Lately, in the Studio

Lately, I've been having lots of fun playing with new work in the studio, tinkering around with bits of silver and dashes of colour, just the way I like things.

I've started playing with a new range inspired by the scales on Japanese Koinobori banners.  I want the pieces stackable with variations in colours that will blend together, these are some of my results so far....

I've also started extending my "Rock Pool" range.  My scarlet Rock Pool drop earrings are my go-to earrings, they go with most things in my wardrobe and I feel instantly more glamourous just by slipping them on.  I'm now working on some stacking rings to add to the range in a variety of different hues.

And of course, the main purpose of my recent trip to Japan was to source new fabric and handmade papers for the Kimono Reincarnate signature ranges.  I really love the treasures I found and how they're turning out.

And pssst... there are some new "Quilted" designs being added to my Kyoto Collection.

Recently I took an online drawing class with Lisa Congdon on Creativebug.  Even though I have a degree in Visual Arts, I realised that other than quick not-good-enough-to-show-anyone sketches of jewellery design ideas, I haven't done any pen sketching since my second year of university, which was a very long time ago.  While I'm still feeling rather rusty, it's been great to get pen back on paper and to doodle away.

I have plans for some of those doodles too.... and have been getting a few prototypes made which hopefully I can show you in the next couple of months...

This week the work in the studio is all about getting ready for the GoMA Winter Design Market.  It's on this Saturday, 19th July at the entrance to the Queensland GoMA gallery, South Brisbane.

Then, for a couple of weeks after the market I'll be working on a big update of my website to include the new designs.

Studio Tour

While the studio is somewhat tidy, I thought I'd give you a little virtual tour of the space in which I create.

Studio Colours

It's super busy here in the Kimono Reincarnate studio as I prepare for this weekend's Finders Keepers market and am filling lots of wholesale orders... so I'm making sure I eat my greens....

Little "Rock Pool" pendants and earrings are being filled with turquoise, scarlet, emerald and sapphire (not in the shot)...

Some pinks and oranges have been working their way onto a sunset inspired canvas....

And I've started working on a piece called "Landscape of my Dreams"

As you can see, there's been an explosion of colour in my studio.

New Directions

Something happened after I moved to the Glass House Mountains... I'm not sure if it was the change of scenery and the fact that I watch the sky change over the mountains all day long... or if it was having the new space dedicated to creating... but what ever the reason, I'm loving it.  While I come from a visual arts background, a while ago I felt like I stopped creating "art", but now, that need, that drive, that love is back.

The Kimono Reincarnate brand is still dear to my heart but next year I'll also be designing and creating under my own name, probably with less of a Japanese influence.  I'll be having a soft launch of the new "Melanie Augustin" brand in a couple of week at Finders Keepers in Brisbane and I'm a mixture of excited and nervous.

Choosing fonts for my new logo I was suddenly transported back to maths class in high school, trying to invent a new signature for when I married the boy two rows in front of me that I had a huge crush on.

It's no secret that I love colour.  I've been doing a number of pieces on canvas and large boards and it's been great fun then translating that into fun pieces of wearable art.  No two of these earrings are the same...

I hate anything to go to waste, so at Finders Keepers I'm going to bring along the sterling silver earwires I've made and my resin chips and you can "Choose Your Own Adventure" and create your own colour combination.

I've also been making some little "Rock Pools".  I handcut little pieces of silver and hammer them to give them an organic texture and shape.  The resin inside is translucent so that you can peer into the "pools" and see to the bottom.  I love the way the texture picks up the light and colour of the resin at different angles.

I can't wait to make more of these and fill them with turquoise and some with emerald green. 

While I haven't had a chance to photograph everything yet, I'll be taking these goodies along to Finders Keepers in Brisbane and have put them up in my Etsy store for pre-order.

Back on the Horse

It's been a long while between blog posts, even longer since I was posting regularly.  

The Life Instyle preparations then the actual show and then catching up on work and life afterwards I found were all consuming not to mention exhausting.  It was a great show though and I will post more on that soon.

Now, I'm back on the blogging horse, back on the market horse and back on the creative horse.  

Yesterday I had a great time at a resin workshop.  I made a couple of bangles and a couple of rings.  I can feel a new addiction coming on!  I just love the depth of colours and the smooth feeling of the resin once I've sanded it.  So lovely and cool in this weather.  The bangles I made are big and chunky though it's hard to tell in the photo below.

If you've ever wanted to have a play with resin, or like me, want to brush up on your skills, there are more workshops planned for Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.  You can get more information here.

My Creative Space

Some resin casting experiments in progress at the moment. The shaped crane is from a mould, my first ever mould, that I made. Most of the work on these pieces today however has been research, research on where to take them next to get the best looking results.

And this week, I've done a little more embroidery on some vintage kimono fabric. Another piece waiting to be folded and stitched into a fabric origami crane.

For more creative spaces, visit Kootoyoo.

My Creative Space

Ready for resin. Tea anyone?

And experimenting with a few ideas while I'm at it.

For more creative spaces, head to Kootoyoo.

The countdown to bald has almost ended... the shave is happening on Saturday and I'm starting to get quite nervous. On the other hand, I have raised over $4400 so far, so it will be well worth it. Thank you so much to everyone that has sponsored me and to all the wonderful ladies in BrisStyle that helped with fundraising last weekend at the BIDM. As long as they aren't too scary, I'll be posting baldy photos soon.

Production Line - Blogtoberfest Day 7

Each and every time I do a market I tell myself that NEXT time I won't leave everything until the last minute. That is yet to happen. With two markets booked in for this weekend, the Milton State School Fair on Saturday and Boutique Markets at Portside on Sunday, the pre-event panic has doubled.

This morning I got up early and this is what my day has looked like so far...

Lined up and waiting for resin...


Curing...

Looking shiny...

The little one has just gone down for a nap and I think I may just join her. Get some energy for a late nighter.

Testing... testing...

Testing... testing... 1... 2... 3... (and 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and 9 that aren't in the photo)...



I love the testing, experimenting, developing stage. I love trying and learning something new. I love searching out new tools, like the funky drill sets I was looking at this morning.

And I'm not sure how other people get their babies off to sleep, but apparently, this is what works for DH.

Eye Spy... Something I want to try

... to make resin jewellery...

Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased with the results of my glass pendants, what I'm not pleased with is having to get the glass made for me and the restrictions that I'm faced with glass. I figure with resin I can make it all myself, I can mould into different shapes, I can create my own moulds, I can embed, I can layer, I can colour, I can drill, I can pour into other things.

1. Macaroon Duchess - Resin Lolita Jewelry Set - Ring, 2. Crochet 2, 3. 4 leaf clover resin jewelry examples, 4. Resin Circles, 5. Far Easter Bunny - Aqua - Resin Necklace, 6. Kiwi fruit resin pendant, 7. "Make" OOAK vintage hook resin pendant, 8. yellow resin ring, 9. Tick Tock Resin Beads

Ages ago, I bought some moulds, a book, some resin but just as I was ready to play with them, I discovered I was pregnant, so that all had to be put on hold until it was safe to work in the medium. Now, all I have to do is get DH to look after the little one, away from any fumes and I can start to experiment. Watch this space!

Thanks to Cindy for hosting Eye Spy and for asking me to pick this week's theme!