Nicola Wyllie

Daliy Inspirations

2012-02-09T20:34:00.004Z

Victorian Ironwork

Victorian Patterns (can you tell I like the victorian era :))

Sim Luttin

2012...This is the year

2012-02-08T20:31:00.010Z

2012...is hopefully going to be filled with all things good, well apart from the fact that the world is supposedly going to end!...Fun :S

2011 was a particularly scary year for this jeweller, with lots of deadlines all at once, diving into the world of self employment, moved....again!, being made redundant... twice! and starting a teaching career. It took a lot of self management, working 24/7 (well apart from the cheeky wee weekend off)and the support from my lovely family and boyfriend that made the transition much easier.

With the first month of 2012 been and gone, I've finally had time to sit down and think about what I want out of this year. 2012 is going to be a year of scheduling deadlines and events, keeping up to date with book-keeping, design development and applying for funding. If 2011 has taught me anything, it's that in your first year of business you need support. I thought that after a few sales from stock-list I would be able to set aside money to buy the tools I desperately needed. Unfortunately it just didn't turn out that way and all my profits went back into buying materials as more and more stock-lists were looking to take on my collection (and there was even a few I had to turn down until a later date!). That will not be happening this year!

Some more recent news is that I have a new collection currently on-route to the fabulous gallery/boutique The Shop Of Interest in Glasgow's Westend :).They sell all manner of interesting things like prints, jewellery, knitwear, furniture, fabrics, illustrations, sculptures, scribbles, ornaments...and oh so many other good things.

Here are a few of the pieces that will be on sale at The Shop Of Interest...

Onyx Ring with pearl wire setting details.

And new pieces to restock the Harley Gallery....

So if your stuck for ideas from Valentines Day...get yourself down to one or both of these place to treat yourself loved on, our just treat yourself!!!

New Pieces For The Harley Gallery!

2011-11-13T18:25:00.010Z

After a busy few weeks of designing and making, it has all been worth the while. My new collections in both the Harley Gallery and Bluecoat Design Centre have been selling really well. My newest pieces that were sent to the Harley Gallery are below....

Sketchbook Designs

Onyx 'wait for me' Necklace.

Onyx Twist Studs.

Goodville Pin with small Garnet.

Not that I want to rub it in too much....but, our holiday in Fueturventura was lovely and well needed. And in-between all the sunbathing and eating I managed to take some beautiful pictures of the island....

Now back to normality I've realised how little of my Christmas shopping I have done....Better get a move on since its only 6weeks away....crazy

Dear Santa Claus....

2011-11-11T12:33:00.004Z

I few things I would mind finding under the Christmas tree this year....

Oversized Snood for Warehouse

Cluster Setting Ring by Ruth Tomlinson

and just because :)

Rollercoaster Week!

2011-09-29T10:58:00.005+01:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely weather we have been having the last few days...and just in time for my long haul up to the post office to send off my jewellery to another stocklist at Bluecoat Display Centre. Some new pieces that are off to BCDC are below...

Goodville collection - Lazer cut bone Studs.

Goodville Collection - Lazer cut bone ring.

The last few weeks have been very eventful for myself with lots of ups and downs. Some good and some not so good. I'll start with the good, which was two very lovely emails, one from Cat at the Harley Gallery inviting me to stocklist the gallery over the christmas period and the other from Richard at 3D2D accepting my application form to become a 3D2D member. That's 3 galleries displaying my newest collections...all at the same time! Working like a dog in the workshop is a slight understatement.

So I thought a well deserved holiday is in need....and what do you know...I've booked my first holiday in years!! Once all deadlines have been met me and Scott will be flying off for a week in the sun to Fuerteventura.

And to follow all that good news I got a bit of a kick in the teeth from my part-time job at Revlon. They will be closing our store and making all the girls redundant. Sad times but I know we will all find something much better.

Fingers crossed for more sunny days :)

Daliy Inspirations

2011-09-16T13:54:00.009+01:00

Alison Macleod

eunsuk hur

johanna bashford

The BlueCoat Display Centre and New Pieces...

2011-08-30T20:37:00.004+01:00

Last week I went to visit my family back home in Ayr and spend some time with them and especially my gran as I had designed a pendant for her. My new pieces were all inspired by the pendant I made for my gran...all very simple with a tinny weenie sparkle.

I also got some extremely exciting news about a new stocklist. In Octber I will be supplying the BlueCoat Display Centre in Liverpool with my latest collection. The BDC is a nationally and internationally recognised contemporary craft and design gallery and they sell, exhibit and promote over 350 selected contemporary craftspeople each, so I am more than flatter to be asked to supply them with my jewellery.

After a failed first attempted at using tweeter, I've recently been trying my hardest to get to grips with it and I think I've finally got it. From tweeter I have found a brilliant bit of advice from Creative Boom all you bloggers out there....70 of the best blogs for creative inspiration!

New Work ::

2011-07-18T14:47:00.008+01:00

Goodville Pin::

Onyx Earrings::

Forever Necklace::

Angular Pin::

Onyx Ring::

Just a couple of images to update you of what I'v been up to the last wee while....I do actually still make jewellery...amazing, I know lol. These were some of the pieces I'v had exhibiting at the Womens Work exhibition at the Link Gallery which has just recently finished. As well as some new pieces to add to my commercial collection ( I'm loving my onyx stones and beads at the mo). You can check out these and some other new pieces at ::My Shop.

Apart from working like a trooper these last few weeks I have also been painting a lot more...and finding it so relaxing! My sister has invited me to join the craft fair at the mother and toddler group she attend with my nephew Nathan. They are having a craft day in August and as well as selling my jewellery, I thought I would do a few children's paintings. Hopefully they sell or my nephews room will be covered in them.

Duncan of Jordanstone's 2011 Degree Show

2011-05-23T11:29:00.004+01:00

Duncan of Jordanstone's 2011 Degree Show is currently in full swing and this years Jewellers really have outdone themselves! I was feeling a bit nostalgic that my own degree show was this time last year but I was so excited to see that the 4th year jewellers have all done so well!

All there hard work has paid off and the result is a visual and technical pleasure. I would definitely recommend that you treat yourselves and get along to the show.

Elspeth Lauder

Kerrianne Flett

Lauracet

Filipa Oliveira

New Shop!!! Exciting times

2011-04-07T20:04:00.002+01:00

Online Shop Now Open.....

Iv finally taken the time to set up my first ever shop with Big Cartel. I have a selection of new pieces now available to buy and more coming soon. Commissions welcomed!

Have a look @ nicolawyllie.bigcartel.com and tell me what you think....Enjoy :)

Here's to 2011 :)

2011-01-12T21:29:00.002Z

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

Its crazy how quick the time has passed. And i'm hoping that 2011 will start to slow down soon or ill never be able to keep to my resolution of being more organised and prepared for all things jewellery related.

So the time has come and Lovely Pigeon pop-up exhibition has come to an end. And thanks to Kirsty's hard work the show has been a great success and I cant wait to work with her again.

Its also come to the half way mark of the YSP MADE exhibition...but don't worry, the exhibition doesn't end till the 27th of Feb so there is still lots of time to pop down to York to see the show and take in the beautiful gardens that surround it.

:)

Lovely Pigeon Pop-Up Christmas Sale

2010-11-25T19:20:00.004Z

The Pigeon presents a Pop-Up Christmas Extravaganza featuring more than 40 artists and makers, vintage, homewares, stocking fillers, hand-made Christmas workshops for all ages (and abilities), music and more. And my jewellery will be featuring in this exciting event!

It will be opening its doors on Saturday 27th November and will be open every day from 10-6 right up until the 24th December. And if buying handcrafted gifts isn't enough you can also try your hand at making a few presents too. Details are all featured on the Pigeon Pop Up Christmas page...

I want this for christmas...

2010-11-02T19:31:00.002Z

After showing my degree show collection at the wonderful Junction gallery in Aberdeen for the last 2 and a half months, they have now been whisked off to York to the Yorkshire Sculpture Gallery where they are currently on sale :). The YSP has four gallery is set in the beautiful 500acers 18th century parkland and my pieces are going to be talking part in there Christmas exhibition.

These little beauties above, which are on my list to Santa, are skillfully created by Nora Rochel. Nora Rochel explores the world of flowers and organic growth as visual formgiving and expressiveness in both jewellery and everyday objects.

Life has changed a lot for me recently and only over the past few days have I realised that life really is too short. I'm fed up spending too much time worrying about things that might happen and intend on just letting go a bit more...and I'm hoping this will show within my new collect I'm currently working on. And like Nora's inspiration, nature, things are constantly changing so lets change with them :)

x

I Love Lamp.....

2010-09-21T21:44:00.004+01:00

Especially this one by designer Sarah Foot! It has giving me so jewellery design inspiration. New pieces for the Yorkshire Sculpture Gallery coming soon :D

X

Junction Exhibition.....

2010-08-03T22:43:00.003+01:00

After a couple of hectic weeks preparing for the graduate exhibition...I finally managed to pull it all together and took a wee trip up to Aberdeen to the Junction gallery last week which im really chuffed to be taking part in. Iv added a few more commercial piece which have the same theme to my Degree Show.

Opening night is the 6th of August from 6 till 8pm and the show is on till mid Oct. If your in Aberdeen or fancy having a look at some gorgeous jewellery, textiles and art work pop on by.

:)

New Designers

2010-06-25T22:43:00.004+01:00

So this Sunday, myself and 10 other DOJ jewellers are heading down to the business centre in Islisting, London to exhibit at this years New Designers. New Designers gives newly design graduates the chance to exhibit there work with the hope of catching the eye of jewellery industry scouts/gallery owners and jewellery enthusiasts. There is also lots of if prizes on offer, here's hoping its our DoJ girls who walks away with some :).

We will be in London for 8 days and will definitely be taking up the opportunity to stock on some scrummy supplies at Hatton Garden!

As soon as I return ill pop up some pictures of out week

Nic x

Another Rainy Day...

2010-06-08T14:02:00.010+01:00

....here are some little gems iv found whilst iv been stuck inside on this wet, dark dreary day.

Jenny Laiden

Brooch: Can't see the wood from the tree

Square Etched Plate - Copper

www.jennylaidlaw.blogspot.com

Frances Wadsworth Jones

Thieves - Oxidised silver and 18ct gold ring

Heaven Sent Collection - Granulated silver and precious stones.

www.franceswadsworthjones.com

Indra Karpaviciute

Necklace: Oxidized silver, dyed bamboo coral, hematite बादस

Brooch: Gold plated silver, coloured resin

>www.indrakarp.com

Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow

Nic :)

Our sunny day out...

2010-06-07T16:38:00.007+01:00

The sun was shinning and there was only one place on our minds...Luss!

Just off the banks of Loch Lomond lies the tiny little town of Luss. This was our family hot spot when I was younger and it was so nice to finally get a day off with Scott (the boy) and head on over to Luss with the BBQ (My shiny new red one at that, which iv been desperate to get out of the box!). And I could help but take some pictures of this picturesque town. Heres hoping the rest of the summer keeps up like this so we can get some use out of my pretty BBQ. :)

Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show 2010

2010-05-26T23:55:00.009+01:00

After a long year of hard work and determination, it has all come down to this. So here are a few images from my collection at DOJ Degree Show...I hope you like..

Brooch “A little messed up, before we can step up”
Materials :: Oxidised Silver, Whitened Silver, Black Sapphire, Bone and Thread.

Brooch “With a thousand memories”
Materials :: Oxidised Silver, 18ct Gold Plated Silver Chain, Emerald Cut Champagne Citrine, Bone and Gold Thread.

Brooch “And if I stumble, will you wait for me”
Materials :: Oxidised Silver, Whitened Silver, Bone and Gold Thread.

Neckpiece “Memories take me away”
Materials :: Oxidised Silver, Whitened Silver, Champagne Citrine and Bone Stone, Bone and Gold Thread. Full View.

Locket “The feeling in our bones, displayed of all to see”

Materials :: Oxidised Silver, Whitened Silver, Bone, Champagne Citrine and Gold Thread. Front View.

Back of locket :: Shows bone and stitch detail.

Pin “Little memories, slipping by”
Materials :: Oxidised Silver, Whitened Silver, Three Black Cubic Zirconia's, Bone and Gold Thread.

If you like what you see, feel free to check out my brand spanking new website!!!

You can still catch a glimpse of the amazing talent Doj students have to offer until Sunday 31st of May!

:) x

Lots to do... So lets get cracking!

2010-01-13T22:54:00.009Z

Now all the holiday antics are over its time to get down to the job at hand.... degree show! Before the holidays I had been really struggling with my designs and concept. I think having the thought of this being my last year to prove myself and to show that I can do it really blocked my view. But i think i final have it. From the theme of Victorian mourning jewellery I realised I wanted to look into memories throughout life, the good, the bad and how it events can chance your path in life. This lead me to look at growth rings within tree stubs so over the holidays iv been drawing from this source.

These are some of the images that have inspired me .....

I have also been wanting to add reclaimed textiles within these designs so i have been looking into interesting stitching techniques. I love Karen Ruane delicate pretty embroidered pieces.

So all I need to do now is, get my finger out...and get on with it!

Oh and here is an updated pic of my gorgeous nephew with his beautiful mummy at Christmas....

Sorry...I couldn't resist it :)

ITS CHRISTMAS!!!!

2009-11-19T14:43:00.002Z

Its that time again! The annual Jewellery and Metal Design Christmas sale opens from 10th - 15th of December. Where we offer a variety of handmade jewellery which have all been beautifully created by our current 4th year girls. We will all be exhibiting a few pieces each and are offering a 10% discount on the marked price for the opening night of the 10th of December in the Crawford building at the main foyer where free wine and munchies will be provided. Come along, bring friends and family and treat yourself or buy some last minute Christmas presents.

There will also be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for your chance to win a beautiful silver charm bracelet with each individual charm created by a different Jeweller. As well as a chance to win runner up prizes of beautiful silver pendants. The raffle will be drawn on the 15th of December and tickets are available for any 4th year jewellers.

If you haven't already been invited then please accept our invitation at our Christmas Sale's Facebook page and to add your RSVP! Everyone welcome and hope to see you all there :)

Its All Happening!

2009-10-28T21:53:00.004Z

Shame on me, iv neglected my blog for far too log. Moving flats, starting back uni and a couple of changes of jobs have kept me so busy recently. And I'm sure things wont get any easier anytime soon.

So let start with uni... that me reached my incredibility scary 4th year. Its all self directed, so iv decided to take off where I started off last year. Im going to keep going with the narrative theme, look into simulating senses and hiding meanings. Im still at the beginning stages so as once as I have something half decent ill get some sketches and samples up. We also have a lot of competitions on the horizon...oh the fun....like we need more work.

Im now living with four other jewellers this year... and the antics have already began! We are still prettifying the place, but were getting there! But unfortunately we have managed to kill all four of our gold fish. This is now a pet free flat!.

If you need cheering up...or are like me and have a thing for Jim from the US Office, then you need to see 'Away We Go'. Its definitely the best film of the summer fo sur!!

:0) x

Wonderful Words Of Wisdom

2009-07-27T23:36:00.004+01:00

During my very productive!!! dissertation research journey today! (now girls don't be too shocked by that :)) I came across a inspiring artist and designer, Stephanie Syjuco....who had some great word of wisdom for this years graduates at UC Berkeley Art Department. But i think what she has to say wouldn't go a miss with all us current undergraduates :D

"Now, perhaps more humorously, I offer the class of 2009 some tips that helped me immediately after graduating from a BFA program fourteen years ago and an MFA program four years ago. There is nothing super original about these tips, they just worked for me. You may have already discovered these things for yourself. Parents, you may not want to hear these, but I’m sorry.

–Dumpsterdive. It’s amazing what you don’t have to pay for, especially on a limited post-school budget. Just make sure you pull only the least expired food out to eat.

–Decide that sacrifice is not a sacrifice. If you are choosing to be an artist, don’t do it halfway. A painting teacher once said to me: “If you’re driving around in your car complaining that you don’t have enough money for oil paints, you’re nuts. You should sell your car and buy oil paints. Simple as that.” This isn’t about romance and living a quote-unquote “artist lifestyle.” This is about the necessity and the discipline it will take to focus as much time and energy into your work, that problematic and at times nebulous thing that you have been shaping and honing the past few years here. If you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else will.

–Don’t stop. The odds aren’t in your favor, there are so many distractions, so many things calling for your attention. But don’t stop making work.

–Compromise your living situation to afford a decent studio. Make peace with the idea that you will be crammed into a flat with more roommates than you can handle and that’s the tradeoff for paying for your own studio, your own bit of space to make work. See it as an investment, and not an option.

–Treat others in the artworld with respect, no matter what position you think they occupy. There’s a lovely saying that you should always be good to that gallery intern because they will one day be the museum director. This is not a joke.

–Find a job that you are either totally uninvested in emotionally or one that allows you access to ways of working on your own art while on company time. In other words, sometimes that café job isn’t the greatest career choice but it’s a means of making some money, getting free coffee, and allowing you more time in the studio. I spent nine years working at a museum because of the free woodshop and fabrication facilities, which I quietly took advantage of as often as possible, sneaking my own work onto company time.

–Honor your intangible labor in the studio, even when you or others don’t see apparent results.

–Don’t always know what’s fully going on in your work. Despite what your formal training is probably telling you, leave some “X” factors to both confound yourself and give the viewer something to grapple with.

–Never be more interesting than your own artwork. Period.

–Love others and take care of yourself. It’s so easy to be selfish for the sake of “the work.” Take the time to invest in your relationships because they will nurture you in more ways than you can imagine—lovers and partners, especially. Balance your love of solitariness with your love for them. There is nothing sadder than a lonely art star.

–Change the terms under which you exist. To pilfer a few economic recession terms currently in vogue: Dismantle. Restructure. Reorganize.

Finally, I think it’s funny that the term “practice” is used when referring to having an art “practice”. This whole thing is not practice. THIS. IS. FOR. REAL. Now go and live like it’s the only reality you’ve got."

Boy Oh Boy!!!

2009-06-26T22:44:00.006+01:00

I have seriously been neglecting my blog recently but in my defence I have very good reasons for my absent! With the Westend Festival in the middle of June, which unfortunately this year didn't do as well as I expected! The credit crunch really has hit home :(. But hopefully the next craft sale will do better :).

And the second and main reason for my absent was because on June 23rd I became an Aunt! A beautiful baby born on a beautiful day! Little baby Nathan Reid made a surprise arrival almost 2 weeks early (definitely not a trate he got from his mum) weighing a tiny 6 pounds 8 ounce, but boy does he have the longest finger and legs. Both Mummy Sharon and Nathan are doing well and Daddy Stuart has a constant smile on his face. And the rest of the family are all completely smitten by him...especially me :). Auntie Nic intends to spoil him rotten no matter what mummy says :). So I intend to try and travel down home a bit more to spend time with Nathan and my sister...but it feels like iv been working non-stop since finishing up for the summer.

I have been feeling very unproductive in the dissertation department too :(.Really, Really, REALLY need to get my finger out and get on with it! Anyone fancy giving me a shake lol. It also doesn't help when you seem to have no time management skills. So if anyone has any tips, please share...Any help would be good.

Off to work at T in the Park on the 10th...That feed my new habbit....spoiling Nathan :)

Etsy and babies....its been a busy week!

2009-04-09T01:43:00.005+01:00

My Etsy Banner.....

Over the last few days I have been setting up my Etsy page. Since things at the Hannah Zakari website didn't exactly take off....I'm thinking now it just wasn't the write place for my designs. But I'm hoping this might be little more successful. I have a couple of friends already on Etsy who have giving me some useful info on selling and tips on how to promote yourself. So ill cross my fingers!

...................................................................................

Baby reid at 5 1/2 months......

Iv been back down home at my parents for the last few days and its been lovely catching up with everyone! Went for a nice wee lunch with my friend Sam on Monday and the rest of my time iv been spending with my huge (well huge bump) sister....shes and baby have been growing lots since I last saw them. Got my first feel of the baby kicking tonight and i got such a lump in my throat! I now just cant wait till baby Reid is here! Just another few months to go! I'm betting on it being a girl :)

....................................................................................

Heading back home to Dundee tomorrow, fully loaded with food....i think my mother thinks us students don't eat enough....but I'm not complaining. I will need get my head down once I'm home. With lots of deadlines on the horizon there will be no Easter fun for me! We can do that once 3rd year is over :)

Night all

x

The start of my 4th year journey!:S

2009-03-27T15:01:00.004Z

Today i had a meeting with my main tutor for my 3rd year projects. As we have pretty much finished for the summer, the tutors thought it would be a good idea for us to start thinking about where we would like to go with forth year, which will ultimately lead to our degree show (scary thought). After out last Narrative project (which i really enjoyed) I think i would like to create a collection of piece withing the 'Narrative Theme' and looking into incorporating some kinda of textiles. I would also like to research the idea of jewellery which evokes the sense...looking into touch and smell.

In my meeting my tutor suggested that i would be better starting with an idea and developing through making, which i totally agree with as i was just drawing from source and getting nowhere. So my next step will be to start a selection of samples that will hopefully develop into pieces i will use in 4th year. I have been playing around with stitching recently and i will hopefully be getting the use of one the free hand sewing machines from the textiles department...thanks to ash :D.

me and ash...

So a little more development throughout the weekend but for tonight, I'm off to ash's for dinner...yum yum :D

x

Done and dusted!

2009-03-20T19:21:00.011Z

All my hard work is finally over and has paid off. We presented our Narrative project yesterday and it was really nice going round every ones pieces and seeing how other people had interpreted there theme. Everyone piece looked really good....you can really see where some people might be going for forth year...where as me, I'm still baffled. Its really scary to think that forth year is coming in so quickly. Hopefully ill be able to pull it out the bag like i have done for third your. Above is the brooche i made for this project and this is my artist statement...

Nicola Wyllie – Life after death

My three brooches have been hugely influenced by the theme of ‘Life after death’ where I focused on using mainly Victorian mourning jewellery as my source material, as well as looking into the sense of touch.

I wanted to create a piece that kept the traditional style and theme of Victorian jewellery but also incorporate a form or texture that could enhance the wearers sense of touch. I focused on using the traditional shape and form of Victorian jewellery by using the oval, which is widely seen in Victorian jewellery, and including layers of fine chain. To create the wearers sense of touch I developed the idea of the skins reaction to touch, which led me to try and create a texture that represented Goosebumps. I did this by centre punching a design on very thin silver sheet, which gave the silver an almost brail affect. I wanted to make these designs very fragile looking, so I kept the white finish on the silver, instead of polished finish. I also wanted to create a soft texture, which would tickle the skin and in theory give the wearer Goosebumps. To achieve this I used thin, soft gold thread, which I loosely stitched into the silver. I liked the look and feel of the stitching so much that I decide to combine my layers of silver sheet by stitching them together, rather than just riveting them.

.....this piece is the one that i got picked to be presented, with 5 other girls pieces, to a retiring lecturer as a gift. We find out on Tuesday who's piece he picked and whoever wins a nice little bungle of cash (well £50, that buys a few drinks lol). And below is two other brooches that are slightly simpler.

It was also Sally, one of our part-time tutors, last day. I think all the girls are really gonna miss the big help that she has been this year. But she off to do bigger, brighter things :)

Had a bit of bad news this week with my job. I thought that because I'm a student the recession wouldn't affected me...but i was wrong. My hours at work are being cut, so iv been on the job hunt the past week, but I'm thinking i should put my craft into practice and take the scary decision to create my Etsy page. Iv been putting it off for the past year and i don't know why. So I'm gonna make a start on some new piece and see how it goes down and if it doesn't work, i haven't really lost anything.

Off for a well deserved lazy night :D x

A very productive day indeed :)

2009-03-13T18:26:00.003Z

Wooohoo! Managed to finish my Narrative brooch today. I think this is a first for me, finishing a project almost a week early. Who'd of thunk it lol. No picture of my piece as such yet, but will try to get a few on during the weekend. I think i might use next weeks spare time to make a similar locket version of my brooch and maybe even knock up a little something for my mum....since its nearly Mothers Day!

My friend Sandra Cassidy has just launched her new website, Ruby Loves Red, where you can see her latest work as well as order custom made Birds, Cats or Rabbits....the bunnies are my favourite :D!

Oooh!

2009-03-05T14:33:00.005Z

Had a bit of a lazy morning today... but my excuse for it was i was waiting in for the postman. I ordered some lovely fine chain from Cooksons, which ill be using in my Narrative piece, and thankfully it came this morning, meaning....tomorrow I can get my head down in the workshop.

These are a couple of pages out of my narrative sketch book. First off is a quick line drawing i did, taking inspiration from my mind map. Another image is trying to represent this idea of capturing memories as well as trying to find a way to give the wearer a sense of something spooky almost. I was once told by a clairvoyant , that when you have a sense of something tickling your skin, almost like walking into cobwebs, which gives you goosebumps, can mean a spirit is close by. So I'm going to try and incorporate a way to create this in my piece.

Today I also visited the Visual Research Centre at the DCA, where they have a lovely collection of artists books...it has giving me some really good ideas on how to present my drawing and sketch books in a more unique way.

Off to do more work :D

All work and lots of play...

2009-02-28T19:47:00.006Z

I hope everyone has had as much fun on pancake day as me and a couple of my friends did! As we are all pretty inexperienced in the pancake making department which resulted in lots of mess but lots of fun. We had all the ingredients but no idea how to mix them, but with a quick phone call to my mother (who i must say is an amazing baker) we got there in the end :D! But the aftermath did make my poor little kitchen look as though a bomb had hit it!

I have been in the design department all this week getting on with my Narrative project. Iv started to collect inspiration from Victorian Mourning Jewellery.....looking at the way they used 'keepsake' to remember the dead. Some of the piece iv seen are very pretty crossed with being a bit creepy, as they tended to use a lot of human hair. A contemporary take on the uses of mourning jewellery is shown by Julia Deville, who uses gold and silver, as well as materials which were once living, like jet and taxidermist animals

Meliane Bilenker is a designer who uses small pieces of hair to create line drawing in her brooches.

Both these designer have really made me think about using a mixture of different materials in my piece, altho....i cant see myself using dead animal!

This month is going to be a very busy one at university! Lots of hand-ins due as well as dissertation proposals :(....but i hope to get a move on with my designs for the Westend Festival. As soon as I do I'll get some pictures up :)

Off to enjoy the rest of my lazy night

xxx

Narrative....

2009-02-17T18:43:00.004Z

I was back in the workshop today to make a start on my new brief, which is to design a narrative brooch (basically a brooch which tells a story). We were give a few topic heading to get us started and iv decided to base mines around the heading 'Life After Death'. So to get the creative juices flowing we have been asked to create giant visual mind maps! He's mine...

Im really looking forward to getting into the workshop with this one!!! Might make more than just the one brooch!

I have also heard back from the organisers of the Westend Festival... and I am soooo excited to say that I will be taking part again this year! In the next couple of weeks ill be getting up some design that I will be making.

Off out to my friend Rhiannons for some chocolate cake and a dvd session :)

Byeee for now! x

Busy Bee!

2009-02-13T20:00:00.008Z

Ooops! I have managed to abandon my blog for over to months....tut tut! Thought it was not through laziness as i have been a very busy bee the over the last two months! With a trip home over christmas and new year, then a university trip to the NYC!!!

And then straight back into the workshops with our most recent breif, which was my research project. The outcomes of this project were to investigate a designer and there methods and inspirations they uses within there work. Then to produce a piece using there methods or inspiration (and not a direct copy). As well as a 10minute presentation to the rest of our class and tutors. I must say i was dreading this project at first but after i recieved my designer, Yoko Izawa, who i was really interested in...seemed to made the presentation feel a lot easier to do! (im usually terrible at public speaking!) below is the piece i produced, a long unattached neck piece

And one of my favourite example of Yoko's knitted bracelets.

So now im just wait to get hold of my next project, which i think is going to be a narrative piece :)....i can see me doing a lot of photo etching here...fun fun! But with the way the weather has been the last couple of day ( a snow day on Thursday as it got that heavy they closed the univercity!!!) who knows!

Im gonna try keep a bit more up to date with my blogging....:D

ta ta for now!

Christmas is nearly here......

2008-12-10T14:29:00.003Z

I can finally feel the festive season in the air! The Christmas street lights are on and are lighting up our living room, the snow has been falling and the crappy Christmas song have been playing on the radio in the workshop :). And to really set off the Christmas mood......its the Jewellery Christmas night out tonight :D..... which will consist of lots of party dresses, cocktails and dancing to Christmas songs!

All the picture of my jewellery are up on the Hannah Zakari website now! And are all looking very professional!

So the end of the first half of 3rd year is nearly over....but for a quick 2 week project before we all head home we are learning to photo etch with Sally Pattrick. Iv been looking forward to doing this technique for so long.... There is so much you can achieve with it! Very excited indeed :D

I'm really looking forward to this Saturday.....my friend Tony is having an Animal themed fancy dress party. I'm going to make a start on my costume tomorrow which is a panda he he

Enjoy your weekend

:D x

Its All Go!

2008-11-19T17:31:00.003Z

Exciting times....

For the last couple of months if been in contact with Rachael Lamb, who i met through a friend at work. Rachael is the creator and owner of the scrummy website Hannah Zakari.co.uk ... which i must say tempts me every time I'm on it (not good for purse). And I'm so please to say that i will now be supplying Rachael with a few collections of my newest designs. This is the first time i have been able to sell my jewellery online and its going to be a huge learning curve for me. Buying and selling online is now one of the best way to promote yourself and your designs and as a contemporary designer i felt i needed to have a go at it. I am usually stuck in the dark ages when it comes to selling my jewellery as i normally only do craft fares but this is a fantastic opportunity for me! So please have a little nosey on the website....as well as my jewellery you will find lots of other designers and beautiful pieces.

Happy shopping :D

ta ta for now :)

Design..Design..Design!

2008-11-14T20:03:00.007Z

The lack of updating just proves what a hard working student I really am! Its so good to be back at uni and back into the workshop...even tho so far it has been pretty limited. With our first project a design competition for the V&A in London there hasn't been any work shop time but with all my extra work for the Hannah Zakari website coming up its worked out quite well.

I'm now 2 weeks into our new project which is called 'The Ring Project'. Its a very interesting one as this time we design a ring based on our year long source collection project. The twist is that after the two weeks of designing, me and the rest of the 3rd year, pop our names in a hat and we design the piece of whoever we pull out! I'm hoping I don't get anything too complicated :S. With our year long project ongoing, I'm finding it a very helpful source of design. I'm collecting everything from my own photo of natural subjects, textiles, wallpaper designs and graffiti.

I have also started thinking a lot more about my dissertation subject area. Nothing is set in stone as yet but I'm thinking of going down the route of sustainability in craft. After having a lot of lecture that are based on the future of oil and the oil peak, i think that as a designer who in a few years time will be working in the craft environment, it is important to understand that we cannot keep living in this way as a consumable culture instead of reusing what we own.

So in the next week or so you will find my new collections on the Hannah Zakari website....I'm soooooo excited about this. Its the first time that my jewellery will be able to be bought by the public. I hope you all go and have a wee peek at it and if you could, please let me know what you think...ill put up the link as soon as it on :D
For now here is a sneak look at what you are likely to see...

ta ta for now :)

x

Rainy Days and Reminiscing.

2008-08-21T20:14:00.005+01:00

View From My Window

Its been raining none stop here in Dundee for the last Three days. And I'm sick of leaving the flat and coming back home looking like a drenched rat! Where has the summer gone.....and the more important question....when is it coming Back??? Anyone?
Jo and Me Back In The Day

Since its been miserable outside its giving me a good excuse to get start on a very belated spring clean! I was very harsh too and was able to fill 3 black bags full of junk! And for a hoarder like me .....that's not bad! It also been a year since i moved to Dundee and into my pretty flat with my little Jem of a best friend Jo! Cant believe we made it a year and going for another one haha. As Jo always says we work, eat and live together so in the end we will either hate the sight of each of each other or our friendship will be unbreakable.....it think it will be option two :)

Anyway i found some little blasts from the past when cleaning out my room, like one of my old diaries that hadn't been unlocked since i was 17 so..... 5 years Wow. Was really lovely to read it again. Its been making me think about all the very wonderful people iv had in my life, especially one very special person:D

Its also inspired me to do a little research for some designs. I knew this cleaning marlarky would come in handy for something haha.

Here's hoping the sun comes out soon :)

x

Mega Bus Junky!

2008-07-12T21:21:00.006+01:00

Over the past month or so iv been spending a lot of my time on the handy old Mega Bus! Apart from the smelly windy lickers and rather stinky old people who sit beside you and like to talk to themselves.... the Mega bus does have some very good up-sides to it.
1. I never seem to have time sit and daydream these days. My mega bus journeys have brought me back to the world of day dreaming and im loving it! Just the other day while on my way back to Glasgow i started to plan where i want to go traveling! What i would do and what i would love to see if money was no object! Im so in need of an adventure! (only two more years of uni then im off!)
2. I download sooooo much music and since im not making my daliy trek back and forth to uni the mega bus allows me to sit back and enjoy my good taste in music! Download some classics recently like some Journey, Lamb Stereolab and my current fav Plastic Bertrand. Have a listen! :D

Also becoming a bit of a culinary genius in the kitchen! No more pot noodles for me!!! Been knocking up so masterpieces like, Stuffed peppers with hot thai style rice and Lentil bake!

Other big news is that things are looking up in the Jewellery section. I finally have my piece selling in a shop!!!! The company is called Foxy Woo and its based in Inereray. Also got some good contacts from my manager at work whos friends with Racheal who owns and runs the well known website called Hannah Zakari. Showed her a couple of my collections and should hopefully have piece on the site in Sept! :).

Westend Festival Antics!

2008-06-17T17:48:00.007+01:00

So iv been run off my feet the last week leading up to the 1st date of the Westend Festival which was Sunday the 15th.... but it all went pretty smoothly :). above is a few pieces iv been selling. It was the perfect day, the sun was shining all day, the streets were packed and the atmosphere was amazing! Had some lovely customers and a few that remembered us ( me and my flatmate Jo, who is also a jeweller) from last year. Im so glad everything went smoothly as it was a very emotional day for me, as my grandpa passed away in Feb this year and his birthday and fathers day both fell on the same day as the festival. Iv been very positive about my life and career recently and if i have learnt anything over my loses the past year is to make the most of every day, every moment with family and friends and embrace everything that comes my way, the good and the bad!

I have another date at the Westend Festival which is this Sunday the 22nd, so no rest for the wicked! But to ease the pain of working so hard i treated myself to a few new books. Iv just started reading ' ma, he sold me for a few cigarettes' by Martha Long.

Anyways if anyone is free on Sunday pop on by Gibson street where you will find lots of nice craft stalls!

Enjoy the rest of your week and lets hope the sun comes back out :)

To Glasgow, Ayr and Back again

2008-05-29T23:55:00.008+01:00

So iv had a pretty busy few weeks! On the work front... iv finished 9 canvases for the Westend Festival, once i start painting i just cant help myself. I find it so relaxing and once i start i just cant stop, but i must as i have abandoned my jewellery and need to get back on track. I did find time in between my painting to order my new funky business cards. I used Moo.com as these little jems are just what i was looking for!

On Sunday i took a wee trip on down to my home town of sunny Ayr for my Dads birthday... it was also an excuse to get home and spend some time with my family, especially my big sister who i miss so much!! I love the smell of the sea breeze, its the little things like that remind me of the summer and the many days i spent as a kid playing by the beach. I also used this opportunity to collect some source of my home town which i will hopefully be able to use in 3rd year. A little road trip with my friend and jewellery pal Lisa (who is also an Ayrshire Lass) where we visited Dunuen Castle, The Brig O Doon and The Auld Kirk. unfortunally the weather was pretty rotten and by the time we finished i was rather damp lol.

On my journey to Ayr i decided to stop off at my friends Claire and Jamie in Glasgow as they just moved into there first flat together in Shawlands and i must say i was rather jealous... its so cute and cozy. The prefect first home!

So now that I'm home its full speed ahead with my work, if got everything i need now after stopping off in Glasgow to visit Bairds for material, so no more excuses!

Dundee Sunshine

2008-05-13T16:16:00.005+01:00

Hey ho campers! And its another beautiful day today, i cant believe how nice the weather has been over the past few day, fingers crossed it stay that way. So since my material havent arrived and i cant start making any of my new designs for the Westend Festiavl. I decided to start painting some canvases. I used inspiration for my paintings from these beautiful Laura Ashley card that i bought when in Glasgow with fellow jewellery Lisa Murphy on our day out at the Dazzle exhibition.

Well since its such a lovely day im off out to taking in some of the Dundee sunshine before its too late.

Bye for now x

2008-04-30T11:51:00.003+01:00

So hand in for all this years semesters work was due in for marking today and needless to say iv been crapping it for the past few days. My appointment was at 10am this morning and i felt it went really well with some really good criticism and some constructive points about how to get better marks for presentation...not that it was bad but i know i could have done better. My tutor Teena is also going to mark me with special circumstances due to my accidence (my fractured arm) which cause me to nearly 4 weeks where i couldnt do any practical work! From the meeting i think i have realise that i work a lot better with small tight piece of jewellery that the larger body adornment jewellery and fashion pieces. I do enjoy the challenge of them...but in the end my small wearable piece always look far more professional.

So thats me finished second year :)! And it feels great but still got lots of work head with the Westend Festival starting in just over 6 weeks. Ill post some picture as soon as i start making. Its also a busy week for socialising as i turn 23 on May the 4th... God i feel old lol. Looking forward to our night out in Broughty Ferry tho on the 7th! I can tell its going to be a good one :)

And to all those 4th year Jews ..aka Jewellery students .. out there getting ready for the Degree show... Good luck girlies :)

Im back!

2008-04-15T21:22:00.000+01:00

Well i cant believe my last post was at Christmas! Times have been busy busy...as always. So a quick catch up on the past few months - Pasts all my jewellery projects and was really chuffed with my grades :). In February all of the student in the jewellery department got the chance to go to Munich to visit the Massive jewellery exhibition called Inhorgenta. It was completely mind blowing! So many nice things, I just had to treat myself and bought this funky little brooch By blabla blue.

Another exciting thing that happened the day i came home for Germany was to find out that i got a job in the new Jane Norman in the Overgate. Its just part time but i need money to get me by over the summer. Iv been in the job over a month now and loving it..all the girls are really nice.

Ok so im nearly finished my 2nd year at Duncan of Jordanstone...the time has truly flew in, before i know it im going to be finish! Im loving my time up here in Dundee but missing home loads too. The girls in my class are the best tho and keep my head up in the good, bad and stressful time lol!

Exciting times are on the horizon with the Westend Festival fast approaching! Got so many ideas and new designs for this year. I want to incorporate fabric into some of my pieces this year, and these beautiful little numbers By Tina Givens on Etsy are just some of what i might be using. So all you people in and around the Glasgow area, pop on down to Byres Road on the 15th and Gibson St on the 22nd of June. Its a great day out with lots of lovely stalls as well as the spectactical street parade! So got a very busy schedual ahead but i promise to keep on top of my blog from now on :D

x

Woohoo......Nearly Christmas!

2007-12-19T12:34:00.000Z

Im so excited about spending christmas at home this year. It will be so nice to hang about with my old friend again. Not got too many plans over the festive period except eat, sleep and be merry! Which im sure ill be able to achieve! I wont be updating this until after new year when im back in dundee so I hope everyone and a very merry christmas and prosperous new year!

Ho ho ho ..... x

A month already

2007-12-13T21:15:00.000Z

How time flies when you’re having fun....Well not so much fun, more like work really. Things at uni have gotten pretty intense over the past few weeks, lots of written work for my Design, History, Theory and Practice lectures. And deadlines for practical work have crept up faster than I ever imagined. Our last project we had was based on the use of line and how to create line using metal. I really enjoyed this project and found that I work really well with wire. I like the way you can create 3 dimensional forms that can sit lightly against the body. We had two briefs to complete in our line project. The source I used to inspirer me for this project was nature, using things with simple lines in them. I also took inspiration from a book I recently bought called 'Into the Nature of Creatures and Wilderness'. It’s filled with interesting and unusual forms of nature from photography, illustrations, prints and computer designed images. The first was to create a brooch showing sample a brooch fitting and contemporary ways to wear it against the body. For this I created a pin out of Stainless steel, twisting the wire to form an intricate shape, which I then took sections of and stitched purple material into it with brass wire. For the second brief we were to create a piece that adorned the body. I liked the idea of a piece that was pinned to the cliché place you would wear a brooch, but then design it so it ran over the shoulder and down the back.

To create my piece I used brass wire which I rolled to give a flat shape. I also used very thin round brass wire which I twisted and knotted then ran through the rolling mills to create these delicate and intricate squiggle shapes. I held these shapes in place by wrapping them round the small frames to keep them in place.
I was really pleased with my final piece.

On the 30th of Dec I also had a Jewellery sale at Money Quest offices in Glasgow, my sister works there and she had been raving on to the colleges about my jewellery. So me and my friends Joanne, who is also at DOJ decided to sell some of our piece to make a bit of money, which was desperately need as us students are poor you know! It was a really good day and we both did really well.

So that’s me all finished up for the holidays now and ill be heading back down home soon to sunny Ayr to spend Christmas with my family and friends. Not that it will be a relaxing holiday since my sister has just bought a new house, which im sure ill be roped into help decorating! Good job I love her!

My busy busy week

2007-11-10T12:09:00.000Z

Okkervil River

So this week has been pretty busy. I stupidly planned 3 gigs and a Birthday day out in one week.
It all started off on Wedneday when i went to see the amazing Biffy Clyro, for what seems like the 50th time, at the barrowlands. The gig was, as i exspected, full to the brim and the buzz comming from the crowd was incredible. After the gig, it was a quick rush back up to Dundee, to join my flat mate and some friends for the Dub-Step night at the student union on Floor Five.

Then on Thursday I had tickets to go and see Mr Bill Bailey play live at the Clyde Auditorium. His Performance was extraordinary. I havent laughed so hard, well.......ever.

Then finally I went to Nice N Sleazys in Glasgow to see Okkervirl River. I have been wait to see this band play in the uk for awhile now. I don't know what you'd call their music, country or indie, rock or avant-folk, or some such crossbred genre. All I know is that it calms my nerves and makes me feel relaxed, taking me into my own little world. Thought sure with the gritty lyrics, it's kind of a downer, but is that not what real country is anyway.

Okkervil River’s music is meant to be grappled with, questioned and reflected upon. Never to be taken at face value or with assumptions. Will Sheff, songwriter and main source of inspiration, draws his songs from living on the road, a place where life is at times it can be tranquil and utterly beautiful, but other moments reveal the darkest of dark, an image of evil that only shows itself in a travelling form.

Okkervil River is music for anyone with a ear on their mind and eye on their heart. Thats why i love this band so much.

I suppose I should also mention a little something about what im doing at university just now. Our current brief is to take a piece of fruit, mines is a Granny smith Apple, and use it as inspiration to create resin bead designs. I love working with resin and perspex as the textures and colours you can create are unlimited. For this brief i have been mainly using the resin to encase objects that represent an apple like the seeds and using fabric that lookis like the peel.

To Begin With ....

2007-11-06T12:15:00.000Z

Hi, ok so this whole blog thing is all pretty new to me. My main reasons for setting up my blog is because at the moment my life is pretty hectic with University and life in gerneral and I decided this would be a great way to keep on top of things. As i said in my "about me" section. I am currently in second year of my Jewellery and Metalwork Degree, im loving it but it hard work. I also try and selling my piece, mainly during the hoiday season. I will hopefully be getting some of my piece up on my blog, of you all to have a look at .........and if anything takes you fancy, just let me know.

Bye for now Nicola