MAKE IT FUNKY

Max, Relaxed This is my friend Jessie’s dog - knackered...

Tue, 07 May 2013 08:32:45 +0100

Max, Relaxed

This is my friend Jessie’s dog - knackered after a walk though the cemetery yesterday. With only 3 legs a bit more effort is required.

Times they are a-changing… I’ve handed my notice in...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:30:41 +0100

Times they are a-changing…

I’ve handed my notice in at Thor and Wistle. Alas I need to return to full time employment within the corporate world. I’ve learnt so much in the last year and a half and will still be making and selling jewellery in the weekends/ online. The issue is (as ever) cashflow, my husband has also been out of work - it’s been lovely spending so much time with him in our domestic bubble but times are tough….going gonna rough…or some some cheese.

I’m totally at peace with the decision, it feels about right. I think I’ve learnt enough about the manufacturing, making and selling process to continue small scale, while taking the pressure off of myself to make a living out of it.

I have plans to do more courses too; desperate to learn CAD design and more about wax carving. The great thing about learning the art jewellery making is that there is no used-by date. I’ve probably go another 30 years of creativity left.

The necklaces pictured above are re-tweeked designs. The Bangles slightly older. If you are interested in purchasing any of the pieces you see here, email me directly: contact.makeitfunky@yahoo.com

The Joys of Jigsaw! Does anyone else have moments when you...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:20:25 +0100

The Joys of Jigsaw!

Does anyone else have moments when you discover something new then wonder how the hell you were so stupid not to figure it out sooner?? That’s how I felt after my husband schooled me in cutting perspex with a Jigsaw (Electric hand-saw thingy).

In my head I thought it would crack the perspex or the blade would go so fast the perspex would melt. Yay, none of that happened! The wonders of fast, easy to cut, straight lines are now at my finger tips. The threat of loosing said finger tips just ad’s the mystic of it all….I guess.

The reason I’m in the midst of a make-fest and working on new designs is a potential market spot, this weekend, at Cabbages and Frock’s, which is a craft market in Marlybone, London. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast before committing.

I’m planning this latest selling adventure with ‘Empire of Indulgence’ buddy Laura Parra. for those not in the know - Empire of Indulgence is a little collective of Jewellery Makers who met through Holts Academy. Some of us are teachers there and some are ex-students.

I’ve also go another pop-up shop, for one week, in June or July….obviously I need to find out a little more information on that one:[)

Blog Images: S’all about a work in progress. Sorry, the lighting in my basement flat is terrible - it’s on the top 3rd of the to-buy list…that I don’t have any money for at this stage. Nay bother, one of these days we’ll get there.

Bye for now. x

Don’t take the message to heart This cheeky little piece...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:35:43 +0100

Don’t take the message to heart

This cheeky little piece of street art caught my eye the other evening.

Despite the fact I was running late for a gig and had everyone’s tickets on me, I couldn’t resist a moments pause to snap a pic.

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:30:52 +0100

More art from the streets of Shoreditch. I love my Iphone5 - it...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:30:29 +0100

More art from the streets of Shoreditch.

I love my Iphone5 - it gives me so much more photo snapping pleasure, and I always have it with me. These images were all taking on the wander between work/ train/ lunch.

The weather outside is frightful but Smith Grey (jewellery) is...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:32:15 +0100

The weather outside is frightful but Smith Grey (jewellery) is so delightful….fa la la la, la laaa….let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Yup (if you’re not London based) it’s been another baltic-blizzard-like day today. Every person I met at Thor and Wistle had a little moan. To be honest though, I’m not feeling the ‘down’ I had a great day mooching about online for potential new designer brands to stock.

One of my favourites is Smith Grey. The blurb on their website says…”Founded by jewellery designer Birgit Marie Schmidt and creative strategist Sofus Graae, their designs are an expression of their Central European and Scandinavian background in combination with their British education and lifestyle.” Whatever… I just love the ‘I cant seem to get rid of the horses’ collection; brilliant name aside - it’s great fun, iconic, bold and pictured above. Check out thier website - all the collections are drool-worthy.

Bright relief from the brrrrrrr of winter/spring… I reckon...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:30:23 +0000

Bright relief from the brrrrrrr of winter/spring…

I reckon I work in the coolest part of the coolest city. Most of the graffiti shots I take are all within walking distance of my job. Gotta love Shoreditch, gotta love London!

These were taken around Redchurch Street E1

More Art from the streets of Shoreditch…and Chilean artist...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:30:44 +0000

More Art from the streets of Shoreditch…and Chilean artist Otto Schade.

Took this picture about a month ago and didn’t quite get round to sharing (actually I found this post in my draft folder - talk about side tracked!).

Sadly, when I walked past the other day the owners of the building had painted over it with grey. Why? It was the only thing that kept the real estate business there looking remotely cool.

Nowt strange as folks.

“Excuse me - has anyone seen spring anywhere?” I...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:31:45 +0000

“Excuse me - has anyone seen spring anywhere?”

I think most of the UK is suffering from ’ over it now’ with regard to winter. The plus side of that is (as a sales person), it’s a great opener for any conversation - we all LOVE to share a little grumble, which in it’s own depressing way unites and fortifies us!

Thought I’d tell you about an exciting new (London based) jewellery designer in at Thor & Wistle this week - Gisele Ganne. Her work could be considered macabre with inspirations taken from victorian mourning jewellery and tribal cultures, but I adore her style.

Skulls are a bit dime a dozen these days with lots of artists (and manufactures) jumping on the band wagon and while Gisele’s collection is generous with them (don’t be put off if skulls aren your thing, her work is a myriad of varied curiosities) they are used with unique style, humour, delicacy, and above all - individuality: you’ll certainly stand out from the crown wearing Gisele Ganne, her collections are instantly recognisable and the finish ‘qaulity’. I particularly love her Vodoo range of needles and skulls and the mourning rings.

Not sure if it’s just Shoreditch but it feels like there is a building momentum for the darker side of frivolity. I mean, taxidermy and antlers on the wall, skull art, day of the dead celebrations in London! - who would’ve thought? I confess to the odd mooch on the net looking for interesting animal bone and skull replica’s…I think I’m normal. Why are such things so compelling now? Is this all part of my mid life crisis - some desperate need to be different or is a segment of our popular culture shifting away from plastic packaged modernity and connecting with art and design on a more visceral and primal level?

Growing up in New Zealand (being part Maori and of a generation where the mistakes of Imperial thinking were being redressed with a return to ancestral teachings) I’ve always felt connected to …how do you describe it without sounding flaky (?)…the energy of life and death?? Myth and Legend were used to describe my county’s creation, Life and the passage of death. The metaphors of Rangi and Papa (earth mother and father) and the tree of souls (spirits travel through it on the beginning of their journey into the afterlife) ignite the imagination and resonate so satisfyingly with me. It’s a far fetched hope but, maybe Jewellery designers like Gisele Ganne and Rachel Entwistle (more on her later) will get people talking and looking at other cultures beliefs…and thinking.

Well, all’s I’ll say is, what ever is happening I like it.

Ciao for now lovely people!

Images:

Top: Giselle Ganne, Porcupine Quill Necklace

Below: Giselle Ganne Dances with Wolves Ring + 2 pieces from Rachel Enwistle Momento Mori collection. all available instore at Thor & Wistle

Yikes! A Birthday Boy!?!

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:12:00 +0000

Tonight I’m off to a friends birthday dinner and being quite skint these days, was all a-fuss over what I could make for a gift.

The chap in question is a guitarist so (and,I know this is obvious and a bit cheesy) I started off with the idea of a guitar shaped necklace or something. Went online for guitar shaped templates and came across this cool image, ‘in the the midst of an act of rock n roll destruction’.

**Please note, the image below, in no way reflects this artists values with regard to the treatment of guitars. No guitars were harmed in the making of this blog.**

After printing the image @ 25% of it’s original size I found a scrap of…I think it was copper but it could have been gilding metal(??), cleaned it (with a quick sand) and then used some spray-mount to secure the image to the metal.

After that it’s just a case of cutting it out, filing the edges smooth then sandpapering the whole piece in decreasing grades until you get the desired finish. I could have put this in the polishing tumblr for a shiny finish but think the satin look more durable.

Oh, point to note - Once you’ve cut the piece out, it’s easier to get the paper off with pure alcohol. Nail polish remover would probably do it.

I ended up making a key ring type thing as I’m not sure Tom is a necklace kinda guy. Here’s hoping he’s one of those ‘it’s the thought that counts’ people:-)

New York and New Years Resolutions….Fail So my New years...

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:58:19 +0000

New York and New Years Resolutions….Fail

So my New years resolutions didn’t go so well - fell of all sorts of wagons in recent weeks. The main one being my plan to blog 2-3 times per week - oops. No use looking to star signs for guidence, I don’t believe in them….now that they consistently tell me that this year is going to be rubbish - I even tried my hand at the Chinese horoscope..alas, same story:-(

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at work; times they are a-changing. I’ve now been put in charge of Thor & Wistle’s (+ the 2 in-house designer brands) social media. I’m really enjoying it but it strikes me as bizarre, my neighbour (Victoria) only taught me about such things last year. Aint life strange.

As well as new social media responsibilities, Thor & Wistle are going to be collaborating with some exciting new brands which I will be overseeing…sales reports and such. 2013 may be forecast as a bit shite for this Piscean/Ox but work is keeping me engaged and enthused, can’t ask much more than that.

Images: all from last Novembers trip to New York…got there the day before the hurricane. Pic’s were taken on our first and last days which happened to be our best days of the trip.

Loved the fantasy landscape by Milo Tchais, but equally drawn by...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:30:56 +0000

Loved the fantasy landscape by Milo Tchais, but equally drawn by the random trainers over the street. I call that drunk-art…surely it’s a bunch of boy-men having a laugh after the pub closed? It certainly made be smile.

The other shot is of a random doorway on Redchurch street, London E1 - I’d love to know that goes on behind that door…could be creative, could be debauched, could be darn right depraved;-)

Actually made some jewellery this week A friend’s birthday...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:30:40 +0000

Actually made some jewellery this week

A friend’s birthday - 2 hours before leaving I realised that the pair of earrings I’d intended to give her must have sold. A bit of a fevered design process but I was happy with the results - and thankfully so was she:-)

I’ve also been preparing some new smaller shells for casting. Last time I just took the shell in ‘as-is’ and then spent an hour cleaning up each casting. Wearing my sensible shoes now and putting in the graft beforehand.

Unfortunately, as ever, there is a learning curve - broken shells and cursing. But I got two finished products out of it….now I just have to rustle up the cash to pay for moulds and silver….there may be a bit of a delay;-)

No picture of the new shells (cause frankly - thats a bit boring) so here’s a shell-bird instead! I worked around it for a couple of weeks but slowly it’s been pushed to the background o my work-bench.

My very own winter wonderland! Been revelling in the beauty of...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:32:58 +0000

My very own winter wonderland!

Been revelling in the beauty of our snowed-up garden - everything I looked at was touched with a little Wow.

Pottered about and made my first ever snowman (or should that be, androgynous snow alien)…cant believe it’s taken me so long to get around to it; prefer to throw snow at friends or snowboard usually.

This February was down in diary as a month of mourning due to the end of my 30’s and hello 40’s; but the closer I get to Feb 28th the more OK I am. I think. Maybe my sub-conscience is saving a histrionic meltdown for later?? Time will tell. Hey; I may be another year older but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m a grown up - 3 cheers for the Peter Pan generation!

The Shifting Sands of Shoreditch… Popped out to grab a...

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:30:35 +0000

The Shifting Sands of Shoreditch…

Popped out to grab a bite of lunch a couple of weeks ago and saw this street art in progress.

So quickly do the walls change their colour though - went past the same spot on Saturday to find another awesome piece over the top of it. Despite it’s beauty, it’s kinda sad to see the old one go.

I’m a big fan of the original Artist Otto Schade; met him briefly at a gallery event last year - my pop-up shop late night opening was the same as his Gallery showing next door - it all merged and got a bit messy;-)

If you’re interested in Street Art I came across a really cool website. It’s got all the big names in it and the images are great. http://streetartlondon.co.uk/

For the rockstar in all of us… These earrings are one of...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:44:43 +0000

For the rockstar in all of us…

These earrings are one of my favourite designs from Rachel Entwistle. Alas they’re still at the sample phase and not available for sale. Oh but I covet them!

If you like the style but with a little less chain they can be purchased here - for more selection (Silver, Rhodium Plated…) you’re best to go into the shop: Thor & Wistle (5a Club Row, London E1 6JX)

Continuing the Journey… The hardest thing about taking a...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:50:13 +0000

Continuing the Journey…

The hardest thing about taking a break from blogging is starting back up again.

I hit a bit of a wall at the end of last year when I started working for the Thor and Wistle jewellery boutique in Shoreditch. It’s my dream job and I love it but coupled with another part time retail job (and the run up to Christmas) it’s not leaving much room for my creative juices to flow.

So, time for a re-think. The way I see it is - these jobs are all part of the continuing journey to learn how to make and sell jewellery; currently we’re in the ‘retail’ phase. So the new plan is to share what I’m learning and not stress about creating more designs and expanding my business.

I feel I achieved a lot last year, in as much as I started from scratch, evolved my designs, got my head around social media marketing - did pop-up shops and markets, set up an online boutique, volunteered at IJL - met loads of industry insiders (which lead to my T&W Job) and learnt enough to know that making jewellery is the easy part…selling it on the other hand, now that is hard work.

So here is my new statement of intent. I aim to blog (at least) twice a week, I’ll be sharing my favourite jewellery designers with you and any tips I pick up along the way. Also, a big hello to my new followers - managed to pick up a few even in my absence, yay:-)

Images: As it’s a new year, I thought I’d share my New Years Eve with you. We went to The Camden Roundhouse in London to see ‘Fuerzabruta’ having seen it I still don’t really know how to describe what it (Acrobats, fab music, performance art, incredible props, the audience in the middle of the stage…) was but Truly Awesome covers it.

I wish all who read this a wonderful 2013!!

Bloggers are the way forward! I’m learning so much at Thor...

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:51 +0000

Bloggers are the way forward!

I’m learning so much at Thor & Wistle, and one of those things is - the power of the blogger. You peeps may already know this but it was news to me; high profile Blogger’s get invited along to cool events, and get free stuff if they talk about products they like.

So I guess the way forward from here is to mooch about online and find some blogs that might like a bit of Make It Funky in their lives:-) Recommendations welcome! The problem is trying to stay focused whilst looking for them…so easy to get distracted by the pretty things.

Image: My new 3 Levels of Decadence bangle. So easy to wear, prefer 2 together for a real statement. Photography - Matt Cheetham

New Mirrored Purple Perspex - Flame Cuff It’s been too...

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:25:59 +0000

*New* Mirrored Purple Perspex - Flame Cuff

It’s been too long since my last post - apologies - but I have not been idle.

After a not-quite-what-I-hoped-for experience of New York 2 weeks ago (Yup I was there for the Hurricane), I hit the ground running on my return and opened a pop-up shop for a week with the Empire of Indulgence collective.

This week I’m back at Thor & Wistle and will be moving over my ASOS web sales site to the Nu-Fashion website.

Image: My new crazy cuff range, each one is unique - if you live in London they can be costumed to your wrist. Photography: Matt Cheetham