Degree Show

Blimey what a month! Degree show on the 14th and then New Designers in London the week after. Just got back to Leicester last night to be faced with the house I have to sort out before moving back to Yorkshire for good! overwhelmed does not cover it, but at least I get to spend some time with the family soon. Here are some images of my final collection and set up, more will be up soon....

Sold some ceramic pieces too! (fist pump the air). They also got nominated to be added to the Christopherson Collection at DMU

Etching Samples

I am thinking about surface effects that I can put onto a water jet cut bowl, which I wrote about in my last blog post. I am unsure if any of these are possible without scratching in the construction process, but what's a project without a bit of problem solving...

Accidental samples are always my favourite. Nickel shouldn't be this vibrant when heated. The only thing that could have caused it is that I didn't rinse off the ammonia properly, which was used to neutralise and clean it, having been etched with ferric chloride. 

This is my double check sample. I think I'm right about the ammonia, but the nickel needs to be left to air before being rinsed.

One thing I love about ferric chloride is the streaks it leaves on the etched surface, which is brought out more when polished.

Blue steel!!!

I would love a piece that has a simple high polish but maintaining it during the riveting process would be really difficult. One thing I could try is polish the nickel sheet before it goes onto the water jet cutter, sandwiching it between 2 pieces of MDF to reduce chance of scratching and burrs, and then wrap it all in masking tape when bending the metal. 

Water Jet Bowl

When I say it's a bowl, what I'm really saying is that it can hold air and not a lot else. I like the idea of one solitary orange balancing in the middle of the piece like a citrus crystal ball. There are a few things that I would have liked to have changed, but I'm really pleased I managed to get it to this state without it snapping or warping. 

Water Jet Cutting Part 2

I did it!!!! I expected my ham-fisted score lines to snap but it survived!!!! I need some opinions on finishes. I could let it rust and have it lacquered, or spray it in a bold colour. I'm thinking red for some reason, anything but white as it nearly looks like a snowflake already. What I have decided on is that it needs to be matt, and that it will become a table lamp.......somehow.....