Final Major Project!!

Ive been working up at Warbla Forge metal works for the second week now and the fabrication of the VQ chaise benches is coming on well. I secured the commission to make two of these benches just before Easter and have just over three weeks to complete the project, firstly to meet my deadline at uni and also to have the benches displayed in my end of year exhibition, then for them to be delivered to the 'Victoria Quarter' shopping centre in Leeds. This is by far the biggest most prestigious project I've worked on thus far in my career and I'm really pleased with the way the metal frames are coming on and can not wait to get them into my workshop to begin to fit the beautiful sepele hardwood to the frames.

Ill be updating my blog again soon with some photos of the work so far

Book Fair Review!

Looking back at the book fair it wasn't exactly what i was expecting. Firstly the space i got to display my bookmarks was a lot smaller than i thought, in fact all the students from our college close to thirty of us, displayed on the same table making it look like a bit of a jumble sale. I made several copies of each of my bookmark designs but with the volume of things on our display table i just left a few of my piece's out. Also i originally assumed that i would stand with my display all day and greet and interact with people viewing and buying my pieces. Overall the book fair in my eyes was a bit of a let down but still i am glad that i experienced it. Surprisingly all the bookmarks i left on our table sold, although i had confidence in my bookmarks and expected them to sell i didn't think they would be seen with all the pieces being displayed. I still have several bookmarks that i didn't display at the book fair that i am going to have for sale along with some other bespoke pieces at the upcoming Promotional week that's being held at the Leeds college of art at the end of April, ill be posting more info about the event soon.

The picture on the left is the front of one of the bookmark and on the right is the back.

I have designed four different patterns and will use four different types of veneers to give me a nice variety. I used the laser cutting machine to create them and have learnt allot on this machine and feel more confident using it now, the great thing about it is once you have your design on the computer system it can be edited, saved, cut out easily and quickly.

The function behind this bookmark is that the two pieces of veneer are glued together at the top so that they can be spread open at the bottom and then slide over a page, marking where you are up to.

Ive added some other picture below this post, they show the bookmark being used and highlight the way i want the text to be shown once the bookmark is in place. (click on any of the images to enlarge, show in greater detail)

I've begun work on my first commissioned piece!!

Today Ive finally been able to get to the timber yard to select my Oak for the bench that Ive been commissioned to make by Thorp Perrow Arboretum(woodland garden,bird of prey & mammal centre) The first picture is the timber i selected, it is all green oak some 1inch and the the large piece is 3inch thick(click on images to see in greater detail) This second picture is a scale model i made of the bench design, i have just over a month to construct it and will post more pics throughout the build.

Possible new exciting commission

I'm not going to say to much but I've been in contact with a high end shopping center in Leeds and a possible commission could happen. I'm gonna have to draw up some amazing designs,fingers crossed! will post again when i know more

New idea for the book fair!

Today ive been designing some book marks that i will be taking to the book fair with me, they are made from different wood veneer's and I'm incorporating the laser cutter machine to create some eye catching features. pictures will be on soon along with the wine holders

Book Fair Details

The 13th International Contemporary Artist Book Fair will take place in the resplendent parkinson court at the University of Leeds. This venue is located in central Leeds.

Admission to the Book Fair is FREE

Friday 12 March 2010. 11.00am-6.00pm
Saturday 13 March 2010. 10.00AM-5.00PM

PLEASE COME AND SEE

up coming Artist book fair (time,date and location will be posted soon) ill be selling some amazing counterbalance wine bottle holders in several different styles, pictures will be on here soon also.