A Boy called Hilda.

This week I thought I'd introduce you to one of my favourite photographic props. It's the tale of a boy called Hilda.

 

'Hilda' was one of the myriad of antiques/objets d'art/bits of tat my mother used to collect when she retired from work. As well as some wonderful beads and pieces of broken antique jewellery; that's for another day. 

 

Hilda is a beautifully carved native head in a solid hardwood, well polished by age. 'She' had pride of place on one of my mum's many cabinets, and when my kids were younger they always used to turn 'her' head towards the door as they left and tell my mum it would afford her protection from robbers while she slept. So it became a bit of a tradition, and when Hilda passed to me we always made sure 'she' was facing the door in our home. And yes, touch wood, we have never been burgled.

 

You will, of course, all have noticed that 'she' is male, but my mum would never have it and so 'Hilda' stuck. I'm guessing he's from some S. American tribe - but if anyone can enlighten me please do.

 

Hilda has provided an atmospheric backdrop to many, many pairs of tribal style earrings  and I wouldn't be without 'her'!

 

 

 The earrings this week I've called 'Arrowhead'. I imagine Hilda with a bow and arrows, maybe with tips poisoned with curare! The dramatic arrowhead shaped ceramics in green and bronze are by one of my favourite ceramic artists Mari Carmen Rodriguez Martinez and I've wired them to beaten wrapped oxidised copper rings by Irish metal artist Colleen Campbell. Faceted pyrite chunks echo the bronze cast to the ceramics, and they hang from fab beaten copper circular earwires made for me by Lucy Haslam.

 

Have you a favourite photographic prop to share with us? Or maybe you could think about using them a little more - they can provide great atmosphere and add meaning to your work. 

 

See you next time

 

Lindsay x

 

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We're All Ears :: January Reveal :: Greenery

Heather Powers of Humblebeads does an annual event called the Muffin Tin Challenge. The idea is to gather supplies to work on some projects and place them in the openings of a muffin tin. This is a great way to kickstart your creativity and get you back to creating in the new year after all the hubbub of the holidays has died down.

I didn't grab a muffin tin...I actually say that my entire studio is like a giant muffin tin....but I did manage to trip over trays of beads, muffin tin style, as I was attempting to clean up. So while I didn't really follow the muffin tin part of the challenge, I did use beads that I had lying around to kick-start my creative new year. Actually, I keep a sort of rotating muffin tin challenge happening all the time...when I get new art beads I comb my stash for the perfect accompaniments and put them in a bin or tray for me to stumble on at some later time, a ready-made creative challenge!

I first decided on a few of the palettes that Pantone selected for the Color of the Year: Greenery. Then I started with art beads and grabbed complementary beads that were on each palette. My only requirement was that a fresh shade of green had to be in each pair of earrings. I didn't quite make a whole tray full of muffins, but I did end up making seven pairs. Yea, me!

Which pairing is your favorite?

Time for you to share what you made! This bright cheery green makes me joyful that Spring is not that far off! Let's make 2017 a year of creative joy!