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!