Blog Collaboration Time Again!

Hello, it's me again and, fantastic news, it's another blog collaboration - this time featuring the fabulous work of ceramicist Alison Graham.  We met Alison in the One Year On marquee at the Contemporary Craft Fair in June in Bovey Tracey, Devon and we both loved her work which features lines scratched into the surface of her ceramics to create landscape effects and beautiful serene colours. I recently asked Alison a few questions about her work and this is what she shared with me, so I will let you enjoy it the way we did!

Trees

 1. Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?Inspiration for my designs comes from observations and sensations I have experienced in rural environments, from surfing in the Gower Peninsula along the coast of south Wales to memories of walking in the Lake District in Cumbria, where I grew up and studied before moving to Cardiff. I am inspired by painters such as J. M. W. Turner, Bridget Riley, Mark Rothko and Paul Cezanne whose works explore the ways colour and light interact both on and through a surface to create illusions of depth and movement. I also like to play with child-like fascination when I am working with clay, allowing new ideas to present themselves and then work with them. I believe in fate and serendipity and work spontaneously whilst listening to classical, 80s rock or easy listening music.

Landscape1

2. Is there a craft medium you’ve always had a hankering to try your hand at?
I have always fancied having a go at making my own paper and doing some mono-printing with an old printing press. I must look into that...

Beyond The Surface

3. If you could see one famous person owning one of your pieces, who would it be?
Prince William & Kate Middleton (they count as one choice now right?)

Lanterns

 

4. Where can fans buy your work?

From the following craft fairs: Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester (October 4-7th), MADE London in Marylebone (October 26-28th) and MADE Brighton (November 23-25th). At the following exhibitions: 'Wells Art Contemporary' Wells and Mendip Museum (October 12-26th), 'Inspire' Walford Mill Crafts, Wimbourne, Dorset (November 3rd-Dec 31st). My work is always stocked at the Oriel Makers Gallery, Cardiff and will be stocked at Just Make in Wells from December 2012. Work can also be purchased privately from me in my studio in Cardiff. Please check my website for details and updates on forthcoming events. www.aligrahamceramics.moonfruit.com

I'm sure you'll agree that Alison Graham's work is stunning so I hope you'll take a closer look and treat yourself to something beautiful!  Thank you Alison for taking part.

So what have I been up to this week?  Well, yesterday I was at the Bank Square Artist's Market in Tavistock, Devon and I still haven't got warm!! The sun was out but never made it inside my stall and so I gave up and wore everything I'd taken! I met some lovely visitors to my stand, gave out plenty of cards and now I'm looking forward to the next event which is on Sunday 4th November - thankfully indoors in the Pannier Market!!  Come and see me and start (or finish!) your Christmas shopping, but don't forget to drop heavy hints to your other halves about what you'd like for Xmas and then send them back to me afterwards!!

In other news, I have another stockist! Welcome to Mangojuice Gallery in Worcester http://www.mangojuicegallery.com

Today is going to be spent dyeing some more sheets of aluminium and I plan to try out some mono-printing myself but kind of in reverse.  Normally when printing in this way inks are applied to aluminium and then prints are taken from that with paper or acetate, but I'm going to apply my inks to acetate as I want the aluminium sheet to be the end result. We'll see how it goes. I noticed yesterday when laying out my display that most of my work is in the colour colour spectrum so I am in intent on warming things up! Will start by putting on some socks...........

I also made this Daybreak Collection this week and this is just a quick photo to show you the colours before it's photographed properly by my husband who does know what he's doing, unlike me.........I panic if I can't just point and shoot!!

Why not start your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your own home? Visit my online stores at http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk and take your time to choose.

If you're interested in hosting a jewellery party and you live within a 25 mile radius of Plymouth please email me for further information info@slicksilverjewellery.co.uk.

See you next week!

It's a Wedding Blog Collaboration!

Hello folks!

It seems a while since I featured a collaborative blog which is because I've had a couple promised which have fallen by the wayside, however, I now have a great one for you!  Let me tell you a little about Sarah, my guest this week.  Well the first thing is, she's a very talented lady, obviously, but the second thing is she's the keeper of my sanity!  We met through Twitter and we check in with each other most days and have a natter about what we're up to and if either of us is having a bit of a rough patch, we email.  We've never actually spoken and she's years younger than me, but that doesn't seem to get in the way of us being friends.  This means a lot to me, having gone from having a lot of work colleagues this year to lone working - as I say she keeps me sane!

Sarah makes extremely pretty jewellery and lovely weddingy things and I know that she's happy to work with brides to come up with a whole range of co-ordinated goodies. With that in mind, let's let Sarah of S L Jewellery tell us a bit more about what she does.

1. Do you make and sell your lovely bridal bouquets or do you prefer
to work individually with a bride?

 

I have a couple of sample bouquets which I sell off occasionally as
new designs are created but the joy of these bouquets is that they can
be created uniquely for each bride.
I love working with brides to create a piece unique to them. They know
that the bouquet they take down the isle is likely to be a complete
one off and there will be no other the same.
We sit down or chat over the phone and come up with the scheme and
begin to gather together some pieces to create a mood board. Once we
are happy with the ideas I begin the making process. I photograph each
step and keep the bride fully involved to make sure they are happy
before each step is completed. Once the complete bouquet is assembled
the brides gets to see it in the flesh which usually results in floors
of tears.

 

 

2. Where do you find all your sparkly bits and pieces to go into a bouquet?

Some brides prefer to gather all the pieces for a bouquet whether this
be for budget purposes or if they are lucky enough to have lots of
pieces within the family. Some receive pieces as gifts from friends
and family once they tell them they are having this type of bouquet.
If they prefer I can collect the items. I love all things sparkly and
wherever I am I always pick up bits and pieces. I have a secret box to
keep them all in. I love getting it out and going through it with
brides :)

3. Where can people see more of your work?

I'm a well known twitter addict so come and say hi at
www.twitter.co.uk/s_l_jewellery or here on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/S-L-Jewellery-and-Accessories/94160226703
You can view my website here www.sljewelleryandaccessories.co.uk or
why not email me on info@sljewelleryandaccessories.co.uk

So if you're thinking of getting married, or you know someone who is, then why not take a look at S L Jewellery's amazing bouquets and bits and bobs?

When thinking about weddings, no matter what the season, there's always the desire for the bride's mum to want to to wear something that no-one else will be wearing.  Even the simplest outfit can be made special and unique by the addition of bespoke jewellery.  Here at SlickSilver Jewellery we can offer just that.  Show us pictures of your outfit, close up shots of the fabric, and select the style of jewellery from my website, email me with your requirements and I can make aluminium and silver jewellery just for you and you'll know that no-one else will be wearing it! Tempting, isn't it! Just email me for a quotation!

This is some of my latest work. If you're interested in finding out more then please visit my website for further details http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk

Oh, and there's some exciting news - I've got another stockist - visit Mangojuice Gallery in Worcester to see (and hopefully buy!) something for yourself!

Next week I've got another exciting blog collaboration - completely different, but just a beautiful!! Why not follow my blog so that you don't miss it!

Parma Violets Necklace

Summer Dreams Necklace