The Melbourne Hoard

Treasures found in Melbourne: Bargain $10 retro earrings. A treat to myself, bronze ring by Natalia Milosz-Piekarska, and Mimco necklace.

Gallery Hopping

Ah, I've just returned from an extended weekend in Melbourne town. There is so much to do, eat, shop and see. Unfortunately I left my visit to Gallery Funaki to the very end of my stay (Monday) and it was closed - I had a good perve in the window though! Exhibitions and galleries I managed to get myself to included e.g.etal, Craft Victoria, the European Masters exhibition at the NGV, and the Tim Burton exhibition at ACMI. I must start planning another trip to get to the many places I missed!

The Jeweller's Hands

My final assessment for the semester is tomorrow morning. I will be celebrating the end of this stint of hard work with tasty beverages, hand cream and the hacking back of my now munted nails.

Sunday Morning

My little position in the studio is starting to feel more and more like home. I have been spending most of my Sundays there, madly trying to finish everything before the end of the year. Wish me luck!

Cast Away

In Jewellery Design we are required to produce 10 production pieces. I have successfully cast 9.5 circles of fabric that will one day grow up to be pendants. These castings are a far cry from my original concept that I had purchased the gold for (I'm sure it will be used at some point this year ). I'm so surprised at the detail I was able to achieve - even my stitches though to the backing have come up in the castings. Above is the fabric before casting, and below it is what emerged from the process, in sterling silver.

Chatelaine

Wrought silver chatelaine clip(3 1/2"W.) with 7 dangling chains with attached charms and objects including: 1 mother of pearl pocket knife, 1 clothing pin charm, 1 powder compact with mirror, 1 telescoping cigarette accessory and case, 1 monocle, 1 sterling mechanical pencil. www.dargate.com.

Elaborate Victorian silver-plate on brass lilypad chatelaine. 2 1/2"W. x 8 1/2"L. Includes: 1 lilypad covered mirror, 1 small coin purse, 1 small retractable pencil, and 1 celluloid writing pad. Condition: wear to silverplate. www.dargate.com.

Today I learnt what a chatelaine (sometimes referred to as equipage) is. The Dictionary Of Costume by R. Turner Wilcox states that it was popular in the'... sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and later, a long gold or silver chain or chains fastened around the waist and pinned to the skirt. It carried keys, mirror, scent box, smelling salts, handkerchief and sewing things, including a pincushion' It is often said that it was the predecessor to the handbag and pocket knife. At the moment I'm attempting my first locket; and it is the research into lockets, snuff boxes and poison rings that has led me to discover the chatelaine.

Art Deco - Enamel and Chrome:(1) Elgin green Chicago souvenir compact. (2) Yellow Evans made in Austria rectangular compact. (3) Green lipstick and powder chatelaine compact with red swan decoration. www.dargate.com.

Metrosideros Robusta

Hoorah! Finally the Karl Fritsch book (Metrosideros Robusta) that I ordered at the JMGA conference has arrived. I will be pouring over it for days.