Wine inspired brooches

October 9, 2022October 11, 2022 Julique

The original brooch in purple

I was asked to make a few more wine inspired brooches. The brooches are a stylised bottle and a wine glass.

In my original design, I created a base design of a bottle on its side with a wine glass charm and embellished the design with wire curls. The wire curls are for attaching pens, openers and glasses. It has been ‘road tested’ and held up successfully under stress.

I love the way the wine glass charm turned out. It was made using twisted aluminium wire that was shaped and hammered.

The Blue Set

Each item has been embellished with a charm and the surface design is dotty. The hooks are made from copper as it is a stronger gauge than the wire used on my first design.

Brooch with hook for glasses or attachment such as a waiter’s friend

Reverse side: brooch pin decorated and stamped

Uncategorized

Creating a Unique Name Badge from Polymer Clay

July 10, 2022 Julique

I wanted to design a name badge for work that is attractive as well as functional.

Form + Function

I love a rustic look so needed it to look attractive but a ‘little rough’ on purpose. The role is not in a corporate setting and I wanted to reflect this in its fun style.

I needed to be able to attach a pen, penknife, and a place to put my glasses. This is the end result.

Process

Designed the letters using an extruder (snakes) and shaped the letters into something with a little character (not perfectly shaped)
Added a textured backing for the letters – baked in the oven
Cleaned the result and added the next layer – baked in the oven
Hammered aluminim wire into a shape that the ‘hooks’ would suit their different purposes
In the final layer, I added a bought badge pin and textured the back – baked in the oven
Metallic wax and pan pastels were applied to highlight and contrast the lettering

The100dayproject2021

100 Day Project 2022

February 13, 2022March 31, 2022 Julique

Welcome to my #The100DayProject2022 journey.

I think that having a project like the #The100DayProject assists with making a practice become a habit.

My #The100DayProject2022 is less restrictive that last year’s as I (surprise surprise) was trying to fit too much into it!

My goal is to complete my half completed creative projects and utilise the materials that I have previously purchased.

Some of these materials were purchased for specific pieces in mind and others with the aim to learn to use or experiment with.

I plan to reflect on progress and results in a weekly blog.

So ultimately, this year will have a zero cost output but will have the bonus result of #decluttering, #refining and #learning in my daily practice.

My #socialmedia posts may show #WIP, #reflection or completed results. Some may simply be doodles or inspirational posts.

Unfinished projected – earrings and pendants

Homewares and Crafts

Functional Art

January 16, 2022January 16, 2022 Julique

Aim: To minimise waste materials and create a functional piece of art

My Tree of Light

It began as a way to use leftover grout from a session of grouting mosaic pieces and completing a refresh of the grout in the bathroom.

A Work in Progress

Step 1 – Put the left over grout in a mould (in this case a yoghurt container)

Step 2 – Add some interestingly shaped sticks and wait until set

Step 3 – Paint the sticks (the colours of a gum tree)

Step 4 – Add cord to the base and paint using a complementary colour scheme

Step 5 – Make the leaves and attach to the ‘tree’

Step 6 – Add metallic wax to blend the leaves and add some shimmer to the piece

Black and white images of the work so far

Reflect and Consider….

While I am not ‘in love’ with the piece yet, I am definitely warming to it. I am thinking that I need a few more elements to balance and enhance the design.

Elements yet to come

Step 5 – Add the fairy lights

Step 6 – Embellish the branches with crystals (to catch the light)

Step 7 – Complete the tree base and touch up colouring and add highlights.

Final result and images in colour in my next post.

Jewellery

Wine and Grape Inspired

January 8, 2022January 8, 2022 Julique

I love working with textures. I created a mould using the leaves from a grape vine. These made me think of creating a few fun earrings that are wine and grape inspired using this mould.

Love the dangles ❤️ 🍇🍃 and will look to find other ways to use this mould in designs.

Created using the mould and alcohol inks

Reverse side highlighted using metallic wax

Larger dangles – frosted grape bunched (stylised)

The100dayproject2021

Stripes and Unfinished Business

February 23, 2021May 11, 2021 Julique

100 days project 2021

Today’s gift tag is created using the stripes from a leftover veneer – stripes on an teardrop base. The writeable part of the tag has a dusty pink acrylic layer with delicate white and yellow flowers.

Unfinished business – earrings

The ‘unfinished business’ is a pair of earrings that have been waiting for inspiration since December last year. I had the base and top layer made from polymer clay. I have been experiementing with how to combine metals and wire wrap into my polymer clay work.

The Result

Earrings: A layer of polymer clay stripes. Hammered silver between the base layer and the stripes layer. Then the three sections are attached with wire and seed beeds to anchor the three layers together.

Stripes 3 layered drop earrings (hammering)
Stripes 3 layered drop earrings (back)

#the100dayproject2021

The100dayproject2021

Hearts

February 14, 2021March 26, 2021 Julique

Today is Valentine’s Day. It isn’t a day that I celebrate but in keeping with the theme of the day, today’s #100days post is about hearts.

This is a heart peg built on a wooden base. I have used mixed media to create it – souffle pens, alcohol inks, acrylic paints and heat set gem. I like the grunge effect from the alcohol inks.

I have also decided to make some gift card bases, so that I am able to create ‘one step ahead‘ (for at least a month) in this challenge.

The following images are of the items I have created using the heart as a theme.

Bag tag
Wall hanging
Key chain
Brooch
Brooch (showing the textured back and pin)
Key chain
Heart Gift Card
Polymer Heart Peg

#the100dayproject2021

#mixedmedia

#inspiration

#polymerclay

#tamborinemountain

#juliquebydesign

The100dayproject2021

Delicate Pinks

February 13, 2021March 26, 2021 Julique

Flowers and delicate pinks – inspiration results in a pale pink garden ornament (bird), bowl and gift tag.

Despite not really being a ‘pink’ girl, I do seem to make a pink of art and jewellery with it. It enhances the palettes I work with and some of my favourite pieces are designed with the shades and tints of pink.

Front view of the bowl
Textured petals
Textured dots
Back view of the bird with featured heart and textured surface
Featured heart
With a writeable surface on the gift tag
Gift tag

Today’s gift tag came from a piece of work that I have been thinking about for at least a year. It was the creation of another piece that inspired me to actually work on the blue bowl with the blends resulting from the pale pink bird garden ornament.

Gift tag – pink, white and brown palette

Mokume gane pinks
Mokume gane pendant ‘In the Pink’
Garden ornament – ‘Two birds in the hand’
Pendant created using polymer clay mokume gane and alcohol inks
Oval slab earrings – layered dots
Square drop earrings (slab)
Painted dots – dangles
River rock earrings
Embellish a gift
Pink and orange dangles polymer clay
Steampunk pink choker
Angles and textures – Mixed media pendant
Angles and textures pendant – mixed media

Samples of my work using the pink colour or pink elements.

The100dayproject2021

Greens

February 12, 2021March 26, 2021 Julique

I have always been drawn to specific colours. I went through a phase of only wearing purple clothes or yellow, green or black clothes . I still wear a lot of black clothes but love colourful scarves and wraps.

I still find myself predominately drawn to purples and greens.

Day 12 is about the greens. I am surrounded by green. I love walking in the rainforests. Green is such a calming colour.

This piece is a predominately green gift tag – polymer and alcohol inks.