Ceramics: Creating pattern through repetition

I made these round ceramic pieces with my plaster stamps, and they have been biscuit fired. I then decided to use these to push into squares of clay, to get a negative of the designs on the circles. this meant that as well as the original pattern from the stamps, it also transferred the surrounding circle.

I think these tiles could be used as wall decoration, set out in the same grid as the circles they got their pattern from.

Textile and mixed media: repeated diamonds.

 I have been looking at Polly Binns and Ealish Wilson, who both use a technique similar to smocking, but on a very large scale. Wilson uses various methods of securing her fabric, including cable ties and different threads.

 I tried out the same method, using embroidery thread to secure my calico. I knotted each piece of thread and left the tails long for added decoration.

 I then thought about possibly adding pieces to the textile backing, in the holes, so that there are smaller pieces of pattern, inside the textile.

 I have decided I would like to try to make quite a large wall hanging, so I wanted quite a few diamonds, to put in various places in the textile piece. I made diamonds from both clay and metal, using punches, enamel, pewter casting and reticulation to make the brass crumple and make a texture. I also used stamps to decorate some of the clay ones. I then used seed beads to weave one.

Ceramics: using plaster stamps

I made plaster stamps by pouring plaster into clay walls. The first stamp I made by carving the design into the plaster while it was still soft, and the other three I made by creating the design in clay, building walls around it and pouring the plaster in.

I then used these stamps to impress designs into slabs of clay. I tried to make regular patterns with the stamps, but also change the amount of pressure I put on the stamps to get different effects.

I also rolled balls of clay, and stamped one design on each, which I really liked because the random shape of the outside contrasted well with the very geometric stamp designs. I made 25 of these, to set out in a 5 x 5 grid, so they create a pattern when all put together.

Metalwork: Folding and using enamel

I started looking at how I could create some of the patterns I have been looking at, in a more three dimensional way, and experimenting more with materials instead of designing something and then making it. I wanted to try different techniques of making pattern and furthering my ideas that way, before deciding what jewellery or object the piece will be. I started looking at origami folding techniques, and looked at a jeweller, Lois Martens, who uses folding in her silversmithing.

I then started experimenting with folding copper, and I found a shape I liked, which had a cross shape through it.

I then started thinking about how I could possibly decorate it, on the inside, so the pattern is only visible through the cross shape, I first thought about putting pattern onto the metal, before I folded it completely. I decided to try some enamel, but I only put it on the square part that shows through the cross.

I thought this worked very well, and was a good way of putting patterns directly onto the metal. I also tried putting paper squares into them with pattern on, and I found that looked good, but I think I would prefer a more intricate pattern on the paper, if it were to be made into a piece of jewellery.

I then decided to try some more enameling, because I think it has a texture and shine that contrasts well with the copper. I tried both putting pattern in the enamel, and some plainer ones, where I focussed on colour, rather than a regular pattern.

 To do this, I mixed the enamel with a little bit of water (keeping each colour separate) and used it like paint onto the copper. I did this with six copper squares, and left them for the water to dry before I heated them. The water has to completely dry out before heating, otherwise it would boil, and could cause the enamel to come off the piece. I used a blowtorch to heat each square until the enamel melted and went smooth and shiny.

I like using enamel because it changes when it is heated, and I find it very interesting to see how they look afterwards.

I folded the edges in before I put the pieces in the acid to get rid of the oxide on the copper.

I then put them together in a regular grid, so that it created another pattern of where the sides meet, and create little diamonds in a regular geometric pattern.

Metalwork: Making a copper bangle

I made this bangle with the same method I made rings before, by stamping patterns onto the strip of metal before I bent it into the right shape. I used a file to smooth out the marks that the punches had left on the other side. I wanted the outside to be completely plain and not patterned, to look simple and sophisticated

I started using a fairly rough file, to make it flat, and then smaller, smoother files to make the surface smooth. I decided I wouldn't polish it, because I wanted to keep the satin finish that I got from the wet and dry paper.

My main aim for this bangle is so that the pattern can only be seen when the bangle is not being worn, and much of the items beauty can only be seen by the owner of it.

Metalwork: using resin.

 Inspired by Clare Collinson's silver and resin jewellery, I decided to try using resin in my own jewellery. I first made three copper hoops in different sizes, and used silver solder to solder them to a base piece. I found it difficult at first to get the solder to go all the way around the hoops, as the hoops were heating up a lot faster than the base piece. I then used some wire to make a zig zag shape the piece could sit on, to let heat underneath the base piece, and heat it more evenly. once the soldering was done, I carefully cut pieces of paper to fit in the hoops. these were photocopies of a feather and a butterfly's wing, and I chose each piece carefully to show pieces of interesting pattern.

 I then mixed the resin and filled each of the hoops half full with resin. I left this to harden overnight. I then carefully cut pieces of real feather and butterfly wing into strips, to try to make a zebra pattern from them. I arranged these pieces on top of the set resin, then mixed some more resin and poured it on top. when I was pouring it, I first dripped a bit on each piece, so it would stay where I wanted it when I put the rest of the resin in.

After the last layer of resin had hardened, I noticed some of it had leaked, or possibly overflowed, and had stuck the piece to the paper towel it was resting on. I quite like the effect it has given, because now there is a raised pattern, instead of a plain copper back.

Metalwork with ceramics: making a brooch.

For this brooch, I wanted to use my ceramic piece with diamonds on, but I didn't want the metal part to just hold the piece, I wanted it to be extra decoration and detail, not just functional. I decided to make a diamond shape to hold the ceramic piece, just by tension, not using glue or attaching it in any other way. this worked well, and I then soldered on a pipe along one edge, to hold a pin so that it could be a wearable item. I then made the pin, and cut another diamond to make an end for the pin, which would continue the pattern and theme further.

I made another brooch in a similar way, and I think these two brooches could be worn together, and depending on how they are positioned, could make other patterns.

Ceramics: Using coloured slip

I wanted to make a bangle, inspired by Erin lightfoot's ceramic bangles, but I wanted my pattern to be on the inside, Like the copper rings I made. I did this by painting patterns onto white clay using coloured slip, before making it into a bangle.

For my first bangle, I decided to use the diamond shape I have been looking at, and use these as a base pattern, and put other more intricate patterns onto these. I used different types of pattern I have been looking at, animal pattern, pattern from process and patterns which have another purpose.

I then used the same method of painting with slip, but onto smaller pieces, which I then made into beads with pattern on the inside. I tried to keep the outside as plain as possible to contrast with the patterned interior.

 I then wanted to experiment with putting texture on, so I decided to make a scaly, snake skin texture, because this used the same shape repeated so would make a regular pattern. Once I had put the texture on, I joined the ends and carefully cut so the outside was completely flat

 This gave the inside edge a wobbly effect, which I quite like against the very clean line of the outside.

 My last bangle just had pattern painted on all around the inside, with the hope that when it is being worn, it will look completely plain and simple, and only the person wearing it will know what is on the inside.