Summer Catch Up...

Before I begin the next stage in my making career in the next week or two, here is what I've been up to since completing my final Degree show project...

First I exhibited my final collection at De Montfort's Art & Design Show alongside many other talented Design Craft makers, all working in a variety of materials including glass, metal, textiles, paper & ceramics.

Here are some of us at the Private view, celebrating getting through all the stress & late nights of making!

For my set up I focused on using a science theme to present my work, incorporating test tubes, glass jars & even this dead mouse (below) we unearthed while moving plinths!  

Thank you to everyone who came & visited our show - If you didn't get a chance to take a look at my Facebook page for more photos or read the lovely Karina's review of the show here.

Next it was on to New Designers, a showcase of Design graduates from across the country at the Business Design Centre in Islington. It was a fantastic week for everyone, with lots of sales, opportunities and exhibiting offers!

It was also a brilliant place to look for inspiration - look out for a future blog post on my favourite new graduates I saw there.

Thank you also to Kate from Look Like Love for the lovely write up about my collection on her blog!

And last but not least in a busy few months was Graduation day!

Soon I will be starting back at University as one of five Design Crafts Artists in Residence, so look out for some new work coming up! 

A little update..

Hello! 

As you may have noticed my blog has been a bit quiet in the last month or so as I've been really busy working towards my final project & finishing my degree! I've been experimenting with lots of new materials and techniques as well as some old favourites, which you may have seen if you follow me over on Instagram. 

Now in the last couple of weeks before my deadline I'm working hard in the workshop on my final collection, photo shoot plans & lots of exciting display ideas, soon to be revealed! 

If you'd like to keep up to date on my progress in the meantime you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

Katy x

Finding Inspiration in London.

On Thursday me and Kerry travelled up to London in search of jewellery & display inspiration for our final collections... 

First we visited Studio Fusion Gallery in the Oxo Tower. Studio Fusion is "the first applied art gallery in the UK specialising in a contemporary approach to enamel, whilst also promoting non-traditional materials and techniques." Although only a small gallery it was really inspiring to see the variety of different techniques on display there, so if you are interested in enamelling I'd definitely recommend a visit!

After having a look around Chelsea (couldn't not visit Anthropologie while we were there!) we were lucky enough to have a look around the private view of Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair in Chelsea Old Town Hall. 

 

It was brilliant to see all of the beautiful jewellery on display & to talk to some of the makers there. It definitely inspired me for the future! 

Here are some of my favourites...


Shelley Thomas

(photos from www.shelleythomas.co.uk)

I absolutely loved Shelley's pieces, she often works with found objects, casting them into precious metals or adding stones. It's this contrast which I'm especially interested in and something I'm hoping to replicate in my work! 


Almost Perfect - Rose Cecil

(photo from www.almostperfect.co.uk)

These patinated copper bangles were lovely, definitely one of my favourite colour combinations & I loved the usual texture of them.


Barbara Webster

(photo from Barbara's Twitter)

Barbara had some lovely quirky rings with tiny little sculptures on top, I loved the shape of them and they were very wearable! 

You can see all of the jewellers who exhibited here at www.desirefair.com  

[ Weekend away ]

Last weekend I spent a few days in the Lake District with my family, mainly relaxing & not doing much, having a break from uni work. However I did get a chance to take a look around the house my parents are in the process of buying. Its on a area of land at the foot of the mountains with lots of open space. While the house itself is lovely I spent most of my time looking at the old outbuildings, many of which had rusty, worn features!

Rusty hooks & chains on the sides of the barn (which I've already checked out as a potential part time studio, I'd never run out of inspiration there!)

In the woodland behind the house there was also some brilliant fungus & lichen growing on the trees, including this bright orange piece which almost looked like delicate, folded fabric.

These photos remind me of the lovely ones I've seen from Elaine Bolt's Instagram feed before that have inspired me in the past.  

I also spent some time watching this little field mouse below stuff himself with nuts from the bird feeder & managed to capture this picture before he ran away!

New week. New Techniques - Part Two

[ P e w t e r . ]

This the first time I've ever worked with pewter and I absolutely loved it! The block of solid metal quickly melts under the heat of the blowtorch and can then be poured into a mold.

Not a great photo (its very dark in that corner of the workshop!) but here is the pewter just after being poured into clay. I had pressed the metal shape into the wet clay first to form the outline. As you can see the pewter is very free flowing so can easily spill, but the great thing is it can be melted down to be used again if it does go wrong! 

Above are my first experiments, the on the left was created using the same silicon mould I poured plaster into earlier in the week & it came out lovely and textured but did melt the mould a bit so I'll have to explore this with a different material next time.

Continuing on with the same domed shape I enlisted the help of my tutor Ed to help make a wooden press mould to press sheet metal into. This requires lots of precise calculations which is definitely not my strong point so I was very glad of the help!

This is still in the process of being made so I'll keep you posted on whether this worked in the end or not!

New week. New Techniques. - Part One

This week has been a week of experimentation & trying out new techniques which has been exciting & inspiring and given me lots of new possibilities to explore in my work!

For the first technique I worked with plaster and mould making. I was given some leftover silicon to play with and this is what happened..    

Below on the right is the object I used for casting, from my collection of rusty pieces. I'm not sure exactly where its from but I found the shape & texture really interesting, especially where there are folds and creases in the metal. Its also much more fragile in nature than the photo portrays, which is in contrast to the solid plaster version. 
When I first saw it, the shape reminded me of those brightly coloured flying saucer sweets! 

I'm excited to continue working with this shape and developing it in other materials.

[ Liebster Award ]

I've been nominated for the 'Liebster Award' by Alex from Lifestylefunxion, thank you Alex! The Liebster Awards are basically a platform for new bloggers to share a little bit about themselves & the rules are as follows...

Link back to the person that nominated you.

Answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you.

Nominate 11 bloggers that have less than 200 followers and notify them.

Make a list of 11 questions for them to answer.

1. What are you most proud of?

I am probably most proud of the fact that I've managed to come back to university this year after having to take time off due to illness on 2014. I was diagnosed with M.E/CFS a few years ago(see Katharine's post about being at university with M.E here for a great explanation of how it feels & more details about the illness.) and it all caught up with me and I wasn't able to do the long hours and massive workload of an art course on top of being unwell. Luckily, although it has by no means gone away, I am now so close to finally finishing my Design Crafts degree, fingers crossed I will get there after a few more months of hard work!

2. What is your favorite blog? 

At the moment I'm really enjoying posts from Apartment Apothecary & Claireabellemakes, especially the DIY pieces!

3. Who is your biggest fashion inspiration?

I don't have one particular inspiration, I take inspiration from lots of different places, Instagram, magazines, charity shops & friends.

4. What is your favorite drink?

I've been drinking so much tea at the moment in the studio and a lot of coffee to keep me awake!

5. What if your favorite outfit?

Definitely my mom jeans at the moment (a bit like these ones below from Amy) with a T-shirt or blouse, glittery socks and lots of jewellery. 

6. What is your favorite magazine?

I've recently discovered 'Oh Comely' I love the layout, drawings & photos and its been great for sketchbook inspiration & scrapbooking. 

7. Makeup or clothes?

Clothes. (and jewellery!) 

8. What is your favorite film?

I don't really have a favourite film (I usually fall asleep before I get to the end anyway!) but I love anything about crime or serial killers - I was going to do criminology at uni before I chose Design Crafts.

9. Do you have any pets?

We have two really cute but slightly stupid dogs, Zack & Olly. 

Olly - Likes jumping on your lap when you least expect it, eats anything & loves swimming.

Zack - Steals all of Olly's toys, is scared of loud noises
& is obsessed with mealtimes. 

10. What is your favorite colour?

Mint green, or anything neon!

I nominate the following blogs to join in...

Debbie of 'Duck and Duffel'

Ruth of 'Blue Eggs and Tea'

Katharine from 'Katharine and me'

Anna from 'Life in the slow lane with me'

Kate of 'Made by Mrs M'

Emma of 'The Turquoise Door'

Jess from 'Jess cfs'

Sophia of 'Spoonie Sophia'

Chloe from 'M.E and me'

Emma from 'Emmas Looking Glass'

Emma of 'Emmadrusilla'
Faye from 'Freckles & All'

My questions to you...

1. What inspires you?
2. Why did you start your blog?

3. What new skill would you most like to learn?
4. Favourite place to visit.

5. What do you hope to accomplish this year?
6. What is your favourite piece of jewellery?
7. Share the blogs you most enjoy reading.
8. Summer or winter?
9. Do you speak any other languages?
10. What makes you happy?
11. Favourite quote.

Looking forward to reading all of  your answers! x