Gumnut necklace

They are writing " Humans Please be Kind to all Bush Creatures and don't pull flowers up by the roots" . Words to live by.

In early 2010 I made this gumnut necklace, and only just today finally documented it. It's inspired by May Gibbs gumnut babies (and kitsch vintage Australiana in general) , like a lot of Australians I grew up being read and when I was old enough reading myself the adorable stories. The first book of the series, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Wonderful Adventures were published in 1918 and its two sequels, Little Ragged Blossom (1920) and Little Obelia (1921). To this day they hold a special place in my heart, and I've been collecting any of the books when I find them and being gifted them by those who know I love them.
I made the gumnuts by sculpting a master out of plasticine looking at an actual gumnut for reference and copying every tiny detail, making a 2 part silicone mold of it and then casting them in resin. The little gum leaves ( that are not really visable in these photos)are made out of copper that I applied and kilned enamel to, the catch at the back is made from copper I oxidised. Since I made a mold I plan to make some more at some point.

Being Fierce.

One thing that always stuck in my mind was the gumnut babies super cute mega eyelashes which if you flick through the books you will notice straight away, particularly Little Obelia's, who is my favourite character and a massive style inspiration for me.




I'm planning to visit Nutcote, the home that May Gibbs lived in that has now been converted into a museum.
http://www.maygibbs.com.au/

worn

The moon hoops I made when worn, not glowing but just lightly shimmering in normal lighting worn through tunnels. My right ear.

How the silver moon hoops I made look when glowing in darker lighting and worn through tunnels.My left ear. They're very light and comfortable, and make a subtle pleasant tinkling sound of glass or faerie laughter, that only the the wearer can hear on occasion. I'm also currently halfway through making a pair in a similar design for non stretched ear piercings for those with dainty lobe holes.

Antennae comb with my hand for size comparison.

Alien Brooch

Press and Peel copper plate etching.
Copper, oxidising solution, acrylic paint.

These images belong to Lauren Pitt, please ask before taking, Thank you :)

New Hoops

Over sized copper tear drop turquoise ear hoop.






Circular copper mauve hoop.
Copper, rayon fibres, paper clay, resin, pearlescent and fluorescent paint, light reflective glass.

Hand dyed flocked velvety hoops designed to be worn through stretched ear tunnels, soft on your neck! With glass coated moon spheres that literally (in the true sense of the word) glow. Covered in Light Reflective Glass Spheres they become luminous when light is shone on them in various shades of darkness, exactly like road markings and bicycle safety gear ;)

New work

'Antennae' hair piece. Copper, Rayon fibres, Dye.

I've been making some new insect and alien inspired velvety flocked jewellery. This is the pastel turquoise antennae hair comb, made to be worn with the prongs pushed into your hair (a bun or updo of some kind works well) at the back of the head. I created the symmetrical pattern on it using an embossing technique with wire under annealed copper sheet in a hydrolic press, I formed it into a soldered shut 3D 2 layered hollow puffed antennae shape with an acrylic silhouette mold I made and put in the press also. Then flocked over the copper and hand dyed the flocked rayon fibres afterwards myself.

Also I sold all my auction pieces! yay!

Photo from the Melbourne Weekly Eastern article about our jewellery auction tomorrow night.

My Class in the paper

Haha... we're in the Melbourne Weekly Eastern in a photo of our class and article about our auction tomorrow night! Check it out
http://www.melbourneweeklyeastern.com.au/news/local/news/general/jewel-function-in-box-hill/2186699.aspx

Commission Project

Head Piece made for a friend. Silver, Celestite.
Just a quickie photo I took in the workshop, polished it a little more after this was taken.

Class Tumblr

My Class's tumblr, the preview pictures of some of the auction piece are up now... Mines on page 2 down the bottom :)
http://whitehorsejewellery.tumblr.com