Bocianelli and Too Many Clothes!

Hello again folks!

Blog time!

Those of you who have read my previous blogs may recall that I wrote about some pretty amazing service I'd received from a supplier - well - the story now continues.  I told you about a company I had found who supply stencils and templates for just about anything from technical drawing and maths through to jewellery requirements.  I'd written to them because I was looking for a particular shape and their response to me was 'send us a drawing and we'll make it for you'.  Well, as you can imagine I was thinking that they'd come back to me with a minimum order, either in cost or quantity, but no I was told that they'd work with my drawings (good luck with that, I thought!) that I'd only need to buy one and that the cost would be the same as all their other templates.  Pretty amazing!!
Anyway an email popped into my inbox from Bocianelli this week and the company had made up four variations of my drawings for me to choose from and simply added them to their range.  I am so impressed with this service so make sure you check them out if you also use templates but can't quite find what you're looking for.  I shall certainly use them again especially as they sent me a lovely little discount voucher with my order.  Here's a link for you http://www.bocianelli.com.

So, what else has been happening this week?

Well, I've attended my first indoor Artist's Market in the Pannier Market in Tavistock.  Now, I've been to the Pannier Market many many times and it's a cavernous old stone building for those of you who don't know it.  It hasn't been very warm of late.......  Off I went early on Sunday morning to start setting up for the day, passed a car on my way with about three inches of snow on it, and waddled into the building.  I say waddled because I was wearing my entire wardrobe, layers and layers of clothes........ it was at this point I found out that my stand was beneath the MASSIVE hot air heater......enough to say I didn't actually need my bodywarmer and coat!  I did, as always, meet some lovely people and at one point heard someone say 'oh look the bangle lady's here'.  If you're from the area around Tavistock, please come and say hello to me on Friday 30th when I will be in Bank Square for the Dickensian Evening until 9ish and I'll be back in the Pannier Market on the 2nd and 16th December, probably wearing slightly less - not that that is a good reason to come and see me!! There are some very talented artists and makers who take part in the Artist's Markets, why  not take a look at their Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/SlickSilverJewellery?ref=hl#!/pages/Bank-Square-Arts-Market/131560983607495?fref=pb

Whilst at Tavistock I revealed my latest collections so I thought I'd let you see a few pictures of pieces that will be appearing on my website soon.

Falling Leaves

 

Harlequin

Crushed Velvet

Autumn Leaves

That's all my news for this week but remember that these collections will be added to http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk in the next few days so make sure you get yours, after all they are very limited collections. Perfect presents for mums, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends, nieces, aunties, grandmas, cousins, and of course - yourself!!

Next week I'll blog about how you could come to me and learn how to make something yourself!

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!