The woven panel is at last finished, so now I only have to make the piece… ha! I’m off to the lovely isle of Arran for a few days first, with some even lovelier old friends, time to rest my weary fingers (and tired eyes!) ;))

Firstly, I needed some very fine (not to mention extremely footery) silver (and gold!) wire for the warp and weft of the woven panel of my brooch. And in the true spirit of Blue Peter… Here’s some I made earlier ;))

Next, some tools to help make the task slightly less footery…

Day 1:

Making the warp, measuring the panel (inaccurately as it turns out!), beginning the weave, swiftly followed by adjusting the weave to fit…!

End of Day 1:

Woven panel now correct width and becoming easier to handle as the weave grows – time to call it a day I think (while I’m still marginally ahead) :))

So, today’s big story (the big story of the last few month’s in fact!)  is the story of my Final Year Graded Unit –  entitled ‘A Sense of Place’ – and the fact that it’s due in on 1st May! And the fact that I should in fact be getting on with it right now  – instead of writing this blog entry ;)) but hey, I figure I have to start by writing myself a list so I may as well write it here (at least that way I get to experience the joy of using the strikethrough tool as I tick things off the list) small pleasures!

It is now day 4 of the Easter Holidays, day 4 of a lovely relaxed time off – 4 lovely long days spent enjoying the Spring sunshine down at the plot and on an anti-Trident Rally; 4 days spent setting up a new blog, relaxing and browsing in Waterstones – bliss! But all good things must come to an end – or, at least, they must make way for ‘different’  good things. And today’s ‘different’ good thing just so happens to be my Final Year Graded Unit.

So, first things first – write a list of all that I need to do between now and 1st May!!! Even the thought of it makes me sweat, just a little ;))

graded unit checklist

workshop

• weave silver/gold version of fine metal ‘fabric’ to incorporate into finished piece – copper version shown above
• make silver findings for brooch this strikethrough is a bit of a cheat as I’d already made these ;))
• trap silver weave in double ‘house’ frame (as above)
• cut out and pierce backplate
• solder posts to outer frame to make claws to eventually hold brooch together
• solder silver brooch findings to backplate
• cut out and pierce front of brooch – decide nearer time whether or not to use frontplate – I still like the idea of the woven panel on its own at this point in time
• make tube stone setting for back of brooch

sketchbook/technical notes

• start writing up technical notes!! possibly on excel sheet/database?? with relevant headings e.g. Date, Task, Method, Materials, Problem encountered (if any!), Solution, Notes Yay! First genuine strikethrough! Feels as good as I thought it would :-D)
• check Graded Unit criteria on MyCity and plan accordingly
• check points/percentage allocation on marking scheme
• make sure I have suitable drawings of the final 5 designs

final boards

• choose relevant images for final boards – Research, Development and Final Piece
• make boards using photoshop
• bear in mind the ‘book’ element of the brief and the title ‘A sense of Place’