Rough greenware clay, the beginnings of small Desert Rose pieces to go on a plate.

The Friendship Project

I am honoured to have been asked to make a collection of gifts for a group of friends, who find themselves all over the world. Connected by friendship and respect for each other. Always.

This was a very exciting project for me. Not only was it truly an international project, but I was asked to make a piece of jewellery paired with a jewellery plate, customized for each recipient. This project helped me to learn and perfect ‘pinch plates’, and underglaze painting in porcelain. As well, as always – I feel honoured to have been able to create these pieces for this fabulous group of women.

Desert Rose

A feminine approach to a three dimensional plate, and silver pendant of the recipient’s favourite flower. The large space on the side of the plate allows for earrings or pendants to hang for organized storage.

Desert Rose Plate, and silver pendant
Desert Rose Porcelain Plate, with one pierced plate-wall.
Two fingers holding the finished wax carving of a desert rose pedant.
Wax flower carving, with design on paper in background, resting on a bench pin.
Green wax blank with graphite flower design transferred to the surface, a jewellers saw in the foreground.

Tennis Court

Mix and match stud earrings for a tennis enthusiast. I felt that the plate would be too overwhelmingly green if I made it true to life, so I took some poetic licence and inverted the colour scheme of the court.

Two fingers holding a pair of silver tennis racquets.
Porcelain tennis court Plate, with silver stud earrings on the net. Earrings: racquets and tennis balls.
Detail of porcelain Tennis Plate, with two pairs of silver earrings displayed on the net. Earrings: Tennis Racquets, Tennis Balls
Green wax tennis racquet carving resting on the tip of a finger, resting on a bench pin.

Tuscany Landscape

A copy of the painting of Tuscany, that this Friend worked on over the course of months. I was able to create (an inferior) copy on this small rectangular plate. This was quite a challenge, as the underglaze must be applied in three layers and isn’t true to the colour it will become once fired. I was honoured to copy this piece, that was so lovingly painted.

Porcelain plate being held infront of the original painting inspiration.
Detail of a hand painted porcelain plate.
Underglaze being painted on a greenware porcelain plate.

Piglet

This Sweet little critter! A pinch-plate of the outside shape of the piglet was created, and then a painted in underglaze. I just thought this little one was so cute – I used the same piglet gesture to carve and cast a silver lapel pin.

Hand painted porcelain Piglet plate, with same piglet silver pin, resting on the plate on the top left.
Piglet pin wax carving resting on the tip of one finger.
Piglet painted in underglaze, being held by a hand, in front of glaze tiles.
Piglet design on paper, beside porcelain plate of that design.

Taipei 101

A sculptural plate, carved in greenware: the map of Taiwan outlined, and a rough texture carved into the surface. The architectural detail on the side was meant to quote Taipei 101, and also allow for a place where earrings or necklaces could be hung from. The creamy colour is the natural colour of the clay body.

Silver Taipei 101 earrings on porcelain plate.
Off white porcelain plate with a yellow map of Taipei, a geometric shape pierced into one side.
Wax carving or Taipei 101 (with wax dust in negative spaces), resting on a jewellers bench pin.
Greenware Taipei plate being made

A gift for Rose

Mishima technique, or inlay with underglaze.

The lines are carved in greenware, underglaze applied in layers and allowed to dry, and then gently scraped to reveal the carving.

Porcelain losange-shaped plate with a rose inlayed in it's surface.
Rose engraved on the front of a greenware plate, with underglaze scraped off.
Rose engraved on the front of a greenware plate, with underglaze, being held by a hand.
Rose engraved on the front of a greenware plate.