Ndlovu(Ivory)

Ndlovu

Ndlovu yophondo, nto evela ngasezimpondweni.

Ecicini

Ecicini

Reflection AI

reflection picture of my designs

1. Understanding the term "concept" and its significance in the industry: In the jewelry industry, a "concept" refers to the overarching idea or theme that guides the design and creation of a collection or individual pieces. It's the core essence and inspiration behind your work. Your concept is to achieve stitching in different metals, making it a dominant and significant element in each piece of jewelry you create. Understanding your concept is crucial because it will guide your design decisions and help you create a cohesive and meaningful collection.

2. Exploring possibilities for your concept: The possibilities for your concept of stitching in different metals are vast. You can experiment with various metal types, techniques, and styles of stitching to create unique and innovative jewelry pieces. You may also consider combining different metals, textures, and stone settings to further elevate your designs. Your willingness to explore amber as a covering material for your wire/cable stitching shows your openness to innovative approaches.

3. Advancing techniques in jewelry manufacturing: To achieve more techniques in jewelry manufacturing, you can consider taking specialized courses, and workshops, or seeking guidance from experienced jewelers or instructors. Learning new techniques will broaden your skill set and enable you to incorporate diverse methods into your designs.

4. Focusing on delicate jewelry pieces and stone settings: Emphasizing delicate jewelry pieces and experimenting with various stone settings will add intricacy and detail to your work. These elements can enhance the overall aesthetic and value of your creations.

5. Finding inspiration in fashion/clothing techniques: Drawing inspiration from fashion and clothing techniques is an excellent approach, as jewelry is indeed a form of fashion accessory that people wear. By incorporating innovative stitching methods, you can infuse your pieces with a unique fashion-forward appeal.

6. Learning from other artists, like Songezo Baleni: Studying the work of other artists like Songezo Baleni can provide valuable insights and inspiration. While your techniques may differ (he uses weaving while you focus on stitching), you can still learn from his approach to craftsmanship, attention to detail, and how he conveys meaning through his pieces.

7. Protecting and preserving your wire stitching: Your observation about the exposed wire and potential loss of shape in your stitching is essential. Exploring materials like amber or Perspex glass as coverings can protect your wire/cable and maintain the integrity of your design. The transparent and lightweight properties of amber are advantageous for showcasing intricate stitching details.

Plan

 

woven bracelet, round black cubic zirconia

My intentions for this semester are to elevate skills through jewellery and build confidence towards my concept. I would like to fully understand the term concept and how it works throughout the industry and what are the possibilities for it. I would like to achieve more techniques in jewellery manufacturing. As for my concept as a student, it is to achieve stitching in different metals. By doing so maybe I can find a metal that I will be comfortable using for my jewellery pieces. The way I make my jewellery can be seen as commercial jewellery because of the innovation it has. I would like to make my jewellery pieces more delicate and to fully understand how to apply stitching in my jewellery. I want my stitching to dominate in every piece of jewellery that I make because it holds the significance of my concept. I also want to explore more different stone settings just to add more details to my jewellery pieces. I like how my concept drives me in the direction of fashion/clothing techniques because either way jewellery is fashion, it is something that a particular person wears. Last semester I was so glued in stitching solid pieces and that made my stitching not so interesting because it felt like I was just decorating my pieces. This time around I want to play with separated/splitting metal pieces and stitch them together. In order for me to put more emphasis on how I want my jewellery to look. By doing so I think my pieces will have more value and meaning. It will also correspond with my concept title. I realized that my wire stitching is exposed and the thickness of the cable is thin which makes it easily band or lose shape of the pattern. I would like to explore amber to cover the wire or Perspex glass in order for the wire/cable to be protected and not to lose the pattern shape. I want to use amber because it is transparent and lightweight. The detail of stitching will not be hidden if I were to use amber. The fine detail of the designer Songezo Baleni’s woven jewellery pieces, I think somehow influences my work although my jewellery is stitched. This beautiful woven bracelet with a black round cubic zirconia on a four-claw collet was made by him.  

Display

 

End-of-semester display

My end-of-semester display looked promising because I had managed to stay on track with my designs which depict the conceptual idea behind my designs. The main purpose is to put more emphasis on the idea of stitching my jewellery. My designs need to show the importance of stitching and how it connects. My pieces that were on display have shown a glimpse of where my designs are heading. However, the feedback I received in class has helped me to sort of understand what to expect from my designs. Amade ngawetyala.

Ndlwene

 

PlatAfrica

Plat Africa ring,18ct yellow gold, cubic zirconia

 

Gandaganda matsiyo intsimbi zabelungu. Intsusa mabala eyenze ndenza lomsesane isukela kwivili leGandaganda(Tractor). Nje ngomntu okhulele ezilalini kulinywa ngeGandaganda ukuze  kuphume izityalo uvune obukulimile(you reap what you sow). The isixhosa version is directly translated to someone who has achieved the goals he/she has earned through difficult times. The reason why I chose this title, it is because metaphorically it depicts how my client reaps what she has sowed. Nonetheless Abagail is a person who came from a low-income family and, she has managed to start her own coding camp giving back to the underprivileged girls. So as the seed that has been plowed by the tractor appears(Emergence) on the soil to be grabbed by those who want to develop their skills. My design hook is inspired by the Modern nouveau, which has a dynamic line because my design forces the sense of movement as for the three bands of platinum are stitched together to form connection. The three bands are not soldered together, the only thing that ties the bands is the stitching.

This jewellery piece is designed based on a conceptual point of view and it is inspired by cable knitting patterns. My piece is enhanced by this technique of stitching.