Smashing Old Chum!

 Blogtoberfest (Day 27)

I had a lovely time this morning smashing china - it is very therapeutic. I totally get why plate smashing is such a popular wedding feature!

Once I was done with the smashing, I had to turn my 'shards' into something more presentable ...

Ah, sooo much nicer and infinitely more wearable. Shaping china is a grotty job. I wear a face mask and goggles as well as a big apron but I still manage to get fine dust on my face and all over my clothes. Seriously, I would do it naked except that I'd be too afraid that I could have a slip and do serious damage (now that is a mental image you didn't need huh?). I love watching these pieces take shape. Today, one thing led to another and before I knew it ...

a new bird was hatched! This is a first for me - by far the most ambitious shaping I have ever undertaken. It measures about 6cms across so it isn't tiny but will be great for a pendant. Smashing! As for those other pieces? Well, here is what I have made with them ...

These will are part of some work I am putting together for a juried exhibition, but more about that tomorrow!

Blissed Out.

I am renaming yesterday "BlissDay". I am sure you will understand why when you cast your eye over these .

Blue skies and dovecotes ...

All the colours of Spring ...

Rustic garden features ...

French Earl Grey tea out of pretty china cups ...

... and all this in the company of my bestest pals. Sigh - it doesn't get much better than that does it?

"Ready Rupert"

Here is another exhibition piece that has gone to a new home. I am posting it here because I had a comment from the pair over at Woolfenbell about using china to make jewellery. This piece started life as a promotional mug for our daily newspaper "The Advertiser" ( can you believe we only have one daily?!). I found it all lost and alone in the thrift store and was immediately attracted to it because it was covered in text. When I discovered that text was in fact snippets from newspaper reports I was over the moon! I cut it up as carefully as a gem cutter might approach the Hope Diamond - to me it was just as precious and I really wanted to maximise the amount of text I could use. Then each piece was shaped and drilled. I decided to create a metal disc with the words "seek truth" stamped on it because I think it would be rather nifty if our newspapers did just that! I called the piece "Ready Rupert" - a reference to the owner of "The Advertiser" ( and a whole chunk of Australian media!), kind of as a plea to the man to allow his journalists to actively seek the truth without regard to who he favours, be they advertisers or political parties. Jewellery as a political statement? Hells yeah! Why not?!

The piece is designed to sit quite flat on the collar bone.

The text looks like little bits of torn newspaper.

Each piece is woven together with wire.

The double-sided disc - made from an old tray and stamped with "seek truth".