tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30634694976954707822024-03-13T17:39:04.539+11:00Mel Millercontemporary jewellery and objectsMelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-67952016975761397032014-01-13T20:50:00.001+11:002014-01-13T20:52:16.592+11:00Enamelling: Enrolments are openMy <a href="http://www.nmit.edu.au/shortcourses/jewellery-enamelling/">enamelling short course</a> at NMIT starts up again soon, so if you're thinking you'd like to learn more about glass on metal, enrolments are now open! Classes are from 6-9pm on Monday nights, starting the first week of February. For more informaiton, visit the <a href="http://www.nmit.edu.au/shortcourses/jewellery-enamelling/">NMIT jewellery website</a> or call NMIT jewellery department on 9269 8980.<br />
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You can enrol online or by calling NMIT short courses on 9269 8615.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Enamelling
is a versatile, exciting way to add colour to metal. This program will enable
participants to develop skills relating to a range of jewellery enamelling
techniques.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNnqoPQytgQVGFZ690RkO34087R4NxA58IhKcD-fI9juTGvt20KEazcQL5EJhE_84H8P3RMIdfzU1sHk8tZKWk1WvnhNiTG1ui0GVuIOQ9oEb3h5hR6kCjWsQB2HbLGw4izh95CYS2X-z/s1600/enamelling+image+for+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNnqoPQytgQVGFZ690RkO34087R4NxA58IhKcD-fI9juTGvt20KEazcQL5EJhE_84H8P3RMIdfzU1sHk8tZKWk1WvnhNiTG1ui0GVuIOQ9oEb3h5hR6kCjWsQB2HbLGw4izh95CYS2X-z/s400/enamelling+image+for+web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This
class is open to all skill levels. No prior jewellery or enamelling experience
is needed; however basic jewellery skills such as sawing, filing and soldering
will be valuable. Students with more jewellery experience will have the
opportunity to incorporate more advanced metalworking skills into their enamelled
designs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The class
includes a series of self-paced projects. You may finish two, three or more projects
during the nine weeks, depending on your pace, your previous experience, and
the level of complexity of your work. Projects are designed to be worked
through in order, from introductory to more advanced projects. Project topics
include: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3063469497695470782" name="more"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Introduction
to Enamelling: Enamelled Pendant</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Learn to
apply enamel, wet packing/sifting, counter enamelling, firing times &
temperatures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Cloisonné
Pendant or Brooch </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create a
pendant or brooch using the cloisonné technique of separating different colours
of enamel with fine silver wires attached to a sheet of metal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Enamelling
over Textures: Basse Taille Earrings</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create an
enamelled pair of earrings with textured metal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Sgraffito
Pendant</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create a
pendant using the sgraffito
technique, by scratching into a layer of enamel to reveal another colour below.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Patterns
on Enamel: Stencilled / Stamped Patterns on Enamelled Buttons</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create
enamelled buttons using a range of stencilling and stamping techniques. Students
may use found stencils or stamps, or make their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Graphite
Drawing on an Enamelled Ring</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create a
ring with a design illustrated in graphite on enamel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Miniatures:
Watercolour Enamel Panel or Miniature Book</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create a
miniature image on metal using watercolour enamels. Enamelled pieces can be
turned into a panel that can be framed or a miniature book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Champlevé
Earrings or Pendant</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Create a
pair of earrings or a pendant using the champlevé technique, enamelling into
recesses created in sheet metal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Press
Formed Enamelled Pendant or Brooch</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Explore
enamelling on a three-dimensional object using press-forming. This technique
can be combined with previously learned techniques for more advanced students. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Plique-a-jour earrings<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Use
enamel to fill recesses cut into metal without a backing sheet, to create
earrings with translucent colours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Ways of
setting and framing enamelled pieces will also be discussed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">At the
end of this course participants will be able to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Safely use the jewellery
kiln to fire enamel onto metal surfaces.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Understand the correct
techniques in handling enamelling materials.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Apply the O.H.&S.
requirements for the use of the facilities and the enamelling materials.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Apply a range of enamelling
techniques to metal.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01847701166405646348noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-23518872758291026792013-12-06T10:30:00.000+11:002013-12-06T10:30:00.806+11:00New work at Fivefold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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New work at <a href="http://www.fivefoldstudio.com.au/" target="_blank">Fivefold </a>for the holiday season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbQwHasZ74_tC31xFN7PNadBD7c-cdZRCtI6WZvFuTYroeFXj2fgA4WROZ4S_GREc5YFsVaM75Z8j2WaKtr0F9zyPTESFEm2lnE0btr5Tb8gEHGPZKb3ylIvv9KDIh_n1DlKL4Q5zV00/s1600/pathways+yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbQwHasZ74_tC31xFN7PNadBD7c-cdZRCtI6WZvFuTYroeFXj2fgA4WROZ4S_GREc5YFsVaM75Z8j2WaKtr0F9zyPTESFEm2lnE0btr5Tb8gEHGPZKb3ylIvv9KDIh_n1DlKL4Q5zV00/s400/pathways+yellow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fivefold also has extended opening hours this December. They will be open Wednesday - Sunday, and open late on Fridays. Check out Fivefold's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fivefoldexhibition" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> for more details. </div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-40967112364498676342013-12-05T13:00:00.000+11:002013-12-05T13:00:03.465+11:00Good as Gold: RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Graduate Exhibition 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.fortyfivedownstairs.com/events/rmit-gold-silversmithing-graduates/" target="_blank">Good as Gold</a>, the 2013 RMIT Gold & Silversmithing graduate exhibition, is now open at FortyFive Downstairs. Congratulations to this year's graduates! </div>
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The exhibition runs until 14 December. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUygyk01T3lEZTCJPOlg4bA0kRZXDs_we8H4Ux5ZpcOpk5mu7NfvMKmocXnTOgJ42mWmmILvpJnBF8jrHpgmV9uvPrkN2vf23xBZnbCqAf-JGulNZoEHeQMzhQkxnU9IAxR9-0E4-9lik/s1600/good+as+gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUygyk01T3lEZTCJPOlg4bA0kRZXDs_we8H4Ux5ZpcOpk5mu7NfvMKmocXnTOgJ42mWmmILvpJnBF8jrHpgmV9uvPrkN2vf23xBZnbCqAf-JGulNZoEHeQMzhQkxnU9IAxR9-0E4-9lik/s400/good+as+gold.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-13679382269035490462013-12-05T08:30:00.002+11:002013-12-05T08:30:26.801+11:00RMIT MFA Graduate Exhibition 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Get in quick to see this year's <a href="http://rmit.net.au/browse/RMIT%20Events%2FNews%2FExhibition%2Fby%20title%2FM%2F;ID=ucxjw76doqpy;STATUS=A" target="_blank">RMIT MFA graduate exhibition</a>! The exhibition features the work of graduating MFA students from all visual arts disciplines, and is on at RMIT Building 49, Level 3, at 67 Franklin St, Melbourne, until tomorrow, 6 December.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG3Tvt6lLntfhTWCSkS0HnlMOvfngzcKyEjEU2-Pnb6OA_ous1yZVjSnAtUCM5Rd9E1-WD0jPF2Iph-mSzVr0w5WLLA5UJP7XX7Zp9yydpHHU58-1gzXL08s3aU2I8GoNjw7eIQRVmHo/s1600/rmit+mfa+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG3Tvt6lLntfhTWCSkS0HnlMOvfngzcKyEjEU2-Pnb6OA_ous1yZVjSnAtUCM5Rd9E1-WD0jPF2Iph-mSzVr0w5WLLA5UJP7XX7Zp9yydpHHU58-1gzXL08s3aU2I8GoNjw7eIQRVmHo/s400/rmit+mfa+2013.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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The exhibition invite in the image above shows the exhibition closing on 4 December, but my understanding is that the show will run until the 6th, as indicated on the website and a printed version of the invite I have in front of me. My apologies if this is incorrect!<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-42435189111071311442013-12-05T08:06:00.002+11:002013-12-05T08:08:23.750+11:00New work at Arbor this Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGLh7DryNedqQPIdcC7LYZ7mX2yEpQkkEaXK4sT85t8UVvQO5y4hIF5QV7rlSOTQmRXi_ED3JrYrdfj574ThNetHtwbyyPbvvKfzkTf3EpTJe0UKi4BQ-zXz5YsnTd2H_-vrPqJfN6uw/s1600/pathways+asymmetrical+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGLh7DryNedqQPIdcC7LYZ7mX2yEpQkkEaXK4sT85t8UVvQO5y4hIF5QV7rlSOTQmRXi_ED3JrYrdfj574ThNetHtwbyyPbvvKfzkTf3EpTJe0UKi4BQ-zXz5YsnTd2H_-vrPqJfN6uw/s400/pathways+asymmetrical+blue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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New earrings at <a href="http://arborbrunswick.com.au/" target="_blank">Arbor </a>for the festive season!<br />
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Arbor will be open every day this month, until Christmas Eve. Stop by and have a look!<br />
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If you can't make it to the gallery in Brunswick, check out my work in Arbor's <a href="http://arborbrunswick.com.au/shop/tag/melissa-miller/" target="_blank">online shop</a>. </div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-21296436412363202922013-11-28T00:01:00.002+11:002013-11-28T00:01:22.872+11:00New Collections at Studio 20/17<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A new enamelled neckpiece travelling to Studio 20/17 for <a href="http://studio2017.com.au/?page_id=5474" target="_blank">New Collections</a>, the annual Christmas showcase.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSmKlH7d8E2Eb018BMoIrl6bVhIHO6yHWpqZF-lsYLxcjq5XcscOj0mrhLwamZtXovyU2lHVmNu2HMzterGuOLNpDhnNbhGmABoMzkFopkGj3QguyZQPeqmZssQ8-swKCWcFd9dvBkgI/s1600/pathways+neckpiece+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSmKlH7d8E2Eb018BMoIrl6bVhIHO6yHWpqZF-lsYLxcjq5XcscOj0mrhLwamZtXovyU2lHVmNu2HMzterGuOLNpDhnNbhGmABoMzkFopkGj3QguyZQPeqmZssQ8-swKCWcFd9dvBkgI/s400/pathways+neckpiece+pink.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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New Collections runs from 3 December until Christmas Eve. </div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-14607255070995042522013-11-21T07:24:00.002+11:002013-11-21T07:24:23.945+11:00Current Tendencies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Current Tendencies, the annual Moreland Summer Show, opens tonight from 6-8pm. Come along to see what artists living or working in Moreland have been up to this year. I will have a new and unusual piece in the show, informed by my experience developing connections with a new place, as a migrant to Moreland (and Australia).<br />
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The exhibition runs until 14 December at the <a href="http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/counihan-gallery.html" target="_blank">Counihan Gallery</a> in Brunswick.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-68086582587974528642013-11-04T07:58:00.003+11:002013-11-04T07:58:39.285+11:0033 Carat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NmitJewellery2012" target="_blank">33 Carat</a>, the 2013 NMIT graduate jewellery exhibition, opens this Wednesday at <a href="http://redgallery.com.au/" target="_blank">Red Gallery</a> in Fitzroy North.<br />
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Come along to see what this year's talented graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Jewellery have been up to, from 6 - 23 November.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-76606935207264491582013-09-13T19:10:00.001+10:002013-09-13T19:10:18.573+10:00Enamelling in the Evenings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ever wanted to learn more about enamelling? <div>
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I'll be teaching an enamelling evening course starting next term at NMIT, and enrolments are now open. This is a new course, which will run for nine weeks on Monday evenings from 6-9pm. Classes start Monday 14 October and run until 9 December. Fees for the course are $445 (incl. $40 GST). To enroll, or for more information, contact 9269 8615 or 9269 8620 or email engineering@nmit.vic.edu.au. </div>
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The class is open to all skill levels. No prior jewellrey or enamelling experience is needed; however basic jewellery skills such as sawing, filing and soldering will be valuable. Students with more jewellery experience will have the opportunity to incorporate more advanced metalworking skills into their enamelled designs. </div>
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The class will be run as a series of self-paced projects. You may finish one, two, or three projects during the nine weeks, depending on your pace, your previous experience, and the level of complexity of your work. This class will be run again in term 1 of 2014, so if you want to continue working your way through additional projects, you can always come back! </div>
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Projects are designed to be worked through in order, from introductory to more advanced projects. Project topics include: <a name='more'></a></div>
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<i>Project 1- Introduction to Enamelling: Enamelled Pendant</i></div>
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Introduction to enamelling: learning to apply enamel, wet packing/sifting, counter enamelling, firing times & temperatures.</div>
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<i>Project 2- Cloissonne Brooch with Optional Frame</i></div>
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This project will require either saw piercing of a design in copper sheet or a copper disk or the use of fine silver wire-work that will be clear base coated and counter enamelled prior to final enamelling.</div>
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<i>Project 3- Enamelling over Textures: Basse Taille Earrings</i></div>
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Creation of an enamelled pair of earrings with textured metal using the roller printing technique. </div>
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<i>Project 4- Sgraffito Pendant</i></div>
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Creation of a pendant using the enamelling technique <i>sgraffito</i>. In this project the student will saw pierce a design, or use a copper disk to make the base for the enamelled surface. This technique involves firing base coats of enamel that will then have a design scratched into its surface. The piece is then re-fired for completion with a final coat of clear flux to create a flat surface. </div>
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<i>Project 5- Patterns on Enamel: Stencilled / Stamped Patterns on Enamelled Buttons</i></div>
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Creation of enamelled buttons using a range of stencilling techniques. In this project the student will be required to saw pierce button shapes out of metal or use a pre-cut copper disk. A wire loop may then be soldered onto the back of each item prior to the enamelling process. </div>
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<i>Project 6- Pencil Drawing on an Enamelled Ring</i></div>
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In this project the students will be required to create a ring blank that will then have a white base coat of enamel fired upon it. The surface of the enamel will then be ground to a flat consistency and a graphite pencil design applied to its exterior and re-fired. </div>
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<i>Project 7- Miniatures: Watercolour Enamel Panel or Miniature Book</i></div>
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This project will explore the technique of enamelling with watercolour enamels to create a miniature images on metal. This could result in a panel that can be framed to hang, or two panels to create a miniature book. </div>
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<i>Project 8- Champlevé Earrings or Pendant</i></div>
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In this project the student will saw pierce a design out of metal and solder this metal onto a solid backing sheet of metal. The work-piece will then be enamelled into the pierced recesses.</div>
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<i>Project 9- Press Formed Enamelled Pendant or Brooch</i></div>
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In this project the students will create an enamelled piece using the press forming technique. This technique enables the student to make a more 3 dimensional piece in metal prior to enamelling. </div>
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At the end of this course participants will be able to:</div>
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<li>Safely use the Jewellery kiln to fire enamel onto metal surfaces.</li>
<li>Understand the correct techniques in handling enamelling materials.</li>
<li>Apply the O.H.&S. requirements for the use of the facilities and the enamelling materials.</li>
<li>Apply a range of enamelling techniques to metal.</li>
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Hope to see you Monday nights in term 4! </div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-30980934571245332562013-09-06T08:15:00.000+10:002013-09-06T08:15:12.781+10:00Contemporary Wearables '13<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Contemporary Wearables '13, <a href="http://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/theatres-and-galleries/toowoomba-regional-art-gallery" target="_blank">Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery</a>'s 13th biennial award exhibition of contemporary jewellery, opens next Saturday 14 September. Artists from all over Australia and New Zealand will be represented, including one of my landscape brooches.<br />
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The exhibition runs from 14 September - 27 October, with an opening reception and awards ceremony Saturday 14 September from 2pm.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-74932828802855227532013-08-23T08:32:00.001+10:002013-08-23T08:32:37.142+10:00Palletable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Palletable by the Urban Bush Carpenters opens Thursday 29 August at <a href="http://www.thesubstation.org.au/" target="_blank">The Substation</a>, Newport, with an opening reception from 6-8pm.<br />
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"The Community Access Gallery will be transformed into an exhibition hub for sharing DIY ideas on how to re-use pallets. They're the grease of the global trade. Around the world there are billions. Find them outside a store near you, truck terminals, ports, construction sites, retail outlets, manufacturing plants, and abandoned plots or along train lines. In pallets, as in life: you never know what you're going to get. Some will come apart like lego, others will crack and split or refuse to budge. People have used them to make planter boxes, raised gardens, compost bins, benches, beds, tables, shelves, paths, eskys, ladders, sheds, houses, saunas, boats and arks."<br />
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Workshops open to the public will be held on Sunday 1 September and Sunday 6 October. For bookings contact info@thesubstation.org.au.<br />
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The exhibition runs until 6 October. </div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-46919938539923135802013-08-20T08:36:00.001+10:002013-08-20T18:34:24.809+10:00Building Jewellery Benches with the Urban Bush Carpenters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This weekend's Urban Bush Carpenters workshop <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/workshop-building-jewellery-benches.html" target="_blank">Building Jewellery Benches</a> was a lovely day of community woodworking. On a beautiful sunny Saturday, we got together to build two work benches that were taken home by two participants: one a traditional jeweller's bench with a sturdy top, a cutout and a sweeps tray, and the other a work bench with an unusually shaped bench top, perfect to fit into a corner, which will be used for jewellery tools including a bench-top rolling mill. </div>
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<i> Attaching legs to a corner-shaped bench top.</i></div>
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In the Urban Bush Carpenters tradition, the benches were made entirely from found, recycled wood, including a found keyboard tray from an old office desk used as a sweeps tray for the jeweller's bench. We even pulled apart a pallet to use pallet boards as cross beams to support the bench legs. </div>
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<i> Countersinking screws to attach supports to a bench top. The legs will be bolted to these supports. </i></div>
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Everyone got to have a go at using a hand saw to cut boards to length, an electric drill and screwdriver to pre-drill screw holes and screw pieces together, and a crowbar and mallet to pull apart pallet boards. </div>
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The group building the traditional jeweller's bench drilled holes to bolt the legs on, but left the legs separate to be attached later, after working out that with the legs attached, the bench wouldn't fit into the car! </div>
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<i>Drilling bolt holes for the legs of the jeweller's bench. In the background: cutting pallet boards for support pieces. </i></div>
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The bench tops and wood for the legs was all found as rubbish around town before the workshop. The two bench tops are quite sturdy, but the corner-shaped top introduced new challenges since the legs had to be attached in a different configuration. The team worked together to figure out the best way to attach the legs and the supports. In the end they decided to cut a slot into each of two pallet boards for the supports, and fit them together in an X. This cross piece was slotted in between the legs (below).<br />
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The jewellers building this bench were experts at making this solution work, having just done a similar assignment fitting together two 1mm thick copper sheets in an X for a project at NMIT!<br />
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<i>The finished work bench</i></div>
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If you missed the workshop but are interested in building a bench, help yourself to the basic instructions below. Of course you'll have to do a bit of problem solving and changing of measurements to suit your found materials, so I've given relative, rather than absolute, measurements. ("Cut the support piece to the length of the bench top..." instead of an exact measurement.) There's a suggestion here for attaching a keyboard tray to use as a sliding sweeps tray, too. </div>
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Happy building! If you build a bench of your own (or have already built one), send me a photo! I'd love to share your ideas here. </div>
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The next <a href="http://www.urbanbushcarpenters.org/" target="_blank">Urban Bush Carpenters</a> workshop at CERES is Saturday 21 September. But before that, we have an exhibition coming up at <a href="http://www.thesubstation.org.au/" target="_blank">The Substation</a> in Newport. Opening night will be Thursday 29 August, and there will be a public workshop on Sunday 1 September. More details about that coming soon! </div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-47912647709272073202013-08-15T08:24:00.001+10:002013-08-15T08:24:07.412+10:00RMIT Ceramics Auction 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/530986570314559/?fref=ts" target="_blank">RMIT Ceramics Auction</a> is tonight! Come along to pick up some lovely work by students, staff and alumni, with proceeds going toward the ceramics graduate exhibition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrPOjkDiE55bhbqgXRO5AtL9QSgUyL0YamplwMFAoIj8DqiEnYkb1QVSSAb-0R60tbHlRDkmRZgqG8Z7fnquQuzi27IGKa7Ji3tKkAsLKialQg5-GYes_pEWABeBIcxenz9EVYBDKWzQ/s1600/1011906_534084146653238_1372648550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrPOjkDiE55bhbqgXRO5AtL9QSgUyL0YamplwMFAoIj8DqiEnYkb1QVSSAb-0R60tbHlRDkmRZgqG8Z7fnquQuzi27IGKa7Ji3tKkAsLKialQg5-GYes_pEWABeBIcxenz9EVYBDKWzQ/s400/1011906_534084146653238_1372648550_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-58709782042088731472013-08-08T08:36:00.000+10:002013-08-08T08:36:33.986+10:00The Brunswick Patchwork Bed Bed Project Part III: The Bed Map<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I was building my <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/the-brunswick-patchwork-bed-bed-project.html" target="_blank">Brunswick Patchwork Bed Bed</a>, I became very interested in the origin of the wood I was collecting - or at least its previous life. During hard rubbish collection week (and afterward), I was constantly on the lookout for certain lengths, thicknesses and types of wood. Sometimes I would see a pile of wood that wasn't quite right, or a part of a discarded bed that looked too good for me to cut up and rearrange, if someone else might use it as is. Sometimes I saw pieces I wanted, but wasn't able to take home on my bicycle. (Although I sure tried! I managed to take home more than I would have expected on my bike, including the boards for the long sides of the bed frame.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvknfJo8Lve0KBrpNN5Q049Qkeo1Xrf3pZ1xdsEVkedZbelty77VGyMwlvZs_oFtwVZD0KdwU-PjZHN7kCCBE2gPG3DBwBIhQC5-57MqJFSvLBVbZE9-yqy_UuydPq0xRELkxrfGp06K4/s1600/bed+bed+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvknfJo8Lve0KBrpNN5Q049Qkeo1Xrf3pZ1xdsEVkedZbelty77VGyMwlvZs_oFtwVZD0KdwU-PjZHN7kCCBE2gPG3DBwBIhQC5-57MqJFSvLBVbZE9-yqy_UuydPq0xRELkxrfGp06K4/s400/bed+bed+front.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I ended up with a mental map of my neighbourhood, marked out by landmark piles of broken furniture - first made up of locations I intended to return to, and eventually including all the locations I had taken wood from. In recreating a bed out of discarded beds and other discarded wood, I was reassembling the rubbish of Brunswick into one cohesive piece of furniture, folding that mental map of the locations of other people's rubbish into a new object in a single location. (Incidentally, all of those broken and discarded objects would have ended up in one location if I hadn't picked them up, and I felt there was a kind of symmetry in bringing them together in my house instead of in landfill.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFQ0A3raOBVUYZT3GJ2ZGGVrr7KIMp2O2iWgcFO4VJHYMv6g_iY2pYgTlLViG2QAYTlaW2z_yWPtCk34B6Pz5fdzCM85bWEW5Z2s9v5uTpAIayMa4UZFFTr_c9sO6uNGZM12rG1BRAFw/s1600/bed+bed+headboard+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFQ0A3raOBVUYZT3GJ2ZGGVrr7KIMp2O2iWgcFO4VJHYMv6g_iY2pYgTlLViG2QAYTlaW2z_yWPtCk34B6Pz5fdzCM85bWEW5Z2s9v5uTpAIayMa4UZFFTr_c9sO6uNGZM12rG1BRAFw/s400/bed+bed+headboard+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It became very important to me along the way that the materials had been harvested directly from my neighbourhood, and I wanted to preserve that mental map in some way. I also wanted to learn a little about using <a href="http://google-sketchup.en.softonic.com/" target="_blank">Google Sketchup</a>, the free, open source 3D modelling program which Ana White uses to write up her <a href="http://ana-white.com/" target="_blank">free furniture plans</a>. As a result I penciled in a location on the end of each piece of wood, and kept a series of constantly changing sketches of where each piece would fit. When I finished each section, and after watching some online <a href="http://www.sketchup.com/learn/videos?playlist=58" target="_blank">tutorials</a>, I drew up a model in Google Sketchup.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JfQ02SsoJIgFloWWnOSyJgmVABO4gGNjTCbDN2ORfQCC8EbZFgTjeEYKu676AFTVdZqGmpa-wy0ax9RID7-b7BJk80yuvKJ5XOFvzLfmV0ViHU2BvNUWlL5jdQru3nrcmq5VuBDJbGA/s1600/bed+bed+underneath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JfQ02SsoJIgFloWWnOSyJgmVABO4gGNjTCbDN2ORfQCC8EbZFgTjeEYKu676AFTVdZqGmpa-wy0ax9RID7-b7BJk80yuvKJ5XOFvzLfmV0ViHU2BvNUWlL5jdQru3nrcmq5VuBDJbGA/s400/bed+bed+underneath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here is the bed map, a three-dimensional model of the bed, showing where each piece of reclaimed wood was found. The only pieces that are not labelled are those that I had to buy for the trim of the bed frame and the vertical boards of the headboard, the offcuts of which are used in the headboard's patchwork panel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfFGzP3dfm2YKw4LN5ljHUuAMqVZBge4g1jW8PkGonoDJSKYH8vgg7qOWGKw3bbsRqXtqYlfQdWcC2eZurNhN1LRU3U7103uJLe8j1kYb998_JARjTdoxTvJLtzsXMQnyXUVdSk_IIzI/s1600/bed+bed+perspective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfFGzP3dfm2YKw4LN5ljHUuAMqVZBge4g1jW8PkGonoDJSKYH8vgg7qOWGKw3bbsRqXtqYlfQdWcC2eZurNhN1LRU3U7103uJLe8j1kYb998_JARjTdoxTvJLtzsXMQnyXUVdSk_IIzI/s400/bed+bed+perspective.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-57735570709730428192013-08-02T09:00:00.000+10:002013-08-02T09:00:01.684+10:00From the collection of Mel: Bridget Bodenham<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A gorgeous earthy pot by Victorian ceramicist <a href="http://mrkitly.com.au/collections/bridget-bodenham-1" target="_blank">Bridget Bodenham</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhq5_t0neE4jjUwhHxn0IWCD5OBfwA3eSllxB7YDsb_hd-1TZ1PeUE8wQ-SQtskIpXRjA_YPo-kFkxTmb54To5an0cHM5jtLxVeSabl-86MXtYUMPOg9PDNeg667KXwimDXHj8Ui2HI8/s1600/DSCN6748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhq5_t0neE4jjUwhHxn0IWCD5OBfwA3eSllxB7YDsb_hd-1TZ1PeUE8wQ-SQtskIpXRjA_YPo-kFkxTmb54To5an0cHM5jtLxVeSabl-86MXtYUMPOg9PDNeg667KXwimDXHj8Ui2HI8/s400/DSCN6748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Home to the Drunkard's Beard, my souvenir from the <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/melbourne-international-flower-show.html" target="_blank">Melbourne Flower and Garden Show</a>. </div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-26051939340746463162013-07-28T19:04:00.001+10:002013-07-28T19:04:18.248+10:00RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Auction 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The 2013 RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Auction will be held Wednesday 7 August at Mercy Bar above Craft Victoria. Come along to bid on some fantastic work donated by RMIT students, lecturers and Melbourne jewellers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWQKxaARYn3B-wNHtj0uz79wosOBGijsDbWOw0pDABnDMvhjCPU4cxFQOspq54LRpkkVe5h2xYpVmxoKn7hNMfdTAaODhh_MfqXsGA-epVOJPwOA5WNZy3rgtR5FdyB-VHCUbekWS78U/s1600/Postcard-Front1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWQKxaARYn3B-wNHtj0uz79wosOBGijsDbWOw0pDABnDMvhjCPU4cxFQOspq54LRpkkVe5h2xYpVmxoKn7hNMfdTAaODhh_MfqXsGA-epVOJPwOA5WNZy3rgtR5FdyB-VHCUbekWS78U/s400/Postcard-Front1.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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The work can be previewed before the auction at the <a href="http://rmitgoldandsilversmithingauction2013.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">auction blog</a>.<br />
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I'll be donating these enameled Pathways earrings:<br />
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See you there!</div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-36923708132507077802013-07-24T08:43:00.000+10:002013-07-24T08:43:26.650+10:00The Brunswick Patchwork Bed Bed Project Part II: The Patchwork Headboard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's always nice to sleep in your own bed. But it's immensely satisfying to sleep in your <i>own </i>bed - that is, the bed you made yourself. <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/the-brunswick-patchwork-bed-bed-project.html" target="_blank">The Brunswick Patchwork Bed Bed</a> is finally complete! After some delays due to bad weather and being busy working on <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/my-work-goes-to-brisbanes-artisan.html" target="_blank">other </a><a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/my-work-goes-to-canberras-fivefold.html" target="_blank">things</a>, I've finally finished the patchwork headboard.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPqGXUj0QbnRdgZ-X61Y1WJtr6DOJmcbk5acOl2kwFoIdv6l6fjHZ5TjkuVUPUNi3Is25xFSb5hCDsoGcXSLPbjdFiSMrumzpgZ-s6EXYKaCtj4B8WuONpjtfFIDY7S91iIV470fJgJ0/s1600/DSCN6920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPqGXUj0QbnRdgZ-X61Y1WJtr6DOJmcbk5acOl2kwFoIdv6l6fjHZ5TjkuVUPUNi3Is25xFSb5hCDsoGcXSLPbjdFiSMrumzpgZ-s6EXYKaCtj4B8WuONpjtfFIDY7S91iIV470fJgJ0/s400/DSCN6920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I thought the headboard would be the easy part, since it didn't need to structurally support anything, but in fact it offered a whole new set of challenges. The plans I used were Ana White's <a href="http://ana-white.com/2010/03/plans-reclaimed-wood-look-headboard-king-size.html" target="_blank">Reclaimed Wood Look Headboard</a>, only mine is made of actual reclaimed wood, found in the hard rubbish collection along with the wood for the bed itself. The original plans called for eight planks running the entire length of the headboard, while I wanted to use smaller pieces to create a patchwork look. The first challenge was getting the patchwork panel to fit
together. Luckily I used
to be an avid Tetris player. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R_pEwq7eFUyDSrtrQmsLmOmizUyG2ZfaAvskCgrHQS6V3tI5Q_5hqIWl156v77TiB6Jtbd8YSNETB9Gvp0v03jKsAP8J75oxOtegO1prl0XSZP6kAz8UKfHl0GT9oczej9NY2EdSjVs/s1600/DSCN6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R_pEwq7eFUyDSrtrQmsLmOmizUyG2ZfaAvskCgrHQS6V3tI5Q_5hqIWl156v77TiB6Jtbd8YSNETB9Gvp0v03jKsAP8J75oxOtegO1prl0XSZP6kAz8UKfHl0GT9oczej9NY2EdSjVs/s400/DSCN6692.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i>Designing the layout, with wood from discarded beds and other headboards, pallets, and miscellaneous found wood</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Once I worked out the basic layout, each piece had to be marked with its place, since the space limitations of my flat meant it all had to be put away at the end of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Then it was time to hone my handsaw skills. </span></div>
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Some pieces were short lengths that I had found, but many had to be cut to
length, which meant straight cuts were imperative. A few pieces also had to be trimmed along the grain to line up with the rest of the row. There are special saws for cutting along the grain, but I used my crosscut saw that said it was for general use. It worked fine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bvxci5PnUDq6faxJADzOvHvnqExSwtw2U7zM9dYnI8TEX4w3KiLN5RdBAqBsL_8GWfCFLzaA8yPKZXeaCJns5ZdZp2qfc0L81O8GT_MH_6QGBzayDZSzx-c07m5zdbh5SJmsfT_pHJI/s1600/DSCN6706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bvxci5PnUDq6faxJADzOvHvnqExSwtw2U7zM9dYnI8TEX4w3KiLN5RdBAqBsL_8GWfCFLzaA8yPKZXeaCJns5ZdZp2qfc0L81O8GT_MH_6QGBzayDZSzx-c07m5zdbh5SJmsfT_pHJI/s400/DSCN6706.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Refining my handsaw skills</i></div>
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To make the headboard match the bed, I sanded off the previous finishes of the front of each piece, making sure to keep my labels on the backs. </div>
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Meanwhile, I started putting together the vertical sides of the headboard, made of two 1x3s and one 1x2 sandwiched together, glued and nailed with finishing nails. <br />
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<i>Offcuts from a found headboard have become my "workbench", protecting the wood from the rough concrete courtyard</i></div>
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What
they say about woodworking is true: measure twice, cut once. But really
- measure <i>twice</i>, not once, not three times. I worked out the width of
the headboard (patchwork panel plus two vertical end pieces) a second
time, and discovered I got it wrong the first time, by not taking into
account another board that was supposed to attach to each end. A week
passed before I worked on it again, so I measured a third time - and
again forgot about the extra boards! I was back to my first incorrect
measurement, and went on to the next step before realising it. A few modifications to the plans, and all was well again.<br />
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<i>Testing the length of the headboard and the fit of the patchwork panel</i></div>
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A few quirks of the patchwork panel required adjusting. The Victoria Grove board is a 2x2, while the rest of the panel is 1" thick or less. I got out my trusty jeweller's saw to cut a chunk out of it so it would sit flush with the vertical side piece. <br />
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Two pieces were just a fraction too small, but rather than search for new pieces to fit in those spaces, I wanted to use what I had. In the spirit of people who solve a Rubix cube by taking the stickers off and re-applying them, I found a thin piece of wood around the house and ground it down into a wedge shape, to fit perfectly in the gap. <br />
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<i> The keystone piece!</i></div>
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Now it was time to "sew" together the patchwork panel. First I glued all the pieces to an MDF board I found on David Street.<br />
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When the glue was dry, I
flipped the whole thing over and nailed each board into the MDF with
finishing nails, from the back. Some of the boards were up to 1" thick, and some were less than 1/2", so I used two different sizes of
nails, measuring and marking where each board would be on the other side
of the MDF before nailing, then selecting the right length of nail for each board. I used some scrap pieces to support each board as it was nailed in place, shifting them around underneath the front surface as I went along.<br />
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This held the panel together, but it was wobbly. I decided to add a vertical board down the middle for strength.<br />
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The only new pieces of wood in the headboard are the vertical side boards. Now they got fastened to the panel with glue and finishing nails. I did actually buy a 1x3 for the top piece (below), but because of my measuring fiasco it was too short. The same day I discovered this, I was walking down the street and saw two long 1x3s with a sign that said "Take me"! Problem solved. <br />
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The plans call for the very top piece to be a long 2x4. Long 2x4s proved to be the hardest wood to find, and in the end that was what I had to buy to finish the bed frame. I wanted to keep within the concept of building from found wood as much as possible, and I had plenty of short 2x4s that I had collected thinking I might put them together somehow. For the bed frame I decided this wouldn't be strong enough, but it would work for the headboard. I used dowels and glue to make one long board out of two identical shorter ones. This is glued and nailed on to the top with finishing nails. <br />
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There are also two pieces that run the length of the headboard and sit in front of the patchwork panel on the top and bottom, for strength (below). These had to be cut to length after it was put together, to fit in between the vertical sides. After all that practice with a handsaw, I took the plunge and made the cuts. They fit! The top and bottom boards both stayed wedged in place on the upright headboard before gluing. I fixed them in place with screws fastened from the back. Next I filled all the nail holes and knots with wood putty and sanded them back.<br />
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Only one step left: finishing. Like the bed frame, the headboard got two coats of Cabot's water-based stain and varnish in Sutherland Teak colour, applied with a varnish brush.<br />
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Now to drill new holes into the bed frame and attach threaded inserts. (Perhaps I could have used the existing holes I filled with dowels earlier!) I clamped the headboard to the bed and drilled through both, so they would be sure to line up. The bolts screw through these inserts so there's no need for them to go all the way through to the other side of the legs of the bed.<br />
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The moment of truth! Now to tick off the last item on my checklist: Lean back on headboard and read a book. <br />
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There's one other thing I've been doing along the way: keeping a record of the "bed map" - the locations where each piece of wood was found. So there will be one more installment in the Bed Bed story.<br />
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Not long ago I would never have thought I could do this at all, let alone with limited tools and very limited space. It all started with a workshop with the<a href="http://www.urbanbushcarpenters.org/" target="_blank"> Urban Bush Carpenters</a>, who I've since joined. If you're keen to try your hand at building with found wood, come along to a UBC workshop! The next workshop is <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/workshop-building-jewellery-benches.html" target="_blank">Building Jewellery Benches and Work Benches</a>, Saturday 17 August at CERES.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-36876815820976937072013-07-22T09:08:00.000+10:002013-07-22T09:08:00.158+10:00Invitation to The Design Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Design Journey is on at Arbor from 1-31 August, with an opening reception Thursday 1 August from 6pm. Part of the<a href="http://www.craft.org.au/see/craft-cubed/" target="_blank"> Craft Cubed</a> festival, The Design Journey explores eight Australian jewellers' design development and working processes, exhibiting the journey along with the work.<br />
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You can also follow the journey online at the <a href="http://arborbrunswick.com.au/" target="_blank">Arbor website</a>: throughout August, the work and images of each artist's design process will be featured in an online exhibition. Design stories will be featured on Arbor's <a href="http://arborbrunswick.com.au/blog" target="_blank">blog </a>weekly. You can see some of my journey toward understandings of place and home through the observation of ordinary places in Brunswick <a href="http://arborbrunswick.com.au/blog/post/the-design-journey-1/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-84068066111667215582013-07-17T12:00:00.000+10:002013-07-17T12:00:00.906+10:00Workshop: Building Jewellery Benches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Are you a jeweller without a jewellery bench? Or maybe you're just excited about building things by hand? Come along on Saturday 17 August for the workshop I'm running with the <a href="http://www.urbanbushcarpenters.org/index.html" target="_blank">Urban Bush Carpenters</a> on Building Jewellery Benches and Work Benches. The workshop will run from 10am at <a href="http://www.ceres.org.au/" target="_blank">CERES </a>and will finish by 2pm.<br />
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Participation is for a $5 donation, which goes toward the UBC's costs for tools, screws and other materials.<br />
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You'll learn the skills to build a jewellery bench or work bench by hand using simple hand tools and found timber. Together we'll <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/build-bench.html" target="_blank">build a bench</a> (or two) on the day, and should someone want to take home what we've built, we ask for an additional donation towards materials.<br />
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In this workshop we'll work together as a group to learn the basic building and woodworking skills you'll need to build your own bench. <i>If you're a jeweller and you want to get started on your own bench to take home, bring a piece of found wood such as a discarded tabletop, to use as your work bench top. </i>While we're working together to complete one bench, we can also cut your bench top to size and shape on the day.<br />
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Wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes and weather-appropriate clothing as the workshops are run outdoors. Don't forget a bottle of water! For more information on UBC workshops visit the <a href="http://www.urbanbushcarpenters.org/workshops.html" target="_blank">Urban Bush Carpenters</a> website.<br />
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For more information on this workshop <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/p/contact.html" target="_blank">email me</a>.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-46238858345440574542013-07-17T09:00:00.000+10:002013-07-17T09:00:05.527+10:00Seams, Seems Symposium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This Friday 19 July Monash University is hosting the <a href="http://www.artdes.monash.edu.au/design/news.php#!/artoncampus/events/seams-seems.html" target="_blank">Seams, Seems Symposium </a>in association with the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Speakers include Dr Robert Bell, Senior Curator of Decorative Arts & Design, National Gallery of Australia; Visiting Artist Professor Robyn Quigley, Head of Jewellery & Metalsmithing at RISD; Visiting Artist Associate Professor Tracy Steepy, Jewellery & Metalsmithing at RISD; Katie Scott, Director of Gallery Funaki, and more.<br />
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Symposium registration is $25 including lunch, morning and afternoon tea.<br />
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The exhibition Seams | Seems is on at MADA (Monash Art & Design) Gallery from 17 July - 20 August. The exhibition brings together twenty makers from MADA and RISD, curated by Marian Hosking and Robin Quigley. Opening night is Friday the 19th at 6pm, following the symposium. </div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-31644584481656102392013-07-16T08:07:00.003+10:002013-07-16T08:07:56.277+10:00Unnatural Acts at Artisan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In Brisbane over the weekend I stopped in at <a href="http://www.artisan.org.au/whats-on/current-exhibitions/" target="_blank">Artisan</a> to see some of the satellite exhibitions on now as part of the <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/participation-and-exchange-15th.html" target="_blank">JMGA conference</a>. In the window until 3 August is Unnatural Acts, an exhibition curated by Lauren Simeoni and Melinda Young examining the relationship between natural and unnatural. <div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38G0e_g9BfEzmTI_N_Jguov7meUSgQXafFFil9t26ZWFjtFKY_B___eh-dTDPQIHrmzoOr03VcGmQbFf0JGWbOWqK2zzhACsgCihTeiU9Uf3ZQ-ICY9hyphenhyphenhTziYlsRiCX3gAAKWnbgq2A/s1600/unnatural-acts-image-300x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38G0e_g9BfEzmTI_N_Jguov7meUSgQXafFFil9t26ZWFjtFKY_B___eh-dTDPQIHrmzoOr03VcGmQbFf0JGWbOWqK2zzhACsgCihTeiU9Uf3ZQ-ICY9hyphenhyphenhTziYlsRiCX3gAAKWnbgq2A/s1600/unnatural-acts-image-300x250.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>image from exhibition media</i></div>
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Ten jewellers (including the curators) were sent a bag of unnatural plastic items - a selection of fruits and flowers - and asked to create a small collection of jewellery from the contents of the bag. </div>
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The result is an exciting diversity of forms, ranging from the literal to the unrecognizable. If you can't get to Artisan to see Unnatural Acts, images from the exhibition's showing at Velvet Da Vinci in San Francisco can be seen on the <a href="http://www.velvetdavinci.com/allimages.php?action=show&mode=1&id=138&page=1" target="_blank">Velvet Da Vinci website</a>. </div>
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There are two other jewellery exhibitions on now at Artisan: Regine Schwarzer's <i>Mineral Manifestations</i> explores the crystalline structures of rocks and minerals through combinations of crushed quartz and enamel, and <i>Bench </i>showcases the work of four emerging Brisbane jewellers working in a collective studio. </div>
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<i>Road Trip</i>, on now at Gallery One of Artisan, is a thoughtful exhibition of colourful dresses made from textiles printed with the images of travel photographs, by Ann-Maree Reaney and Jill Kinear. The exhibition is divided into road trips in different parts of the world.The American road trip dresses utilise forms inspired by the 1950s, when the glamour of the road trip was at its height, and offer a Feminist take on the promise of freedom and adventure offered by the idea of the road trip in works such as Kerouac's <i>On the Road</i>. </div>
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All the Artisan exhibitions run until 3 August. </div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-27194302340243883032013-07-09T17:30:00.000+10:002013-07-09T17:30:12.244+10:00New Pathways <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A new pair of Pathways earrings on their way to <a href="http://studio2017.com.au/" target="_blank">Studio 20/17</a> today! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLpRy-W_y1kvvuVLTHRPLKKaJGlR-8m-yEm-n5Jxqp7TTk9eCyIiKKVMsU518vyA9f5wpw9aRA8h8xMcjWYumYbVQ3iBnfwPUW1qLlggEW-aGG9tFag54erwTzJMNd5xPPAT9YLQZgNA/s1600/pathways+earrings+asymmetrical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLpRy-W_y1kvvuVLTHRPLKKaJGlR-8m-yEm-n5Jxqp7TTk9eCyIiKKVMsU518vyA9f5wpw9aRA8h8xMcjWYumYbVQ3iBnfwPUW1qLlggEW-aGG9tFag54erwTzJMNd5xPPAT9YLQZgNA/s400/pathways+earrings+asymmetrical.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-16840845193702002302013-07-08T08:29:00.001+10:002013-07-08T08:29:24.355+10:00The Design Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My work is going to be featured in <i>The Design Journey</i>, an exhibition coming up in August at <a href="http://arborbrunswick.com.au/" target="_blank">Arbor</a>. The Design Journey is a satellite exhibition of Craft Victoria's annual <a href="http://www.craft.org.au/see/craft-cubed/" target="_blank">Craft Cubed</a> festival. In the spirit of this year's Craft Cubed theme, <i>A Better Blueprint</i>, the Arbor exhibition will look at the designs and idea development behind the works exhibited: each work will be displayed along with the sketches, images, and tools that went into its making.<br />
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Here's a little look at some of the ideas behind the work I dropped off at Arbor over the weekend...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4D1wVEl7a5fkUqEsz9XeDxR3plrpuSLuOSh_zIBtV7bLbCOo_euYJfOehMv8_hxpklzPrrION70z0ABNGxWO1IqOjZYpxOFBi9na0opfLSRJxkKcxHRnq_4t04TtAgtypQj2nwwg_fo/s1600/Mel+Miller-+suburbs+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4D1wVEl7a5fkUqEsz9XeDxR3plrpuSLuOSh_zIBtV7bLbCOo_euYJfOehMv8_hxpklzPrrION70z0ABNGxWO1IqOjZYpxOFBi9na0opfLSRJxkKcxHRnq_4t04TtAgtypQj2nwwg_fo/s400/Mel+Miller-+suburbs+sketch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Come to Arbor in August to see the full story!<br />
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More details will be available soon. </div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-68975180860772548742013-07-05T09:00:00.000+10:002013-07-05T09:00:05.638+10:00From the collection of Mel: Peaches and Keen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought I'd share some of the beautiful works by other artists in my very modest collection. First up: the whimsical Cactasaurus Rex by Melbourne jewellery and graphic design duo <a href="http://www.peachesandkeen.com/" target="_blank">Peaches and Keen</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyqfP0bMrW37a-tRBuQE_YdXnQ4mm4krDdABl2RZ8S2lU7pjAK_NDEwafYzrmgE_hXTwzrIJ1HlOsT7ESEiPm_u9aSMgPRYYDdp3xUQa1GqqAF8JkFom0K9yxRWHuWg51j6NkSeIJSzw/s1600/DSCN6730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyqfP0bMrW37a-tRBuQE_YdXnQ4mm4krDdABl2RZ8S2lU7pjAK_NDEwafYzrmgE_hXTwzrIJ1HlOsT7ESEiPm_u9aSMgPRYYDdp3xUQa1GqqAF8JkFom0K9yxRWHuWg51j6NkSeIJSzw/s400/DSCN6730.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And on the right, a lovely hanging plant by <a href="http://bellbirdpress.com/textiles-and-craft/" target="_blank">Zoe Yule</a>. </div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3063469497695470782.post-55324637015577336542013-07-02T08:44:00.000+10:002013-07-02T08:44:07.503+10:00Participation and Exchange: 15th Biennial JMGA Conference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/" target="_blank">Participation and Exchange</a>, the 15th biennial Jewellers' and Metalsmith's Guild of Australia (JMGA) Conference will be held in Brisbane from 12-14 July.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigALQOGl-phUamhkFEtHmbctxwpujdLIRauApgKcscK-qG7ZwFg1vVZFNa_ZxwmzNR8f0V1DH0YlbmRZwqaP-DVVdb2aP7YgcQiErSgr7MSo5DB7zaivzOd1tK_C2syxglKtgwwAj66vw/s767/1341372196.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigALQOGl-phUamhkFEtHmbctxwpujdLIRauApgKcscK-qG7ZwFg1vVZFNa_ZxwmzNR8f0V1DH0YlbmRZwqaP-DVVdb2aP7YgcQiErSgr7MSo5DB7zaivzOd1tK_C2syxglKtgwwAj66vw/s400/1341372196.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The conference includes three days of speakers, including<a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/laura-bradshaw-heap-uk-keynote-speaker.html" target="_blank"> Laura Bradshaw-Heap</a> (UK), <a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/peter-deckers-nz-keynote-speaker.html" target="_blank">Peter Deckers</a> (NZ), <a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/tricia-flanagan-hk-keynote-speaker.html" target="_blank">Tricia Flanagan</a> (HK) and<a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/who-else-will-be-speaking.html" target="_blank"> many others</a>. If you've been following the <a href="http://stoptafecuts.com.au/" target="_blank">Save TAFE</a> campaign, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.melissacameron.net/" target="_blank">Melissa Cameron</a>'s talk on <i>How to become an Artist Jeweller: A Community Case Study</i>, which will compare the Australian jewellery education system, including recent changes and <a href="http://www.melmillerjewellery.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/see-you-there-rally-to-save-tafe-this.html" target="_blank">loss of funding to TAFE</a>, to Melissa's recent experiences in Seattle, USA.<br />
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Delegates can register for one, two or all three days. If you don't plan on going to the conference itself, there are also <a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/master-classes.html" target="_blank">workshops</a>, two conference <a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/exhibitions.html" target="_blank">exhibitions</a>, and a number of <a href="http://www.participationandexchange.com/satellite-exhibitions.html" target="_blank">satellite exhibitions</a> around Brisbane.<br />
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510253881723355098noreply@blogger.com0