How to compensate another off day in the studio?

It started out well too. I immediately got to grips with my "5-semi-spheres-ring" and the first 20min went well... but downhill from there, and I ended up working 8hours... for nothing. What to do? Have a nice crab sandwich, of course, and a waffle (Belgian one), of course. Talk about relationships and tease the only young man in class (he is kind of a muscle man on top of that and because men peak in their twenties, he is peaking sexually, trying to multiply experiences) ;-) He likes the attention and make us laugh, so actually the day did fly away. Oh and Mei-Ling made little balls in charcoal, and also another great design for her ring: clever! It's Friday, but no resting for me! I tried again to solder a ring, and failed because of lack of equipment here at home :-( Tomorrow, I will be taking care of my little nephew (1,5 years old), so no messing with the jewellery then... Seen how much I hurt myself with my material, I will definitely not allow him anywhere close to the bench, or you will be invited at my funeral! (I have a passionate sister!!). Sweet dreams or lots of fun drinking and dancing tonight. XXX

Charity time!

Year end, of course, is party time! (and presents, especially jewellery under the Xmas tree). Which reminds me I should get a tree this year because my dad will visit us (he lives abroad), and he really gets mad at me when I don't buy a tree. But, the year end, the cold, are times for Charity too. Fiscally interesting, but also soothing for the mind and of course, necessary. Because we should never forget how lucky we are to have a house, food, heating, clothes, education etc. So why not combine both? This weekend you can buy jewellery AND donate at the same time at this year's event of the Charitic Angels! And to make it even more exciting: one of my teachers Saskia Shutt has designed a collection for this event specifically and it is gorgeous. If you are in Brussels, don't hesitate to stop by, and if not, you might be able to place orders as of next week (the collection's prime is on Thursday so I can't show you the pics just yet)... Check it out!

http://www.chariticangels.com/

When I grow older...

... losing my hair, many years from now, will you still  be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings a bottle of wine?... Or wait, a funky ring! Don't you just love love love the below picture? Seriously, if I can't meet up to the expectations, please help me to the other world. Because in a world full of (and more and more) funky old people, we need to make sure we are in the game. I hope that my future work will be appreciated by the grey haired too and more importantly, I want to grow old like a dance-hall grandma. Inspired of course by my own groovy mum and a great grandma. Btw did you know my bet-grandmother was a 100-years old when she passed away? :-)

Rollmodel

OMG, here I am about to go to bed and then I stumble upon a ring made by Ashley Pittman... and I fall in love instantly. Little did I know that on top of that the jewellery is handmade in Africa (Kenya of all places!) and that the designer Ashley (I guess) is involved in helping the local community, donating part of her profit etc etc.... Is this woman living my dream or what? I am jealous jealous (she looks stunning by the way, some just have it all), to the point I am sure I am now not able to fall asleep, I first need to calm down again... Too much excitement. Somebody give this woman a decent website! I know she doesn't need it because scrolling around on the net it seems she is doing well without... ;-) Now I am counting on you to keep this a secret, because God knows what too much attention and fame can do to a brand or great designer: kill it. I know what I will be dreaming of.

http://www.ashleypittman.com

Sunshine

After rain there is always a ray of light... today was a good day. I finally got all the silver wire to stick to the brass and started cleaning the hanger. Still lots to do, but it is looking rather good. I also started working on the rings. The exercise consists of creating 5 plain band rings (5mm wide and 1mm thick) and then applying different textures and techniques to these. Exciting! I can't wait to show you the pics. 

Now watching Belgium's Got Talent (but really won't don't have much talent) with daughter Mila. It's our Friday night date, and we go all the way: Lays included, blankets and the cat...

Winter Wonderland

I found the theme for my second module: winter wonderland. I must have been inspired by the first snow here, the dark, cold nights. Trees, wood, bambi, snow... I hope that I will be able to put into reality the designs I made tonight (and which I am no longer allowed to share with you directly according to my sister... something about industrial spying ;-) ) I was supposed to find a designer I like to share with you but I have been too lazy, and now tired enough to go to bed. I will try to make up to you tomorrow, hoping to do better in the studio then Tuesday! Night night

Superhero

Schoenmaker blijf bij uw leest... After writing my previous -pretty desperate- post, I realised I needed to get my depressing emotions out. I had the choice between a huge pile of dishes to wash, a room filled with clothes to iron, or looking through my old DIY material. I came up with my shrinkies paper, and my new gold leaves... tadaa: super-hero collection ;-) Will have to finish it tomorrow (varnish and chains). Sweet dreams! Lala mzuri...

When the going gets tough...

The tough goes to party! Pfff. Failed to solder wire to my piece -check. Melted a silver ring while soldering it -check. Sawn into my finger -check. Waisted about a whole day in the studio, without results -check. No more comments. Will go to bed, party in my dreams, and wake up for a smashing day tomorrow. Because something will have to make up for today :-(

Stoned!

So today started out wrong... the ONLY day that I could have slept in a little (because Mila was at her dad's and I didn't have to go anywhere until noon), I had to drop some books at school which daughter-dear had forgotten to take to her dad's... grrr... And another catastrophe was avoided when I called my teacher for a question and she reminded me that today we didn't have classes at the studio, but at a stone-dealer instead. Oh, And I didn't have tv or internet for nearly all day (don't know why, but it was down). I also hesitated a long time before going to evening class, maybe because I ate 5 Mars-bars and felt like going home crashing onto the coach. But I was too afraid to feel too guilty and went... survived. So, you think, I had a rather bad day?... WRONG! The Stones got me Stoned enough to make the scale tip to POSITIVE... Yeah, I lOve lOve lOve semi-precious stones, and whipped out my plastic card... twice! Stay tuned for the results ;-) 

Fancy goggles!

Work is being continued... hanger, rings, making 925 silver, like a day at the office! Friday is my favourite day, because we have Alain all day and can work through lunch break, and because it's like already weekend. Came home and went straight to the bench to work some more. Yeah! Should actually study Swahili... Why do today what I can do tomorrow? In the meanwhile, just sitting in my sofa like a big potato, watching Astrid in Wonderland with Mila, each holding a bag of chips (which would make me a cannibal). Need to find some inspiration for the 3-D chain I will need to make soon...  suggestion are welcome! HAPPY WEEKEND

Le Lion

I was supposed to post this yesterday, but it just happened that last night manflu kicked in. Now you are thinking, "aren't you a women, Sara?"... well... yeah, but one from Mars! I am sick like a man, and wish there was someone to pamper me right now. But the superwoman inside of me is taking the upper-hand again and ordering me to write at least a post! 'Cause before I started to die, I did go on an exciting shopping trip to the famous Le Lion in Brussels. You have got to love this place... Already wanting to go back! I spend about an hour inside the store, picking up every tin or bottle and asking loads of stupid questions (I am allowed to do that, because I am blond). Ended up buying sanding paper and varnish to varnish my copper pieces and also..... (circus sound)..... acid to etch! Wanted to experiment today but instead just did nothing but feel sorry for myself :-( Now early night and hoping I can sleep the pain away!

http://www.le-lion.be

I told you so!

The second module is full steam ahead.. The results of module 1 are going to be sent to us by mail (like real mail, not even email), so I will be watching that mailbox like a hawk in the coming days. We did try to get a peek at the results this morning while Nico was giving his score, but each time we would approach his bench, he would put a sheet over the little book... we also tried to bribe him with wine, but... we didn't actually have the wine. Maybe we will need the wine once we get the results ;-)

Back to work, and I did lots of different things: made silver with the roller, drilled holes and saw a pattern in the hanger I am creating, made little silver "nails", created a ring with texture, went to BelGold to buy pure silver, changed the acid... anyways, multi-tasking! and it was very satisfying ;-) A pity that the next two days I won't have class :-( missing it already!

Lara Frankl

I am so undisciplined: I write a second post in one evening and I write about a designer on another day but Thursday... but I can't resist. One of our fellow students was missing today and I think I have found out why. Lara has her own jewellery collection already and has won a contest recently to be able to exhibit at the BOZAR museum in Brussels. My guess is that she has been working on her display there. I love what she does and really want to spread the word. She has covers in many magasines already but some extra web-exposure can never hurt... Check out her website, where you can order her pieces! 

http://www.larafrankl.be/

Intoxicated

Winter is kicking in (well autumn, but for some reason that is just like foreplay for the inevitable). And because those who know me I am not at my highest energy levels in the dark season (I should have been a bear, hey I even look like one sometimes), I will A) try to go to the sun-bed at some time to get extra energy B) eat even more chocolates and C) hang around doing nothing. But I did do 1 thing: I created my own way to de-rock my silver after I ally it.. tadaa. It took me 5 min to put together and then our eyes teared for hours and I had to take the system down again because I didn't get the proportions acid-water right and Mila and I got really intoxicated with the damp (I guess)... so... does it really count like I did something today? I guess not :-( Ah! but the silver did get clean!

Wake Up Call!

Today I completed my first "year" of goldsmith classes, meaning that I have now started the second module. I am awaiting the results of my work submitted with love (hoping that it will raise my average performance), but confident that I will make it through to next year. It's a wake up call though. Next module is to end just before Xmas (seems like tomorrow) and the work to be submitted is enormous! No more hanging around or watching TV in the coming months. No time for boyfriend or kids (better get rid of them too, as soon as possible), or even for writing on the blog... no wait, we'll keep the blog, because after I get rid of the boyfriend I'll need something to relax, and after I get rid of the daughter I'll need something to get my frustration out ;-)... So counting on you to keep me sane!

In loving memory

Today my grandmother would have been 93-years-old, it's been 3 years since she passed away and I still think of her with lots of love and emotions. I would love to create a piece inspired by her for my first collection, as I am sure that she would have been my first fan.

I recently stumbled upon synthetic diamonds or "memorial diamonds", made with carbon extracted from the remains of a body. Sounds kind of creepy, but in fact the extracted carbon is converted into graphite after purification and placed in a diamond synthesis process (the rest of the ashes is send back to the family). One human body can give up to 50 gems weighing one carat each and the process takes between 6 and 9 months, depending on the colour of the diamond. Available in different cuts. I think it is a cool idea. American... of course! I wonder if it catches on here too? I would be happy to work with these diamonds, as it must be really gratifying to create these unique pieces.

And of course I would have gotten a Almasi Kijani, a green one. Price for 0.20ct is 3.500 USD, what? Quite expensive, but nowhere close to the price of a natural green diamond of course. Maybe I should ask for some crowdfunding ;-)

A box full of surprises

Here it is: the end of module 1, or in other words our first exams! Remember all the pieces to hand in?

First their is the 5cm by 5cm perfect square with sawing exercise. Then there was the "puzzle". Third the amulet, with polished finish. Then the perfect sphere, the bracelet and the "voelvorm". We need to hand it all in on Friday first thing in the morning and until then I have no class. I feel so damn average at the moment.  Every piece is average. I want to be better then average :-( The least proud I am about the puzzle (seen the number of times I re-did it, it should be perfect and it is not), and the bracelet (because of lack of oxygen, I couldn't make the one I intended to do, and the "trial" version became my definite one, with all its flaws :-( ). So let's all hope that average is good enough this time. 

To make average interesting, I decided to do something I am less then average at: sewing. I do have an Ikea sewing machine, merely because I am jealous at my sister who has a good machine and is quite handy with it, and spend about 45min trying to put it together together with my 9-year-old. I have created a little bag in African wax for each piece, tailor-made ;-) It is to conclude the Bamoun theme of Module 1, with the Ashanti doll and double headed snake. What do you think, will this 2-hour job pay off? Results next week!!

Yes I Can!

I was in for a second day of just working with Mr Rock, but as my tools got blunt my courage starting sinking into my shoes... so I had to do something. I decided to think like a man, and got out the Drill ;-) Guess what, the male approach worked! Now all I have to do is sand it a few times and soak it with oil... tadaa! Hooray for male inspiration, saved me hours. 

Technically speaking

... I missed the Monday-post, as in this part of the world we have just become Tuesday. In my defense, I had a long day, starting with class -of course- followed by, an evening class -of course- and topped off by a little taxi-driving experience to help friends to make their way back from their trip to the sun :-( jealous jealous. Anyways, I did manage to get to the jewellery class, although soaking wet as the Gods were playing with water guns just as I was dragging my tools from the car to the entrance door. Hope they had fun! I certainly... didn't. Don't know why I dragged all those tools to the studio neither, as today the ONLY piece of equipment needed was my file: I filed the day away into my soap-stone (nothing like soap though). I will never discuss prices anymore for a soap-stone elephant in Zimbabwe, I respect the people who make them tremendously (well now I do). Let's say it is another lesson learned the hard way. Not that I am at the end of of the road: see for yourself, but it least I am well on my way. Deadline: Thursday! So I am going to have a good night of sleep, relax the muscles in my upper-body, so I can wake up a champion tomorrow morning... night night!

TGIS

Thanks God It's Sunday... because that means that tomorrow is Monday!! What you drag going into work? you hate having to sit through class? I CAN'T WAIT... Have been extremely inefficient this week, jewellery-wise, and I am soo looking forward to going back into the studio. And sharing my ideas with you ;-) I need to work on my designs too, as I have a few ideas I need to put on paper. But those, it has been said, I should not share, for them to grow and then become my own (and not yours). Rdv tomorrow!