New Postcard Collages have been to my online shop, a good few have already gone but I will adding more soon!
I have also added new mini Fragment Collages too. I’ve made more with double shapes but still kept the singles as they are great when they are displayed in groups, take a look here . . .
https://www.clarehillerby.com/theshop/cat_1655440-C-o-l-l-a-g-e-s.html
I’ve have just completed a new series of collage brooches. It’s been a few years since I’ve made any of my one off collage brooches, they need a lot more time to figure out and go through many versions before I can get making.
The initial idea was to work with layering of my materials, oxidised silver which I’ve reduced the larger sections to a grey finish to contrast with the upper smaller layers, larger pieces of ruler, settings in oval and irregular hexagons with a split of handwriting and image side of postcards, and then various elements, linear fragments, few brass elements which I liked the colour of with the greys and woods, and then hints of gold leaf highlights. And of course a scattering of gold tube rivets.
I took progress images along the way . . . and have added the results to my online shop
It’s my third birthday in the studio / shop at Manchester Craft and Design Centre and I still love it like it’s day one.
I am so appreciative of all the lovely customers I’ve had over those years and all the appreciation, feedback, encouragement and odd conversations, I’ve had a few good odd ones! It’s great to see how people react to the work and the unexpected ways that links them to it. It’s been great to develop collage commissions with people, assembling and archiving their treasured paper memories. And it’s been brilliant to make bespoke jewellery, tailored to people’s wants, tastes and budgets!
Thank you everyone who has stepped into my little space and enjoyed being there! Your support means I can keep doing what I was made to do! Thank you x
I wanted to share some recent collages with you. As always they incorporate old postcards and other ephemera, a little more stitching, my white printed papers achieved through my jewellery making process, and an occasional very long oxidised old pin! I have worked into them more with paint this time, experimenting with textures and concentrating on a muted warm palette that I seem to be drawn to lately.
They are all one-offs as usual and measure 25cm square with a small (glass-less) frame. I removed the glass as it was reducing the colours and details!
They are available from my studio / shop though I’m happy to send along more details on request and post. Hope you like!
Over on Instagram I’ve been taking part in #100daychallenge, based around collage, posts covering new collages and collage cards made along the way, jewellery with mixed elements, work in progress, experiments, inspiration, pattern making. Here are a few highlights, or find me on Instagram @clarehillerby to see more . . .
A while ago I posted a bundle of ephemera I had been asked to create a very special collage with. It was for the customers husband to commemorate his grandfather who had fought in the war. You can find the individual papers here, this was followed by mocking up an initial collage for the customer to see. Sometimes there are a few tweaks at this stage to make sure the customer is perfectly happy before I go any further. I take photographs of the agreed collage, and then it is taken apart and re-built, securing the layers this time, follow this process of re-building below . . .
A little catch up with jewels that I’ve been creating over the last couple of months. Some are available from me at my Studio / Shop (just email for further details) or on my online shop where I am currently offering Free Delivery on purchases from now until Wednesday 20th December, which is the last purchasing date to ensure it arrives in time for Christmas.
Derelict pendants . . .
Contrasting metalwork fragments in black or white silver with a semi-precious bead for a spot of colour. Here with garnet, yellow opal and carnelian.
£80 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
Fragment Pendants . . .
Brand new pendants in black or white, featuring four larger contrasts of metalwork
£70 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
Four overlapping ovals necklace . . .
Two holey ovals and two plain ovals overlap and are secured at the tips with a gold rivet. Featured here with rough cut semi-precious labradorite beads and available in black or white
£110 (online) or Two ovals (one holey and one plain) on chain instead of beads £54 (at the Studio / Shop)
Paper Dot Pendants . . .
Maps and stamps contained in an oxidised silver setting and suspended on a long chain
£55 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
Tiny Ovals Studs . . .
Little ovals with paper texture are secured at the tips with gold tube rivets
£30 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
Three Large Elements Necklace . . .
A one-off special necklace created by combining an oval of old paper, an oval of old wooden ruler and a pierced, holey oval. All brought together with semi-precious apatite beads
£235 (online only)
Palette Brooch . . .
A little dish of mixed fragments, dot of ruler, dot of Mother of Pearl, linear strip, chevron oval and dots of gold
£130 (from studio/shop)
Mixed Fragment Studs . . .
A playful mix of chevron oval and bowl in oxidised silver, alongside an organic oval of gold
£120 (from Studio / Shop)
Holey Oval and MOP Studs . . .
Oxidised holey oval studs with an antique Mother of Pearl button stitched in place
£36 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
MOP Dot Studs . . .
Antique Mother of Pearl buttons on oxidised silver disks, stitched in place
£27 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
MOP and Holey Oval Earrings . . .
Long holey ovals suspended beneath studs of antique Mother of Pearl buttons on oxidised silver disks
£80 (from Studio / Shop)
Holey Ovals and Ruler Dot Earrings . . .
Holey ovals are suspended beneath circles of old wooden rulers
£80 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
Ruler Pendants . . .
Large and small dots, oval and raindrops in old wooden rulers, linked to long oxidised silver chains
£36 (available online and at the Studio / Shop)
A collection of work is now available from Gill Wing Jewellery in Islington, London. It is part of ‘Natural Forces’, a show that opened today and continues until Friday 10 November. My work is amongst nine jewellers including three graduates from the Royal College of Art . . .
The 1st of September was my 2nd birthday at Studio 20a, my lovely studio / shop, upstairs at Manchester Craft & Design Centre
I’d like to say thank you to all who have visited, and “come!” to those who would like to! (& sorry for those of you who are just too far away!)
A couple of weeks ago I was presented with a beautiful bundle of family treasures. I often create collages for people with their own collected ephemera, to archive them in a way that they can appreciate every day.
So I’ve already mocked up the collage for the customer and sent them an image so the customer can make any changes they wish before I secure and mount it up. So that’s the weekends job! I often create the mock up with photocopied versions so I can comfortably cut and work into those papers, until I get the ok!!
I’m really looking forward to finishing this one. (I will share if I can!)
Current collages at Clare Hillerby Studio / Shop including some new 4 gird and 9 grid collages. They range from £20 to £120, and if you are interested, but cant make it to the studio I can email you more details and your chosen collage can be posted out to you.
So I took part in #MarchMeetTheMaker on Instagram again this year and I thought I’d share a selection here . . .
Can’t live without . . .
My riveting tool.
Apart from my family, my fella, the support of customers and admirers, my hands, my daydreaming , etc etc! Thought I’d keep this one basic! I do love that tool and have been using it for 20 years now!
I discovered recently I have an ancestor, in one census he was a riveters helper, in the next a riveter, yes!
Me. . .
… this is me! At my bench. A place I love to be.
Favourite to make . . .
New things! Shouldn’t be showing this really as I haven’t got far with it at all. Currently playing with stone setting, which has been on my list for years, some of these stones I’ve had since I was studying! My vision is greater than the results so far, so much more to do. Eek!!
Workspace . . .
We have pretty small workspaces at the craft centre to give room for shop area, so it has to be well organised to make the most of it and i have to say it does work perfectly, it’s my favourite studio of all the studios I’ve had.
Organised . . .
A bit of the organisation I mentioned above. I (conveniently!) love drawers, boxes, tins!
Inspiration . . .
History / People / Stories
Old buildings & Details
Found things
Paper Books & Documents
Non precious becoming precious
Beautiful mysteries
Sketchbook . . .
I don’t get much time to work in a sketchbook these days but since I graduated I’ve maintained a collection of soft back a4 with cartridge paper (same paper as I roll print with). They’re a mix of workings out, off cuts, repeated drawn shapes, scribbles and lots of designs I’ve scribbled onto the nearest bit of file paper then masking taped into the book!
Work clothes . . .
I can wear whatever I want for work. It’s often grey with stripes or holes, as long as it’s warm, I’ve had lots of studios over time and they have all been cold, some really cold!
Brand image. . .
My logo which is simply my name handwritten and a rather large pile of postcards with their lovely layered old edges, which isn’t technically my branding, but it is very relevant!
Where . . .
For the last year and a half I have been making and selling from my lovely studio / shop upstairs at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, and it is perfect, I really feel my years of being a jeweller makes sense working in this way.
How it’s made . . .
I do plenty roll printing, everything gets roll printed with cartridge paper to give a warm texture referring to the postcards and the paper with these unique prints are then used in my collages.
Feedback . . .
I spent many years in a studio making and sending my work out with no feedback and it took me a while to pick up courage to take my work to fairs, I was not confident in my work for years. Now I find myself in a studio that’s also a shop. We all get to hear, quite a lot! I am developing a thick skin! Some don’t say anything, that’s fine. Some make comments that are really useful or interesting, and some are . . . ! I also get such treats like people coming with a box of perfect ephemera they want to give me, amazing! And some are gorgeous people like the couple who recently bought a necklace and then came back the next day and left with a collage, (My favourite too!) and I’m so chuffed it now lives with them in their lovely home in Germany. They even took the time to send me this photo of it amongst some lovely intriguing other works. Thank you! This kindness keeps me (us?) going. Our work doesn’t end when you wrap it up for someone, it starts its journey.
MCDC Christmas Event
We launch Christmas at MCDC on Saturday 19th November and we would love you all to come along!
We will then be open 7 days a week until Christmas, our last day is Christmas Eve when we close at 3pm
MCDC Christmas Event
Saturday 19th November 2016
Live festive music between 2 – 5 pm (we are open 10 – 5.30pm)
#MemoriesAreMadeHere
You can follow me on:
Instagram @clarehillerby
Facebook @clarehillerbyjewellery
Twitter @clarehillerby
. . . for new pieces being created for my studio / shop along the way to Christmas #inmycabinets
Buy Art Fair finished last night and it has all come down and done for another year now. So just a few details of some collages made for Buy Art Fair and the stand itself. I’ve more new collages in the shop, hanging them today, so come and have a look!
For the last few weeks I’ve been working towards Buy Art Fair. It’s the first time I’ve taken part in the fair and will be showing new collages, 2 more days left to make more! I’m currently at my desk drowning in papers, eagerly waiting to be chosen!
I’m excited to be on the Manchester Craft & Design Centre shared stand, so I can walk along with those from MCDC that take part every year, and I’m in lovely company. More info on the others taking part in the MCDC link above. Yesterday our front room looked more like a mounting and framing waiting room . . .
Buy Art Fair
22 – 25 September 2016
Old Granada Studios, Manchester
“Ideas travel, and HAND.01, a packable, refillable, paper-topped modular table from emergent British design studio HAND and paper pioneers G.F Smith, has been designed to ensure that inspiration is captured wherever it strikes.
Manchester Craft & Design Centre has joined forces with HAND Srudio to capture the creativity of the Centre’s Resident Makers and other creatives from across Manchester, and to celebrate craft, collaboration and the heritage of MCDC.
A total of 49 artists have used HAND.01 to create 49 customised pieces of work which, when collated, will form a large mural representing an iconic section of MCDC.”
HAND CRAFT
08.09.16 – 30.10.16
#HandCraftMcr
A fraction of a new (old!) batch of postcards I recently sourced. Looking at image sides, written sides and blank sides with their lovely typography . . .
. . . where I think, design, experiment, make, display, meet, discuss, re-home . . .
Last month I took part in the #marchmeetthemaker challenge over on Instagram. It was open to any creative business that wanted to take part, a subject was set for every day of the month. I thought I would share the project in full here . . .
Day 1 | Brand Image . . .
I created my own handwritten logo a couple of years ago to reflect my interest and use of old handwriting. Then when I moved to my own studio / shop last September it was given a fresh look by having it laser cut in wood. I originally wanted to paint it but it looked right left alone along with my shop branding. I have old wood furniture against a pale grey wall inside.
Day 2 | You . . .
Something I never do is take photos of myself, this was definitely the biggest challenge of the project! Taken in my studio / shop.
Day 3 | Workspace . . .
This is the jewellery making side of my workspace at the back of my shop, which continues across the back wall and then behind into a long simple bench area I created for making cards and collages, (or doing admin). All of my work is made in the studio, and it’s the perfect space, have great light and fab windows either side of me, one with the best view of the craft centre.
Day 4 | Tools . . .
A selection of basic everyday tools. I’ve managed to buy most of my tools through much appreciated awards I’ve received over my career. There are still many tools on the wish list!
Day 5 | Can’t live without . . .
My awesome mum and my amazing fella firstly and mostly . . . then work wise it would be coffee before I start making to make me human, paper and pens, or a mountain of notebooks, my diary and a selection of inky black pens and pencil to write, make notes, lists and record thoughts.
Day 6 | Raw materials . . .
The first image is of a silver order I had just received. I make everything from scratch using silver sheet, wire and tube, and gold tube for the rivets. Postcards are next, Manchester is really good for vintage fairs which I go to as often as I can (I have the man in my life interested in vintage now and we are a good ephemera hunting team!). I also use old stamps and linen maps. I (we!) also hunt for old wooden rulers. I started buying rulers back in Edinburgh, they add a very warm and friendly feel to my work. Lastly here are a sample of the semi-precious beads I scatter through my collection. Always good quality and a great addition of colour and texture.
Day 7 | How & Why . . .
How & Why was a tricky one to answer in an image, and simply, so I opted to show the days work in process instead!
Why? I need some new simple every day wear earrings to suit some recently made necklaces.
How? I’ve prepared the hooks and stems, crazy how long such little things take. I lay out the ideas next to me at the bench on clean white paper, to stop me being distracted, which kind of works! I want to use semi-precious beads in them to link with the necklaces but give colour and interest on their own.
Day 8 | Where . . .
My walk from Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester to the Craft Centre, is about 7 minutes across Thomas Street and up Oak Street in the Northern Quarter, then upstairs to my studio / shop.
Day 9 | Goals . . .
To get my cabinets stocked up! Now that I have more space with the new shop, and also to try and keep up with what is being designed in my head, its hard to keep up! It is a constant shifting to accommodate the unexpected order or deadline, then back to my schedule, adding in some random ideas as the inspiration takes me, if I leave it until I have time, sometimes I loose the inspiration for it. I also would like to open an online shop at some point this year.
Day 10 | Favourite small business . .
There are so many great makers, and too many jewellers I love, so for this I chose 3 differenet disciplines . . .
Lizzie Stewart illustration
Ness Donnelly stitched drawings
Cathy Cullis embroidery
Day 11 | Post run . . .
Day 12 | First ever sale . . .
A bangle from my Degree Show which I sold at New Designers to a very lovely French lady, I will never forget it!
Day 13 | Feedback . . .
One reason I wanted a shop at the Craft Centre was so I can meet the people who like my work and buy from me, it’s the best way to progress. I have a lot of conversations about my work, the display and, I didn’t expect so many conversations with guys about these old pegs I use for hanging pendants. Random, but I do love these little old things!
Day 14 | Creative friends . . .
Plenty here at my making home, Manchester Craft & Design Centre.
Day 15 | Inspiration . . .
My inspirations board above my workbench . . .
Day 16 | Time to relax . . .
If I’m at home, I’m learning to cook, because it’s just time I did! I’m not a natural, I end up adding creativity to things, which I think are genius at the time, but end up in disaster quite often!
If I’m out, and not at vintage fairs, I’m a bit of a wanderer and love exploring the city and adding to my collection of photos of derelict, urban textures, ghost walls, road markings and graffiti.
Day 17 | Photography . . .
Day 18 | Shelfie . . .
My shelves at home are a combination of handmade, vintage collections, and books.
Day 19 | Helper . . .
On Mondays I am extremely blessed with the help of the ultra lovely, friendly and happy Tamara. X
Day 20 | Sketchbook . . .
I generally design by playing with previously made but unused metalwork elements, sometimes along with card models. I fill a sketchbook in about a year or so with ideas and doodles of repeated shapes to warm up, and the occasional drawing of objects around me. If I’m lucky enough to have time!
Day 21 | Work clothes . . .
My second apron, made by my lovely mum, in denim with patterned fabrics around the edges and a hug pocket on the front (big enough for a hot water bottle in the deepest winter months!).
Day 22 | Best seller . . .
As most of my work is either one-off or limited edition, I cant really have a best seller, but, these studs are the first items I made using stamps and I always have them in stock in a nice selection of coloured stamps, maps and postcards. They are a good, or best friend!
Day 23 | Studio playlist . . .
On this day I was working on a brooch commission while listening to the radio. I get bored easily so I move between radio, silence, watching documentaries, or listening to my own music, though I have to be selective in a studio with visitors!
Day 24 | Milestone . . .
I moved to Manchester 4 years ago now with the hope that it was firstly a good idea, which it was. And also that I would get my own shop at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, which I have! I now need to make the most of having the shop and focus on some new goals.
This is an image taken from the current exhibition at the Craft Centre, Ceramics by Verity Howard.
Day 25 | Packaging . . .
Day 26 | Colour and Texture . . .
A sample of the stamps an their colours. Stamps, maps and beads give my work colour, and they are sitting here on white cartridge paper which I use to texture my silver by passing layers through the rolling mill. The paper comes out with lovely prints from the silver, and they are a perfect addition to my collages and cards.
Day 27 | Routine . . .
We open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5.30 pm, though as I have a helper I am at the studio Tuesday to Saturday. We can work outside of those hours too.
It takes me around an hour to get to work by bus and I love my route. I pass the Museum of Costume, the Whitworth, Manchester Museum and travel through Curry Mile and the universities to the centre of town.
Day 28 | Organised . . .
Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.
Gustave Flaubert.
Day 29 | In action . . .
Day 30 | Books or Blogs . . .
Books! Though I do have a few favourite blogs I regularly visit, I love books. Beautifully illustrated books, or books by illustrators. I love old map books, and I am a big Nigel Peake fan.
Day 31 | Customers . . .
My fab view from my workbench of my visitors.
Customers, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you. Without you I couldn’t continue my work, without my work, I would be nothing. Thank you X
I’m excited to be taking part in ‘What is Jewellery’?
”What is Jewellery’? An exhibition of jewellery made from unorthodox materials from a selection of national and international jewellery artists, as part of Manchester Free For Arts Festival. Curated by Eve Redmond’
It opens 3rd until 12th Ocotber, which coincides with the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, and will be held in Space2 at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, right next door to our studio/shop (Studio 3), as it happens!
I will be showing alongside some amazing jewellers including two of my favourite makers, Yoko Izawa and Jo Pond.
You can follow the event on facebook here . . . https://www.facebook.com/events/633904003394234/
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