Beads 'n Threads

Enamel Workshop

2012-02-11T12:42:00.000+08:00

Saturday’s workshop was enamelling on metal. We worked on copper pieces with sifting and cloisonné techniques.

Earlier in the week my friend Merryl and I had a play with enamels.

Two Rocks Marine Rescue training day

2012-02-01T12:22:00.000+08:00

Today at training we took two boats offshore and were practising towing techniques when a couple of inquisitive dolphins surfaced. It was an amazing sight to see them come so close to the boats.

Silver Metal Clay Rings

2012-01-28T12:10:00.000+08:00

This weekend’s workshop was ring making techniques.

Silver Metal Clay with young students

2012-01-25T11:55:00.000+08:00

Today I taught several young people the techniques of using the silver metal clay. They made some remarkable pieces of jewellery. The students are also remarkable as they are young carers.

Young carers are people under the age of 26 who help look after a family member who needs extra support at home. The person they care for may have a disability, mental illness, a drug or alcohol problem, or a long term illness. There are over 40,000 young carers in Western Australia, which means there are probably two in every classroom!

Dichroic Glass and Silver Metal Clay

2012-01-22T11:26:00.000+08:00

This weekend workshop the students used dichroic glass cabochons set into the silver metal clay.

These pendants are straight out of the kiln ready to be burnished.

The finished pendants

Albany Summer School – Textile Class

2012-01-17T10:49:00.000+08:00

After a relax and sightseeing some of the beautiful coastline around Albany it’s back to work for the second week of the Albany Summer School. I am teaching a two day comprehensive class on techniques with free machine embroidery. It was good to see the students exploring layers and textures with a variety of fabrics and yarns.

We used a hot soldering iron to burn away small sections of fabric to reveal glimpses of fabric underneath.

We made a fabric using threads, fabric scraps and a water soluble fabric. One student formed her work into a vessel.

Albany Summer School – Polymer Class

2012-01-14T10:29:00.000+08:00

The students in this class did well, most of them hadn’t used polymer before.

We covered many techniques, millefiori patterns, including skinner blends and complex flower canes, as well as textures with mica powders. Here are some photos of the finished work.

Albany Summer School

2012-01-08T22:11:00.000+08:00

Well ! I’m back from Sydney with only a few days to get all the materials together for my 5 hrs drive to Albany for teaching at the Albany Summer School. You can’t believe the amount of equipment that I have to get into my Subaru. Firstly there’s my kiln all 37 kilos of it, then there’s my oven for curing polymer clay, the de-hydrator for drying the metal clay, the sewing machine for textiles in the second week plus all the other tools and materials.

The students were great and did some fantastic work. Some of them have been coming to the Albany Summer School for many years, participating in the many different workshops and classes on offer.

Here are a few photos of the Metal Clay Class:

Straight out of the kiln Finished work displayed

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T09:40:00.000+08:00

I spent a week in Sydney and was at the harbour to watch the fireworks on New Year’s eve. It was a great display and I was lucky that I could get so close to the bridge without the crowds of people.

I visited the Blue Mountains. The views were spectacular.Following are some photos of my trip.

Picasso Exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW Cheeky rosella

Ferry to Balmain People ‘walking’ across the bridge

I have never watch the programme but ‘Home and Away’ is filmed here

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-25T16:46:00.000+08:00

A Very Happy Christmas to you all.

I had a good day with my daughter Ruth, fiancé Brendon and his parents.

Two Rocks Marine Rescue Women

2011-12-21T15:55:00.000+08:00

The North Coast Times newspaper have written an editorial about some of the women members of the Two Rocks Volunteer Marine Rescue Group. It’s good publicity for the group and may encourage others to join.

Doodles on polymer

2011-12-20T18:33:00.001+08:00

Rachel left a nice comment on a previous blog entry, so I thought I’d show some more of my doodling on polymer clay.

These are some of the pendants and brooches that I have been selling recently.

Textiles/Mixed Media

2011-12-18T12:27:00.001+08:00

Some time ago I purchased some cotton velvet and canvasses, I had in my mind to do some new work with mixed media. Today I got out my fabric paints and played around with some spraying on fabric. I am using Dala sun colours and Pebeo seta colours in Ranger mist bottles. These give a really fine mist of colour until you come to the last few drops and then it splatters. most of it will blend in so it doesn’t matter.

I should be getting ready for Christmas but just had to have a little time in the studio ‘playing’.

Recent sunsets at Two Rocks

2011-12-18T12:11:00.002+08:00

Continuing with my addiction to watching the amazing sunsets at Two rocks and taking photographs, here are some more photos I’ve taken recently.

Thursday 1st December 2011

Tuesday 13th December 2011

Wednesday 14th December 2011

All Women Crew on VMRG exercise

2011-12-08T11:36:00.001+08:00

Today Two Rocks Volunteer Marine rescue group had an all women crew on Sea Guardian 2 for a RAAF helicopter exercise. This is the first time three women have crewed the boat for such an exercise.
Sharyn Powell was the skipper, Ned Shepherd - crew and myself as radio operator.
The RAAF helicopter performed various exercises off he Two Rocks coast.

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-12-05T17:59:00.001+08:00

This weekend I taught a couple, Heather and Piag from near Pinjarra south of Perth. They had not done anything with metal clay before. They enjoyed the experience and made some very nice pieces.



Here are some of the photos showing the progress of these projects:

Cocos Island Visitors

2011-12-01T11:14:00.001+08:00

Members of the Volunteer Marine rescue group from the Cocos Islands are visiting various groups in WA. We had the pleasure of showing Siti, Azah and Elman around the base at the Two Rocks Marine Rescue Group and the visitors joined us on a RAAF helicopter exercise off the coast.
With the vast WA coastline stretching some 13,000 kilometres, VMRS groups are located across the state, from Esperance in the south, and Kununurra in the north, Christmas and Cocos Islands.

Polymer Patterns

2011-11-27T18:17:00.001+08:00

I had a good workshop today with some lovely ladies who came to play with polymer clay.

Jen Crossley Workshop

2011-11-19T08:17:00.001+08:00

It was good to be a student for a change. My friend Merryl and I booked into a coupe of workshops at the Scraptivate Store in Perth with Jen Crossley. The first was making a brass bezel to which an image was added and then filled with resin. The second was etching brass sheets for book covers.

These are examples that Jen showed us in the class.

Jen – talking about ice resin                             Merryl – soldering her bezels


Stamping the book covers                                 Jen – submersing the brass in ferric chloride

Metal Clay Art Studio at Gifted Sale

2011-11-13T18:08:00.001+08:00

A group of 10 artists have a sale at this time of the year. Each of us has an area in Elizabeth Morley’s home. We set up our displays and friends and family are invited to look and buy.

Metal Clay Art Studio in the office

Metal Clay Art Studio pendants                                     Christmas Wreaths

More Zentangles and Doodles

2011-11-07T18:46:00.000+08:00

I’m still playing around with Zentangles. It is quite relaxing and I can get out my visual diary in the evening and unwind with a few ink doodles on paper. There’s heaps of information on the web. I’ve downloaded a few instruction diagrams and have a go following them and then incorporating them into my own designs.

I’ve been drawing them onto polymer clay as well and they have been very popular at the couple of venues I’ve been to recently.

Whale Watching

2011-11-05T17:31:00.001+08:00

Alan, Jackie, Sue and myself went on a ‘Whale Watch’ cruise out on Mindarie Marina. The boat went about 10kms off shore. We saw many humpback whales, it was awesome. Here are some of the photos.

Melbourne Cup, Mandurah, Margaret River

2011-11-01T08:31:00.001+08:00

It’s been such a busy time with my family here from the UK. We have been sight seeing down the South West of WA.

Melbourne Cup day at Murphy’s Pub                       Alan & Jackie the winners!

Bunker Bay                                                         Cape Naturaliste

Family                                                            Yallingup

Two Rocks Marine Rescue Group

2011-10-26T17:14:00.001+08:00

At training today we practised maneuverers in the marina on Sea Guardian 2. I was taught how to come along side the jetty in wind and I practised slow turns on the boat’s axis. After that I had to put in way points in the navigation system and take the helm and steer a narrow passage through a reef. The training instructor always provides a full on morning.
My brother, Alan came out as a guest and was very excited when we spotted some humpback whales. Alan took these photo’s.

Sunset at Two Rocks

2011-10-25T17:09:00.001+08:00

Enjoying another beautiful sunset and a glass of wine.

Ruth’s birthday

2011-10-22T16:59:00.001+08:00

My lovely daughter Ruth has turned 27! It was a good celebration as my brother Alan, sister, Sue and sister in law, Jackie are here on holiday from England.

Contemporary Clay Retreat – Canberra

2011-10-14T16:36:00.002+08:00

I’m off to Canberra for the weekend, teaching three workshops. It’s going to be a very busy time with the teaching and catching up with old friends.
I’ll put up some photos from the conference centre.

Demonstrations and show ‘n tell on the first evening

    PMC Pro Workshop


Rachel Azulie - Mask Workshop                        Lex Sorrentino – Sculpture

My Extruder Workshop

Tutor’s Shop                            Wilma’s spirit dolls                   Felt beads                            Megan’s pendant

Farewell Photos                                              Leaving Canberra

Weekend Workshops

2011-10-08T09:27:00.001+08:00

A busy weekend with a Silver Metal Clay workshop on Saturday and Polymer Clay Workshop on Sunday.
The ladies did really well and made some interesting pieces.

Zentangle Jewellery

2011-09-30T15:17:00.002+08:00

I’m doing more with the zentangles, its quite addictive. Here are some more items I made this week.

Two Rocks – Friendly Dolphin

2011-09-28T08:45:00.000+08:00

Today at the Two Rocks Marine Rescue Group we practised ‘Man Overboard’ exercises about 2klms off shore. During the exercise a full size dummy (nicknamed ‘Ruth’ after the company who makes the rescue dummies) is thrown into the sea. The trainee skipper and crew have to retrieve the dummy. While we were getting the dummy back on board the boat a dolphin appeared and was very inquisitive. The dolphin came very close several times and nuzzled the hand of crew member Andy. It was an amazing experience.

Back in the marina I spotted this pelican who posed for a photograph.

TRVMRG–Radio Operator

2011-09-26T09:18:00.000+08:00

Part of my training to become a Competent Crew Member at the Two Rocks Volunteer Marine Rescue is to hold a Marine Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP). This enables me to man the radios at the rescue base, logging in recreational fishing boats, providing weather and navigational information and answering any distress calls.

The course covers MF/HF and VHF to vessels operating in Australian waters and radiotelephony equipment with digital selective calling (DSC) facilities, and emergency position indicating radio beacons of the 406 MHz and 121.5/243 MHz type).

I sat the exam today and results will be back in a couple of weeks.

Zentangles on Polymer Clay

2011-09-22T15:19:00.001+08:00

I’ve been playing around with zentangles. They’re a doodle really, something you might draw on a pad while talking on the phone for example. However it is structured, and contained and done with intent. It is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns.
The term 'Zentangle' was coined by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas when, one day, Maria described her experience, as she created her art, as "feeling timeless, free and engendering a sense of deep well-being". Rick recognised that she was in a meditative state and so Zentangles were born.
So what you might ask does a zentangle look like?

This zentangle is from a suidoo on how to draw a zentangle.

I thought that the zentangle would look good on polymer clay after reading Julie Eakes book so this week I’ve been making some polymer clay zentangles.

Finger Print Jewellery

2011-09-17T17:08:00.001+08:00

This weekend I had a two day private class with a lady who is very interested in starting a hobby business in making silver keepsake jewellery. This class is continually popular where people like to learn how to press a child’s fingerprint or make a stamp of a child’s drawing to imprint into a piece of silver. There are franchises of this type of business for people to purchase but the cost is huge.

The drawing, hand or footprint is printed onto a transparency. A photopolymer plate is made by exposing the plate and transparency to UV light. The silver clay is pressed into the stamp and shaped for the jewellery item.

The clay is dried, sanded and ready for firing with a butane torch

Once the silver has fully sintered it is polished. Here are ‘Dad’s’cufflinks.


The proud mum and her pendant.

Two Rocks Volunteer Marine Rescue Group

2011-09-16T14:01:00.000+08:00

This week at training there was a helicopter exercise with the RAAF base. I took these photos of the exercise.

Then we simulated a rescue and I practised my navigation skills.

Using an Etched stamp

2011-09-15T17:13:00.000+08:00

The piece of copper that I had drawn on a while ago and then etched, was used as a stamp into silver metal clay.

I do like this technique it has lots of possibilities.

Chittering Fine Arts Exhibition

2011-09-04T13:44:00.001+08:00

I have put some of my jewellery into our annual exhibition at Bindoon this week. The are twenty members in the group with a wide range of talents.
Here are some of the photos of our work.

                                                                                  Julie Stitt

                       Pam Collier                                      Ruth Adamson & Kerry Henry

                                Pam Myers

City of Wanneroo, Volunteers Appreciation Dinner

2011-09-02T17:35:00.001+08:00

I attended the City of Wanneroo’s Appreciation dinner that is held annually for all volunteers in the area. I went with the Two Rocks Volunteer Marine Rescue Group. Several of our members were awarded certificates during the evening.

Geoffrey Gurrumul in Concert

2011-08-26T15:01:00.000+08:00

Tonight I went to the Perth Convention Centre to see Geoffrey Gurrumul in concert. He has such a haunting voice. The musicians that accompanied him where excellent. Gurrumul is a member of the Gumatj clan of north east Arnhemland and he sings about the stories of that clan. He was a band member of Yothu Yindi until 1992.

Two Rocks, Another Sunset

2011-08-26T11:23:00.001+08:00

Beautiful sunset this evening at my favourite spot. I often go there to watch the sunset, I take a glass of wine and my camera, chill out and watch the view.

Etching on Copper

2011-08-25T16:58:00.000+08:00

I love the idea of drawing with a permanent marker onto copper and then immersing it in the etching solution. I can doodle a design or draw a picture.

These are a few copper items that I’ve done.

This technique opens all sorts of ideas because the etching can be used as a stamp of later for enamelling.

Darwin to Perth

2011-08-17T10:29:00.000+08:00

Sadly I had to leave the warm Northern Territory and fly back to Perth. I hope to come back next year for another visit.

The vast spaces of the countryside always amazes me and I am drawn to capture its beauty with my camera. Here are some of the scenes on my flight back to Perth.

Darwin – a little hazy due to burning off Tidal flats

Plateau Sand Dunes

River Tributaries Open Cut Mines

Salt Lakes Paddocks of flowering Canola

Swan Valley, Perth

Edith Falls & Mataranka

2011-08-16T10:06:00.000+08:00

My daughter Ruth recommended that I visit Edith Falls. She told me it was an spectacular place and well worth the visit, so I drove the 50kms from Katherine early in the morning. There are a series of waterfalls to visit, I walked up a steep escarpment to a most beautiful sight.

Later in the day I drove to Mataranka and visited the thermal pool where water gushes out of the ground at 32 degrees Centigrade.

Katherine Gorge

2011-08-15T16:37:00.000+08:00

One of my students very kindly loaned me her car so I was able to sight see in the two days before I flew back to Perth.

I went on a cruise up the Katherine Gorge located in Nitmiluk National Park. Katherine Gorge is actually a series of gorges, 13 in all, cut into the colourful limestone over 23million years. The Three Gorge tour takes four hours. You travel by boat to the end of the first gorge and then walk a few hundred meters to the next boat, which takes you up the second gorge. There are aboriginal rock paintings to view along the walk and a swimming hole to cool off in on the return journey. Another boat takes you to the end of the second gorge and a then a walk to the next boat. The third boat trip is much shorter and at the end we walked a short way into Gorge number four.

There are Freshwater crocodiles in the gorges which are not bothered by all the attention. Usually only freshwater crocs inhabit the gorge but during the wet season and floods, “”Salties”, Saltwater crocodiles can sometimes make their way into the gorge. After “The Wet”, National Park officers clear the area for saltwater crocodiles. Theÿ use traps like this one to capture them and then relocate the saltwater crocodiles to another area.

Saltwater Crocodile Trap Aboriginal Guide “Rocky

Katherine Festival, Northern Territory

2011-08-12T15:20:00.001+08:00

I took part in the Katherine Festival by teaching polymer clay jewellery techniques at the Territory Craft Rooms. The students made some awesome beads for necklaces, textured cuffs, book and box covers.


Katherine Festival:
During the community comes together to enjoy a wide variety of arts and entertainment over a period of ten days. The event has included the Katherine Prize Art and Craft Acquisition Awards, exhibitions, workshop activities, Aboriginal culture and a Family Fun Day.
I was invited to attend the evening showing of the Katherine prize is the oldest art & craft award in the NT, awarding over $7,000 in prizes. This was the Official opening of the 2011 Katherine Festival. A beautiful evening of art, food & entertainment under the stars.
One of my talented students, Helen Aland exhibited a beautiful painting.

Helen Aland – Besse Springs NT                  Winner -   Jan Milner Cole – Days End

Flight to Darwin

2011-08-11T21:51:00.000+08:00

This morning I drove to the airport early in the morning to catch my flight to Darwin. I wore layers of clothes as it was freezing but knew I’d be peeling them off later in the day as the temperatures in the Northern Territory have been in the mid thirties. I had a bit of a panic as I was stuck in early morning traffic for what seemed ages. However I got to the airport in good time and found the long stay car park where I was leaving my car for the six days I am away.

I had booked a window seat on the Qantas flight. I like to see the terrain below me. There was hardly any cloud cover so I had a perfect view of the vast open spaces.

The views of rock formations, sand dunes, salt lakes and river systems are a great source of inspiration for my art work, both in jewellery design and textiles.

Helicopter Exercise

2011-08-10T21:24:00.001+08:00

Today at the Two Rocks Sea Rescue we were involved with a helicopter exercise just off the coast.

Busy Weekend

2011-08-07T21:10:00.001+08:00

It was really busy at the WA Craft Quilt & Stitch Show. Lots of talking and demonstrating silver metal clay.

The Art to Wear was well supported by textile artists sending garments from all around Australia.

I met up with Linda Baldcock, a way out mixed media artist from NSW. Linda likes to get her hands dirty. She follows no rules and explores all avenues of the products she
uses. Known as a torturer of chipboard and "grunge art" queen and has the crown and tiara.

Moora Fine Arts Winter School - Silver Metal Clay Weekend Workshop

2011-07-31T21:42:00.001+08:00

The students arrived eagerly to start their workshop before nine a.m. I was ready and like them raring to go. None of the students had used metal clay before but one of them, Patsy was a silversmith, having worked with sterling silver. We had a discussion about metal clay and I showed them the various products of Precious Metal Clay (PMC3) and many samples of jewellery that I had brought to show them.
It was great to have a couple of guys in the class.

The students explored textures and shapes and came up with some good designs.

Dean’s Pendant – before firing …………….after firing

                 Patsy’s Hinge House and Brooch

                        Yvonne’s Brooch and Pendant

                      Tanya’s pendant and bracelet

                Richard’s Flat Band ring and filigree pendant before firing

                                    Wendy’s Brooch and Pendant (before firing)
You can see that the students did really well and made some good pieces. I enjoyed my couple of days in Moora. Graham’s fantastic soups at lunchtime were a hit amongst us all.

Moora Fine Arts Winter School 2011

2011-07-29T21:03:00.001+08:00

When ever I go away to teach is always a bit stressful in that you have to take EVERYTHING, all the necessary tools and equipment needed for a weekend workshop. I worry that I’ll forget that essential something. Also, taking the kiln is always an effort. For a start it weighs 37kilos. It has to lifted off the bench in my studio, placed onto my sack trolley, wheeled to the boot of the car and lifted into it. At the venue I have to get it out of the car and into the classroom, do they have a trolley or shall I take mine? I decided to leave taking the sack trolley as I was pretty sure that Moora had on and it takes up so much room in the car.
I was waiting on a delivery of the silver metal clay to be sure I had enough for the weekend and the courier came an hour before I was due to leave home. Good job! Enough supplies. Something else not to worry about.
I had nice drive to Moora. This time of the year everything is so green, reminds me of the green grass of where I lived in Cornwall, UK. The wattle trees are just coming into bloom. As I was driving I spotted a beaut rainbow, I just had to pullover and take a photo.

I arrived at the gallery, was met and had help to unload. The Moora Fine Arts Gallery has accommodation for artists in residence at the rear of the gallery. Its not flash but adequate for short stay. There’s a bathroom, kitchen and a couple of bedrooms. Luckily there’s a cafe next door for food. While I waited for my chicken burger to be cook I found a DVD to hire. I brought my laptop computer with me, so I was able to watch Johnny Depp and Angela Jolie in “The Tourist”.

Two Rocks Sea Rescue – training day

2011-07-27T18:44:00.002+08:00

             Coming into Mindarie Keys Marina                           Cray pots

We went to investigate an empty dingy that was off a reef near the Alkimos wreck. The boat was anchored, there were no diving flags flying and no people around. Then beyond the reef we spotted a couple of guys surfing. So all good.

Guardian One on the floating pen. Air is pumped into the floats to bring her out of the water. For launching, snorkels are lowered into the water that fill the pontoons and the boat is lowered into the water.
As we came back from Mindarie the wind was quiet strong and a storm front came over the coast later in the afternoon. These are photos taken from my balcony at sunset as the storm came in.

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-07-26T18:19:00.001+08:00

These are some pics from this Tuesday’s class.
Leaf – before firing
Leaf – after firing

Visitor from Bali

2011-07-23T18:09:00.001+08:00

I had a lady who lives in Bali, come to learn about Metal and Polymer Clays. She designs jewellery for an Indonesian fashion designer. She took to the mediums very well could see the possibilities of using the clays with her designs.

Silver Imprint Jewellery Workshop

2011-07-22T08:51:00.001+08:00

Just finished a two day workshop teaching how to transfer fingerprints, a handprint, footprint or child's drawing and onto a piece of Pure Silver Jewellery. We make a photo polymer plate to stamp into the clay, and after the firing process the pieces were oxidised for an antique look.

Samara working in the studio           Samara using the computer

The photopolymer plate                 A pendant drying before firing

Oxidising the pendants

The pendants

Electroforming

2011-07-21T20:04:00.002+08:00

Here are few more samples of electroforming that I have experimenting with in the studio.
Hakea Nuts
This is a photo of a Hakea nut split in half and electroformed. I added two copper wire eyelets that were incorporated in the electroforming.

Dolphins in the marina

2011-07-20T20:26:00.001+08:00

There were a couple of dolphins, fishing in the marina this morning. It was good to be able to get so close to them.

Electro Forming Workshop

2011-07-18T19:43:00.001+08:00

Today I had a private workshop with one student who was eager to try electro forming. She brought along some semi precious stones, a rose quartz crystal and some silver pendants.
We first organised some copper texture to add to her doughnut and triangle pendants.

Then we worked on a fine silver pendant. We added a fractured rose quartz crystal that fitted a cut out portion of the silver pendant. Although electroforming over a pure silver pendant was a bit strange but, as the copper layer over the silver would be very thin we decided that we could remove the copper layer in some areas.

This is the result. The copper layer over the silver was removed with a dremel. The silver and copper were oxidised with Liver of Sulphur. The high spots of the copper were burnished. I think it looks neat.


This was a pretty ordinary turquoise foil glass bead. it was transformed by adding the copper electroforming and adding the other portion of the fractured crystal.

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-07-16T19:28:00.001+08:00

Today I had a workshop with a prominent Perth glass artist, Philomena from Dramatic Glass Designs.
Philomena was introduced to the world of kiln-fired glass in the late nineties, developed a passion and never looked back. She choose Bullseye Glass which has the ability to fuse and create beautiful bubbles and craters, textured surfaces, and multiple shadings, all of which form an integral part of the finished piece! She has studied different methods of working with glass with several International renowned glass artists- Judi Elliot, Brenda Page, Steven Klein, Catherine Newell, Narcissus Quagliata .... and Marc Leib (Perth)who has been my constant inspiration!
As an introduction to Silver Metal Clay, Philomena made some earrings and pendant. She plans to learn more about the metal clay and incorporate her glass with the silver.

Silver Metal Clay

2011-07-14T17:01:00.002+08:00

In the studio, I have been making some earrings. I have some beautiful little fresh water pearls that I purchased from Ann & Doug Stone and I ‘ve been wondering how to incorporate them with some silver. I use one of my hand carved texture mats for the front and textured wall paper for the backs. I dried the discs over some marbles to give them the shape, then dapped them in my dapping block to finish.
dapping tools and block
I used Liver of Sulphur patina to oxidise the silver and burnished the high spots. The earring hooks I made by balling up sterling silver wire with a torch and bending them over a pencil. The small pearls are threaded onto sterling silver wire and hooked onto the earring hooks. I am going to sell these on my website for $40AUD. Anyone want a pair?

TRVSRG–Training and Rescue

2011-07-13T16:15:00.001+08:00

Today was Wednesday training day at Two Rocks Sea Rescue. The exercise we started was using the new boat Guardian One to simulate a rescue by towing Sea Guardian Two.

We spotted a person waving madly from top of a cabin on a small boat. We went to find out the problem and their motor had failed. So we went to their aid and towed them back to the safety of the marina.

Sea Guardian Two coming into the marina.                     Guardian One on her floating berth.

Blessing of Guardian One

2011-07-10T18:37:00.001+08:00

Yesterday I did a Radar course at the Two Rocks Sea Rescue Group as part of my training to become a crew member. Today at the jetty the new Sea Rescue boat Guardian One was blessed by Father Peter Meo. The boat is a fast response vessel that will be a great asset to our group.
Here are some photos of the occasion.

These gorgeous cup cakes were baked by Suzie Butcher to commemorate the event.

84 Group Textile Retreat

2011-07-07T17:33:00.001+08:00

Just back from Avalon Homestead where my textile group had a few days playing with fabric and threads. The homestead is well set up for craft groups, there’s plenty of tables to work on, the food is good and it’s a beautiful setting in the countryside.
Here a few photos that I took.

                        Morning Mist                                           Sunrise

                         Rooms                                               Avalon Homestead

Work room

These pics are of a scarf I made using a recycled woollen jumper, yarns and FME cotton print fabric

I sandwiched wool and yarns between layers of water soluble fabric and free machine stitched to hold them together. I cut out some flowers from a printed fabric.

I stitched around the edges to stop them fraying. After I washed away the water soluble fabric i stitched the fabric flowers on to the scarf. That’s it!

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-07-02T19:19:00.002+08:00

Today was a good workshop, with the students making some nice pieces of jewellery.
Christine, who attended a previous workshop wore a striking collection of buttons, beads and her metal clay silver pieces.

Here a re a few photos of the items made in today’s workshop.

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-07-01T18:50:00.002+08:00

I had a beginners workshop yesterday with one nice who was interested to learn about silver metal clay.
These are a couple of items that she made during the workshop.

_{Brooch with a sterling silver pin Earrings}

Studio play

2011-06-25T19:37:00.002+08:00

This weekend is a quiet one for me. No workshops, so I‘ve been playing. Today I made some copper hoop earrings with turquoise beads. First of all I annealed some thick copper wire and hammered flat. I drilled holes to thread sterling silver wires that will hold the turquoise beads.
I balled up sterling silver wires, threaded the small beads onto the wires, through the drilled holes and then hammered the ends to prevent the beads from falling off.
I cut lengths of copper wire and made a loop in the middle, then threaded the ends through the hoops and hammered each end to keep them in place.

The earring hooks are also sterling silver, balled up and shaped.
That’s it! I will make a few more of these and put some in my online shop!

PMC Pro

2011-06-24T18:20:00.001+08:00

I’ve had a few problems with PMC Pro lately, the items have not sintered and broken. So I’ve made a few adjustments to the firing schedule that the PMC Guild have published. I have raised the temperature of firing to 768 c and had a longer firing time.
These rings were made flat and then hammered around a mandrel.

Moon Setting

2011-06-15T10:30:00.001+08:00

I woke up at 5.30am and the moon was shinning through my bedroom window.I just had to take a few photos. It was beautiful.

Two Rocks Sea Rescue Helicopter Exercise

2011-06-10T21:21:00.002+08:00

Today was really an exciting day as I was a trainee crew member on Sea Guardian 2. We took part in a helicopter training exercise with the RAAF. The exercise coordinated training of RAAF helicopter pilots and the TRVSRG. A RAAF crew member was winched from Sea Guardian 2 to the helicopter. The RAAF then performed various exercises simulating rescuing persons from the ocean. We later performed a ‘man overboard’ exercise rescuing the RAAF crew member from the water and getting him on board Sea Guardian 2. These coordinating training exercises are so beneficial to both organisations. A previous exercise was also held last week.

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-06-07T14:33:00.001+08:00

This group of students made some interesting pieces at Tuesday’s workshop.

Mentorship Program

2011-06-03T20:40:00.002+08:00

The next couple of days we explored box and cage constructions. The box construction were made by cutting out the silver clay and joining the pieces together to form a box. We actually made our boxes into little houses to go on top of the rings. The cages are going to have beads threaded through them.

Mentorship Program

2011-06-02T20:24:00.002+08:00

Continuing the programme with emerging artist Rachel, we finished setting the stones into pendants and started with the techniques of making seamless rings.

   Rings drying on the mandrel

Country Arts Mentorship Program

2011-06-01T19:00:00.001+08:00

Last year I was an artist in Residency at Mullewa near Geraldton for two weeks. One of my students Rachel McKenzie was inspired by the workshops there. She successfully applied to the Governments Regional Arts for funding as an emerging artist. This week Rachel started her mentorship programme with me.
We started with the techniques of setting stones in silver metal clay. We made bezel wires and also used commercially made bezel wire to set cabochons. Rachel had some uniform commercial cabochons and I had some rough cut polished matrix opals.
Rachel found a dried leaf in the garden which she decided to make a mould from and use the texture in some of her pendants.
These are some of the photos from the beginning of the five days.

Pieces drying                                     Rachel’s leaf pendants

Sunday morning walk

2011-05-29T12:06:00.001+08:00

Beautiful morning, so decided to have a walk at Yanchep. This is a walkway that has been constructed through the sand dunes at Yanchep. The locals are divided on the issue that the metal structure is not in keeping with the environment and there is a petition to have it taken down.

Polymer - Bangles and beads

2011-05-27T20:21:00.001+08:00

I had a great day today with my friend and student Merryl. We made a few basic canes and then covered some cuffs with polymer and the canes.

Here are a couple more examples of what to do with basic canes.
Needle Tools

Two Rocks Sea Rescue Training

2011-05-25T10:57:00.001+08:00

On Wednesday at the TRVSRG we used both Sea Guardian 2 and Little Guardian boats for towing exercises. Many rescues involve towing boats back to safety. These are some of the photos from that day.

A visit from Penong, SA

2011-05-23T14:14:00.001+08:00

I had a visit from a fellow artist Cindy Durant, who came to spend a little time with me.
Cindy uses kiln forming and lampworking to create her work. Lamp working is done over a propane/oxygen torch; glass rods are heated and sculpted into beads, etc. These are incorporated into jewellery or other elements. Like myself, Cindy also makes jewellery using Precious Metal Clay. It was great to catch up and share ideas.
Cindy on the beach at Two Rocks                  Cindy at the Sea Serpent statue

Some of Cindy’s work

Caterpillar

2011-05-19T20:53:00.001+08:00

I found this caterpillar on a grape leaf in the garden. I think it’s a moth, does anyone know?

Two Rocks Sea Rescue Training Day

2011-05-18T13:48:00.001+08:00

It was beautiful morning to be out on the ocean. I went to the TRVRSG training day and we went down to Mindarie Keys for a refuelling exercise. These are some of the photos from the morning.

   Leaving Two Rocks Marina                           Passing treacherous reef on the way

            Alkimos Wreck                                               Small secluded beach

         New development at Jindalee                  Approaching Mindarie

Sea Guardian 2 tied up at the jetty       Helping out a fisherman with a badly cut finger

Leaving Mindarie                                            Trainee crew member

Silver Metal Clay Workshop

2011-05-16T13:32:00.002+08:00

I had another workshop yesterday with a lovely lady, Amanda from Rockhampton, Queensland and her friend, Jodi from Perth. We had a great day and the girls produced some very nice jewellery items.

Jodi’s work before firing

Jodi’s work after firing

Amanda’s pieces

Eucalyptus Caesia - Silver Princess

2011-05-14T13:21:00.001+08:00

This magnificent tree is growing in a friend’s garden, I brought a few branches home with me after a visit. I just had to take some photos.
     The flower buds beginning to open
        The buds opening
The emerging flower
The cap still attached

The flowers

Bush Fire Smoke

2011-05-12T12:52:00.001+08:00

The smoke from a bushfire was blown over Two Rocks today. It made an unusual sunset. These photos were taken from my bedroom balcony. With the change of the season the sun does not set opposite the balcony.

Mother’s Day

2011-05-08T19:16:00.001+08:00

I had a lovely day with my daughter Ruth. We went to Fremantle and had a look at the Arts Centre, the markets and had lunch at Little Creatures Brewery.

Later I went to Mandurah to visit my friend Mary. She made traditional Cornish pasties.

Spirit of Giving–Bush Fire Appeal

2011-05-07T19:28:00.001+08:00

On Saturday a group of artists advertised to family and friends, a day of display and sales at Jennie Abbott’s garden and home in Gnangara, Perth. We were fund raising for Charlene O’Brien, a fellow textile artist who lost her home in the recent bush fires at Roleystone.


We baked scones and provided morning teas for a gold coin donation. Jennie’s friend played the harp in the patio. it was a lovely day.

I had a few sales, one of which was my James Price Point necklace.

Polymer Creativity

2011-05-06T10:43:00.003+08:00

I thought I would share with you the steps that I went through to make this polymer clay necklace. I have decided to do a series of ‘Colours of Australia’ themes in polymer.
I have chosen the controversial area north of Broome, James Price Point as my subject.

I found a photograph that I liked. It shows the vibrant colours of the Kimberley coastline.

Next using Photoshop I chose colours that stood out for me.



Next I mixed polymer clays to try and achieve some of those colours and with crayons worked on some colours of bullseye canes .



Next I made the canes.
   Then I made the beads.

Opal Setting

2011-05-04T09:21:00.001+08:00

I finished setting this opal recently in silver metal clay. The opal has some small red fire spots and some turquoise green. It is VERY difficult to show these in a photograph. I hope you can see them.

Two Rocks Sunset

2011-04-30T17:14:00.001+08:00

A short walk on the beach rewarded me with this beautiful sunset.

Fun on my quad bike

2011-04-29T12:19:00.002+08:00

Ruth and Brendon came for a visit and we took the quad bike over the dunes to a surfing spot. It was very busy, lots of traffic on the tracks and many surfers in the ocean. Vehicles were getting bogged in the sand.

Cottesloe, Sundial

2011-04-29T12:07:00.002+08:00

Easter Sunday, Sundial at Cottesloe
I stopped in Cottesloe to have a look at the Sundial which overlooks the ocean. It was nine o’clock in the morning and you can see from the photograph the shadow was definitely on the nine. The sundial was erected in 1988 to celebrate Australia's bicentenary.

Easter

2011-04-22T19:31:00.002+08:00

I had lovely evening with family and friends at a local restaurant. Good Friday started off really well with my daughter, Ruth cooking poached eggs on toast with free range eggs brought by my dear friend Mary.
After family and friend left I played in the studio and relaxed. I had to go down to the marina and watch the sunset. It was a beautiful calm evening without any wind. These are a few photos I took.

Two Rocks Marina Boat jetty and the Two Rocks

King Neptune Sculpture

Morning Walk

2011-04-21T13:47:00.002+08:00

Today it’s my birthday! It’s such a beautiful say, a little cooler than it has been.
I started off the day with an early morning walk down to the beach and marina.

Autumn Roundup, Mullewa, WA

2011-04-19T21:03:00.002+08:00

On Friday I drove up the Indian Ocean Road to Geraldton and then east 100kms to Mullewa. The 19th Annual Autumn Roundup took place at the local recreation centre where people had the choice of ten workshops given by tutors from all over WA. The workshops ranged from quilting, embroidery, polymer clay, sculpture and paper arts. The weekend was a great success with over 150 participants. I taught jewellery making using silver metal clay and my students who had not seen this medium before, did a fantastic job. Here are some photos from the event;

Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group

2011-04-14T23:32:00.002+08:00

This week has been busy with training at the TRVSRG. On Wednesday morning I went out on Sea Guardian 2 and learnt what to do in a ‘Man Over Board’ situation, how to assist the skipper in keeping a watchful eye on the person overboard, throwing a life float and retrieving a person from the sea. We practised with a big float rather than someone actually going into the water.
There was a huge ship near us, it was a ‘livestock carrier’, probably going into Fremantle to collect live sheep for export.

These ships are huge. they can carry up to 40,000 sheep on multi storey decks. There is a lot of controversy over way the sheep are treated on route to places such as Libya.

I also attended a night training session on Sea Guardian 2. We left Two Rocks marina and headed south. There was half a moon, so we had some light on the water and the breeze wasn’t very strong.
We motored down to the Alkimos wreck just south of Yanchep. Alkimos is named after the shipwreck of the Greek freighter Alkimos which ran aground on the coast nearby in 1963. The remains of the wreck looked pretty eerie sticking out of the sea in the moonlight. There have been several reports of ghostly footsteps and unexplained cooking smells coming from the wreck over a period of time and it is supposed to be unlucky to swim or dive near the wreck.

Polymer Pendants

2011-04-14T22:36:00.002+08:00

I have been making some new texture plates in the studio and produced some pendants that I plan to sell at a small Artist sale day at the beginning of May. I will take a few with me this weekend when I go away to teach.

This batch are just about to go into the oven to be cured. I enjoy my ‘playdays’, just claying away in the studio, trying out a few ideas.

Cornish primroses

2011-04-13T22:37:00.002+08:00

Lisa Cain of the Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery sent this photo of primrose flowers on her newsletter. It made me reminisce of times when as a child I picked bunches of these flowers from the Cornish hedgerows, to take home for my mother. Now days, as here in Australia I think its illegal to pick wildflowers.

Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group

2011-04-08T22:40:00.003+08:00

The Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group has been assisting the Western Australian boating public since 1991. TRVSRG is a not for profit organisation operated by those who willingly dedicate their time to provide on-the-water assistance, radio coverage, administration, finance reporting, training and maintenance of equipment
The Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group covers the 33km stretch from Alkimos Reef to Ledge Point, with its strong volunteer base, dedicating around 7000 hours each year to make sure people get home safely.
The group operates two rescue boats from its Two Rocks Marina headquarters, with a new rescue vessel expected to be in action by the end of summer.

I have recently joined the Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group and went to my first rescue this week. A small craft was drifting 18 nautical miles off the coast. I joined the skipper and crew and motored for one and half hours to the stricken boat. The boat was towed back into the marina at Two Rocks. Apparently the boats batteries failed and the owners were unable to start their motor.

Copper

2011-04-07T10:39:00.002+08:00

These are Merryl’s copper pieces put together into earrings and pendants, they look really good.

These are some of my earrings.

Fingerprint Jewellery a home business

2011-04-04T16:26:00.002+08:00

The world-wide interest in making fingerprint jewellery is really taking off. Many people are keen to set up and run a home business in the fingerprint jewellery or they would like to make a personalised jewellery item in polished silver.
In my two day workshop I show people how to transfer fingerprints, a handprint, footprint or child's drawing and onto a piece of pure silver and make into a jewellery item.
These are some of the photographs of a recent class.

Sterling Silver Metal Clay

2011-03-31T09:28:00.002+08:00

The latest issue of Metal Clay Artist Magazine is just out. In this issue Lisa Cain from MCSJ has given her method of making sterling silver clay. Lisa and her staff have developed methods, recipes and firing schedules for combining existing commercial silver and copper clay formulas into hallmark-quality sterling silver clay. A fired sample of the clay was first hallmarked by the London Assay Office on January 25, 2011.
Staff at MCSJ developed two successful recipes, one using Art Clay™ brand metal clays and another using PMC® clays. The clays were tested and the process refined to ensure that it could be reproduced easily and reliably in a home studio. It’s most generous of Lisa and her staff and promotes the evolution of metal clay.
Even though Mitsubishi have marketed PMC Pro being 90% pure silver and 10% alloy the public in general have been confused when it comes to jewellers marking and selling their work.

Copper, Foldforming

2011-03-31T09:11:00.002+08:00

This week in the studio hammers were tapping and texturing as we played with copper sheet. The copper was cut into shapes, annealed then folded and textured.
These are some of the copper pieces ready to be made into pieces of jewellery.

Merryl’s work

Sunset at Two Rocks

2011-03-27T19:32:00.002+08:00

I don’t know why I am drawn to taking photos of the sunsets here at Two rocks. The sun doesn’t set directly opposite my balcony now due to the change in the season. Last evening on the way out to diner with some friends I stopped by Leeman’s Landing to view the sunset.

Combining Pmc Pro & Pmc3

2011-03-27T19:26:00.002+08:00

I am making a series of rings that will hold Polymer clay in a bezel. I am going to be writing a tutorial for a magazine. The shaft is PMC Pro and the bezel is PMC3. I made the shaft and and the bezel and joined them together. I fired them on an open shelf for 30mins and then put them into activated carbon and fired for an hour.

This ring is straight out of the kiln and you can see the PMC Pro is oxidised and the PMC3 is white as usual.

These are the rings cleaned up. The shafts still have to be formed around a mandrel, and I still have to decide what polymer is going in the bezel area.