My Rings and Things

Preston to Pitlochry

With a brief visit to one of the girls houses in Chorley, four of the Bishopsland gang including myself headed up to Pitlochry for a week of creative hand engraving with Malcolm Appleby.

It was a pretty full on week, with the amazing opportunity to work with Malcolm Monday-Friday. Watching him at work was an amazing experience and getting to see the wanders in his workshop was a great inspiration. As were the surroundings......

Hopefully the results (after a lot of practice!) will begin to show in my new work.

http://www.craftscotland.org/profile/218/malcolm-appleby/

Pitt Rivers trip

A few photos from my trip to Pitt Rivers a few weeks ago. I was looking for inspiration for a large piece I am designing. Particularly interested in protective amulets and how they are carried/ attached to the body. Had a great tour from one of the guides there, showing us frogs with nails through and shrunken heads.

Thorn spring forceps.

Shoulder slung charm amulet.

Kingfisher feather inlay necklace.

Bone and shell large necklace

Pitt Rivers Museum, from the first floor.

A selection of brooches and amultes, two part brooches with hanging chain in between.

Design time.

I've been knuckling down this week, taking a look at where my work is at and how this is going to inform my new collection. I'm going through my research and taking a trip to Pitt Rivers tomorrow for some much needed inspiration will hopefully solve a few problems I'm having!

This is a bit of a Fiona mood board, as it stands right now......

V&A archives Padgett and Braham collection.

A couple of weeks ago we started a project with the V&A archives, looking into a collection of models and sketches taken from Padgett and Braham Ltd when they ceased trading. These objects and a brief history from Silversmith Gareth Harris, a former apprentice to the firm, gave us an insight into the origins of the company and what exactly we were looking at. Now there opens up a world of possibilities....

New collection....

.....And my first post since starting at Bishopsland, shows how busy I have been!

Since starting training at Bishopsland Educational Trust this October we were all set the task of designing a new collection for an exhibition taking place here last weekend.

I'm glad to say that we all rose to the challenge and here are the results, some selected images from my new collection of hand pierced spinning jewellery.

The floral designs are inspired by embroidered fabrics and hand made lace designs, incorporated into miniature, wearable frames. All pieces have a moveable aspect becoming playful whilst providing the wearer a changing perspective.

A wing and a prayer

First of all this is from a location I am thinking about for a new photoshoot. I have been looking around for interesting places like previous location I used at Islington Mill. This is from my favourite so far, I just have to get in there first, finish the jewellery, find a model..........

In the meantime I found to be inspired by. Including doilee street art and converted utensils

I came across NeSpoon and am amazed. I love everything she is doing (below).... particularly the eastern colours used with traditional doily patterns. Wish I had thought of this!

http://www.behance.net/NeSpoon