hollow forms

I love the challenge of building hollow forms out of metal. This design could and probably should be cast but instead I endure the frustration of soldering two discs onto an organic shaped band. With the tricky part accomplished, I then file the edges, solder the 3D form onto a 6mm wide ring and polish. Unlike casting, this process results in a truly bespoke statement ring

Competition time

To celebrate my 600th sale on Etsy I am hosting a giveaway through Facebook and Instagram.  

Up for grabs is an O bliss ring set (in the winners size) valued at $65. You can enter multiple times: 

1. Share on Facebook 

2. Like O bliss Facebook page (the link is to the right)

3. Repost this pic on Instagram with the tag #obliss 

4. Follow O bliss Instagram @o_bliss 

The lucky winner will be announced 1st December 2013. 

Goodluck!

Ring love

My engagement ring needs repairing, it has done for a number of years. So in its place I wear rings that I have made as prototypes for the O bliss range. Today I photographed the rings I am currently wearing (not on my finger as my hands do not make for beautiful photography).

The bottom ring is my gold wedding band that I bought from an antique shop 22 years ago. I have never bought jewellery from those big name retail chains, my preference is for unique handmade pieces and antique finds. So when it came time to select my engagement and wedding rings, I went antique shopping. I love the fact that this ring had a history before I began wearing it and often wonder who the woman was.

Next, is a plain hammered ring available from my online shop. 
It acts as a filler in this stack.

I made the third ring this week as a prototype. It consists of 13 individually faceted discs. I love it and will be listing it for sale as soon as I resolve sizing issues.

On top of the stack is a very special band. It was my grandmother’s wedding ring and since it was given to me I have not taken it off. Unlike my wedding band, I knew and loved the wonderful woman who wore this ring.

So there you have it, a beautiful ring stack that combines my two loves, handmade and antique jewellery. I think I'll be wearing this combo for a while.

Treasuring

I love creating Etsy treasuries. There is so much aesthetic consideration involved, beyond just finding great items to feature. Balancing shapes, textures and colours until the list 'sings' can often be a challenging process and then other times they effortlessly comes together. Occasionally one of my treasuries makes front page but mostly they fly beneath the radar of those elusive Etsy Front Page selectors. So I have decided to feature some of my treasuries on my blog. Hopefully you will find something special to buy in the mix.



Form and Function

Geometric items have been trending for quite some time now. I am far from bored with them and this list features some of my favourite finds.


Beauty is Simple

This list celebrates my own design mantra, 'less is more'

Country Charm

And of course I love a rustic edge - both in my own work and in others. In this treasury I have teamed some great rustic objects with a splash of plaid.

Find me at a market

June will be an extra busy month as I prepare for the Winter Design Market in the courtyard of GOMA on the 22nd. This happens to be the first day of the school holidays, which means I have a pile of marking and reporting to finalise in the coming weeks. Alas, this is the juggling act necessary to run my little O bliss venture, while teaching high school art full time.

My journal of ideas is full of new designs (as well as old ideas that have not yet been realised). This market will see the launch of new products, which will be added to my Etsy shop soon after, I promise. If you live local, I highly recommend you mark the date in you diary. This boutique market features many of Brisbane's finest artists and designers and of course, while you are there, you can explore the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art.

Sunday

Last month was my birthday and my husband bought me an olloclip (a micro, wide angle and fish eye lens that attaches to the iphone). With weekend after weekend of wet weather I have not had much opportunity to play with it. However, this weekend the sun returned to the Gold Coast and Sunday was the perfect day for a drive up the mountain to the Best of all Lookout at Springbrook  (with some family visitors from NZ in tow).  

Elite16 giveaway

I love a giveaway. This week you can enter to win 3 of my stacking rings. Just pop over to the fabulous Elite16 blog for details.

Happy birthday O bliss

Today marks one year since I opened my Etsy shop and it has been a richly rewarding year indeed. I opened the shop with the hope of making enough money to support my new silversmithing hobby. That goal has been more than fulfilled and I now find myself with both a fully kitted out studio and a thriving part time business that seems to comfortably compliment my full time art teaching job. For Christmas I rewarded myself with a long coveted rolling mill, thanks to a bumper Nov/Dec on Etsy - isn't she a beauty!

To celebrate my anniversary I am having a one day only giveaway via my Facebook page. Three lucky followers will win a pair of 5mm sterling silver studs. These have been my most popular item so it is only fitting that I give a few away. Pop on over to my O bliss Facebook page to enter.

Artist books

Some days as an art teacher are more rewarding than others. Today was definitely one of those special teaching days. I have a beautiful Year 10 art class who have been working on artists books or altered books this term. The concept is Essence, so they can basically explore any topic, but I aim to push them away from cliche responses and towards a more sophisticated visual literacy. The results are always fantastic but today yielded some extra-specially exciting works. 

This altered alphabet book is a treasure. On some pages the student has crossed out or circled every single chosen letter, on others she has stitched, or ripped, or overlapped letters. But I particularly love the cut out cover of the letter A which reveals beautiful stitching. 

Every page of this altered book was a delight so it was difficult to choose the pages to feature. Consequently these images are only a glimpse of what this wonderful book contains. The work journeys from a dark and depressed state into hope and happiness. This student has displayed a very sophisticated aesthetic for someone that is only 15 years of age.

I really don't think these images do this work justice. I love this book so much, I am trying to convince the boy to sell it to me. Every page instills wonder and delight. It is playful, instinctively sensitive and just a totally beautiful response to the concept of doorways/journeys.

There are many more wonderful books from this class and I have another Year 10 class to collect work from tomorrow. I must acknowledge the fantastic work that my student teacher Gabrielle Morosini did with these students. It is a pity she was not here today to see the results of her hard work. 

Cutest giveaway

Have you discovered the adorable soft creatures created by the very talented Olga Wassupbrother from Russia. I am such a huge fan and am excited to discover that she is currently having a giveaway. You will have to be quick though, because the giveaway ends in one day!

Check out her work on Etsy or follow her blog for great progress pics.

GOMA Markets

This Saturday I will be selling my work at the  Gallery of Modern Art Christmas Market in Brisbane. I have been attending this boutique market for a few years now and always leave with unique Christmas gifts for family and friends. It is such a privilege to have a stall for the first time this year. 

 I will be keeping company (from 9am to 4pm) with my dear friends Erin from Erinswindow 

and Kylie from Paper Boat Press.

If you live in or around Brisbane, I highly recommend the GOMA Christmas Market. It is located outside of Brisbane's incredible modern art gallery along the banks of the Brisbane River.