Here we are in the midst of a beautiful autumn, and it is that time of year when we need to renew our subs for the year. Please contact John Ogilvie by clicking on his name and give him your address, phone number, and email address. You can either pay him by cheque posted to: The Membership Secretary, 520 Coutts Rd, Coutts Island, or by making a direct payment to the Silver Smiths Guild account. You will still need to email your details to John so we have current information and you can receive this lovely newsletter! You can phone John on 03 323 6995 too.The cost is still the same as last year - $65.00.
To make a direct payment you must include your name and 'subs' in the boxes provided so Diederic can connect the transaction to the correct person! To Pay online, our account is with the BNZ, 02 0865 0197906 00
Enough of all that serious stuff! How is everyone's work going? I have recently attended the Autumn School at Wanaka and my head is full of ideas - now for some time to play with them! I quite like the winter for brooding over ideas and hunting out new books and processes to experiment with. I feel much less like being outdoors and not nearly so guilty about neglecting my garden. So tell me what you're doing and we can all get some inspiration and share some ideas! Perhaps we can even get together to create things in each other's workshops, sharing our resources too.
Cheers
Jo
* Notice for this year's AGM: This will be held on Monday 2nd July at SIT, 7pmNominations will be accepted from the floor. Members need to have their subs paid and up to date to be able to vote.*
Studio Time: If you want to spend time on a Saturday in the workshop at SIT ring Arthur to organize this.
ph 03 382 1332 or 021 995 836
This Month's Workshop is Tool Making.
This is a really good workshop which helps you to make some great tools to add to your stash, or start to collect some useful tools to help you create jewellery at home. Saturday June 16th at SIT. Again ring Arthur to book your space. $20, and bring some lunch and a mug for hot drinks.ph 03 382 1332 or 021 995 836
Summary of 7th May Committee Meeting
7pm SIT
*Apologies:
John O, Crystal, Chloe
*Previous minutes taken as read.*Treasurer's Report:
Diederic presented the financial and budgetary reports which were accepted.
A draft of the Annual Accounts for 2011-2012 has been put together, with further discussion with the accountant required.
Proposal to purchase a set of scales to weigh larger amounts of metal accepted.
* Class Report:
Noeline has collated the results of our various advertisings for night class students. The most students came from word of mouth, and previous students returning.
Some discussion around alternative places we could try advertising with. It was suggested that we get someone (from one of our local newspapers etc) to come along and take some photos and write a few words about us. Cost of advertising needs to be considered. We have had a few enquiries about next term's classes already.
Noeline has updated the membership application form.
Some changes to the certificates of achievement have been suggested, Crystal will do this.
Arthur has rung around the membership to encourage members to attend our meeting on Monday 14th May. 15 - 20 people plan to be there.
Discussion regarding finding a new home base for our workshop. Several possibilities were discussed but the Tannery idea still seems to be the best idea - not too far away, and in a place that will be exposed to lots of people.
* Ways to support the higher financial demands discussed were: - an increase in subscription fees, - a yearly rent for individuals to set up their own work space set up in the room, - hiring of space to members to have their work sold from ie. as 'Look" at Redcliffs used to rent a space on their walls for a set fee for a set time - they took that fee and any money for work sold was entirely for the person who made it, - maybe a permanent display case set up where members could have their work for sale and then paid a commission to the guild on each sale.
* Exhibition:
Arthur has enquired at the City Council about possible venues , not much luck there.
There is possible space at Bush Inn, but not really suitable and manning it would be difficult with long hours. Security could be an issue.
Approaching Mottrams or NG with a proposal to exhibit alongside an artist who displays their work on the walls has been suggested - this was very successful when our last exhibition was held at the Salamander Gallery.
Solvegj will approach Mottrams.
Hagley Cafe may be possible - the patchwork guild have used them in the past.
Arthur will enquire at Terrace Downs too.
*May 14th Meeting
Committee will bring a plate. Arthur will enquire whether we can use the cafe as our venue for this meeting ( and tables for the silver clay workshop).
*AGM:
This will be held on Monday 2nd July at SIT, 7pm.
Nominations will be accepted from the floor. Members need to have their subs paid and up to date to be able to vote.
*Meeting closed 8.30pm
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Silver Metal Clay Workshop Review
Saturday May 12th saw a group of ten or eleven enthusiastic jewellers make their way to SIT for the monthly one-day Guild workshop. This time we had the privilege of learning how to use Precious Metal Clay with Susan Brown.
For some who had worked with the clay before, it was straight to work. For those of us who were first-timers, the day started with a helpful demonstration from Susan who is a very experienced PMC practitioner and sells her work at the Art Gallery in Hokitika. Then it was a matter of getting going and starting to experiment with this amazing material and see how it worked for ourselves!The time just flew past as it always seems to when making jewellery and it was especially absorbing and exciting to learn a new technique. Susan had a wide range of tools and stamps that we used to roll, shape and texture the clay before drying it out. It was a great way to learn to make work that would not be easy to do or would be very time-consuming to do if using other methods of silver jewellery making. It certainly does require patience, practice and fine motor skills to work the clay into the shapes and forms that you want to create and speaking personally, I am not sure that I had a 100% success rate with the results but definitely enjoyed the new challenge! It was also slightly nerve-wracking at first, thinking about the cost of the clay and therefore wanting to use it as wisely as possible!
Some people had certainly made some beautiful pieces by the end of the day and we were also inspired by the work done in the many books that were available to browse through.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day – well-organised, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, wonderful muffins provided by one of the members and some lovely jewellery produced – all good!
Yvonne Hall
Many thanks to Susan for a fabulous workshop, we appreciated her sharing her knowledge and skills with us. It was a fun day with lots of good results.
Heads down and hard at work!
Susan in a blur of activity in the red dress, and lots of concentration from the students.
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* Members Meeting
Our meeting of interested members on Monday the 14th May went well, lots of ideas, enthusiasm, and reassuring financial figures. Thank you to all who attended, and to the providers of a wonderful supper!
Amongst the most encouraging news was that the grant to help with replacing lost resources and setting up a new workshop that Mark and Karen applied for on our behalf, has resulted in just over $15,000 being made available to the guild as the need arises. Wonderful job, thankyou Mark and Karen.
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So, all in all, a busy month with lots to be going on with. We look forward to meeting you at the various activities coming up, and hopefully the AGM. Don't forget to renew your memberships
Jo
