divajools

Colur ..

2012-02-15T08:03:00.002+10:30

One day it is about texture and another day it is all about colour ...

A recycled rainbow - ready to go ...

Reclaimed lead-free pewter, recycled plastic, reclaimed sterling silver, brass.

Reclaimed lead-free pewter, recycled plastic, reclaimed sterling silver, brass. recycled cotton t shirt.

You know all those containers without lids or lids without containers that accumulate in the cupboard? Have you ever wondered what happens to them? Well, it seems a goodly number of them end up in op-shops or worse, in landfills - eek! In this project I have reclaimed the humble lid to create some colourful jewels and am dead pleased with the way they look. The process and the variety of materials means that each one is different and they look really handmade - which they are of course but you know what I mean - they have little differences that give them that 'organic' approach. I am thinking of revving up my Etsy store again - maybe these should be the first thing I list? What do you think?

Texture ...

2012-02-14T07:59:00.000+10:30

I have a fairly low-tech approach to jewellery making - well actually just about any making really. I like the idea of being able to create stuff in a fairly domestic setting, say the kitchen table and with a minimum of specialist tools. Now don't get me wrong I love tools and y'know the right tool can make all the difference but I do like the adventure that comes with substituting 'proper' tools for what is at hand. What I wanted to achieve was some texture on metal. So, in the absence of a rolling mill (sigh) I grabbed a hammer and some assorted bits and pieces and set to.

I used a variety of materials including a linen tea towel (standing up at the back), some coiled wire, lace (over there on the right) and a hefty brass brush.

Sorry about the colours in the pic - the metal is in fact reclaimed pewter and is a lovely warm silver colour rather similar to unpolished sterling silver. Yummy patterns - yes? I was keen to use them and since the swirly wire was my fave I cut that up first. I opted for a kinda organic looking piece.

I cut out a nice oval shape from the swirls and an irregular-ish petal shape from the brushed piece. If I owned a hydraulic press, I would have domed the oval piece even more but alas I don't own such a creature so had to make do with carving the appropriate shape into a lump of wood and whacking the oval into it - not ideal but hey - it worked - more or less!

I patinaed the swirls and assembled the piece using brass rivets for contrast. This pic is probably a truer representation of the colour than my other photos.

Voila!

There you have it - my low-tech foray into the world of texturing metals - no machines, no chemicals - just a girl and her mallet!

Flea Market Finds

2012-02-13T14:25:00.000+10:30

I had a quick flick around a couple of local thrift stores with the hope of finding some knitting needles of a particular size, to use as mandrels for jump-ring making. I found heaps and heaps of the things and picked up the exact sizes required for 50 cents a pair! Woo hoo! Naturally I couldn't resist checking out all the other stuff ...

I found a lovely old tin - you can see it at the back there - and best of all, it has a hinged lid, perfect for storing stuff in. A bag of chocolaty brown wood beads needed a new home and of course there were buttons but the loveliest find was another dear little deer to add to my ever growing collection of woodland critters!

This little one does have rather "come hither" eyes I think! I also found a couple of decent LP's lurking amidst a huge pile of Nana Maskouri and Khamal albums.

That is Marianne Faithful's "Broken English" (features 'Working Class Hero' and 'Ballad of Lucy Jordan') and the other one is "The Best of Santana" . Excellent luck I think! Head over to Sophies and see what the cool people have been finding in their thrifting adventures this week!

And just because I can, please let me share this with you ...

and a little Santana - to end on a happier note!

Button Glutton.

2012-02-11T15:22:00.003+10:30

After putting away all the lovely buttons featured in my last post and a general tidy-up of my workspace, I had decided on a self-imposed moratorium on further button purchases. I have to fess up that it didn't last long. I had super fantastic intentions but then ... well, I am sure those of you who are fellow button hunters have found that there are fewer buttons in the thrift stores and that they have become a bit pricier than they used to be- so what was I to do when confronted by this ...

Great big, stuffed -to- the- max bags of buttons for two bucks? Unheard of these days and enough to make my greedy little button collecting heart skip a beat! Admittedly these are mostly not vintage buttons and there are rather a lot of white ones but still - two freakin' dollars? I had to bring some home didn't I? You understand the urge right? I mean just look at them ...

Okay so I fell off the wagon but these were exceptional circumstances and I felt sure I could control myself in the future. Of course I hadn't counted on walking into The Most Organised Oppie In The World. Situated in the southern Flinders Ranges, this thrift store had been sorted and labeled with awe inspiring precision, making perusal of all the goodies very straightforward. Check out their button arrangement ...

Sorted into colour ranges on revolving stands - at eye-level! Oh my! Those op-shop ladies might appear to be innocent volunteers but they know a thing or two about temptation! Though they look like little old ladies, they are in fact Sirens, singing their 'come hither and buy buttons' songs to lure weak and buttonlustful people just like me. Strumpets!

Resistance was of course useless - no handy ship masts to strap myself to - and I left the shop clutching a handful of those cards close to my chest - lightheaded and dizzy with delight. When I returned home I had to face an endless refrain of "what happened to the moratorium?" from the family , accompanied by knowing looks and shaking heads. Although I hung my own head in shame and slunk off to my studio I didn't really suffer any buyers remorse. Instead, I gleefully got all those buttons out and immersed myself in the euphoria that is button gluttony! My name is Sue and I am a Button Glutton. Confession over.

A brief history of the button ...

2012-02-07T12:21:00.000+10:30

According to Jill Gorski ( Warman's Buttons Field Guide.), the humble button has occupied a special place in history and was originally made in sets that were attached and removed from a garment each time it was worn. Such buttons were crafted by artisans who belonged to a Guild of Buttonmakers - these craft guilds were established in the mid 13th Century - and buttons really were tiny works of art. They were marked and records of each craftsmans work were kept. These artisans were commissioned by the aristocracy to create magnificent buttons to adorn their clothes and show off their wealth. Of course the poor old commoner had to make do with far less glam buttons made of wood, cloth and bone. This was in part because of the cost factor but also because a royal decree dictated what the 'lower classes' could or could not wear. Leap forward to the 17th and 18th Centuries and buttons were being made form all sorts of materials and England and France were the leaders of the button making industry. Artisans of all kinds began to make buttons in their chosen mediums so you would find a potter who made ceramic buttons or a weaver who made woven buttons. This was apparently quite a lucrative sideline! The Industrial Revolution saw buttons being created in larger quantities and at far less cost than ever before and in a sense led to the demise of the artisan crafted button. Now there is a plethora of buttons on the market but I reckon the best ones are the vintage ones you find in op shops. I love the way they are presented ...

Sometimes they come on cards ...

or in little bags ...

or in jars ...

and if you are lucky, big bundles ...

There are big buttons ..

and shiny buttons ...

buttons of glass ...

and craftily covered buttons ...

or lovely piles of colourful buttons ...

Best of all, there are RED buttons ...

and most bestest of all, there are red BIRDIE buttons!

Squeal! I love buttons!

Whatchya been doin'?

2012-02-05T18:52:00.001+10:30

So, that was January huh? It simply zoomed by in this household with a whirl of fun, friends, arrivals and parties! What a great start to the year. Mind you there hasn't been a great deal of actual work done (as in the kind that brings home the bacon!) but the salt mines will wait I guess! Our daughter Ellen, turned 21 and we had a party to celebrate - it was terrific fun and had a dress-up theme of fairy-tales. We had been deliberating over table decorations for ages when one day Ellie eye-spied these beauties over at Grrl+dog. Armed with this fab inspiration we sallied forth to create a whole bunch of 'shrooms'. in keeping with our fairytale theme. First we made the tops from cardboard and layered them up with pages from old books. Then they were given a wash of paint.

Dots were added for that true shroomy effect ...

The stalks were made from rolled up paper and more book pages. We rediscovered the joys of Mod-Podge! And now for the assemblage - we knew we needed them to be stable as there was going to be some rollicking party games afoot and we didn't want the shrooms to go flying .... Rather than try to stick them down, we opted to create a board with pegs that the stalks could slip over - stable and easy to dis-assemble! You can see the work in progress in the background ...

To complete them, we made glass "mushrooms" and perched a gnome on top - we used some blu-tac on the day just as a little added security - hey these are some of my favourite woodland critters afterall!

We really had a lovely rainbow of shrooms and as a finishing touch we placed vintage woodland critters amongst the mushroom forest.

I don't have a pic yet of these in situ but when I do, I will show you. So big thanks to Denise for the inspiration and the words of encouragement and a big congrats to Ellen for turning 21!

So, - what have you been up to over January ...?

She likes me - she really likes me!

2012-01-15T19:29:00.000+10:30

Hey guess what? I scored a little blog lovin', that's what! My Vintage Vow has been kind enough (and cool enough - hee hee!) to give me this little award.

Thank you so much! Like Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality I am brushing up on my acceptance speech and practicing my wave!

Casting Mania

2012-01-13T09:00:00.001+10:30

Since my cuttlefish casting adventure meant that I had all the necessary casting equipment to hand, I decided to make some new silicone molds and cast some new jewellery components.

I used up the last of the compound I had which is good because it was approaching the end of its after-the-bottle-is-open shelf-life. I had varying degrees of success this time around - some casts were brilliant and others - well not quite up to scratch! I was particularly pleased though with how this one turned out ...

It has a rather Victorian look about it.

At this point, it has had a minor tidy up - removing overflow from the edges. Notice how rough and bubbly it is? That is because the mold is new - a few more pours will "cure" it further but hopefully it will retain some of that roughness because I really like it!

Here it is with a patina and an eye added!

It looks old and crusty - just the way I had hoped it would look! I love to work with found objects but I have come to realise that many of the things I like to work with repeatedly are, like embroidered doileys, quickly becoming a finite resource! So, I have decided to cast some things from objects I find and hence be able to use them more than once in my work. I think it will simply add another dimension to the work - and besides it will be heaps of fun! Here is the first of my "Faux Found Objects"

This has been cast from a very sweet little key that is earmarked for use with a layered pendant I created the other week. It is a great size and shape so I have recreated it using reclaimed pewter. I have cast it with a flat back which will give it plenty of applications. I guess nothing could ever replace the truly found object but I think these reproductions will have their own aesthetic - on their own or combined with originals.At the very least, it is a more useful object than the beer mug it used to be!

Here's looking at ya - ha ha ha - get it? there is an eye - and it's lookin' at you ..? Well I thought it was frickin' hilarious but you may feel it only warrants a wry chuckle of amusement - either at my comedic delusions or the pun - I'm not fussed - at least I will have made you smile!

CastAways.

2012-01-10T20:34:00.001+10:30

I wasn't really a castaway - although I could probably handle being castaway on this beach ...

I was in fact visiting my friend Audrey and we decided to try our hand at cuttlefish casting. A bracing walk along this beautiful beach yielded some fabulous cuttlefish "bones" and we had a lovely time collecting them and then carving them. We had varying degrees of success but given that neither of us knew much about it, we did ok. We learned a lot from our mistakes! We did have the good fortune to catch up with Fred Peters who very generously shared some hints and tips and thus encouraged I decided to have another go at home today. First I had to hunt up some cuttlefish. Luckily (since there is not a beach within cooee of where I live), I had some that I collected with friends some time ago, on the Yorke Peninsula.

Next they need to be trimmed and shaped ...

I found the carving the trickiest part - you have to flip your brain around and remember that the negative space you create becomes the positive space of the object you cast. Arrgghh!

I carved a prettty simple (and rather odd looking!) fish. The cuttlefish is bound to a backing board (or another piece of cuttlefish) and the molten material is poured in through that vent that you can see at the top of the carving.

And here she is! I told you she was a bit funny looking! I am garnering a better understanding of the process so I remain hopeful that future attempts are just gonna get better and better! I think it might be a goodly while before I am up to this standard though ...

Leafy Sea Dragon by Fred Peters

I live in hope ...

21st Birthday preparations underway!

2012-01-03T19:37:00.000+10:30

Given that my daughters birthday is just three and a half weeks away it is a good thing that we finally ot organised and made invitations to the party! The party is having a dress-up theme - fairytales so Ellen designed the invite around one of her favourite fairytale characters - Red Riding Hood.

Firstly she designed and made a papercut which is really great but no way was she going to cut 50 of them! So, she bravely handed it over to her Ma and I had a bit of a play in Photoshop ...

Ta dah!!!

I had a lot of fun messing about with different colours and in the end this is what we settled on. We have had the image printed off as photos which have been attached to cards ...

All that remains is to write in them and get them in the post! Hoorah! I am starting to feel excited about the party now and trying to come up with some neat table decos .... All ideas gratefully received!

Work in Progress

2012-01-02T21:12:00.001+10:30

Really it has just been far too hot here to think, let alone undertake any creative work! Nonetheless, this morning my fingers were itching to be busy so I sat at my bench and collected a few bits and pieces together ...

I didn't have a plan - I just thought it might be fun to practice some cold connections and join some stuff together. In the end, I settled on making something with the little hinged box with the blue front.

I wasn't really loving that blue front so my first step was to disguise it behind some text from a dictionary which I covered with mica to make it durable.

That looks better - right? By this stage I had settled on making a pendant box - maybe something of a treasure box? Or a place to keep wishes? Next step - decoration!

Amongst the bits I had fished out was a squished bottle cap and this lovely brass bird - it was a necklace from an oppie. I also added a layer of etched pewter and then rivettted it all to the box lid. I think the key pictured here will dangle from the bottom of the box and I will make a bead chain to hang the pendant from. In the end my studio just got too hot and I had to call it quits but it was a fun play while it lasted. Sometimes it is good to come back to a project later because you see it with fresh eyes and make creative choices you might otherwise have forgone. We'll see. I'll keep you posted ....

At the bench ...

2011-12-29T21:05:00.002+10:30

Today I unearthed some old spoons - there are souvenir spoons, teaspoons, soup spoons and just about every other kind of spoon you can imagine in my collection.

I had planned to make some simple charms but as chance would have it, my simple charms grew into slightly more complex and layered pendants.

That is okay though sometimes you just have to go with the creative flow!

This one started life as a very pretty spoon but a few good whacks with the hammer soon pounded it into a nice flat piece of metal - just right for the addition of a pretty image and a flower.

I spent some time before Christmas cleaning out my magazines and mined them quite thoroughly for nice images. This owl was one I saved - he is pretty cute and fitted perfectly with the piece of glass I had to hand!

I captured this bit of a vintage doiley behind glass and thought it would make a nice component in a necklace, but then, as I was playing around it just kinda grew into a pendant in its own right! The bird and the twig are both made from reclaimed pewter that I have cast. The paper behind the lace was also saved from my magazine destash!

I am still most fond of "Alice" images - I just can't help it. This pendant is made from a teaspoon, mica, a funny old brandy label and another larger spoon that when flattened ended up in this neat shield shape. Add one vintage key and voila - a pendant is born!

This picture gives a better view of the layering . I haven't sat at my bench for a while and my shoulders are feeling the absence tonight - I am out of practice! I am working towards creating enough work to take along to a makers market that is being run in conjunction with Grampians Texture - I am attending some workshops and maybe the market stall might help pay some of my accommodation costs? It is good motivation to get back to work and stop doo-lallying about .... mind you, I don't plan to overdo things - there are still cocktails to be slurped (I mean sipped!) on balmy Summer evenings ...

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T12:58:00.000+10:30

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a shiny, bright New Year full of love and laughter!

Sue

Christmas Eve.

2011-12-24T22:38:00.000+10:30

Well Christmas is really here! This morning I had a quick trip to my favourite oppie to wish the ladies there a very Merry Christmas ( I also found some goodies which I will share with you later!) and then spent the day puddling around in my kitchen making preparations for tomorrow. It was rather lovely - I had Angus and Julia for company and a celebratory Margharita and lots of lovely smells wafting about ... Originally we had planned to just have our twiggy tree - very low key - but then when my daughter and I were dropping stuff to a local thrift store, we eye-spied a snazzy looking tree on the freebie table! It was white and silver and rather sparkly - I think all that shininess in the Summer sun went to our heads and as you have no doubt guessed by now, it came home with us! We have dressed it bright, fun colours and are both feeling pleased with ourselves. My daughter, bless her cotton socks sat and stitched some very sweet felt birds for our "new" tree.

She made a bunch of these sweeties in lots of colours. They are quite tiny - about 8cms from beak to tail, so she stitched them up by hand. Isn't it lovely to have handcrafted decorations on your tree? Speaking of which, the very thoughtful Christina sent me the dearest little Santa that I have seen in a long time.

How cute is this little bloke? Thank you to the multi-talented Christina - it was a wonderful surprise and he looks just right on our thrifted tree!

So now the presents are wrapped, the tree decorated and the food prepared all that remains is to share a wonderful day with family and friends. And maybe sip on a cocktail or two ...

Merry Christmas!

Just one more ....

2011-12-22T07:12:00.000+10:30

Ha - I totally remember seeing these guys at Adelaide Uni with my brother - I was all of 14 and completely stoked to be experiencing live music with my crazy big bro! Classic Aussie rock!

Strange bedfellows ...

2011-12-20T11:48:00.000+10:30

Question: What do an aluminium cake pan

an old decorative tea tin

and some 'pearls' from the op shop have in common?

Answer: They make really pretty Christmas decorations!

They catch the light for a bit of Christmas twinkle and add some colour to my rather monotone tree.

So indulge me ...

2011-12-17T14:38:00.001+10:30

I am not just strolling down Memory Lane with my 'new' record collection, I am hurtling back ready to face-plant it in 1975. Join me ...

All My Friends Are Getting Married - Skyhooks

Lay Your Love On Me - Racey

Baby Its You - Promises.

Oh I so wanted to be the chick in that last video - I had the jeans, I had the braces, I had the moves - so what happened? Ok so I didn't have the boobs or the talent but still ... What were you doing when these classics were hitting the airwaves? I was busy being YOUNG! If you weren't born when these songs were released please don't bother commenting. (only kidding - sort of - no really - that is just my middle-agedness talking, comment away!)

Flea Market Finds

2011-12-17T13:53:00.001+10:30

I had a fun stroll around a local oppie on Saturday - I haven't been for ages and it was good to see lots of new thngs had arrived since my last visit.

Bearing in mind that Christmas and the obligatory, celebratory cocktails that go with it, is just around the corner, I was dead chuffed to find a little jigger thingamy - no more using the medicine glass to measure out accurate shots. Mind you as the day progresses accuracy goes out the window but at least we can start off with a little class! The set was apparently part of "The Corporate Collection" (according to its label anyways!) and there is a handy champagne sealer, a wine stopper and what appears to be a bit of a dodgy "waiters friend". All quite useful and for the grand sum of one dollar, much too tempting to resist. I found some silverware that will eventually be cut up for jewellery although the tea tin is rather intriguing.

It is really heavy - definitely NOT tin but rather some kind of silverware. It is a facsimile of a tea tin really and I wonder if it was for some kind of comemeration - there are no dates engraved on it though. Perhaps it is someones metalwork project? Part of an engravers training? It has me stumped and I would love to know what you think. The score of the day has to be awarded to a bunch of old LP's. I resurrected my record player recently and so I was looking to add to my collection.

This lot include some British pop music (Manfred Mann, Dave Clark Five, The Hollies etc), the very lovely Sade, The Black Sorrows and believe it or not a Patsy Cline album.

What record collection would be complete without The Eagles Greatest Hits? As a child of the 70's I had to have Mr Stevens and those compilation albums featuring such greats as Disco-Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes (Get Dancin"), Sherbet, and Kraftwerk. I also picked up an old looking LP that is sung in French. I thought I could play it when I am cooking and get in touch with my inner Julia Child. Hope it works for curries! I spent all of Saturday afternoon spinning my discs and inflicting a "proper" musical education on the younger members of the household!
To see what everyone has hunted up in the oppies this week, head over to Sophie's.
And just in case there are holes in your own musical education or you simply want to stroll down memory lane, let me just share this little gem from "Whopper Original Smash Hits" 1975 - "The Hustle" by Van McCoy. Oh yeah - I challenge you to sit still!

Not sure if this will take off on "So You Think You Can Dance"! but you gotta love the cheesiness! No wonder feminism took off!

And if you want to know a little more about the phenomena, watch this!

Pop Ups and Presents

2011-12-16T17:41:00.000+10:30

Whew what a month it has been ! Makers who sell all know what a crazy time of year this is - it pays to make hay whilst the sun is shining so no complaints but ... well I am glad to be having a bit of a break now! The Ethel and Girty pop-up shop was great fun and I need to thank all the wonderful people who came and visited on the day. It seems everyone embraced the idea with fervor and we spent the day chatting, sipping champers and daintily nibbling the beautiful cupcakes.

Prettiful things on display ...

Audrey Harnett's beautiful sterling silver jewellery.

Paper cuts by Ellen and prints by the multi-talented Audrey.

Some of Ellen's paper-cuts in reclaimed frames. Aren't they gorgeous?

A handmade Christmas tree festooned with white birdies and guarded by two colourful reindeer.

Calorie free cupcakes stitched with love (and lots of patience!) by Audrey.

Outside everything was set for tea ...

Just look at these beauties - all baked by the amazing Lucy and Amy duo - now nominated as the Cupcake Queens!
Just when I thought the day couldn't get much better, the lovely Melissa turned up bearing beautiful gifts for us!

Isn't that a treat! I am a morning person so Melissa chose this great doiley to include in mine!

This was an amazing experience - Audrey opened up her home to host our show and it was a beautiful setting for a wonderful gathering. I think we were tired but beaming by the end of the day!

Thanks Girty!

Flea Market Finds

2011-11-27T10:34:00.002+10:30

Well it has simply been an absolute age since I have joined in with Sophie's meme. There hasn't been too much thrifting going on of late but this week, to celebrate the end of the Uni semester, I took myself off to some favourite haunts.

With the long Summer holidays in mind, I picked up a bunch of books - I love that people donate their books to charity so that we can share the love! I couldn't really go past the retro gorgeousness of the tea-pot - I love the exuberant colours.

That little spaceman is actually a fridge magnet bit I think he could become a brooch ...

This cute little critter is actually a vase - I love that this fawn is channeling its inner Miranda Carmen and chomping on some cherries.

Just look at that face - who could resist!

These dear wee beasties were especially lovely to find as I had, as recently as Friday, been chastised by The Denouncer for even contemplating the purchase of new woodland critters in Bauhaus. Mwahahah ... - not one but two sweet woodland critters unearthed in the oppie!

Clearly this fawn is delighted to have found a home in my studio - that face is a veritable study in delight!

Finally this very smug looking cat was rescued from the dusty thrift store shelves. I liberated it because it is an old Avon bottle and because best of all - its head comes off!

Ha ha ha - not so smug now Kitty! All in all a really fun fossick. I hope you have all had a lovely rummage in the op shops this week and found things that make your heart sing.

Beachy Peachy Christmas!

2011-11-21T09:06:00.001+10:30

The very best part of the Christmas Season is the effort everyone makes to catch up and acknowledge the year that has passed - especially as the years seem to pass so quickly these days! The besties and our menfolk had a wonderful get together by the ocean in what must be the quirkiest and cutest cafe in all of South Australia. The lovely Judy who owns the place cooks the most divine food - home-cooked tucker with flair - would probably best describe her style. Her Mum, Nancy is "front-of-house", acting as maitre de, waitress and yarn spinner - at a sprightly 80 years old mind you! The view of the ocean is unadulterated and you get to experience the beach first-hand when Nancy ushers you off for a walk between courses ("of you go - keeps you young you know!" - who can argue with that coming from an 80 year old who looks like she could run the London Marathon and then go out dancing for the evening?!). Of course we also opted for a little champagne on the beach...

Honestly, we ate all day - literally! There was seafood that Judy's husband had caught, local meats and home-grown vegies and fruit. My dessert even featured mulberries from my friends' garden!

This place is luxurious in the truest sense of the word - there is no rush, you can linger and chat and meander on the beach pretty much to your hearts content. One fellow diner stretched out on a thoughtfully provided couch on the verandah and caught a few Zeds in the afternoon sun! If the breeze gets a bit chilly, there are crocheted rugs to keep your toes warm. Add to that your waitress not only delivers yummy and very generous serves of food, she also dispenses pearls of wisdom and funny stories collected over 80 years of a well-lived life. Truly this is Heaven!

The garden is a riot of herbs and vegies and an eclectic assortment of plants. Despite the soil and proximity to the sea, everything seems to grow - perhaps it is because everything this family does seems to be done with love and care. (would this be the appropriate time to mention that Nancy is also the "unofficial" carer for her 91 year old neighbour who lives down the road?!). Judy is a a bit of an op-shop hound so all the crockery and tableware is a mis-matched assortment of vintage and retro stuff. We were all so relaxed after our day together that we could barely keep our eyes open but then Melissa presented us with a pressie each, and our eyes nearly popped out of our heads ....!

This has to be the most beautifully made bunting I have ever seen - isn't it gorgeous?! Bunting is always festive, but to have dedicated Christmas bunting is a bit extra-special I think! All this was a timely reminder that as we hurtle towards the close of the year and our focus is drawn inextricably to all our must-do-before-Xmas lists, the most valuable and important thing in life is the people you share it with.
And Moet.

Steampunk Renos ....

2011-11-15T16:17:00.002+10:30

Well my lovelies, it has certainly been a long time between posts - apologies for being such an absentee blogger. I won't bore you with the details - suffice to say it has been pretty hectic around here and as always the first sacrifice on the pyre of busy-ness is blogging! I have been playing around with some quasi-steampunk jewellery over the last few days and today I decided I wanted a point-of-sale display for my jewels that has a quasi-steampunk aesthetic! I had a rummage in the shed and a quick dash to the oppie where I unearthed these treasures ...

I also fished out my paint supplies and a skerrik of really lovely mulberry paper. Firstly I stripped the exisiting paper lining ( it was pretty shredded already!) and gave the case a coat of black paint.

After the black, I slapped on some red - a really cheap brand which in this instance works in my favour because the cheap stuff doesn't have as much pigment as the good stuff so it can be great if you want a sort of translucent colour. Which I did!

Painted up and ready to deal with the inside. I had to do some careful cutting because I didn't have a huge amount of paper but I made it work ...

Above you can see it all papered up - then I started arranging elements for that steampunk appeal ...

Hhmm - something is still missing - maybe a splash of colour behind the big key?

Yep - that is just what it need! I dismantled the ice-bucket I had purchased at the oppie and used the outside vinyl as well as the "coat-of-arms". I should fess up and tell you that at this point everything is just hanging together with double-sided tape - I really wanted to get an idea of how it would work before I commit myself to epoxy and nails!

And here it is housing some of my latest bits and pieces ...

I think it will work a treat don't you? Now for an up-close squizz at the new jewellery!

This piece has been made from a watch face, key plate, vintage key and the bunny is made from pewter that I have reclaimed and cast into a mould I have made. I had to make the little "cog" too because I didn't have one to suit! I riveted the vintage shell button to some brass as a dangle from the bottom and if you look at the very top part of the first pic you might be able to make out a sweet little vintage ear-ring that just seemed to beg to join this piece.

It seems I haven't gotten over my "Alice" phase yet. This piece is made from old teaspoons, some kind of doo-hickey brass thing, and a watch face. All cold connected. I stamped "seek" on the doo-hickey and altered a small religious medal that you can see joining the chain in the top pic. This was great fun to make as it required quite a bit of ferreting about in various corners of the studio to find just the right doo-hickey!

I also made a couple of much simpler pieces. These are made from old spoons, reclaimed pewter that I have cut and etched and some watch bits. Again all cold connected. Oh wait a minute that is not quite true - I soldered the jumpring to the top of the heart ... I think they are pretty.

Finally, this watch case reliquary - it has a pretty vintage image and lace inside, along with a pearl and a mother of pearl button. Other components include that lovely chunk of rough quartz, a handmade chain and a vintage chandelier crystal. It is rather romantic isn't it?! Well that is my little lot for now. I am hoping to Be a Better Blogger from now on ...

Ideas and doings ...

2011-10-28T07:35:00.000+10:30

Well, we are certainly getting to the pointy end of the Uni semester - just 3 studio weeks left to go and still several projects to get off the drawing board and printed up! Yikes. Despite all that though I have been having fun with my friend Audrey Harnett organising a 'pop-up shop' that we plan to have in December. It is funny how ideas are born you know - sometimes they come as a great crash and sometimes as a gentle melding of experiences and circumstances. Audrey spent some time in Paris earlier this year and was just smitten with all the vintage gorgeousness she found there. Then she discovered an old postcard in a second-hand store, that "Girty" had written to "Ethel", wishing her a very Merry Christmas. An idea was taking shape - we could be Ethel and Girty and have a Christmas sale featuring not just our jewellery but other vintagy handcrafted wares we have both been longing to make! Of course we plan to have Bubbles in tea cups and cup cakes too - a tea party of sorts really! First step has been to make an invite - and here it is ...

So if you happen to be around our way on the 10th Dec. do drop in! Now to get making ...

Saturday Market.

2011-10-20T21:03:00.000+10:30

The very best thing about our local Farmers Market - apart from the coffee - is that buying yummy fresh produce really stimulates the creative cook in me. All the fruit and veg is grown locally, we have a local cheese maker, several bakeries, dried fruit producer, free range chicken farmer, amazing local smallgoods and even a local coffee roaster - the beans are free-trade and roasted here! Heaven - pure Heaven.

Just look at those tomatoes! Looks like the makings of Saturday brunch ...

We roasted these vegies to have with our free range chook - beetroot, spuds and carrots - yummo!

I haven't replanted my basil yet so it was great to snag a bunch at the market. It tasted great mixed in with those tomatoes all chopped up on some of the wholegrain bread and topped with grilled haloumi! We do love our food here in the Barossa! If only we could grow bananas here ...!

Remnants ..

2011-10-18T19:52:00.000+10:30

No, not the fabric kind (although I am rather partial to those ...). This is about when the party is over and all your guests have gone home. Remnants of the party and happy memories.

This is what was left of the party that we had to wish our daughter

as she heads off to live in the exciting wonderment that is Sydney. We shared plenty of food and wine with our nearest and dearest to celebrate her adventure and reminisce about bygone days. There was laughter and a tear or two (admittedly I think I was the only one that teared up but hey - I am the MUM!) and of course there are always loads of dishes that get washed up by ready volunteers throughout the day!

It has been one whole week since the move - kinda feels longer ...

Spring is in the air ...

2011-10-14T08:19:00.001+10:30

It all started with the purchase of just one more piece of vintage fabric from the oppie. A harmless enough activity you might think but it led to a full scale tip-everything-out-of-the-cupboard-and-start-over session. My poor fabric cupboard had gotten so untidy that bits fell out when I opened it and everything was either hiding or MIA because I could never find what I wanted. The time had come for a full-on attack and I have to admit folks, I was ruthless! I kept only the materials that I really loved and sorted and folded for a couple of hours!

Can you see my dog in the background? He didn't seem all that impressed with my efforts but I am sure all you fabric hounds appreciate the effort and trauma involved in this kind of overhaul!

Piles stacked up, awaiting classification ..

... I tried hard to only keep the really nice pieces!

Here is the result of the final sorting - labelled crates that stack into my cupboard. I have to admit that it is not as much fun as looking at stacks of fabric piled up on the shelves but at least it isn't all falling out of the cupboard to greet me every time I open the door!

... and the folded fabrics still look pretty nestled in their crates - and a whole lot more managable!

Has Spring Clean Fever hit your household this year?

Flogging my wares ...

2011-10-13T08:06:00.001+10:30

The last month or so has flown by in a blur of activity - I seem to hardly have had time to read other blogs let alone post on mine! Towards the end of September, I had the opportunity to head over to the Yorke Peninsula to attend a bi-annual event that lasts three days. I was plying my trade - jewellery that is folks - and as a major bonus, hanging out with my dear friend Melissa. Sales were down on other years but Melissa and her dear hubby kept my spirits buoyed with lovely food, daily trips to the beach and gin! Here is what our stall looked like - we crammed alot into a fairly small space ...

This was taken on Day 2 so there were a few less things on display - it was an effort let me tell you! Melissa had made some fantastic clothes from revamped thrift store finds - hard to see here but let me tell you they were GORGEOUS!

Lots of colourful things - as you might expect!

These little tree necklaces are my new favourite thing. I hand-cut the wooden tree, decorated it with inks and paint and added a little bird that I cast from reclaimed pewter.

One of the best things about direct selling is that you get to meet the people who buy your things. This necklace looked so stunning on the lovely woman that purchased it that had she asked, I would have given it to her for free! Well prolly not but you know what I mean?! That gorgeous cardi is one of Melissa's revamped creations - she made all those lovely flowers - can you believe it?!

I included some of the "higher end" things this year and they were well received but may take another year or two to reach their full potential at this particular venue I think!

More colourful bits - can you see the tree necklace in the background? I loved making these so much I did a few colorways! All in all it was a fun and exhausting couple of days and this time around the financial reward probably didn't warrant the effort but on a personal level - spending a solid bunch of time with a bestie - is quite frankly, reward enough!

Flea Market Finds

2011-09-25T13:21:00.000+09:30

Hayfever and making stuff has kept me pretty well housebound this week so there hasn't really been any treasure seeking for me. sigh. During a search for a specific jewellery component (which I knew I had somewhere!), I unearthed a little stash of vintage stamps from a previous op-shop adventure. I remember these from my own Primary School years!

Words of encouragement...

A very Royal looking crown ...

An Aussie icon ...

I don't recall ever getting this one ...

.A Mullet - why not?!

Miss Muffett - very cute.

There are all sorts of animals, trucks and so forth but I must say my favourites are the text ones with their "positive reinforcement" messages ...

Visit Sophie and the crew for other terrific thrift store finds.

My Creative Space

2011-09-22T22:03:00.002+09:30

Well I have been beavering away putting together some beady goodness for an upcoming 3 day event - which might go some way to explaining my bloggy absence of late ...

My desk is covered in beads and findings - I had to have a little clean-up this morning so that I didn't have to keep burrowing under the beads to find what I was looking for! In a perfect world/studio I wouldn't let it get so out of hand and put things back where they belong as I use them - pfft - yeah right! I do have some organisation going on - it looks a bit like this ...

The surface of the desk is quite another matter I'm afraid!

Bits and pieces everywhere - I should confess that this was taken post tidy-up!

Yep - little bowls of treasure all over the place - it is probably not a very efficient way to go about things but I love the little groupings and I am often surprised and delighted by what my bowls yield - stuff I have forgotten about or worse, knew I had but couldn't remember what I did with them? Who doesn't do that?!

Today was mostly about making dreamy pieces with a vintage feel - lots of pearls and flowers. Soft shades and neutral colours - very feminine and peaceful to create too!

My mannequin is literally dripping with adornments - what a riot of colour and textures! Oh my goodness I have had alot of fun haven't I? Of course now begins the boring admin stuff - labeling and pricing! Pity I can't just put a sign on my stall "100 bucks each - knock yourself out!" - have a feeling that won't wash!
Check out what other creatives are up to by heading over here. What have you been up to?

Colouring my World ...

2011-09-13T17:42:00.001+09:30

Not much beats colour on metal as far as I am concerned and torch-fired enamels must be my favourite way of making that happen.

I wanted to make some 'tribal' looking pieces so I was aiming for that rustic, buried in the Earth for a squllion years kinda thing ...

This one has a couple of colours on it and I fired it until it was super glowing! That helps give it that worn and aged look.

Of course if I have the enamels out, there is no way I am gonna pass up the chance to make something red. Again, I fired it with my torch and added a little charcoal enamel whilst it was still warm and fired it again.

The swallow is not at all "tribal" - in fact I used some lovely vintage bits and pieces on this one along with some shiny stuff. Still, it just goes to show how versatile this method of using enamel is, because I really like the look of this. Again I used a few colours to add a bit of texture and depth.

These discs look good enough to eat don't they? I will be making these into ear-rings. Mmmmm - shineee, mmmmm - colourful - that is a whole lot of "yumm" if you ask me!

The beadies were calling me ...

2011-09-12T15:55:00.000+09:30

This afternoon my beads beckoned and unable to resist their Siren call, I sat down and made a few pieces. Strangely, it seemed it was the black and white/cream beads that called out the loudest. That being the case, I have a few pieces to share - may I present "The Black and White Story" (okay, I had my tongue planted firmly in my cheek when I typed that! )

These are lovely wooden beads strung on cotton cord - they look amazing on - kinda like a collar.

I decided a little "vintage"would be nice too and these have the added bonus of sparkle!

Something a little Victorian - I really enjoy using those gunmetal faceted crystals - very classy.

I braided over chain to create this asymmetrical stretchy bracelet. I have one like this and like wearing it 'cos it is easy to take on and off!

Detail of the tassle and coin dangle. I also made a black and silver version of this bracelet.

These ear-rings are made using some components from Susan Lenart Kazmer's range -

Now I am off to pop some of these on Etsy.

Flea Market Finds

2011-09-11T12:39:00.000+09:30

I had a mini-hunt around local oppies this week - generally they were a bit uninspiring - perhaps I just didn't have my thrifty mojo on! I did scare up two really nice textile pieces though. One is a hand embroidered table cloth and the other a batik panel.

They are very different styles but what attracted me to both of them was of course the lovely birds. I just can't go past them really!

I especially love the way this batik one has been printed in 3 colours. I was so inspired by the design that I fished out some lino and carved a small block.

Sadly I have black, black or black ink so I couldn't print a multi-coloured bird - I would like to though!

I printed my bird on a few different papers and fabrics too.

I think it has the potential to find its way onto any number of things - journals, clothes, cards - the list goes on. I may even carve myself another one in 3 parts and get that colour thing happening ...
The people over at Her Library Adventures are also sharing their thrifty finds so do pop over there for a sqizz!

Houston ... we have lift off!

2011-09-06T11:20:00.000+09:30

Sue Garrard on Etsy has launched. At last. Go there now. Please. Then come back and tell me what you think. All feedback welcome. I especially like the nice kind!

Murder, Mystery and a Long Lunch ...

2011-09-05T15:57:00.003+09:30

On the week-end some friends and I were chatting about books over a long lunch. Miss Melissa mentioned she had been reading Agatha Christie books whilst she had been tucked up in bed with the 'flu. It got me to thinking how there are certain books/authors who become like old friends - always there for you, always entertaining and even though you know them well, they can still surprise you! I love a good old fashioned murder/mystery and Agatha is definitely my favourite author in that genre. Okay so Conan-Doyle is no slouch in the area but I still think that Aggie tops him!I love the era of her stories, the settings, the characters - it may be a formula, but it definitely works for me. Of course one of the best features of the books is that you know when you turn the last page everything will be neatly tied up and all problems solved. What a relief! Now my favourite detective from the Christie stable just has to be Hercule Poirot. I love this funny little Belgian and his quaint habits. Even his ego, which is the size of a planet is cute! Of the Poirot's that have graced our screens, David Suchet has been my favourite. The whole show had WINNER written all over it - great sets, art deco everywhere you looked and Suchet is a very dapper fella. Do you remeber the opening credits? Here is a little reminder ...

As a little tribute to my favourite detective, I have created a special piece of jewellery. This brooch has been modelled after a feature that Poirot was rather vain about - his moustaches. I give you (drumroll here please Maestro ...)

The Poirot!

Hee hee - how much fun is that! I am loving the idea of wearing a mo on my jumper! These will be hitting my Etsy store soon! Oh - of course I still have to set up an Etsy store but it is coming ...
Now for all those other David Suchet/Poirot tragics out there I have another little offering from youtube. Enjoy!

Casting Away.

2011-08-30T18:47:00.000+09:30

On the week-end I decided it was time to try my hand at making some new moulds and casting some pewter.
I was really pleased that I hadn't forgotten how! These were the results ...

They look pretty tragic at this point huh?

This is pripor to clean-up. There needs to be some sawing, filing and sanding to be undertaken before the piece will be of much use.

In the end though I have ended up with a piece that I think will be great fun to use - again and again! The chandelier is about 5cms x 6cms and add a bit for the crystals and chain - on the large side I guess but surprisingly, it isn't all that heavy. I would love to make some really over the top ear-rings with these (more crystal, more chain - mmmm!)- very haute couture I think! I can just see them swinging from the lobes of a catwalk model and stealing the show!

bragging - again!

2011-08-30T08:09:00.000+09:30

Many of you know that my daughter Ellen is a paper cutter and you may have guessed from previous posts that I am kinda proud of her and the way her work keeps developing. She had a really successful exhibition recently and now she has opened her very own Etsy store! So, in a bit of outrageously obvious cross-promotion I am sharing both that info and some more pics of her work ...

This is a large piece - and very detailed. I think one of the things that makes Ellen's work unique is that she creates the text herself . The kids had the benefit of an excellent Primary School teacher who was big on literature - wouldn't she be proud?!

Hee hee - I love all the little dwarfs lurking behind the tree ... This piece sold during the exhibition.

Some detail from one of the lamps she made - also sold.

A trio to tell the story of Sleeping Beauty - all set in reclaimed frames that used to house those funny satin pictures of roses and the like.

This is one of my favourites - so much detail. Bear in mind that these are all cut from a single piece of paper so everything has to join! Again, Ellen used a reclaimed frame. We made a screenprint of this one too.

Hmmm - exploring the darker side of fairytales - and making the work 3 dimensional.
So that is a taste of the work my girl has been making. You can find her shop here and she has a Facebook page too.

Dog

2011-08-23T08:16:00.001+09:30

I met this little fella waiting patiently outside a store on the week-end. He is very old.

To his dog, every man is Napolean;hence the constant popularity of dogs.
Aldous Huxley

Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.
Max Eastman

Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamp-post what it feels about dogs.
Christopher Hampton

Barking dogs occassionaly bite but laughing men never shoot.
Konrad Lorenz

You call to a dog and it will break its neck to get to you. Dogs just want to please. Call to a cat and its attitude is, 'What's in it for me?'
Lewis Grizzard

Dogs are great.

PS. Lovely review of my exhibition here.

Flea Market Finds

2011-08-21T09:33:00.002+09:30

Are you ready for a BONANZA of op-shop finds? After so long away from the scene, I blitzed the thrift stores this week-end and I brought home a truckload of stuff!

And since I haven't joined in with Sophie and the gang in ages I thought I would share them - individually. Click away if you are on dial-up 'cos there is a ton of pics to come ...

Pewter to reclaim.

Old files that just need a clean up - I use such odd materials sometimes that I am often reluctant to use my 'best' files, preferring to keep those for 'proper' jewellery work. These will fill the gap nicely - and just two bucks each!

A satisfying stack of English china plates for a friend who has big plans for them ...

A tin to use in jewellery making.

I feel these could become my little studio spirits - protecting me from mojo loss, boredom and nasty wire jabs!

Another pretty plate.

Lovely linen fabric bundles.

Ok so he is probably "Shrek" merchandising but when you push his nose he makes chopping sounds, followed by a maniacal giggle and "I'll never be a real boy" in a high pitched whiny way - it just doesn't get better than that does it?

Books of course. I dare say you will be unsurprised to find that apparently, only a couple of women had "great modern lives" - still some interesting people in there and each "life" is written up by a different author.

Lovely Wedgewood plate - again for friend.

OMG - how appealing is this little forest friend? Oh yes, look at her an weep Denouncer!

I love this folk-arty saucepan - it looks unused inside!

This little pin plate is very sweet - check out the crinoline lady detail ...

Wierd thing to find in the kids toy basket but I figure I might use it in an installation - better me than some 4 year old I reckon.

Can you believe it? Another plate?!

This 1960s plaster bambi ticked all the boxes - he seems so surprised to see me!

I will be reclaiming this very thin copper in the near future. Watch this space ...

A little collection of Alfred Meakin cups and saucers. Not sure how I feel about drinking tea from a cup that is bestowed with those odd pod thingos - are they cocoons or seeds do you s'pose?

I think this was my very favourite find though. These are Ininti - they are so beautiful I can never go past them.

I had heaps of fun and hardly spent anything at all - more on petrol than goodies I think! Hope everyone has had a fun thrifting week - show us you treasures over at Sophie's.

PS - I got to be a guest blogger over here - have a squizz!

Exhibition pics - at last!

2011-08-20T17:18:00.000+09:30

It has taken me a minute to get organised but I have finally been to the venue and taken some pics of my SALA exhibition.

Apologies for all the reflection! This gives you a bit of an idea how the display is set up. Putting the jewellery iside the boxes magically transforms it - amazing what a bit of "context" will do isn't it?

I like to have things accessible too - it's nice if people can really look and touch the pieces.

It is a bit hard to see the jewellery but in the background you can see my lino cut entitled "Oh Dear". It is of course based on Alice In Wonderland and features a rabbit, a clock and a little bottle that says "drink me"!

A few of the pewter pieces - both cast and hand-cut. You have seen some of these in the making ...

In the foreground you can see "An English Country Garden" (sold) and in the background is another Alice themed piece which features vintage rosary crystals, china, pearls and a toggle clasp I made from brass and a vintage key - kinda twisted around the wrong way in this pic - sorry!

When I set up the exhibit I realised that it had a sort of vintagy/steampunk feel to it as a number of the pieces ended up featuring cogs and gears etc - I didn't mean for it to happen but I must have been in that kind of headspace.

This was in fact the very last piece I made for the show and I think it is my favourite! I used an old spoon, a pewter bird that I cast and some laminex. Sales have not been outstanding - in previous years I have pretty well sold out by now! Most artists are reporting the same thing apparently. It is pretty understandable in the current economic climate. I will list what I don't sell online - and there maybe a couple of pieces that stay in the family ..

oh and if you want to have a squizz at some other SALA shows from the comfort of home, head over to Emmica's blog for reviews and pics!

Workshop Wonderment

2011-08-17T17:25:00.000+09:30

Each year the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand hold a national symposium and this year I was asked to conduct a workshop. Now I should say from the get-go that I know absolutely diddly-squat about mosaics and wasn't all that sure I would have anything to offer. Apparently the organisers felt differently and convinced me to run a workshop involving polymer clay and cane work. It didn't take that much convincing really - appealing to my vanity did the trick! These canes have a similar appearance to "millefiori", a technique used to create beautiful patterns in glass. It means 'thousand flowers' and the Venitians have been making this kind of glass for yonks. This is what the glass canes look like ...

(I nabbed this pic from here)

I taught my students how to make two basic canes using polymer clay and then how to use those canes to build more complex ones. Then we made them into pendants, using drink cans as bezels. I had a great time and everyone seemed pleased with their work and the new skills they had acquired. I do love teaching! Sadly, I don't have any pics of the workshop in progress because when I went to take some photos, I discovered that there was only one battery in my camera. I am harbouring deep suspicions ( and some resentments) that somebody nicked one for the tv remote control ... Still I have some pics of the demo models I made during class so you can get some idea of what I am babbling about. (sorry these first ones are a bit dark)

Here you can see some in their drink can bezels and some flat ones that haven't been polished.

This one was cured over a curve to give it that lovely domed effect.

As you can see they are really quite colourful and bright. Some of the students made much more monochromatic ones than mine and they looked fantastic too! It is amazing how everyone puts their own spin on things - it never ceases to amaze me!

I've been a baaaaad Blogger ...

2011-08-13T17:50:00.000+09:30

Apart from getting a bunch of work ready for an exhibition I have been battling with a dodgy Internet connection - very frustrating indeed. The Internet still isn't sorted but the exhibition is up and running - yay! The opening was last week-end and I had great fun with with friends and family and all the lovely people who came along to launch the show. When it comes to preparing work for an exhibition, it seems that no matter how hard you think you have been working in the lead up to it, 2 weeks out it becomes painfully apparent that you should have been working harder! It is a great learning curve though and an experience that I would recommend as it really pushes you along a bit. My daughter also opened her SALA exhibition on week-end and it was a grand success - I am terribly proud of her. Her work is lovely. It is rather hard to photograph in situ because of the beautiful light from glorious old windows but here is a taste ...

Ellen's beautiful papercuts were fairytale themed, Aren't the lamps gorgeous?

She hunted up some great old frames throughout the year and reclaimed them for her work.

This is a bad photo of a screen print Ellen created from one of the paper cuts. They make wonderful prints because the edges are so sharp and the detail shows up so well. There were a few red dots already when we rushed off to my opening so I am sure it is going to be a great success! I will share some pics of my work soon - didn't quite get time to take photos beforehand I'm afraid!

If you are keen to read about more SALA shows you can check out this review blog - a great way to hear alittle bit more about the creative souls exhibiting during the Festival. Happy art viewing!

Shout out ..

2011-07-21T12:09:00.000+09:30

to - outstanding South Aussie artist, Julie Blyfield who has won the prestigious Waterhouse Prize - yay!

These are her beautiful vessels - I have seen some of her work that is similar and I'm afraid that photos simply don't do them justice. I nabbed this pic from here. You can read more about Julie's win here and all about the Waterhouse finalists here. Julie was an early member of the Gray Street Workshop here in Adelaide. The Gray Street jewellers are an Adelaide legend - have a squizz at their history on their website. Let me show you some of Julie's other work - sigh.


image from here

Such beautiful delicate and organic forms. Their delicacy isn't really captured in photos but trust me - they are gorgeous and I would probably sell my first-born child to own one ( sorry Em!). The Jam Factory held a retrospective of her work this year and I spent an age looking and sighing over her work - it was actually a very serene and peaceful experience, the intrinsic ambiance of the work envelops you when you see it all grouped together like that. So yay for Julie - long may she wield her tools!

Brag Alert!

2011-07-20T20:27:00.001+09:30

Lately all my posts seem to have been about the work I am making for an up-coming exhibition. Now as it happens, my daughter is also exhibiting work during the SALA Festival, so I thought I would give you all a sneaky peek at a piece of her work.

With the help of our very favourite "sparky", she has created a light featuring an original papercut - isn't it prettiful? Ellie started making papercuts in her final year at school and despite the lack of encouragement from the art department there, has continued to make art, her way. This will be her second exhibition - the last one was really successful and it was great for her to find an appreciative audience - especially one that was willing to part with their hard-earned dollars to own a piece of her work. Certainly paper-cutting has become more and more recognised over the last few years (thank-you Mr Ryan etal!), but it took a fair bit of chutzpah for my girl to stick to her guns in High School so I am dead pleased that her work keeps on growing from strength to strength. I think believing in yourself is a truly sticky wicket and I think "creatives" often find it particularly so. I am happy that my girl has this gift. Proud Mama will now step off the soapbox - well just before I do, I want to give props to my other daughter who is busily pursuing her writing dreams - one article/review at a time! ( I did call this post "Brag Alert" for a reason you know!) If you head over here, you can get a taste of her linguistic styling - oh yeah! Her ability to convey so much with so few words (editors are fussy about word-count!) blows me away. I think she is a born communicator. Enough peacocking from me now - their lights are shining and I plan to bask in the warmth of their shiny-ness. All is right with the world.

May I introduce ...

2011-07-17T15:47:00.000+09:30

The Drifters.

These little beasties came into being over the course of the week-end. They are brooches (on the largish side!) and are made from driftwood, EPNS, pewter, brass and ink. They are super special to me because I collected the driftwood whilst I was on a lovely week-end away with my dear friends. We went for a brisk afternoon walk along the beach and, with eyes cast down, we found lots of treasure - all of which was donated to yours truly. Even a whole swag of cuttlefish that will be great to cast into - well so I have heard I haven't actually tried that yet ...

This is Squidjilly

This is Sqidjilly's friend El Crabbo

And this is Sardinia.

I must say that working with wood was a new experience for me but one I enjoyed immensely. Of course driftwood is rather soft and very light so I think it was a good choice for a first attempt at carving. These beasties will be joining in the fun during SALA at my exhibition.

My Creative Space

2011-07-14T19:26:00.000+09:30

Today my bench is blooming ...

With teeny pewter and pearl flowers

and ...

brass and pewter flower-cup ear-rings

and ...

a large three dimensional flower made of pewter and brass, strung on recycled cotton.
What are you up to? Head over to Kirsty's and check out the creativity that is blooming in Blogland ...

2011-07-10T20:10:00.000+09:30

The trouble with ear-rings is that one always has to make two of the blighters! Do you think a line of ear-rings for solo-lobes might catch on? It kinda worked for Madonna in the 80's but I have a feeling it won't catch on now. So I will just have to keep making pairs! (sigh)

I used up some roller printed pewter that was left over from another piece for these. It kinda looks like snakeskin, but it is in fact, lace. It is hard to see in the pic but these are domed on both sides - creating a bead-like effect.

These sweeties also have a domed back. The discs are brass and the flowers are, once again, pewter I have reclaimed from utensils. Personally I think these are way nicer than a beer mug but that could just be the girl in me talkin'! I gave these ones lovely big, round hooks to hang from.I love that the sterling silver wire is 100% recycled - thank-you A&E Metals.

So this gives you an idea of how the back looks - it is a nice way to finish them off - they feel substantial without being too heavy. I am planning a few more "pretty" ear-rings so it is back to the bench for me. In the meantime I look forward to hearing from all those uni-lobed folks that I just know are out there eagerly waiting for someone to take up their cause and create those single ear-rings ...

Progress ...

2011-07-08T16:49:00.000+09:30

Everything I did yesterday was an epic fail. So frustrating. I am glad to report that today has been far more productive. Generally, I am all too happy to share my frustrations- no sense hiding them under a bushel, but since I have already unloaded on dog and husband I will spare you the burden of that particular tale.Suffice to say that today my equilibrium is restored, my marriage saved and the dog is happy to be allowed back inside ... It may only be one component for one neckpiece, but I am delighted that it has taken shape - with no real disasters along the way (unlike yesterday ). I can now march forth, faith in my abilities restored and climb new creative mountains - small hills preffered!

In the beginning ...

- some brass and watch parts ..

Hmmm - adding some depth ...

Voila!

Contrary to how it appears in the pics, this "clockwork heart" is a reasonable size - about 4cms x 4cms. I am loving this 3D look and can't wait to put it together with some other components, but for now I think I deserve a big, sloppy Margharita and Indian take-away!

2011-07-05T21:22:00.000+09:30

There has of late, been rumblings of protest in some quarters with regard to my proliferation of twee woodland critters. You can read about that here. It would seem though, that despite the gentle chiding and not-so-gentle forehead slapping, cute is in fact quite hard to resist! I am pleased to share with the world that a former denouncer has now become a collaborator in my collecting adventure. Let me set the scene :
A tour of my studio reveals a number of woodland critters that The Denouncer (as she will henceforth be known) had not spied before and I was positively grilled about their sudden appearance. "Bah" I said, "I have had those for ages. Yes, even the little goat ..." She bestowed upon me a sceptical glance but spared me any argument. Next stop was the oppie with the usual rummage through the racks, the corsetry, books and bric-a-brac. I had finalised my purchase when The Denouncer plucks a small palstic prize from a basket. A miracle really given the overflowing nature of the basket. With a grand flourish she presented it to me saying "I think this belongs in your collection. You have to take it home!" Be still my beating heart I thought - The Denouncer is renouncing her denouncing ways (try saying that 3 times, really fast!)

Well of course she was right - that was way more vintage plastic than I could resist. Still, I was gob-smacked by the Denouncer's enthusiasim and I felt tears of joy pricking my eye-lids at the thought of future joint collecting adventures now that we were paddling in the same direction ...

I must confess though that I thought there might be an ulterior motive for all that enthusiasim. Perhaps there was an expletive graffitied on my little friend? I examined her closely and no, she was graffiti and expletive free.

Hhmm - I was still harbouring suspicions as I handed over my fifty-cents ..

I turned her this way and that and finally it dawned on me. My dear little Alpine gal was wearing what can only be described as "the f*ck-off face". Oh yeah, you had better believe it - clearly The Denouncer spotted it way before I did. This is the look that parents of teenagers become familiar with at some point (generally around the same time you look at your partner in bewilderment and say "But he/she was such a sweet toddler!?"). Oh bitter disappointment - I had been all ready to welcome The Denouncer to the dark-side - or should that be the cute-side? Despite this evidence to the contrary, I am clinging to forlorn hope and choosing to believe that The Denouncer is mending her anti-cute ways. With this act she is in fact encouraging me to collect my little heart out. I will not allow my faith in that to be shaken by one wee maid with that look on her face - no, no I will not! And in the meantime I believe a gauntlet has been thrown down and a campaign of CUTE may well be underway!

"The Process"

2011-07-04T13:53:00.000+09:30

Sometimes I just love "The Process". This morning I was tidying up my bench - often it is a good way to start the creative process - and I came across these ring-pulls ...

I have been collecting them for a woman I study with who, in turn, collects them for a charity. I was about to sweep them into a zip-lock bag when suddenly inspiration hit me with all the force of a George-of-the-Jungle style tree-smash! Luckily I wasn't damaged by the experience but I did grab my journal and scribble a few notes because as I am sure many of you know, inspiration can sometimes be elusive and many a good idea has been lost to the ether for want of a few scribbled reminders.

Essentially I am one of those design-by-making types that make art educators want to throw their hands up in despair. I have progressed along the design first/make later road but when I get all excited about an idea the pencil pretty much goes out the window and I start bustling about looking for materials. The up-side is that you get to play around with stuff and have a proto-type at the end. The downside is that the prototype often looks a bit daggy because it gets dinged up when you experiment with different ideas or have to rectify mistakes. So bear all that in mind when you look at my new little proto-type!
Ta-da!

Aww shucks - sweet Ring-pull Babushkas. Refinements will be made - probably even some measuring (!) to even out those rivets and I dare say I will make the faces more bone-like. I want to make ear-rings and a charm bracelet. They measure about 3.4 - 4cms and I think a vintage crystal dangle for the ear-rings might be nice. Do you think they will be too big for ear-rings? Now I need to go and write down the method before I forget!

Flea Market Finds

2011-07-03T13:18:00.001+09:30

This week it was all about green.

An owly money box for a daughter, a non-functioning clock for wall art and some green glass dishes - well, just because I could! Pop over to Sophie's to see the results of everyone's op-shop adventures.

Chain Gang.

2011-06-30T19:28:00.000+09:30

The truth of the matter is that I am not very fond of flame. Hence the appeal of cold connected jewellery. I have made chains and links before by riveting wire but decided I should have a go at a soldered link chain (wtf for?). Of course there is only electrical copper wire here just now so I stripped some of that, coiled it, sawed it so the ends were neat and then the fun began. My soldering experience is very limited - like really limited and it took ages. I fluxed and I placed neat little pallions of silver on the join. More often than not I managed to blow them out of position with my torch - despite heating the rings from the back like the book said ... I have ended up with exactly 19cms of chain - and it only took ONE HOUR and FORTY-FIVE EFFING MINUTES!!!

It is not even that good for Heaven's sake! I vow to persevere though as I feel the gauntlet has been thrown down and I will make that metal behave the way I want it to!

At the moment my success ratio has improved from one in three to three outta five - go me!

Done and Dusted ...

2011-06-29T16:42:00.001+09:30

The first Semester is finally over - phew it has been a bit of a haul these last few weeks! Now I am free to concentrate on making some jewellery for the upcoming SALA festival. I had thought I might get into it fairly well staright away but I have found myself messing about with new techniques, making molds and trying out ideas. I am hopeful that this is part of the "process" and that the real work will emerge any minute now!
I have kicked off the studio time with a roller printed, reclaimed pewter and vinyl LP cameo thingy.

I haven't used the saw to make decorative details like this before ( which is pretty obvious I'm afraid!) and I am not sure that pewter was the right material to practice on - it is soooo soft and "grabby".
Still it is kinda pretty and will work nicely for some Victorian-inspired pieces for the show.

I shall keep practicing with the saw - I can only get better huh?! I will share some of the molds and castings I have made tomorrow - oh and a long and tedious foray into chain making - too much for one small blog post!

Flea Market Finds

2011-06-26T12:32:00.002+09:30

For a little while now, friends have been expressing concern over the increasing number of kitsch woodland critters that keep popping up in my home/ car / studio. Fearing an intervention, I have been quite steadfast in my resolve to leave these little critters in the op-shop for some other obsessive collector. However, this week, my resolve was sorely tested and I succumbed to the lure of 2 saccharin-sweet animals - I am saying this to you with my head bent in shame. Just look at them though ...

Such a sweet little sleeping fox - he reminds me of the way our cat tucks herself in to sleep away the cold Winter days.

The epitome of Australiana kitsch - a kangaroo salt shaker! The only thing better would have been to find the matching pepper shaker which I bet was in the shape of a little joey that nestled in Mamas "pouch"!

It would have been un-Australian to leave this baby behind - so it was in the spirit of patriotic fervor that I handed over my 50 cents!
There you have it - my resistance is shot - enroll me in the 10 step programme, bring on the intervention and send me as many quizzical 'have you lost your mind' looks as you like dear friends ( you know who you are). I just cannot apologise for these, my most recent acquisitions. I know I am not going mad - my little critters tell me I am quite sane everyday.
Join in more collecting madness and mayhem over at Sophie's.

Some days are diamonds ...

2011-06-24T19:01:00.002+09:30

... but today was not shaping up to be one of them! My very first mistake was to steadfastly ignore the dishes piled in the sink and the overflowing laundry basket in order to head into my studio. I had it all planned - a decent day at my bench. Well, ignoring housework doesn't really work 'cos it sets up a whole lot of white noise that gets louder as the day goes on. This is especially so if you make a mistake - instead of finding your zen place and getting in touch with your lateral - thinking - inner - child, you get in touch with your whiny - juiced up - ferocious- inner - psychopath and hurl whatever is giving you grief across the room. ( Ok so I didn't actually throw anything but that is only because my workspace is so small I figured it would ricochet of the wall and hit me in the head! ). I wanted to make a brooch - I have been thinking about the design for a while now so I was keen to get going. I had in mind a lovely big Ovid shape. I drew up a pattern and got stuck in. So this was how it was shaping up ...

Now of course brooches require pins but I thought I had that covered - just a bit of soldering really. WRONG! One of the vagaries of using recycled material is that sometimes it won't do what you expect - like allow itself to be soldered. A person with less white noise cluttering up their brain might have had the foresight to try a piece of scrap first. Hhmmm - 20/20 hindsight! Not to worry - I have worked out how to cold-connect the hook part and I am sure some research will reveal a way to make the pin. My next mistake was this little disaster ...

Yucky saw cuts - bad patterning indeed. I shushed the white noise and came up with a way to add a piece to disguise the ugliness ...

So in the end the piece looks something like this ...

The idea is that whatever you are wearing will form part of the brooch as you will be able to see so much of your shirt/coat/ t shirt through all that negative space. I suppose I should count it as a success because I have learned a lot and call this one a "prototype" - it was pretty frustrating though! And I still have to sort out that pin issue ...

Enjoy Bobby Bare's version of the song in my title!

Hope your week-end days are ALL diamonds!

The Killing Jars

2011-06-20T19:59:00.000+09:30

The "Butterfly Project" is done and dusted. Finito! It was installed today with absolute ease (thanks to some reasonably decent forward planning!) and I am really pleased with how it looks. It is indeed called The Killing Jars - in reference to the jars charged with gas that butterfly collecters have commonly used.

Not the best photo I'm afraid but it gives an overall impresion I guess.

The butterflies have a taxonomy that I created - based loosely on the way butterflies are actually classified in that their names are made up of a family, genus and species. Essentially it reflects the materials they are made of, where that material came from and what it was used for before it was made into a brooch. The family name was taken from the most common family of butterflies found in the region the material originated - so in the UK that would be Lycaenidae. The genus is the material - perhaps aluminium and the species is the what the material was used for - say a beverage can. I translated the genus and species names into Latin American so the result looked something like: Lycaenidae alumina bebida lata. Each butterfly was named using these parameters and labelled accordingly. This was actually a great project to work on - a goodly bit of research was involved so now I am pretty sure I know more about some stuff than I did before I began. That's pretty much always a good thing, right?

On my workbench today ...

2011-06-16T10:07:00.001+09:30

The Butterfly Project continues! I am still making a series of butterflies from stuff that gets thrown away - mostly food packaging. I have used beverage cans, plastic containers and takeaway coffee cups to list a few materials. Did you know that in Australia we use about 1 billion takeaway coffee cups each year? And that many of them are coated with polyethylene which renders them difficult (pretty well impossible actually) to recycle? I didn't know that before I started research for this project. Our consumptive ways have a big impact and sometimes it does my head in thinking about that!

These are made from aluminium food and beverage cans - which are immensely and infinitely recyclable but grubby to manufacture. The good news is that when you do recycle a can, you save enough energy to run a 100 watt light bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours, and a TV for 2 hours.

That centre on has been made from a compact disc. They are made from some curious stuff - queer arse plastic and what not. Technically they can be recycled but it is a very costly exercise so many of them end up in landfill - or more happily as raw materials for my art!

What are you creating today? To see what other people are making in their creative spaces, head over here

Bye Bye Bead Tree.

2011-06-08T09:41:00.000+09:30

My friend is closing the doors of her lovely bead shop at Semaphore. I love a good stroll along Semaphores' main street - fun shops , quirky cafes and grand old pubs. There is even a lovely old independent movie theatre called the Odeon. My daughters love the atmosphere and the fact that all tickets are eight bucks - all the time!

There are several great op-shops and a great beach and jetty waiting at the end of the street as a reward for the exercise - comes complete with fairground in the Summer!

This is a lovely beachside suburb that has so far withstood the invasion of the dreaded McMansions that seem to be gobbling up the rest of the coastline. Still, it is time for Jackies shop, The Bead Tree to close its doors. The good news for Adelaide peeps of the beady kind is that there is gonna be a BIG sale this week-end - June 10, 11 and 12 - with 50% off store wide. woo hoo - that doesn't include the handmade jewellery there 'cos that is consignment work but all the beadies and findings from Swarovskis to Czech glass will be on sale. So you can knock yourself out bargain hunting!

It won't be quite the same without the Bead Tree crew but I guess I will still manage to find a reason (or 20) to hit Semaphore Road!

Farewell Bead Tree!

Buttons, buttons - whose got da buttons?

2011-06-06T21:26:00.003+09:30

Meeeeee! I do love buttons - everything about them is appealing from the sound they make when you shake your Mum's button tin to all the gorgeous colours they come in. Have a peek at part of my button collection ...

It's a mess right ? No order at all really which makes it difficult to access and use all those pretties! Well, it has been a goodly while since I have made any colourful button jewellery and I was in the mood ... So, I bit the bullet and sorted my stash!

I have to admit, it took a bit of courage to tip them out on the table but with the help of my trusty weird-arse divided microwave trays, I made great progress - fairly quickly. And the effort was sooooooo worth the result!

They look great now - and are so easy to find. Oh - and they take up much less space in the studio. I still have to sort the metallic buttons and the mother-of-pearl buttons into containers. This process has also reminded me that there is an AWFUL lot of white buttons in the world and I seem to have garnered more than my fair share of them . Still, after the apocalyptic clean-up I felt quite inspired. Here are some of the pieces I put together ...

After all this, I feel I will sleep the sleep of the righteous and tidy - don't you?!

Flea Market Finds

2011-05-29T12:50:00.000+09:30

It seems as the weather gets colder it is harder to find the motivation to step out of a cosy, warm house. Still, there is thrifting to be done so like all stalwart Treasure Hunters, I soldiered on! This week I discovered - to my surprise - that I have a penchant for angels, or more precisely images of angels. I only brought one home with me but I was tempted by several others.

I think the real appeal of this picture is in fact the foil cake paper that has been used on the frame - very inventive and adding just that bit of glitz don't you think?!

... and doesn't she have a serene face - so kindly even when dealing with marauding children rampaging through fragile ecosystems - gotta admire that! I also found a rusty lotus-shaped votive holder - I think it might find its way into a shrine of some sort.

I also recycled some op-shopped t-shirts into necklaces.

These are definitely "site specific" pieces - they look so great on an actual body but a bit dodgy just sitting around. For a sqizz at what has been going on in the world of thrifting, head over to Sophie's.

Flea Market Finds

2011-05-22T10:11:00.002+09:30

There wasn't a whole lot of thrifting happening around here this week I'm afraid.I did find this patterned Japanese mug on Saturday though.

It is really textured and detailed.

It inspired me to get out my carving tools and make some new stamps.

I haven't done this for quite a while - it was fun to revisit carving and I love the results ...

If you visit Sophie you will be able to see all the stuff people have collected along their thrifting journeys this week.

The Cardi lives on!

2011-05-21T17:06:00.002+09:30

A while back, I purchased three cardigans from the 50 cent rack at a local oppie. None of them were appropriate sizes/colours or styles that would suit any of my mob but they did have rather delicious buttons. Once home, I did indeed pluck off said buttons but I was feeling a tad guilty about returning them to the oppie sans closures - it was a dilemma indeed! "So", I hear you ask, "how did you solve that dilemma and keep the guilt demon at bay Sue?" . Well, in a moment of remarkable clarity and channeling my inner Ikea-ness, I decided to whip up some Wintery cushion covers. Of course I hadn't reckoned with the truculent attitude of the knitwear and their apparent reluctance to be cut up. Slippery, stretchy and generally uncooperative, it was a bit more effort than a simple "whip up". However, I did persist and here are the rewards of my efforts.

I need to add some decorative stitching to a couple of them but overall I am sure you get the idea!

The light green is rather more green than the photo shows, and the olive is - well - more olivey. They are super snuggly and cosy. As for the buttons - I used them up too ...

I manage to squeeze out a necklace and a bracelet from 2 sets and made a brooch from the lovely big red one - that is for me!

I made pewter discs and stamped them to create a kinda pod-like effect.

I also used up one of my lovely metal buttons as a closure on the bracelet. All in all, I think it was $1.50 and a couple of hours well spent - don't you?

Whinge alert!

2011-05-16T22:01:00.000+09:30

I have been flogging my poor brain senseless trying to write an essay and am beginning to think (with the three or four brain cells that remain undamaged by the utter boredom that is in text bloody referencing) that a formal arts education could well see all my creativity fly out the window - or maybe just seep through the floor boards! Whinge, whinge, moan moan ... In order to reassure myself that all is not lost I fished out my latest castings and imagined what I might make with them.

They look a bit motley at the moment but I think most of them should come up ok.

See that bunny there - I think he will be a component in my 'Alice Range' ! Oh I really do have to get all this wretched theory work out of the way so I can get back to my bench. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Flea Market Finds

2011-05-15T15:35:00.000+09:30

Along with all the other folks over at Sophie's, I am showing off my op shop treasures today. I have been hunting with some purpose recently as I am looking for jewellery making materials for an exhibition. It is amazing what you can say "no" to when you are on a mission!

It seems everything this week is rather 'pretty'. The tins I plan to cut up - probably for brooches - although those funny sun faces might make interesting "cameos". The plates too will be smashed and shaped into ear-rings and a bracelet. I plan to cut up the doiley into individual motifs and make them into pendant type thingos. The fur you can just see under the doiley is a collar of what I think is kangaroo fur. Now I don't want to freak anyone out but don't you think it would be cool to make some Victorian style "mourning" jewellery with the fur instead of human hair? The record at the back is old - and really thick - it will become a neckpiece I think. So, that is a "real" use for just about all of it. Ok so the kitties were just cutely kitsch and I couldn't resist them! The book has some great diagrams and pictures.

And to think that I have been labouring under the misapprehension that thought Jethro Tull was a band (remember Thick as a Brick?). Apparently he was an English agriculturalist long before Ian Anderson and the boys got together! Anyhoo - it is a cool diagram of a rather clever invention!

I have to 'fess up that along with the kitties and the book, I had one other "unecessary" purchase ...

... but they are so pretty! And for those of you too young to remember Jethro Tull or old enough to enjoy being reminded ...

h

All in a days work ...

2011-05-12T16:49:00.000+09:30

Well, despite strange visitations from the ether, I have had a decently productive day and have completed one whole piece for SALA. yay! I am making small "ranges" for this show and this one will belong to the "Alice etal" group.

I have topped a brass cuff with some etched copper and added some charms.

I cut the heart from copper and enameled it. It is a bit hard to see, but I am really pleased with the forged ring that the charms hang from. It is iron wire and I have riveted it so it is good and strong. I was hoping to achieve a sort of door-knocker feel 'cos doors and Alice just seem to go together don't they?

The Alice charm is made from two teaspoons, the image comes from the classic book - a copy though - and I have used mica to protect it. That dear little key was a recent find at my favourite antique store here in the Barossa. This is the first time I have made a metal cuff and I did learn quite a bit. Also it is the first time I have attempted that slit- kind- of -fastening- thingo so it was a big day all round! I am hoping to achieve a kind of narrative with this lot of jewellery, something a bit poetic perhaps - well at the very least it's gotta be pretty!

Mysterious mysteries!

2011-05-12T13:57:00.000+09:30

Today I am bashing away in my little workroom - nose firmly to the grindstone as it were. When I do this I often make a playlist for the day and it plays over and over - and over. Since I choose fairly innocuous songs they don't get annoying. Just now something weird happened. I had this overwhelming desire to hear Michael Jackson singing "Man in the Mirror". Now as a rule I am not given to hysterical experiences but I couldn't ignore this - so it was off to Google land for a quick YouTube hit - and now here it is for you too.

The Universe and MJ work in mysterious ways!

Getting on with it!

2011-05-11T09:10:00.003+09:30

So what has been stopping me from getting to work on some gear for an exhibition in August? Could it be the looming deadlines for Uni assignments? Perhaps it is the challenge of getting out of bed now the mornings are cold and dark?
Of course I have been enjoying the company of dear friends lately ... Maybe I have just been doo-lallying about or worse still, procrastinating! Valid as all these reasons might seem, I had a sudden revelation last night - in a flash of brilliant clarity the reason for my lack of progress was startlingly clear - I DON"T HAVE A NICE JOURNAL! Doh - it should have been obvious some time ago that one must have a suitable receptacle for one's ideas and designs. So, it was full steam ahead last night and I whipped up a decent sort of cover for the only journal (not in use) that was lurking in my work room ....

An assortment of odd bits gleaned from the fabric cupboard - I see a bit of a bandanna in there along with a shirt I got from the oppie that the ManBeast declared too "girlie" to wear - that's the small roses on a cream background - pfft - too girlie indeed!

This is a bit of a woven placemat thing - I remember buying it for the graphic without any real intention for it's use and now here it is, gracing the front of my new art journal - which just goes to prove that covetting interesting fabric and hoarding it is in fact a perfectly sensible thing to do.

And now, the process begins ...

Wish me luck ...

shrine

2011-05-08T16:20:00.004+09:30

The latest work from South Australian artist Audrey Harnett is an amalgamation of "memento mori" and the heartfelt nostalgia of Victorian mourning jewellery and I was lucky enough to have a sneak peek - so of course I had to share it with you! This beautiful shrine is dedicated to the passage of time and the natural states of change and decay that passage renders.

Constructed entirely of found objects gleaned from the beaches and bushland of Kangaroo Island the shrine is also a celebration of love - and loss - as part of the Natural Order.

The exterior of the shrine is adorned with vintage sheet music and Audrey's screen and relief print images of birds - the symbol of the supernatural link between the heavens and the earth.

Below is the detail of an image Audrey has etched onto copper and attatched to the shrine.

As intriguing as a cabinet of curiousity the shrine begs to be opened ...

When the contents are revealed we find -

- bones and tin and pieces of driftwood hand-carved into beautiful organic heart shapes arranged in a manner that invites us to contemplate our own mortality and the beauty of life.

I once read somewhere that Joseph Cornell was an alchemist - collecting and arranging found objects to create stories about things we cannot see like memories, ideas and feelings, out of things we can see and are often quite familiar with. I think Audrey is weaving her own magic for us with this visual poem - don't you?

My Creative Space

2011-05-05T14:09:00.000+09:30

Joining all the other creatives over at Kirsty's today. At the moment my creative space is all about butterflies ...

All in various stages of completion. All made of "found" or reclaimed materials. All need to be finished soon - ish!

Flea Market Finds

2011-05-01T11:04:00.000+09:30

Earlier this week my eldest daughter and I had a little oppie outing. She picked up these boots for just four bucks!

They are quite nice and looked like they hadn't been worn. When we got them home, it became apparent that my girl had some plans for them ...

Hhmmm - out came the studs and hammer - she enlisted her Dad for help with making holes and before we knew it - voila! Much punkier but I am afraid she still wasn't satisfied ...

We made some leather tassels to dangle from the back of the ankle and added half a zip around the top edge to complete the look.

And there you have it - a complete restyling and a much edgier look. She wore them on Friday night for her birthday dinner and combined with her leopard print stockings and LBD, looked a million bucks. See, a little imagination (and access to tools and stuff) goes a long way! Head over to Sophie's to see what treasures others have unearthed at the oppies this week.

Thank you Mr Mars.

2011-04-30T18:58:00.000+09:30

Pretty sure that this is gonna be my "Sunday Anthem" ...

A little bird told me ....

2011-04-30T10:03:00.003+09:30

...this casting business is addictive - and it is true!

Here is what happens when you just can't stop ...

This is a bird and twig casting combined - although I did lop off the poor birdy's feet!

I also tried attaching it with a loop hanger...

...but in the end I decided the twirly vine thingy worked best.

I have made this one as a birthday gift for my eldest who turned 22 (yikes!) yesterday but I will definitely revisit this design. I purchased that lovely dinged up heart at the Creative Souls retreat last year from Judy. I riveted on the cog on as a bit of a reminder that whilst our hearts do get a bit dinged and dented along Life's path - they still keep working. This is the last week-end before Uni goes back and it is going to be a pressure-cooker term - it is very short - so I hope to make some more molds whilst I have the time - and energy!

CastAway.

2011-04-24T18:02:00.001+09:30

Well that is a lame title for this post - let's blame it on fatigue - and over-consumption of joyfulness. And exactly what is making me so joyful? I am glad you asked because I am busting to share my latest adventure with metal! I have had another go at casting pewter. I made the molds, melted the pewter and everything. Given my slight phobia about flame ( ah yes, that is one of the reasons cold connections are so dear to my heart ...), I have managed quite well.
This is the first go ...

This is what they looked like when I de-molded them. I am recycling the pewter that I recycle for other things rather than buying new alloys, so it is a bit grubby. I am working on a way to fix that but for now I am content to deal with the scuzzy bits. These were actual twigs that I collected and used to create a mold.

I used a paperclip topper to make the bird mold - I think it will be rather sweet ...
And here are the twigs all cleaned up ...

I am delighted with the detail from the molds - I patinaed this one to highlight the craggy bark.

And in-situ ...

Copper "twigs" and a hand-shaped crockery shard - I am not sure the photo does it justice really because you miss all the detail of the twig - sigh - never mind I bet you get the idea huh? Oh happy days - I can see this becoming an obsession!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T09:22:00.000+09:30

Hope everyone is enjoying the Easter break!

More textile goodness ...

2011-04-23T16:56:00.001+09:30

So, whilst I had the contents of my fabric cupboard strewn all over the place, I decided to get onto a project that I thought about at Christmastime. I was going to make some journals as gifts but, despite having purchased the blank journals, never quite got the idea off the ground! Yesterday was the day and I snipped and appliqued 5 little removable journal covers - go me!

I used a combo of new and vintage fabrics and odd bits and pieces I ahd lyimg around. Today they went off to brighten the shelves of a lovely shop in a nearby town - if they don't sell at least I will have made an early start on Christmas!

Playing with textiles.

2011-04-20T13:49:00.000+09:30

Mmmm - fabric covered beads and collage cuffs. I love the Term Break!

With a chop chop here and a chop chop there ...

2011-04-19T17:44:00.001+09:30

From frump ...

to Fab!

I am so delighted that my daughter recognised the potential of this op-shop find! She told me she loved the bodice detail - self-covered buttons and a sweetheart neckline and decided it was worth risking a couple of bucks on! We chopped off a heap of fabric to create a more modern hemline, shortened the sleeves and added two under-the-bust darts for a bit more shape. I think the result is great and so does my girl! We had heaps of fabric over and used the chopped off sleeves to make a cute headband.

I also made a cover for a bag to use for Uni. I recovered one earlier this year but it is too stiff - no slouch factor at all - I couldn't stuff heaps of books and things in it. Clearly, it had to go! I found a beauty in the oppie and eagerly parted with my two bucks!

Boring ,bletchy, grey but a great shape. This is what it became ...

and a close-up ...

The wool suiting came from the op-shop as did all the other little bits and pieces. I am really happy with it - I kinda feel like a kid with new stationary at the beginning of the school year! What fun it has been to have daughter #2 home for a few days!

Flea Market Finds

2011-04-17T12:29:00.000+09:30

Well, the Great Button Embargo of 2011 has been well and truly lifted! Yes indeedy, I succumbed to the lure of their shiny roundness - and the fact that this big heap only cost two bucks. I am a sucker for a bargain ...

Most of these are rather modern but they are great Autumn colours and there are one or two really nice metal ones that I think would be great models to cast - like the one with the flowers on the left there. And this one with a coat of arms ...

At the very same op-shop I found a lovely piece of embroidery. The volunteer lady told me her Grandma had stitched it ...

It is like an envelope bag I guess - very pretty huh? Just look at those neat stitches!

A little later I found some more cute embroidery ...

Puppies (or possibly kittens?) in pots! Seriously cute. I think I will use these pieces to cover the front of a messenger bag. First I will have to add a few stitches to the dog/cats as they have no eyes and I will feel bad if they remain blind! Lots of folks find lots of cool stuff and share it over at Sophie's, so why not pop over and check it out?!

I'm late, I'm late - but I must take a photo ...

2011-04-16T16:45:00.001+09:30

Dear old Adelaide is not as renowned for its lane-ways and graff-art as Melbourne, although there has been a spate of quite excellent paste-ups recently - I think their impermanence renders them kinda polite graffiti which also kinda suits Adelaide. Still the other day I was rushing to Uni and took a lane I don't usually use and just had to stop and take some snaps of some really vibrant wall art.

I was rushing because my train was delayed and I needed to meet with a fellow artist to set up an installation - we were on a deadline! All ended well though and we were able to set up in time. Our brief for this installation was to create a Cabinet of Curiousity in response to a visit to the Museum of Economic Botany. This museum has some great stories to tell about our interconnectedness with plants. It made us think about sustainability - much of the variety shown in the museum is now missing in the real world and also the role of the museum in preservation of both objects and stories.We chose to create some plantforms that a future museum might house - hybrid botanicals that have morphed with the junk redolent in our dirt.

We filled the cabinet with layers of plastic rubbish and polystyrene

Instead of placing our objects within the cabinet, we decided to place them on top

The plant forms

We cast the forms with soap - something we use daily that we hope will remind us of the daily impact we have on our environment.

This process was a bit fraught as neither of us had any real casting experience. We learned a lot and I am delighted with the outcome - a contemporary Cabinet of Curiousity. It seemed to generate some interest and discussion almost immediately so that is a good response. It was great to work collaboratively with an artist that I was so insync with - it doesn't always happen and when it does - magic!

Flea Market Finds

2011-04-10T08:49:00.001+09:30

Today my Flea Market Find is small - but lovely. I am sure all of you regular op-shoppers are aware that buttons in thrift stores have become a hot commodity. I think longingly about the days when a whole jar of buttons could be purchased for a few dollars. They are scarcer and more expensive these days. There are a couple of stores I frequent where the wonderful volunteers stitch buttons onto cards which is just lovely. I try to restrict my button purchases a bit now because I don't really make that much jewellery with them any more - the market is flooded! Every now and then I find some that I just can't resist ...

They are glass buttons the colour of shiny pewter.

The detail in the design is amazing.

They look a bit like faux marquasite.

I have consulted my trust little "button bible" ...

It seems that they were produced between 1940 and 1960. They are in really good nick so I am guessing 1960ish - before I was born at any rate! Now that you have seen my little treasures why not pop over to Sophie's and see what everyone else has been collecting this week.

Serendipity?

2011-04-08T22:18:00.000+09:30

Have you ever noticed that if you buy a white Volkswagen suddenly the world seems to be full of white Volkswagen's? Or if someone says they are looking for old-school heated rollers you find a zillion lurking in every op shop you walk in to? This week whilst looking for info for an essay, I got sidelined by YouTube (meh, why fight it?) and stumbled across some really cool demos of a metal working technique called fold-forming. Then I get to uni to find a pal banging away some fold- formed objects. By now I am starting to hear the faint strains of the "Twilight Zone" theme in my head. Yesterday a new book turned up in my letter box and guess what it has ( among other stuff) in it? Yep - a bunch of fold-forming projects! A small orchestra has struck up in my head now! Here is my first attempt at fold-forming - ta-dah ...

This started out as a strip of flat metal and by virtue of repeated bashing and heating and bashing some more, I have bent it to my will ... mwahahaha ...

Frankly, I can't imagine that this will become a wearable piece of jewellery, but it is kind of nest-like so there are other possibilities. It is a longish process ( mental note - buy heavier hammer!) but worth it to see that flat metal become a 3 dimensional object.

And for those of you who don't remember the Twilight Zone ...

Sewing Adventures

2011-04-06T18:07:00.001+09:30

I had a lot of fun on the week-end. I watched my son play soccer for the first time this season. I ate knackwurst and sauerkraut in a roll. And, I broke out the sewing machine.As I mentioned in my last post I wanted to make a top like one I had purchased - from a real store with real money. Firstly, I had to make a pattern.

Now since I was planning to sew this out of stretch fabric I didn't worry about straight lines etc 'cos I figured with the stretchy stuff you always get a certain amount of "easement". I had a fish through my cupboard and found some fabrics to add to my Dollar Day op-shop finds that I showed you in my last post. It took a bit of juggling and I had to quell my natural instinct to include a bit of every fabric and managed to keep it tonal. I had some concerns about this bold pattern - I don't want to look like a Jester afterall.

I paired it with some plainer fabrics - I even managed to include the pocket of the cardie I was cutting up ...

So after a bit of faffing about choosing the fabrics, this is what I had laid out ready to sew.

It is so easy to make - you just have to remember to put the bits together in the right order. On Sunday the lovely Miss Kath paid me a visit and we made a whole schebang of these! (5 I think!)

I still have to finish the hems and add a few details - like some buttons to the pocket but I am Big Kev excited about my new Autumn/Winter wardrobe! They are long enough to wear with leggings but look good with jeans too. I will layer these up with tees and cardies as the weather gets cooler. Being uber stretchy is a real bonus for a shapely girl like me - so comfy! So there you have it - Super Sewing Adventures with Sue - hee hee!

Flea Market Finds

2011-04-03T08:45:00.003+09:30

Once again Sunday has rolled around and it is time to play along with Sophie and friends to show off our thrifting treasures. I am a complete sucker for cup and saucer sets and my collection has grown too big for the space I inhabit so I have been under a self-imposed embargo on further purchases. Until now. A unique shape and design with no hallmarking of any kind and only $2 ... well, what would you have done? Of course I had to buy it!

The outside of the cup is completely plain but inside is a sweet surprise ...

The gold decoration looks like text to me and is a great example of clever pattern making. I am planning to test this set out with a leisurely cup of Lady Grey this arvo. I have been having trouble keeping my journals straight for Uni, I often end up grabbing the wrong one as I am racing out the door. I decided I needed to differentiate them and train my brain to associate a certain pattern with a certain subject. I am pretty sure this has kinda been done with lab rats so I reckon I have a reasonable chance of success. To that end, I hunted up some fabric in the oppie and made re-usable covers for a couple of my journals.

Even if the brain-training doesn't work they are a big improvement on the boring black covers!

I have been all inspired by Don over at Urbandon who has been delving into the world of Japanese pattern making. Not that I am planning anything quite so complex! I purchased a top (new!) and I love it but hate that I paid real money for it so I figure if I make a few like it fron stuff from the op-shop then really I can divide the price by however many I make. Seems logical right? So pleased that Dollar Day/Week at the thrift store has coincided with my desire to sew. Here is a little stash of knit-fabric garments that I plan to repurpose.

I will fill you in later on the details and hopefully the finished product. Hope you are having a creative, fun filled week-end or really whatever kind of week-end you like best.

BBBBBbbooooookks!

2011-03-31T15:07:00.001+10:30

I am not a massive fan of shopping centres - I avoid them if I can but today I required the services of a same-day engraver. Because I am unorganised. And forgetful. So there was only one choice - spend 30 minutes in the car to get to the nearest shopping centre with said engraver. I admit I did this grumpily. Possibly even petulantly. sigh. Whilst I was waiting for the exorbitantly priced engraving to take place, I eye-spied a bunch of Pensioners lurking about a stall in the middle of the mall. In my experience, it is often a good idea to check out things that interest Pensioners because they are a canny lot and know a bargain when they see one. I elbowed my way through the pack ( these Pensioners were jolly tough and were immune to gentle throat clearing coupled with"excuse me'") So glad I did, for it seems a local library felt the need to divest itself of some books. One of the Pensioners thrust one of those green type shopping bags at me and said "Here fill it up for $5". I couldn't believe my ears but I knew she was an Official Friend of the Library because that is what her handmade name tag said in all its glitter-glue glory! Well I didn't need to be told twice and I jumped right into the fray and 2 laps of the table and one crushed toe latter ( never underestimate the crushing power of orthopedic footwear!) I had a bag so full I could barely lift it! This is my stack ...

Oh my - if only it was holiday time - I could slouch about and read them all - one after the other. Alas I will have to wait a few weeks. I love this one called yilpinji . It is full of Aboriginal stories and art about love.

Now I have to admit I am not much of a gardener and frankly the only reason I would buy a gardening book would be if it had "gin" in the title. Or came with a bottle of Gin. Or Tequila.

This week at Uni we had the good fortune to have a squizz at an amazing fossil replica.

It was really beautiful and the technology that was developed to capture it is also quite remarkable. One of the books I found today is about Fossil Invertebrates and has lots of cool pics like this one :

I also found this amazing book on piercing and body decoration. The photos are awesome and catalogue piercing as ornamentation along geo-cultural lines as well as contrasting contemporary piercing with traditional piercings. Check out these pics:

A Masai woman from Kenya with massively stretched piercings.

This bloke has 137 body and facial piercings - can you imagine the racket when he goes through the detector thingy at the airport?!

I still have trouble sleeping on the side that has a stud piercing in my upper ear - I can't imagine trying to find a comfy spot with all of these. I think on Festive occasions it would be very tempting to weave all those loops with colourful ribbons though ...

What an amazing assortment of books huh? So now I feel less begrudging about having had to make the journey. My toe is still sore though - damn Ramboesque Pensioners!

Paper Bunting - how-to.

2011-03-29T10:10:00.003+10:30

I have had a few questions about the paper bunting I posted over in Flea Market Finds and I have decided the best way to address them is to pop a little "how-to" here.

You will need : old books you are willing to cut up

a glue stick

pencil and ruler

scissors

scrap card to make a triangle template

string or thread to hang the bunting

(if you have a bone-folder they are very handy but a fingernail

will also work!)

Step 1. Create a triangle template. At its longest point it should be the length of your page when the page is folded in half. Mine is about 4.5cms across and 5.5 cms long but yours can be whatever size you like - depending on the size of the book pages you are using.

Step 2. Fold your page in half lengthways and crease it with your bone folder (or fingernail!)

Step3. Place your template on the folded page so that the widest part (the non-pointy bit!) lies against the crease and trace as many triangles as will fit onto your page.

You will end up with something that looks like this :

Step 4. Pause for a cup of tea if necessary. If not, cut out the triangles.

When you open them up, they will look like this :

It is a good idea to refold and recrease them to get a sharp edge - use the bone-folder or fingernail method!

(you will also have a bunch of single triangles that you can use for other projects!)

Step 5. Open up the folded triangles and apply glue all over one half.

Step 6. Cut a length of string or cotton the length you want your bunting to finish up. Starting at one end and leaving enough string to create a loop or tie onto things, lay the string along the crease in the triangle.

Step 7. Fold the triangle in half again, capturing the string inside. Press all over with fingertips or the bone-folder to ensure excellent stick-togetherness.

Step 8. Repeat as many times as necessary to create the length desired. I leave a gap of about 2cms between each triangle but that could vary depending on the size of your triangle - just see what looks best! Then decorate as desired - small stamps are nice or you might like to cut out images/ doileys/shapes to stick on. If your text has some pictures you could colour them in for another look.

Step 9. Hang up your bunting, boil the kettle for a cuppa and sit back and bask in the wonderment that is your creative ability to create such a lovely thing! Have fun!

Flea Market Finds

2011-03-27T19:32:00.001+10:30

After a lovely twirl around our local Farmers Market ...

with a basket brimming with fresh goodies ...

I paid a quick visit to one of my favourite op-shops and was rewarded with this little gem ...

It is a sweet dove-grey Meakin jug and it looks just perfect holding these blooms - rescued after the rain ...

I also turned up a couple of Agatha Christie paperbacks, a book on typography and some linen tea-towels. A very nice Saturday morning haul! Earlier this week I continued using up a very dilapidated copy of Alice in Wonderland to make some tiny bunting.

The stamp in the middle is a wee hand-carved one that my eldest daughter bought for me at a Sydney market some time ago - isn't it cute? Pop over to Sophie's to see what she and the rest of the gang have been collecting this week.

Mad March

2011-03-25T16:41:00.001+10:30

I feel as if I have not been keeping up with things lately. Perhaps I am getting lazy in my middle years? Hhmm. I have had a little recap of what has been happening here during Mad March and maybe lazy is the wrong adjective! There has been an abundance of Birthday Celebrations, some of them for significant Birthdays like 21sts and the big 5-0h too. So that means costumes and gifts to make, food to prepare and bunting to sew - and champagne to wash it all down!

via

Just one more 21st party and that will be March done!

There have been two average sized assignments to research and write for Uni ..

Yes it is true - I still write my essays in long-hand first!

I have put together a small body of work ( a dozen pieces I think) for a show with a fellow student - some pieces like these ...

And I also designed and made some fabo jewels for a Year 12 Formal - big and shiny was the request ...

Dangly, dangly ear-rings to match the dress...

and a cuff to go with ...

Yeah - big and shiny are two of my favourite things - except when it comes to noses - I prefer them on the smaller side. I used a lot of lovely Swarovski crystal in Golden Shadow - mmmmmm - shineeeeee!

I have also been playing here:

I spend two days a week at Uni and they feel like long days now because it is dark when I leave home. Plus there is the usual "Mum" stuff of dealing with broken hearts, tricky work situations and Year 12 workload and there seems to be an expectation that there will be food in the house and the occasional load of washing done. And shirt and tie shopping for aforementioned Formal. And an appearance at the last ever school sports day for this family (yay!). I haven't replanted the herb pots or rung my niece or tidied my studio but I have managed the odd conversation with the ManBeast even though it is Vintage time and he is rarely sighted.

Crap, it is no wonder I haven't had time to shave my legs!

What happens when ...

2011-03-18T18:27:00.000+10:30

.. you are meant to be writing a 750 word intro for a research paper and your brain refuses to co-operate? Well I will tell you what happens - sewing - that's what!

Add a falling-apart paperback and some watercolours and you have some sweet little gift bags - just right for the mad birthday month of March!

Flea Market Finds

2011-03-06T08:59:00.001+10:30

Time to join in the fun over at Sophie's. I had a lovely forage around a local antique store on Saturday morning - it was a reward I gave myself for writing an Art History essay! Looksee what I got - all tucked up in neat little bags that the store owner folds out of odd bits of paper - not a drop of glue is used!

Loads of deliciousness inside ...

These little beauties are old boot buttons - I think they will make adorable clasps for vintage jewellery.

I can see this button becoming a model for a mold that I can cast pewter into.

A few more "ancestors" - they look like a lively bunch!

Who could resist this sweet face?

The quality of the picture is not great but the spirit of friendship is clear in this image so I just had to bring it on home. These gals look like they know how to have a good time.

And what would a visit to the antique store be without finding some little keys? Disappointing is what it would be! I am delighted that I found these ones 'cos they are just the right size to include in all sorts of jewellery.

I feel my essay writing efforts were well rewarded and I headed home with a renewed sense of purpose. Ok, so that lasted as long as it took to make a cuppa and settle in front of a dvd but hey, I am still feeling righteous!