Craft on TV!

Well hello folks and yes I did promise another blog collaboration, but yet again it hasn't happened - sorry, but other artists must be very busy!

Did anyone else watch Kirstie's Handmade Britain last night?  It's so good to see craft on mainstream television.  Particularly good to see Phiona Richards from Rare Notions who recently started following me on Twitter which was quite a coincidence as I'd been admiring her work only a few days before in Nicola Hurst's lovely gallery in Plymouth! Phiona makes the most exquisite jewellery and art from old and damaged books - who knows, maybe I can persuade her to be a blog collaborator in the future so that we can find out a bit more about her work!

What was a joy on the programme last night was seeing Kirstie Allsopp's total enthusiasm for the crafts she was trying.  It can only be a good thing for the handmade movement that this programme is making it look cool and is trying to show that crafting is also loved by people of all ages and both sexes!  I do hope that more programmes are made that look at handmade, not only as art forms, but as businesses.  Theo Paphitis' programme focussed more on the business side when he looked at Liberty, Habitat and Boots, but it would be great to see a series that took an individual craft each week and looked at the experts, new businesses and novices within each discipline with a view to mutual support and inspiration.  Any programme makers reading this???

On another front - this week I've returned to my part time day job which funds my business at the moment following my shoulder surgery.  This has also meant a return to making jewellery and as I said last week I've been experimenting with deeper textures and combining silver with my aluminium as a signature range.



This piece was handpierced from a small amount of double-dyed aluminium which was textured with grasses and features a handmade silver toggle clasp and a reticulated silver component to the necklace. It sits beautifully at a the base of the neck at a choker length.

Right I'm off to try to push another piece of aluminium to it's limits and I'll let you know what happens!!

See you next week!

New Website Launch Giveaway!

Well the day has arrived!  Today the new website launches, hopefully with no glitches!! So excited!!

On the new site you will be able to find 4 shops - one for each of my collections and this is a first as some of my aluminium has been available online before, however, my silver and copper have not, so I hope you'll all find something you like.  Make sure that you tell your friends and drop heavy hints to those who might be buying for you!

To celebrate the launch I will be giving away this choker pendant from the Looking Through Stained Glass Windows collection.  It is a beautiful colour.
What do you have to do to enter the draw for this piece?  I'd like you to tell me the size of my Enchanted Forest pendant, so start searching the website and post your comments on here and I will make the draw on Monday 5th September.  Competition will close at 7pm and I will make the draw at 8pm.

 http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk

Looking Through Stained Glass Windows

I am hoping to introduce a forum element to the site where a weekly topic can be discussed too which hopefully will make it interesting to all.  I really would welcome any feedback which you can leave on the Contact page. Are there any features missing that you would like to see included? Can't promise but will certainly try to include any suggestions!

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank David Muddyman for all his hair-tearing hard work on adding the graphics to the site, he's lovely!! He's had a really great week too, with a gallery in Penzance taking 10 of his paintings in one fell swoop!!! Yay!!!

In other news I cried yesterday, seeing my beautiful daughter in her wedding dress at the fitting - yep - proud Mum!

Colour & Texture Collaboration 2

I would just like to open this week's blog with a word of thanks to our emergency services and police for their stirling work, a hearfelt saddness for lives and livelihoods lost, deep thanks for the social media's tea and broom gangs cleaning up and a profound hope that we can turn all of this horror around.


When I came up with the idea of a collaborative blog featuring the work of artists I admire, I wasn't sure whether it would work or not, but I hoped that it would at least bring those people together in a common cause. I'm pleased to say that this week I have another fabulous knitwear designer's work to share with you.  I first came across Corinne Carr's designs at Gallery Latitude 50 when I was on honeymoon in St Ives in June and was instantly drawn to the colours and textures she uses.  I asked her about her inspiration.

1. Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

My inspiration for a new design usually comes from wanting something different to wear, going into shops and not finding it. I find that is the trigger for a new shape. People will say, 'Oh I really like that jumper/jacket/cardigan' and it will become part of my collection. Then in terms of colourways, I draw a lot of inspiration from the Cornish countryside. My studio windows overlook the moors of Zennor and I find that the changing colours of the seasons filters through to my knitwear.

2. Is there a craft medium that you've always had a hankering to try your hand at?

I'd always wanted to do printmaking and finally a few years ago I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow a printing press and experiment. I fell in love with the process - the alchemy of it. Of course, you have control when you put the ink on the paper and place in on the press, but then there is a magical moment when the print is free from the pressure of the press and the final image emerges. That transformation that takes place beyond your gaze - beyond your control - is the fascinating part. Unfortunately, with the gallery and my knitwear business growing so much over the past few years, I haven't been able to return to printmaking and develop further. But I have every intention of doing so as soon as I have the time. I have not ruled out trying my hand at painting either!

3. If you could see one famous person wearing your designs, who would it be?

I can think of a few (if I'm allowed)

Ines de la Fressange because she is the epitome of French style and makes everything she wears look absolutely fabulous.

Camila Batmanghelidgh because she loves colour as much as I do and because she is such an inspiration with the work she does for children and I admire her greatly.

And maybe Annie Lennox because she is so stylish and she sang songs I danced to when I was just starting out in design. And because my aubergine 'Feather' cardigan would look amazing with her platinum hair!

. Where can fans buy your work?

My full collection can be found year round at my studio gallery Latitude 50 just outside St Ives and knitwear can be ordered online at www.corinnecarr.co.uk. In Cornwall and the Scillies: Gallery Tresco, Trelowarren Gallery; Trellisick Gallery; Guild of Ten Truro; The Round House Gallery Sennen; The Square Gallery, St Mawes; Wave 7 Gallery, Port Isaac; Mid Cornwall Galleries, Par; UK wide: The National Trust Cotehele Gallery, St Dominc; Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge; Blue Duck Gallery, Reading; Blue Ginger Gallery, Malvern.

I'll also be exhibiting at these national craft fairs for the first time this year: The Cornwall Design Fair, Trereife House later this month, Made11 Brighton in November and Made by Hand Wales in Newport in December.

 I'm sure that you will agree with me, that Corinne Carr's work is stunning.  Walking into her gallery is like looking at an open packet of Fruit Pastilles - your mouth literally waters at the array of coloured cones of wool lining her work area! Make sure that you visit the gallery at www.gallerylatitude50.co.uk or check out www.corinnecarr.co.uk and start writing that Christmas list.


I asked Corinne to think about autumn colours and I love what she's supplied.  I think that her designs would work really well with some of my own pieces.
The collection on the left is called Stained Fingers from Blackberry Picking and the collection of the right is called Nighttime Reflections in Inky Water.  Both collections are available from my website at www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

I've also included a few images of some other pieces which are available from me on request.

This wide cuff is from the Andromeda range and is £39.00 It is approximately 5cm wide.

The choker pendant on the right is also from the Andromeda collection and is £29.00.

I hope that you've enjoyed my blog and that you will add Corinne Carr and Mhairi Wild to your list of 'must haves' (and me too if you like my designs!!)  I shall now toddle off and ferret out another top designer to share with you in the not too distant future.