Tis the Season...

So it's very nearly that time of year, where Santa comes to all those good little girls and boys! He'll be a very busy person at this moment in time, packing his sleigh and giving the finishing touches to the last of the presents.
And I thought I would share my very own Christmas Present with you, not something Coastal related, you will be pleased to know!! But something a little more cute, even if I do say so myself!!

Over the past few evenings, I've been making Snowmen!! And not of the cold, slushy, melt the next day kind, oh no, the soft, knitted, cute kind ...

Take a look ...

Frosty and Snowy the Snowmen

I know the left hand one looks a bit like a ghost dressed up in a hat and scarf but I would like to reassure you there is a nose on it's way, I was just a bit too excited to share them with you!!

I would also like to point out the Christmas Tree is courtesy of my Mum and I'm hoping to create my own soon!!

So if I don't post before, have a wonderful Christmas, and I hope Santa brings you everything you would like!!! But remember to be good, or he won't come!!

Jeni

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Sticky Messes!!!

Volcanic Glaze Test

 It has been a few weeks since I have updated my Blog, but I have been busy constructing my samples, so here are several examples of the ceramic glazes that I have made up.

 

 

As my theme is Coast, I have been looking mostly at Limpets and Rock formations that occur on the Coast, the latter predominantly in Ceramics.



Snowflake Crackle Glaze

 
 



With the rock formations in mind, I wanted a glaze that reflected the rock surface and the colours that came with them.

 

Barium Glaze with Peeling effect

 

Volcanic Glaze Adaptation

I especially like the texture of the Volcanic Glaze and Barium Glaze with the Peeling effect, as they have really captured the surface texture of the rocks. I have made the Barium glaze with the exact ingredients that were specified, hence the blue colour, I would like to take this further by experimenting with possible rock colours.

Matte Gold Glaze

 I also tried to capture the colours of the rock formations, usually with no texture, as I wanted to see the colour fully and not have them distorted with any textures, once I had decided on the colours, then I would mix the colours and textures together to create the rock formation. From the colour tests, the Matte Gold and Crystalline Light Ochre have worked well. Both have added qualities, with the pools of gold and the crystals that have developed in the glaze.

Crystalline Light Ochre Glaze

Starting the development stage, the Volcanic Glaze Adaptation test has combined both the colours and texture together; however, I want to take this further by combining other colour glazes with the effect glazes to see if there are better possibilities.


Hopefully, will update you with other samples and test soon!!

It's time to Play!!!

New Year, New Brief!

And the title ... PLAY!

So first thought - toys, games, childhood!!

WRONG!

Experimentation is the name of the game, with surface texture, colours and combinations of the two. There were several themes to choose from to give a starting point in the project, from which I have picked Coast.

So the work has begun, the countdown has started and Time is Running Out (according to Muse).

Will try to be more forth coming with posts this time, promise

Jeni

The Bee up-date

During the Summer break, inspired by the Home Sweet Home project, I set about developing the beaded bees further, instead of having them solely as an embellishment or decoration, I wanted to transform them some thing with a little more function and/or purpose.

And so an idea was born...

What if I could make pieces of jewellery, using the beaded bees as the feature??

And the result??

Well see for yourself ...

This set is the basic idea that was developed using a stud earrings and pendent style, and touch wood, non of the beads have of yet gone flying!
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Bees Galore



Beaded Bees on brusho dyed fabric with stitched hexagons



Close up of beaded bee

So as promised here are some images of my current project that I've been working on.

I've been recently looking a bees and inside of the hive, especially the honeycombl, where the teserlated combs, hold larvi and honey.

These samples include experimenting with brusho on fabric and mixed in with glue to create the colours found inside of the honey comb.

I also looked at beads to make the bees, although, a simplified version of the bee, I think they work well as a fun little bee embellishment that can be added to work.

Close up of beaded bee

The initial bees used a combination of seed beads for the body, covered by petite beads for the strips, petite beads were again used for the wings, with a faected 4mm bead for the head.

I developed this further by increasing the size of the bees, by using size 6 pebble beads for the body, covering those with seed beads for the strips and also using the seed beads for wings. I used the faected bead for the head once again. This created the Queen Bee for the hive.

Beaded 'Queen Bee' close up

So until next time, happy bee hunting!!!

















Home Sweet Home

The current project that I'm working on is a live brief for MIMA. Out of the several theme possibilities I choose Home Sweet Home as my project title.
I am currently working towards developing my final outcomes for this project and have decided to look at Bee Hives as part of animal habitats, although, I could have chosen a better time of year to study bees...
Stay tuned for images that will follow ....

“"That buzzing-noise means something. If there's a buzzing noise, somebody's making a buzzing-noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you're a bee. ....
And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey.....
And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it." So he began to climb the tree.” ~ Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

Penguin being tickled

i don't even - mnwka: ATTENTION INTERNET: THIS IS A PENGUIN... I know it has nothing to do with art but it's cute!

Welcome!!

Hey!!
Welcome to my blog! My name is Jeni, and I'm currently studying on an FDA Applied Arts course, in the North East of England.
This blog will hopefully document my progress throughout the Applied Art course, with a little extra from previous courses.
Please feel free to comment on posts :)
'Til next time
Jeni