Can't you see I'm Broken...video

One of the first stop-frames I made and the beginning of the process which lead to a series titled Can't you see I'm Broken (and that I can Mend), part of An Anthology my Masters exhibition.

W/Hole hearts...names beginning with r...

the back of names beginning with r

Made 23/09/2011...names beginning with r...roger(my dad)... I had made a serious of bird rings and brooches that were dedicated to my father, so placing a bird on the back of the r brooch seemed fitting. the cut out clouds was imagery that was conjured-up from thinking about my dad still watching over me...sitting in the sky watching. I placed gold leaf as the background, because is connects to my mom's brooch (p) and it was sunshine and happy.

W/Hole hearts...names beginning with...q

a captor...

q...front

Made 13/09/2011...names beginning with q...even though I know people with q names, I could not think of anything appropriate to a name...I did how ever think of a prisoner behind bars. Either a captor of my heart or a capturer of my heart...more a concept about heart then a person related brooch

W/Hole hearts...beginning with p...

How Mary began

13/09/2011...names beginning with p...patricia(mom)...since this was my mother’s letter brooch I had the idea to make a mary- the most recognised mother symbol that I could think of. Doing this took some work, I had an existing little person that I adapted by turning her arm to her chest and them fusing bits of silver slowly on. I built these fused layers up until the figure had a skirt and veil then files and burred more detail in to form the miniature mary. For the back of the brooch, I used gold leaf and drilled into the back plate as a sort of halo effect. This brooch was a real challenge to make, especially the mary, it was also the first time I had used gold leaf. This is one of the most effective brooches as all its elements come together to form the mother imagery that I was trying to achieve.

W/Hole hearts...names beginning with o...

ribbon cut out

bars to wrap cotton around

the aids ribbon finished

front of o...

made 09-09-2011...it was just one of those real days thinking about all the people I know who have been affected by hiv and breast cancer, so this was an appropriate choice. I wrapped the bars at the back of the heart with red embroidery cotton to create this aids ribbon.

W/Hole hearts...names beginning with n...

n...front

couple brooch on the back

another view

08-09-2011...names beginning with an n... Nicky, Nick... people who I care for and have great friendships with, hence the couple as symbolic of relationships.

W/Hole hearts...names beginning with m...

m....front

love me, love me not

Needless to say this was a heart concept...I stamped the words 'love me, love me not' over and over and then created a little flower to go with it...maybe a little clichéd but I remember playing this game as a child...made 07-09-2011

W/Hole heart...names beginning with l...

l...front

l...back girl with a balloon

the girl is a brooch

Made 07-09-2011, I had to do a little girl for name beginning with l for Laila one of my dear nieces that I never rarely get a chance to see. She is growing-up without me really being a part of her life, which is rather sad..., this is the little girl that I miss happy being a child with a balloon.

W/Hole hearts...letter beginning with k...

the hole is shown

the whole is revealed

k heart front

Made 23-08-2011...This was more a concept related to how my heart can be affected as opposed to a specific person. The idea is that a choice can be made if the heart is hole or whole. The handle is turned in order to reveal the words. The thing about making these hearts is I have tried to make them in a spontaneous manner, where the imagery used on the back is decided (as much as possible) when I sit down at my bench to work. This is one of the main reason why come hearts are concept and some specifically deal with a person on the front. the technical challenge of making a moveable part was really stimulating, the part of making that I always enjoy

W/Hole hearts...names beginning with j...

making the gun

heart front

with gun brooch attached

gun removed

Names beginning with j... my brother Jeff, used to always get me to be the Indian when playing, Cowboys and Indians as a child. He always had the gun and I always got tied to a tree. I made this miniature gun as a memento to that time. The gun itself was first shaped in and cast with cuttle-fish and then I added the details, it clips onto the back of the heart forming the hidden brooch and memory.