Inspiration

I am enjoying making these hollow vessel shapes at the moment. It has been quite a challenge as I have had to make my own moulds and develop a technique that works for me. I love the making process and am continually trying to think of new ways of using my resin. However, after finding these 'treasures' on a Scottish beach recently, I can certainly see how I am also inspired by marine life and the natural world.

Pink Necklace

Having fun putting my hollow pieces together to make clusters.

Update

So...where was I up to?
I have been making hollow pieces for a little while now. Mainly by constructing them out of two halves.

Never quite satisfied, I continued experimenting. My aim was to make the items in one piece, creating the opportunity for a more organic, less constructed style...

Above are some very rough and ready early experiments.
I finished this little necklace yesterday.  I'm happy with the shape and the surface pattern and plan to make more miniature vessels in this style soon.

Surface Pattern

The technique I use to make my pieces allows me to vary the surface pattern around the three dimensional resin shapes. These photos show examples of the patterns I have been experimenting with.

Why Hollow Resin?

I love working with different materials.  With resin it was the colour possibilities that first attracted me. The most usual ways for jewellers to use resin are to set it in a mould or to pour into a retaining structure (often silver).  My own work involved filling shaped silver wires with resin.  Recently I have been experimenting with making three dimensional items.  The hollow pieces I am currently working on allow me to create surface pattern all around the piece.  I also feel that light reflects differently through them than if they were solid shapes.  I am looking forward to sharing some of my experiments here.

Hollow Resin Jewellery

One of the things I love about working with resin is the endless possibility of colour and shape available to the maker.  My previous work involved shaping silver wire and filling with coloured resin.  After a few years of working this way, I began to feel the need to try new things. Moving to Scotland gave me the excuse I needed to take some time off to develop my practice in new ways.  I have been experimenting with making hollow three dimensional pieces with resin.

New home, new jewellery

So much has happened in the two years since I last posted...I now live in Scotland, not far from Glasgow.  The family are all settled in our new life and it feels as though the dust is finally settling for me too.  I am slowly getting back to making jewellery in my new basement studio.  I am working on a new range at the moment, experimenting with making hollow forms in resin.  I hope to show some pieces soon.

Hello again...

Well, even I am shocked to see how long it is since I've been since I've been here.  Family life has taken over recently and my 'virtual' activities have well an truly been put to one side. My youngest has started school, my eldest has gone to university, my husband has started a job in Glasgow, the house is on the market and we're planning to move to Scotland as soon as we can.

Even with all that going on, I can't quite shake the urge to make things.  I find the silver and resin jewellery too labour intensive at the moment as I can't guarantee time to work. So, I've been developing a simpler range using leather and vintage buttons.  The great thing about this range is that I can finish a piece in one go without making too much mess...essential with potential buyers coming to view the house.

Return to Etsy

I have finally got round to re-opening my etsy shop after a longer than expected break. I've made some new work inspired by microscopic life. Here are a couple of examples.

"All Things Natural"

My jewellery is now on display in this exhibition inspired by the natural world at the Oriel Cric Gallery. I don't think I'll be able to see it myself as I live too far away, but if you are in Wales I'm sure it would be worth a visit.

Chain Making

I've had a go a designing and making a chain link necklace. I don't think I'll be making too many more, as it was quite laborious. But as a 'one off' I enjoyed the challenge and I've been wearing it a lot. Sometimes it's nice to make something for myself, just for fun. I oxidised the silver and gently rubbed it back to highlight the balled section.

The British Seaside

As we are beginning to enjoy the sunshine, my thoughts are turning to my long awaited summer holiday at the beach. This pendant has the cold, grey sea with fragments of stone and shell and the occasional glimpse of something more precious.

Long Necklace

No blogging for nearly two months and then I come along with two posts in one day!

Inspired by cells, lichen, moss, biology, geology and water.

Made from silver, resin, mother of pearl, gold foil, glass fragments, pearls, glass beads, semi-precious stones and a tiny dot of gold.

Hello again...

When I started this blog I decided to try to write a post on a weekly basis. Well, I have failed miserably and it is ages since my last entry. I blame a virusy computer and children being off school for holidays. However, I have not been entirely lazy and have been working on new jewellery. This mixed media brooch includes resin, enamel and rose quartz and combines my favourite jewellery making techniques. I am also experimenting with a new way (for me) of doing a brooch pin. So of course I've had to road test it myself, by wearing it as much as possible. It's holding up really well and I'm looking forward to making more like this in the future.

How Does Your Garden Grow...

I love making these little flower pins at the moment. I'm still using silver and resin, but having fun playing with different materials. These ones also have copper, mother of pearl, fragments of glass and gold foil in them. I might make a whole garden full of them!

Geometric Earrings

I've been inspired by geometric shapes and mid-century design recently. These earrings are the first in a series I plan to make very soon. There will be lots of simple shapes and bold colours, watch this space...

Mar de Color Rosa

I recently discovered the wonderful blog, mar de color rosa written by Montserrat Lacomba. I spent hours the other evening browsing through the hundreds of images of jewellery from all over the world. I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested in jewellery design. So imagine my surprise when I logged in yesterday evening to find that Montserrat had included my work on her blog. I would like to send her a huge 'thank you' for featuring my jewellery and for writing such an informative and interesting blog.

Experimenting

I've been making lots of jewellery in my 'flowers and leaves' range recently, in preparation for Spring. Now I've got a little time to experiment, I'm having a bit of a change of direction and am working on a new range. This time, inspired by geology, lichen and microscopic life. As you can see, circles are going to feature strongly in this new work.

Skeletons

Here are some of the pieces I'm working on at the moment. They are in their skeletal form before having the resin inlayed. Some will end up in my etsy shop and others are going to a gallery. I like having a few days when I focus on metal working and soldering and then have a change and spend time doing the resin. The thing I'm not looking forward to is all the polishing up at the end, which I find a bit tedious.

I'm In A Magazine!!!

I am very excited today as my work has been featured in the February issue of "Jewelry Artist" (Lapidiary Jounal) magazine. Thanks to Annie Osburn who phoned me to ask a few questions and wrote the article. The piece is all about artists who make jewellery using resin and I am featured along with Carla Pennie, Christina Aucone (Modica Design) and Tracy Page Smith, who all make beautiful jewellery.