Decisions

I'm in two minds at this exact moment, I had just typed up a post saying I wasn't going to put up any more images of work until the degree show, I don't want to spoil the surprise, but then I suppose there are maybe people reading this who won't be able to come and I'll be putting the work up anyway so why wait. So while I decide I thought I would compromise and put up this picture because it's a piece I've shown before, but this time it's modeled by Miss Jen Ker who I accosted during our lunch break last week while we were chatting. She kindly agreed to be photographed wearing all my brooches, I thought it was important for them to be shown in some sort of context so that you can see how big the piece really is. As you can see this one is fairly small and delicate. The one thing I had to promise was her face isn't in any of the photos so the images are pretty cropped, so while still difficult to tell the scale, its easier than if they were on a plain white background. So for now, this image will have to do while I decide about showing the rest now or waiting until after the 16th of May.

Also, I will be opening up my online store soon I think. Probably during the degree show or the week after. Just some advanced warning so you can all start saving up your pennies :p

And finally, it's the 2nd year assessments in the department tomorrow and the 3rd year by the end of the week, so good luck to them all, I'm sure none of them need it though.

I hope you've all had a good start to your week and that you're enjoying the same lovely weather we were treated to today here in Dundee. x

Mounting

Mounting has definitely been the name of the game today. Right after taking photos of all my work, fiddling with them on the computer then getting them printed off. All of this to put them in my folio. So one more job crossed off of the list of things to do for assessments. Tomorrows job is to finish my sketchbooks and build little card models of bird houses seeing as I can't find any decent ones to just buy.

The piece above is [obviously] a brooch which looks very simple on the front but has a little secret on the back. Nothing entirely exciting mind you, just an etching of one of my drawings, but a nice little touch I think.

Have a good weekend. x

Thoughts

Only two thoughts for the day, it's too late and I'm too tired for anything else at the moment.

1 : It's slightly depressing that a years work can fit happily into a 1 foot by 1 1/2 foot space.

2 : Who'd have thought it would be hard to buy a plain little bird house, some I've seen are fancier than my flat.

See you soon x

Countdown

Only two weeks to go now guys, but I think I'm ready for it to be done and for summer to be here. Lovely weather the past few days, still a little chill in the wind but I'm sure it will only take a couple more weeks and that will be gone.

Above are two new pieces I've just finished. Hours of blood, sweat and tears went into these, more so than the rest. All because I decided it was a good idea to make the chain by hand. OK, so I'm pleased with the results but oh the misery that comes with it. These haven't even been cleaned up yet, so that the job for Monday, then that way, all my pieces for the degree show will be done. I would start another, I have the time, but I don't want to tempt fate. Plus it would make more sense to use this time to do display work, and the very, very, very neglected sketchbooks. Two weeks seems a long time but there is no point in cramming too much in and ending up with a lot of half done jobs rather than a few well done ones, I'm sure you'll agree. Anyway, the top piece is a bit of a monster, it's not exactly the most practical of things in the world, but that's not really what the art school is all about is it. It's a two meter long chain with a hut hanging on each end, you basically wrap it round your neck as you like then hook the little hut onto the chain if you want, or just have them both hanging. When its not on it looks like some sort of not quite right skipping rope. I've no ideas on how to display it at the moment, I'm not really wanting to use mannequins but it might come down to it with this one. The second piece is a bit more practical but was a nightmare to make, the links were so fine and small it was hit and miss but I think in the end I only messed up two of them, and therefore only had two to replace, so it went very well all things considered.

Postcards also arrived this week, Tenna was right, you're never pleased with what you get. It's not that the print isn't good, the quality is excellent. It's just by the time they arrive you've moved on and have something else you would have preferred to have used as your image. Always a next time though ;) Saying that, I'm never pleased with anything I make, no matter what it's never quite right or how I wanted, I guess that's just how things are though. If everything was perfect or as it's meant to be then I could put down my tools now and go home, no need to be making anything else. I could just happily bake cakes and knit till the cows come home. But we know that won't happen so it means my friends still have to hear my endless moan of "I don't like it". Oh well, I'm sure they don't mind much as long as I keep feeding them cake :)

Have a nice weekend x

Limbo

Everything is up in the air at the moment, that strange way when lots is going on but nothing is quite done. There is still lots more to do and not enough time to do it in. Funnily enough, panic still doesn't seem to have set in so I can still function as a normal human being, or as close to one as I'll ever get. Sure enough though, that horrible queasy feeling sometimes creeps in at night and you know it's from the thought of everything that still has to be done. No doubt it won't be long until the queasy feeling is all day every day until everything is over.

As I mentioned before my good friend Iain is setting up a website for me. If he is to be believed, things will be up and running soon. He is however, a very busy man these days, organising moving to London and all the hustle and bustle that it involves so if the site takes a little longer I'm sure I can forgive him.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

golden birds

Well well, today was highly productive. I got three pieces finished, another three started. Hoorah! Above are two of the finished pieces, both are gold plated and oxidised silver with etching details and hanging gold birds.

The top two images are [obviously] a small decorative bowl (about 5 or 6cm diameter) and the last picture is of a pin brooch *note to self : start coming up with titles for things*. I do like when things come along at a decent pace, less worry all round about the apparent lack of productivity. I have come to the conclusion that no matter what I do, I work in spurts. Despite working away for a few weeks and not much seeming to happen, suddenly I find myself with a few things all coming together at once. Ah well, whatever works, shouldn't complain as long as I have work at the end of the day :)

Also, Emily and I swapped our cake day duties, she's having some issues with her kitchen so I offered to go this week to give her some more time to sort stuff out. All went well and thanks to Iain for helping with the making. I do apologise for so many things going wrong, it's not normally that bad, I promise. Anyhoo, on the menu today we found the chocolate ganache cup cakes I wrote about a few posts ago and a banana, pecan and toffee loaf. It was all gone in 20 minutes flat. Cakes never last when there are 19 hungry and stressed jewellers on the prowl. As long as it was all enjoyed thats all that counts.

Hope you all have a nice weekend and speak to you soon. x

Getting there

Hello all,

I hope I find you all well this evening. Above are some pictures of work in progress in the workshop. The top picture is a pin brooch that hangs on the wearers top and has a small gold bird hanging inside, I'm quite pleased with this piece I have to admit :) Nice little thing. The lower picture is a pendant in the same style and the big purple blob is a pin brooch that is getting ready for plating. The purple stuff is stop out that stops the plating from taking hold on those areas. You can get some nice decorative things going on if you have the patience to paint it all on. It's about the consistency of nail varnish so its not the easiest job in the world!

Today we were building plinths for the degree show, after being assured it would be a one hour job, 5 hours later we were done. We built 1 each in that time, such a waste of a day. I had so many plans! But needs must and all that jazz so chin up and get on.

More pictures soon of things coming out of and going on in our workshop. Hope you're all well.

x