Last Sale of 2009!

Tomorrow will be my last sale of the year! Tomorrow, Saturday 18th of December, I'll be selling my Memories at Gorman House markets, Braddon, Canberra from 9.00 until 4.00. I'll be showing the latest MiniArt pieces, the Medal of (Fashion) Honour series, as well as my long term ranges like the Fairytales. This will be the biggest example of my work on a stall yet, so make sure you stop by and have a squiz! I also have it on good authority that Gorman House has sold out of stall space, which means that the whole market is jam packed with creative juices. So, if jewellery isn't your thing, maybe something else is? 

After the market I'm off on holidays, to the South Coast. In the New Year I'll start up again, first at Broulee's Art on the Path, and then back at Gorman House in late January/early February. I'll be blogging on my ideas and designs over the next few weeks, but officially will only be contactable through Etsy or email. 

Some ideas I'm tossing around:

Party plan

Circus stylin'

Fashion show

Wall art

3D memories

Commission work

and MORE! 

I hope I see some of you tomorrow, and I hope everyone has a very very Merry Christmas! 

XX

Danielle Kathleen

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

UPDATE!

Today's market was INTENSE! I had such a fantastic day, and met some of loveliest people! Over 40 of my pieces were sold, which is soooo exciting. I had repeat customers, word of mouth customers and HEAPS of people who just walked by and were compelled to stop. 

I can't wait until next time I'm there!

XOX, all you awesome market goers. 

Danielle 

MiniArt Memories

The newest range that I've created in my 'Memories' work are a reflection of the set up I have at the markets. Usually, in order to display my jewellery to the greatest effect I use a large single frame with the majority of smaller and most complicated pieces together. Set up around these are four or five black picture frames that have some featured pieces framed within them. This set up echoes some of my inspirations, such as silhouette portraits, like these:

While at Gorman House the organiser Kathy Lippmeier suggested I sell some of the pieces framed permanently, and not just displayed in frames. Thinking about it (and seeing the more delicate pieces that will break after two or three wears, like ants and beetles, that I had just about written off) I took the advice on board and started framing some pieces in mini versions of the glossy black picture frames. 

And so, the MiniArt range was born! My favourite is the red flamingo, but all the pieces look rather beautiful in the frames. These will appear at the next market I attend- which, hopefully, will be Gorman House this Saturday, but may not be until into the New Year.

In the mean time I can always be contacted by Facebook (Danielle Kathleen) and Email (danielle.kathleen@live.com) or via my Etsy store. 

Happy Christmas,

Danielle Kathleen

Gone Coastal

This weekend I spent my market time at the South Coast, Broulee/Moruya. Moruya was a taaad disappointing on the day- I contacted the markets really late, so the location I had was on the outskirts, and it wasn't ideal for sales. However! I made LOTS of friends with local families, gave out my contact details and stickers to the kids, and in general had a lovely day on the water front. Even now I've had contact with my new friends, and I'd love to get closer links with my second home. 

Back in Broulee the Art On The Path event was held on Sunday morning, run by my good friend Marie of the Broulee Community Council. The event is an opportunity for local artists to show their work to the community, and it raised money for community projects like extensions on the Broulee path ways, donations for the local schools and more. I had a little stall in the middle of it all, and felt completely accepted and involved in the community where my parents are slowly retiring to. The Broulee community is amazingly talented, and had a really great day with my mum, just hanging out. Happily, I did sell a few of my range, but even more happily I made some contacts I'd hope will last for a lifetime. 

All in all, this weekend was a pleasure! I'm spending a couple of months with my family in Broulee, so I plan to be back at the Art On The Path a week into the new year. 

Love Danielle Kathleen

Market Culture

I had my second ever stall today, at Gorman House markets in Civic. It was a smashing success, selling nearly double what I sold on site last time. It makes sense, of course, considering that I was directly accessing my immediate target market. I totally enjoyed the day. Gorman House has such an eclectic vibe, chillaxed and easy. I will SO be back. 

Today I had an interesting discussion with some of the stallies too. Recently in Canberra there has been a massive spike in market venues. The farmers and food markets are getting a great rep, the trash and treasures on Sunday mornings go off in the second hand department, Old Bus Depot is opening on Saturdays, as well as the usual Sundays, and Gorman House on Saturdays is still as popular as ever. However, the new comers Handmade Canberra and Ginger Lane are the ones that are the big news. 

These two markets boast the interesting title of "artist handmade creations". This, on any other day, would have me panting. However, looking at those price tags makes me want to scream. I'm sorry if this offends, but there is a certain acceptance in the market setting that the prices you offer are AFFORDABLE and REASONABLE. I can acknowledge the fact that my jewellery is underpriced. However, I think you'll find that the customer is more inclined to open themselves to the prices I offer, and return, than what I probably should charge. I don't WANT to price myself out of a sale. I WANT to sell my pieces, and feel both satisfied with the sale, and that THEY are satisfied with it. I don't want my customers to resent the purchase later on. Handmade and the business, money obsessed vibe it gives off are giving artists a bad name. 

The problem, (I think) isn't that the artists are doing it- its the markets themselves. Handmade, in order to qualify for their market, insists you apply, citing your logo, packaging, product, etc so that they can decide if you're even suitable for their events in the first place. They charge a base payment of about $150.00 just for their smallest, poorly situated stall, the price of the largest, central stalls closer to mid-200's. Compare this to Gorman House, at $30 for the day. And to think, if you're at Handmade you need to make AT LEAST the price of the stall back before you can even make a profit, and you can see why the prices have skyrocketed. And this is supposed to be the hub of all things artist made in Canberra? Puh-lease. 

What I'd like to see is something like the Rose Street markets in Melbourne crop up. A fresh face, committed to just providing a cheap venue to truly celebrate artistry in Canberra. Let's cull all the bullshit money obsession. Let's see new art, not the tired oft-seen stalls at Old Bus Depot. Let's have a funky coffee stall at one end, a live band at the other, and REAL, FRESH, AFFORDABLE art in the centre of it all. And, most of all, let's keep stall costs down. When the stallies are happy, the art is fun and money doesn't even enter into it. 

Kudos to Gorman House for keeping the dream alive - even if the second hand junk is still dominating. ; ) 

Danni  

Flower Ring(s)

For Stella:

I mixed up the idea a bit, so they aren't ALL daisies, sorry. Here are some poorly taken photos to show progress. 

There are three rings, each with its own flower. The largest one (the actual daisy) is the purple stone. I hope you like-

Danielle

Angel Design

A design for an angel ornament-

The above is a comparison to the original image.

The black area is the actual material, the white is the cut out areas. 

In this image, the black is material, the grey is an ETCHED RASTER in the surface, coming out a different, lighter shade. This mean you get the same detail, but more structure. The white is still the cut out areas. 

This ornament would be made in red acrylic, one 3mm layer. 

The template for 56 of them looks like this:

"Poise" Cufflinks

Today I finished my FINAL, LAST, OMG FINALLY project of the semester, the "Poise" Cufflinks for University House. Tomorrow my final assessment will be laying out all that I've completed this semester and getting them reviewed by my three workshop heads. 

The cufflinks are based on the idea of organic geometric- circles and cones, basically. The base has been riveted in place, and the top set into the middle. The middle is a hollow form. This piece was made using rapid prototyping and casting, and is all sterling silver.

Update

Just some shots of the final pieces in white. XD

Millicent Russell, Kingly Quinns & Blogging About Blogs

This week I've not sold a thing, but I still feel like I did. That's because, in way, I've sold little bits of me to other bloggers. 

The amazing thing about blogs and blog communities is that, once you're linked to one- well, you'll soon be linked to a few, then a whole heap and you'll heart them and they'll heart you, and eventually it's one big bed of blogging fun, and the little offspring of shout-outs and in-jokes will run around the mature blog's feet, crying and begging for the good shit. 

I was asked by the lovely Katherine Quinn, who has had published work in Canberra's BMA Magazine, to maybe feature on her blog, Kings and Quinns. Quinn blogs about fashion and issues, much of it springboarding off her own eclectic (and sexy, awesome, fascinating...) fashion sense. Go check it out- this girl is giving me soooo many ideas for my wardrobe and designs over the next few weeks! http://kingsandquinns.blogspot.com/ 

The last blog I read was all about matching, and outfit coordination. I must say, when I went shopping today all I could think was "mustn't look matchy-matchy..."

I contacted my fan list on facebook about potential models and photographers helping me with a portfolio of my works, to better the response I get on Etsy. The loveliest lady, Snez Sara, responded with the idea that we might be able to work together on this! She works for local GLBTQ magazine, Fuse (http://www.fusemagazine.com.au/) and I think this would be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with the love side of my heart. 

And, today, on Etsy itself I received a really sweet email. Amelia, who runs the Etsy store Millicent Russell, contacted me with a link to her blog, where she gave shout outs to several of her favourite local Canberran designers. The blog can be seen here: http://millicentrussell.blogspot.com/

However, I had a look at Millicent Russell while I was there. Amelia has this to say: "My name is Amelia Huang and I created Millicent Russell in 2006. I built my jewellery label out of my home in Canberra, Australia. Using rare vintage materials sourced from all over the world, the Millicent Russell collections include one of a kind and limited edition pieces." I found Amelia's work simply beautiful! The antique lace is exquisite, and the jewelery she creates is breathtaking.  Here are some of her pieces: 

Peacock Lace Earrings. Millicent Russell - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33732720 

  

Monogram Lecklace- "L is for". Millicent Russell- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33731213 

Thanks so much my lovely blogging friends, you're awesome! I need to repay the favour more often. 

XOX Danielle Kathleen. 

Progress Report

This week I've completed three of my four major assignments! The only one left to go is the cufflinks (oh, god, kill me now) and a stand for assignment one, the vessel. 

I thought I might post some happy snaps of the work I've done since completing the RoseBud Rings, my first wax ring creations shown here:

 (http://daniellekathleenjewelery.blogspot.com/2009/09/rose-bud-rings-current-projects.html) 

A couple of weeks ago I posted this image here: 

Since then this cast has transformed into a complete ring! I created a 'T' style band for this ring, designed to slot between the fingers and look like a growth sprouting from the hand. Here are a couple of images of the ring after I completed fabrication:

I've since whitened this ring, so all the stalks are very white, and the bobbles on the end and the band have a glossy, silver shine. I'll post a pretty pic very soon!

Over the last weeks week I've also created the metal masters of my wax mushroom rings! These were based on my half-circle organic rings, which I designed in wax last september, and blogged about here: http://daniellekathleenjewelery.blogspot.com/2009/09/organic-half-round-rings-current.html

Both of those designs failed : ( 

However, I went back to the original sketches and decided to pursue the mushroom design. Here we have the rubber mould I made from the metal masters, as well as the wax injections that I used to invest and cast:

And, finally after all that effort I created a metal copy in silver- perfect! I've got two silver sets of these, one in dark silver tones with blackened veins, and one in whitened silver, the veins polished lightly. The one you see here is the darker set:

The beauty of this ring is also the fact that some of the mis-cast wax injections only have the mushroom partially formed, while the band is perfect! This means that I might create more multiples of this ring, which are like the imperfect mushrooms you see in nature. That means there is variance and quirky individuality to each cast. Keep in touch for pictures of the white set too! 

XX Danielle Kathleen

Etsy

This week I decided to trial the Etsy phenomenon. Etsy is an online marketplace, rather in the theme of Ebay- but everything on there is either handmade art, supplies to make handmade art or vintage. 

My store can be found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/daniellekathleen 

I've listed some of my current surplus stock on there to see how they go. We may get no sales, one or a few! Who knows? However, never fear locals! From the profit from Saturday's stall I'll be ordering the next series of "Memories"! Here are some pics of the upcoming designs:

Spring Out Fair Day- "Memories" launch

Wow, what a success! The day was hot, long and large, but my goodness were the "Memories" commented on! The most popular on the day, by far, were the beating anatomical hearts, all the pendants selling out faster than hot cakes! Then I'd say the birds and voodoo dolls were a close second. I had a large amount of verbal interest in all my bugs and creepy crawlies- several stag beetles sold- but purchases in that regard are more limited. I think I freaked one lady out completely by waxing poetic on the beauty of the wasp, and another young man said (and I quote) "that is such a wank!" when I told him of the difficulties of finding a perfect apple image to represent an apple, because real apples look only moderately like the iconic shape we're all so familiar with. True, yes! Wank, maybe.

Online purchases were vastly different- the magic mirrors were the most popular in that forum, though the sausage dog and stag beetles were under demand. 

A special thanks to all my lovely girls- Maxi, for not only inspiring the collection (my muse, lol) but being my best and brightest customer, Stella for her continued dedication to my

 professional self and her friendship, my mum and dad for their support and assistance on the day, Natalee Byron for contributing her art, and MOST of all Georgia Harrison, who without her presence, support and willingness to get involved (despite being in the middle of her busiest and most stressful part of the year) I might not have made it to or enjoyed the event at all! I love you, hunny bun! 

XXXXXXX

Danielle Kathleen.

P.S. Thanks Stella for the photos! 

A Handful of Memories- Debut Invite

You're invited to witness the debut of the latest line of jewelery by Danielle Kathleen! Danielle Kathleen, along with her beautiful colleagues Natalee Byron (printmaking) and Georgia Harrison (biscuits and more!) will be holding a stall to show their latest creations. Come and visit us, have a fantastic day and, later, celebrate Halloween! This Saturday, the 31st of October, is the launch of Canberra's Spring Out festival. To celebrate the occasion the Aids Action Council is running a Fair Day at Westlund House- just around the corner from the School of Art and the Film and Sound Archive! "SpringOut Fairday is Canberra's LGBT community day. The annual Fairday is a marvellous day out for the whole family, bring your kids, bring you pets. Sunshine, great stalls, beautiful people, relaxed atmosphere. What could be more pleasant for a Saturday afternoon in Spring? Fairday 2009 will include drag kings and queens, performances by local artists, the Canberra Gay and Lesbian Qwire, a children's treasure hunt, and - back for another year - the ever popular Pet Parade!" The day runs from 12.00 until 5.00, @ Westlund House, Gordon Street, Acton. Please do come, just to show your support and grab a bite to eat if nothing else! We love you all- xxx Danielle Kathleen and friends!

"A Handful of Memories" - Second Wave

Ponoko have come through, like they said they would, and my final pieces of the "Handful of Memories I" series has been completed! See my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Danielle-Kathleen) for the final designs and prices. 

The crazy thing is that during the last couple of weeks, while waiting for my jewelery designs to appear, I've designed three more "Memories" sets.

We have: "A Handful of Memories II - Fairytales", "A Handful of Memories III - Militia" and "A Handful of Memories IV- Over Tea, We". All sorts of fun creatures and critters, objects mundane and marvellous, like giant black ants and Lady guns and hot air balloons, are present. Let's see how the world likes "Memories I" first, however. 

   

"A Handful of Memories" - First Wave

The latest project, "A Handful of Memories," was created electronically and laser cut by the company Ponoko. Today I received the first part of the new line, which mostly includes these White Rabbits and some bugs and beasties as brooches, pendants and hairpins. I'm incredibly excited to see some of the dreams of Danielle Kathleen come to life! For their debut I'm going to have a stall at the Spring Out Festival launch, at Westlund House near the School of Art, ANU and the National Film and Sound Archive. The launch is a fair day run by the Aids Action Council, and supports the local LGBITQ community, and runs all day on Saturday, the 31st of October. 

Excited? I know I am! 

Many of the pieces are based on fairytales and childhood memories. There are thistles, magic mirrors and voodoo dolls, and the eccentric mix will titillate your own memories, conjuring the the obsessions and adventures of childhood. 

Hopefully I'll see a few favourite people on the 31st, and that the "Memories" are cherished by all. 

"A Handful of Memories" - New Project

A sneak peek at the most recent project by Danielle Kathleen! This week we're looking at creating a line of silhouette pieces, including hair pins, brooches and pendants. You can see above the first internal collection of the "Handful of Memories" series, the "Magic Mirrors," which are in their brooch form. They will be black and white acrylic when completed! Watch this space for the photos of the completed pieces. Only a couple of weeks away! 

In the mean time, tell us what you think about the designs and ideas so far! Would you like a "Memory" of your very own?

Crowned & Bound Video

The fashion show that Danielle Kathleen was recently in has created a short sneak peek video for all of the Crowned & Bound fans! Why don't you go have a look and see if you can catch a look at the "Wind in the Reeds" series. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg-J74kDQ5k

The art piece featured is by my good friend Sarah Carlson, who based her designs on umbrellas and incense coils. 

"Rose Bud" Rings- Current Projects 2

The final look of the "Rose Bud" rings! I've added a patina to the inside of the buds, colouring them red and black (you can't see the black very well here). I'm thinking of changing the name to either "the Queen of Hearts Told Me To" or "Painting the Roses". 

Cast Away Magic

After a long and terrifying day we cast some of my latest wax creations in silver! Terrifying because, for the first time, we did it without the help of our head of workshop, Johannes Kuhnen, a highly successful, fantastic metalsmith. After a collaborative effort from several of my peers, I now feel confident in doing two of the three steps entirely flying solo. 

This first piece is the garden rods piece, not entirely successful as one of the buds detached during investment (and floated to the top) and another broke off after the successful cast and needs to be soldered back on. 

The second piece is the entirely successful cast of the splayed rods! (In the sketch i've called it "rayed"). I need to make some ring bases to attach these beautiful pieces to!  

Buried in Concrete

Bad news! Arched rods died a terrible, investment related death... 

It was very sad, but the good news is that the splayed rods (in the photo at top) was made to replace it. 

"Organic Half-Round" Rings - Current Projects

The "Organic Half-Round" Rings were a project idea I had that followed on from the lost wax cast project and tied into the vulcanized rubber project differently to the "Rose Bud" rings. These rings are made both in wax as a head to the ring, which is then altered before rubber moulding it, and entirely formed in metal. 

Seen below are the wax heads, soon to be silver (so watch this space!)