online store now open!!

Hi all! Last night I got a sudden pang of inspiration and made a whole bunch of new earrings and necklaces to add to my 'DO YOUR BIT' jewellery range.
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I'm really enjoying the challenge of working with salvaged materials ~ I'm finding myself looking at everyday packaging in a new light now. Instead of just tossing plastic containers into the recycle bin I'm looking twice at them and thinking, 'hey, this could make some really nice earrings!' So I'm reducing my waste and creating cool stuff with it! Very empowering feeling.
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I just found out that my DO YOUR BIT jewellery range has been accepted for the upcoming Reverse Garbage exhibition 'Sh!FT', which coincides with National Recycling week. All going well, I'll also be staying on with RG as a regular supplier ... which is a great thing cause I've got jewellery ideas to burn!
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In other exciting news I've officially launched my online store on my website!!! Yay!
I've got my DO YOUR BIT range on there as well as some mixed media artworks and paintings. I've kept the jewellery really affordable ~ everything is under $40, some as low as $14 for totally unique, hand made pieces. Check it out on my website here
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I'm planning a giveaway in the next few weeks so keep a lookout here for upcoming details.
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C xx

'do your bit' ~ new jewellery range

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I've just launched my new eco jewellery range tonight called 'DO YOUR BIT'.
Each pair of earrings are totally unique and hand-made from a minimum of 75% salvaged/recycled materials I've hunted and gathered all by myself! All are made using quality sterling silver hooks unless stated otherwise.
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Check out each individual piece here
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I'm selling them at an introductory price of only $23 Aussie dollars a pair (plus postage), so if you'd like to purchase a pair email me on chrissy_foreman@hotmail.com
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Very exciting stuff! I feel such a rush as I'm making every pair so I hope that love spills over to the wearers! It feels so wonderful to DO MY BIT for the planet by being creative. Thanks for your support!
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C xx

kids art exhibition ~ mango hill

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Aren't these artworks fantabulous!?!?
All of these artworks were created by my Mango Hill Renaissance Kids students as an end of term project.
For the first 6 weeks of term I teach the students about an array of different artists and techniques, and then in the final 2 weeks the kids get to choose their favourite inspiration and create an artwork which further explores their interests.
The young artists exhibited their final works (above) to their parents and family last Wednesday afternoon in a group exhibition showcase.
There was great feedback & support about all of the kids' works on the day. A real success I'd say. I'm so proud of them!

new artwork ~ peacock dream

Peacock Dream. mixed media. 60 cm x 30 cm

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A close up of some of the detail.

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Actually, I think this painting works both vertically and horizontally.

Which way do you prefer?

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I used a really great product called Rub n Buff to bring out some beautiful antiquey looking copper tones. There's also a fair amount of lace stencilling and printing which doesn't show up that well in the photo. I think if you click on the top photo it will show the detail a little better.

Anyway, that's me for the night. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!

C x

eco-earrings

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Hi guys!

I'm working on a new range of eco-jewellery that I'm calling 'DO YOUR BIT'.
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DO YOUR BIT is a range that I'm making using a minimum of 75% quality recycled and salvaged materials, which I'll dangle off new sterling silver, copper or nickel hooks and rings.
I'm still playing with designs and fine details so that the end product is the best that it can be whilst still retaining it's hand-made quality.
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As you can see above, I've been playing with a few ideas of how I'll be displaying them online In My Shop so if you've got any feedback or ideas I'd greatly appreciate it!
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The earrings I'm making are layered with a number of differently textured materials, so I want to display them in such a way that you can see the different elements ~ it makes me think I need to dangle them off something so they are 'floaty' and you can see the varied textures ... not sure.
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The other thing I'm pondering is whether to secure each 'threading hole' (the hole I punch in each layer so that I can thread it onto the ring) with an eyelet for maximum durability. I've just purchased these eyelets off Ebay which I think could work well to keep the materials together on the earring. The earring pictures above don't have eyelets in them yet so they're just threaded straight onto a ring.
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But with each greater solution comes a greater quandary ... If I cluster all the layers together in 1 eyelet it will mean the different layers won't 'float' as much, but they will be more durable. I could possibly eyelet each layer and thread them separately onto a jump ring ... hmmm ... the creative problem solving process (thinking aloud here obviously) !
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I'll keep you posted with what I come up with in the end. In the meantime, if you've got any feedback or ideas I'd love to hear from you!

kids art exhibition

Claudia S.
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Declan. S
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Ruby. L
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Ryan. T
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Siobhan. S
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Stella. W
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Aren't these GORGEOUS!?!?!
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These artworks were created by my Enoggera Renaissance Kids students as an end of term project. For the first 6 weeks we learn about an array of different artists and techniques, and then in the final 2 weeks the kids get to choose their favourite inspiration and create an artwork which further explores their interests. The kids exhibited their final works (above) to their parents and family this afternoon in a group exhibition showcase.
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It's SUCH a pleasure to teach these classes ~ I feel so blessed to work with such a wonderful bunch of creative children!
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Keep an eye out here next week; my Mango Hill Renaissance Kids students will be exhibiting their completed works as well, so I'll be sure to showcase them here!

one door closes ...

Hi everyone!

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As some of you may be aware, since March this year I'd been working on a creative kids venture called Creative Kids Oasis . The blog aimed to offer regular online kids art classes with a view that children could participate in an art project, send in a photograph of their resulting artwork, and have it showcased on the Creative kids Oasis blog site.

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Unfortunately Creative Kids Oasis didn't generate the participation I was hoping for, and being the busy bee I am, it is no longer viable for me to continue devoting time to the venture at this stage.

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I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported or participated in the venture and I hope you continue to follow my creative endeavours involving children and communities here at my 'chrissyforemanc blog'.

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Being such a strong drive in my life, I'm sure that Creative Kids Oasis won't be the last creative venture I offer which cherishes and encourages the creativity and expression of children through art.

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To check out my final Creative Kids Oasis post and a few parting photos of some of the highlights of my year working with children, click here .

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Meanwhile. I also continue to run regular kids art workshops for Renaissance Kids in Brisbane, Australia as well as private tuition and oodles of community art and eco art projects for kids, which are showcased in my new website http://www.chrissyforemanc.com/ .

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If you ever require any advice, support or ideas about enriching children's lives with creativity in the home or workplace, I'd be more than happy to help you out. I think it's SO important to allow children freedom and opportunities to express their ideas through creativity. Contact me here

fancy new website!!!!!

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I'm Soooooo excited people! I've finally lauched my art website tonight! Check it out:

www.chrissyforemanc.com

awakening the dreamer workshop

**NB. Awakening the Dreamer has been postponed until Sat 17th october 2009.

Hi all! As you may well know by now I'm a bit of a tree huggin' hippie.
I've just caught wind of a symposium coming up in Brisbane next Sat called 'Awakening The Dreamer'.
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It is a programme being run regularly around Brisbane which is interactive and informative on the subject of climate change and environmental sustainability. The Symposium aims to leave participants acutely aware of all that is going around the world currently whilst also suggesting how and why we have come to this point. By the end of the day the participants are left in a state of readiness to take action to move towards creating a way of being on the planet which is conscious and sustainable.
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It comes with great reviews.
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I enjoy attending these environmental workshops because they feed so well into my community arts practice ~ empowering communities through educational and creative environmental projects. Inevitably I come away with further passion and ideas for future projects!
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Click on the pic above for a better view and further details. Might see you there!
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C x