This morning I discovered that my boyfriend believes that me being a 'self employed jewellery designer' actually means 'I sit about all day watching Jeremy Kyle'. (I wish. That would be GREAT.) So I decided to photograph my day. Firstly to prove that I do actually work, then I thought it might make a good blog post. This is my start to the day, finishing off a commission. 9.26, y'all.
Making granulation. I've gotten a lot faster at this over the last year, but it still takes a good while to chop up all the silver and ball it up without letting it ping away...
...and this is pretty much the tiny amount that comes off that whole block! If only you could buy the stuff. (can you?)
Actually forgot about the whole 'take photos to prove I do stuff' thing, so don't have one of me creating this structure till now! It's a long pointy cagey thing, and eventually it will have a nice rough stone sitting inside it, free to move inside but not to get out.
Handmaking a chain. I formed tons of different sized little loops, soldered them linked together and squeezed each one into a slightly different shape. Still another 20/30 inches to go!
The half finished chain and pendant. This is going to be one of my focus pieces in our June exhibition, handmade from start to finish. More about my work for the exhib later, next will be a few posts featuring the work of everyone taking part, and the idea and collaboration itself shall be revealed...
But for now, I'm away to watch some Jeremy Kyle re-runs. Seeing as I'm not at home during the day and all.
Hahaha i love that Jon just thought you sat around all day doing nothing! And me and Pei-Pei were wondering how you made the little balls for granulation! This is a really interesting post i think you should do more of them! What is the little gravel pit for?! xxx
ReplyDeletep.s. the pendant looks lovely so far xxx
ReplyDeleteAw thanks (: shall look much nicer when it's finished!
ReplyDeleteIt's soldering grain.. am using it to prop the pendant up the way I want it to be to keep the top flat (so the granulation doesn't roll away!). Also when I was soldering links on the chain instead of doing them one by one I linked them all then used the grain to seperate them so there was no chance of soldering them to each other. Shall show it to you some day! xxx
Ah that makes lots of sense now! I thought maybe it heated up in some way but now i realise that was stupid... xxx
ReplyDeleteWell it does get hot after being soldered on (: xxx
ReplyDeletegreat post, and great to see what you get up to - that's definitely work by my book. I have to admit, that working from home I do have a penchant for having iplayer on BBC4 programmes. I stress this is on in the background whilst I am WORKING, and I don't really watch it! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's always artist appreciation to watch someone at work. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteWe too often think the rest of the world sits around doing nothing. AS they say . . . walk a mile in my shoes.
Such a great post! I may have to do the same thing...my boyfriend thinks I play with the puppy all day.
ReplyDeleteFascinating to see the techniques being used. Looks like a LOT of hard work!
ReplyDeleteLove the 'action shots' from your fab work! Just wondering where you got your soldering grit from...only seen it on US sites before
ReplyDeleteHaha I have to admit too that when working from home I do have the tv on... and sometimes I even watch it for a little bit..!
ReplyDeleteDeborah, you can get it from hswalsh - http://www.hswalsh.com/Solder_Tray_Grain_.aspx?i=TS165&c=1099
I picked mine up in London but I believe they deliver too.
(:
Those are amazing, did your boyfriend believe you, and you must be very tempermental, I would have flipped. (:
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks emmalulu, I'm quite sure he doesn't *really* think I do nothing, or yes, I would have been very cross. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and even more, I love your work. Fascinating to see how a wonderful piece of jewelry is made. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery nice work, you have fantastic blog.
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