Some of my casting work

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Thanks to a friend

                                                    

 

And some polymer Clay





And then a reverse polymer Clay check

My vision is nearly complete.

Other Lives Earrings- Ancient Egypt



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 casting in ArtClay Copper!!
 I find easier and safer to carry out when casting alone.-
These pure copper portraits have been outlined using low fire China Enamel and reflect my renewed interest in Ancient Egypt sparked by a friends visit to the Melbourne King Tutankhmun Exhibition and the wonderful books that I was gifted as a result

Bush Maiden Brooch - if at first you don't succeed try again - Establishing Your Art Concepts can be difficult




Bush Maiden Brooch
Created as a tribute to the early Romantic painters of the 1800's (some of whom never visited NZ) who visualised New Zealand as a lush tropical paradise populated by beautiful maidens, ( and visualised/painted  men in Roman type toga's and young Maori women in bonnets with European features) But who also had early Christian ideas (and maybe fantasies) about converting the whole of New Zealand to European Christianity.
It was also a tribute to my Father's stories of The Bush Maidens who lonely Miners and Hunters might imagine populated the New Zealand Bush in the early European pioneering days.
I understand there are even earlier Maori legends of a pale skinned Fairy people who (as in European legends)sometimes lived with mortal spouses for a period of time and this may be a very interesting aspect to research.


The Bush Maiden Brooch is a combination of acid - etched Brass/ painted/fired with low fIreChina painting enamel "paint" and riveted onto a handmade (and pressed) copper brooch back.
Bush Maiden was rejected for Exhibition when first offered to its first Exhibition - but I took some advice and represented it in a different format and when presented to a  second Exhibition it was awarded a third prize


So all of you out there struggling to have your work recognised - don't give up! especially if you are really pleased with something - it may be necessary to look at your work from a different perspective (or get someone else too) occassionally but keep trying!!

An angel at my side Brooch

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A 'mixed Media riveted jewellery piece
Recycled copper, Recycled Stainless Steel, Sterling silver - "found" Object - Conceived, designed and handmade by Marian Brandish

Tui Iconic Earrings Beauty from recycled unwanted materials

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"In a New Zealand Garden" pendant Sterling silver, Image magic, copper, Adventurine

Designed and created by Marian Brandish

In a New Zealand Garden there are many birds and plants from many other lands - a reflection of the richness of New Zealand culture and heritage gained over the years from the many different peoples who have made NZ their home.

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                                                            A Closer view of the pendant

The Lost Children Pendant

Two views of the latest in the AngelWatch pendant series

Angel Watch over all the Lost children in this world and keep them safe

now available from  

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Bee Garden Brooch

 

 

 

 

 

'The Muse pendant' sterling silver, copper, image magic

 

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Angel Watch pendant Series Angel Watch over our Earth (Trees)

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Demonstrates the Endless possibilities of riveting work - in this case recycled button, china Enamel coated brass and pure copper all riveted with sterling silver.

AngelWatch Brooch Series: Angel Watch over our time in this beautiful world

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Thank-you so much - A brooch made for me by a very gifted and thoughtful friend - at a very sad time

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Recently I suffered two major bereavements - today I received this beautiful brooch made by a very gifted and talented friend. It is just so appropriate and beautifully made and makes me feel supported and cared for. Thank-you so much.

Portrait of a Flower

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New Zealand Deer / Bambi and Mum -Pure Silver and Recycled Copper Brooch

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The next in my New Life/ life renewed /the spirit inside series.
This is what I used to see every spring courtesy of our neighbours, whose deer lived in huge paddocks far from roads and crowds with gulleys and bush patches to hide their fawns in - until quite suddenly they all emerge - tiny dainty litle creatures.
Their social structure is amazing - with the Spring races between the fawns with Hinds audibly "cheering them on" it was great to see.

Blue Lace agate on recycled copper

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Just made for fun!
They are not riveted, but are attached with sterling silver and the little stones can move around if gently turned.

"White Herons" - Interpreting New Zealand Landscape and Fauna a different way

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Under this image is a 'New Zealand' pattern imprinted into the silver - in the right lights it shows through - Created at Sherri Haab's course recently this piece reflects some of my thoughts on how New Zealand is made up of a mixture of cultures and viewpoints - overlying, overlapping, how maybe many New Zealanders may be seeing things a different way from different cultural and educational backgrounds. It has found it's real owner.

Designing from Nature Balmoral Forest New Zealand Designs April 2011

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Some folk have asked where I get my ideas for designs - well like most of us lots of places I guess but one of the aspects I use a lot in my work is  outlines

" Ask and you will receive"

I once asked a  Drawing tutor how to find/make my own designs.

He suggested I look at the outlines of nature for design ideas.

He said "even if people do think you're weird walking around Christchurch gazing up at all the beautiful trees" there (and there are a lot of them)....

These Pine bark and cone shapes were available in their 100's on the ground at the Balmoral Reserve in April - just a few scattered on a white sheet of paper, photographed - gave so many ideas...
and then you can put your photos on the computer - bigger/smaller/ upside down, overlaid with other shapes
etc etc

P.S. Something I use if the ideas don't come straight away is to pin up in my studio some photos or the physical objects that "intigue" me- putting them on my laptop background for a week or two often helps too.

The ideas seem to "sneak" into my subconscious. Then I use a notebook to record those first ideas and often just let them "build' or develop for a few more days.

By then I usually have "itchy" fingers and simply have to have a first"go" at creating them.. although my process is pretty fluid and I often let  the process take control of the idea - it always seems to come out better (I think) than if I try to insist that the materials do exactly what I want.....

Thanks to my Course with Sherri Haab in Christchurch - I will soon be making.Images like these....

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Thanks to all those

That came to see my work at the Winchester, New Zealand Swop Meet on Saturday 2nd April
It was great to see some customerfriends I  already know and to meet some new ones
There were also some terrific artists, craftspeople and cars...

I will be in Nelson, New Zealand and Christchurch New Zealand over the next couple of weeks and will have some pieces of work with me -  if anyone wants to contact me while I am there please just E-mail on this blogsite.
I will be attending acclaimed Tutor Sherri Haab's classes in Christchurch
I understand that there are still some places available at these fabuloue jewellery/artclay workshops
http://www.artclaynz.co/ are the people to contact if you are interested in a great learning experience in these fields!

My Kakanui Mountains (New Zealand) Sunset photo - If I paint it will anyone believe the colours?

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"The Grass Alien dances No2" Lewis Pass New Zealand

Seen closer up - it is not so surreal - presumably an accident with the wire - or did some Artist do it on purpose to intrigue passers-by?

"The Grass Alien Dances No1 "Lewis Pass New Zealand

Seen from a distance a damaged piece of No.8 fencing wire became an inadvertant work of Art.

The Peace Lily - when words can't say it sometimes you can create it.

Just lately two Earhquakes,the deaths and injuries, the loss and pain of so many .
At the same time The death of a long-time friend, two serous accidents to friends.
Words just don't do it
but this design came - I think I will make more, lighter and darker, bigger and smaller.
This one is a brooch - I wore for the first time today to a hospital.

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Deepest Sympathy to Japan and all its People.

Words cannot say how sorry I am for the tragedies that have afflicted the Japanese people since the Earthquake there.
Please, I wish to express my deepest sympathy to all affected and to say that my thoughts and prayers (and those of many people I know) are with you amazingly brave people.

Amethyst Wood Angel Amethyst,Sterling Silver &pure silver Handmade chain

So sorry Dear Christchurch City

My deepest sympathies to the beautiful City where I found my creative soul and to all those people and their families that helped to provide me with the skills and expertise I needed to express myself creatively.
To all the children and families I worked with in the time that I was there - God Bless you - keep yourselves safe - all my thoughts and hopes are with you.
MrsB

Atlan - viewed from the shores of 'the mainland" Earrings - Recycled Copper and tin riveted with silver





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Also inspired by the Atlan Book series by Jane Gaskell

Paua Summer In New Zealand

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Recycled cast copper and copper

New Zealand paua and Sterling Silver

Icon of today!! The coffee cup - with attitude!! Design for a Stamp! in Acryllic and Medium. Venetian style

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The Royal Friend- Eternal Egypt series and Dragon with Amethyst and Tourmaline (Dragon Jewellery)

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Etched with Nitric Acid on Sterling Silver
 and set with Lapis Lazuli stone
Display only

Etched with Nitric acid on recycled copper
Outined with low fired china enamel
Set with Amethyst and Tormaline Cabachons
Has Earrings to match

Copper Dog, Red Dog, The Irish Setter Brooch - Now living in Canterbury, New Zealand.

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Now living with a terrific  couple who breed and raise wonderful Irish Setters in New Zealand,
they also take in and care for dogs of all shapes and sizes and yes they have cats too
There really are some great people out there!

Maple Leaf Earrings - Cast Copper Clay - Sterling Silver Hooks

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A bouquet for you - Cast Copper Clay and China Enamel

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Soul Dancer 1 stud Earrings- New Zealand Recycled copper jewellery (sterling silver earring pins)

http://artjewellerybymarianb.blogspot.com/Does your soul ever feel like dancing? Mine did when I attempted to capture Joy in carved, patinaed copper.

Our World Brooches - Sterling Silver jewellery, Recycled Copper, Etched, Hand cut, patinaed,

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There's Gold in them Thar Hills" Brooch - Sterling silver and gold jewellery

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"Look at that caveman go" Brooch - Human destruction of other species heralds human extinction.

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"Watching the Gecko's walk free" Copper Brooch - Cast Copper, Riveted Silver, Paua

A commemorative brooch to celebrate retrieving of NZ Geckos from  gecko smugglers and the geckos subsequent re release into their natural habitat.

Past Images - moulds created by MEB - cast in copper clay Private Collection

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Flower Maid Sculptural Brooch 1 Recycled Copper, Handpainted (and fired) China Enamel Art Jewellery

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Mother and daughter Brooch NFS ,Recycled Copper, Brass and Polymer Clay

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Jewelled Gecko copper cast Sculpture-

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Part of a solid copper wedding anniversary plaque . Please see below for the evolutionary process-and just to note that of course no harm came to any living Gecko through this process - the lively looking little green fellow below is actually a model too.