A few pieces of jewellery.....

Teaching

Jewellery in the Making

First week in the Workshop

The first weeks teaching was really exciting as all my four students all took to metal work really quickly. They have shown excellent dexterity and ability to work intricately. I taught them jewellery basics- piercing, filing, drilling and a bit of wire work.

The New Workshop

I have spent the last few weeks resurching materials and develpoing ideas for the jewellery project. Focus on combining mozaic with metal work. This will allow the jewellery to be sold along side the established mozaic workshop, as well as utalising the girls exsisting skill.

I am in the process of setting up the jewellery workshop in artist studios in Kathmandu, teaching begins on Tuesday. I spent today making benchpegs and fixing them to the desks. Which took a ridiculosly long time. The space is also being used for a print making project.

The workshop looks a bit empty at the moment but im sure it will be really busy soon!

Rolling Mills

Just walking down one of the side streets in Patan i came across a workshop making silver sheet and wire. It was really noise and all the mills spinning at top speed.

Sunita's Story

Sunita's Story,
A video about one of the Mozaic Artists who was resuced by the Esther Benjamin Trust.

www.youtube/watch?v=rR1jptNpJdM&feature=related

First Week

After a warm welcome i spent my first week in Kathmandu in with the other volunteers in the Esther Benjamin Trust. I supported photographer Amy McDonald with her portrait project and settling into life in Nepal. Also visiting the mosaic workshop where the young people work.

Today i discovered some of the local craftsmen at work in the shops in the Patan area of the city; creating amazing work with traditional methods. (right, is a jeweller forging gold hoop earrings and bellow is a man raising and chasing a statue of a Hindu god from copper sheet.) I also found base metal suppliers and a jewellery tool shop.

I am currently developing ideas for a sustainable jewellery designs based on the materials available in this part of the world.

Video

This is a link to a video made by the Esther Benjamin Trust...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQu8KYqKhY

Strip the Willow

Hello ... Welcome to my blog!

I am heading off to Nepal in a few short weeks. I will be working with the Esther Benjamin Trust in there craft workshop, teaching jewellery skills. The trust rescue and rehabilitate children and young people. The girls i will be working with have been saved from slavery in the circus. The craft workshop provides vocational training and a means of income.

I wonted to thank everyone who attended the Ceilidh Night! It was a great success, i hope you all had a blast! Thanks you all for your generosity and a especially those who help out.