Wednesday 23 November 2016

The West Ward Works Brooch and Some Recent Commissions

In May this year I took part in a Craft Scotland Meet Your Maker Event at Scottish Jewellery Week.  The event was hosted by Dundee Design Festival in the old DC Thomson's print works building West Ward Works.  This was where the DC Thomson annuals were printed; the Beano, Dandy, The Broons and Oor Wullie to name a few. I was asked to design and make a piece of jewellery responding to the festival and I choose to make a brooch inspired by the building itself.  I was fascinated with it's history, it's size and being a Beano fan the fact that so many pages of happiness would have been printed and spread all over the world from that building.  I loved the layers of what was left of the building which held the secrets of the things that happened inside. Read the interview here


The brooch will be auctioned online to raise money for ARCHIE Foundation's Tayside Children's Hospital Appeal, the same charity as benefited from the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail. It will be on display at Tea Green's Christmas Pop Up Shop in The Old Flour Mill in Dundee from 26th November where bidding will open until 21st December, bids can be made in a silent auction box or online and will close at 8pm on the 21st.

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I'm now busy helping Santa with some bespoke commissions and making some new Kilt Pins which will be ready to buy in time for Christmas. I'll leave a list of where you'll be able to find my work over the next few weeks at the bottom but meanwhile, feast your eyes on some recently commissioned pieces and if you have an idea yourself for a bespoke piece of jewellery in time for Christmas then now is the time to get your orders in! Read the 'Commission a Kilt Pin' page on my website and send me an email, or see what I have in stock in my online shop...and for more inspiration check out my gallery of bespoke jewellery here 

Kilt Pin and Earrings for Calum and Laura
designed as recognition of their commitment to the MacKenzie Caledonian Pipe Band

Bennachie Kilt Pin
with labrador, sheep and date notches

Bagpipe Kilt Pin
a stylised bagpipe with African Blackwood from an old set of bagpipes and the owners initials BW

Edinburgh Skyline
with music and Roman numerals

Kilt Pins for The Gang
for the groom and his groomsmen made to their own design

Mackintosh Rose and Music Brooch
a 60th birthday present with date notches and sapphire 

Moffat Hills Kilt Pin
view from the wearer's wedding day with date notches and photo-etched map

Sail Kilt Pin with River Thames
with date notches and textured silver

Celtic Cross Pendant
with peridot

JJ Bagpipe Kilt Pin
for a piper with the first letters from his and wife's names


Wren Kilt Pin
blade and plate design with customer's family emblem

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CHRISTMAS STOCKISTS

You can find my work in the following places in the run up to Christmas....there is limited stock in each so please enquire before you visit if you are looking for a specific item. 

DUNDEE

Location - Tea Green Concept Atelier Pop Up, The Old Flour Mill, Exchange Court
Dates - 26th Nov - 24th Dec
What's there? - Special edition Oor Wullie Colour In Jewellery collaborations, Thritty Pings, Men's jewellery (tie slides and kilt pins), pieces from my Oddgon Collection, a collection of silver rings for men and women.... and the West Ward Works Brooch will be on display to bid for.

Location - Pretty Fly Workshop, Broughty Ferry
Dates - all
What's there? - Biocube and Oddgon & Angular Jewelley, Triangulate Kilt Pins and a Dundee Skyline Kilt Pin

Location - Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA), Perth Road
Dates - all
What's there? - Man Pins

PERTH

Location - Tayberry Gallery, Princes Street
Dates - all
What's there? - Biomorph Jewellery, Kilt Pins, Man Pins, Twist Rings and Thritty Pings

GLASGOW

Location - Tea Green Christmas Market, Kibble Palace, Botanic Gardens
Dates - 10th - 11th Dec
What's there? - Oddgon Jewellery, Thritty Pings, Man Pins, Men's jewellery (tie slides in wood and silver, Kilt Pins and silver rings), Christmas and greetings cards


I am still taking orders for bespoke jewellery and Kilt Pins in time for Christmas, but please get your orders in fast to guarantee delivery under your tree!

I wish everyone a cosy and happy winter, have a jolly time folks!