I renewed my interest in a big way when I went to Hobart a few years ago to visit one of my close friends from Ashram days, Jera, who was completing a Jewellery course at TAFE. Jera had to go to TAFE to finish a project for the final exhibition and told me that I should come along and just have a look and see if her teacher, would allow me to "play" in the workshop. If not I had the use of her car and could go check out some local beaches. So I turned up and had a look around and chatted to Carl and must have given him some reason to trust me enough to "play" Very exciting.
That morning when I woke up I thought about what might happen and I thought that I had better prepare myself for making some silver jewelry. I came up with the idea of using the Gingko theme. I adore Gingko trees, they were my mothers favorite tree, which is really saying something because she seemed to be able to identify literally every tree I ever came across when I was growing up. Gingko's also have that interesting history or being known only thru the fossil record until they were discovered growing in some remote part of China.
So when I started creating with silver I was prepared (oh dear the Scout motto!) I was ready to go with that design. First I made some earrings with from sheet. The class was also doing cuttlefish casting, which I had never even heard of but I was ready and willing to do that. So I carved out a Gingko leaf in the old washed up cuttlefish. Next thing I knew I had on this protective gear that looked like something out of StarWars and I was pouring molten silver from a crucible into the mould. I was completely wrapped and felt like I was in my element.
Here is the result of the cuttlefish casting
I have that teacher from Hobart TAFE to thank for his encouragement and openess. He told me at the end of the day that I had won the award for Over achievement.
From that day on I have gradually started back on the path of jewelrymaking and I love it.
