Wrapping it up for 2014!

So its been awhile since i last blogged, so get ready for a back log of information... firstly i can't wait to share the news of my new studio at middleport pottery, its official! I'm now all set up.

Hopefully once my fellow studio members have moved in, we will be having a bit of a move in event in 2015 with some bubbly and a ribbon.

 Secondly, i went to visit my work in The New School House Gallery in York, which was something that came from exhibiting at the GNCCF. 

The gallery itself is set in a stunning Narnia like garden. 

Thanks to The makers dozen for putting my name forward. 

Even though these last few weeks have been packed full of fairs, I've still found the time to experiment with a new collection of rings-Made from 925 silver, copper, patination, brass and vintage mink. 

These rings have been developing since my second year at Staffordshire university, in fact they started off as stick pin bases, but after weeks of experimenting with combining materials, it was clear that the mink needed to be on the hand, as this would be where the piece would get its most interaction. 

Ive also started to stock some of my work in a beautiful shop in leek called TOAST, which stands for totally original artisans Staffordshire. Its wonderful to be along side all local makers who share a passion of crafts in Staffs.

My quest for textures is still on going! In the new year i plan to etch some of the above textures onto metal surfaces, so keep an eye out for your favourite texture and follow its journey on my blog, but for now i want to thank you for visiting my blog and i hope you have a wonderful christmas and a cracking new year! 

oh, Django says happy christmas too!

Me on Benchpeg

http://benchpeg.com/news/thought-provoking-jeweller-recognised-by-industry/

Latest experiments!

 So just a quick update of my latest experiments really, at GNCCF i had a lot of people interested in a sample ring which i took with me (above on the left)of a etched brass and vintage mink fur ring. Since then i have made a copper version which has explored different ring bands. Ive got a few more changes to make, but i will keep you updated!

As part of my ever on going experiments, i have been trying to combine materials in different way.

So, What do you think of this texture? 

Middleport pottery....The adventure starts

At my degree show i was picked up by the stoke-on-trent council, who wanted to help young makers set up their businesses in stoke! 

Me and Katy Dutton (a wood and plastic turner) were chosen from staffs university and were joined by two other ceramists.

Brydee Gillbard- http://www.brydeegillbarddesigns.co.uk

Amy Helena Clarke- http://www.ahclarke.com/AHClarke/Welcome.html

After attending a craft fair at staffs uni, i was approached by a woman called Emily who put me in contact with the north staffs guild of craftsmen, who were putting on a fair at middleport pottery. 

Kindly they let me join them and i had much success there....little did i know, i was actually going to be moving in to middleport pottery!

As soon as we went into the space, i feel in love! The factory itself has been renovated by the princes trust, to maintain its heritage and help  provide spaces for creative businesses in stoke. 

Im hoping to be in the unit in the next few weeks, so ill keep you updated about events at middleport and also about our launch party!

Fiskink GNCCF blog Featuring me!

http://fishinkblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/great-northern-contemporary-craft-fair-2014-part-1/

Thanks Chris for the lovely write up!

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/thought-provoking-jeweller-recognised-by-industry-tcm4280523.jsp

So this was Great Northern Contemporary Craft fair 2014

So where do i start!

After visiting the fair myself as a maker for the last three years, i have come to expect the quality of the exhibitors to be high and it did not fail! 

It was great to be amongst such incredible and innovate makers. 

I certainly think this year for contemporary craft has set the bar. 

So to be excepted to exhibit at this major event came as a shock!

At first i panicked, as any other young maker would! then i got to work organising myself. Although i had my body of work from university, i carried on exploring new pieces that still fitted in with my style. This included my new electroformed ring, stick pins and new smaller brooches...

When it comes to displaying my work, i alway imagine each piece to be a specimen in a draw at the natural history museum. As this creates a environment that evokes preciousness and preservation. By having my background clean and white this contrasts the raw textures of my pieces. 

On press night i was awarded the "best new maker" of 2014!

.........

I was speechless and emotional!

I can't thank Ann-Marie and Angela the co-ordinators of the event enough. 

I think because my work is so personal to me and my journey, i felt an overwhelming sense of appreciation for all of my struggles and passion that i put into my making concepts and processes. 

The show was a great success for me and i couldn't believe how accepting and interested everyone was in my story and work. 

I also met some fantastic makers who i hope to exhibit with again.

Intrigue Emporium and Preparation for GNCCF

One of the opportunities that arose from New designers 14, was the chance to apply for a fair in shoreditch, the intrigue emporium. 

This was a great chance for me to speak to other makers and also interact with my customers. Although i didn't make many sales, it was still a great chance to get my name about. 

 I also received lovely feedback about my new brooches that are being launched at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft fair 2014!

Make sure you come and visit me on the 9th-12th october at the old granada studios in manchester. I'll be in the emerging makers area on stand EM03.

 So, not only have i being making like crazy! but I've also had to find furniture for my stand! After many hours searching on the web, I finally came to the conclusion that i need a custom stand builT....lucky for me i know a great furniture maker, Who i set the  task of making a stand that could be flat pack, assemble with no tools, have removable feet, storage space, oh and also fit in my mini!!!

Conclusion- Dave you are genius! 

Anyways, Ill leave you with this beauty until i see you at the great northern contemporary craft fair 14.

The beginning!

Well i must admit it.. leaving uni and fending for myself has been stressful, but i wouldn't have it any other way! Just lately I've been trying to carry on making my contemporary work but I've found it quite difficult, i don't no wether it has been the change in surrounds of my making place or my mental state of mind.... or possibly the lack of space in my work shop!

Soon my space problems will be no more! In the next few weeks i shall me moving into the Rosyln works behind gladstone pottery. All thanks to the wonderful people of stoke-on-trent council who have managed to get us three months free rent then 50% rent after that, which is amazing! 

Ok so what have i been making? well, my thoughts have turned to smaller pieces of jewellery that still link to my contemporary practice. 

Above are a few brooches from the redox collection, these brooches derive from my experimentation of patination which i looked at in the yersin collection. They make the viewer think about how they define preciousness of materials. 

Further work was lead by my interest in textured surfaces, i have always loved the results of electroforming and in my final year of uni i researched this topic a lot, so now that i had the time and a bit of spare cash, i brought one. I'm still in the experimentation stage but i have managed to produce a great body of rings already.

My fascination in patination still thrives and i intent to carry on exploring this until the day i die! I have also developed a surprise range of necklaces for the great northern contemporary craft fair 2014.

I have also developed a range of midi rings which explore witchcraft symbols and general pretty shapes, I'm hoping these going to be a hit for christmas. These rings will be available to buy from my esty page in the next few days... don't worry ill add the link!

New Designers 2014

So this was it, this was the event that ended my 3 years at Staffs university... but as they say, time flies when your having fun! 

I turned up on the 23rd of june at the business design centre, islington to set up my final body of work "The Yersin collection"

At my degree show i was lucky enough to have my work on a light box, which work beautifully with my brooches, but at new designers we decided to have my work pinned up on the wall. Which i was so pleased with as i thought it really made my pieces

This was a wonderful experience for me, it gave me the opportunity to see what the public thought about my work, which was all positive thankfully! but it also gave me the chance to speak to other makers who were in the same position as me. 

My work got all different types of attention from collaborative groups to placement opportunities, one of which was from Staffordshire's own Jennifer Collier, who spoke to me about her 'cultivated' program for new makers. 

But i think my highlight of New Designers was that i got to speak the to Norman Cherry! former Head of the Birmingham university.

The Scarr-Hall Memorial Trust Award

Staffordshire university show and tell degree show.

So i officially opened my work up for public viewing on the 13th of june at staffordshire university show and tell degree show.

But before the show was to be opened by Emma Bridgewater, a few awards were given out, luckily enough i was one of the students to win an award. 

The scarr-hall memorial trust supports students that have not only had the stress of university but who have also had pressures and distractions of illness.

 When i was 17 i was diagnosed with multiple scleroses, for the first few years i really struggled to come to terms with my illness and couldn't really except the fact that i now had an illness that would effect my day to day life. 

When i turned 20 i applied for the 3D Desgin: Crafts course at staffordshire university, we were not sure how i would cope on the course as it was long hours and a lot of work, but in away this help my progression as i didn't have time to think about my illness. 

There were only 13 of us on the course so we all got on like a little family and it was that relationship between us all that made me get myself out of bed in the morning and try my best to get on with my work. 

I also had the support of my mum and boyfriend, to who i owe everything to.

They were the ones who were with me through the dark and rough times, which i didn't like people seeing. 

The Scarr-Hall Memorial trust presented me with a cheque for £1000, 

which will help me get equipment and materials to get started.

My Work on Benchpeg

http://benchpeg.com/news/events/degree-show-staffordshire-university-stoke-on-trent/

The Yersin Collection

The Yersin Collecion 

3 pieces of advice that have changed my path of thinking!

Number 1. 

I think the first piece of advise thats comes to mind, would have to be about the practical aspects, which is: If you just spend that extra 5 minutes cleaning or filling a piece of work at the beginning, it will save you a lot of time and effort at the end when you finally come to cleaning, file and polish a piece of work...basically saving you time in the long run.

Number 2.

Another great piece of advise that some makers lose sight of is: You should always make for yourself, even if the piece is for a specific brief, make sure that you are happy to put your name to it and make it so its still in your style. 

Number 3.

Well for number 3, i think it has to be one from the mother. My mum always told me that when you do something, do it to your best ability! Even if its never going to be as good as someone else, at least you knew that you did everything you could, to do your best. 

First version of my artist statement

I work with precious metals and different types of liquid rubbers and resin

Although all these materials are rather industrial, they can be easily manipulated into looking organic and natural. 

The processes I use on metal like patination and etching give a completely different outcome each time, as the technique is unrestrained and out of hand.

My other favoured material of rubbers and resins, feed my need to explore and incorporate other existing materials.  

As a designer/maker I am lead by experimentation, I create hundreds of small sample pieces that all equate to collections of specimens, almost like a collection of historic artefacts you would find at museums. 

Often the concept behind most of my work, looks a natural spreading and disease. 

A need to make natural forms desirable instead of precision cut designs. 

As a designer/maker I see beauty and potential in the visual form of disease and illness. This is where my urge to display these pieces as wearable objects unfolds, I see them as medals of honour but also to raise awareness of unseen disease.  

Hopes, fears and opportunities

My short term hopes for professional aspirations would be getting a good level degree in 3d design: crafts, I believe getting the highest achievable mark will defiantly help me when looking for jobs, as it will give me that one step in front, I would also would like to set up my own studio place at home. For my short term hopes for personal goals, I think I need to improve on my metal skills, Although I class myself as a jeweller, I focus more on the experimental side of materials, then use metal to attach them to the body. This would defiantly show off my technical ability to anyone looking to find an artist with a board range of skills.

My medium term goals for professional aspirations would be that I would like to have done all the jewellery shows and fairs in the uk and also may look at exhibitions abroad, also with this my name in the market should have spread, this would mean more interest in commission based work for galleries. As for my personal goals, I hope by now that I have gained confidence in myself, my ideas and overall in my work.  

My long term professional aspirations would have to be based around financial hopes, although my aim for my career was never about money, I hope that I could make a good living from what I love doing, I would just like to be financially comfortable enough to not have to worry about money and have to scrimp by. As for my personal goals, I would like to think that after gaining experience in the field of crafts, I could then share this with others and be surrounded by people who appreciate the things I do. 

    

My top 10 business cards!

Number 10.

For my number 10 card, I have chose this vintage shops sign inspired card. I love how the card is cut out to the shape of the hand, this makes the card more eye catching as it stands out from the usual rectangle buisness cards.

Number 9.

My number 9 is by a hair and make up artist. The card not only is handy to have in your purse, for a spare clip but also to have a little fun creating funky hair styles...oh and also handy for contact details of a hair and make up artist. 

Number 8.

My eighth is a dentist card, I love this card as it's just so fun and unique, which helps if you have already have a darkened perspective of the dentist. 

Number 7. 

I chose these cards purely for the aesthetics, each pattern complements the other so they work well as a set. The logo is simple and bold which dominates over the background.

Number 6.

This next card becomes interactive with the viewer, which makes it more memorable and it can also be personalised, each to there own as you might say.

Number 5. 

These wooden buisness cards, give off a really contemporay but relaxed feeling. The laser cut logo creates depth by showing off the under card underneath. 

Number 4.

I absolutely adore this creative buisness card, the fact that you can build a 3d rabbit from a flat sheet is an amazing way to get viewers thinking about how creative your company is! Also the lime green and grey contrast well against the brown card.

Number 3.

Again in my top 10 is another interactive card, this thin metal sheet gives a real mechanical look, which suits it's occupation being a security company. The tools on the card are little lock picking implements.

Number 2.

My number 2 place goes to a photography firm! This card is instantly  recognised as a focus on a camera. This card allows you to play and frame anything you want so it looks like a photo. I would like to incorporate this technique of using a clear plastic to encapsulate anything the viewer desires. 

Number 1. 

And finally my number 1 place goes to the furniture company for creating this amazing buiness card! Not only does it incorporate the flat pack generation but the do it yourself generation. The simple design echos today's trends of less is more.

Well done!

Recently I visited... Ambiente

Ambiente, frankfurt Germany 

Above is a collection of rings designed by Michiel Cornelissen, the collection is named one in a million bird, which relates to the fact that there are over one million variations of the ring. The rings are 3d printed in polyamide, which is a material I have printed in before myself, although I have only ever thought of using this material for samples or using it to cast into silver, which can be expensive, so by using the polyamide as the final material, this makes the process a lot more affordable and accessible. It also adds value to the material but without being to expensive. 
The exhibition centre was massive and probably would require a number of days to complete, so the best thing to do is research which stands appeal to you best then head in that direction and collect information from the stands around that, one of the artists that I did previously look at was proof of guild, who are a collection of artists ranging from jewellers to ceramists who are based in japan, they produce a range called EZA animals, which are lost wax cast animal head brooches. There work is very clean and simple but has a big impact. This is something that I want to relate to my work as I do often create a huge range of samples but then struggle to add them together without looking to overwhelming. 
If you ever get the chance to visit ambiente.....do, it's a great way to see what sells and what Trends are arising