Metaxia's Jewellery

Platinum Pendant

2009-08-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

This years Platinum theme was based on different marriage cultures. We had a list to choose from..... I chose marriage in the Greek Culture.

I based my inspiration on "stefana"- crown-like wreaths that symbolise the holiness and unity of the bride and the groom. The priest joins the stefana with ribbon to represent the life-long commitment between husband and wife.

This was only the second platinum piece that I have manufactured so it was quite tricky at first but managed to get along happily. As with every other deadline there is always a little bit of a mad rush.... a few late nights....a couple of extra coffees....... BUT I was ready and on time for our hand in.

As we were handing our pieces in for the courier company to collect them we were told that there was in fact a two week extension! AAAAAAAA!!!!! So now I've decided to make another piece....this time a ring. :)

www.metaxia.com

2009-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Here it is........ www.metaxia.com
Yay!

Backstage Fun

2009-06-25T05:19:00.000-07:00

I was asked to help out backstage for a recent De Beers fashion show.......awesome! I have always wanted to see what goes on backstage and everything that happens to prepare.

The dresses were by Lunar and the jewellery was from the Shining Light Awards latest collection. As you can see I look like a midget next to the models. Not only did security arrived with the jewellery but with massive guns too! I got such a fright. haha:)

I had the chance to look at all the winning pieces up close. I helped by putting the jewellery on the models and obviously off after the show.

Everything went by really quickly.......times really does fly when you're having fun! Who wouldn't with all those diamonds?

"Just Rings"

2009-06-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to be invited to exhibit a few of my rings at the "Just Rings" exhibition taking place at the Artisan Contemporary Gallery in Durburn.

The opening is tonight and will be running for the next month. I look forward to seeing what comes out of the experience.

Sanlam SA Fashion Week

2009-06-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Just three months left and I'm off to Sanlam SA Fashion Week. yay:) So now there's no time to waste......I must design and manufacture to have a full, beautiful space that will hopefully attract many customers.

To speed the manufacturing process up I've decided to incorporate some casting. The cast piece will form part of the piece, not necessarily the entire piece.

Giuseppe Zanotti Embellished heel pumps

2009-05-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

I am in love with these heels!

Buckle Up

2009-04-21T08:23:00.001-07:00

Since my thesis is based on jewellery and fashion integration I chose that my next project should be shoe related......my favourite!

This buckle use to be a plastic button that my mom use to keep in her sewing kit since I was 7. I loved the button forever which explains why I cast it.

I need to make another one for the other shoe but I only had that one :( I'll attempt a silicone model next week to make a mould of it.

The shoes that the buckles are going on are a pair of stilhetto gladiator shoes that you see in the picture. The colour of the shoes will have to change....or maybe gold plate the buckles???? I'm not too sure yet. What do you guys think?

Buttons Complete

2009-04-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

Yay i have finished the buttons. I made 9 in total....3 on each sleeve and 3 in the front.

Although I originally intended on making round buttons i ended up making angular shapes that formed a triangle and others that were triangles on their own. I wanted to make square ones but oh my goodness what a nightmare! I started hating my setsquare and was throwing my tools out my bench so u scrapped the idea of perfect squares! MissioN! But i will attempt perfect geometry in future designs.

I've left the surface to be scratched. I oxidised them and left quite a bit of the black on the top surface but Theresa (4th yr classmate) pointed out in the crit that things were looking a little too busy with the intense fabric, the lace and the black so I made them shiny. I agree with her, they look much nicer on the jacket now:)

Marike (fashion designer) is very happy with the end result, she says the buttons create an edgy feeling to the jacket. My interpretation of the garment was an unexpected surprise.

Fabric Shopping

2009-04-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

Marike and I went fabric shopping 2 weeks ago....it was very exciting. I learned quite a few things about all the different layers needed to make dresses. Marike and I brainstormed and came up with two designs for beautiful dresses :) For the black lace dress I'll be designing and manufactring bold earrings, a cuff, and a ring. The second dress is a stunning electric blue number. The jewellery piece for this garment is going to be a big one :)

The Starting Point

2009-03-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

My thesis is based on fashion and jewellery integration. I'll be working with a fashion designer by the name of Marike Victor.

To start off I've taken one of her feminine Victorian inspired jackets she designed and made in her final year of studying. My plan is to start off by making buttons. The button that's on currently on is what Marike used. I'm working on different variations, the plan is for all 13 to be different.

De Beers - Shining Light Awards 2008/2009

2009-02-28T08:05:00.000-08:00

What an experience! I cannot begin to explain what a rewarding, humbling feeling it is as a designer to have your design actually manufactured and displayed at such a prestigous event. I kept pinching myself to see if I was dreaming.

The De Beers Shining Light Collection was launched on the 26th Feb at the Radisson Hotel, Sandton.

I don't quite know where to begin........ As young SA designers we are so privileged to have these opportunities presented to us. I thought that something like this would always remain a dream but after this experience I have learned that ANYTHING is possible.

I urge young designers to take part in such competitions…..you may be the next to be sitting in the front row watching your design being showed to the world. And even if it doesn’t happen right away, doesn’t mean it won’t happen at all.

Being a student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology has taught me the fundamentals of design, drawing and manufacturing process. Supportive classmates, friends and family have been my rock and I am forever grateful to them.

This magical experience has reassured me that I am in the right direction. My doubts of being in this field have vanished. There where I was wandering “what on earth am I doing in the jewellery industry, is my work good enough, should I leave the course”……..and then suddenly this happened! I know that many students sit wandering “is this uphill battle worth it?” Yes it is. Many people think that jewellery design and manufacture is a walk in the park, but we know it is most definitely not! We sweat blood and tears….but then something clicks and we come to realize how it is so worth it.

I hope that through this message other students and designers realize that amazing, magical moments happen and that it is SO possible to accomplish whatever it is that you set your mind to!

Monkey Business

2009-02-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

While I was walking on the beach I found a very unusual looking seed pod. So I decided to cast it the way it was and hope for the best. I wish I had taken photos of the bizarre looking tree I sprued up. The cast never worked....besides the fact that there was a small issue with the sunction while preparing the investment, I never left the seed pod to get bone dry before I invested. This caused a very messy looking piece that had WAY too much cleaning up to do. Off I went to the nursery to find out what seed pod it was.....Monkey Ball is it's name. haha :) I managed to find tons of them just around the block. Monkey Ball heaven!!!!!! I cast the one seed the way it was and cleaned out all the "stuff" out of the insides of the other. Besides all the faffing and procrastinating the cast came out really well. The fact that these two new pods were completly dry helped so much in the burning out process.

Wooded Inspiration

2009-02-12T03:50:00.000-08:00

So I went on holiday in January reminding myself that fourth year is going to be a great one right from the beginning..............not a month before moderation. hee hee :)I'm using these two images as the start of my inspiration for my next project. I'll keep you posted...

Pearly Poppy

2009-02-12T03:26:00.000-08:00

These formed part of my final collection for third year. I found inspiration from lily pads and poppy flowers. I rivetted fresh water pearls in the one and soldered little silver balls in both. These are my favourites. :)

Leaf Ring

2009-02-12T00:37:00.000-08:00

This ring was one of my final pieces for third year. I was inspired by the veins on different leaves. I soldered veins onto the first layer. The middle leaf has been pierced out and has soldered veins on its other side. The third leaf is simply pierced out. I then put an inner sleeve to join them all up. This ring is made from sterling silver and gave it an antique finish by oxidising it.

Butterfly Neckpiece

2009-02-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

This neckpiece was inspired by the Art Nouveau period. I designed the piece in such a way to maintain the floral symmetry which is common in the Art Nouveau style however keeping it modern. I designed it using Rhino, cut it with the Roland wax cutting machine, cast it and then sat at my bench for hours cleaning it up. I hand made the butterfly by flypressing and set two moonstones as the body. The chain is handmade. I used a 2mm rod to make the jumprings.