Video of jewellery

In the process of doing last minute preparations for New Designers next week.Very exciting, I think the stand is going to look great! In a bid to show the movement of my work, I have created this short video of two of my pieces which move in different ways

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wKIH_gfZdk&feature=mh_lolz&list=HL1309112502

I think this may be a good way to show the concept of my work, other than showing the movement of the pieces in person.

Degree Show Preview

Friday evenings preview was very busy and hectic but an exciting experience. It was the first time my final degree work was seen by the public, which was quite nerveracking but its been great to have some feedback.

Here is an image of my work in the show just before the preview started:

 

The course tutors put a lot of work into giving the show a new look this year, which I think really paid off judging by the general feedback and the buzz in the room on Friday.

It was also fantastic to have so many sponsors from the industry providing awards and prizes at the preview, each offering amazing opportunities. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the show and am in the middle of finalising arrangements for New Designers next week! Busy busy busy!

Degree show work part 2

More images of my final collection:

Degree Show work

Here are some of the photos taken of my final collection The photographer, David Golding was a pleasure to work with and the collaboration was really successful in bringing out the best in the pieces through images.

Kinetic bangle with etched map detail. Silver plated brass but can be commissioned to make in solid silver with etched map that is specified by the wearer. The two central bands spin fluidly when held at the top, and when worn will gently move with the wearer.

Brooch- oxidised copper and white metal. The pin runs through the central tubing of the piece which creates the structure around which the rings are placed. The pin has a cultured pearl on the end. each of the three rings can spin independantly. A geometric brooch when worn, and sculptural and tactileobject when held.

The spinning rings series. Inspired by watch parts, the rings have screw tops and can be layered with a variety of white metal or oxidised copper rings, some set with black diamonds. The bobbins have been a reccurrent theme throughout my degree, in this collection they feature a journey map, describing a significant route I have made throughout my life to visit relatives across the country.

Earrings 2- silver and oxidised silver and swarovski beads

Today I will continue making the pendant piece I have started working on which features etched map on clear perspex and I might have a go at setting some manufactured diamonds I have bought- as these pieces are fairly cheap it mean I am able to have a go at stone setting myself without worrying about ruining them!

Unedited images of some finished and almost finished work

Just took these with a point and shoot canon, will be taking some more soon with SLR for portfolio. Taken in home made light box, as directed by this great blog:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

heres my attempt:

gives a much more even background than ive managed to achieve before- with the exception of the brooch photo which was one of my first but i actually preferred the composition which is why I chose it!

This work will feature in my degree show and New Designers- 7 more pieces to come!

New Designers

Four weeks until final assessment...

I am now almost halfway into completing my final collection. Im definately feeling the time pressure- only two weeks left to make so I can produce my portfolio. Due to the rise in the cost of silver, and the technical aspect of my work I am making quite a few samples in brass to then be silver plated as models for the degree show and New Designers, so I will be taking a trip to Birmingham soon. Heres a few images of work in progress...

Im really enjoying working with the silver that I am using to make the smaller pieces of the collection. The spinning parts on the rings above have been waterjet cut. This required a lot of trial and error, as the machinary usually cuts very thick material and so the 0.5m brass became distorted under the pressure. The metals had to be sandwiched between thicker plates of steel to try and stop this. The pieces look quite lifeless lying flat in the photo- they are most interesting when worn with the rings spinning freely!

Catching up!

For some strange reason my laptop wont allow me post, so im resorting to using the computers at university to update from now on.

Currently I am about five weeks into my final year project, aiming to design and make a collection for the MMU degree show, and the New Designer exhibition in London in June/July.

Ive made good progress so far in forming my ideas and now have a rough idea of what the collection is consist of. Each new piece or idea I make is stimulating a whole range of ideas at the moment, which is reasurring as I could see this being a project which could span over years as well as the months I will concentrate on it in my degree.

Here's a selection of images of my developing work, theres been good progress this week which has advanced these pieces further, particularly with the brooches, and I will upload these when I have taken them off my camera.

The work is continuing the theme of movement and is based on my research into maps, cartography and navigational objects.