Progress

Progress is finally being made - I have nearly prepared all the demos for my classes for the whole of this term, which is a big relief. There's a wedding ring on the horizon, a stacking ring, a pendant, some cufflinks and a clasp to repair. I finally got around to buying some PNP paper for etching, seems to work much better than just using a transparency. I took ages to buy some because I didn't know that I had to look at enamelling suppliers! So, some on order.

On the 27th of February I'm teaching a one-day course for beginners on how to make your own ring. On 6,7,8 April I'm teaching a three-day course for advanced students on hinges. If you'd like more info, drop me an email or comment.

I'm entered for the
craft&design SELECTED AWARDS

please vote for me
by visiting
www.craftmaker.co.uk/machidewaard

The Public Vote is open until 31st March 2011
Thank you for your support

Finally getting better

Well, the holidays were all about tissues for me. What fun. I am finally emerging from a fog of tissues, pain and medicine. Today's the last day of antibiotics and I am actually getting things done. A craft fair application out of the way today and trying to sort out my domain and hosting for my website. Hopefully this will not result in website failure. If I've managed to code it properly, everything should just continue working. However, if you do happen to spot website blips, I would be most grateful if you could let me know so I can fix them!!

In other news, I sent out a newsletter today. If you'd like one, just drop me a line in the comments. The most exciting thing is that you can vote for me in the Craft & Design Selected Awards on their website here: http://www.craftmaker.co.uk/machidewaard/. Just go to the bottom of the page to vote - registering and voting is free. Also, you get entered into a prize draw so you can win stuff too! Brilliant!

Internship opportunity at South Hill Park Arts Centre

Live Art Internship, South Hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire


2-3 days a week, 3 months with possibility to extend (voluntary)


An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic visual arts team. The intern will gain experience of multiple aspects of exhibitions work with a particular focus on Live Art during our Live Art season. There will be an opportunity to gain experience of the following tasks:

* Administration
* Artist relations
* Supporting the development of new Live Art work
* Invigilation
* Marketing
* Installing and dismounting exhibitions and events
* Researching
* Supporting events.


South Hill Park has been a centre for innovation in the arts since 1973. In a grade 2 listed 18th century mansion and gardens, people of all ages and tastes find something to enjoy. South Hill Park is proud of its tradition of nurturing talents, among many big names. The centre has six exhibition spaces and an innovative exhibitions programme.

Live Art has been a fixture on South Hill Park’s exhibition schedule and the 2011 season will include the following:

Rules and Regs (www.rulesandregs.org) is an organisation that promotes artistic development. It is also the name for a residency where three artists are invited to create new work in response to a set of rules devised by a curator as a challenge to explore new ways of working. For 2011 Jo Bannon, Florence Peake and Melanie Wilson will be undertaking residencies at SHP.

Testing Grounds (www.testinggrounds.org.uk) a Live Art and Music platform supportive of artistic risks where artists are commissioned to make and present new work rather than reproducing a set performance (participating artists to be confirmed).


Finally, in April At Play returns to South Hill Park for its third year. At Play is an exhibition that explores play and includes Live Art performances at its opening.

Person specification:



This position would suit a graduate with an interest and/or experience in live art processes either personally, as part of their own practice, or professionally. Who wishes to gain more experience of Live Art and more generally an exhibitions department within a public venue. Your primary role would be to assist the exhibitions department during the Live Art Season and act as point of contact for the participating artists. An enthusiastic attitude, time management, organisational, interpersonal and basic IT skills are essential. A driving license and access to a car is helpful as the art centre is outside the town centre with limited public transport. The position may include occasional weekend and evening work.



Please email your CV and statement to:



Gemma Cumming

Email: gallery.tours@southhillpark.org.uk

Website: www.southhillpark.org.uk



South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA



The CV and statements should indicate: Your availability, why are you interested in this position, previous experience in arts and educational background.



The deadline for application is 5pm 4 Feb 2011.

We aim to interview week beginning 7 Feb and would expect the post to commence on the week beginning 14 Feb



Kind regards

Gemma Cumming

Gallery Education Intern
South Hill Park

only 10 days til christmas!

Another commission done, sterling silver star earrings:

blue wave pendant

just a quick photo of a wee commission I did last month:

Reveal in Henley

Reveal is on this weekend at Henley's Old Firestation Gallery - see www.revealshowcase.com for details. I will be there 10-12 tomorrow morning. Unfortunately I got a little overzealous when I put my display stuff back in the car after Desire, so I've sprained a muscle in my back. So I was dreading setting up at Reveal yesterday because I knew it would hurt. Luckily Lauren (of the beautiful ceramics) and another Caversham artist very kindly carried my cases inside. I am pretty sore today from all the shlepping around yesterday, but jewellery is up at Reveal and even have a small case up at South Hill Park (also for sale, just ask the reception). I have to say, though, that I am super tired. I've been running around since October doing a ton of things and now I'm ready for a rest. Today I had a major lie-in after my last class of the term at South Hill Park. There's more snow in Bracknell than there is in Reading so I guess people were nervous about driving, so there were only three students in the last class!! Oh well, Emy kindly brought biscuits so we had biscuits and made stuff anyway! Hope everyone's keeping warm, it sure is cold out!!!

Desire and Reveal

Desire is nearly here - the jewellery and silversmithing fair in Winchester. It starts tomorrow and the private view is tomorrow evening 6-8.30...
Next week is Reveal in Henley, in the lovely old fire station behind the town hall. I always like to go Henley, preferably by walking there. If you walk from Reading to Henley, then you arrive in Henley on a long walkway over the river. It's very pretty...and then there are all the super cozy pubs! I bet that, given the layer of ice on the cars outside, rather a lot of those cozy pubs will have lovely warm fires!
Today is packing for Desire. I say packing, I mean just repacking and adding some extras - like some posters I made for the behind me on the shell scheme. I also need some more boxes and some more stickers and some more postcards and so on. Nearly there, also want to finish some earrings that I'm still working on. I only have one pair of each left, so making a few more which will hopefully be ready in time for my early departure tomorrow morning.
It's a hectic time of year, so to those of you across the pond, enjoy your day off - happy thanksgiving! Enjoy your long, lovely meal!!

Desire Fair at Winchester

Next weekend is the Desire Fair in Winchester - below is a bit of info on times and dates and so on. I have no private view invitations left!! I am still getting ready, polishing a pile of earrings this afternoon. I've made posters too, so I'm hoping my stand will look sharp :-) See you there and have a lovely weekend!

Desire Fair - Winchester

26 - 28 November 2010.

I hope to see you there where you will be able to view my latest designs

For further details and directions to the show see below or log onto www.desirefair.com

12.30pm - 5.30pm Friday, 10 am - 5 pm Saturday & Sunday

AA signposted

The Desire Fair showcases stunning collections from emerging British talent together with a number of established contemporary designer jewellers and silversmiths. All are professional craftsmen who have been selected from the very best jewellers and silversmiths in the UK for the quality of their work, individuality and innovation.

Desire offers an opportunity to see and purchase or commission work direct from the designer makers. By discussing the purchase with the maker, you will immediately be aware of their enthusiasm for the creative process and understand the inspiration behind each piece. There is an enormous variety of stylish designs on offer from the latest in exciting and contemporary designs to classic pieces that will not date. Each item sold is unique and can often be designed specifically for the wearer – a world away from the mass produced items offered on the High Street!

To see examples of just some of the stunning designs on offer please visit www.desirefair.com

Jewellery classes

Phew, another craft fair done - South Hill Park Christmas Fair was at the weekend and I saw loads of people I knew, so I certainly had a lot of nice chats. Now it's on to the Desire show at Winchester. I still have some tickets for the private view - contact me if you'd like one. I still need to finish a whole bunch of orders and make some things for the Desire show that I've sold out of...
Also booking began this week for the next term of jewellery classes at South Hill Park. Some of my classes are already full for next term. Booking for members who aren't on the course starts next week. Keep trying if you want to get on those courses, but if you can't get on, you can always have a look at the brilliant Janet Richardson's classes in Wokingham - for info just follow this link or look at this poster here (click to zoom):

Friday again!

So it's nearly the weekend and nearly time for the South Hill Park craft fair. I'm nearly ready...still a couple of things to make and polish and pack and... yeah, so, nearly.
It's been another busy week - and I've been on the Folksy blog! A lovely selection of silver jewellery was showcased, including my silver crossover ring.
Meanwhile, over on the Reveal blog, there's a piece about my jewellery as part of the 'meet the maker' series in the run-up to the Reveal Showcase in Henley in early December. Just follow this link for more info.

South Hill Park and benchpeg

South Hill Park Christmas Craft Fair this weekend!!! 11am - 6pm on Saturday and 10am - 5pm on Sunday!! I'm in the Wilde Theater, see you there!

Proof that I've been working hard - here's a photo of a new benchpeg, followed by a photo of my well-loved benchpeg. The benchpeg is the centre of a jeweller's bench - it's where almost all the work gets done!

South Hill Park Craft Fair 2010

Coming up soon: South Hill Park Craft Fair.

things I like

I've been so busy with craft fairs and teaching and my engraving course that I would like to just mention something else besides all that! So here's a small list of things I like that you might like too. Firstly there's my friends' new shop called Comma in Oxford which I visited last night for the first time. It's brilliantly set up and looks amazing - plus lots of fun gift items, so I need not worry about where I'm going next time I need a birthday present for someone:Then there's the talented bag and purse maker I was next to at Farnham - another good destination for presents for any girly girls you might know: Nicola de Cruz
Then there are the delicate, gorgeous ceramics of Lauren, for example this round vase that I think is absolutely lovely:And then for the knitters in your life (everyone's got one or more!!!) there are the luscious hand dyed yarns by Skein Queen like this one:

Creative Boom and Craft in Focus

hey hey, just a quick note to say - check out a mention on Creative Boom's fab website! Yay!
Also this weekend is the Craft in Focus show at Crowthorne!! See you there!! Open Friday from 1pm and Sat & Sun 10am - 5pm.

It's late now and I need to get ready for tomorrow, so keeping it short...

silly season

Well, silly busy season....first craft fair is over and I'm preparing for the next one! This coming weekend, the Crowthorne Craft Fair at Wellington College, Crowthorne is on from Friday until Sunday. It was excellent last year, with a good buzz and people enjoying seeing the fabulous skills on display. Between now and Friday I have four classes, my engraving course, and about a hundred little household tasks. So, busy it is! I'm going to try to get some items up on Etsy and Folksy today as well. I have so many ideas for new items, it's hard to focus on the things that need to happen now...must concentrate and write down all my new ideas for testing after the busiest time of the year.

Also, aside from all that, an amazing new shop has opened over in Oxford called Comma. The website is coming soon, but the shop is already there! If you're in the area, you should definitely give it a look! Especially since it says Hello in giant colourful letters in the window :-)

16 - 17 October Festival of Crafts

Festival of Crafts is this weekend at Farnham Maltings in Farnham! You can see details here on their website: http://tiny.cc/2v9t5!! Looking forward to seeing and meeting lots of people!! I will be ready, with a new stand, new business cards, new postcards, and of course lots of new lovely jewellery. See you all there!

beautiful flyers

All the beautiful flyers for the craft fairs are arriving - like this one (click on it to get a larger image):

other art exhibits to see...

South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 7PA.

Directions at: http://www.southhillpark.org.uk/aboutUsTravel.jsp

New exhibitions on 11 September - 7 November:

Memento by Ed Pien (Bracknell Gallery)

Out of Print? by Printmakers Council (Mansion Spaces)

The Human Response by Bracknell Camera Club (Community Gallery)

Beauty Spot (diptych) by Rowena Easton (outside the Bracknell Gallery)

Craft Fair (13-14 Nov)

Crowthorne Craft in Focus show

Wellington College, Crowthorne, 22 - 24 October

I hope to see you there where you will be able to view my latest designs

For further details of the show see below or go to www.craftinfocus.com

The event displays only the highest standard of exhibitor that visitors to Craft in Focus have come to expect. We hope that you will visit us and look forward to seeing you at the show, as rarely is such a wealth of top quality work seen together at a single event.

Due to a strict vetting and selection procedure Craft in Focus has earned an enviable reputation for presenting events of the highest quality, and over the years, reports in the national media have often placed Craft in Focus above all others in the UK. We hope you will continue to visit our events around the country, and do keep an eye on our website for future developments and other shows in your area - www.craftinfocus.com

If you'd like a discount card for entry, drop me an email and I'll send you one!

Happy October

It's October - welcome to three months of fabulous craft fairs. First up is the Festival of Crafts at Farnham Maltings. Not only is Farnham a lovely town, the Maltings is a great building (are a great set of buildings, technically, I think). There will be loads of fabulous crafts on display. You can see many of the exhibitors here: http://tiny.cc/5sal5
I will have new items on show, including my gold ball hoop earrings (sterling silver with 18k gold ball):
Thankfully I'm mostly over my horrendous cold of last week!So it's back to getting ready for classes, making more things for fairs, finishing my stand...and so on. I'm unveiling my new stand at Festival of Crafts as well....nearly finished....