Recycled Plastic?

I use recycled polypropylene as much as possible, mainly in the form of note book covers and drinking straws. Polypropylene can be recycled many times, so at the end of its life it can easily be recycled again. The technique I have developed makes it possible to use every tiny scrap of plastic, so it is a "no waste" process.

Fair

My next fair will be with Tea Green Events on Sunday 11th December. The exhibition is in Kibble Palace (one of the glass houses) in the Glasgow Botanical Gardens. This is a lovely venue and there will be loads of fantastic makers over the weekend.

Stronger Than It Looks

My new process allows me to make paper-thin layers of fused plastic, which I put together to make my jewellery. The raw material, polypropylene, is extremely hard wearing and waterproof. Although my pieces appear fragile, they are actually stronger than they look.

Raw Material

From this....

To this....

I start with coloured polypropylene sheet and use a heat process to blend colours and make my shapes into jewellery. I love experimenting with this technique

Three Dimensional Clusters

Recently I have been drawn to making three dimensional pieces in my jewellery. I like to think that there is no right/wrong side and the pieces look interesting from all angles. Although the individual discs I make using this technique are two dimensional, I like to put them together at unusual angles to create three dimensional clusters.

On-line Shop

I have finally reopened my etsy shop, where you will find many samples and test pieces at reasonable prices. I will be offering a 10% discount until the end of October, while I'm settling in...just enter AUTUMN 2016 at checkout.

Earrings

Craft fair prep going well at the moment. Making lots of these little layered earrings. Paper thin layers of fused plastic on sterling silver wires. They're stronger than they look!

Tea Green Events

I'm busy preparing for a craft fair at the moment. I am exhibiting with Tea Green Events at the their event at St Andrews in the Square, Glasgow. This is part of the Glasgow Doors Open Days festival, a celebration of Glasgow’s architecture. Many interesting buildings will be open to the public.

Busy!

I'm totally absorbed in my new work at the moment. The possibilities are endless...

New Work

I have been working on developing my fused plastic range recently. The different opportunities for forming the shapes are really inspiring me.

Polypropylene

Although I love working with resin, there are times when I am just too impatient to wait for it to set and I need to work on something with instant results.  Recently I have been playing with polypropylene which I melt and squash into new colours and shapes. I love experimenting with materials and this has been really satisfying.

My most recent work.

New Ideas

Recently I've been working on a new way to create my hollow pieces. The resin is layered, producing a striped effect.

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.