Caged Buddha

Whilst visiting a friend yesterday, he gave me this little Buddha tile and shell because he knows that I make mixed metals and found objects jewellery.  Here's what I created with those bits plus a chunk of sea glass that I found on the beach a while back.

Measures 7cm long x 3.5 cm wide x 2.5 cm deep

Custom made Jewellery Cabinet

Here's a pic of the Custom made Jewellery Cabinet that I ordered from Graham & Sandy at the Oaisis Moon Framing Gallery.

While ordering a cuppa at the Bellingen Butter Factory Cafe, I happened to see a beautifully framed shadow box with heirloom cutlery.  I immediately began thinking of how something similar to that would be suitable for displaying my jewellery in a shop in a way that would be both secure and appealing.

You can see it for yourself at the Infusions of Food and Fine Arts Cafe ° 3/105 Hyde Street ° Bellingen ° 6655 0393. 

Please have a look, great gift ideas for both men and women.

Moo Cards?

What are Moo Cards, you say?  Moo Cards are beautiful little minicards that can be designed with your own images.  Can be used to promote your business, your photos, your blog or anything else with these uniquely sized cards that always stand out. Minicards come in packs of 100 cards with discount pricing on 4 packs. Measure approx 3cm x 7cm.  They are an excellent idea for Christmas gift tags, too!

I've just order some with images of my own and uniquely handcrafted works of art, and will be using the mini cards as tags on earrings.

Above is a collection of the mini card images and some of which will be on sale from July 1, 2010 at The Infusion Cafe at 105 Hyde Street in Bellingen, NSW.  Serving Infusions of Food and Fine Art.  The Cafe serves Japanese Food, Sea Food and Sweet Treats, too!

Expressions of Interest for additional Creative Arts Courses in Bellingen

Click Here to take survey

I am expanding creative art courses that are currently being offered in Bellingen, to include visiting artists. At the moment, I'm calling for expressions of interest from folks who are interested in additional Metal Clay, Mixed Media  and Polymer Clay workshops.

The expansion begins with a series of courses by Pam Annesley, an artist from Perth, Western Australia, who specialises in mixed media arts and designer jewellery using the metal and polymer clays.

Pam likes to share her skills with others. She travels to teach and also offers artist retreats and workshops at her home studio near Perth. Her workshops include wearable art, mixed media wall panels, natural bush dyes, felting, bookbinding, polymer clay and metal clay. You will find more information about Pam and her mixed media art on her blog at http://pamannesley.blogspot.com as well as her website on http://www.metalclayartstudio.com.au/.

Pam has taught natural dyeing workshops to indigenous people in the central desert of Australia and polymer clay workshops in the heart of Sydney. She has exhibited in numerous exhibitions in Australia and has been published in US Quilting Arts magazine, Australian Beading and ‘Encyclopaedia of Polymer Clay Techniques’ by Sue Heaser.

This is a great opportunity to learn new skills from an award winning artisan and create fabulous jewellery, for you and loved ones, all at the same time. Instead of travelling all the way to Western Australia to learn this fabulous mixed media art why not take advantage of this opportunity, in the creative community in Bellingen.

Right now I'm simply gathering expressions of interest through this survey link. If there are enough people to fill the classes then I will be happy to set them up.

Click Here to take survey

rebirth

I call this 'rebirth' symbolizing a new life.

A man is evolving whilst in a peaceful state into greater awareness of the worldly surrounds. In a golden cocoon-like shell  he is nourished by nature through the leaves and flowers.

Polymer clay, kato clear medium, gold leaf foil, StazOn Ink, pinata inks, liquid chalk, caning, stamping. Butterfly canes and flower canes purchased from Toni Ransfield of NZ. The leaf canes shared with me by Virginia Y, from South West Rocks, NSW.

Mixed Metal Pendant

This is a pendant that I made with copper sheets, fine silver tube rivets and a base metal focal.  The metal focal is riveted to a sheet of copper (inset) and that was then secured with four fine silver tube rivets at you see on the front.  I struck around the inner cut out with a ball peen hammer to force the metal to move... thus creating the dome and giving the piece more depth and dimension.  Striking the edges with a Riveting Hammer creates texture.

I used metal shears to cut out the frame, leaving a tab at the top that I then used a Wubbers Bail Making Pliers rolled over to create the bail. The Wubbers Medium-Sized Bail Making Pliers are great for making consistent bends.

What's on the White Board right now

Just a few pics of some bits of jewellery currently on the white board getting ready for packaging and then shipping to http://www.australianaonline.com.au/ .