madeleine brown handmade

Enchantment Under the Sea

2012-01-16T12:27:00.003+10:00

Cait is a Canadian marine biologist working in Queensland, so she thought pearls would be a more appropriate choice than diamonds for her engagement to Yarema. These grey seed pearls are set into a gorgeous, delicate antique-style platinum ring. Now that decision is made, they just have to figure out which country to get married in...

(Here is an added bonus... you're welcome.)

Superhappylocketoflove

2012-01-11T09:30:00.008+10:00

I am just so pleased to finally share this locket with you. It was commissioned by Khoa, to present in a surprise proposal to Linda. (In New York!)

Every now and then a project comes along that you take on as a personal challenge, because you simply love the concept- and the client.

I have that common inability to say no to people, so when Khoa floated his wild ideas with me, I couldn't turn him down. In fact, I took them and ran... "It should have engraving! And carved recycled hardwood! And silhouettes! Yeah! And spaces to keep rings in! And flashing lights when it opens and closes!!"

Alright, so maybe there's no flashing lights, but it's only a matter of time, people, you know?

Two years of collaboration and multiple hilarious emails later, adds up to a locket of easter-egg proportions. I love it.

Congratulations Khoa and Linda- I look forward to working on your many whacky ideas in the future.

...aaaand we're back.

2012-01-03T11:41:00.004+10:00

Happy new year, y'all!

The Christmas season was a whirlwind this year... as evidenced by my lack of updates since November. Oops. On the upside, in December I made lots of lovely Chrissy, birthday, and engagement jewels for people, that I can now reveal!

First up, this ring for Naomi and Mark- because this year, they're going to tie the knot! Geddit??

Apart from having awesome taste in jewellery, these two run my favourite cafe, Shucked. It's your favourite, too. Maybe you just don't know it yet. Check it out.

Schadenfreude

2011-11-22T13:43:00.004+10:00

It is high time I showed off these rings, as the clients in question are an old married couple of several months standing, by now.

This is another pair of rings that I can take no credit for- Jules and Michelle made them in a day's workshop with me. Each ring was carved out of wax and impressed with each other's thumbprint, and Michelle's has a little cut out in front to allow for the setting on her engagement ring.

Unfortunately due to, ahem, technical error, Jules had to make Michelle's ring twice... but all that practice made very, very perfect, right Jules?

(Okay, I have to tell this story- the technical error was that somebody in the casting house ruined the fingerprint in the process of casting the ring, and it was unable to be saved. I heard that the supervisor of whoever did the ruining, told them that the fingerprint had been that of the client's grandmother, who was 'no longer with us'. And he let him stew on that piece of information all day. Isn't that mean? But also a little bit funny.)

We heart visitors

2011-11-07T16:28:00.001+10:00

I had some clever visitors to the studio last week. That's some impressive gear, eh? Can't wait to show you what they made...

100 brooches

2011-10-27T09:00:00.002+10:00

I made this brooch for this exhibition. Carved in wax, cast in sterling silver, with a milky opal.

Treasure

2011-10-20T12:35:00.007+10:00

This is a tale of buried treasure, of sorts...

Once upon a time, a young man on the brink of adulthood went on an adventure to India. His worrying mum sent him along with a magical token to offer him protection in times of need- her credit card. It was really only intended to be used in circumstances most dire... however the offer to buy some sparkly treasure was too good to pass up! The young man intended to sell the treasure back in his home town to pay his mum back. This turned out to be not as easy as he'd anticipated though, and the treasure remained buried in his long-suffering mother's safe for twenty years.

Flash forward to 2011, and the treasure has been unburied and shown the light of day! A handful of amethyst, topaz and citrine set in a gold bangle, which catches the light and shows off the mismatching shapes and colours to the most beautiful advantage. I love it. (Click on the pic for a better look!)

Let the sun shine in.

2011-10-10T13:46:00.009+10:00

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to the wedding of two of my long-time favourite clients, Nathan and Joelie. These two have been such a joy to work with over the years, from their engagement ring to wedding rings and other assorted paraphernalia- I really count them as friends and not clients. It reminds me that this is why I do the work I do.

The wedding was in Maleny, in a spot that should have been green and gorgeous- if it wasn't for the torrential rain and fog that afternoon! However, true to form- when Joelie came down the aisle, they both looked absolutely radiant, in the moment, and only had eyes for each other. Damn, I love weddings. I could watch that beautiful moment again and again. It all led into being the fun-est and funniest party I've been to in a long time. Poor old Mark was so unwell with the flu that evening that we had to head off relatively early, which is such a shame because I could have happily gone on all night! (Now guess who had the sore head in the morning. Uurgh.)

Among other pieces, Joelie asked me to make neckpieces for herself and her bridesmaids. At the time I photographed them on my dressmakers dummy, and frankly they looked kind of meh- it didn't do them justice at all. Seeing them on the woman of the hour, live and in person, was a whole other thing- Joelie was a stunner and her vision was spot on. It's really an example of the jewellery is nothing without the wearer.

Thank you to Brian Rogers Photographics for sharing these lovely photos. If you're looking for a hilarious Brit to photograph your wedding and keep you entertained while he does it, Brian's your man.

(Plus... a dodgy phone-photo to show just how fun an evening it was. If any other clients are considering inviting me to their wedding, please keep in mind that I won't necessarily wear a hat shaped like a chicken.)

Happy happy joy joy

2011-09-26T16:37:00.003+10:00

So, this is just like, totally, the best week evaaaaaah?

I spent all weekend learning new skillz from internationally renowned jeweller and personal hero, Tim McCreight. What a top bloke. He has published a tonne of books that I've been using since uni, and I geeked out a bit upon meeting him- fame!

This week I'll be teaching beginner's silversmithing to Queensland's best and brightest Year Twelve art students, who are coming from all over Queensland to spend a week in the big smoke. I've been doing this class for a few years now, and it's always such a joy- they are so motivated and involved and just plain bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Bless their enthusiastic little hearts.

On Thursday night this exhibition is opening- 100 brooches, made by 100 female Australian jewellers. There is jewellery royalty in this thing. And also me. You should pop in for a champers and a gander, if you're in the area.

And just to top it all off, as of about three hours ago I became a first-time aunty. Miriama Anne, we don't even know you yet and we already love you. Welcome to the world.

Worlds collide.

2011-09-19T12:26:00.005+10:00

I think I am forever accursed to work with lovely clients whose lives are so much more exotic than mine. I do my travelling vicariously via my international commissioners these days.

I have known Kateena for many years, and I have always known her as a committed supporter of the arts. (When I was 18 and in my first year at art school, she commissioned me to create a logo for a charity organisation she was creating. Remember that, Kateena? I presented her with a range of hand-drawn guache-on-vellum sketches, which bemused her *real* graphic designer no end.)

This time around I felt far more qualified to fulfill her commission. Aussie-born Kateena met Nigerian-born Zim when they both lived in London, and brought him home to get married last weekend in Brisbane. They entrusted one of my favourite artists, Danielle O'Brien, to create a ink painting of a gumtree and a palmtree, to symbolise their respective origins. I was asked to make a series of cufflinks and brooches in sterling silver for the families of the wedding party, using Danielle's paintings as inspiration.

There is something very satisfying about a neat row of matching jewels, all polished up and ready to go. And what a generous gift for their wedding guests- and a beautiful permanent reminder of two families from opposite sides of the world coming together for the best reason. Big, big congratulations, Kateena and Zim! I hope you had the most beautiful day.

Old-school and New-school

2011-09-12T13:01:00.006+10:00

I'm excited for the next few weeks as I have lots and lots of new work to share.

This set of rings was commissioned by internationally roaming couple Steve and Snejana. Steve had the idea of swirling filigree work on the inside of the rings, hidden by a simple polished exterior. (He told me he didn't want to get teased by the other engineers at work... sorry Steve, your romantic side has been outed!)

photos courtesy of UAP

I showed them a picture of this sculpture above, that I designed a few years ago for the Mater Hospital. We decided that handwritten calligraphy would be a beautiful secret addition to a set of plain wedding bands. I also remade Snejana's existing engagement ring, to allow a flat wedding band to sit next to it neatly. The open-backed rubover setting allows lots of light into her gorgeous emerald, while offering it enough protection from getting beaten up at work (Snejana is a personal trainer).

The calligraphy is all hand written by me, and then turned into a 3-d computer model by someone far cleverer than I am. Then a wax model is created from the computer file, and it is cast into precious metal. It comes back to me to be finished and polished up by hand.

It's quite a fascinating process. I like the combination of old-school- me with my ink pen, scribbling away- and tech-y genius that's involved in something like this. I have no interest in learning how to translate a drawing on paper into a computer file- I spend enough time in front of a computer as it is- but I love the possibilities that are opened up by this process. Technology is my friend. Mostly.

More clever buggers

2011-09-05T10:26:00.003+10:00

Laura and Ville spent a frankly hilarious day with me in the studio, hammering and rolling and soldering and re-sizing and re-soldering... to make each other's wedding rings. Now try to tell me these aren't the most professional things you've ever seen... pretty bloody good, hey?

Laura's ring has a slight curve to accommodate the settings in her engagement ring, while Ville's has been engraved in an ancient viking script in a nod to his viking ancestors- it says "eleven eleven eleven"- the date they'll get married.

So lovely to work with you Laura and Ville- and thanks for all the popcorn! (They know what I mean.)

Process and progress

2011-08-16T13:31:00.005+10:00

More beautiful recycling to make us feel good about our sensible use of the world's precious resources :-)

(By the way, I'm really anti the word 'upcycling'. What is that? It's just a boho-yah way of saying recycling, right? Boho-yah is a phrase my friend in Edinburgh taught me... it's boho as in bohemian, and yah as in "Yaah, daaahling", and put together it means posh people who are slumming it at art school. Good, huh? A much more creative use of language than 'upcycling'. Wouldn't you agree?)

Back onto the subject, a pile of scrappy rings and mismatched earrings got the gas-torch treatment, and was transformed into this luscious opal ring. Opals are a little bit magic, I think, especially when they are not set in the belly of a golden koala or some such tourist cliche. Give tourists a break. They have better taste than that.

Oooh, hellooo.

2011-07-27T11:43:00.002+10:00

A pretty viney leafy ring for Kalyanii and Andrew, featuring my old favourite, a gorgeous apple-green Queensland sapphire. In 18ct white and rose gold. 'Scuse fingers.

More Moth Madness

2011-06-28T16:54:00.006+10:00

Have I ever mentioned that in Mount Crosby we grow our insects BIG? (Also our arachnids, for the purists among you.) I'm still working through my moth fever, and have been visiting the Queensland Museum for a spot of 'research'. My life is tough.

I'm working on a BIG commission whose scale may do justice to the beefed-up wildlife that scares the bejeezus out of me out here every day.

(From top to bottom: A home grown local; photos and sketches from a day at the Queensland Museum; and concept render of my commission proposal by Rapid Concept Designs.)

Before and After

2011-06-14T12:31:00.006+10:00

I have a new all-time favourite ring. Okay, so I change my mind every couple of weeks. I'm easily distracted. But you know how I love a good before-and-after...

Jane has been married for 35 years this year, and approached me to take a look at her wedding, engagement and eternity rings. I actually really like her original rings neatly set in white gold- very clean and simple. But they were getting a bit small, and ready for a few repairs, and Jane decided it was time to refresh them a bit.

Before...

She spotted this model that I made for an exhibition a few years back, and loved the idea- and it worked perfectly with her classic emerald cut and baguette diamonds. I melted down and rolled out her old rings to create the new (with lots of new metal added - these suckers are heavy!)

After...

I'm really happy with this set of rings, and proud of Jane for being brave enough to pick something so unusual! And I loved our visits, hearing about her animals and what her kids are up to. Don't be a stranger, Jane!

(By the way, big thanks to Arf, whiskey connoisseur and photographic wizard, for the new lens. It's great! What do you think??)

Waves to the shore.

2011-06-07T17:17:00.003+10:00

Hello jewellery-loving friends! It's been a while between drinks. I have tonnes of lovely work on at the moment to keep me out of trouble, and no time to blog it.

What do you think of this ring? The plan was for something classic (but with a twist), and something to reference the ocean- a big part of this couple's lives. The texture is meant to mimic ripples of water, washing over the stone. And the diamond is... well, a jewel of the first water, as they used to say.

All designed and handmade for the delightful Nicolette and Mark- who will be welcome back any time. (You need to come and visit the chooks, Nicolette!)

Two things I discovered lately.

2011-05-23T11:55:00.002+10:00

Thing Number One. I love rose gold.

In my ten years of making and designing jewellery, I've never used rose gold. All of a sudden, I'm doing three jobs at once that feature it. It never rains but it pours, hey? I never used to like it- there is so little rose gold jewellery out there and it tends to be pretty tacky. But since it was requested, I've discovered that it's really quite lovely- it has such a pretty, soft tone to it that really complements some people's skin, and it's not as brash and bold as yellow gold can be.

Thing Number Two. I hate rose gold.

It's the copper content in rose gold that gives it its pink colour. It's also the copper content that makes it a horror to work with. How can something so hard to hammer out also be so easy to accidentally melt bits off?? Uurgh, good thing it looks so great finished, otherwise I'd be forced to take another ten years off from using it.

(Thanks Daniela, Kalyanii and Ville for forcing me to learn something new!)

Re-imagining.

2011-05-10T09:48:00.004+10:00

Nicola contacted me several months ago about jewels for her wedding. She was originally inspired by this ring she spotted on my website:

This is one of the first diamond rings I ever made, for one of my dearest friends. I think it is also one of the most popular pieces I have ever made- I am constantly telling people that I could have a thousand copies of it cast in China, and I could retire on the proceeds.

Nonetheless, I always try not to directly remake a piece, so each version still reflects its new owners. Nicola is an architect, so we adapted the ring to be a bit more crisp and clean, a little less organic and random. Nicky has long slender fingers, so this super-wide ring looks fabulous on!

I know I tend to go on and on about how nice my clients are. I'm not making it up- I seriously do think that I attract a better class of jewellery commissioner :-)

The couple who commissioned today's ring are no exception- Nicola and Keith, I've loved working with you! Happy, happy wedding to you!

Welcome!

2011-05-08T14:38:00.003+10:00

To the newest members of our family: Princess Layer, Yolko Ono, Victoria Peckham and Feather Locklear!

Left brain, meet right brain.

2011-04-29T08:40:00.010+10:00

I've been looking forward to sharing these for such a long time!

Here is an email I got from Paul at the beginning of the year:

"Dear Mad,

In about 6 weeks, I'll have been married to the marvelous, talented and stunning Leena Ann for 3653 days."

(Aaaaaw.) That's ten years for the not so mathematically inclined. He went on to tell me the numbers of days along that each of his (super-cute) three kids were born, told me about he and Leena's personal love of the fibonacci golden spiral, and asked for two necklaces that would bring all of this together.

Paul's pendant is 36.53 mms long, with a ruby, golden and green sapphire for each of the kids at the appropriate intervals along its length.

Leena's necklace is the piece-de-resistance... one continuous rope of tiny tiny seed pearls, along with a garnet, a peridot and a citrine to represent each of the kiddiwinks. There is a seed pearl for each day of their marriage, and each length matches up with the length of time between the kids- so, 655 pearls, red stone, 973 pearls, yellow stone, etc etc... adding up to 3653 days including the extra precious days when their precious babies hit the world. The whole four-and-a-half metre length wraps around and around the neck and is caught up in a gold clasp featuring the golden spiral, and can be worn long or short (depending on how many times you wrap it).

Frankly the stringing of 3650 one-millimetre pearls drove me spare, but the end result is so luscious that it was totally worth it. I love it. Hopefully it will have many many years of wear and the kids will all argue about who gets to inherit.

Thank you Paul for such a beautiful and challenging commission! And for putting up with the whinging about my failing eye-sight and what all that counting was doing to my brain.

In Print.

2011-04-22T07:59:00.001+10:00

It's so good to discover new exciting blogs. Especially Australian ones about art and design. Especially ones that want to interview me! Yay!

If you want to learn more about fine arts, thought provoking art criticism, highbrow Australian exhibitions and my boring tendency to be a cheerleader for Brisbane, head over to Vociferous Whimsy, written by Nikita Vanderbyl (who, incidentally, must have the most awesome name ever, no?)

If you prefer to be inspired by an array of wild and wonderful artists, performers and designers, and are curious about any insecurities I might have regarding designing, running a business or befriending clients, enjoy Lightbox, by multi-talented Brissie local Chloe Cooper.

Thanks ladies! Two really good new finds to add to my daily reading list. I blame the ten minutes less I will have per working day on you both.

(PS... have you entered my super-celebration-giveaway of goodness yet? You have until Tuesday!)

The big one hundred! And a giveaway!

2011-04-19T16:21:00.012+10:00

God bless the power of the interwebs. This week my facebook page reached one hundred followers! Hooray!

To celebrate, I've launched a new category in my online shop- Under $100. It does what it says on the tin, folks. Cheap as chips.

The silver butterfly pendant above is the star of the show, I feel- it's based on a little lace design that my mum used to whip up in fine thread. (There's been a lot of talk about my mum here lately, have you noticed? Hmm. Bless her too.)

Now for some bribery and corruption. Are you my facebook follower? You should be! 'Like' my facebook page and leave a comment on my wall, and you'll have the chance to win a butterfly pendant of your very own!

So, just to break that down:

1. Hit the 'Like' button here. (If you haven't already!)

2. Leave me a little comment on the wall (the winner will be drawn at random, but, you know, a little sucking-up wouldn't go astray anyway)

3. Cross your fingers!

I'll draw the prize in one week- it could be you...

Postcards from Hervey Bay

2011-04-13T16:32:00.006+10:00

(Student work from left to right by Jenny Gilshenan, Sophia Holm, Janis Phillips.)

What a lovely weekend I've had in Hervey Bay. It makes me laugh to read my last post- we had just arrived after the long drive and I was almost delirious with exhaustion. After a good night's sleep, I trotted off to the Wide Bay Tafe to meet my class of eager silversmithers. They were such a lovely lot, very eager to pump me for information and they made some terrific work. I'd love to go and do another class with them sometime HINT HINT.

On Monday I finally had the chance to explore the town a little bit. Not only does Hervey Bay have some great restaurants that I tried out for our brekkies and dinners, it is THE spot for op-shopping. Sad that op shops are the first attraction I want to see anywhere I visit, but I think they tell you a lot about a place. The Hervey Bay op shops told me that Hervey Bay is full of retirees. Retirees produce the best op shop goods I find (nice old blankets and 70's sheet sets, pink crockery and other nanna-type merch) so that's ok with me. Can I say op shop one more time in a sentence? Op shop op shop op shop. There.

On the way home we also stopped by Maryborough, which is a really pretty town about 3 1/2 hours north of Brissie. Apparently it was going to be the capital of Queensland and then Brisbane took over. Also it's the birthplace of PL Travers, who wrote Mary Poppins, which you will be reminded of about twelve times if you ever stop in Maryborough. Also also it's home to the heritage listed general store below, which was open for 101 years and then turned into a museum. It's chockers full of original merchandise and all manner of gorgeous packaging. There are all sorts of museums and things to visit in Maryborough, but if you are just passing through like I was, I highly recommend you visit this one.

Now I'm home it's nose back to the grindstone. Looking forward to sharing some of the things I'm working on right now.

Greetings!

2011-04-08T20:25:00.005+10:00

After a huge couple of weeks at the jeweller's bench, I was looking to reward myself today to a slow, self-indulgent drive to Hervey Bay, ahead of the beginner's silversmithing class I'll be teaching this weekend at the local tafe.

Instead the drive, in four hours of torrential rain, was the scariest I've ever done!

(My mum has come along for the trip... I heard her telling my dad on the phone, "It was a terrible drive. But we had some good times." Heh heh.)

Time for a snooze... tomorrow to discover Hervey Bay!

(So tired... no matter how I try I can't write English goodly now.)

(Mum again, in the motel pointing at the tourist map: "I think all the swish action is up this end. And that's us down the other end.")

On the bench.

2011-03-23T12:31:00.005+10:00

These delicious seed pearls, awaiting a pretty but perplexing commission. Let's just say the maths required is killing me. Can't wait to share the finished piece! The brain-strain will be worth it.

Step five: have heart attack.

2011-03-17T11:08:00.004+10:00

Yesterday I had a visit from Anna and her daughter, the happiest almost-one-year-old in the world. I've been stalking- er, admiring- Anna's blog for years, so it was lovely to have a little catch up in the real world. (If you suffer from severe beautiful old home envy, as I do, perhaps don't visit her renovating blog.) Her gorgeous kiddly-wink is named Madeleine. Poor kid. She'll be explaining the spelling to people for years.

I sent them home with a big handful of passionfruits, our one truly productive crop at the moment, and promised a recipe for Passionfruit Butter. Here it is, Anna!

PASSIONFRUIT (or lemon) BUTTER

recipe courtesy of my mum, who is also called Anna and has a daughter called Madeleine. Freeeaky.

1. In a double boiler at a low heat, melt together 220gms of castor sugar, and 110g unsalted butter, until the sugar dissolves.

2. Lightly beat 3 eggs and add to saucepan with: the juice of 8 strained and two unstrained small passionfruits (don't want too many of those pesky seeds) OR the strained juice of 3 lemons.

3. Use a wooden spoon to stir over a low heat until mixture becomes thick and glossy. Be patient- it can take 20 mins or so.

4. Cool and pop in a jar in the fridge. Tell people you're going to give it as a home-made gift, or fill shortcrust tart shells with it, and then really eat it straight from the jar with a spoon while no-one's looking.

(Clearly I've been reading a bit too much of this awesome blog and now think I'm some kind of food stylist. Katie, I think your job is safe.)

Gold! Gold! Gold!

2011-03-08T08:34:00.006+10:00

Another piece for my pal Amy. The brief was to feature the medal that she inherited from her grandfather. In case you can't read it, it's from the Sandgate Swimming Club (the old-fashioned 'seaside' in Brisbane), and he won it in 1925. It's really gold! With an incentive like that, even I would swim laps.

Concave

2011-02-28T10:59:00.003+10:00

This is such an unusual set of rings- I really love it.

Paul asked me to design a surprise engagement ring for Amy. It was a worrying request- although I've made many pieces of jewellery for Amy over the years, I had no idea what style Amy would choose for 'the big ring' if she knew it was coming. In the end I suggested that we pick a beautiful diamond for him to propose with, so that Amy could be involved in the design process later.

To my surprise, when they came in to the studio together to discuss the ring, Amy picked up a wax model that I'd been toying with for ages, tried it on, and loved it. The resulting ring is egg shaped, and super chunky in natural white gold, but also leaves the diamond exposed and seemingly hanging in space. It looks fantastic on Amy's tiny fingers.

It's a slightly crazy ring for a slightly crazy couple. Love you guys, A +P!

Return to Sender

2011-02-24T09:35:00.005+10:00

Just a quick note to let you know that I am currently un-contactable by mail. Please drop me an email if you'd like to get in touch!

Aah, the joys of country living.

Opposites Attract

2011-02-21T07:22:00.001+10:00

More clever customers! Lucy and Chris spent a day with me in the studio, hammering and soldering and polishing, to make each other's wedding rings for their April wedding. How's that for instant talent!

Chris's ring features their two fingerprints, and is organic, soft and tactile. Lucy's ring has a little dip in it to fit in snugly next to her (rather spectacular) engagement ring, and is just as pretty as can be.

Two wedding rings from opposite ends of the spectrum. But both made with love (and a bit of sweat- although no blood or tears). Congratulations, you clever kids- I hope you have the most beautiful wedding day.

Would you ever think about making your own wedding rings? You can, you can! Find out more here.

See you in the studio!

Haaaappy Valentines.

2011-02-15T12:37:00.004+10:00

Could grilled duck with pomegranate and figs be the most romantic

meal in the world? I think so.

Am I the luckiest girl ever? Hells yeah.

Happy Valentine's, y'all.

Raising the bar

2011-02-14T14:19:00.005+10:00

Now, I don't wish to intimidate, but the bar has definitely been raised for client-brief best practice.

Nathan and Joelie are architects (but of course!) and asked me to create an engagement ring for them. They presented me with a detailed written brief, and a series of paintings (by Nathan) that represented the journey of their relationship so far and all that they wanted to encompass in the form of the ring. They asked me to take these as inspiration for the finished piece of jewellery (above)- an organic, intertwining, textural ring with some serious sparkle.

N + J, the two of you are a joy to work with.

I should point out that it is not mandatory that my clients provide me with artwork as food for thought. But I look forward to the day that I am asked to view an interpretive dance about wedding jewellery to fulfil the brief. Any takers?

Back to the old drawing board

2011-02-07T15:34:00.004+10:00

It's a new year, and that means lots of new projects to design. Dreaming happy daydreams about brightly coloured stones and knuckle-duster rings. Yum.

I seem to be doing more and more 'remakes'- melting down, salvaging, re-inventing. It's such a lovely process. Okay, I always have a sick feeling in my stomach when I melt down the old unwanted jewels (what if they change their mind?!) but it's more than balanced by the satisfaction of creating new from old. Phoenix rising from the ashes and all that.

Re-invention is an ongoing theme in Queensland, what with floods and cyclones and such. What resilience we are seeing. I'm so proud of my adopted home state.

And the prize for understatement of the year goes to...

2011-01-18T12:20:00.004+10:00

...my last post.

Since I wrote that, things in South East Queensland got scary, and violent, and extremely muddy.

It's an interesting time to be living through. I'm feeling a mixture of incredibly lucky, to have gotten through unscathed, and also very very proud of the generosity of the people of Brisbane who are volunteering their little hearts out to get flood-affected people fed, clothed and sheltered.

This is the first time I've ever seen anyone jetski along Mount Crosby Road. Our little bridge, our only connection to Brisbane, was 7 metres below the water at this stage. This guy was ferrying people across who were stuck on the other side.

Strange Weather

2011-01-10T09:30:00.004+10:00

What we're having in Queensland right now.

Thinking of all those people north and west of Brisbane whose homes and businesses are underwater right now- or just emerging from the flood.

Hoping Brisbane won't follow suit.

Work in progress.

2011-01-06T15:11:00.002+10:00

2011-01-04T13:56:00.002+10:00

Who are these precious little kidlets? Their daddy got some pretty natty cufflinks for Christmas. (If I do say so myself.)

This is what my Christmas looked like...

2010-12-29T12:50:00.004+10:00

... hope yours was similarly filled with sugar and artificial colours and flavours. xx

Five golden riiiiings!

2010-12-20T13:01:00.001+10:00

2010-12-17T15:14:00.003+10:00

Here I am in my kitchen today, where it must be 40 degrees, baking my little heart out, waiting for Brisbane to get pummelled by another summer storm, and listening to Bing Crosby sing 'Let it Snow'. Well, a girl can dream, can't she?

2010-12-13T14:32:00.001+10:00

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Little locket

2010-11-29T14:54:00.005+10:00

A new locket in silver and gold for the talented miss who sang at our wedding.

I can guarantee you no-one was watching us sign the register... they were too busy openly crying at her incredible a-capella rendition of Ave Maria. Which was for the best as by then I'd done so much crying myself that a sponge was needed to mop up the mascara streaks on my cheeks. So thank you Kate, for the distraction and for sharing your quite phenomenal talent with us.

2010-11-25T18:01:00.003+10:00

A brand-spankin' new ring for a brand spankin' newly-wed couple.

Paivi and David kept trying to insist upon how different they are in every way- but they seem like a dream couple to me. Two countries, three kids and eleven years can't be wrong.

Congratulations, you two!

(Oh, and did I mention I opened a new shop...? Oh, so I did. Sorry. Continue.)

We're open! Come on in!

2010-11-18T07:26:00.003+10:00

It's been a looong time coming... but finally I've given in... apparently this thing called the internet is here to stay.

So, I am pleased to announce that the Madeleine Brown Online Jewellery Shop is OPEN for business!

Step on in... can I help you?

(Thanks PJC for your advice and behind-the-scenes magic!)

2010-11-15T19:00:00.002+10:00

Bean harvest!

Want some?

Get your rocks off

2010-11-04T12:44:00.003+10:00

There are too many good puns to be had in the jewellery industry, I find.

(I think these are future necklaces.)

Meanwhile, behind the scenes...

2010-11-02T08:28:00.004+10:00

Hello! It's been a bit quiet on the blog-front recently... while I'm working away on some rather lovely engagement and wedding rings, I'm also spending a lot of time tippety-tapping on the old keyboard, and it's hard to make that into pretty blog photos.

I'm working on gathering together some old mbhandmade favourites, getting them all in one place and then unleashing them on an unsuspecting public... more news to come. xx

Mayo Festival 2010

2010-10-18T15:10:00.005+10:00

Pssst! Hey, you! What are you doing this weekend?

Feel like some jewellery shopping...? Of course you do. And so does your husband.

St Margaret's School in Ascot is holding its biannual Mayo Festival, with an exhibition of jewellery, sculpture, ceramics and glass. It honours Daphne Mayo, Brisbane's first famed sculptress, and St Margarets old-girl. (She sculpted that pointy bit at the top of Brisbane Town Hall- I know there's a better name for the pointy bit, but you get me.)

Jewellers represented include Matt Dwyer, Anna Varendorff, Barbara Heath, Ari Athens, Kylie Gartside, Kathy Mclay, and me! Really the who's who of Qld jewellers (says me). Okay, and ex-Qld jewellers... I'm looking at you, Anna Varendorff.

The last Mayo festival really was an exciting showing, and you ought to see the view from the St Marg's arts centre. Holy dooley. Highly recommended.

The exhibition is open to the public this Saturday 23rd October, 10am to 8pm. What a great excuse to get your Christmas shopping started. And then pop off and have something delicious at Vanilla Pod Cafe around the corner. Yum.

More info here...

before-and-after.

2010-10-17T08:35:00.004+10:00

Lucky Lindsay inherited her grandmother's engagement and wedding rings. They had some spectacular stones in them, but set in a big chunky setting that swamped Lindsay's fine fingers:

We redesigned the rings to keep some of the visual elements of the originals, but in an antique-style setting that's delicate, but robust enough to wear every day. After:

Congratulations on your engagement, Lindsay and Andrew! (Nicest couple. Ever.)

I just can't get enough of a good before-and-after. Whether it's house renos, the never-ending painted op-shop chairs on Design*Sponge, or one of those terrible cosmetic surgery reality shows (secret vice), sometimes you really need to see the before to really appreciate the after!

Redesigning old jewellery is ecologically sound, and a beautiful way to give new life to your sentimental pieces. I like to think about the history of the jewel- all the love that's gone into it before you. I'm not terribly into birthstones, or anything about 'energy' or 'healing power'... but I can't help but think that, in this case, 'pre-loved' is not such a bad thing.

Lucky 13

2010-10-11T11:11:00.006+10:00

13 years today.

Happy anniversary, baby.

Tales from the Spooky House.

2010-10-08T15:33:00.005+10:00

The Spooky House has been my archetypal house-o'-dreams since I was a wee little tacker. I used to have happy daydreams about it as I waited for the train to toddle off to school.

Wedged in opposite an ugly shopping village and the uglier Indooroopilly train station, it has been vacant for as long as I've known it, which is nigh-on twenty years. Not so long ago, it had a makeover- a new roof and a paint job, then all the windows got boarded up and a barbed wire fence was put up around it. Strangely it's spookier now with its blind 'eyes' than it was back when it looked like it would be full of dead pigeons.

Who owns this empty masterpiece? Surely they'd be better off renting it for a pittance rather than leaving it vacant? Say, to a handmade jewellery studio/ purveyor of fine coffee? Maybe a vampire lives in it- the spooky creature du jour. Someone needs to rid its garden of Jim Beam cans and give it some love. C'mon universe- make it happen.

A sunny morning in Roma.

2010-09-27T19:32:00.003+10:00

Just got back from a weekend teaching in Roma. It's one of my favourite places.

Opening night.

2010-09-22T10:14:00.004+10:00

A few shots of the opening night for Vivienne Kelly and my exhibition,

'Throwing Shadows', at Noosa Regional Gallery.

Thanks to Deborah, of Wild Honey Photography, for the shots.

Look at Vivienne- don't you just want to eat her up? x

Viva la skill.

2010-09-20T09:28:00.006+10:00

Last week I visited the Valentino Retrospective at GOMA.

I enjoyed it so much. The bit I enjoyed most, more than the clothes even, was a short accompanying video called "The Red Dress'- a behind the scenes look at the making of just one couture gown. In it, Signor Valentino sketches a dress, and briefly explains the design to his head seamstress. And then the work begins.

As she candidly explains to camera- Valentino doesn't do the real work, all the skill is provided by a team of frantic Italian women in his atelier. The engineering that goes into fitting and structuring what seems like a simple, floaty silk dress is incredible. Hours and hours of technical mastery and true craftsmanship is behind the glamour of Valentino's runway shows and the kudos he attracts.

It makes me proud to be somehow a part of this tradition- to constantly work towards mastering a craft (in the old sense of the word)- although I am no master yet- I am constantly learning new skills and I relish that process.

At the same time though, it made me yearn for a small team of competent Italian women who would do the real work for me in the background while I look glamorous and strut jewellery design's world stage. One day, one day...

Jellyfish, starfish, anemone.

2010-09-16T11:23:00.002+10:00

2010-09-14T13:31:00.001+10:00

(Can you see your name on my pinboard? It means I'm working on it, I promise!)

Hippy tirade

2010-09-09T20:17:00.010+10:00

Have you ever noticed how smug people who grow their own vegetables are? Evangelical, even. Truly, I can bang on for hours about how you've never tasted a tomato until you've grown it yourself blah blah blah.

Which is kind of ironic seeing as my involvement in the garden is limited to saying, "You know what'd be great? A supply of fresh oregano" *sigh* and waiting until the weekend when It Becomes So.

(Thank you Mark for making all my vegetable dreams come true.)

And yes, we are so much more awesome than your average shmoe who buys their veg from Woolies. Obviously.

2010-09-08T08:00:00.003+10:00

A Ben Quilty Torana for Pat.

Drifting

2010-09-06T15:51:00.004+10:00

Some more pieces from my exhibition at Noosa Regional Gallery, 'Throwing Shadows'.

'Drifter' Earrings, Pendant and Bangle. Sterling silver, freshwater pearls, coral, hand-carved bone.

The exhibition opened on Friday night- to my relief. Now, it's back to real life, and all the jobs that have been piling up in its wake...

An addition to the family

2010-08-25T18:20:00.006+10:00

Meet the new member of team Madeleine Brown Jewellery. She's going to go up to Noosa Regional Gallery to mind the show for me for a month.

I was confidently assured by the fellow who sold her to me that she's known in the industry as a "Chick On A Stick". He also told me there is an equivalent nickname for the male busts, but was too coy to tell me what it was. I think I can guess though. Very clever.

I think she needs a better name than that, don't you? Like... ?

Jellyfish Corsage.

2010-08-13T10:55:00.004+10:00

Sterling silver, hand-carved bone, pearls

Showing here in 3 weeks time

You saw it here first, folks!

Squeal!

2010-08-08T10:44:00.004+10:00

A big thank you to uber-blogger Chelsea Fuss for her post on our wedding- on her pretty pretty blog, {frolic!}.

And g'day, American visitors! And hells yeah, I ship to the States. (In case you were wondering.)

Here is the super-cool way I reacted to seeing our wedding photos on Frolic... "Eeeek!! Oh my god! Mark, we're on Frolic! Oh my god, Joanna Goddard commented on the wedding!!! Aaaaargh!"

Smoooooth.

Buried Treasure

2010-08-06T13:44:00.004+10:00

I am so lucky to be a Flying Arts tutor- they fly me places I would never have thought to go, and I meet people and have experiences that I never thought I would.

Last week was a week in the Queensland gemfields, west of Emerald, teaching in Sapphire and staying in Rubyvale. Now, doesn't that sound exotic?

In fact, Rubyvale and Sapphire are tiny towns, quite low-key and with a highly transient population- lots of tourists come in during winter to try their luck at digging for treasure, but in the hot summer months, the population apparently drops significantly. But there is something about this area that just hooks you in- something deeply satisfying about the possibility of some sparkly destiny waiting for you, maybe just hidden below a thin layer of dust in the main street.

There are lots of good stories that I heard, about lucky tourists who stumble upon some fabulous multi-carat sapphire on their first fossicking trip, or even people who find in their pan a stone already fully faceted and polished- dropped by some unlucky mug in the past.

Above is the handful of sapphires that I found. None are large or clear enough to bother cutting (the whole lot would fit on top of a ten cent coin), but I was thrilled nonetheless- couldn't wipe the grin off my face as I sifted through my bucket of dust, in fact. Like a kid.

It made me understand how people become compulsive gamblers- that feeling that the jackpot sapphire that makes your fortune is still to come- in the next pan, in the next bucket of wash, in the next coin you feed into the pokies. (Maybe.)

Glow.

2010-07-21T10:53:00.005+10:00

Excuse the poorer-than-average camera-phone photo... have you ever visited this shop? It's small, dark, and head-knockingly crowded with fabulous art deco lamp shades in every colour of the pastel rainbow. (It's where I get my bakelite lamp fittings.)

The website does it no justice... if you live in Brisbane, you have to visit.

Sneakedy-peak

2010-07-20T16:30:00.008+10:00

Here's a little something I've been working on... not quite jewellery, but still in the realm of metal.

It's called "Jellyfish Lantern" and it's crocheted out of steel wire, with bakelite electrical fittings. It will be shown with a whole range of other sealife-inspired works at Noosa Regional Gallery in September. Details here. The exhibition is entitled "Throwing Shadows"... I thought this piece was especially appropriate, don't you?

A chilly weekend in Chinchilla

2010-07-06T09:21:00.004+10:00

A few weeks ago I spent a weekend in Chinchilla, where the weather was chilly but the reception was not. I was teaching a beginner's jewellery class to an enthusiastic group- Chinchilla's future Silversmithing Club. At least I certainly hope they will be: I am pretty enthusiastic about beginners myself, remembering how fascinated I was by every process twelve or so years ago, and at the least sign of interest will bombard people with tool lists, reference websites, and my contact details...

But starting a regional club is such a great way to do it- there are so many big fat expensive steel tools to buy if you're a jeweller, and if you can spread the cost over ten people, well so much the better!

Here is a very small selection of clever things they whipped up in two days flat...

(I had to include that last image of the cleverest prodigies of all... much as I swear I only teach students 16-ish and older, younger ones keep sneaking in. These two were 8-ish and 11-ish years old, and did all their own sawing and soldering. Although I must admit, their mum Amanda deserves most of the teaching credit- beginner student one day, tutor the next.)

Chinchilla is about 3 hours west of Brisbane. I find the older I get, the more I love a big driving holiday, and the more I love a small town. Mark joined me for the trip, and we did an extra week of driving around, staying in pubs and motels, and eating chicken parmies in RSLs.

You meet some colourful characters on a trip like this. Our favourites were "Dr Walker and The Shadow", two locals at the pub in Roma one lunchtime. Dr Walker was a talker who kept us entertained for an hour or so; The Shadow in mirrored sunglasses and black cowboy hat merely nodded when introduced, and kept his silence until we made to leave. Then he motioned to Mark to come closer, leaned in and muttered huskily: "I'm The Shadow". Quite.

Everywhere we go, we wonder, 'could we live here?' My prerequisites are, as always, good coffee and an antique shop. Although sometimes the lack of these basic amenities lead me to dream of the business opportunities available in establishing such essential services.

A Quick Opinion Poll

2010-06-30T11:15:00.003+10:00

I've been experimenting with a new medium- I've been carving bone for my exhibition coming up in September with the divine Ms Vivienne Kelly. It's so lovely to carve- it's kind of creamy in a way, and has a beautiful tactile surface when finished. A little bit of internet research led me to a whole wealth of bone-carving information- it has a long history, especially in New Zealand, although the Maori bone-of-choice used to be whale.

This is actually beef bone. My friendly (if bemused) local butcher cuts it for me, my dog chews the yummy stuff off it, and then it's boiled, dried and prepared for me to carve.

What do you think- would you wear jewellery made from bone?

Can't deny the Bling.

2010-06-28T18:03:00.003+10:00

The most luscious pink rose quartz, with diamonds and white and rose gold, makes for an engagement ring that no-one else will have and that is Lauren all over. Legend has it that when Grant proposed on a gondola on the Brissie River, the magical sparks that flew caused a ferry to crash right next to them. Whoah. Congratulations Lauren and Grant- I think that's a good sign.

Bend

2010-06-11T11:26:00.002+10:00

A silver pendant for Dion and Heidi- based on a contour map of the town in the States where Dion found the stone. (I knew I did Year 9 Geography for a reason.)

More student work

2010-06-04T14:35:00.002+10:00

Here are a few finished pieces from the high school class I'm teaching at the moment at St Margaret's College. I'm so proud of these girls- they've worked so hard and come out with such original designs. It makes me laugh that they often make their rings too big on purpose, so they will still be able to wear them when they grow up. Such foresight.

Anyone would think from the vast proliferation of high school student jewellery work that I'm posting up here, that I'm not pumping out any work of my own. Well. I am working hard on something new, not exactly jewellery. Soon to be revealed...

Still Life with Husband

2010-05-31T11:30:00.003+10:00

I've been meaning to take some updated photos of our finished house, sans wheelbarrows... we had a big clean-up to impress some visiting friends on the weekend, which seemed a good opportunity to do just that.

Silver Workshop

2010-05-24T13:20:00.006+10:00

(Cute silver owl pendant by a clever Gladstone high school student. High school!)

Hi there!

I will be running a silver pendant making workshop on 16th June, at Wooloowin, hosted by Womenspace. It will be a three hour, absolute beginners' class, with all tools and materials provided. If you're a bit curious about how jewellery is made, or have been thinking about starting a longer more intense course, this is a fun introduction. More workshop details here.

Womenspace is a not-for-profit group dedicated to women's spirituality. (So sorry, blokes, it's ladies only.) If you think you might be interested in finding out more about Womenspace, and would like to join me for a three-hour session, contact Womenspace via here. (Be quick, places are limited!)

Old friends

2010-05-12T21:12:00.003+10:00

There's a new ring that I'm dying to show you, but is still under wraps... so until it makes its debut, here is an old favourite. Made many moons ago, but it recently came back to me for cleaning and reminded me how much I like it. Featuring two of my favourite stones- asscher cut diamonds and Queensland green sapphires. (Gotta love a local.)

Let sleeping dogs lie.

2010-05-06T08:00:00.001+10:00

My Three Sons

2010-05-03T08:00:00.002+10:00

Commissioned by Virginia, to symbolise her three handsome boys. The rings are hand engraved: all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful.

Modern princess-cut diamond rings

2010-04-29T14:23:00.006+10:00

she hangs out at the library, she works at the UN/

she has a heart of white gold/

she studied architecture, she has a natty haircut/

(insert catchy keyboard riff)

she's an modern urban princess, woo yeah

(music and lyrics madeleine brown)

A Courageous Man.

2010-04-19T10:59:00.003+10:00

Thought you might like to see what became of this.

Almost always it is a woman who approaches me about designing her engagement ring (although with her prospective fiance as a willing participant, of course!). Designing 'surprise' engagement rings for a fellow always makes me very nervous... it's a brave (or silly??) thing to do. My husband would never have dared pick out an engagement ring for me- I didn't know what I wanted myself.

But when Omar contacted me, he had given so much thought to his love's style and personality that I never was worried. He even sent me photos of her and links to her old band's music videos on YouTube. Together we designed this unique ring with black diamonds and a stunning Thai ruby. And when I finally met the newly-engaged Maryanne this weekend, I felt I'd known her for ages!

Congratulations Omar and Maryanne- such a lovely couple to work with- I'm so very happy for you both.

I'm in Love.

2010-04-16T18:37:00.004+10:00

Just saw gorgeous Karen Walker speak at the Creative3 conference at QUT Kelvin Grove. Despite looking like a fresh-faced 15 year old, she's been in the fashion biz for 21 years, and very generously shared her outlook on the industry and creative businesses in general. What a smart and driven woman. Marry me, Karen Walker.

Much thanks to Enso for sending me to an inspiring and energising three days at Creative3.

Brisbane News

2010-04-12T11:43:00.004+10:00

A big thank you to Lizzie Corser at Brisbane News, who gave me a mention last week in her feature article "Precious Few", about Brisbane's jewellers.

(It's a little perk to be referred to as a "hot new jewellery designer"... much as I suspect I am only one of those things.)

That's me in the corner- with the alien laser eyes.

We'll meet again, don't know where...

2010-03-22T09:17:00.004+10:00

The best thing about my job is that I get to meet lots of really interesting, creative people, and by the time we've finished weeks or months of to-ing and fro-ing over their design, with visits and emails and phone calls, I sometimes forget that they are clients and haven't been my friends for years.

I've just returned from Melbourne, where I was delivering these rings to Naomi and John. I made the engagement ring, designed via email, for Naomi when they lived in London a couple of years ago, and only finally met them both a couple of weeks ago when I went to pick up the ring for reference to make the matching wedding ring.

When I delivered the rings on the weekend, we had a lovely drink in Little Bourke Street, and such a funny chat. When I had to leave, I was really sad! Very strange to say goodbye- maybe you two should come up to Brisbane and visit? I'll show you the sights... we can go to the coast for milkshakes...

Anyway, weirdo stalker-ness aside, don't forget I want to see your wedding photos, you two!

Guilt and the assuaging thereof.

2010-03-10T20:04:00.003+10:00

Hello there!

My clients often ask me what the gold looks like before it gets turned into a ring... I think they are picturing a tin bucket full of raw ore... hand delivered to me by a sweaty miner with a light on his hard-hat... or perhaps that I go and pan it personally out of a riverbed out west. (That's quite a nice idea, actually.)

I suppose it is in that form at one stage of its life, but this is how it looks when it comes to me:

Behold, several thousand dollars-worth of white gold, in one handy, portable... lump. Prrreetty exciting, huh?

We are lucky in Australia to have a supplier of 100% recycled sterling silver- silver gleaned from the photography and radiology industries, old cutlery and jewellers' scrap. This is all melted down, re-alloyed and turned into brand-new, shiny, mostly guilt-free metal for us to turn into brand-new, shiny, mostly guilt-free jewellery.

Hopefully a similar source of recycled gold will not be far behind. In the meantime, it's amazing how much gold people seem to accumulate- between broken chains, grandma's wedding ring and old birthday presents, sometimes this can be melted down and turned into a jewellery piece both fabulous and meaningful. And mostly guilt-free.

Little birds.

2010-03-01T13:49:00.003+10:00

may my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living

-ee cummings

Quiet day.

2010-02-25T14:26:00.006+10:00

It's a lovely day in the studio, wet and cool outside, dark and quiet inside.

With my back to the mess, I can pretend I work in a calm oasis.

Just hanging out with the dog, plotting Gothic-styled ruby engagement rings.

Complaints Dept.

2010-02-18T15:45:00.002+10:00

Dear National Telephone Service Provider,

I'm getting a bit tired of blu-tacking my wireless modem to the window in an attempt to get some reception in this joint. Please come and connect our landline post-haste.

Yours sincerely,

Madeleine

Jewellery. And wedding.

2010-02-05T14:07:00.004+10:00

Will the wedding obsession ever stop?

At least this is kind of jewellery-related. Jewellers, in my experience, rarely own many of their own jewels- kind of like doctors' wives dying young. (That analogy is so out of date. Why not doctors' husbands?And is it actually an analogy? Or a metaphor?? Anyway.)

So I made this locket to wear to our wedding, and it actually does look somewhat like us, in a freaky way. I think it needs a black diamond on the front, though. What do you reckon?

Bride Godzilla.

2010-02-03T11:42:00.007+10:00

Okay, here are a few more pics from our wedding, just because I'm vain and still re-living it.

The ceremony was in the beautiful Latrobe Chapel in Paddington, and reception was a housewarming at our place. Very much a diy wedding- very casual, and just the most fun night I've ever had. Think marquee, bbq, kids everywhere, muddy feet. All in all a great way to christen our new house, and to start the year and this next stage of our lives.

(The title is a reference to the guy who I buy my jewellery tools from- he asked in his Colombian accent if I was a "Bride-Godzilla"- and I had to admit that for a day or two prior, I certainly was. I say this was a casual wedding but it was also the most stressful thing I've ever done. Who knows how those girls with twelve bridesmaids and a ten-foot train get through it.)

(Why is this post all underlined? Why blogger, why??)

Happy New Year!

2010-01-25T09:06:00.003+10:00

Forgive me Blog, it's been eight weeks since my last confession.

Since the first of December, we have moved into our new house

turned 30

got hitched

then planted some vegies

hung out with the dog

and generally enjoyed all those around-the-home things that we middle aged people like so much.

It's been joyous and fabulous. I'm exhausted.

Back to work for a much-needed break.

(ps living in the country does have its drawbacks; no landline yet and wireless connection only in the front yard sure make for some sporadic internet usage. But with no tv and no internet, I'm getting very good at Yahtzee.)

Cherry Blossoms

2009-12-01T16:53:00.003+10:00

I think I'd like to start wearing cufflinks.
But that would mean I'd have to dress like an adult, instead of the op-shopping art school slob that I am.

Insanity Plea

2009-11-25T21:03:00.002+10:00

Here's a little sneak peak, some 'technical' sketches for a couple of lockets I'm making. With hinges and rivets and bits that move and hidden surprises. I must be crazy, someone shoot me now.

Gosh, I don't know what to say.

2009-11-24T08:00:00.006+10:00

What's that, Blog? You heard it was my 30th birthday in a couple of weeks and you got me this tahitian pearl ring? Wow, that was so generous- I love it.

(Okay, this ring isn't really for me... it's been commissioned as a surprise 50th birthday present, for someone who deserves it twenty years more than I do. But I do. Love it, that is. Want want want.)

And a matching pendant, too? Oh Blog... you are too kind.

Housewatch!

2009-11-22T19:05:00.002+10:00

Two dodgy photos of kitchen in progress- with special emphasis on ridiculously expensive, long awaited, custom order, pain in the ass benchtop-of-dreams. Keep an eye out for splashback-of-compromise, coming soon.

Still waiting to move in, waiting for the last little details that will make the house livable and legal. Like running water. Locking it up at night and leaving feels so wrong now- our little house needs us. And boy, do we need it.

Still- that is a totally hot benchtop.

Fancy shmancy buttons.

2009-11-12T12:32:00.001+10:00

click on image for more detail

I spent this morning at the Paddington Antique Centre in Brisbane, installing a few new pieces of jewellery for an exhibition that's opening tonight. It's called "Fancy!" and features homewares, bags, jewellery and accessories made out of buttons.

It's the brainchild of the Centre's owner Suzy, a true buttonaholic... buttonphile... you know what I mean. She suggested I go 'shopping' through the centre before opening hours for props to use with the jewellery display. Aaah- bliss. It was like my childhood fantasy of being locked in a toy store overnight. Hmmm, I'll take this jug, and I like this hat, and this old glass bottle... it was like Christmas.

The show opens tonight and continues until 3rd December. Lots of pretty things to check out- in that end of Paddo in general.

Here's one of mine- sterling silver and mother-of-pearl button brooch (from Suzy's vaaaast collection).

Slow start this morning

2009-11-06T08:31:00.004+10:00

The other night we started on the mega clean-up that's going to be necessary to move all the crap we've accumulated in the last couple of years. I've been storing a box of unfired pots from my failed experiment with wheel-spun pottery, thinking- oh yeah, I might get those fired one day. Well, that's never gonna happen so I asked Mark to throw them into the garden so they could break down in the rain.
When I got up the next morning I saw that instead he'd arranged them in this cute little still-life- I had to pretend to be a photographer and capture it:

I have tonnes of work to do this morning, but I'm sitting here in front of the computer. I'm pretending it's because I'm waiting for the invasion of ants on my temporarily outdoors workbench to subside. (Who left those chocolate chip cookies there??) But really I'm just trawling through my favourite wedding blogs- here and here and here and here. In reality, there's no way I'll have enough time to bake my own cake and arrange all the flowers and create five hundred decorative puffballs out of pink tissue paper, but I'm still dreaming.

It's snowing!

2009-11-03T14:11:00.002+10:00

That's a blatant lie, I'm in the Southern Hemisphere and it's 33 degrees and I've spent the day under the fan tatting these lacey snowflakes, which will become silver and gold rings, earrings and necklaces.

Some of these bad boys are going to a trade fair in Milan. Yes, the Italian one. Wish I was chaperoning them.

I've spent most of my life learning Italian- I can't speak that much, but I do have a fabulously fruity accent when ordering things like 'tiramisu'.

Farewell KiLN!

2009-10-29T09:45:00.003+10:00

It's a sad day in Madeleinesville.
In preparation for the Great Big Move of Wonderfulness, I had a Small Move of Sadness and a Few Tears last night. I packed up the studio and moved out of Kiln Gallery in Paddington.

I'll miss you, Paddington, with your multiple coffee options.
I'll miss you, Kiln, with your art that tempts my poor wrung-out wallet every month.
I'll miss you, Tom and Danielle and Oskie and Cate and Jeff et al... I've been so lucky to be surrounded by such motivated, smart and supportive people for the last 18 months!

Bring on the new studio!! (Construction continues. *sigh*)
Watch this space. Just a leeeedle bit longer.

Roma, not the italian one.

2009-10-28T08:57:00.006+10:00

Just got back from a faaaaabulous weekend in Roma, west of Brisbane. What a great place! My Roma expectations were high, and Roma delivered- cute town, nice old buildings, great new arts centre and gallery, a cinema next door to my motel and real coffee available within stumbling distance in the morning. Excellent.

I taught a silversmithing class in said brand-new arts centre, to a group of lovely ladies who didn't really need any advice from me. Check out some of the pieces they made:

Noice one, ladies. And that's only a couple of the treasures.

Next door was a ceramics studio, where I spotted these beautiful little dishes with blue handwriting imprinted in their surfaces. I was very intrigued, and on my third day, humbly approached the ceramics ladies to inquire about a potential purchase. I thought I might be able to afford one as a little souvenir of my lovely Roma weekend. In fact, when they showed me the tag I very quickly snapped up all six, for the bargain price of I'm-not-telling-cos-I'm-embarrassed-how-little-it-was.

The artist is Megan Bennett, and the series is called 'Chinese Whispers'. I think she is in Brisbane now? I'll be keeping an eye out for more of her work- my appreciation of ceramics has increased tenfold since my own pottery disaster day.

I can't wait to install these in our new house. One day. Soon. I hope.

Dusk

2009-10-22T17:57:00.002+10:00

I have a new favourite engagement ring...

2009-10-08T09:42:00.003+10:00

...and it belongs to Anna and Sean. Congratulations you two!

Lacey

2009-10-07T12:18:00.003+10:00

A couple of new limited edition pieces for an upcoming exhibition at Brisbane's Paddington Antique Centre... sterling silver and antique mother-of-pearl buttons.

(watch this space for an update- this exhibition is going to be gorgeous)