Thursday, May 23, 2013

How the diamond led me to the pea...

Many years ago I got a job in a small jewellery shop. I had just finished my gold and silversmithing degree. I was fresh out of art school and eager to get some industry experience.The shop specialized in gold and diamond jewellery, it was very conservative and very mainstream. I was way out of my comfort zone.They asked me not to wear my birkenstocks to work and to try and dress more corporately.
 I spent most of my time at that job writing tags for jewellery, cleaning the glass and cleaning jewellery. One day I came across the Certificates of Guarantee for diamonds. There were seals and signatures and the guarantee that all stones are checked by polariscope, refractometer, ultra-violet, spectroscope and microscope. I thought this was hilarious, a whole lot of pomp and ceremony over a diamond (remember I really was fresh out of art school where we were encouraged to make outside the jewellery box) I started thinking what if the diamond were replaced by something else; like a pea. Like the pea from the story the princess and the pea. And the pea became world famous, like the diamond...So that became my exhibitions Treasure trove of the Princess Mirabelle... and She really couldn't sleep a wink... 
Of course I do now understand that diamonds are serious business.

 Pea necklace- 925, 18ct yellow and rose gold, chrysoprase beads
 Pea ring- 925, 18ct yellow gold, emeralds, diamond.



Wednesday, May 22, 2013

My pitch bowl and my hammers

The hammer on the far right is my absolute favourite. It has a lovely weight and springy action. But oh unhappy day it broke and is repaired with masking tape, as I've been unable to find a replacement handle.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Sailing 'round the atoll.

A new piece, just completed.
 When I saw this piece of chrysocolla I thought it so evocative of  sea voyages and exotic destinations... 
                               925, 999, chrysocolla, shell beads.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

More Earrings

Earrings- 925, citrine, onyx.