04 August 2010

A Conversation with Ingrid Schloemer from Silverworks

Meet Jewellery artist and tutor, Ingrid. She creates pure silver jewellery from precious metal clay “Art Clay”. Her beautiful pieces marry silver with semi-precious stones and often times reflect nature and New Zealand. If like me, you covet her gorgeous pieces she can be found here
or maybe making your own is your groove, Ingrid's workshops are the place to go. So lets meet Ingrid............


Who is Silverworks?
Originally a handcraft teacher I now create one-off pieces of jewellery. Until 2006 mainly from my carved stone pieces (NZ greenstone, carnelian, amethyst, citrine, etc) but now most of my pieces are made with pure silver.

What’s your “handmade” groove ?
I have learnt many crafty techniques but whatever I do, it is always jewellery that I seem to make with them.

What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)
A puffy ceramic heart with metallic glaze which needs to go back on the wall to join my heart collection there, a pair of glasses to assist my failing eyes, a ridiculously unpractical light I have difficulties to switch off every night, and some other stuff too personal to list, sorry!

What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?
I can’t pinpoint where the creative forces come from. I take mental notes of all sorts of images, textures, nature, light and shadow etc and when starting a jewellery pieces all these tiny bits play with me and the one or other sparks an idea. I don’t like music until the rough design is there in front of me. For finishing work which can be quite monotonous I sometimes like to have some background music or a talking book.

What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?
I don’t talk a lot, but if you want to get something out of me just mention jewellery, DIY projects, sewing, nutrition, cooking.

How do you balance your creative life with your family, life committments?
I need to be creative in order to feel good. If I feel good my family feels good. What better excuse can one find? Well, in reality it is always a balancing act where family needs come first. But as the art work becomes more than a hobby the priorities definitely change, spare minutes become very valuable getting used for necessary book keeping, documentation etc. and I tend to not allow myself to have a few quiet minutes.

What is your favourite creative screw-up?
This has to be the “Glass Harmony” piece I made during the instructor training. I never liked it and decided to do some alterations to it, my mum is the proud wearer now.

Kitchen table or studio?
I had my work table in our living room for four years and am now in the lucky position to occupy a full room! For my own sanity it is still necessary though to keep the room in order and the workspace accessable, but it is great to close the door after long hours in it and do something else.

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?
I just returned from the opening of an exhibition I am part of at the Taupo museum. The weekend was filled with teaching two silver jewellery workshops but also with taking part in a felting day and learning how to play the Ukulele. Guess what I have been searching this morning on the internet! Hawke’s Bay seems to be crowded by Ukulele players.... the remainder of my year is sorted!

3 comments:

  1. I remember when I first met you Ingrid, I was amazed at your creative ability in all fields, and the guidance that you gave me, cheers Marie

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your work, especially your leaf rings. Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete

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