Zentangle Jewellery

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

   
   

Two Rocks – Friendly Dolphin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.