Steel used objects

Trying out punches and sanding to get some texture on these things. By the way if anyone know what these are, I would really like to find out. I found them at a scap yard and have no clue want exactly they are. I was told at the scrap yard they come from the engine of a car. I'm just woundering about the sizes and what is the function. I hope to use them in a fashion show.

I'm also trying to find a way to colour the steel. Any suggestions?

Intergration

Elements pierced out from copper plate
I had this idea that I wanted to try integrating jewellery with fashion. I meet with Nokwanda, a fashion designer of Controlled Chaos and discussed the technical issues of combining metal with fabric. These are the sketches from that talk. I had cut out these flower elements from copper plate, which I thought could be used for a dress. I planned on enameling each one to add colour. The copper might be too heavy and the enameling take too long. I have started investigating aluminium and anodising.

How I cut out!!

I found this picture in a South African House and Leisure Magazine and that is how I found Tord Boontje. I started talking alot about his a found that it seemed as though I was thonly one who didn't know about him. I was a little annoyed coz I like to think I know stuff!!


Anyway I think Tord's work is wonderful and decided I wanted to be him when I grow up. The curtain is my favourite. I makes me feel like being in a forrest of fairies and only good things would happen there. It is delicate and simple. Floral motifs remind me of lace. I love colours. Since there is no way to afford his cirtain I will wait till the day i can get my hands on one of his creations. Tord is originally from the Netherlands. That just makes want to go there even more. I think the designers in the Netherlands are fabulous.

Where in the World am I? ( Between Bizana and Brooksnek)

Hey I was pleasently surprised when I took a trip home to the Eastern Cape.......SNOW!!!!! In the usually dry and dead Eastern Cape there was snow. I could not believe my eyes. My sister and cousin where in the car with me and I convinced them to stop and have me take a picture on my cell phone and send it to everyone I could. Stark white looked so beautiful again the colours of the houses. The houses are usually painted in very bright colours (blue, yellow, pink, orange). Seeing that all the time again the usual background (green and brown) of the landscape was beautiful but I was not appreciating colour enough. The white background just did for me. The simplicity it brings to the picture makes you pay attention to the details. The houses look unreal from a distance. Almost like toys. I loved the drive down.

Transkei Sunsets

So Maybe you are wondering what the Transkei is. Transkei is where I'm from. Yes I know it's called the Eastern Cape now but I'm from the Transkei. The original if you know what I mean. Some people will know what I mean. The pre-Democracy government formed what they called the "homelands" or the TBVC states made of the former Transkei, Bophutatwana, Venda and Ciskei. That is where I was born and spent many years. I have started to remember what I love about home and all the colours came back. The family holidays at the coast and the sunsets and sunrises at home are like no other. The colours, red, orange, yellows,purples, blues, violets all melt into each other against the green background of the hills.

So I have began my experimenting with enamels to see if I can recreate the sky of the Transkei. This is my first attempt at layering colour. The reds are tough to work on because they burn so easily. And the colours change everytime I fire in the kiln. I'm hoping to add more colours with out over doing it. I don't want that thick look in the enamels. I'm still experimenting so watch this space

Exploring Colour

I am exploring colour by using enamels. I chose the technique because I had used it before I liked the results. I think I want to work with something I'm already familiar with for now. I used cut out flowers because of the effect that the enamel has on the pattern. It has that blobby feel or looks like flour but has that glossy fashionable look. It might look too blobby and stiff. The colours I used where random and i would like to choose them more carefully.