A sneek peek at some pieces of jewellery from a new series of work entitled ‘Microbe’. The jewellery series is handmade predominantly in silver with vitreous enamel. More info and images to come as the series develops.
Microbe blue/pink brooch – silver & vitreous enamel
Microbe pearl necklace – silver, vitreous enamel & freshwater black pearls
Microbe slice brooch – silver & vitreous enamel
Last Thursday was the Designer Maker West Midlands (DMWM) & Craftnet seminar, Leading through making, at which I gave a presentation. The event drew together makers and craft proffessionals from both the East and West midlands to explore “the different interpretations of leadership, focusing on makers and looking at the different ways makers lead.”
My presentation was about my experiences of being a mentee on the DMWM Future Forward mentoring programme. The mentoring programme has run for two years giving six mid-career makers, three each year, opportunity to work with a mentor to develop their work and practice, engaging in critical discussion and exploring new markets.
The mentoring has proved to be of great benefit to me. With a focus on earning and maintaining an income, it sometimes feels as though you can become caught in a cycle of making and selling that influences your work and it can be difficult to find the time to re-energize your creativity with new challenges and fresh inspiration.
I felt not only that I wanted to evaluate my work more critically and evaluate where I would like it to be placed in the wider jewellery context; I also had interests in making work that might not be jewellery. I had, and have, desires to explore mediums for engaging my ideas and work on a larger scale than jewellery. The mentoring gave me the opportunity to engage in discussion with my mentor about ideas and possibilities, and work together to find a way for my practice to move forward. As a result I have taken the time to evolve a new strand of research and source material for my work, I have received a much greater understanding of public art and how my work could be placed within this arena, we have explored how my future work may evolve as jewellery and also as non-jewellery pieces and generally I feel enriched and revitalised by the experience.
Other speakers were my fellow mentees for the year Anna Lorenz and Rajesh Gogna, with Tracey Rowledge and David Gates also talking through other projects. Tracey spoke about her experience on the Cape Farewell expedition to the Disko Bay are of West Greenland (which was to instigate a cultural response to climate change) and how it has imapcted on her work and practice. David talked us through a series of projects that he has been involved with, working both independantly and in collaboration, exploring the reasons and ideas for engaging and also a critical review.
I find it incredibly inspiring to hear other makers talk about their work and experiences and it proved to be a really interesting afternoon. There is much to be gained from sharing our knowledge and experiences, it instigates ideas for new ways of working and fuels ones passion, the way we all work and the experiences we have can be very different.
Whether individually or collectively we see ourselves as leaders was uncertain. As a maker you lead yourself, a profession where motivation and commitment is key ultimately only you can move your practice forward instigating new ideas and solutions. Considering yourself as a leader with your practice, I felt it is important to aim to produce work of both quality and innovation, sharing your experiences and imaprting knowledge to emerging makers as a way of leading.
One question that arose for me several times was how have you found the time to do this and still maintain your current work? well, I believe if you really want to do something somehow you find the time, its about acheiving a balance and time management, something I’m sure I could still be better at! I’m also not in a rush, I’m taking time to devolop new jewellery and ‘other pieces’, ideas for which have come through my work on the programme, for me it is about the longevity of how I will work and what I will be making.
I have recently returned from having a lovely time down in Bovey Tracey at The Contemporary Craft Fair – some info from their website -”The Contemporary Craft Fair was founded in 2003. The Contemporary Craft Fair has grown from 4,000 to 8,000 visitors since it started and has become one of the most prestigious and highly acclaimed craft events in the UK.
The Contemporary Craft Fair came about when three Bovey Tracey craft businesses joined forces and formed a non-profit making company with the aim to bring a large craft Fair to Bovey Tracey. The aim of the Fair was to showcase the very best in British craft and create a new, sustainable and strong market place for contemporary craft but also to bring greater prosperity to the town of Bovey Tracey. The town has a long history of making and at one point up to 15 commercial potteries were running in the area.” www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk
It’s a fab show with lots of really inspiring work from a wide variety of makers. I think what also makes this a great event is the extra activities and demonstrations that take place alongside the show. There’s plenty to entertain the kids, or you can book yourself in for one of the workshops as well as view and purchase work from both emerging and established makers. Although in June you would hope for some glorious sunshine, of which there was some, we did have to contend with rain showers. However even the continual rain on the last day didn’t put off the visitors, proving to be another busy day at the show and actually my best day for sales!
Take a look at this video from the shows 6th year – this year was number 8.
The second Centrepiece open studios went well, with a reasonable number of visitors to the various workshops. Its always good to meet those who have an interest in and purchase our work, to be able to discuss possible commissions and get feedback in our own environment. Open workshops offers the opportunity to see the kinds of spaces and equipment that we use and get an insight into the way we might make our jewellery. As designer makers, making limited runs through to one off pieces, we can always adapt and develop our designs to suit a customers needs. Its great for an individual to work with their favourite maker to create something unique for them, enabling them to be part of the design process. Open studios can be a time to see some new jewellery pieces and also a time to snap up some end of line bargins!
So now I’m busy getting ready for The Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey 10th – 12th of June www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk. I’m praying that the sunshine is going to last through the show, or at least stay dry, It won’t be fun camping and exhibiting in a marquee in the pouring rain!
My intentions of writing this blog on a regular basis have already managed to slip! The last few weeks have been fairly busy, not to mention all the fun-time sunshine 
bank holidays we have had. New collections of work are finished and about to land in various galleries and shops, and this weekend is the Centrepiece open studios www.centrepiece-jewellery.co.uk. I will be showing my work alongside fellow Centrepiece jeweller Glenn Campbell in his workshop, no doubt we shall engage in plenty of tea drinking and biscuit munching throughout! The Urban Coffee Company in the Jewellery Quarter are kindly offering our visitors a 20% discount on hot drinks during the event so as well as admiring and buying lots of fab jewels you can also enjoy delicious coffee.
I managed to take a trip down to london to see the recent ‘Collect’ which as always proved very inspiring. Its great to see such a range of work from British and European galleries in one place and this years newcomers space for selected individuals was equally inspiring. I can always find lots of jewellers work that I admire at Collect, but this year Lesley Craze Gallery from London really stood out for me, I particularly liked Emmeline Hastings perspex and titanium jewellery and Helen Carnac’s enammeled and drawing collages.
My mind is a buzz at the moment with new projects I am trying to find the time to further. The Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey will be my next event in early June so I am busy working on some new pieces for that and also hoping that I might make a start on some non jewellery pieces to introduce to the world there, watch this space…
So I finally get around to writing my first blog post! Its been a busy few weeks in the run up to the ‘British Craft Trade Fair’ getting work ready, sending invites etc etc. But now its all over, writing to do lists and getting back to the bench to get making all that jewellery. It’s always nice at shows to catch up with fellow makers (friends) and meeting new people, it’s such a lovely industry to work in with such a lot of lovely smilie people! Lots of fabulous work was being exhibited and a few of things that caught my eye were Harriet Sanders gorgeous leather bags www.harrietsanders.co.uk , Helaina Sharpley’s wire work wall pieces, loving the tea cups www.helainasharpley.co.uk and Angela O’Keefe’s jewellery made with salt crystals and resin www.angelaokeefe.weebly.com.
Just prior to BCTF I managed to squeese in a day trip to London with the FF2 gang. FF2 is a mentoring programme run by Designer Maker West Midlands www.designermakerwm.co.uk and I have been lucky enough to be one of the three mentees during 2010/11. Making time is so precious we often under value the importance of taking time away to see exhibitions and take in other diciplines. A busy day it was too, taking in exhibitoins at The Whitechapel Gallery, Gallery S O, Ravens Row, The Parosol Unit and a CAA private view at Cricus. Needless to say a snooze was required on the train on the way home, especially after a glass of private view wine!
Gallery S O was a really delightful little gallery on Brick Lane -’The gallery’s main focus is the contemporary object, which through an inherent grace of form and materials is able to convey diverse narratives to reflect, not trends and styles, but the attitudes and expressive intentions of the artist/maker‘. – Alongside a regular selection of jewellery from an array of International makers their exhibitions cross the lines of art and craft. I definitely recommend a visit, if you happen to be in London to see ‘Collect’ in May, then would be a good time as they will be showing work from Bernard Schobinger www.galerieso.com. It will be on my list of to do’s!
