that beautiful golden lustre. They come as odds and same same and now in two different sizes, these are the large. They are all on sterling silver earring hooks and available from Craft Victoria, Flinders Lane.

These are the newest pieces I've been working on. Each ring is hand made and engraved, the paper plane and feather are clear, but the ring on the far left is mine and a work in progress, the intention is to do some with constellations, perhaps even an alignment of your stars...must work on that so its not to tarot?! They are pretty simple, so I think the lines will work.

A close up of that lovely, floating, feather, caught on a light breeze...