Launching Bronze and Grey

Hello folks, it's been a couple of weeks since my last confession.......

No really,  I've been busy, busy, busy.  I've been working on new pieces which are destined (hopefully - they still have to get past the selection panel!!) for a summer exhibition by Flameworks which is being held in the Relegacy Gallery, The Barbican, Plymouth from 21st July to the 29th.  My husband, www.davidmuddyman.co.uk is also hoping to exhibit this time too. The theme is 'Pushing The Boat Out' and this is the first time that I will be showing aluminium, silver and bronze. Would you like a little sneak preview?

This bronze Wood bracelet is destined for the exhibition

This busy time has also seen the launch of my Bronze Collection on my website. http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page15.htm Why not take a look at these organic pieces and let me know what you think? It is possible to add a beautiful heat patina to bronze and that is what has been applied to the bracelet above and I plan to introduce more of that to the website collection soon.

So, what else have I been up to?

Well, there's been so much in the press and media of late regarding a certain trilogy of books and it made me think that I could start a Shades of Grey collection.  As there is so much interest and many people are posting pictures of shade charts and paint charts so I thought that there might be a demand for a simple, beautiful pendant.  I used dip dyeing techniques with aluminium dye, deliberately letting the dye dry in 'tidemarks' and repositioning the sheets every few minutes to create the lines you see as well as aluminium ink in black.  (My thumbs are still showing evidence of this 5 days later owing to a blowout in my latex gloves!) Every single pendant is different and are reminiscent of landscapes, seascapes or even cloudscapes and I'm really happy with the end result.  I think they look stunning and will certainly appeal to anyone who enjoyed the books and those who haven't read them.  These are my take on 'Shades Of Grey' and they have their very own Collection on the website http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page16.htm  Who knows - I may make another colour collection if these prove popular! 

So, if anyone would like to know more about any of my pieces, or about the forthcoming exhibition, or even where else you can see my work, please do email me at info@slicksilverjewellery.co.uk - I'm always pleased to hear from you.

I'm also looking for new gallery stockists, particularly in Cumbria and Wales.  If you know of anywhere do let me know.

SlickSilver Jewellery Silver Spring Sale!

Hello again folks!

It's that time of year again and you all know what that means - yep - spring cleaning!! The last couple of weeks has seen me spring clean my kitchen, my bedroom and yesterday, my studio got the full treatment.  I happily went and bought a wide plastic storage 6 drawer chest for underneath my workbench and put it together - it was only then I panicked that it might not fit under - it's ok though it just fitted!!  It looks pretty smart too and has allowed me to clear the top of my workbench a bit and tools used less frequently are easily still at hand.  Books have been redistributed around the walls and so today I felt like making a couple of pieces which, when photographed, will find their way into the Signature Collection so look out for Willow II and Willow III in gorgeous shades of green and purple/blue.

So with that in mind I thought I might have a little sale on my website!  All the jewellery in the Waves Collection, in the Impressions Collection and in the Colours and Textures Collection has been reduced by 10%.  The price you see now shows the discounted price - get in quick while you can!!

Look forward to hearing from you - and if you have a favourite piece - why not check to see if it's been reduced? http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk

http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page8.htm Impressions Collection

http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page7.htm Waves Collection

http://slicksilverjewellery.co.uk/page9.htm Colour and Texture Collection

Jewellery as Art

Well, last week I blogged about Amazon's new Universal Wishlist Button which allows people to add goods from anyone's website to their Amazon wishlist and the possible consequences for people like myself who sell one-off items.  I have tried to contact Amazon to ask if we can choose to opt out of this system, but haven't had a response as yet.  The editor of UK Handmade is also looking into this on our behalf and I will keep you posted.

Those of you who read my last collaborative blog with Carolyn Saxby will recall her gorgeous beads and I'm thrilled to say that I received a package of the golden pink beads and I shall enjoy making myself something stunning with those - thank you Carolyn!

So, following a suggestion this week on Twitter from ShellyBobbins I thought I would look jewellery as art.  I have always sought to introduce colour into my work and in the early days I did that with patinas of various kinds, and now I feel that I can really explore my painterly side using anodised aluminium and inks and dyes.  I'm often inspired by a photograph, but more commonly, a close up texture or a flash of colour will be enough to give me an idea.  I also find inspiration in pottery and textiles.  When I colour and dye a sheet of aluminium it looks like a painting before it is cut up.  I belong a small group of artists who like to push their boundaries and at a recent meeting we decided to work towards a theme for this year.  This has caused me to think about how I can portray my jewellery as art and so I've cut up a sheet of dyed aluminium and suspended it in slices within a frame to make a free standing sculptural exhibit which the viewer will be able to run their fingers through should we get an exhibition!

I also subscribe to Craft & Design magazine http://www.craftanddesign.net/ and you will be able to see a sample of my work in the Makers Gallery in the next issue!

In other news, my jewellery can now also be found at www.love-local.com which launched yesterday and I wish them loads of good luck!

 This aluminium collection is subtely textured and was dyed first in turquoise and then over-dyed in a beautiful deep blue and these three items are the only ones I produced in this pattern.  I think that they would look stunning with a party outfit.

Oh well, I'm off to find another stunning blog collaborator!  See you next week!