Evolution Ate My Tee

I am so over-the-moon! My ring series 'Evolution Ate My Tee' is going to be included in a curated exhibition of contemporary work within the wider event of the New Zealand Jewellery Show - the exhibition is curated by Peter Deckers and is called 'Handstand - Unfamiliar & Innovative Contemporary Jewellery'. Finally I have something to put on my art cv!

This happens 16 to 19th July 2009 at the Sky City Convention Center in Auckland, New Zealand.

This ring is a Triffid - and is made from merino wool roving, sterling silver wire, natural freshwater pearls, ruby, rough natural diamond, Thai Karen Hill Tribes fine silver & vermeil beads (Fair Trade), reclaimed watch parts, stainless steel screws, plexiglass, acrylic, UV resin, oil paint, Faux bone, lemon quartz faceted briolettes, yellow plastic golf tee and air plant.

The other rings in this series are my Anemone ring and Crinoid ring (see previous blogs). I forgot to take a photo of the other ring in the series before I posted them off.....
Porridge brain.

Raspberries & Cream Ring

I just finished this one - it reminds me of those 2-tone sweets called Raspberry & Cream I used to eat packets of when I was little.......

Its merino wool (cream and raspberry coloured) wet felted and then needle felted around a Faux bone base. It also features a green plastic aquarium plant, yellow plastic golf tee, UV resin, natural rough diamonds (around ring base), shards of vintage pink glass, old brass washer, natural freshwater white pearl, oxidised sterling silver wire.

Ring size is US 8.

Recyled Sari Yarn

I bought this FABULOUS recycled silk Sari yarn from Yarn Traders in New Zealand (who import it from Nepal).

About this fab yarn........

"The yarn is made from the scrap silk, and other fibres, produced as a bi-product of sari manufacture and other silk production in southern India. The colourfast industrially dyed remnant fibres are brought into Nepal and distributed, via women's cooperatives, to disadvantaged women. Spinning and knitting the yarn enables the women to earn a much needed small income from their cottage industry.

The yarn is hand spun, either by charka, drop spindle, or wheel, into gleaming hanks ready for export or use in local garment manufacturing. Because it is hand spun each hank is unique, and there are no dye lots. In addition, the yarn varies in thickness and contains some overtwisted areas. As a consequence of the village conditions where the yarn is made it carries a slight musty smell. In addition, you may also come across the odd piece of straw or leaves. Simply remove any "foreign objects" as you go along! The yarn handles washing well."

For this pot - I crocheted the sari yarn with some beige wool and did a lid using pink wool with sari yarn edging and some 'spirals'. Plus some spotty wood bicone beads.

This little fella is only about 7cm high.

So far my daughter has claimed all the crochet vessels I've made to put her 'bling' in - but I may put them on my website anyway. Maybe....

Bruneau Jasper Squid - detail pics

I finally got some more photos edited of my Bruneau Jasper Squid (as in my previous post) so here they are! They just show him in a bit more detail.

I've been working on a few things - a collaboration with Lisa-Jane Harvey (fab lampworking/glass artist) of Born To Bead (www.borntobead.co.nz). Its a fab piece called TANIWHA (Maori word meaning 'Fabulous Water Monster') - but we are entering it in a competition so I don't think I can post a photo just yet.....?

I have also been crocheting pots/vessels. They have beads stitched in (I'm practising!) and spikes, tentacles and things - not really sure what to do with them........I will post some photos of these soon!

Bruneau Jasper Squid

Here is my daughter with my newest 'squid' creation. I will get a better photo up soon - the tentacles seem to disappear into the design of her top!

The cabochon is a beautifully polished Bruneau Canyon nodule from Idaho near Mt Home. This is the king of the orbicular jaspers and is no longer available for collecting as the government is making a bird sanctuary out of the canyon. I purchased it from one of my favourite suppliers Designer Cabochons in the UK.

Also featuring a vintage 'blinking' dolls eye, bronze, acrylic, palest green amethyst briollettes, faux bone, micro screws, sterling silver, natural freshwater pearls, spinel, merino wool roving (wet felted and needle felted), mica powders and UV resin.

The whole piece is about 29cm long and can be worn as a brooch or a pendant.