Little Ideas

Whilst working on my Pollen Series earrings...

...I kept breaking sawblades when trying to cut the looped wire.

Being a jeweller means:

-:- Constantly finding solutions to problems,

-:- Committing the solutions to memory

(I should really use that leather-bound notebook for this)

-:- And jumping for joy when experimenting

and it all goes to plan

(and adding to your silver scraps box

when it all goes horribly wrong)

On this particular day...

(which was hot and sunny, then hot and rainy, then hot and sunny again)

...the problem aforementioned was solved once and for all.

You see, when sterling wire is wrapped in large loops on a mandrel,and especially when it is quite thin,it doesn't hold its shape very well when one decides to saw-pierce them into separate little circles.

Thus, sawblades are broken, other loops below the one being cut are gouged by the sawblade, and Mariann gets very upset.

So the solution was to hold the looped silver in place,

and hold it there with masking tape at opposite sides.

With the sterling silver loops held in place...

... saw-piercing them was a breeze!

I hope this helps you too!

What tips have you learned along the way?

- Mariann -

xoxo

She Wears High Heels...

... in the workshop ...

Oh, yes she does!

- Mariann -

xoxo

The Pollen Series...

... truly organic ...

My mind is so mechanical.

Observing the symmetry of life.

Calculating angles,

shapes,

and dimensions.

But I can't help but be influenced by the organic,

haphazard

side of nature.

As such, my pollen series earrings emerged.

Oxidised sterling silver, dyed coral, quartz

and some with glass beads.

Listing in the shops midweek.

- Mariann -

xoxo

Our Wedding

 Damascus Steel, 9ct White Gold, Diamonds

from Studio Tola

 The Kiss

 My niece and our family friend's little boy

Signature canvas

courtesy of Lee from Lily-Lee Gallery and Studio

I am still speechless.

The perfect wedding can do that, you know!

A big thank you to Jonathan from

Jonathan Sander Photography

for our amazing photos
and

Victoria Golf Club

Home of the 2010 JBWere Masters

-Mariann-

xoxo

Road Trip to Kyabram

I love a good old fashioned road trip.

I stare out the window,

and have only a few words to say,

as I'm lulled by the scenery that speeds past the car window.

Country Victoria is so green at the moment, rather than the parched, sandy fields that I recall from childhood weekend holidays.

It is a welcome change and so refreshing to be heading into summer with the blessing of an abundance of spring showers.

The sheep and cows were so fat and healthy.

All the dams were full to the brim.

A delightful day.

We stopped in at Shepparton on the way home from Kyabram.

 

 

'Mooving Art' Sculptures in Shepparton.

A delightful day,

indeed.

-Mariann-

xoxo

My Hungarian Heritage

Sometimes,

You find yourself.

Before you even knew you were lost.

And a new chapter opens.

But a page is taken from the chapters that came before.

This is where I find myself.

Looking to my past,

and finding a new path to a brighter future.

I was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary.

Surrounded by chickens and grape vines and nettle leaves.

Tapestry hung from the walls, with decorated plates adorned with colourful folk art flowers.

I step back to these childhood memories,

and leap forward to the designs swirling in my head,

flowing out onto paper,

being filed and soldered into the jewellery I am creating now.

Folk art tapestry of old,

created with sterling silver and stones.

From a part of me

I hope you can cherish, too.

- Mariann -

xoxo

Marianna's Day

Today is the Hungarian Name Day for Marianna.

All the days in the calendar have a name for them in Hungary.

Name Days are often celebrated as one would celebrate a birthday, with flowers and cake and big hugs from grandma.

And today, it's my Name Day.

(Simon and I - dancing a traditional Hungarian dance on our wedding day. Oh, how I love my man!)

-Mariann-

xoxo

I've Been Stranded on an Island...

... in the Andaman Sea ...

  

Away on the best kind of holiday...

...OUR HONEYMOON

 
Fresh from the ocean...

swimming with tropical fish ...

... the salt still on my skin
 

... kissed by the coral ...

Relaxing in tranquility by day...
 

... resting in bliss by night.

THAILAND

you've left us mesmerised.

And I am completely rejuvenated.

I haven't moved from the workshop in days.

(and that's just the way I like it)

- Mariann -

oxox 

The Little Desk That Could

...and tales from the typewriter...

I'd like you to meet

Dorothy

(the wind picked her up and she landed in my path)

and

 

Ophelia

..the retro orange typewriter.

Dorothy has such heart.

Every scratch,

dent,

and broken handle

has so much to tell

of her long

adventurous life.

And sweet little Ophelia.

Your presence in my home

and the clickity-clack

of your creamy bakelite keys

makes my heart skip a beat.

You will write many tales

and thank-yous

to the lovely people I meet

and greet

through the humble

little gems that I so dearly

love to create.

What new addition to your home has you

dancing in circles,

and whistling,

and singing songs?

xx  All my love  xx

Mariann

 

There she is...

... at her workbench,

making and creating

on a windswept Saturday night.

She

is

in

heaven.

xx M xx

My Offering

I've made a decision.

I'll open my heart

to you.

When I sit at my workbench, you will be with me.

We will sit side by side,

and laugh,

and smile,

whilst wires, stones and sheets of silver dance along the benchtop

and come to rest on our fingers, in our ears and near our hearts on a necklace.

This will be my offering,

my contribution to my fellow jewellers,

and the lovely friends I meet along the way.

Seeing the process,

and the result.

It's as though the jewellery making process is a sacred, guarded secret. But I want to share it with the world, a world that is so full of mechanically made, identical, quick-fix jewellery and components.

They have no meaning,

no feeling,

no story

and no strength.

My aim is to let you see the handmade process,

and for you to share in the journey of each and every piece.

Care to join me?

Let's start with this pretty ring...

...it follows on from the picture in my previous post.

The components, the bezel and the ring shank were soldered.

The stone is now ready to be set in the ring

I created a bezel pusher from a nail head when I studied at NMIT.

It has been my trusty setting tool ever since.

The bezel pusher is pressed against the bezel at opposing sides of the stone until the bezel is nice and snug against the stone and the stone does not move within the setting.

A ring clamp holds the ring secure during setting.

A burnisher helps to smooth out the marks left from the bezel pusher.

I made this burnisher from the pointy end of a nail.

A quick sanding with fine emery paper helps to smooth out the bezel.

I use Jax Oxidizing solution to give the ring an antique finish.

Several coats are needed for a deep, black finish.

A quick rub with scotch brite helps to highlight the layers on the ring.

I like to use fine pumice powder and fine steel wool to soften the metal after the scotch brite.

The result is a lovely satin sheen on the silver.

Floret ring in sterling silver and chrysoprase.

This evening I will be adding more patina to this ring to really give it some serious definition.

It will then be photographed and listed for purchase tomorrow.

..all my love..

- Mariann -

 xoxo

Neglected

Working full time means my creative urges are sometimes left unfulfilled.

This pains me to my very core.

I cannot begin to tell you how much of my waking hours are spent thinking about jewellery,
thinking of jewellery designs,
thinking of jewellery tools that I must acquire to make the most fabulous pieces...

My head is left muddled..
..did I finish that ring tonight?
..I remember having made it. Or was it just another daydream that got mixed up with my
reality of all the jewellery thoughts swirling around in my cluttered mind?

My workshop sits quiet and still in the frozen air of the evenings of late.

I promise to thaw it out.

I'll show you...

...but you must be patient...

xoxo 

-Mariann-

Mookaite Earrings

... the first of many!

I am excited to say that a series is born,
each one handcrafted from sterling silver wire and sheet,
filed,
soldered
and oxidized
for a rustic finish
and adorned with mookaite beads.





Mookaite originates from right here in Australia,
From the very heart of this Great Southern Land.
It is mined near Mooka Creek at a place called Gascoyne Junction,
about 600 miles north of Perth in Western Australia.

Australian Outback Mining,
owned and operated by Glenn Archer,
mines mookaite and many other gemstones,
minerals and fossils in Western Australia.
I am delighted to have found his website.

I am astounded and uplifted by the many
dazzling,
unique
and colourful stones that are mined right here in Australia.
Mookaite is so very reminiscent of the rich, red earth that envelops this sunburnt country.
It sticks in your pores
and doesn't let go of your heart,
it simmers beneath the midday sun
and keeps you warm as the sun sets and the stars sparkle in the midnight sky.

I adore mookaite.
It is the landscape of the Australian outback,
captured in a stone.

Happy Day!
xoxo
- Mariann -