tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54079382069261131432024-03-13T15:21:40.877-07:00scribe and sawtales of an island jewellerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-63488780780615737732015-03-20T13:21:00.000-07:002015-03-20T13:21:01.737-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">Northern lights and Australian delights</span></h3>
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Just when I think I cant handle another rainy day, grey sky, or windy night, island life throws me something wonderful and I remember why i'm here, and why I love my job.</div>
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After weeks of steady rain and dark skies, I had really started to feel disheartened by island life and self employment. Finding the motivation to get stuck into studio time, or to go out for fresh air in the harsh weather has been a hard challenge this winter, but some sunshine and a few surprises has lifted my spirits and reminded me how lucky I am to live and work on this wild Isle.</div>
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On Tuesday this week I stepped out of our front door to have a look at the starry sky, and to my amazement I saw the Northern lights dancing above my head. The night was spectacularly clear, with a strong green glow, and pulsing flashing beams of light darted across the sky. We climbed through the woods and onto the hill here at Calgary and watched the aurora, beaming with big smiles. I have never seen anything like this magical sight. We tried our cameras but couldn't capture the lights, so gave up quickly on photographs - in a way i'm glad, it meant we weren't distracted by screens and were able to watch and hold the stunning sight in our minds. For photos of the lights at Treshnish, just round the corner from Calgary, have a look at this great blog written by our neighbour: <a href="http://haunnblackhouse.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/dancing-skies.html" target="_blank"> http://haunnblackhouse.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/dancing-skies.html</a></div>
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The next morning I headed over to Oban, on a gloriously hazy sunny day, where I picked up a parcel waiting for me, that had come all the way from Byron bay, Australia. Through instagram, I met Margeaux, of <a href="http://www.willowynn.com/" target="_blank">Willowynn</a>. Margeaux lives in Australia and makes beautiful sewn animals, dolls and soft sculpture. We don't know each other, but we arranged to swap some of our work and some treasures from our sides of the world. Margeaux had seen some of my work and thought they would make wonderful little crowns for her dolls, so I sent her a collection of tiny copper crowns, some hand dyed fabric, ribbons, and some tiny cowry shells and coral from the local beaches. In return, Margeaux sent me a beautiful handmade bunny, a hand sewn and embroidered purse, a beautiful little star that now hangs above my workbench, a badge, a button, and an incredible banksia seed pod from her own garden!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fscsa_tq9Bg/VQxzPJEG2QI/AAAAAAAAAuk/afboUd2bQ0A/s1600/willowynn%2Bcrowns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fscsa_tq9Bg/VQxzPJEG2QI/AAAAAAAAAuk/afboUd2bQ0A/s1600/willowynn%2Bcrowns.JPG" height="395" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GuAoSRkAs74/VQx0ylwIA5I/AAAAAAAAAuw/F6qaZ-FfnC4/s1600/wilowynn%2Bbunny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GuAoSRkAs74/VQx0ylwIA5I/AAAAAAAAAuw/F6qaZ-FfnC4/s1600/wilowynn%2Bbunny.JPG" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>
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These treasures from across the world brightened up my day, and it was great to work on a different little project and connect with another maker all the way across the seas.<br />
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Have a look at Margeaux's beautiful work here:<br />
<a href="https://instagram.com/willowynn_textile_art">https://instagram.com/willowynn_textile_art</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/willowynn?fref=photo">https://www.facebook.com/willowynn?fref=photo</a><br />
<a href="http://www.willowynn.com/">http://www.willowynn.com/</a><br />
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......and look out for my little copper crowns!<br />
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So for now I am ready again to embrace island life, and throw myself back into work - making new work for my gallery, and working on little exciting projects like this one.<br />
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Thanks for reading!</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-24135788275719831782014-12-01T13:21:00.002-08:002014-12-01T13:21:55.685-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">A photo shoot...</span></span></h2>
It is unusual for me to work in my studio with anyone but myself for company, but a few weeks ago I welcomed the wonderful photographer <a href="http://www.picturemull.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sarah Darling</a> into my little space. Sarah came to photograph me for a new project she is working on, featuring makers around the island.<br />
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Sarah spent a long morning with me in my studio, chatting about my work as a jeweller, and hers as a photographer. I cut, filed, drilled and soldered, while she thoughtfully photographed my process, capturing shots of me around my studio.<br />
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I was pretty nervous to have somebody in my space - which is so personal and important to me - but Sarah made me feel completely at ease, and it was easy to get on with my work as normal, but with the bonus of somebody nice to talk to!<br />
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I chose to spend the morning working on one project - a silver Sol chain bracelet for my mums birthday, I usually work on multiples of pieces, or several different things at once, but it was nice to concentrate on one special piece for the morning. If you're reading mum, you can now see the process behind your present!<br />
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Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day. I wore my old favourite <a href="http://maikebrowningjewellery.bigcartel.com/product/kali-earrings" target="_blank">Kali Earrings</a>, <a href="http://maikebrowningjewellery.bigcartel.com/product/sol-bangles" target="_blank">Sol Bangle </a>and stacking Sol rings.<br />
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At the bench, in my homemade, cross back apron.</div>
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Saw piercing some tiny silver pieces</div>
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Using a sharp scribe to mark a pattern onto the metal - ready to drill and pierce out.</div>
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Using emery paper to clean up each tiny piece of silver.</div>
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For more of Sarahs photos have a look here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.picturemull.co.uk/">http://www.picturemull.co.uk/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/Picturemull">http://www.blipfoto.com/Picturemull</a></div>
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Thanks for reading! Keep an eye out on my online shop this week for new products and a december discount...</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-29152872987389294262014-11-16T10:24:00.000-08:002014-11-16T10:24:49.662-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">Its been a year!</span></span></h2>
Its hard to believe that a year ago today we moved all the way out here to Calgary. Travelling over land and sea, towing a boat, in convoy with a beautiful horse box full of our belongings being driven by our fantastic friend Matt. Arriving in the dark, to a glowing woodburner and an empty little dovecot ready to make our home. <br />
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We arrived to a stormy winter, and began our year getting used to the short days and incredibly dark starry nights. We chopped fire wood, re-arranged furniture, met future employers and began work on my studio and gallery, settling ourselves in to island life. We got used to the sounds of the storms shaking our tin roof, walked on the beaches and in the hills in roaring winds and lashing rain.<br />
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In spring we ate lunch outside for the first time, still in woolly hats and socks, with hot cups of tea, watching the trees coming into leaf and the forest fill with life. The gallery opened and welcomed its first visitors and customers, we saw Mull grow busier, I learned to share the beach with families and campers.<br />
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Summer saw the island buzzing with happy families, intrigued visitors flocked through the gallery, watched at my studio door as I worked at my bench, making jewellery for people to take away and treasure (I hope!). Ross worked long days and weekends, trying to help keep the vigorously growing gardens under control. We swam in the sea, canoed around the rocks, sat silently in the still water watching seals and sea birds. We waited patiently on the shore waiting to sea Dolphins swim out in the sunset. We learnt that the light lasts long into the night, as if the sun never goes down. <br />
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In the last few months we saw Autumn on Mull, we sailed round the north of the island on the beautiful Spindrift and ate freshly caught fish, walked around Caliach point and ate crabs legs and chocolate biscuits on a hill. The island quietened and the leaves began to turn, the bracken died down and turned beautifully orange, golden larch needles fell on the ground. The long nights quickly shortened, we started to light the fire again and begin now to prepare ourselves for our second winter. I have been busy in my studio making stock for Christmas and this weekend we were back outside splitting and stacking wood ready for the long cold nights and rainy days, and cycling through the forest making the most of the cold bright day.<br />
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A few pictures from the year...<br />
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Our first cycle on a very cold and windy day, looking out to Ben More</div>
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Looking out to the Treshnish isles from Caliach point.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Discovering Langamull beach.</span></div>
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Watching the skiff sail in on a hazy summer evening</div>
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The view of Loch Frisa on todays cycle.</div>
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It has been a brilliant year, it has felt challenging at times, we missed our friends, felt too far away from our families and too disconnected from the world, but we had some incredible experiences and shared these with visiting family and friends whenever we had the chance. We're looking forward to seeing what the coming year brings.<br />
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Thanks for following along with the blog for a year,</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-51003471845276209352014-11-03T13:30:00.000-08:002014-11-03T13:53:00.327-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">Garden City</span></div>
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The Cafe at Calgary Arts is now closed and the Island is beginning to feel cold and quiet, giving me plenty of time to get my head down in the studio. The Jewellery gallery will continue to stay open in the run up to Christmas, as I am still working away at the bench most days. If you are on Mull, you can drop into the gallery between 10am-5pm. There's even a little honesty box for purchasing delicious homemade cake and tea! There will also be a special Christmas opening at Calgary at the end of November - check back to the blog for more info on this in a few weeks - I am planning a very twinkly Christmas window display for the Jewellery gallery!<br />
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I have been working hard to send my jewellery out to various galleries for the winter. If you'd like to see any of my jewellery, but Mull is just too far away to visit, then you can see some of my collections at these venues:<br />
<a href="http://www.thebiscuitfactory.com/" target="_blank">The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cambridgecrafts.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cambridge Contemporary crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mostyn.org/" target="_blank">Mostyn, Llandudno</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ruralarts.org/" target="_blank">Rural Arts, Thirsk</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bluecoatdisplaycentre.com/exhibition/angela-harding-jewellers/" target="_blank">Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool</a><br />
<a href="http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/museums/millennium-gallery/exhibitions/current/handmade-for-christmas" target="_blank">Handmade for Christmas, Sheffield</a><br />
<a href="http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/page.aspx?page=508" target="_blank">Royal Exchange Craft Shop, Manchester</a><br />
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I am especially excited to be part of <a href="http://www.bluecoatdisplaycentre.com/exhibition/angela-harding-jewellers/" target="_blank">'Garden City' at the Bluecoat Display Centre</a>, Liverpool. This exhibition showcases beautiful prints by renowned print maker Angela Harding, alongside a selection of complimentary contemporary jewellery - including jewellery by two of my favourite makers; Hannah Louise Lamb, and old classmate Heather Woof. Its a pleasure to be showing my jewellery alongside such a talented group of makers.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgnXJq5HMt8/VFfvLHOYOmI/AAAAAAAAAm8/bGhQy6UbD6U/s1600/Garden%2BCity%2BEmail%2BInvite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hgnXJq5HMt8/VFfvLHOYOmI/AAAAAAAAAm8/bGhQy6UbD6U/s1600/Garden%2BCity%2BEmail%2BInvite.jpg" height="633" width="640" /></a><br />
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Thanks for reading</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-4149930136729179412014-10-23T11:49:00.000-07:002014-10-23T11:49:29.433-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have just returned to Mull after a very busy couple of weeks away. First of all I headed down to Manchester to show my work at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair for a second time. The location for the fair this year had changed, so the many artists found themselves in the stunning Old Granada Studios. The studios moved afew years ago but the huge rooms are filled with reminders of the exciting times filming there. It made a great backdrop for some beautiful pieces of contemporary craft.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the makers setting up in the great big Old Granada Studios.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I showed both of my collections, carefully displayed on the birch ply table and plinths I brought down from my gallery here at Calgary. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I met lots of lovely customers, spoke to gallery representatives and even spotted afew people wandering round the fair in pieces of my jewellery they had bought last year!</span></div>
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My stand all ready for the crowds!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was lucky enough to have a stand opposite the fantastic Emma Cocker, who makes wonderful textile animals. Foxes, mice and salty sea dogs kept me entertained all weekend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a look at her creations here: http://www.emmacocker.co.uk/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the stand next to me was the very talented Katherine Lees, who makes beautiful screen printed ceramics. I particularly like her little colourful screen printed bottles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find her work at: http://katherineleesceramics.co.uk/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My absolute favourite of the show was Ruth Pullans stunning leatherwork. Ruth hand stitches leather satchels, belts and purses (amongst other things) in a variety of beautiful colours and timeless styles. Ruth's passion for her work comes through in the excellent craftsmanship and carefully considered, simple, unique designs. I am saving up for a beautiful coral red box satchel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see Ruth's work go to: http://www.ruthpullan.co.uk/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following a busy weekend in Manchester I headed straight for Craft Central, Clerkenwell, London. Here I was taking part in a group exhibition of jewellery and fashion from the Highlands and Islands. The exhibition 'Covet' was put together by Emergents - who do a brilliant job of supporting designer makers. Alongside a beautifully curated show, they also organised several training events and workshops. This included an inspirational talk from Katie Treggiden of the hugely popular '<a href="http://confessionsofadesigngeek.com/" target="_blank">confessions of a design geek</a>' blog, as well as a tour of top London galleries and talks from gallery representatives. My highlight was the brilliant <a href="http://www.caa.org.uk/" target="_blank">Contemporary Applied Arts</a>, showing some of the UKs most talented designer makers in a beautiful old building in Southwark. I also made my first visit to <a href="http://www.lesleycrazegallery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Lesley Craze gallery</a>, taking in some inspirational work by leading contemporary jewellers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few very quick photos of the exhibition at Craft Central:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twinkling Jewels</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Covet showcased the work of 13 fashion and jewellery designers from the Highlands and Islands, including </span><a href="http://www.heather-mcdermott.squarespace.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Heather Mcdermott's</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> stunning 'Tidal surge' collection, which I also show here at Calgary. Other highlights for me were </span><a href="http://www.gillylangton.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Gilly Langton's</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> bold and beautiful jewellery made with hand dyed elastic and silver and </span><a href="http://www.merlinplanterose.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Merlin Planterose's</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> delicate jewellery collection featuring intriguing hinged lockets and pretty gemstones. I also loved </span><a href="http://kirsteenstewart.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Kirsteen Stewart's </a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">collection of fashion and knitwear, especially her pieces incorporating abstract prints of bright colourful lights. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My two and a half weeks away from Mull felt very productive and inspiring, if a little tiring! I have come back with a long to do list as I send out stock to galleries for Christmas shows and prepare the gallery here, but I'm very happy to be back to the peace and quiet of this beautiful place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maike x </span></div>
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It has been a busy summer here in Calgary. Rather than
spending weeks away touring festivals in the south as I have spent the last two
summers, this year I have been spending my days in the studio and the gallery,
meeting lots of new customers, making many many jewels and
developing new designs. This hasn't left much time for blogging, but I'm happy
to be back filling you in on whats going on.</div>
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As the island starts to quieten down a little, the autumn
colour creeps in and the sun starts to set earlier over Calgary bay, I am still
busy in the studio.</div>
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At the moment I am busy preparing for two big events coming up
in October. Firstly <a href="http://www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk/homepage-gnccf.aspx#.VA9uJvldU0M" target="_blank">Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair</a>, Manchester, October
9th-12th. I had a great time at the fair last year, meeting new customers,
making contacts with galleries and meeting other designer makers. This year, I
will be returning with an updated display and lots of my jewels. I have added
new pieces to both my Kalyaana and Sol collections, and I will be showing a few
special one-off pieces too. I'm really looking forward to being back in
bustling Manchester, showcasing new work and finding new contacts for the coming year.</div>
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Immediately after Great Northern I will be heading down to
London to take part in <a href="http://craftcentral.org.uk/index.php?mact=Calendar,cntnt01,default,0&cntnt01event_id=605&cntnt01display=event&cntnt01lang=&cntnt01detailpage=25&cntnt01return_id=97&cntnt01returnid=25" target="_blank">Covet</a>, a group show led by <a href="http://www.emergents.co.uk/" target="_blank">Emergents</a>. Covet showcases
thirteen highlands designer makers. I will be showing alongside my lovely
friend <a href="http://www.heather-mcdermott.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Heather Mcdermott</a>, whose work I show in the gallery here on Mull, <a href="http://www.gillylangton.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gilly Langton</a>
- a highlands Jeweller I very much admire, and many more talented makers. Covet
will take place at Craft Central in Clerkenwell from the 14th-18th of October.</div>
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If you find yourself in Manchester or London come and say hello and have a look at some of my new jewels!</div>
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Here are some photos of my stand at Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair last year, to give you a taster of what is to come...</div>
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It hasn't all been work this summer though. We have still
been trying to make the most of our island home, exploring new hills and
beaches and spending time with visiting friends. I even had my first sailing
trip out at sea, on the wonderful Spindrift...</div>
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Spindrift and its excellent sailing crew, getting ready for
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The crew on dry land, exploring Oronsay island just north of Tobermory.</div>
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Ross at Reudle beach, south of Calgary.</div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-81381207546955222072014-06-01T13:09:00.001-07:002014-06-01T13:09:52.073-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last year, still living in Edinburgh, I worked for <a href="http://www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk/">Artlink</a>. Through Artlink I met Alison and her partner Ilana. Last September I had the pleasure of designing and making their wedding rings, probably the wedding rings I am most proud of. 18ct gold with a roll printed pattern imprinting the two rings, simple but beautiful I hope. At the time Ilana was exhibiting at the <a href="http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum/past_exhibitions/ilana_halperin_the_library.aspx">National Museum of Scotland</a>. I visited the exhibition - The Library - several times and was truly inspired bu Ilana's work 'creatively exploring time through fossils, minerals and geological sculptures.</div>
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Not only does Ilana produce beautiful art works and fascinating research, she works with beautiful stones - including Mica. My namesake, sort of! </div>
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When I found out Ilana was exhibiting right here on Mull at <a href="http://tickets.comar.co.uk/Sales/Events/Exhibitions/Ilana-Halperin-Learning-To-Read-Rocks">An Tobar</a>, and part of the exhibition was a boat trip to Staffa and a spoken word performance by Ilana, I knew it was an experience not to be missed. I was not disappointed. Staffa is an incredible beauty to behold - made more wonderful and impressive accompanied by Ilanas reading and live music by acclaimed saxophonist Raymond MacDonald.</div>
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We traveled for 3 hours from Tobermory down to Staffa, a wonderful opportunity to see Mull from a different perspective. On Staffa we listened to Ilana and Raymond in front of the famous Fingals Cave and had a little time to explore the cave and some of the island. We traveled back as the sun went down, bathing the Treshnish isles in light.</div>
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Here are just some of our photos:</div>
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The rib - taking passengers from the boat over to Staffa. Including Ilana, staff from An Tobar and a film crew. </div>
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Incredible Hexagonal rock formations rising up from the sea.</div>
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Alpine plants on volcanic pillars.</div>
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Looking <i>up</i> at the lava columns to a craggy mass of volcanic rocks. </div>
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Ilana Halperin, in striking orange in front of the grey pillars of Staffa.</div>
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From the top of Staffa, looking out to the Treshnish Isles </div>
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The only photo I have of the roll printed 18ct gold wedding rings!</div>
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After a magical trip to Staffa I am inspired to begin thinking about a new collection of jewellery using local stones from around the west coast of Scotland - something I have wanted to do since moving to Mull. I am already planning a trip to the Tormore quarry on the Ross of Mull and thinking about the first possible steps for this exciting new project.</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-26583659108252352172014-04-22T12:50:00.000-07:002014-04-22T12:53:09.835-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #595959; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 29px; line-height: 33.733333587646484px; text-align: center;">New Jewels in the online shop and lots of visitors to Mull...</span><br />
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Recently we have had lots of exciting visitors, a great opportunity to go out on long walks and visit new places. We visited Langamull as the sun was going down and the wind was picking up and Treshnish, in stunning changeable weather. We had our first barbecue of the year at Calgary Bay on a beautiful spring evening with visiting friends from Edinburgh.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Most recently we visited friends staying down on Iona for Easter weekend.We had a long drive down from Calgary to the Ross of Mull, with breathtaking views and bumpy roads making the car squeak and clunk. We arrived on Iona in glorious sunshine, climbed its hills and visited St columbus Bay - where we searched for pretty pieces of Iona greenstone and ate chocolate eggs.</span></div>
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Looking out to the Treshnish isles and S<span style="text-align: left;">taffa from Iona</span></div>
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Easter Sunday morning on Iona</div>
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My brother and I at windy Langamull!</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Back in the studio I have been photographing my work and updating the webshop - have a look at </span><a href="http://maikebrowningjewellery.bigcartel.com/" style="text-align: left;">http://maikebrowningjewellery.bigcartel.com/</a><span style="text-align: left;"> for lots of new pieces of work.</span></div>
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Dancing Sol earrings.</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-88734004397468897452014-04-17T13:06:00.002-07:002014-04-17T13:06:36.661-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is the first of three posts featuring the wonderful jewellers showing their work in the gallery this spring.</div>
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Heather, an island jeweller based at Aird, Skye makes beautiful work inspired by her coastal surroundings. At Edinburgh College of Art Heather's bench was always the messiest, covered in colourful plastics, enamelled metals and wire structures reminiscent of lobster pots and creels. After a successful masters following her undergraduate degree heather has been busy ever since, with exhibitions, residencies and exciting projects. Heather is such an inspiration to me, its a pleasure to have her work in the gallery.</div>
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Heather at work in her Skye studio.</div>
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A selection of jewellery from Heather's 'Tidal Surge' collection:</div>
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Heathers work on display in the gallery.</div>
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Heather's jewellery is available from the gallery shop here in Calgary, or you can find her work at </div>
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<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>http://www.heathermcd-jewellery.com/</u></span></div>
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<u style="color: #0000ee;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-McDermott-Jewellery/258401274232925</u></div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-86035333908838754782014-04-17T13:06:00.001-07:002014-04-17T13:06:28.542-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #595959; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 29px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 33.733333587646484px; text-align: center;"> Featuring: Hannah Eccles</span></h3>
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Edinburgh based jeweller Hannah Eccles makes beautiful feminine jewellery inspired by her drawings of fabrics and patterns discovered in nature<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans; font-size: 13px;"> </span>. Hannah has impeccable style and her unique jewellery compliments this perfectly. Hannah's collection for the shop here includes beautiful sea greens and blues, alongside printed and patterned pieces of silver.</div>
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Hannah, on the bench next to me at college, was always very organised. Around her bench you could find textured pieces of copper and silver, pieces of organza and delicate fabrics. Hannah and I constantly talked through our design ideas and showed each other work in progress while we studied together at college - and whenever we are together we still end up giving each other business advice and chatting about jewellery techniques! </div>
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A selection of pieces from Hannah's collection:</div>
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Hannahs work is on sale at the gallery/shop here in Calgary, but if you are too far away you can find her work here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.hannaheccles.com/">http://www.hannaheccles.com/</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hannah-Eccles-Jewellery/151249268274341">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hannah-Eccles-Jewellery/151249268274341</a></div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-32175531179108342332014-04-17T13:06:00.000-07:002014-04-17T13:06:18.401-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #595959; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">Featuring: Kelly Munro</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Kelly Munro recently graduated from Edinburgh college of art and now creates beautiful jewellery in her central Edinburgh studio. Kelly was born in northern Scotland, and takes her inspiration from fishing equipment, creels and lobster pots. Kelly uses delicate saw piercing, and pyrography to work with painted wood and silver - creating pieces of jewellery that look striking and modern, and yet at the same time as if they could have washed up at your feet on a sandy Scottish beach! </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Kelly is the only jeweller in the gallery who I have never met, but when I saw her work I knew it would be perfectly suited to be shown in my coastal contemporary jewellery gallery!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">A selection of pieces from Kelly's collection:</span></div>
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Kellys jewellery is available from the gallery shop here in Calgary, or you can find her work at </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyMunroJewellery">https://www.facebook.com/KellyMunroJewellery</a></div>
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<a href="http://cargocollective.com/kellymunrojewellery/Kelly-Munro-Jewellery">http://cargocollective.com/kellymunrojewellery/Kelly-Munro-Jewellery</a></div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-90355013464153743472014-03-31T13:24:00.002-07:002014-03-31T13:24:58.673-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well, after nearly five months on the island, much hard work, lots of paint in my hair, sawdust in my shoes, cuts on my fingers and tears in my eyes, I am very happy to say that the Jewellery Gallery at Calgary arts is now open!<br />
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I am so proud to have my own gallery space, with its own individual style, two collections of my own work and a gorgeous selection of contemporary jewellery by some of my most talented friends.<br />
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Yesterday Calgary Arts had an official opening, with delicious food and lots of wine! Lots of locals came down to see the re-opening of the main gallery - showcasing new artworks by many local artists. It was great to see positive responses to the new addition to Calgary Arts and hear great feedback about the work on show. </div>
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In the excitement of the opening we forgot to take photos of people looking around, but I took quite a few in a rush before we opened. Here's how the gallery looked for the opening yesterday.<br />
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The final selection of lighting includes four big metal shades which were originally heat lamps for farm animals. They came in a big box that said 'pig lights' and were covered in mud and tangled up in baler twine.</div>
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Work by Heather McDermott on the left and my Sol collection on the right.</div>
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The entrance to the shop, the packing station full of bubble wrap, brown paper and jewellery boxes.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">A close up of this beautiful re-purposed old cabinet currently showcasing a lovely collection of jewellery by Hannah Eccles. This cabinet used to hold old weighing scales and was saved from a science department by my mums partner!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The Sol collection, displayed on birch ply plinths and paper-cuts.</span></div>
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Sunlight streaming in through the windows this morning to cast shadows and light on the jewels - the closest work in this photo is by Edinburgh based Jeweller Kelly Munro.</div>
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This week i'll be posting blog features on each of the Jewellers exhibiting in the gallery, Hannah Eccles, Heather Mcdermott and Kelly Munro. So you'll be able to see close ups of the work on show here and find out a little bit of background info on each of the Jewellers.<br />
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Maike x<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-54855135819538903622014-03-26T16:13:00.000-07:002014-03-26T16:13:35.326-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The blues that have been occupying my hands and my mind over
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<span style="text-align: left;">Necklace. Aquamarine, 9ct gold, oxidised silver. I love making these delicate wire necklaces and setting the sparkling stone in little golden claws. Its so satisfying to oxidise the silver, suddenly bringing out the bright aquamrine colour and the sparkle of gold.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">New Midnight ring. Lapis lazuli, 18ct gold and oxidised silver. Little golden flecks of pyrite in the deep dark blue stone remind me of a starry midnight sky.</span></div>
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Calgary bay, wooden airplane flying. One of the stillest days and the bluest skies we have had so far in our time on mull. </div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-72195169838427526842014-03-12T02:09:00.001-07:002014-03-12T02:09:36.631-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">Ever since Ross found an old enamel lampshade in a barn i have dreamt of having a series of them lighting up the display tables in my shop. After much ebay hunting and sourcing brightly coloured cables, they are now lighting up the space.</span></div>
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stripping wire, cutting cable and wiring up lights</div>
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lights in position</div>
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Spurred on by getting the lighting in and the birch ply for my table tops arriving, we got on with making some trestles for my display tables. We decided to go for a 3 legged trestle - meaning they'll be stable on even a slightly wonky floor. We planed and cut sycamore legs and elm tops for the trestles, carefully cut angles on the table saw, and then on the bandsaw. Ross's skills learned on house builds with timber frames came in handy here, I helped out with measuring angles and drilling holes, but Ross spent hours chiseling the holes (mortis) for the joints on the legs (tenons) to slot into. I would be lost without his help!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gGBzYrQmqZY/UxjscL4oeQI/AAAAAAAAASg/uIPOi48WeUA/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gGBzYrQmqZY/UxjscL4oeQI/AAAAAAAAASg/uIPOi48WeUA/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ninja drilling</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wCeA4mO56M/UxjrvYCQZWI/AAAAAAAAASQ/2AkNMK8Ibk0/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wCeA4mO56M/UxjrvYCQZWI/AAAAAAAAASQ/2AkNMK8Ibk0/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmT-UAhu0i0/Uxjrvc7qhpI/AAAAAAAAASU/6tNEqHNeztk/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmT-UAhu0i0/Uxjrvc7qhpI/AAAAAAAAASU/6tNEqHNeztk/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Drilling holes in the top piece of wood ready to chisel out into rectangular tenon joints. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Ross hammering wedges into the tenon joints of the legs, for a snug fit in the mortis.</span></div>
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We are really happy with the final look of the trestles, it was lots of work and angle measuring for a very simple finished look, but we love them.</div>
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Finished trestles in the wood workshop</div>
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Our next job is to cut the birch ply table tops. Really looking forward to the opening of my gallery/shop at the end of march, along with the cafe and gallery at Calgary Arts. Hopefully visitors will slowly start to arrive and my little business will grow.<br />
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-62613345678696077992014-03-04T11:48:00.000-08:002014-03-04T11:48:01.755-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A weekend of wedding rings. </h4>
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This weekend some friends from Edinburgh took the long drive and ferry journey over to Mull for an important weekend. The couple and their young son were here to spend the weekend in my workshop, learning to make their wedding rings. They brought with them a box of treasures, including two tiny silver bracelets, given to Meghan as a child. After a morning of designing and testing we came up with a simple ring design using the two bracelets, the silver band would wrap around the finger twice, overlapping and creating a symbol of unison. </div>
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Testing designs and demonstrating techniques.</div>
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A tiny bracelet ready to be transformed.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I was especially pleased at the idea of helping to turn Meghans childhood bracelets into the wedding rings. Together we gave them a new lease of life and now they are now ready to be treasured once more. </span></div>
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Hammering the bracelet out into a straight strip</div>
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Hammering the silver into shape around a ring mandrel</div>
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Although the two have very different professions - Tim a musician, artist and maker (who I used to work with running arts workshops) and Meghan a Medic and PHD student - their approach to the making process was remarkably similar, they were both very patient and picked up the skills with ease.</div>
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Filing the ring after forming and soldering </div>
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A happy family with their finished rings.</div>
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A little word from them: '<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">It was really very special and amazing to come and make our rings with you and the memories will I think be with us for always. Maike I was so impressed with your teaching style, so calm and unintimidating and patient that I really felt that it was all possible...'</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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It is always such a pleasure to be part of this special process, whether making wedding rings for a couple, or teaching them the skills to make the rings themselves. I hope that many more wedding rings will be made at my bench.<br />
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Maike x</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-12473797835855236942014-02-17T12:44:00.000-08:002014-02-17T12:44:39.646-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Maike Browning Jewellery heading to Manchester and Cambridge.</h4>
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I am very happy to have two new wonderful stockists, the fantastic Craft Shop at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, who will be showing my Sol collection and Cambridge Contemporary Crafts, right opposite the stunning Kings college. </div>
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Here are a few new pictures of pieces from the Sol collection, some of which will be heading down to Manchester this week. </div>
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Giant Sol Necklace</div>
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Slim Sol earrings</div>
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Slim Sol bangles </div>
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Big Sol earrings</div>
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This weekend we had a rare day of bright sunshine, embracing the blue skies we walked out around Calgary bay and up onto the hills. We spotted an otter on the shore, weaving its way between the rocks and little islands of seaweed, we followed its path for a long time, before heading away from the shore and up onto the raised beach - raised flat grassy land high above the sandy beach, left over from the before the ice age, when the sea level was 7 metres higher than it is now.</div>
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Treshnish point and the Treshnish Isles</div>
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A beautiful standing stone, I cant look at him without seeing a big smiling face and sleepy eyes.</div>
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From the other side of the standing stone, revealing its incredible balancing act.</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-25577659573356963822014-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:002014-02-08T13:30:37.751-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Throw, turn, slip, glaze, fire</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">If I hadn't become a jeweller I think I would have liked to become a potter. Luckily enough, at the moment I have the fantastic opportunity to take a day off from my studio each week to go up to the north of the island and do some pottery. I am still very much a bigginner at this craft - even thought I have been practicing on and off for a couple of years. The process - from block of clay to finished glazed pot - is a slow one, with many techniques to grasp along the way. It all takes a lot of concentration but when its going well it can be quite meditative.</span></h4>
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Turning the bottom of a pot before the first firing.</div>
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The balcony where I throw, turn, slip and glaze my pots, part of a stunning glass </div>
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barn at Scriob Ruadh farm, Tobermory, where Isle of Mull Cheese is made. </div>
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Painting clear glaze over the blue slip, after the first firing</div>
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Putting glazed pots into the kiln for the final firing.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Two finished pots, experimenting with different techniques.</span><br />
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Soon I hope to make up some simple circular tiles and small ceramic plinths to use for display in my studio gallery/shop. The space is coming along nicely, doors painted, floors nearly painted, next step - display table making.</div>
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I'll leave you with this stunning view of the Treshnish isles, seen last week on a blustery walk with Ross and my visiting Dad. x<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-5917293335869718832014-01-29T15:34:00.000-08:002014-01-29T15:34:27.854-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Draw, cut, ink, print</h4>
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Alongside studio time and continued work on the gallery/shop, I have been spending lots of time recently working on lino cutting. This is a completely new discipline for me, but the little starter kit present from my mum this christmas has been great to experiment with. I have been trying geometric patterns, a tiny logo stamp, postcard images, abstract patterns. The process of cutting, considering carefully what you want to leave and take away, and anticipating how this will work out in print is a nice new way of working. </div>
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Outside of the studio, after lots of grey rainy days the weather has calmed and the sunsets have been beautiful. Later at night the skies have been cold, clear and filled with stars. We're noticing the days getting a little longer and looking forward to spring.</div>
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Maike x </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-88968891802782463092014-01-15T12:31:00.000-08:002014-01-15T12:31:26.600-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>A new year</b><br />
After a busy Christmas visiting friends and family, we are back on the island and ready for an exciting year ahead of us. Terrible weather warnings made us wonder if we would get back at all, but the ferry ran smoothly and we got back to the Dovecot. The weather hit us hard straight away, battering our tiny house with wind and rain racing up from the beach with nothing in its way. On Saturday though the sun shone out and we were reminded why we're here. We cycled south from Calgary, up and up the hills until we were greeted to a glorious view over Ulva to snowy Ben More.<br />
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On Sunday, inspired by the previous days adventures we headed out to Treshnish for a walk. The weather back to grey and damp, strong winds rushing along the coastline. We walked through Treshnish farm, then followed the coastline around along the rocky cliffs. Even on a grey day we could see out to the Treshnish isles, Staffa and Iona. After a picnic we headed further inland, up the hills by a waterfall to some old abandoned villages - little groups of weather worn walls that used to be traditional old black houses. We were exhausted by the time we made it home, just before the sun went down.</div>
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Now we're into the working week. I'm spending the days in my studio working on a couple of commissions, building up stock to send away to galleries and preparing for the spring - when my little jewellery gallery will be open. I'll be sending my work out to Inverness Muesum and Art Gallery this week to be shown in the Foyer Gallery alongside their main exhibition 'Silver of the Stars' - beautiful Silversmithing made for Scottish celebrities! </div>
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Work continues on the gallery space and by the end of the week it will be over to me to paint the doors and the floor, fit lights and start building display tables. Here's a picture of the space at the moment. </div>
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On my desk at the moment, plans for the layout of the gallery space and a simple new earring design I've been working on today.</div>
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Looking forward to the weeks ahead.</div>
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Maike x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-51453576420395630482013-12-19T10:52:00.000-08:002013-12-19T10:52:42.895-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Christmas time</b><br />
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Tomorrow we head away from Calgary for Christmas time, leaving the wild and windy weather behind, hopefully the ferry over to Oban will be running and we'll drive through some snowy mountains on the way down. I'll be back in the new year with many more photos and stories.<br />
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Merry Christmas!<br />
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Maike x<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407938206926113143.post-92106543494900961672013-12-16T15:00:00.000-08:002013-12-16T15:00:06.651-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A new begining in the heart of winter</h4>
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One month ago we packed up all our belongings into a big
horse box and drove many miles to our new home, out of Edinburgh, across the
firth of forth, through the hills of Glencoe, over the water on two ferries,
round winding single track roads and finally to the place that will be our home
for the next little while, Calgary bay, the Isle of Mull. </div>
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Our plan is to settle in to this wild and windy place. Ross
will be working as a gardener, woodworker and general handyman extraordinaire.
I will be setting up a studio, where I will run my business designing and
making jewellery, after a while I hope to set up a small gallery space next to
my studio, where I will exhibit my work alongside other contemporary jewellers.</div>
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After a month here we have already begun work setting up my
studio space, my bench is in place and many projects are on the go already. Our
house, a tiny converted dovecot, is beginning to feel like home. Our surroundings
- the hillside woodland, sandy beach and heathery hills are only just beginning
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We only have a few more days of island life before we return to the mainland for christmas. I'll be posting here regularly from now on with tales from the island, and updates from the studio.<br />
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Maike x </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13875982632966714162noreply@blogger.com2