York Open Studios April 2015

I am please to announce I have been selected for York Open Studios April 2015, where hopefully my influence and research into York will transfer into my work, and more sculptural pieces will emerge.  I am working at Hands on at the Castle museum handling objects, and hearing peoples memories of that object.  Which is what I hope I have created within my work, so it holds the story of not only the object, but myself as a maker and the peoples stories that own that piece.

The preview for YOS will be held at Blossom Street Gallery, York which as selected artists such as Autumn Garner, Magdalena Thaller, Charmanian Ottaway, Mo Burrows, Ruth Claydon, Ellie Crosby amongst others.

Opening two spring weekends York Open Studios offers the chance to talk and experience selected artists within York.  It offers a chance to meet the artist rather than the gallery owner, and an event that continues the development of Yorks cultural environment.  Also a chance to say I have now moved to the great City of York, and speaking to a few visitors the tourist capital of England!

In the mean time I am concentrating on objects of the past such as my "Arsenic & Lace, spool, Jack ranges to create individual pieces for christmas selling.
Also my development of the butterfly range in silver and steel will be available to purchase online through agent showcase etsy

Adornments for Justice tours to Wales

A collection of body adornments based on the 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 

will feature at Oriel Davies Gallery, of which is the largest 

and most significant visual arts venue in the region, 

and a key gallery of Wales. 

"showing groundbreaking national and international art and craft." 

Free Admission

16th November till 22nd January 2014

Exhibition launch on 16 November 2013

3 - 5pmRefreshments provided

Eleven jewellers including myself have interpreted eleven articles from the (UDHR) to create unusual, individual and often personal jewellery pieces.  Fundamental themes and issues addressed include freedom of choice, hunger, industrial disease, access to medicine and the female right to vote. The jewellery is supported by Jonathan Keenan’s photography exhibition, showing shots of the work worn on the body. Taking a journalistic stance the photographs show the pieces in context, challenging and prompting the viewers response around common human rights issues.

Jewellers: Caroline Royal, Stefanie Buckley, Samantha Mills, Rowena Golton, Anne Hawley, Ewa Barker, Abby Filer, Martin Rees, Melissa Hansom, Tara Kirkpatrick, Gemma Scully.

Please tell us your thoughts on the pieces and exhibition, we would love to hear your views.

Shop Open!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AgentShowcase

My Shop is now open!

Mini Makers Faire MOSI

For the first time ever, Mini Maker Faire comes to Manchester at the Heritage venue at MOSI on the 28th & 29th July 2012.

Makers Faire is a celebration of the things people create themselves, from electronics gizmos to homemade clothes and inventions built in the garden shed. It is a place where technology meets art, science meets fashion.  Engineering meets crafting.  With activities for all ages and abilities, where people show what they are are learning and making.

Saddleworth Vintage will have a stand posing the question what is vintage?  looking at vintage gadgets and favourites within the make do and mend lifestyle. Women were the driving force of the consumer revolution in the 1930′s.  They at last had a vote, on equal terms with men and would even be the main earner in alot of house holds, this was a time of empowerment from domestic service into the office role!  The appetite to spend earnings was inhanced by a influx of new womens magazines and sections of newspapers which instilled that the decor was changeable and so was your fashion. The women wanted to be seen and heard.

Play time

Thread of Society was created by my love for the readymade and the creative act, looking into mixing textile and metal techniques. Using spools and playing around with using them as a component within jewellery.

I use various old tools and gadgets within my metal work, and also references iconic objects and textile methods within my jewellery.  The recreation of these iconic pieces, pays homage to the inventor or the memory that the piece gives to the wearer, such as “Thread of Society” or spool jewellery. How this little part of a machine plays such an importantant part in textile history.  So many can relate to this object and recognise its place in history.  I still have a wealth of tradional tools, handed down from my Grandma & Grandad.  I use gadgets such as the spool to create jewellery fit for any maker who can relate to that object.  Within my game playing the Jack and ball create childhood memories for so many, and also creates a balanced decorative piece of jewellery.  I love to re-purpose things and gadgets, so that people can view them, as the iconic objects that they are.

Vintage & Handmade Promo Shoot

Vintage & Handmade promo shoot  A sneaky peek into the branding of Saddleworth Vintage & Handmade Fair in June, as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebration's locally.  Shoot by Lipgloss & Lenses  rocking the Red, White and Blue theme. 

This image feature's work by myself from my spool and Ltd Edition collection, Dresses from Limb's 50's inspired collection and Made with love's British Throne.

Jubilee Concept

Due to the upcoming Queen's Diamond Jubilee I want to develop ideas and events based on this concept.

One of these ideas has led to the creation of Saddleworth Vintage & Handmade Fair, part of a vintage festival celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the 1950s era, and taking influence from street parties and Coronation memorabilia.

  

Developing the idea of the village fair, and as part of the concept, I have also devised a brief to set up a pop-up shop featuring jewellers. My idea is based around the client, being adorned with jewels whilst sat on a throne, and the jewellery is laid out before them.  

"A pop-up retail space is a venue that is temporary — the space could be a sample sale one day and host a private cocktail party the next evening. The trend involves “popping-up” one day, then disappearing anywhere from one day to several weeks later. These shops, while small and temporary, can build up interest by consumer exposure. Pop-up retail allows a company to create a unique environment that engages their customers, as well as generates a feeling of relevance and interactivity."  wikipedia definition

I have worked in merchandising and retail and feel that customer care, and the experience of buying that unique item, should be a special one, fit for a Queen!  The use of the creative industries to regenerate the high street is not a new concept. It has been proved in practice that it works! Why not use the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concept to create your own unique shopping experience!

Adornments tour's to Germany

www.adornmentsforjustice.org  tours to Germany! Please see website for further details on the exhibition and venue.  My piece entitled "Working Class Hero" is based on the Human Rights article 23. The article which relates to working conditions what is fair and just.  

My piece has various elements to the construction, on a personal angle, and what is going on in the world, with regard to working conditions. The process of the flocking gold onto a delicate construction, is regard to using an industrial process, and how Asbestos clings to the wall of the stomach and hardens, causing a form asbestosis that my father died from.   Feedback from the exhibition would be great, please see the link for further details.

Valentine Exhibition 2012

This year the Royal Exchange in Manchester will be exhibiting valentine inspired work from the Manchester Jewellers Network The Exhibition will be running until the 3rd March 2012.  My work is very charm based using my lace in print within silver hearts to create a memory, also the use of hallmarking tags, to pose the question "Is this just a hallmark event?" commission work is available with that special lace from birth, weddings, christening.

http://www.storeygallery.org.uk/programme.php?item=000110

I will be selling at Storey Gallery on the 3rd December through the vintage and contemporary craft fair.  I hope to pick up a few vintage goodies, for myself, in the process!  I will mainly be selling readymade/found object accessories, along the lines of spool jewellery, Jack jewellery, and bits and pieces of everyday objects, that create unique wearable items.

Alice Corbett's button tin

Alice Corbett's button tin, a photo by SJMills Designs on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Going back to when it all started, was sorting out my Nan's button tin! Many makers are inspired by memories of sorting out their Grandma's button tin, with that generations attitude of make do and mend, rather than the throw away culture of our parents, inspiring the recycle, reuse, and revamp culture of our generation. With this in mind, I aim to launch an online project called "Thread of Society". I want to see your Gran's button tin/boxes/tubs and what you can create with the contents; this could be jewellery, sculpture, what ever the contents inspire you to do!

This is Alice Corbett's button tin, which I spent hours playing with the contents of. The contents are very precious to me, as they create a memory of great times with my beloved Grandparents, who were makers of the make do and mend generation. As they installed the making bug within me, I hope to pass it on to others. So, enjoy and remember, and see what inspires you to create your precious jewellery or sculpture from your Grandma's button tin! I want to see your tins and creations, so post the links through Flickr or Blogger! And I will create a Gallery of the button tins and creations!
Or Email me your statement and images of the button tin and its creations to button tin creations

Thanks to all that visited the MJN stand at Liverpool Design Show last weekend. Hopefully we provided a friendly service and a diverse range of jewellery. Gemma Scully's button earings always go down well and my spool collection also proved to be successful. Sarah Wilkie, who has some charming ideas and great priced work, was very popular along with Charlotte Verity's hand blown glass and silver jewellery. Charlotte also received some great comments about her rainbow range. Martin Rees' collectors paid a visit and bought his lovingly made and highly polished to perfection pieces. For further information on all the designers featured at the show visit the MJN website www.manchesterjewellersnetwork.com where you can also gain further information about the Manchester Jewellers Network.

Liverpool Design Show 2011

Liverpool Design Show

I will be showing and selling work through Liverpool Design Show this October, in the stunning venue of St Georges Hall in Liverpool.  Take time to view the history, and experience the building, as well as the contemporary show.  Also all things design are going on, in Liverpool, while the show is on!

Eco Jewellery

This tactile jewellery is a collaboration between myself, and plastic designer Stella Corrall. our aim was to produce a wearable product made from 100% recycled waist. I loved the plastic Stella created, so versatile and hard wearing, yet felt soft. The design of the pocket bangle I created, lent itself to the process, and showed off the unique patterns within the material Stella created. I especially love the trapped threads, fused within the plastic.

The image of the jewellery has been photographed by Jon Cotton @ Pop