Collaboration

North Story (2011)
At the moment we are working on a new line. The designs will be entirily made of porcelain with a touch of Anna. This new series is called North Story and includes lots of northern imagery (including bears and unicorns of course!)
You can find all the posts about this collaboration in this blog under the label 'North Story'

The Process
Do you find it hard to imagine what work has gone into a finished product sometimes?
I do, especially if it concerns a technique I don't know anything about.

That's why I want to show you the process of how the brooches of the North Story are made.

It's a lengthy process that involves lots of sanding, 3 different firings and much patience along the way. But believe me, the result is all worth it...

Press a piece of clay into a mould.

Smooth out the back.

Lift it out of the mould gently.

Smooth the edges with a bit of water.

Let it dry in between plaster plaques.

After they are dry, sand the roughness away and fire it a first time bisque temperature.

After firing, sand again and do a porcelain firing.
And sand again after the porcelain firing.
Jip, that's 3 times sanding...

Meanwhile cut out the screenprinted images.

Put the decal in warm water.

Apply it to the porcelain by gently tearing away the paper underneath the screenprinted image.
Decals are normally used on glazed ware.
We're using unglazed material and this is trickier as the decal is more likely 

to let loose on unglazed ware.

Rub over it with a clay rib to get the airholes and water out.

Gently rub it with a clean cloth and then fire it at decal temperatures.

I apologize for the gloominess of the pictures - I blame it on the weather conditions! :)

  Start collaboration (2009-2010)
In August 2009, Anna and Mitsy decided that silver and porcelain would be a good combination for a jewellery line. We both set to work and presented our first designs in January 2010.
It's a mix of organic shapes that have delicate textures. The touch of silver, red silk thread and humor makes it perfect and unique.
You can read all about the process of this collaboration in this blog under the label 'the secret project'.