another week

Despite the best intentions of the last post, I've not posted anything for a week as I've been embarking on a commission from a customer who does not want any of the details published online until she has received the piece.

Since I last wrote, I've been asked to have a solo showcase at the Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in Wales. I've exhibited there before - in their Re:Collect show in 2009, so it is nice to be invited back to exhibit a small collection of new works. This has meant digging out pieces which have been finished and haven't been spoken for, such as "Noli Me Tangere":

But also making new pieces too, so the next few weeks will be spent working on those. I managed to start some of them on Monday and finished a trio of earrings made from tiny spanners today:

Left to right, set with chrysoprase, green quartz and moonstone.
I've also managed to make a start on a pendant, the name of which was suggested by my friend and colleague, James Davidson... "Dr. Strangelove". It should be apparent why!

Although it doesn't really look like it, it is made from silver and the steel container from a CO2 cartridge of the sort used to make frothy cream! I've still got loads to do to it, but the shape is really pleasing and it is very, very light. The tail is going to be set with a stone where the propulsion would be on a real rocket.

new year

I can't believe that I've managed to get three weeks into the year without posting anything techniacl on here. It is not as if I've not been busy in the workshop, what with making a new spiky mace in silver and shibuichi:

1) A Christmas tree bauble filled with wax:

2) Hollowed out:

3) Stuck back together:

4) Lathed round:

5) Drilled:

6) Spikes Cast in Shibuichi:

7) Spikes cleaned by turning:

8) Ball cleaned by turning:

9) Assembled by soldering:

10) Final spike and bail screwed in place:

12) Finished mace pendant, awaiting chain:

Additionally, I've made a bracelet from an old file:

And have started work on a small production run in collaboration with my friend Zook, the "humble doodler"!

Zook and I worked together on the tattoo project for "Beneath The Skin" last year. This plasticine model will be scanned in 3D then made in wax for casting.

Also dug out an old piece which I made as a sample and which I forgot about: a ring made from a section of iron gas pipe and set with a synthetic ruby. This was made to see if I could make a setting without soldering or using traditional tension-setting techniques. The tube has been cut and the seat cut with a burr. There is nothing else holding the stone in place. It looks pretty good when polished:

 Now I'm working on a commission to make another bracelet like the one shown above, but which I can't put online until it is completed and it has been presented to the person for whom it is being made.

supercollider photographs

Happy new year, albeit belatedly.
Just got the proper photographs of Supercollider back from Neilson Photography: phenomenally good quality, as ever!

(Click to enlarge and see the details.)