Wednesday 4 May 2011

Spring in Ye Olde Shed

I feel like ive neglected my wee blog of late, but then again Ive been that busy you probably wouldve thought I'd learned a new language in the form of 'Alien'.

Ive have a good few weeks, took part in North Lakes Tattoo Convention which was AMAZING, not only for the sales I made but the artwork these guys produce is out of this world! Eat your heart out Kat Von D and co. I met some great new friends who have been really supportive of my work. 'Mouse' the mouse moose is coming along and Kim from Skin Seamstress your awesome! http://www.facebook.com/skinseamstress



Also been doinga few craft shoes which unfortunately werent so great! As my dad said thought, 'its a ll experience and you wont do it again'! Very true Jimbob.
More things in the pipeline for the next few months, including Whitehaven Festival, Alt Fashions Vintage Summer Fair in Chester, London Edge in Sept and a few other suprises as well.

Im back with my little darlings at school next week and Im also working with a local youth group making their own jewellery - exciting times!

Spring Fling 2011 was a huge success! I was appointed project manager for Workingtons first Outdoor Gallery - let the stress commence!
All in all it was a fab launch with the Mayor making an appearance and alot of amazing artwork!







Ooo also a mini sneak peek at some new images the lovley Peggy Soo http://www.facebook.com/pages/PeggySoo/133632116649046 and Juliette October http://www.facebook.com/pages/Juliette-October/138667302823226 have done for. Donna from Click Click Bang your ace and soo talented! http://www.facebook.com/clickclickbang

Thursday 24 March 2011

The Red One has gone.... For now

Alas my Red hair is no more. Ive had Red hair for probably the last 5 yrs long before Rhianna , Florence & Co. It was time for a change, there are far too many little wannabes mincing around Worky with red hair, therefore I have gone to the dark side (yet again) and am now a brunette. Only time will tell If I qualify to be a sophisticated one lol!
Been a busy day today Ive been out promoting Spring Fling 2011 so I think im now on first name terms with most of the staff in every school in Allerdale!

 Been to Asda and came away with cookie cutters from a new project im working on… stay tuned for that one. 

Im also having a go at shoe clips. Ive seen some pretty cool ones and thought they cant be that hard to make so tomorrows job is to create some cool ones for my night out on Saturday
Ive just become a member of Model Mayhem so if you would like to work with me please add me :O)

Oh and one other piece of AMAZING NEWS Rachels Wonders is now available on asos.com Wooooo!
https://marketplace.asos.com/seller/rachelswonders/collection


With thanks to the gorgeous Gemma Stewart, Emma Southward, Keith Southward and MJS Photography for my ASOS shots :O) xx

Friday 11 March 2011

Model Mayhem

Well its been another hectic week for moi - im bloody knackerd and are currently listening to 4 grown men scream and shout at my (new) tv playing sodding FIFA!

Anyhoo ive been teaching my little darlings this afternoon and they've been great, so much so that they are getting me for another 3 weeks worth of jewellery club madness. End result being a mini fashion show in their assembly before Easter ... so proud!

Ive got interview questions to answer, orders and new designs to finish and shrink plastic to play with.


I do want to say that I am very chuffed with my facebook model friends who are doing a Stirling job of modelling me wears, Louise Amaryllis, Miss Malice,Rugy Go, Sailor Cherry, Kimber Lee, Pyretta Blaze and Lilithin Bloom Photography I ♥ you all - thank you so much for all your hard work. I cant wait to see the results from the next batch of models including the stunning Cherrie Mae :O)



Ciao for now folks xxx

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Tales from the Shed - Part 1

Hi all

Now firstly bare with me, Im not a literacy genius so please don't pull me up too much on my spelling and grammar - Im a jeweller, not a novelist :O)

I'll start by saying the cliche' thing of that this is my first blog entry - ever! Im going to be telling you all about my little shed and what goes on in there in terms of designing, creating, triumphs and some fails in the relms of jewellery. 



No my wee shed is amazing thanks to my extremely talented dad aka Jimbob. He bought me it as a Xmas pressie and pimped it out for me - what a star! Its my 'dirty' room as I call it, soley for the reason that its where all the messy smelling casting goes on, im lucky enough to have another workshop aka 'The Aladdin's Cave' ,where all mine and dads machinery lives.

Now the semi boring bit - 

Rachel obtained a degree in Design: Craft from Staffordshire University in 2005. Her innovative resin and aluminum jewellery has been featured in a range of online and print publications including Crafts Magazine in 2005 and 2008.
 
Gathering inspiration from all things colourful and simplistic, the process in which Rachel uses to make her work involves machining aluminium bar and tube on a lathe, creating engineered items of adornment. A skill she kindly thanks her Father, an Engineer, for teaching her.  From there she hand casts resin within the aluminium and once cured polishes to a high gloss finish.
 
Rachel’s work had featured in various exhibitions and galleries nationwide with her work now being stocked in galleries in Surrey, Penzance and also within Manchester Museum. She has worked with established Jewellery Designer Makers in Birmingham and also spent time with London based Fashion Jewellery Company Tatty Devine.
 
More recently Rachel has become a Creative Ambassador for Creative Futures Cumbria and is running After School Jewellery Clubs and workshops within her local community, teaching children and young people about the Creative Process and providing them with the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques.
 
Working from her little shed in Workington, Cumbria Rachel is currently designing a new range of contemporary jewellery inspired by simplistic landscapes. The beginnings of her new ‘Home’ range can be seen on her website www.rachelgawjewellery.com.


 



Thats all about my contemporary work for those who are into that kind of thing.

The direction in which Im going in at the moment was a complete gamble and started in the summer of 2010 - freelance work was coming my way so I decided to pack in the day job and concentrate on my passion - I can safely say for now ive never looked back! 

Rachels Wonders was born before Xmas - for those of you who are already on the facebook site - thank you for all your kind words and those who are not, well get your asses into gear and join me! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001917162391.



I'll leave it there for now as my wonderful other half is cooking up a storm in the Kitchen and im smelling Curry! Today has comprised of meetings with advertising execs, after school jewellery club, casting some cool new pieces and finishing off some old ones... more of that to come :O) xxx