Very excited to be in London today to be attending the Presentation of Prizes ceremony at the Pewterers’ Hall. Could be a chance I might be successful in the competition but either way it’s going to be a great event and I feel really excited to be a part of it. A beautifully sunny day to top it off x
Rings – vintage postcards dated 1906 & 1908 with Recycled Silver and Oxidised Copper
I have successfully finished year two of my BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing which has been fantastic! Our final project was to create a piece or range developed from our own personal interests and inspirations with the aim to show at The Contemporary Craft Festival.
A fascination of language and handwriting gave me the desire to appreciate how we interact with each other, in particular the old fashioned ways before modern technology took over social communication. I love foraging and sourcing things old. Finding snippets of history which tell a previous story, have a person’s touch or that may have travelled far and wide. This led me to find beautiful postcards, letters and telegrams which remember a particular person or place and are written in a way which evokes gentleness from another time and tell beautiful stories of empathy and moments in history.
I chose to use the postcards to create pieces of jewellery which complement the beautiful fluid handwriting and personal messages written to loved ones. Continuing their journey, capturing memories from unknown characters and creating new connections and interaction with new wearers and viewers.
Personal Project – vintage postcards
I will be showing my most recent work at the craft festival this year in the ‘Aim Higher’ tent along with other students from Plymouth College of Art and other art universities. Really excited to be able to be a part of it and can’t wait to see the jewellers exhibiting. I am using beautiful postcards written in a way which evokes such wonderful gentleness from another time and tell beautiful stories of empathy and moments in history. Recreating them in contemporary designs with my touch to continue their travel, story and life.
Contemporary Craft Festival 2013
I’ve just sent off my entry form and image of my work for the Pewter Live competition 2013.
See the link for details http://www.pewterers.org.uk/pewter_live/pewterlive2013.html.
These pieces were for a Uni project ‘External Design’ where we had to work to a live brief. I enjoyed the project and pleased with my set of 3 pendants. Inspired by stories of found treasures, places and memories. Feminine pattern, geometric shape and natural materials were framed in pewter. Created for young people these pendants were designed to be a perfect addition to any vintage, boho fashion look but keep an essence of the handmade.
My first competition entered so I’m quite excited!!
Pewter Live competition
Just finished this piece for a friend and fellow artist. Using old silver treasures of her’s I recreated them into these three textured bangles with an amethyst and moonstone setting. A pleasure to work together and continue the story of jewellery she no longer wore.
http://www.sallyanncrowe.co.uk for Sallyann’s gorgeous prints.
Latest Commission
Loved making this display for the shop window on Saturday. Spring flowers and colours that would look stunning at a wedding or party!!
Window display at Emma Vowles Flowers
‘Message in a Brooch’
These are images of my work from my recent University brief ‘Public realm’. Inspired by the past time of a message in a bottle, the brilliant song by The Police and based on Vicki Mason’s ‘Broaching change project’. I created a brooch made from recycled silver (old silver jewellery) that through temporary ownership travels from wearer to wearer by admiration and consent to being a part of my project. Embossed with personal messages of friendship and ones missed from people far and wide. I ask for the brooch to be worn, a personal thought or message written on the paper, passed on to the next person then a photo and your thoughts sent to me to post here on my blog. Making it has been a pleasure, my inspirations and excitement, including Eleanor Simm’s jewellery, Jack Cunninghams ‘Maker-Wearer-Viewer’ concepts and the ‘Transplantation’ exhibition at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen have began a new fascination of Narrative Jewellery. Would love to hear your thoughts and maybe it will one day reach you.
Finished piece
Deconstructed
Jewellery by Chloe O’Brien
Photography by Corinna Focher
3rd year Photography student Corinna Fochler asked to use my jewellery in a fashion shoot. Her photo’s are beautiful and compliment my pieces wonderfully (all of which are from a ‘Sustainability’ project). Great images of my work to have.
Fashion Photography featuring my Jewellery
Transplantation A sense of place and culture: British and Australian narrative jewellery
So lucky to see this exhibition at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Interesting concept of transplantation with every artists work completely individual. Jack Cunningham’s ideas of Maker-Wearer-Viewer relate to my current work. It was just fantastic to see inspiring jewellers work.
Chloe O'Brien 