Scrub layers and kooky boobs

I am in the process of building a website, but I think this is the best place to really delve into what I am doing within my practice.  Also, It's really old.  I love that it has this long history that encompasses the last half of my career as a jeweller, even though I stopped using it regularly about 8 years ago.

 I found this digital image I made about 4 years ago, and I am struck by the layers within it.   I had completely forgotten about it.  I love how through a little play, something shifts.  It's not about the outcome, it's about the understanding of a process.

 Lately if you have been following me on social media, you will have noticed that I've been drawn to selective layering, in that a specific intentional, recognisable image is visible among layers of pattern and tone.  The image of the tree is the one I'm completely drawn to.  Constant visits to the scrub to connect with nature and commune through honing my visual interpretation meant that this latent desire to layer with pattern, inevitably evolved.  

Today I included images of these 2D works from my scrub jaunts with some of the earrings I have been making.  Many of you have asked for a back story on these.

It's true that I primarily made my kooky boobs through the parameters of wishing to create less aluminium dust.  So I have die cut and domed these favourite colours.  I fiddle faddled and I played and being who I am, I drew comparisons to other things I am interested in.  They screamed BOOB at me! They also looked a bit like the eyes of kooky trees.  If you go through my archives on Instagram, you will find that I do have a little bit of a penchant to anthropomorphise some of the trees in the scrub.  

I have noticed kooky faces.  They may be human or animal, but to me they hold the potential to be kooky tricksters, enjoying their interaction with the unaware passersby. 

The latest collection is very simple.  Simple through a series of necessities.  Previously I have cut aluminium and used a dust extractor or a mask to minimise my exposure to this dust.  When my extractor stopped working about 2 years ago, I stopped working.

Since then I have found an alternative where I still get to enjoy the magic of the colours but no dust is produced.  Die cutting and doming. 

I have quite a few ideas to explore using not only the doming technique, but also utilising older components I have already cut out, in new works.

Its been a while

Oh the power of this mama!!!!

Sala is on!!!

I love SALA opening weekend, so so much to see and do.

 I'd love to see so many of the gorgeous faces of the land of southern art at 'The Pleasure of all things", at Hardy's Tintara winery main road McLaren vale 2-4pm  to be  opened by Anthony Steel AM 

Oh, and here are my spongy petals :)

www.kimthomsonjewellery.com

I have a brand spanking new website, glee!!!

Click on the link above to check it out :)

Sequins!!!

The Stories from the pot have been overflowing of late and exuding delectably wondrous patterns of old.

All handmade and hand scratched in Aldinga Beach Australia.

Showing Saturday July 12th at the

Willunga Artisan Market

9am till 1pm

Here's a fantastic new market about to open in the city.  

I gotta  love a market whose mantra is;

 explore unique, shop boutique, appreciate artisan, live bohemian, be eco friendly

I'm getting very excited!!

Haji @ Habitat playhouse 27th of December 2013

Hi everyone, 

This is going to be a stunning and intimate event with Haji Basim.

A mult-instumentalist, singer songwriter, who has created a new genre of acoustic music called Urban Folk. Haji Basim has played heavily across the US and has just returned (3/15/13) from an international tour where he played Tonsburg and Oslo, Norway, as well as Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne, Australia. He draws comparisons to such memorable acts as Richie Havens, Jack Johnson, and John Legend. With the vocal quality of Sting and Seal. Haji's past bills include Mieka Pauley and Ray Lamontagne. 

Haji is a superb musician who is connected to spirit, love and life and beautifully and eloquently expresses this through his craft.  Habitat playhouse is incredibly honoured to be hosting Haji for the the first of a series of monthly house concerts at Habitat Playhouse. 

We also have the pleasure of being able to provide;

Fox Creeks' delectable wines, and

sumptuous vegan goodies from Studio Voodoo

There will also be Chai and Beer available

Please bring a blanket and cushions for sitting on.

Hope to see you there 

Happy days

Kim

:)

'Harvest'

Makers associated with all that is Urban Cow Studio celebrate its 20th Birthday this Wednesday night from 6pm.  Urban Cow is located on Frome Street Adelaide, between North Terrace and Rundle Street.  All artists were given a Haiku to inspire their works. Mine was;

Heard, not seen

The camelia poured rainwater

When it leaned

Love to see you there :)

The SALA award winning Fijian Wayfinder

Well in a couple of hours 'Striking a Chord' will be in full swing!! So, here is my final installment before the opening, The Fijian Wayfinder.  This work is based upon the visual language of a combination of artefacts relating to Fijian and Western style navigation.  It also won the SALA Jam Factory Contemporary Design and Craft Award, yipee!! We are all getting super excited hope to see you all there.

General Manager of SALA Penny Griggs to open Striking a Chord

The Australian Strainer

We are extremely excited to have Penny Griggs General Manager of the SALA festival gracing our doors to open our exhibition tomorrow.  Come on by to view the Australian Strainer and other great pieces from Shelley Hughes and Westley Tulley at 5:30 pm

A sneak peek at some moody bluesy wintry ear clinkers

It's getting closer, looking forward to seeing all of your lovely faces on Saturday evening for some fantastic art from Westley Tulley Shelley Hughes and yours truly at Fox Creek cellar door from 5:30 pm

Firefall and waterfall

I've been loving blending colours from the anodised aluminium saucepan lid mountain (see previous post) to create these warm and cool cascading earrings.  I am working towards achieving zero waste within my practice and one of the areas I have been looking at is the rim of the saucepan lid, which is the part that these little beauties used to belong to.  It fascinates me to think that these rims used to seal in the juices of some delectable meal, some maybe for years and years. 

If only they could talk.

 They have their own stories and meanings embedded within them, its up to you to continue the story.  See them at 'Striking a Chord'  Fox Creek cellar door, Malpas Road Willunga South Australia, 10-5 everyday.

Sustainability Strikes a Chord

Sunset 

The sunset Series.  Created using Sustainable Design principles

The sunset. Possibly the most poignant part of the day.  Its a time to shift gears and those gears are different for everyone.  For me, the time just before sunset is the perfect time to get out and connect with the natural world. These pieces are designed to recognise and celebrate this change of viewpoint, pace, colour and light.  The materials included in these works are powder-coated aluminium, anodised aluminium and recycled sterling silver. The Sunset series has travelled with me to numerous locales around the world and can now be seen in 'Striking a Chord' at the Fox Creek Cellar door from 2nd of July through to the 30th of August 2013.

Striking a Chord at Fox Creek Cellar Door

SALA is on again!! 

Striking a Chord.... How do three artists from such distinct disciplines put a show together? We struck a chord!! Our aptly titled exhibition combines the musical tone of paint by Shelley Hughes, sculptural installations of Bronze and wood by Westley Tully and the upcycled kineticism of jewellery and object by myself. With movement, metaphor and melody our works will sit together at the Fox Creek Cellar door until the end of August.  For a bit of a head start on SALA squizz, head on down to Fox Creek Cellar door on Malpas Road Willunga South Australia between 10-5 Monday to Sunday.

Absurd Machine Fun to be had at Chapel Hill

Today is the day the Flurioessence is opening!!! I am so excited to be exhibiting with some of the best  artists I have had the pleasure of meeting.  Brian O'Malley, Louise Vadasz, Craig Bowyer and Peter Stentiford are all South Australian artists exploring the beauty of our Fleurieu Peninsula, here in beautiful South Australia.

I have been tantalising folks on facebook with the notion of the function of the absurd machines and urging people to come and have a look at the exhibition opening today to find out.  The hint lies in my philosophical function for jewellery design and design for the planet, when you look at the end result, I ask you,  is it all absurd?

Flurioessence is being opened at 2pm today by Stephanie Johnson at Chapel Hill Winery, 1 Chapel Hill Road McLaren Vale.

Machines of Absurdity

What do they do these machines of absurdity??? What makes them so absurd? Are they really a machine or a concept? Hmmmmmm

Absurd machines

They spin, they turn, they enrapture but what do they really do?

The absurd machines have arrived at Chapel Hill Winery!!! I'm so happy to be part of the wonderful 'Flurioessence' Exhibition opening on Sunday the 22nd of July at 2pm. I'm exhibiting with Brian O'Malley, Louise Vadasz, Peter Stentiford and Craig Bowyer.  The exhibition is being opened by the enigmatic Stephanie Johnson, arts writer and publisher.  Come and find out the secrets behind the 'absurd machines', it may enthrall you... 

One lid a month project is gaining multi-level momentum

Here is the latest from the Midnight Blue lid series, introducing 'STARKISS'. Have you ever had a kiss where it was beyond physical?  It felt like you were drinking in the stars and they became a part of you and you them?  That is what 'STARKISS' is all about.  STARKISS and Midnight Kiss Midnight Eclipse both featured at the last Willunga artisan market and recieved great critical acclaim, evoking notions of whirling midnight whimsy in the arms of a delectable lover, how exciting it is for me to create works that encourage such deliciousness :)

I am very excited to have created these two works so far from this month's Midnight Blue saucepan lid.  I have pushed my design boundaries in terms of aesthetic and technique, and I am really feeling the momentum of this project kicking into gear.  There are officially two days to go to completely use all of the material from Midnight Blue, all kinds if quirky ideas are coming to mind :). The entire collection for this lid will be featured in a mystery gallery in Australia within the next two weeks. So stay tuned and see what romantic whimsies take my fancy :)

Midnight Kiss Midnight Eclipse

Fresh from the 'One lid a month' project is my new star, 

'Midnight Kiss, Midnight Eclipse'

 She's been lovingly crafted from the glorious Midnight Blue saucepan lid I chose three weeks ago, I've got half of it left and six days to use all of its material being in the form of new jewellery.  

The designs for this months range are based upon the notion of 'Midnight Blue', what does it mean? Also with Valentines day encroaching I saw this as a wonderful opportunity to think about romance, and how midnight blue can be incorporated into the concept of romance.

For these works I have largely drawn upon the movement of Art Nouveau, dancing, the moon, the stars and explosions of delight!!  I have also chosen to explore some new techniques and push the boundaries of old techniques, I am excited about creating more three dimensional works, and this piece is my first stepping stone down that path. 

With six days and half a lid to go, wish me luck folks :)

One big massive saucepan lid installation mountain

So, I've managed to save over 400 saucepan lids, cake tins, jelly moulds, kettles and cups all made from anodised or powder coated alluminium!! As a result of this collecting mania I am introducing a fabulous new challenge for myself.  I must use one saucepan lid per month, using the entire lid.  Thats all the metal, the plastic handle and the screw or rivet holding the handle.  The lid will be completely upcycled into works of jewellery which can be dismantled if need be, so the raw material can be recycled when the jewellery reaches the end of its life.  It's a big challenge, some have said I will be at this for many many years, well so be it!!! I love these pieces of treasure that normally end up in the dump.  I feel a tremendous sense of honour in breathing new life into such stunning gems.


Folks, the lid I have chosen this month is a lovely "Midnight Blue" number.  She's a powder coated lid, fairly modern I believe, with lovely flecks of glitter as you might see on a metallic car duco. At this stage the works are taking on a decidedly Art Nouveau feel.  The works and the process behind creating the works will be on show at the Willunga Artisan Market on the 11th of February, so if you are in the area, pop by to have a sqizz:)

Six in the light dance

six in the number used to unlock the secrets of the universe!

Dance Dance Dance with me!!

Swinging on the time needles

Saucepan lids and knitting needles swinging to the dance of time

Mind tanks turning

Dancing the time shift

Time shifting constantly, dancing around it creatively

seaweed pops underfoot, time swings from the hook

Circles completing the cycle

Movement of time and space in things, manifest the object.

The wheel of Ethics just keeps on turning

I'm wondering about the cycles

The Black Swan has just swanned into the room

Dada Deco

Its the Golden Grape Monkey!!

The Saucepan lids are in a permanent state of metamorphosis!!

Absolutely Sacred and Fabulous

Some people see owls, some see crop circles, some see pianos, but these little ear drops are sacred talismans to all :)

New Packaging Sooper excited!!

I've been folding like a woman obsessed and now I have some gorgeous upcycled packaging for my little talismans.  Made from a rescued Adventure book ( you can have extra camping tips) and some funky vintage wallpaper. Oh and because they are square there is no waste!! Uber Sooper Dooper cool!!

These are for sale!!

Flower of life earrings $99 plus postage and handling


These gorgie 'black' flower of life earrings are made from extremely rare black anodised alluminium saucepan lids, rescued from my local junk shop.  The buzz is that inspriation for this design contains the answers to the universe.... Stare at these for long enough and I'm sure something will come to you :)

Heres one of my little creatures...

See how the monkey swings!! :)

STAY TUNED FOR MORE RECENT IMAGES!!!

I have been hanging out in my studio, filing and sawing away with glee, listening to some pretty good audio books, so that I can produce a new collection of works. Alas the images are not on this computer at present but watch this space and pretty soon you will be astounded by my latest loverlies!!

I'm back!!

Its been nearly a whole year of heaps going up down and all around, but I am happy tosay that I am back with a vengeance!! I have an exhibition on at the Murray Bridge Regional Gallery till the end of the month, so if you are in that neck of the woods, go and check it out :)

I want to know the life of my works

Yes, it has been quite some time since I have posted anything on here, but i have been busy playing music, eating yum food and generally having fun!! Now I am back into the swing of things preparing for that Christmas rush!!

After a bit of a step outside of being a jeweller for a while, I was able to ponder... Wonder what happens to the peices of jewellery I make after I have made it??

All the works have unique stories of thier own before they even become jewellery. they have come from kitchenware, vintage jewellery and other miscellaneous sources, so they already have stories embedded in them before I even contemplate their new stories.

I would like to know the new stories of my works post purchase.

So if you have an interesting or not so interesting story to share about a piece of jewellery you have purchased from me or seen in a shop or something, please post it on my blog or drop me an email kimthomsonjewellery@gmail.com.

Happy sunny days

Cheers

Kim

Moody Blues

Feeling Frilly in the moody Blues of winter :)

New and fresh jewellery from the house of Kim!!

New work

Green

Wearable

Ethical

Yummy!!

The Coorong June 21 2007

I wonder where I will be for this years winter solstice?

peppermint pipeline

so invigorated even in the day workies, more keeps happening, flow

VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!

I have been coming up with a new range of amazing designs which are busting to jump off of the page onto a lovely anodised saucepan lid and turn themselves into dazzling bundles of sumptuous beauty!!

Post Perth Feels Good!!

stay tuned folks

What a wonderful week!!

Have had one of the best weeks ever!!

Post birthday party, no work, no stress, caught some amazing waves, went for a great swim today and enjoyed hanging out with my nine year old niece splashing some paint around and flinging those rubber things kids put on pencils up at the cieling fan with a soup ladle. I've been listening to some cool jamaican soul beats as well and made up some nice riffs on the bass, could turn into a nice little ditty! I am also enjoying taking my time design wise on some new saucepan lid creations, a bit of the paint splashing I think was an inspiration.

Happy Friday the 5th xoxo

Happy 2010!!! Yihaa

To all of the jewellers out there, I wish you all a safe, productive, ethical and exciting 2010, and to all the non-jewellers I wish you all a safe, prosperous, ethical and exciting new year :)

Hoping everyones biggest hopes and dreams come true !!

LOVE YOUR JEWELLERY!!!

Best Wishes

Kim Thomson
Kim Thomson Jewellery

Hand Cut Goodies!!

All of my works are hand cut, hand made, hand just about everything!!(I use an electric drill). This means that I get to watch the transformation of the metal right under my fingertips. Makes for a pretty nice connection with the works, and it gives me immense joy at the knowledge that folks are out there enjoying them.

Stay tuned for some more sundew pieces!!

More works available at Kim Thomson Jewellery

The Owls have been hooting outside my window telling me to get on the net and post these images of their lovely new friends. Should you wish to purchase any of these items, please contact me via email kimthomsonjewellery@gmail.com or phone / SMS 0450736546 to place any orders. Please leave a name and contact number.

Happy Happy's



Wise Owlie Brooches $85 each

New Collection of works at Red Poles

This latest sereies of works in an interpretation of geometry in three main forms. Namely, sacred geometry, islamic geometry and kinetic geometry as used by troupes such as Cirque de Soleil. These works are currrently on show at Red Poles in Mclaren Vale as part of Showtime. Please visit Red Poles at http://www.redpoles.com.au/.

Flower of Life earrings $180

Geo 2 $185

Geo 1 $185

Great new works available from Kim Thomson Jewellery!

Khaki Spooky ol tree brooch
$85




Spooky ol trees brooch


$85




Dusky Dendrite Pendants
$45




White Butterfly, from the White bug series
$85






sundews in Brooches or earrings
$125



Unified Sea Grapes $125

The freckles in my Eyes reflect the freckles of my world

$125