As you may know from my previous blog anstess.glass@blogspot.com I have spent most of the past 3 years glass blowing, however, after a very difficult year I was forced to suspend my studies at University and glass blowing was something I could not continue without the university's facilities. However, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining and my lining was quite literally silver!
After encouragement from my mum I began experimenting with my old jewellery tools. In my first year at Plymouth College of art I spent a term learning the basics of jewellery making and it turns out that these teachings sunk in more that I had realised. After a chance meeting with a friend (Charlotte Verity) I was invited to join the Manchester Jewellers Network (MJN). Since then my art has completely changed direction and I have been given some fantastic opportunities. My work is currently being exhibited in the Manchester Art Gallery shop and The Royal Exchange.
Thank you for taking the time to read my first post and I hope you like the photos! They are not of the best quality but I am currently saving for a new camera.
All of my work is handmade to order and so if there is anything you like but would prefer to be a little bigger or a smaller then just let me know, all of my designs can be altered to suite your requirements!
This collection was inspired by Barbra Hepworth’s abstract sculpture. Each piece is handcrafted from silver to create a unique miniature sculpture that echoes the elemental use of line and shape embraced by Hepworth. I have added colour to the collection with my handmade glass beads.
Simple double dome studs with a satin finish.
These rings can be stacked to make a statement piece of jewellery.
" The sun was shinning on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright –
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shinning sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done –
'It's very rude of him', she said,
'To come and spoil the fun!'
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead –
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
'If this were only cleared away,'
'They said, 'it would be grand!'
'If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,
'That they could get it clear?'
'I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,
And she a bitter tear.
'O Oysters, come and walk with us!'
The Walrus did beseech.
'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
A long the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head –
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat –
And this was old, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more –
All hopping through the frothy wares,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
The time has come’, the Walrus said,
‘To talk of many things:
Of shoes – and ships – and scaling-wax –
Of cabbages – and kings –
And why the sea is boiling hot –
And whether pigs have wings.’
‘But wait a bit,’ the Oysters cried,
‘Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!’
‘No hurry!’ said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
‘A loaf of bread,’ the Walrus said,
‘Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed –
Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.’
‘But not on us!’ the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
‘After such kindness, that would be
A dismal things to do!’
‘The night is fine,’ the Walrus said.
‘Do you admire the view?
'It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
‘Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf –
I’ve had to ask you twice!’
‘It seems a shame,’ the Walrus said,
‘To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!’
The Carpenter said nothing but
‘The butter’s spread too thick!’
‘I weep for you,’ the Walrus said:
‘I deeply sympathize.’
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
‘O Oysters,’ said the Carpenter,
‘You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?’
But answer came there none –
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.”
By Lewis Carroll
