Spare Bench

Over the years we have had quite a few work experience students in our studio for a week or more and it always has been fun. Within this time frame we have been able to show them some basic gold smithing skills and they each left the studio with their own piece of jewellery. As we have a spare bench we would like to offer it to anyone who would like to have a go at gold smithing. Maybe you would like to make a simple silver ring? Please contact us for more information.

Seldom Seen Rare Gems Exhibition

As part of the Melbourne Cup Weekend Seldom Seen Arts Trail, we had a lovely collection of rare gems and a small selection of new work.
The trail was a huge success, the weather couldn't have been better, lots of nice people around and many happy faces. We are all hoping it will happen again next year! We had a great experience at Buchan. Everything went really smooth. Thanks Ev! (We'll put some pics up soon)

Here's my good old tea-pot

A little while back some people from up the coast called in on their way to Kangaroo Island and they liked the look of the silver tea-pot that I'd made a few years ago and they wanted their neighbor to be able to see it. Here it is then. It started life at a master class held in Canberra by a Korean silversmith. It was a strange experience for me because she didn't speak English but she did speak German and she didn't like my tea-pot at all. We had some rather strong arguments about tea-pot design and function via translation thanks to my German friend Jens. She did have some natty ideas about making hollow forms though so I can forgive her laughing at my pot.

Anyway, the ceramic handle is off an old English electric kettle, the glass lid I carved from the base of one of those tall genie bottles from the 60's and the foot is a beautiful black pebble collected off one of East Gippsland's beaches. It's bit of a mish-mash of influences but with it's own unique character, just like Australia.

I've include a few more photos of my silversmithing.