Resin Things. 'Resings'

I'm slowly getting to grips with the potential of resin.

S l o o o o w l y.

This initial part of the process is exciting and frustrating in equal measures, as everything seems to take forever as I bumble around trying to work out what to do and how to do it.

I'm also not enjoying the finishing process of filing and endless rounds of wet-sanding for the cast pieces, but the finished results do look lovely and shiny. 

Fimo shapes used as the basis for a silicone mould

I'm experimenting with inserting vintage diamante and lace into the hearts, mixing transparent and pearlescent resins together, half mixing colour into clear resin and trying to create amber effects.  The idea of making hearts was inspired by a necklace I made from papier mâché, which didn't work as well as I wanted.

Super-pretty shells using transparent and pearlescent resins with inset resin 'blobs'

Free-form 'Zebra' bangle from a cast of a very thin bone bangle.
I can't see what I'm doing until it's finished and turned out of the mould, so every one is different

No chance of making it as a hand model

I'm also experimenting with embedding things in different layers of resin to make pictures, which I'm loving as I'm a massive fan of collage.  The animal ones below feature foil sweet wrappers, handmade papers, beads, sequins and, bizarrely, Barry M glitter dust. I've also tried 'painting' with the resin to make the fronds of weed, the patterns on the moon and the fox's chest fur.

British Wildlife pendants - otter with fish, hare and fox

The rather rubbish resin pendant from the course transformed into a fab foxy one

MEANWHILE I'm still beavering away and with the arrival of my exciting Dremel power tool, I hope to be able to actually make some of these things into finished pieces of jewellery.

Oh well, back to the sanding . . .

Come on, you know there had to be one.
But hang on . . . .

. . .  spot the difference

New Otts On The Blog

I've been tampering with the Original Otter Formula lately and thought I'd share a sneaky peek with you lot!

I've managed to get hold of the amazing fluffy felt in taupe and made two little cuties, Caspar and Boo.  However, one day I came across them standing around on the dining table staring rather intently at me and just for a moment they reminded me of a gruesome twosome from a classic movie . . .

With apologies to Stanley Kubrick

But they have asked me to tell you that they are very sweet really, and they wouldn't be seen dead wearing blue dresses. Huh huh huh.

Caspar and Boo - "We think we are nice"

They made a special trip to Londinium on Friday to go on sale in the very wonderful Oak Studios in Perrins Court, Hampstead.  Here they are in their glamorous carriage.

The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed some otters with accessories.  I have bowed to commercialism and produced a limited range of loving little otts just perfect for Valentine's Day.  They are much smaller (around 12cm high) and are brandishing either a big felt heart or a bouquet of roses.  They are not currently listed on my website, but contact me if you would like one, or see my Facebook page for details.

Messin' with resin

I have long been thinking about making jewellery in a material that might be considered more acceptable than papier mache by the general public (what do they know anyway, huh?). I tried silver in 2010 but knew pretty quickly that it wasn't for me as it lacked the potential for colour and pattern that I love and would require too much specialist equipment.  Plus I work in a quiet studio where everyone else uses Macs to design and illustrate, and they probably wouldn't relish me getting busy with gas flames and hammers on a daily basis.

The next choices were acrylic or enamelling but I couldn't find any suitable courses in Brighton and was ready to give up until a chance conversation with Paula Eastman of Feather Fancies revealed that there was a resin one at the London Jewellery School that she was also thinking of attending.

We duly signed up for 19th-20th January and spent two busy days having our minds blown with all the creative possibilities that were suddenly revealed.  YOWZA!

The resin is easy to use and very versatile.  We got started on about four pieces simultaneously, as whilst you're waiting for one layer to dry on one piece, you can start on another. The possibilities for including stuff in the resin really inspire me, as I love using found objects, and the 3D effect you can get is very new and exciting to me.

My first forays into the medium - pendants

Our tutor didn't set limits, so we were encouraged to experiment and take risks, with the upshot being that Paula and I elected to try and make complicated bangles using animal forms.  I had previously drawn out some otter designs and found some gorgeous brown marbled paper that I wondered if I could use, so these were incorporated into a shape marked out in string which was glued to acetate and wrapped round a curved surface.

When finished, this would be unpeeled and then 'float' in a bangle mould formed by two cylinders of acetate and filled with resin, which I didn't have time to complete.

Note hideous leakage as resin breaches the glue barrier

This probably was too ambitious, especially in terms of the time available, but I do intend to finish it (just as soon as my materials arrive!) even though I fear it will look totes rubs.  Learning curve, learning curve!

I can't believe how incredibly tired I was after both days, what with all the concentration and creative stiumulation as my mind started pondering all the exciting possibilities.  I shall, of course, be sharing the results as soon as they are done!

Some of Paula's lovely things

2011

So 2011 is past and 2012 has begun.  No deep musings or resolutions to be found here, simply some pictures that remind me of an exciting year for Shark Alley.

This was the year I ventured into the world of the craft market.  Some were good and some were bad so I'm gradually learning which ones to go for and which to avoid!

Here I am at one of the good ones - the very lovely Craftaganza Christmas market, held at the Fabrica gallery here in Brighton.

The Landmark Crafts Fair was held in a spectacular venue in Teddington (close to where I grew up) and it was the first time I'd had a proper booth with back and sides.  I certainly didn't make full use of these, having never had them before, but will know better next time!

It was a great success for me because it felt like a vindication of everything I have worked so hard for since I started Shark Alley in January 2010 and this was reflected both in sales and the positive reaction to my pieces.  I met some lovely people too.  A lot of publications selected images of my work to publicise the event, including CRAFTS - the magazine of The Crafts Council, which was incredibly exciting and a huge boost to the morale.

2011 also marked the year I began to sew things as well as make jewellery - the first of hopefully many excursions into different products and projects that will come under Shark Alley's crafty little banner.

The hand-sewn otters have already been well documented in this blog, but I also really enjoyed making bird decorations as well as designing and putting together kits to enable others to feel the love!  Sewing is soooo (sew?!) therapeutic for me and although it can be time-consuming and not that cost-effective, I really enjoy it.

Elsa, a friend's eight year old goddaughter, used her kits to make the decoration and the key ring above.  Excellent work, eh?  I'll be outsourcing the otters to her soon.

A competition launched on Shark Alley's Facebook page yielded lots of lovely 'likers' and a chance to win four of the felty bird decs.  Here is one of the four on a lucky winner's Christmas tree!

Speaking of the otters, I haven't been able to confirm the full totals as yet, but I reckon I've raised around £50 to donate to the Otters and Butterflies sanctuary in Buckfastleigh, Devon, which I'm dead chuffed about (10% of all my otter sales go towards this).  I'm going to continue fundraising this year for another ottery organisation yet to be confirmed.

Plans for 2012 include moving Shark Alley jewellery into a different medium and I've got loads of ideas for lovely, unusual Christmas products using mostly recycled materials, something I remain passionate about.  I'd also like to try more 3D work using birds and animals as my inspiration as usual.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you who've managed to read this far!  Thanks for your interest and support and let's hope that 2012 is going to be a good one. xxxx

Festive greetings

Oooh dear - my blogging has slipped a little of late.  Last post 31st October???!!

Since the middle of November I've been super-busy making stock, doing markets and filling orders, but now I can relax (is 4.45pm too early for a glass of wine?) and wish you all a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

Shark Alley has had an amazing year and the response from all you lovely lot has been very much appreciated.  Onwards and upwards for 2012!

Otters - Where Are They Now?

And more importantly WHAT ARE THEY DOING?!  Are they being naughty?

I am extending an invitation to all Shark Alley Otter Owners to keep us posted on the activities of their little charges once they have left the cosy Shark Alley den.

Here's the sort of mayhem that has been occurring so far.

Hazel went to live with Poppy in London, where they discovered a shared love of dried apricots.

She's in safe hands as she enjoys a bit of dashboard surfing

Otis, Gourmand and Aristotle all went to live in France with Béatrice, which is terribly exciting as they went there in a plane.  They are now sleek, well-fed Parisian Otters who get to do a lot of travelling and fine dining.

Fish not good enough for you anymore, Otis?

Fuzzy #3 lives in Brighton and spent one summery evening enjoying a barbecue on the beach.
WOT NO FISH?

 He also got to witness a baptism!


28/12/11 Fuzzy#2 went to live in a wonderful old farmhouse in deepest Devon with Mary and Joe.  
Here he is engaging in some quality Christmas posing and sporting a particularly jolly festive bow.

May I be so bold as to suggest that you are looking a little portly, Fuzzy?  
Have you been at the mince pies?

1/1/12 This is Othello.  Here he is hanging out on New Year's Day with his friend Larry the lemur, who looks like a very splendid sort of chap.  Thanks to Steven Ball for this great shot.

25/5/12  I've just been sent some most excellent pictures of Charlton the otter, who's clearly been having a very exciting time.  Big thanks to Laura Miles who sent these in - they're absolutely brilliant.

Charlton saying farewell to his friends at Bellis Gallery, Brighton.

Charlton at Heathrow - I wonder where's he headed?  That's a big bag, Charlton.  I hope you have packed your travel pillow and a good magazine.

 

  Here he is enjoying a heritage tourism trail in the heart of Melbourne city centre.  It's winter in Australia so he's been looking for some woolly gloves to keep his paws warm.  Charlton likes staying close to the trendy spots on the waterfront and boasting about his travels to the local possums and echidnas.

More Shark Alley otter adventures are documented on Fuzzy Otter's very own blog here

 AWWW!

So if you want to send in some pictures of the things your otter is getting up to, the places where they like to spend time or even a cute little portrait of you and your otter just hanging out, we'd really, really love to see them!  (If you'd like to welcome one of the lovely little critters into your life, click here!)

Just post your pics on the Shark Alley Facebook page or go to the contact page on the Shark Alley website and email them over and I'll pop the best ones up on here.

The 'C' Word

It has started, hasn't it?  Creeping into shop displays and TV ads . . . ugh.  It takes all the fun and excitement away when it starts so soon.

Anyway, I have to bow to commercial pressure and get with it, especially as I have Christmas markets looming on the horizon.  To this end, I've been making these little tree decs.

 If you want to get your little mitts on one or more to dangle festively from your tree (or even door handles or bed frames to get year-round maximum use!), contact me via my website OR come and find me at one of the following events:

Stand 13 at SPARKLE Craft and Gourmet Food Fair, Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Road, London TW11 9NN
6.00-8.30pm Friday 18th November and 10am-5pm Saturday 19th/Sunday 20th November
AND
The very fabulous CRAFTAGANZA, Fabrica Gallery, 40 Duke Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1AG
11am-5pm  Saturday10th December
AND
MAKERS BOUTIQUE, Unitarian Church, New Road Brighton, BN1 1UF
SPECIAL LATE NIGHT SHOPPING EVENT 5.30-10.30 pm Thursday 8th December
11am-5pm Saturday 17th December.

More details nearer the time.



I've also been working on festive textile designs, which has been a bit like pulling teeth as I'm so out of practice, but they worked out OK in the end. My agent likes them too!  There's been interest from clients so fingers crossed for an actual sale soon.