Cuffs

I have just received an email stating I have officially passed my exams and I will be invited to collect my degree Goldsmith... and I feel... down. Cold Turkey. There is one more module, which I was signed up for, for a degree as Jewellery Designer. It ends June 17th, but I am starting work again on June 2nd... My mind and heart are balancing, trying to find a solution, because all I really want to do, is to be back in the studio, 3 days a week at least! 

So while my mind is figuring things out, part of my brain is already working on the deliverables of that 5th module: a collection of minimum 3 pieces, part of a collection. I opened my boxes at home and found some stones, semi-precious -huge- stones, which I had received from my ex-husband who had brought them from Brasil years ago. I knew one day I would be using them, and I feel now is the time. The collection would be called Goiania or Pontalina (in Brasil). I also would love to make bracelets because so far I haven't. A cuff, a bangle, and maybe a ring... or 2 bangles... Started doodling a little. Would love to incorporate some Art Deco, but that would make them more Miami then Ipanema ;-) See I can't stop doing this... I really need to make jewellery. Help!

Eureka!

Today was a family day: church, communion, sister-in-law, mother and sister... we did it all. And after a long day out in the sun, I had to come back home to rough reality: dirty house, pile of ironing, dishes... and the display for my brooch to finalise. So I prioritised, skipped the house-wife tasks, and sat in front of the piece of metal, thinking of a solution to hang the brooch. Nylon thread, copper chain,... showing the result to Mr V who disapproved of all solutions. And my guy has taste, so I know it wasn't right. Until he came with a solution himself, suggesting I would bent the metal so I could just hang the brooch on one of the branches. Eureka! We both liked it and I hope the jury tomorrow will too ;-)

A little bit of begging

I went on a mission with V today. We looked at every shopping window of the Westland shopping center, in order to find the best way to display a price. Monday, as you might remember, I will have to showcase my piece of jewellery as if it were in a shopping display and I will also indicate the price. So I wanted the little plastic numbers to click together, but it turned out most shops use printed cards, little frames, and not the plastics squares to indicate the prices. Finally, we found some in the window of the shoe store Sacha. V decided to stay outside, arguing that his "head" wasn't fit for the job, and send me in on my own, with my angelic face, to beg for a few numbers ;-)

To my surprise one of the girls in the shop was so kind to offer to borrow me some, as long as I would return them on Tuesday.. which I promised to do, of course! Yeah! She wished me luck and I am sure that it will make a difference ;-)

Veni Vidi Vici!

I was right to leave the boyfriend in bed and go to the flea-market. Not only was it really sunny and a great atmosphere (despite the fact it was too crowed and I had to park my car like in the middle of a road, hoping for the police not to notice it), but I came home with some great findings! 

I found a plate-heater for 5euro, which I will use to keep my Vitrex hot, and most importantly a piece of bronze which has some Art Nouveau feel to it. I have already combined it with a little blue Tiffany's box which my sister gave me which I upholstered with some Art Deco fabric I received from my friend Raf. Tadaaa!! Now I only need to find a way to make my brooch hang inside the "tree", but I have all weekend to let that idea mature ;-) 

May... really?

My last post dated January 26th, and now we are a few hours away from May. OMG where did the time go? Two modules have gone, two more exciting ones, technically speaking of course; and also stressful ones... How will I be able to catch up? 

Tonight was my last time in the studio, for now. We handed all our module 4 pieces in yesterday, and now all I have left to do is defend my master piece in front of a jury on Monday. I feel empty...

Today is also the day I signed my new working agreement, in the Consulting business, my first love. Little time will be left, as of June, to spend with the bench :-(

Nothing but changes, again, in my life; hopefully for the better! I have promised myself to try to start writing to you again, on a regular basis. I have tons of pics and facts to share with you form the last few months, and I will hopefully be able to continue to inspire some of you... to dream their dreams and to make them work!!

Strange Period

I must be in the middle of my own winter this year because I am tired 90% of the day (and 100% of the night). Which means that I have to optimise the 10% of the day when I actually do feel energetic, and unfortunately writing on the blog falls out of the boat most of the time. But not only! I have bought a Sievert system to be able to solder at home, like two weeks ago. And I got it out of it's box (step 1), about a week ago. Now it is waiting for me to go upstairs to my neighbour and get a tool to correctly mount it to the gas bottle (step 2)... maybe in 3 weeks? I am not proud of myself :-(

Brooches

Today I was told that I might bring back the brooches! Were they ever gone then? Didn't realise that. Surely, life can't be just about rings :-( I know I haven't been very active lately on my blog. I have all sorts of good reasons for that, but when my very own daddy called me to bust me ass on not keeping him up to date, I thought it was time for a little post ;-) So daddy, I have been working within my art-deco theme, on a brooch with citrine. The goal is to finish it by the end of the week, so I can work on the earrings again. The piece is compose of 4 different pieces sawn out of 1.2 sterling plate (my own alloy), then mounted with a wire structure around a collet setting. I now need to check all the soldering, cleanup, and make the finished, including the pin at the back, so it could be send off for the stone to be set. Labour intense, but finally a piece I feel I wouldn't be embarrassed to wear...

Mathematics

Mila loves Maths. Good. Because it seems no matter what you do you run into the numbers. How to get a caddy full of groceries for under 60euro -only at Lidl ;-) ?, how to fill out tax forms and of course?, when making jewellery. We had our theoretical examination today, which I had forgotten about, but it really was easy-peasy. How to correct a wrong alloy of 835 to obtain 925 silver... In two more years even Mila will see this "rule-of-three" in class. More difficult are the geometrics I had to do today to calculate the distance between the holes in my 1.5mm diamond eternity band and also to design the setting for my stone... At the end the calculations are still more easy then drilling holes!

Art-Deco

Found the theme for Module 3: Art-Deco. I have always been fascinated by this period's architecture and art, and today when the teacher showed us some beautiful pieces from this period, I thought I'd give it a try. Only two pieces of this module need to be designed by us: a pair of earrings with hinge and a stone or object set with a collet setting, and I was thinking of creating a brooch or pin with that stone, an oval citrine.

Back in the saddle!

Since last post a few days have gone by. I lost my way for a few days, but found the track again! After having slept too little in order to think straight, followed by another few days sobbing because the results of my pieces fro module 2 were not what I had hoped for, this dark period ended with a kick under the butt. Right, module 3 seems like a lot of difficult work, but I needn't be afraid, I just need to sit behind the bench, ignore my friends and family, my dirty laundry and dusty house and WORK harder! 

Yesterday I fixed myself a new bench pin. The old one is been given retirement and I hope it finds it's new space in the shelf just fine. I bought the pin online and found this wonderful pattern of how to cut out the different spaces online as well. So I innocently headed to the nearest DIY shop to ask them to use a fancy tool to cut it for me, but apparently, my blond-angelic face didn't work it's miracle this time. Plan B was to twist my lovely neighbour's arm to make him do it.. and it kind of worked, as he dropped of some handtools for me to do it myself... I gathered my courage and did the best I could... but did stop after the main cut-out ;-)

Over-worked and under-intoxicated

Or make that intoxicated after all. All the spray paint and glue, as well as the acid evaporating, I feel really intoxicated. High! With difficulties to breathe and a fast heart beat. Check in on me later this morning just to make sure that I survived the (short) night. OK, Day-1; check-in:

- 5 band rings: 1 to go

- 5 semi-sphere rings: soldered the broken flower; need to do the finishing, polishing etc

- tube: ok

- cabouchon: black fire shadows (that's what I call them at least) :-(

- 3D necklace: finishing, polishing etc

and about 30 hours to go. I am well-advanced with the presentation of the pieces too... so although I have hardly slept the last few days, and my body is filled with deadline-worker-stress, I might actually make it in time... not perfectly, but hopefully well enough to make it to round 3!! 

Goodnight to you all!!

Happy New... Stress 2014

This morning it downed on me: F*ck, in just a few days it is Monday again. And the coming Monday will be a stressful one: exam day, module II. I am not happy with any piece in particular so far and what blocks me is the lack of the right tools to solder, to polish and the lack of material to start again (pure silver but no possibility to alloy). I dressed up real nice (V asked me what the hell I was up to so early in the day), and took Mila (as support and because of the cute-factor), and went to a jewellery store which knows me as a client and who has a very friendly owner. Goal: get him to allow me into his studio to work on my pieces tomorrow. All the effort didn't pay off, as he wasn't going to take the risk of having a control and having to explain I am not an illegal worker in his shop :-( I do understand where he comes from but I was also disappointed. The only thing that keeps me going is the support of my fellow students who all are facing the same type of problems. I moved my studio for it to be in the center of my living room now, because in the corner it is cold and I felt like I was being punished. I then resumed work and spend all evening until now at the bench. Made new todo lists etc... long way to go, the end is NOT in sight just yet :-( Luckily have you too listen to my complaints and sheer me up!

Oh, by the way: Happy New Year 2014!!