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.

A Birthday Present to Myself and a Winner!

I had a lovely, low-key birthday weekend which included a sleep in, a picnic lunch, dinner at my parent's house, two birthday cakes and masses of lovely messages.

I also asked the family for some quiet, make-something-just-for-myself, studio time.  This is the necklace I finished, made from hand formed silver with a vintage kimono fabric ruffle.  Expect to see a few more of these in the near future.

Thank you also to all the lovely people that took part in my birthday sale on the weekend!  And a special big thank you to all those that passed on the sale to their friends... so...drumroll please... the winner is... iamkewpie!

Life Lately in Pictures

Life lately has been great, for the most part I've been squirrelled away working on new designs and projects.  When I'm in design mode I tend to hide away and get completely lost in the moment.  My dear husband is great about it and sneaks into the studio from time to time with food and drink and is rather accustomed to me leaving the bed in the middle of the night because I just need to sketch down an idea that is keeping me awake.  I should have some pieces that I can show you in the next few weeks.

In the meantime this has been some of my life...

I have been continuing with my creative challenge, though can't say that it has actually been "daily".... My mood boards have somehow evolved into a word theme...

I have returned to another semester of silversmithing.  I'm now an "Advanced II" student and really loving the new skills that I'm learning.  To begin with we're working with a technique I've wanted to play with for years called "fold forming".  It's amazing how I can start with a flat piece of metal and by repeatedly heating, folding and hammering...

I can manipulate it into a piece like this..

or with lots more hammering... like this.

I've had a lot of fun running workshops as part of the BrisAsia festival....

I've been playing with some new pieces with fabric, paper and stitching...

My little one also has her own desk in my studio and loves to do her own "work"...

And each and every day, I feel blessed to live where I live and have the life that I have.  It may be a humble and simple life but it's grand.

What's been happening in your life lately?

Most of these images have first appeared on my instagram page.  Are you on instagram?  I'd love to connect on there if we haven't already!

While It's Clean For A Nanosecond...

A rare glimpse of my silver bench while it's freshly painted and clean.  I'll be working on there tomorrow so its pristine condition won't last, but for tonight, I'm going to gaze lovingly at it...

Coming Out Of Hiding

Being the introvert that I am, I can at times go into hiding, enjoying some peace from the outside world, both on and offline.  The last couple of months have been about just that and now at the end of it I'm refreshed, ready to embrace the world around me, feeling healthier, inspired and enthused about work.

During the time I've had lots of lovely family time, enjoying our new surroundings...

The little one has taken a real interest in photography, initially using a toy camera but is now excited to have her own, hand-me-down, digital camera.  She had made a structure the other day and before playing with it, got out her camera to document it. 

We've also had a new member join our family.  She was a little nervous on her first day in her new home, but has since taken over the place and is growing so quickly.

I've been taking a few lovely long afternoon walks up my street and just have to pinch myself each time that I get to live here.  Each time I come home I also ask myself the question why I'm not doing that walk daily, so here's to forming a new habit.

It's a real joy to own a garden for the first time.  The man has been getting into the vege garden and planting lots of fruit trees.  I prefer playing with flowers and have been making a lot of trips to the local nurseries.

The new studio continues to be unpacked and set up, but I've started playing with ideas for a new range of formed silver.  This year I hope to add a lot more shape, dimension and colour to my silver work so stay tuned for that...

And then as evenings fall, personal craft projects have been coming out.  The stack of yoyos for my quilt continues to grow...

but as the weather has started to cool down, I felt the urge to pull out some wool and hook again, learning a crocodile stitch for the first time.

Work life is now about to get very busy again with BrisStyle's Destash and Dash market this Friday , wholesale orders to fill, interstate markets booked in for next month and a trade fair not too far to follow, but I hope to keep some of these quiet, cosy moments into my life on a regular basis.

My Creative Space - Working with Silver

I've been doing a lot of work with silver lately, firstly preparing my pieces for the end of semester exhibition....

Then working on new silver origami designs that will come out in the next month... 

And to help with the playing, I bought myself a few new tools... a flex shaft and gadgets...

And Terry the Tumbler for polishing.

To peek inside other creative spaces, here's the spot to start.

My Creative Space

A couple of years ago I took my first class in silversmithing.  It was an introduction, just a few hours.  For the first time I hand cut and drilled a piece of sterling silver.

Alas, right after that, life took an unexpected turn and I never finished the piece.  It still needed to be filed and polished.  Finally it's out again and I'm slowly working on it during free moments in my current silversmithing class.

I'm told that next week we're going to learn to dome metal and I loved the suggestion that I could make a few more little flowers, dome them and solder them onto this little branch.  Hmmm... I'd love to play with a little bit of enamel too... so it looks like this work in progress might stay in progress for a little while longer.

To see what other creative people are up to this week, visit Our Creative Spaces.