Petite wren

A little brooch I made to accompany my friend and jewellery-sensei Robin on her move up to E'burgh.  It's not a robin though, it's a wren!  Made from .9mm sterling silver sheet, it feels very heavy and luxurious, and I was delighted with how well the partial texturing came out. 

I love that pose!

Also, a wire doodle for an Industrial piercing bar.  It apparently wasn't comfortable enough, but it's an interesting technique which allows some very expressive forms.

Swirly!  Stubbly!

Silver ship brooch and peacock earrings

This was one off the fiddliest things I've ever made.  It took about 20 mins to cut and shape all of the pieces, then approximately THREE HOURS to solder it all together.  I foolishly only have one grade of solder, so the old joints would fall apart as soon as the new would flow.  I very, very nearly gave up but stepped back, took a deep breath and tried again, and I'm so glad I did.  60th birthday present for an awesome aunt.

It can work as a scarf pin or a brooch.

I love the little wiggle in the pin, that helps it lock in place securely.

As I had my brother's cameras in my hands, I thought I'd take the opportunity to snap a photo of my old, massive stylised peacock-feather earrings.  These are set with labradorites (my first cabochon settings, with thanks to Robin, my jewellery sensei!) and have my logo pierced into the back.  They're a bit unwieldy but really make an impression.  I've had someone demand I sell them to her there and then...

Pity I wasn't able to capture the colours in the labradorite, it's one of my favourite stones.  beautiful.

Costuming in progress - abyssal mermaid

I really need to learn to keep on top of this better - I've made absolutely bucketloads of things recently and not-so-recently, but I haven't been keeping track!

Anyway, this is part of a costume-in-progress for a White Mischief show this Saturday, theme of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'.  The basic concept is an abyssal mermaid.  Another incarnation was octopus-based, but I couldn't figure out how to get the movement right without helium, so that'll have to wait.

Oh yes, and I <3 thermoplastic, that stuff is the bomb.

From the back, thermoplastic spines roughly double-sided-taped on back, and draft ear-spines. Still needs white LED lure and scaly body-paint - might try and colour the spines to match, or keep them fish-bone white.

From the front, slightly better view of the high-waisted fishtail skirt.  I safeteypinned a tulle underskirt halfway down a petticoat to puff out the flare of the skirt.

The top bit could use some work: really wish I had an overbust corset without shoulders!  Could also latex-body-paint octopus/squid suckers to the inside of arms, not sure yet.  I think it definitely needs something glowing stuck down the sides to mimic lateral lines on an abyssal fish.  Lots of silveryness, and paler on the front.

Things left to do:

• Create another ear-spine
• Make lure with LED light on
• Add glow-in-the-dark dots down the sides of the dress, if I can find something suitable
• Make jellyfish parasol when parts arrive
• Bodypaint.  Lots and lots of bodypaint.