Ammonite Shindigs 2

Yesterday and today I had a little play around with some air drying clay to see how much 10, 15 and 20g looked like. I've decided to use silver clay for the final piece so I researched a little into the material. I previously found an image of a 10g ball of silver clay next to a 10 pence piece. 10g of air drying clay, when rolled into a ball, is slightly bigger than 10 pence. This shows that silver clay is more dense per gram than regular clay.

*Useful bit of advice - before using silver clay, experiment with weights. You don't want to be working with one mass then to discover you get less silver clay per gram for the same weight you've been working in!*

Anyway, here are some of my prototypes and experiments so far...

From the left: 7g (same amount as a 10g packet of silver clay), 10g and finally 15g.

I cheekily spoke to my boyfriend about his present (to be fair, he already knew I was going to be making something!) and he requested that I make a Yorkshire fossil, an ammonite being the obvious choice. So above, from left: a failed attempt of an ammonite I can not remember the name of, and my first attempt of a Pleuroceras ammonite.

The Pleuroceras is an ammonite my boyfriend suggested. I like the shape and the detail and it sure as hell worked better than the one to the left in the picture!
I do however need to work on my modelling skills, though my first attempt isn't bad...

I sculptured the clay without the use of images so before I make any more prototypes, it would be a good idea to print some pictures off first!

Oh, and any scrap bits of clay, don't bin them, make mice, peas and beans with them!

Ammonite Shindigs

On Wednesday, I received my second commission. Not bad going in my opinion!

For this commission, I have been asked to make a pocket watch fob. My clients, strange to call them that as they are my boyfriends parents and the fob will be for his birthday, would like me to make an ammonite pendant to hang from his double Albert chain. The chain sounds snazzy but it's great what you can buy in some junk shops!

I am quite excited about this small fob. Not only am I keen to see the face of my mad and now even more eccentric palaeontologist boyfriend but I will be using new materials, processes and techniques... Fingers crossed nothing will go wrong and watch (sorry, another pun there) out for more 'Ammonite Shindigs' posts!

Fossil Fun

Over the weekend, I visited Scarborough to see my mad palaeontologist boyfriend who had enthusiastically volunteered to help at the fossil festival. The festival was held at the Rotunda Museum and we spent most of Sunday looking round, picking up freebies and talking to everyone and I mean everyone! I even received a drawing of a mammoth! (a better picture of the sketch will come and the name of the artist... I'm sorry I can't remember your name!)

Though the festival was only made up of at most 20 stalls, the size did not deter visitors and excited children from exploring the history of British fossils in and around the Rotunda.

Given the chance to go to such a place with someone I enjoy being with, makes the experience far more fun. We have similar tastes and interests meaning, inspiration is never that far away and new designs are already starting to unfold... so keep a look out, more on this will come!

Back to February 2011

Back when I was in the lovely York College studying a National Diploma in 3D Design Crafts, we were given a project during second year called 'Body Adornment'. With the theme being 'Armour', we needed to create a wearable piece of jewellery reflecting our inspirations.

My inspiration was the Marbled White Butterfly. With its 2 contrasting colours of black and white, a whole array of designs unfolded. Hard to believe but that is what happened.

Image, courtesy of: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=galathea

As a result, I allowed my creativity to unfold. Many weeks of designing, producing mock ups and developing prototypes, I created this charming catwalk number...

Unfortunately, the vibrant colours created by heat did not last long but even to this day I am still proud of my college work and I must confess, this is still one of my favourite pieces I have made yet.

Bear pendant... Final GRR!

Alright! Getting down to the bears-ness... Hahaha sorry couldn't resist!
On the other hand, I finished the grizzly but not so grizzly bear, in silver, with an incredibly shiny chain!

TA DAH!

Personally I'm quite proud of myself at the moment. Then again I'll look back in a few years time and think to myself 'I was pants back then...' but after a few months away from the world of  intricate tiny sparkly things (jewellery making, that is...), I have done quite well. YAY!

However, the paws could be better, the pendant is 35mm in length so you can imagine how small the detail is. Although it's minor detail and they still look like paws and not blobs... First paying commission done I'd say!