Blue Lady Fish

The image shows a hinged, hallmarked pendant. The top section is the head and the bottom is a fish tail shaped etched hollow form. She is made from reclaimed copper which has been treated with a patina and eco textured and etched silver.  Her face is a vintage baby doll held in a copper claw fitting. She has a large scale baile which means she can be worn with any thickness of chain.
Part of the Metal Mermaid Collection

This little lady is a hinged, hollow form, hallmarked pendant. Constructed from reclaimed copper which has been treated with a patina to give it a blue hue and eco silver. She has two sections connected at the waist with 3 jump rings. The walls of the boxes are made from copper and front and back from textured and etched silver.

The image shows a silver hollow form curved box with the words Hardcore Mermaid etched onto it and a little star.
The image shows a hollow form box made of textured silver, it has a copper claw setting in the middle with irregular prongs which hold the muzzle of a vintage baby doll.

The face is the muzzle of a vintage baby doll, from my childhood in fact, so it’s an original 70’s piece. Irregular copper prongs create a claw fitting which hold the muzzle in place.
Any thickness of chain can be used to wear her as she has a large baile at the top. The words ‘Hardcore Mermaid’ are etched on the back of her head along with a little star one of my favourite symbols. You will find the hallmark on the back too.
These mermaids are talismans, not the the cutesy sexed-up images of mermaids we are becoming accustomed to but symbols of power and raw energy.

She’s one of a kind, hand built and impossible to repeat.

Blue Lady Fish measures 11 x 5.5 cm’s and weighs 24 grams. Blue Lady Fish is now available at the Flaming Lady of Hay ArtHouse

Angel Heart

Angel Heart is a hollow form pendant. This piece has a silver front and back, and brass walls. It has been lovingly beaten to create texture.  You’ll find two reclaimed vintage dolls hands made from the classic synthetic materials all of us know from childhood. The chubby little cherub hands reach out, openly welcoming the viewer in.  Do you think it is cute or creepy? Personally, I find these dolls more creepy in their original form and find the concept of little children cuddling the rigid pink babies slightly disturbing. It is completely unique, there will never be another the same.

The image shows a large pendant made from beaten silver and brass. It is made in the shape of a heart and has two synthetic dolls hands coming out of each side like wings. This image shows the back

The piece has a winged or crab-like appearance. It takes inspiration from Catholic Art and the traditional symbols of flying hearts that can be found in many cultures. It can be worn either way round, so it either receives or protects, in the same way Buddha’s hands are depicted.  There is a little mantra inside this talisman, as with all my hollow forms.

I find this prayer box format magical. The space inside them gives me the opportunity to imbibe some power into them as I work. 
Using dolls make me feel like it contains an innocence and sense of mischief – but that, of course, is for its next owner to decide. 

Gravetos Cinzenta

‘Gravetos Cinzenta’ translates as ‘grey kindling’ in Portuguese.
This hallmarked heavy silver ring has a claw setting which carries a large concrete cast of a Eucalyptus pod.

The image shows a silver ring with the cast of a Eucalyptus pod in a claw setting in a pile of four real Eucalyptus pods
Eucalyptus both healing and destructive

The Eucalyptus pod is cast in raw concrete and saturated in resin giving it a wet look.
Concrete houses are the only ones left standing when the fires rage through Portugal and in summer water is restricted for each property.  The combination of all these elements symbolises the wild and beautiful mountains of mid-Portugal where I collected these pods many years ago.  

The smell of Eucalyptus is potent and is said to cure many respiratory ailments. Eucalyptus is both a powerful healer as well as the bare of destruction. It also thrives as a result of the fires, new trees spring up doubling numbers in only a matter of weeks. It is a resilient tree thriving in the face of disaster. Perhaps this ring will bring these powers to it wearer. 
The band has a width of 12mm giving it a solid and imposing base and will fit a finger that measures 55 mm’s.  

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If you would like to own Gravetos Cinzenta you will find it in the Flaming Lady of Hay Art House
Thank you.

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Prize Seeker

This image shows a large silver pendant with a dolls eye set in the middle. It has two sections that are hinged together and has a dark patina. It has 3 green cubic zirconium stones set into the top area of the bottom section which is a cone shape.
Despite only being one eye, it still seems to have expression!

Part of the Metal Mermaid series. This piece has inspired by a friend of mine who uses pendulums to select remedies, she is also an enthusiastic wild swimmer and an amazing businesswoman. She definitely knows how to get the prize she sets her sights on.  
The pendulum element was a prototype for one that was commissioned. This one has three delicate green Cubic Zirconium stones tube set into the top of the cone. The pendulum is textured and has a patina which fades to a highly polished tip. The top section is hollow formed, textured and has a bezel set dolls eye at its centre with ‘Keep your eye on the prize’ etched onto the back. 

This piece is made from eco silver and hallmarked by the Goldsmith Assay Office.

This image shows a large silver pendant with a dolls eye set in the middle. It has two sections that are hinged together and has a dark patina. It has 3 green cubic zirconium stones set into the top area of the bottom section which is a cone shape.
The reverse of this statement pendant
This image shows a large silver pendant with a dolls eye set in the middle. It has two sections that are hinged together and has a dark patina. It has 3 green cubic zirconium stones set into the top area of the bottom section which is a cone shape.
Textured silver with dark patina
Bezel set acrylic eye
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This pendant measures 10cms x 5.5cms. It is made from 26 grams of silver and has 3 Cubic Zirconium stones set into it.
If you would like to own this piece please contact the Flaming Lady of Hay.

Thank you.

The image shows the Flaming Lady of Hay logo, a woman riding on a tiger in red, black and white

Hardcore Mermaid

I’ve been inspired in the Winter months by some of my more intrepid friends who have taken to wild swimming in very icy water. This is a piece of work where I repurpose a doll. I love working with these funny little representations of human babies as a raw material for my artwork. So strange that at some point they were the centre of the universe for some small child and then they are suddenly abandoned for less childish things.

The remodelling of the baby doll into something entirely different is a political act for me. Plastic made precious, roles reconsidered. Cute and powerless becomes edgy and powerful.

This piece is made of 23.4grams of silver, it has copper walls and claw setting around the muzzle. The work is hammered to give texture and has been treated with a dark patina. The bottom section and back of the top section are both etched. The mouth holds a small Amber bead. The Amber, copper and the dolls face have been reclaimed. This piece is Hallmarked by the Goldsmith’s Assay Office

Hardcore Mermaid is now SOLD. If you would like something similar please message me to discuss a commission.

Melting down the past

Sindy gets a shiny new hat – my commission – from junk to jewel.

I inherited some gold and silver from my late father. At the same time, I found my childhood Sindy doll whilst clearing my mum’s house, she’d kept it in the attic. She was broken but still clean and presentable.
My dad never wanted a girl and wasn’t very impressed with dolls.
I liked Sindy because she was ‘active’ and didn’t conform quite so extremely to the image of femininity being peddled at the time by her rival ‘Barbie’.
I decided that in line with my love of opposites I’d put the valueless plastic together with the gold.
Of course to me, as my relationship with my father had never been great the doll held more value than the bullion.

I love the way it turned out. It feels like a fitting memorial to him and his quite macho bling. It has been a theme that I’ve picked up and developed now I’ve started making my own jewels.

The image shows a piece of jewellery made from a dolls face, it has a hat on with flowers and a hand attached to the side

I did not make this! I designed it and commissioned. Mark-Jan Dielemans who is based in Epstein Studios on Mivart Street in Bristol pulled it together. I think he made a great job.

I’m sorry but this piece is not for sale.

Can’t Sit Still

I met Cat Boot at DOCA when she completed a short contract in 2017.  We had lots of great conversations about how things should be done.  As a result, Cat asked me to join the steering group of the board of her theatre company ‘Can’t Sit Still’, as Cat has the most amount of integrity of almost anyone you could meet and is an absolute pleasure to work with I couldn’t say no. 

I’ve been on a journey with a fantastic group of people and watched Can’t Sit Still evolve into a flourishing charity. They’ve amazing shows for little people and their grown-ups on sell-out tours and have a host of projects that engage with under represented members of the community.  Cat is an amazing director who asks some very important and difficult questions through her work and manages to make these conversations a lot easier to navigate and even a fun. 
If you want to see some great theatre for children you won’t find better than this. 

Please visit their website for information on their current work.

 

Can't Sit Still theatre company logo

Gravetos Preta

A heavy sterling silver statement ring with hand cast Eucalyptus pod in dyed concrete with a claw setting.

This is a solid wearable statement ring. The tough concrete pod is dyed with the darkest Indian Ink. Resin has been mixed into the concrete giving it additional integral strength and a smoother finish. It is earthy and rich and dark as the night. It bears a hallmark from Goldsmiths Assay Office and is a completely unique one-off piece.

Gravetos Preto has a 12mm wide band. It measures 55mm – please measure carefully!

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If you would like to own Gravetos Preta please visit the Flaming Lady of Hay Art House

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Windfall

Solid silver bracelet with each unique link individually textured and treated with a dark patina to give it an antique gunmetal finish. Closed with a simple toggle clasp.

This piece is strong but light, it is bold but gentle. Like leaves in a breeze let it move with you. The sounds it makes throughout your day will soothe and reassure you. You will feel naked without it.

This piece has now sold

Frank

I love objects that are raw and shout about the materials they are made from and the process they were created by, making no pretence about what they are.
Honest and straight forward. I set about a new approach to these pieces.
I made prototypes from card and then went for it, in metal. I allowed the materials to guide me, working instinctively. These rings evolved rather than were designed, though I had a strong idea of what they would look like in my head throughout. I loved the process and I love the results. These rings are very ‘me’.

A mixture of metal – silver and brass, concrete dyed with Indian Ink and glossy resin. A combination of ingredients I love.


The image shows two brass and silver rings lying on top of each other

Chunky and unapologetic, they were a challenge to construct as there are no regular angles. As with all my work no two are the same. I’ll be making more of these and they can be made to order. I’ll definitely be wearing one.

The wider of the two rings has a silver inner ring. They are filled with concrete, dyed with a high concentrate of Indian Ink giving it a deep black colour. The resin top layer gives it a deep glossy shine.

The narrower ring has an inner ring and outer edge made of silver. It is filled with concrete and has a small amount of Indian Ink added which gives a slightly more grey/brown colour, the top layer of resin adds a deep glossy shine bringing out the texture of the concrete underneath. This is now sold.

The third in the series, seen above, is larger, has a sterling eco-silver inner ring and sides. It has heavily textured brass front and back panels. I have textured the resin making is look like a fossil. I’m a big fan of ammonites and this has a similar feel.



This piece is currently for sale at the Flaming Lady of Hay Art House.

Please message me for details, if you would like to commission a ring in this style.