Rhino designs...'I'm Cross'

This was my first design... simple really but i forgot about the placement of the pin if it went from the tabs as they are the brooch would flop forward when worn...

this is my improved design with the one tab changed to create the catch for the pin...these claws were a bit too heavy and broke during setting...

This is the final design that works well, I also soldered on a piece of tube onto the tab for the pin...

I've been working...this comes as a surprise to me.. but i reached the stage where i was not making anything, but during a conversation with Chris i realized that, i was quite angry with myself for not making any jewellery. So the starting idea was 'I'm cross...' which lead to cross brooches

these are the original designs in my sketch book

So I've started making the first one...ironing out all those kinks. the idea for setting enamels with a coin-type setting works but the placement of the pin in these designs are not right. i have ended up, placing 2 sets of claws on the sides with the top claw holding the pin fittings...i have some rhino drawings which I'll up load later...

Marta Rudnicka

Found this link through the carrot box a while ago, and rediscovered it. I'm not sure of the artists intentions, but i can really engage with it it reminds me of my memory heart that contain images of my family...as yet unfinished... the simplicity of the ring and image together is particularly appealing an inspirational...

found these pendants from tulips to kiss on etsy, another interesting way of making animal jewellery... I enjoy her reference to the 'food chain'...K. Conroy writes "My new Ate Series deals with the connections in the animal/nature world through the food chain. Each animal was designed from looking at real photos and creating the most interesting silhouette. All hand cut sterling silver sheet, with a negative space cut out of what the animal would have eaten this morning for snack."

Farm animals...

Farm animals, sterling silver, pierced and engraved, 2007

These farm animals are reminders of my childhood, having the privilege of growing up on a small-holding and being surrounded by nature. They each have their own personalities and when I was at the 2008 Design Indaba it was amazing to see how many viewers of these brooches connected themselves with different type of animals...

Farm animals, mild steel sterling silver, laser cut, 2008

these are rusted, laser cut steel, animal brooches which were made as an edition to my farm animal series, just using the simple outline of images...I suppose they became the 'mass produced versions all though they were quite labour intensive after all....