About Liana

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Brisbane, Australia
My studio is located in Brisbane, Australia. For the past 10 years I’ve been enjoying creating jewellery designs from an array of mundane materials. Tupperware and knitting needles have remained a firm favourite. My designs have been published numerous times, graced the shelves of many wonderful galleries and stores and been worn by those whose aren’t afraid of colour and attention. All of which I am very grateful for. For several years I’ve also been fortunate enough to work with many businesses as a coach and workshop facilitator.

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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Junk In My Trunk


I took a trip today to a lovely lady who gave me lots of her junk. She was happy to give it away and I was happy to take it away. I like the robots best, so I'll have to do something special with those.

Almost weekly now someone is sending me something or other. Things that are so perfect, and so perfectly useful. Plastic lids, knitting needles, Tupperware, odd little toys, buttons and all manner of other plasticy goodness are coming my way.

So thank you to everyone who has thought of me. I appreciate it greatly and just LOVE getting those funny little parcels in the post. Kisses to all of you!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

My Happy Place



SOMEONE deleted the recording of Stranger Than Fiction! OK, it was most likely me, but I'm sooo not happy about it. The film contains my 'happy place' and I really just can't wait until I record it again.

Everyone needs a happy place. These scenes are mine.

ohh!

yeah!

This posting is really just for me, and for Zoe too, and maybe for Mark as well (because he hasn't seen the film & that is just plain wrong).

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Love & Such Things



Sorting through photos the other day I came across this one. I'm with my first born and I've just had baby number two (she must be asleep inside, wedged between pillows). Probably in the past I would have hated this photo. Most likely focusing on how big I am. When I saw this now I really didn't care about that I just though I looked in love. That's what love looks like, and it was nice to see it captured.

One of my friends was saying the other day that life is easy/simple and that we make it hard. Well I don't know if I agree completely with that. Life can be hard and lots of terrible things do happen. I do agree that we often make it harder than it needs to be, through unrealistic wants and dwelling on the negatives. I guess I used to be a lot more like that too. But lately I'm wondering what's wrong with focusing on the nice things, the simple joys, a little more often?

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Paula Leal EgaƱa





Paula from Chile sent me an email regarding joining my mailing list and thoughtfully attached some images of her own work. I was very glad she did because I found her pieces to be intriguing and beautiful. I asked her more about them. Here is what she said:

I'm an architect that loves this wonderful handicraft made in Chile.
This technique it´s has been developing for 200 years in 300 kms to
the south of Santiago, in a place called Rari. The artisans "recycle"
the horse hair, dying it and the weaving them. Normally their designs
are figurative, but mine are quite abstract.

I started 2 years ago, and I'm trying to commercialize them, but I
never get the time to develop a line. At the moment I'm working on a
catalog that refers to this technique, and to my designs. Recently 2 of
my pieces obtained a Unesco Prize for Excellence in handicrafts, which I'm really proud of, so I think it´s a good start. I'm also working in projects related to recycling and focused in handicrafts and design. I´m very interested in the work you develop, because I find it BEAUTIFUL, and accessible to make, but also because the jewelry you develop is something that anyone would love to have and wear, and is MADE OF PLASTIC!! Congratulations.

Have you ever planned to come to Chile? I know its not a common place to go (or end), but you never know..
.(I wish!)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Just Another Work Day


Tomorrow I'll spend the day with my friend Kylie J. We shall probably sit on her balcony, drink tea and chat about her recent trip to Japan. While we do that we will both be working too. I'll make brooches and Kylie will make her gorgeous poetry pots.

When you work for yourself it is important not to isolate yourself. It can be pretty hard going working alone everyday. I do like days alone, but only if there are also days when I'm not alone. Thank goodness I have MoB and good friends/colleagues like Kylie J.

pictured above - what Kylie sent me in the post recently - obviously reads my blog! Sweetheart!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Aeroplanes, Hospitals & Cafeterias



I went to Ikea with my friend yesterday. I needed some frames and the odd assortment of plastic things. Mostly it was just to have a day out. It was an adventure of sorts. A couple of exhausting hours into our 'adventure' we decided to have a rest and a bite to eat. Of course we went to the Ikea cafeteria. This is where I became terribly excited, and my friend became increasingly distressed. Our reactions were polar opposites. She hates cafeterias and I adore them. We both agreed the food was bad. No argument there.

With the extremeness of our reactions I thought a bit more about my own excitement. I care about quality food and probably can be a bit of a food snob. My mother is Italian for goodness sake! But still I love aeroplane, hospital and cafeteria food. Actually I really don't love this food. It is usually awful, but I do love the experience of it, the concept of it. Everything neat and packaged. Your choices are minimal or non existent. Maybe it's the surprise of it. What will be in this little container? It's kitschy and tacky, and just so much damn fun.

As a school aged child I flew to Europe with my dad and brother. There are lots of things I remember about that trip, but one thing I particularly remember is a dessert I had on Lufthansa airlines. It was a mousse in the prettiest shade of bubblegum pink. It looked so glorious in its pinkness, in its little cup, with its strawberry on top. Unfortunately it tasted like toothpaste. Maybe that is why I remember it so clearly. If it tasted like strawberry mousse it may have not been so remarkable. I try not to define things as being good or bad, or in such absolutes, because bad experiences can lead to good memories, or are just plain memories, and often the best stories to tell.

My new favourite website - Airline meals.

Monday, April 07, 2008

MoB - Looking For New Resident Jeweller


MoB Workspace is looking for a new Resident Jeweller to come and share our studio. The applicant should be a self-employed jeweller with a tertiary qualification or with equivalent experience in jewellery making. The successful applicant will gain access to the MoB Workspace studio for up to three set days per week; on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The current Jewellers in Residence are Bibi Locke, Liana Kabel and Mark Vaarwerk. Renata Fojtikova is an Associate Jeweller, and Dan Cox is our Graduate Jeweller for 2008.


We really just need some new drinking pals. Only kidding (well...)!

For all the info go to the MoB blog

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Melinda Young




As well as being just about the nicest person you could hope to meet, Melinda Young is also a fabulous contemporary jeweller. She gets big bonus points for her fondness for plastics, and a few extra ones too for her current exhibition project in which she focuses on pink string!

Check out the wonders of Mel:
website
blog
flickr