Friday, July 22, 2011

makers marks

Melbourne Jeweller has started up a page on her blog to showcase Australian and New Zealand makers marks! What a great idea!

Head on over here for the details...


Friday, July 15, 2011

Hammer time!

I recently bought a Japanese carpenters hammer, well actually not really that recent at all. In fact, I was beginning to think this little parcel had vanished somewhere between Japan and Australia...
Thankfully, it arrived all in one piece. The hammer head also came with a handle 'blank' ready to carve and sculpt into just the right shape for my hand.
I've got a soft spot for interesting hammers, this one will sit nicely on my hammer rack. It's sure to have more friends soon!


Here it is - my new hammer (handle yet to be finished)

Art Jewellery Forum - Emerging Artist Award

The Art Jewelry Forum (AJF) is an American membership based, non-profit organisation created to advocate for the field of contemporary art jewelry.

Each year they run a competition for emerging artists to encourage and promote their new work. Whilst last years entries aren't up on the website many previous years are. It's worth a look - some very interesting and some pretty out there work too!

The winning artist will give a brief presentation at SOFA New York and featured prominently by a AJF member gallery.

They are calling for entries for this year's award. Submissions are due September 30th. Time to get making!

Friday, July 8, 2011

New tools, new tools, new tools!

I've been hanging out for this package to arrive!! I don't think I've ever been quite so excited to pick up a rather large cardboard box from the post office (they went a little nuts with packing - but hey, better safe than scrambled and broken)!

First up. A Swanston Disc Cutter!

I finally decided to invest in a decent disc cutter. It's a US made one and it works beautifully. It even has a lovely clamping mechanism to hold the sheet in position when you're punching!
I've had some cheapy options before and whilst they work, for a while, they are by no means as slick as this one. Definitely a case of you get what you pay for.
Nothing quite as satifisying as the little 'tink' noise as the metal sheet is punched!
Swanston disc cutter
And I have also bought myself a Knew Concept piercing saw. I first read about these new piercing saws over on Melbourne jeweller, Melissa Cameron's blog. Now if you've seen her work, you will see she is one fantastic saw piercer and if she recommends it, it must be great!

Ready for action!

This will hopefully make my saw piercing chores a little easier!