RedPeg Eco Studio AND GALLERY!!!

Its been a mad few weeks with the set up of my new open studio-Gallery space. Yay!
I don't know if you've heard of the  Renew Australia Organisation?
They are a new national social enterprise designed to incite community renewal and economic development in the arts and creative industries across Australia.
They work with communities and property owners to take otherwise empty shop spaces and commercial buildings and make them available to incubate by artists and creative projects.
The project has been picked up by the Bega Valley Shire Council and is called, "Renew The Valley".

I put in an application in November and received word just before Christmas that I had been successful and had been allocated a shop space.
Squee!! So exciting!

I received the keys 3weeks ago and set about painting and branding it to make it my own.
A few set backs along the way (see pics). But all going to plan the two little front doors will swing open to the public next week.

Here is a visual trip through the new space with another blog post to follow one I've opened.

This is the shop front as I saw it the day I was shown around by the Renew the Valley team.
Pretty lurid colours, but lots of potential.
The shop is actually apart of  what was the old cinema and has a gorgeous big old art deco exterior.
My shop was the snackbar!
Which reminds me, I must get a photo from across the street so you can see the whole building.

This was inside on the same day.
The old cinema is now a furniture warehouse and my space housed the orders to be delivered and picked up.
That's the owner of the shop you can see in the pic and the legs and toes of the Renew team.

Looks pretty dark in here.
Nothing a whole lot of white wont fix!

And the painting  begins.
Already it's looking much brighter, but definitely going to need a few coats.

From the front looking back in.
That door leads out to a little store room, kitchen.
Notice how high the ceiling is!

Everything came to a crashing holt when I fell off the ladder and banged up my foot.

I was laid up for days and unable to do much as my foot was so sore and swollen and bruised.

I hobbled out after the first day of painting but as I looked back, I was so happy with how the place was looking, it was really taking shape.

I had  a few days of rest and then we finished off the last of the painting. Me scooting around the floor doing the skirtings,  the lovely hubby braved the ladder this time.
We also shined back the copper window frames.
How good do they look?!?!

Painting done!
Now time for the signage.
My man is so clever!

And Clean too!
 We were worried because of the heritage listing we wouldn't be able to put the peg up but we  got the all clear from the landlord and hurray!
RedPeg is quite literally the RedPeg!

Here is a sneaky peek inside the doors
Got all my bits and pieces and tools and things moved in.
Now just need to begin work and find the rhythm in my new work space.

..............

You can find me at shop 3/104 Carp street.
Hope to see you there!

Heart of Gold.

Remember my blog about my friend giving me her lump of gold to play with?
You can refresh your memory here....Good as Gold.

She decided she'd like it made into a ring, she provided me with a sweet little gold wedding band and I ordered a small amount of gold solder in anticipation.

I was a little scared I must say, not sure about how much heat was gunna be too much heat and unsure if the gold band would melt before I'd got the flat disc top hot enough to solder one to the other.

Big sigh of relief!!
It was rather easy!!
All my anxieties were for nothing.
I worked that gold like a pro!

Here are some pics of the process.

Heating up the bits.....

More heating, heating, heating....

Ohh, look it's worked.

Looks good, just needs a clean.

A little Pickle bath.....Eco pickle of course. Vinegar and salt.
Should remove most of the black fire scale.

Had to get my little makers mark on there.
Spot the peg.

After a few hours in my tumbler spinning around with a drop of soap and a million little pieces of stainless steel shot that get into all the nooks and crannies, it's come up so shiny.....

And here she is in all her glory......


I think most people who see this ring will not believe it's gold, its been taken completely out of context in that its not dainty, its not precious and it doesn't come with diamonds!
It's solid, it's big, it's bold, i'ts chunky, it's unique.

For me, as a constantly learning and experimenting  jewellery maker, I'm so excited to have worked with some gold and dispelled my fears about it.
I'm hoping to actually buy a small amount of recycled gold from my metal merchants and add few gold pieces to the RedPeg repertoire......
Stay tuned!!