Lightbox, samples and sponsporship

Wow! Visions In Plastics have agreed to sponspor me with some of their beautiful mirrored acrylics for my degree show work.
I've been busy making a lightbox out of a cardboard box, tracing paper and bits of fabric. It'll be invaluable for taking photographs of my jewellery.

Vision in Plastics acrylic mirror samples

Homemade lighbox in action

New materials.....for laser cutting samples

 Laser cut plywood, covered in gesso and vintage lace.

 Close up, not sure about these as yet! more work to do!

 Laser cut reclaimed woolen blanket

 Starting to smock to add movement to the fabric.

 My vintage embroidery book, silk thread and sample.

 1.5ml ply wood, gesso, vintage lace and various paints and stains before laser cutting.

Sample before painting and staining.

Jane Bowler

http://gu.com/p/2kdfb Jane Bowler interview with the Guardian, a recent graduate of the Royal College of Art.
Very interesting techniques of using hand dyed shower curtains heat pressed onto rubber mats,( from pentonville rubber) to create fringing.

Day One Hundred & Thirty Two

Inspiration for my day comes from Kimiko Yoshida the video of her self portraits are amazing. You can watch it here:
http://vimeo.com/17668383

Kimiko Yoshida : There Where I Am Not. Self-portrait (30'), 2010 http://vimeo.com/17668383 About this video: "400 self-portraits by Kimiko Yoshida, shot between 2001 and 2010, edited by Maison Europeenne de la Photographie (Paris, France).

Day One Hundred & Thirty Five

Todays Inspiration is http://youtu.be/d9ar6CiRIZI Bjork's Biophilia ap for i-phones/pads
Lasercutting today, 2mm birch plywood, gesso & vintage lace. Thinking about sustainability/ upcycling/ using pre-loved fabrics/materials in my new work.

 I'm also loving Iris Van Herpens style, amazing use of materials, processes and design work. I will post more about her another time.
I wanted to lasercut some victorian porcelain today to make my jewellery with, but sadly our lasercutter will only engrave ceramics. I found this out because one of our tutors Jill, has just engraved some plates for a forthcoming exhibition at Nuca Gallery.

Day One Hundred & Thirty Six.....

Up early and inspiration for the day is.....http://www.artyulia.com/index.php/Art

The artist is Yulia Brodskaya, who uses paper quilling to produce these wonderful works.
I'm also busy writing my research report, deadline twentyfive days time!

Three Hundred & Forty Nine Days....

Till the end of the world, yesterday our tutor Les reminded us of the Mayan prophecy that the world will end on 21st of December 2012.
I read something really interesting on Eric Francis the astrologer's blog 'Planet Waves,' about this very subject. It also fits in with my research report about our use of technology and social networking sites. He also writes for 'Sasstrology' which is where I discovered his writing.
Eric quotes Neale Donald Walsch 'Your present technology is threatening to outstrip your ability to use it wisely. Your society is on the verge of becoming a product of your technology rather than your technology being a product of your society. When a society becomes a product of its own technology, it destroys itself.”
http://sasstrology.com/2011/12/planet-waves-monthly-horoscope-for-january-2012.html
This led me to thinking about facets of my earlier research, how the internet can work for us as human beings on this global network. It seems that sharing is the key theme. A worldwide network of generous folks who want to serve and share their knowledge.
I was drawn to Tara Gentle's blog, a very inspirational and creative writer. http://www.taragentile.com/ 'You don’t make money from your passion. You create the opportunity for commerce around the way your passion inspires you to serve others.'
I also wanted to share these links and some amazing photographs. http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/12/lee-jeffries/   'this is colossal' courtesy of Les Bicknell our tutor http://lesbicknell.blogspot.com/