The Handmade by Machines Exhibition has started at The Lighthouse in Glasgow. I missed the Opening Night and the symposium :(( Was unfortunately still too ill to attend but, by all accounts, it went really well. I have an installation in the show – almost didn’t (summer flu!). However, my very kind-hearted CAD tutor – who also, incidentally, is the curator of Handmade by Machines! – not only set up the whole show last week but also managed to instal my piece too (whilst I had to stay at home in bed). I am forever in her debt! Thanks Karen :)) I did as much as I could at home – packed all the separate pieces up together, drew a diagram, left the (really very fiddly and time-consuming) final hanging of the birds to Karen and hoped for the best ;)) I’ve only seen pictures so far but it looks great as far as I can see. Do pop in if you’re passing. Below are some of the ingredients of said installation… You’ll have to go to the show to see it all put together as one… Or, you could just wait until I’ve been and taken some pictures of the final result :))

Those ‘ingredients’…

One silver house ring and one wee silver bird…

Hundreds and hundreds of laser cut (originally hand drawn) birds… And many many metres of invisible thread (it’s invisible!) ;))…

A beautiful bundle of willow harvested earlier this year…

Soaked for two days…

Mellowed overnight…

And then bent and woven into a hanging frame…

Can’t wait to see the final results. Watch this space!

Happy to report the show went really well, I couldn’t be more pleased. I made some sales and got some commissions. Now I just need to make everything! :)) Unfortunately, immediately following the show (the day after practically) I came down with the worst summer flu I can remember having in a long time. Been out of circulation for the last week and only just venturing out now. Feel a hundred times better though and can’t wait to get started on my orders. First one in the pipeline is a bit of an easy one – one of the rings from the show and one of the wee house brooches. I had planned to just take orders at the show and to make everything new but, in the case of the pebble rings – as it’d be impossible to get the same pebble twice – the one you see is the one you get (unless, of course, you request otherwise). And the wee brooch, well, I would have re-made that but the lovely buyer (a really good friend) really wanted the one on show – as it had been the original piece that had started the whole collection. How could I refuse? Packing them up ready to go today. She also requested the wee acrylic holder, so she can put it on the wall at home just like it was in the show. I love that idea! Jewellery as art, I can live with that.

The brooches and rings as displayed at the show

And all ready to go to their new home…

…wee acrylic holder too :))

Surprised and delighted to have come top of my year!! There are some much appreciated Cooksons vouchers in that cheerful orange envelope…

Thanks to everyone for coming along to the show and thanks to Sharon and Rhona for the beautiful flowers – still blooming :))

Only six days to go til the end of year show. Packed my whole collection up this morning ready to go. Along with my brand new, hot off the press, business cards.

Today, I set the woven panel and the beach pebble. I emeried the bezels and ring shanks with quite a coarse grade of emery paper to give a soft, ‘white’ finish to the silver, to contrast with the shine of the woven threads and the matt, dark grey of the pebble. I wanted the hand-finished rings to complement the finish on the graded unit brooch.