Keep an eye out for the NEOS catalogue

Here is the NEOS catalogue. The year round directory of artists, makers and galleries in the North East of Scotland.

NEOS Catalogue with my image featured on the front page.

Keep you eye out for them in and around Aberdeen, so you can pick up your own copy and start planning you route round NEOS.

My entry in the catalogue on page 37.

We have copies at Lava Jewellery Design in Peterculter. Please come and see us at venue 72 and 132.

The handy fold out map to help find venues.

On my bench today ...

Something blue! Today I have been working on setting some lovely blue topaz stones into some new cuttlefish pieces.

Just trying out blogging from my phone in an attempt to keep the blog more up to date and letting you see what I am currently working on in my workshop.

New Collections

I have now updated my collection pages (^along the top of the blog^) with a few images of pieces from my new collections. More images will be added in due course but for now this will give you an idea of how my work has developed. I have three new collections, one based on dots found in nature, one using the texture of the cuttlefish bone and one inspired by lace.

Dotty about Dots

All my new work is very textural. Probably influenced from my background in textiles - I studied Textiles and Surface Design at University and worked as a knitted textile designer for a number of years.

Crazy about Cuttlefish

I am really interested in capturing patterned surfaces into my silver pieces and have been enjoying learning more about stone setting and introducing faceted stones into my work. I am still very influenced by natural form, in particular sea life but have also developed an interest in the intricate structure of Lace.

Loopy about Lace

Most of my work is now produced using the lost wax casting technique which allows me to make pieced in wax before casting them in silver. The amount of detail that can be achieved has enabled me to explore the textural element in my work which is now one of it's characteristics.

P.S. I have added a NEOS button to my side bar. You can click on it and it links to the North East Open Studios website if you are looking for more information.

Showcase Exhibition and North East Open Studios

September is going to be a busy month for me! I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity of showing my new jewellery pieces as the featured designer in Lava Jewellery Design's Autumn Exhibition. My work will be on display from 1st - 29th September. 

Here is the postcard for the event with a wee sneak-peek of a few of the pieces I will be showing. My work is the top 5 images. The bottom three pictures are Duncan and Jacqui's jewellery representing some of the pieces you can find made at Lava Jewellery Design's Studio.

We are going to hold an Opening for the Exhibition on Saturday the 1st of September from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Please feel free to pop along for a celebratory drink and view my new collections.

If you can't manage the Saturday, my work will be on display for the whole of September.  I will be around working in the studio regularly during this time, so if you want to chat about my work or discuss a commission then please drop by. If you are making a special journey then you are best to call the shop on 01224 735000, just to make sure I will be there.

September 15th-23rd is also when North East Open Studios or NEOS is on and I am so pleased to be taking part for the first time this year.

(NEOS) is Scotland’s Largest Open Studios event. An award winning, not for profit collective of artists, makers and galleries in the North East of Scotland who open their doors to the public yearly. It is a fantastic opportunity to visit designers and artists in their own environments and see some of the great work being produced in the North East.

As part of the event a directory of all the participants is made every year and serves as a year round catalogue of North East artists and designers. Keep a look out to get a hold of your own copy!

If you can't wait, NEOS have a brilliant search section on their website where you can look up participants by name or discipline. There is also a map that you can download to help plan your route and visits. 

Why not stop past Lava Jewellery Designs on you way to Royal Deeside or Aberdeen and take a look at my new collections as well as Duncan and Jacqui's latest work. You can also see us working in the workshop, so if you have ever wanted to see jewellers at work, here is the perfect opportunity!

Here is my catalogue entry for the event.

So another long absence...but plenty in the works!

It would seem that all my promises of being better at posting to this blog and keeping things updated did not go to plan. Sorry about that.

I have been working on some new collections that are about to launch. I will be adding more information to the blog in the next few days but in the meantime, have a look at my 'Exhibitions' section for my new exhibition that is coming up.

I have also added some more pictures to my 'Previous Collections' page to show some past collections before I reveal my new work!

Cuttlefish Casting

I am going back to uni this week to start my course in Carving and Casting. This year I am planning to learn more about repeat casting units and some more advanced stone setting techniques. I hope I will be better at keeping the blog updated this time!

I thought this would be a good time to share some of what I learned last year on the course.

Cuttlefish casting is the easiest and least expensive (in terms of equipment) form of casting metal. It was the first technique we learned and is a good way of learning the principles of casting.

Here is my version of a step-by-step on how to complete a cuttlefish cast.

What you will need:

A Cuttlefish bone

Saw

Shape you wish to cast (can be made in wax, plastic, wood etc.)

Carving tools

Binding wire

Wire cutters

Casting metal (Pewter, silver etc.)

Crucible or pot to melt metal in.

Gas Torch or other heat source.

Leather Gloves

Goggles

Step-by-Step

1. Prepare the cuttlebone by removing the pointed top and bottom with a saw. Then saw it in half lengthways.

2. Make sure both halves fit together well by gently rubbing the flat sides against each other until they are flush.

3. Take the half of the cuttlebone with the harder back and begin pressing the shape to be cast into it.  About 1 inch from the top of the bone. If the shape is difficult to press in, use a carving tool to remove some of the cuttlebone. Be careful not to press too hard as the cuttlebone is very brittle and may break. Alternatively a shape can be carved out of the cuttlebone directly.

4. Once you have made your impression, use a carving tool to cut a funnel from the top of the bone to your shape. This will form the button. Also remember to draw some air lines out from the shape. This will help to prevent air bubbles and ensure a more complete cast. Dust any powdery residue from the bone using a paintbrush.

5. Place the two halves back together again, making sure they fit together tightly. Then wrap securely with binding wire.

6. Stand the cuttlefish bone firmly on a heatproof surface. Heat the metal to be cast. Always make sure you have enough metal to fill you cast plus some extra for the button. Once the metal is molten, pour it into the funnel opening.

7. Leave the cuttlebone to cool before moving it. Then run it under cold water to ensure it is fully cooled.

8. Remove the binding wire using wire cutters.

9. Lift off one half of your cuttle bone and see your cast. The metal should have also filled the air lines and some of the funnel opening.

10. Lift your cast out from the cuttlebone.

11. The air lines and button can now be removed using a saw. 

12. The edges can then be tidied with files and emery paper.

Please note: This technique gives the cast a flat back with a cuttlebone texture. Where the shape has been pressed, the cuttlebone layers are compressed giving a smoother finish. If the shape is carved out of the cuttlebone the layered texture is more visible.

To achieve a shaped back rather than a flat back, the other half of the cuttle bone is also carved or indented. If using a shape, place it in the cuttlebone and then put the two halves together (Before step 5). Use matchsticks or wire to pierce the cuttlebone and mark where they line up. separate the two halves and remove the shape before reassembling and continuing with step 5.

Some more notes:

If casting in silver (or gold) the cuttlebone can only be used once, whether the cast is successful or not. This is because the heat of the metal burns some of the cuttlefish when it is poured into the cast. If using pewter the cuttlebone can be used a few times if you are careful.

Cuttlebones can be bought cheaply from pet shops. The best bones to choose are large and as thick as possible. Thin small ones are more likely to break.

Sorry for the lack of photos at the beginning of the step-by-step - I only remembered to documented the process once I got home from my class and had my camera!

Fold Forming

Fold forming was invented by Charles Lewton-Brain. It is a technique of forming sheet metal quickly into fantastic 3-dimensional shapes without the need for soldering. Sheet metal is cut, folded and then hammered along the fold, to stretch the metal, before being unfolded to reveal wonderful, organic, curved shapes.

             

Fold forms with one fold using different starting shapes.

This was a technique I really enjoyed learning and experimenting with during my course. There are endless possibilities with fold forming depending on the starting shape and number of folds within a piece. The direction of the folds as well as the amount of hammering also varies the outcome of the final form. 

Fold form with two folds to create flower shape.

It was intriguing to cut different shapes and hammer the folds to differing degrees before finally unfolding the pieces to reveal their final form. The more a fold is hammered, the more the metal naturally stretches and curves round. Hammering along the open outer edge also affects the outcome of the form.

Leaf shapes made using fold forming.

This is a great metal-forming technique to uses in jewellery because the 3-D forms can be made so fast. The lack of soldered joints also makes them ideal surfaces to enamel for an added splash of colour.