Louise Dawson Design On Facebook

Did you know that I have a Facebook page for my Jewellery? I post regular updates about my work and I'd be very grateful if you popped over to give my page "Louise Dawson Design" a like. Thank you and hope to meet some of you on FB! Let me know if you have a page too, I'd love to follow you back

The Art Chain

Last week over on Facebook a friend nominated me to take part in the Facebook Art Chain and post an image of my work everyday for 5 days. I enjoyed taking part and looking back on previous work (especially looking back to college days) so I thought I'd share it here too! So this is the journey of my work from 2008 to today!

Day 1

I graduated from Colchester back in 2008 with a degree in fashion and textiles. Since starting to make things when I was little I've always loved to recycle, using all sorts of bits and pieces my Gran used to give me, and my work at college really cemented my Make Do and Mend philosophy. 

For my Graduate Collection I created an installation of three, three metre long cream knitted hangings. They hung from floor to ceiling and were embellished with all sorts of recycled and found objects, from meat hooks, to nuts and bolts, plastic packaging and broken glass, all of which I spray painted white. I really enjoyed looking back on this, it was stressful but such a great time! 

Day 2

When I left college I was lucky enough to win a studio space for a year at Cuckoo Farm Studios in Colchester. I stayed on there after the year was up and in 2010 I had a solo exhibition in the gallery there. This piece is a detail from the installation of knitted hangings, which hung on the ceiling like light fixtures. I was exploring light and texture and for this piece explored the Shibori felting process to create a really unusually textured piece

Day 3

When I finished college I started making jewellery, like this knitted necklace embellished with found objects and spray paint, straight away. I wanted to capture the ideas from my Graduate Collection but in a wearable form. Louise Dawson Design jewellery was born!

Day 4

This is a selection of my knitted and Harris Tweed Button Brooches, embellished with a scattering of recycled materials. I first started making these because I didn't want to throw away leftover scraps of fabric, so I decided to make something with them!

Day 5

At the end of 2014 I was super chuffed to have an article about my work published in Green Craft Magazine. Here are my Knitted Button Rings, embellished with recycled fabrics

Thanks for indulging me on a little look back. I nominate you all to take part in The Art Chain and share your work too!

I'm currently running a competition to win one of my handmade brooches from the photo below! Head over to my Facebook page to find out more- best of luck!

Behind the Scenes

I just wanted to share with you some behind the scenes images of new pieces taking shape in my studio...

To make my brooches and necklaces I mostly use recycled wool or wool that people have given me, but working where I do it's hard to resist new things and this is how I have found myself with this beautiful Bergere De France yarn! Luberon is actually a 4ply sock yarn, but it works beautifully through my machine and there is a  lovely range of colours. 

All knitted covers for my brooches and necklaces are knitted by me on my knitting machine!

Brooch bases waiting to be embellished!

New pieces that will be on sale in the Jessica Muir Gallery, Long Melford

Don't forget to check out my new Etsy Shop and visit my Facebook page before the end of June for a free UK postage coupon!

New Etsy shop!

I'm excited to tell you that I've just launched my Etsy shop showcasing my new textile jewellery collection! Each piece is lovingly handmade by me in my studio in Colchester. Check it out here! To celebrate the launch of my new collection, visit my Facebook page for free UK shipping until the end of June!

Latest work

Just a little update- thank you everyone who has liked my Facebook page so far. On Tuesday I drew a name at random to win one of my handmade necklaces- please like my page for more competitions and offers coming soon!

The new collection is gradually coming together and I'm hoping to have another photo shoot soon and then an update of my online shop. Tomorrow I'm going to start work on the knitted brooches and I'm hoping it's going to be another lovely sunny day- sun shining into the studio always helps me work!

New coloured Tweed brooches in progress!

I'm also hoping to get the chance tomorrow to have a bit of an experiment with some old papers (more on those soon) and varnish, with the hope that I can incorporate the results into some future work

Competition, win a necklace!

I'm currently running a competition on my Louise Dawson Design Facebook page to win one of my unique handmade necklaces, pictured below! All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is visit my Facebook page like my page and share my link!

I will draw a name at random in two weeks time on 9th April- best of luck!

More pieces now available on Folksy!

I've just added several new pieces to my Folksy shop, check them out here: http://folksy.com/shops/LouiseDawsonDesign

Each piece is an individual one off and remember that I am also more than happy to make pieces to commission, just send me a message via enquiries@louisedawsondesign.com I'd love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LouiseDawsonDesign Look out for exclusive to Facebook competitions to win Louise Dawson Design pieces, coming soon!

Hand embellished ring £12
Find it on Folksy http://folksy.com/items/4103854-Embellished-felt-ring

All pieces come beautifully gift boxed!