From a time past

Before silversmithing and art teaching, I decorated pots for a living. 

I married into a family of ceramic artists. My dutch mother-in-law, Kitty Breeden, left school to work in a pottery when she was 15 (without telling her parents) - her pottery career spanned over 50 years. She was an acclaimed master potter and I worked with her for well over 10 years, decorating the pots she and my husband made. We ran our pottery together while my three children were little, living an idyllic life in a beautiful hinterland town. They are years full of very precious memories.

A family member visited last weekend with a box full of our ceramic work. As I pulled out each piece it took me right back to the time and place of their creation - sensory memory is a powerful thing indeed. Included in this box were the very first pots I decorated for my sister-in-law when I was probably 18, along with functional wares with designs I painted over and over for many years. But this vase, made in 1999 and teapot, made in 2000 are extra special so I thought I would share them with you all.

This is a platter someone returned to me following our fire.

Visitors to my art room

I was over the moon happy today to be visited by three past art students -  Zoe, Tanya and Lucas. I know you shouldn’t have favourites as a teacher, really I do, but these lovelies are extra special to me. They graduated in 2009 and were in the first group of art students that I taught from Grade 10 through to 12. There was a buzz of creativity in this class that resulted in many very exciting artworks. 

They inspired one another and they inspired me! 

Like these three, a number of students from this year have pursued studies and careers in the arts post high school (the ultimate reward for an art teacher). 

So I think it is timely to finally start featuring some of my past student’s art. 

I will commence with my favourite work by Tanya.

Tanya created this work in Year 12 in response to the theme of 'Journeys' -  she used Brothers Grimm stories as a metaphor for the loss of childhood innocence.

These days, Tanya is busy studying a double degree in fashion design and business while also working for Black Milk Clothing. You can follow this young designer at Benji the Label. 

Needless to say, I am very proud of her!

I will post more work from this year group in the near future, I promise 

(including some great photography by Zoe and video art by Lucas).

Silver rocks

I made seven pairs of one of my most popular stud designs this morning and they just had to be photographed all huddled together. I love the landscape quality of this image.

David Usher

Top: by David Usher 

Bottom: by Peter Hughes

It is the dreaded end of semester reporting period at school at the moment. On the up side, a two week holiday is just around the corner; on the down side, I have a folder of unmarked assignments that can no longer be ignored. So why not procrastinate for a while longer by writing the next instalment of 'my own personal art collection'. 

Today's feature artist is my brother-in-law, David Usher. Like Grace Gladdish, I had a number of artworks by David in my pre-fire collection. I have been a fan of this talented painter and ceramic artist since I was a teenager and actually, the very first original art I purchased was one of his early ceramic works. I currently have four paintings and one ceramic work in my collection. 

Late Afternoon by the Dam
2009, Oil on Canvas
122 x 92 cm

 My husband bought me this broody landscape for my birthday earlier this year (following some strong hints). It is the largest painting I own and I adore it!!

Darling Downs 1

1999, Oil on Canvas

52 x 25 cm

Another atmospheric landscape hangs with a group of works (which will be the subject of future posts).

2 Browntown City
2002, Oil on Canvas
92 x 46 cm

I am blessed to have so many talented artists in my life. At the age of 14 I started dating my now husband and was embraced into his wonderful, artistic family. It is impossible to measure the influence they have had on my life, but even at 14, I knew that it would be profound. Having zero artistic input from my own family, I often think that I became an artist due to osmosis; although I have recently discovered that my cousin is a very talented photographer, which indicates I may have had some genetic predisposition towards art.  

David has been a great role model throughout my life and has always encouraged me to pursue my creative ideas. I hope you enjoy looking at a few of his works here. If you live around Brisbane, watch out for his exhibitions at Doggett Street Studio. 

A wintery weekend

 

I have spent the first weekend of winter in my studio (check out the banner custom made for me by Fabiola from archivioGotico). There has been a steady drizzle of rain and my hubby has kept the fire stoked day and night. This has been ever so excessive as living in Queensland, winter is not really winter. We usually only experience a few weeks of truely cold weather and the rest of the season is just glorious. Although unnecessary, the fire has been lovely and I have not felt the need to be anywhere but at home. Consequently, it has been a very productive weekend. I have now decided to make items in sets of 4 at a time. When a order comes through, my goal is to make that order and 3 more - stocking up for the Christmas shopping season.

Amazing Grace

Paintings by Grace Gladdish
Planter Sculpture by Clairy Laurence
Tea cosy by Kitty Breeden

Following on from my post Loving Erin, I thought I would start a regular series of posts featuring my personal art collection. To say I am an art lover is an understatement. I have been collecting original art since high school. Three years of Art College resulted in a tiny unit filled with both my own and uni friends' creations and my involvement in group art exhibitions throughout the 90's were highly motivated by a 'swapping' culture. I was mighty proud that the walls of my home were filled with original art only. As I married into a family of ceramic artists, coffee, cereal, salads and the like were always served in unique handmade wares. 

In November of 2004 our family home burnt to the ground due to an electrical fire (I'll post some pics another time). To say that it is overwhelming to start again is an understatement. But start again I did and over the years those blank walls have gradually filled up with art. My core need to be surrounded by [what I deem to be] aesthetically beautiful things is again satisfied.... but I am far from done!

Today, I am featuring three works from my collection of art by my dear, dear friend, Grace Gladdish. Grace visited my shortly after the fire with a boot full of her art and so began my second art collection.

'Self Conscious' 2008

mixed media collage

'Black White and Red All Over' 2003

Mixed media collage

'Bandaged Hand-storm'

Acrylic on watercolour paper

I first admired Grace's work while at uni. She was a year above me and my friends and I would sneak down to her studio while she was at lunch and ogle over her art. We met a few years later through a mutual friend and she quickly become one of my most cherished friends. Over the years we have exhibited together, had babies together, attended church together and shared life's joys and sorrows. These days we are separated by a 2 day drive that includes a 10 hour ferry across the Bass Strait :( Thankfully, I am surround by Grace's beautiful images which are scattered throughout my home.

Check out more of Grace's art at her website, blog and Etsy store.

Recycling silver scraps

If you have read my earlier post, 'Nuggets', you would know that I have a thing for melting silver. While there are far quicker ways of making discs, I just love this process and the end result. Plus, every last bit of precious silver is used. 

So I thought I would document the process!

Below are a few of the pieces of jewellery I have created from the discs made using this process.

Give away

I have 3 pairs of 6mm triangle studs to give away.

 To be in the running all you have to do is follow my blog.

Double your chance of winning by liking my Facebook page (click here to go to page). Once you have liked it, come back here and leave a comments below.

I will announce the lucky winners both here and on Facebook 

on the 27th June.

Good luck!

Sawing success

I tend to avoid sawing silver as I continually break blades. I will merrily sit at my desk soldering, hammering and filing but when that saw comes off the wall, bleep-bleepity-bleeps are sure to follow. 

Well today I have had a jolly old time with my saw and not one blade has snapped. Hopefully this is a turning point and some wonderful saw cut pendants and earrings are soon to come. Today my successful sawing has resulted in two pairs of arrow head studs. One pair is an order and the other pair is for my beautiful 13 year old daughter (modelling her pair below). 

... and I have used the off-cuts to make four little triangle studs (yes, the daughter gets a pair of these too!)

Stud time

I'm only 4 months into this Etsy gig
so I was pleasantly surprised to sell 6 items in one day!!

Thankfully I love making studs.

Hammer time

This new listing for my Etsy store is actually a copy of the very first pair of earrings I made during a one day silversmithing workshop in September last year. I wear those earrings nearly every day. As they have aged the sterling silver has developed a lovely patina which enhances the hammered texture. This new pair are all fresh and shiny. I love them either way. 

Today's Etsy pick

I have seen some incredible art dolls on Etsy but this yellow boy is my personal favourite. With a needle and thread Simona Catapano has transformed a piece of cloth into a figure with a tangible personality. See more work by this Italian artist at her Etsy store 

pezziunici

or at her website www.pezziunici.com

Loving Erin

I have fallen head over heels in love with the whimsical art by Erin from Erinswindow. There is a vulnerability to her work, be it ceramic, felt or watercolours. 

After my first two purchases from her Etsy shop, I just had to meet her. Connecting with her aesthetic, I was sure she must be a kindred spirit. And indeed she is. I am so excited to have made a new friend through Etsy - who would have thought!

Here are my purchases so far

'To be as one with nature'

'I have big dreams'

'Longing'

'Moss green bird'

'The white face with red bird'

I plan to grow my collection. Next will be one of her gorgeous porcelain bells. The problem is deciding which one.

Front Page

A strong morning coffee and Front Page on Etsy - what a great way to start my Sunday

Thanks Sadie from 'A needle in the hay' for the feature.

Bird love

look what has this little birdie has caught

a crown for my bird

I love finding a new prop to use when photographing my jewellery. It's even better when the prop creates a story or theme. My latest fascination is bird statues. It started while photographing a new ring. Bored with the wooden hand prominent in so many of my shots and looking around the house for something new, I picked up the bird statue from a shelf, wiped off the dust and...well... the ring became a crown. Today I decided to re-photograph some of my early Etsy listings. One pair just seemed the perfect 'catch' for a new Morgan & Finch bird statue I bought a few weeks ago at Bed Bath n' Table. So now I have three birds featured in my jewellery photo (see the bird collar here). I'm thinking that will do. 

  

Cardie love

I purchased five new cardies yesterday because I firmly believe one 

can never have too many cardigans, brooches and mary-jane shoes!

Nuggets

I planted some studs today!

Melting silver is a rather cathartic past time.

When I am frustrated and need a break from some fiddly piece I'm working on
... I melt silver.
When I sit at my desk with nil inspiration
... I melt silver.
When I'm bored
... I melt some more silver.

I just love to watch the glowing bits of scrap silver ball up into an orange liquid sphere.  At nearly 1000 degrees it is quite spectacular. When the flame is removed, the ball quickly solidifies before I plunge it into a bowl of water. The immediacy of this cooling process is reinforced by the silver's sharp cry.
Satisfying indeed!

So what do I do with all these little silver nuggets?
Some I hammer into flat organic discs.
Others are filed into faceted shapes.

Today, I simply 'planted' them onto posts. The texture created by the melting and cooling process remains on the surface of the nuggets, resulting in simple, organic studs

A special collar

I made this special collar for my little birdie. She likes to wear it around her neck - you might prefer it on your finger

Etsy love

Some recent Front Page action on Etsy 

Hello

art lover + art teacher + art maker

Welcome to my blog - a place where I can share little pieces of my life. 

Recently I have taken up silversmithing. Yes, I am very new at this and as such, my work uses the most basic of techniques. 

Hopefully my 20 years of art making practice will compensate for this.

Along with this new hobby has come another obsession, Etsy. I have loved this online handmade market place for many years and so it was the obvious forum for selling my jewellery. Since opening my shop in January I have discovered the most incredible artists and craftspeople, who I plan to also feature in this blog.

I am a high school art teacher. I love sharing my passion for art with teenagers. Teaching has stretched me as an artist and I am no longer afraid to have a go at any medium. Over the years I have dabbled in painting, printmaking, wearable art, digital art and video art ...just to name a few. I hope to share some of my students work with you from time to time.

This blogging thing is very new to me. Bare with me as I fumble my way around.