on the usual saturday op shop rounds picked up a wonderful silk floral bowtie and silver and black ‘dads own’ jumper. i decided to deconstruct the bowtie and fashion it into a necklace replete with vintage brooch…

the perfect accessory for surviving a pavement convention full of cheap suits and diagonal striped ties.
although not something i would normally style, i am enjoying wearing it with clashing patterns.

Nothing like a five day weekend to find the time and energy to work on some new jewellery pieces. Here is one i completed which features both new and vintage components.

The skull is set in resin on a vintage buckle and nested within a glittering of cut glass trinkets. I am enjoying the almost choker like shortness of this piece.

Some photos of a collar neckpiece from a series of trial pieces i have been working on which encompass the themes of structure and disorder…..

Really this was an experiment into exploring how versatile resin as a material can be (as well as working out how to use it!!).

After much trial and error and mess i have found it can be easy to work with but does require alot of grinding back etc once it has set.

I quite like the organised chaos of the collected objects (mainly vintage oddments)….

image source unknown

A pair of clip on earrings is a never fail fashion fix when the rest of an outfit may perhaps be a little dreary or the wearing of too many second-hand item makes you feel slightly decrepid.

I have featured some of my favourites from my clip on collection below (please excuse my attempted to edit out the ears). My particular penchant is for the 50’s clip-ons which feature an assortment of cut glass and rhinestones, often in gaudy colours and fabulously unusual arrangements. Apart from the usual online sellers, a couple of places in Adelaide where it is always possible to find a pair are the Antiques Market at 32 Grote Street and the Fishermans Wharf Markets down at Port Adelaide.

For maximum ear power stick to the philosophy that more is indeed more (take inspiration from Christmas trees). You know you have found the right pair when it feels like you have a barnacle appended to your ear!

Lately i have been hoarding anything shiny and textured for a future collection of jewellery. Whilst much of the pieces are broken and humble cut glass or missing rhinestones their beauty lies in their collection like a galaxy of stars….

Tom Binns is one of my favourite favourite jewellery designers and an inspiration. His work truly reaches the level of grandiosity (and size) i crave in a piece of adornment.

Citing his inspiration as the Dada movement, an original punk ethos is displayed throughout his work. Themes of deliberate irrationality and the rejection of standard beauty are clear in his use of ‘traditional’ elements such as rhinestones and ‘girls-own beads’ which he often combines with iconic skull and cross motifs in chaotic order.

I would probably give up to two limbs to own one of these pieces (Why bother wearing clothes at all if you had one of these on!)….

image source: http://www.tombinnsdesign.com/

So lovely to see something ive made adorning someones neck.
I think it suits Anita perfectly…

Resin is a material which I have lately been facinated with. Particularly the possibilities it can offer in terms of the overall finish and complexity.

I decided to experiment with ideas surrounding structure and suspension through the use of resin in combination with recycled jewellery. This process, evolved into the fabrication of a series of collar neckpieces. A sort of sculptural, wearable art.

Heres are the results of my first foray into this material…

I hesitate to use the over used statement tag but they arent made for the faint of heart (or weak of neck!). Whilst they are heavier than the average neckpiece there are still very wearable, dance-proof and suitable for all weather wear!

(excuse the nudity, these shots were taken for my etsy page).

Finally manged to make a start on the first painting in a new series of work.
I like the geometricity of the tombstones together.
Going ok i suppose. Bit gauche.

The lovely Michelle from threefold designs commissioned this necklace for a present. Made from a thrifted rhinestone skull framed by vintage carnival glass ‘wings’ set in resin. These were the only photos i managed to get before it was snatched from my grasp…

Thought id share some photos i took recently at West Terrace Cemetery (Adelaide) which will form the basis of a new series of paintings. As someone that primarily paints tonal realist i love the brightness and almost kitsch hyper colouring which lends an almost a magic realist quality. Sort of reminds me of some of Stephen Shores ‘Uncommon Places’ images (probably wishful thinking!)

Add break-boredom and an obsessive desire to souvenir trinkets meant that when a much beloved pair of shoes turned to tatters I had to resurrect the rhinestone skull clips into another form of ‘wearability’.

I wanted a collected-amalgam look as though the button-box had been spilt. Sort of trash-on trash but with a cohesiveness provided by the colours. The results a brooch and necklace twinset….I quite like the cheapness the mix of metal and plastic lends…