Botanic Gardens

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven't written anything in two months but I was busy/procrastinating but I wanted to take the time to tell you about two great things going on at the Botanic Gardens in Sydney at the moment. Here's an extract from the website:

Cultivate: New Artisans

This exhibition celebrates emerging artisans, offering a rare opportunity to showcase their creativity and talent.  
When: 4th - 14th October, 10am - 4pm daily
Where: Palm House, Royal Botanic Garden
Cost: Free. All works are for sale

We went there today and they were both brilliant! So much stuff to see I'm sorry I'm only telling you last minute. There was so much to see in this little building and so many talented artists, sculptures, jewellers, and pottery makers and if you don't get to see them it will be such a shame but I should've said something earlier but I forgot to be honest. Anyway I'm kind of known for promoting my aunt, Mel, who is a lovely person and talented contemporary jeweller and her works were features in this exhibition too. So here are the pictures I took:

The beautiful Melinda Young with her works at Cultivate: Artisans

The next one was also beautiful and jam-packed with wonderful art, jewellery, pottery, sculpture from amazing artists.
Here's an extract from the website:

Artisans in the Gardens

This year’s exhibition showcases unique works by some of our best contemporary and traditional artisans. Including jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles, and sculpture, the exhibition celebrates the beauty and complexity of nature.
When: 11th - 19th October, 10am - 4pm
Where: Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden
Cost: Free. All works are for sale

And here are the pictures I took:
(Sorry for the overload of pictures I'm not very good at choosing my favourites)

If you missed out, you should still head over to the Botanic Gardens because it's beautiful and it's right next to the Art Gallery of NSW so you can make two trips in one! Keep an eye out for upcoming exhibitions at both the Botanic Gardens and the Art Gallery and make a trip down there the next time you're in Sydney (if you don't already live there).

Jody

Melinda Young's Natural Material Jewellery Workshop

Hey guys,
I meant to post this last Saturday because last week I attended Mel's jewellery workshop with found natural materials at the Botanic Gardens. The reason I am only writing about it now is because I left my camera at my cousin's place and couldn't get it until this weekend which was a bit annoying.

Unfortunately the lighting was really bad in there so I didn't really get any photos. However you can see some of the fabulous jewellery made on the day on Mel's Instagram (@unnaturaljeweller). It was a wonderful day. I got a bit overwhelmed though as I always do. Even though we had the whole day to work, I still felt the pressure of what should I do? Should I try out some techniques? Use tools I'm not able to at home? What idea should I try out? What should I do first and will I be wasting time? Very stressful indeed but I did get like two pieces of jewellery out of it and started one. There's so much more I want to do though, I really want to make jewellery with chopped up pieces of wood. I realy want to make something like Mel's 'Aborescence' piece, with both natural and unnatural pieces. She has not made a blog post about the day as she has not really been blogging for a while. Bloggin is one of those things that you feel you should do but don't seem to have the time for it. Mel is quite busy and trying to keep in order blogs, Instagram, work and family can be quite tiring sometimes. I do try and encourage her to blog when I see her so maybe hopefully she will start blogging again sometime soon.

Although I didn't get any people pictures due to the poor lighting and me not asking to open the blinds (just one of those things you really regret not doing), I did still get some nature shots as we were in the beautiful Botanic Gardens which, if you don't know what I'm talking about, is in Sydney next to The Art Gallery of NSW.  My cousin and I walked around for a little bit but it's just so big that we only did a small loop because we wanted to get back to jewellery making and we couldn't really find any gum nut type trees if you know what I mean.

Anyway, it was a great day, the weather was nice and the jewellery making was fun. As always I wish I got more out of it. I was a little tired and so that made it hard to concentrate which made even more stressed out and gosh I am really stressed out. I don't think I can stand another week of school, I need a holiday, now.

Well I hope none of you are really anxious, conflicted, stressed or drained although you probably are feeling one or more of those things if you've been going to school or working. I must say Year 10 is harder than the previous years have been. I'm in all the top classes too which doesn't help because the teachers expect so much of us, move really fast in the topic and give us tonnes of extension work and homework. They're all trying to prepare you for senior years and what not. Anyway I should probably do some homework now I guess...

Jody