The completion of the Pearls!

Pearls have now been attached to the forged steel elements and finally completed!! I am so pleased with the final result!! They feel incredible to wear as you can really feel the weight of the pearls. What I enjoy most is the combination of blackened steelwork the creamy white pearls!!
Here are some images, I will post more detailed images soon, these are just quick snaps taken in the workshop!

Progression of the pearls....

So my pearls have arrived and have been strung. I have forged the two elements that go with the two pearl bracelets and I am now working on a way to make them into a clasp. The problem with this is that it needs to combine my aesthetic desires and also have a function.
So today at college myself and the tech dem Bron had a look at what the possibilities were. This is what we have come up with. This is just a rough sample and is made from brass. I will make the real thing with steel wire and attach with small silver jump rings! I am excited to up finish these and show the pieces off!

Postcard and Business Photos!

I had a photographer take photos of my most up to date work for postcards when I go to exhibitions. These are the six that I enjoy the most! I have chosen the painted pink steel headpiece on the pink back ground as I enjoy the shadows the piece creates. I have also just ordered some business cards from moo. These will have a selection of each photo!

Lapel Pins....

So for my wedding collection, which is slowly growing, I have come up with the idea of making forged lapel pins for the Groom and Groomsmen. This thought occurred to me when doing some market research and finding that there was actually nothing overly exciting for men to wear on their wedding day that not only is manly but also fitting to the whole theme of the day. So I came up with Lapel Pins. These can be worn with a flower or alone. Each piece has relations to all the wedding jewellery, not only the cuff links but also the Brides and Bridesmaids headpieces, bracelets and necklace. By keeping the design and theme the same throughout each piece is something that is unseen. Where there is a continuous flow with each piece of jewellery throughout the whole wedding party.
Here are some images of the Lapel Pins beginning with the earlier unfinished to the final pieces!

Pastel Colours!

Here are some samples of the colour I intend to use on two headpieces and two brooches! Final finished photos to follow! Very excited as they are perfect, remind me of ice cream and summer!

Workspace Of Dreams!

So at my desk at uni where I do most of my designing and models I have decorated in all things that inspire me. Thought it is relevant for me to show what it is that inspires and influences me to make what I make!
To be warned there is A LOT of pastel colours and bird cage veils!!!! Enjoy!

Pearls & Steel....

Another piece within my wedding collection is a forged steel necklace suspended on a string of fresh water pearls. The combination of blackened forged steel and the creamy pearls is beautiful. Inspiration for this piece came when looking through wedding magazines and I saw the below image of green pearls with a diamond encrusted element. What first got me excited was the angle of the piece, not having the main element in the centre. I thought u could do that but bigger and with a classical look. The below image is just a sample of my idea and where I am with it now. However I have just ordered my pearls so they will be on here very soon!

Cufflinks, Cufflinks, Cufflinks......

So I am back dating here been a bit hectic past few weeks so I am posting everything I have done in these weeks.
I have decided to go one step further when it comes to small scale forging, I've gone even further down in stock size by forging a combination of steel and stainless steel in sizes 2mm and 1.5mm. This for blacksmithing is TINY!! And very rare!
I have decided to make Cufflinks to go with my second collection which is a wedding collection. I plan on making pieces for both the bride and groom and the wedding party, with the idea that all aspects of the jewellery on the day has a continuos theme running through which therefore ties the grooms party with the brides.
So, these are some of the Cufflinks so far, you can't see which are stainless at the moment as I've not cleaned them up, however, when they are entirely finished I will post pictures!!!
What I love most about the Cufflinks is the mirrored symmetry of each piece, it makes the design much more elegant and delicate!!

Forged Steel Brooches For Summer Collection!

I have decided to create a summer collection. This will contain a selection of brooches and headpieces made from forged steel which will then be painted. I decided to do a summer collection to enhance my skills of the different finishes available for steel. I came to the conclusion of painting each piece in a pastel shade. Narrowing this down to pastel blue, pink, yellow and green. I came to these colours due to 2012's spring/summer fashion colour palette. It's all about pastels this year, and there is no better way to emphasise the femininity of my pieces than painting them in beautiful pastel colours!
With the designs and the making of these pieces I took a great deal of inspiration from English country flowers. To carry on with this fresh, feminine and summery concept I emphasised the fluidity of each piece and brought in more twists and spreads!!! I am so pleased with the shapes and the way each piece relates to the other.
These are photos of the pieces so far. I have not painted them yet as still hunting for the perfect paint and colour!! However once they are done I will post the photos!! Very excited!!

Forged Silver Brooch

This was the second piece that I forged from silver. I'm so happy with the end result, the way in which the material echoes my desired aesthetics of elegance, femininity, beauty and fluidity, emphasises what I am trying to achieve within my work. Overall a very exciting piece!