More than Buttons

I am back from travelling. I went back to my country Myanmar to learn Myanmar Traditional Goldsmith. It was great but very hot in Myanmar. I went back to her in the middle of summer. But I finally survive. :D

It's exciting. New series of jewelleries will be coming out soon. Production line was interrupted by unexpected travelling and it delayed for 6 weeks. It's all good though. I have more idea, inspirations and energy from a trip.

After working with metals for a couple of years, I love to go back to silk cords. Silk cord is interesting to work with. It looks soft, flexiable and easy to manage. It's actually challenging me to knot with. Long hours for constant tensions and tens of repeated procedures for knot. Oh...Patience.. Stay with me, please.

My room is full with cords and strings. Rolls of them are everywhere. I have been walking from here to there, to and fro. I felt myself as a loom, running from one side to another. It's working well. That's not bad.

These are the sample of different button knots.

My works from 2007 and 2008

During two years at DCE, the jewelleries and objects I made...


Hintha's tail
Ring
Sterling silver, stain cord

more photos

My First Project at DCE

I signed up to study at Design Centre Enmore for Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design in 2007. I have no background of design study before and first time study in Australia, OMG, I felt like I was drowning. I kept asking myself what I have done in those days because I couldn't understand what I was doing. I was struggling with Australian slung, art terms, jargon, strange idea, cultural shocks and fatigue... Now it's all memory and big laughs..

My first project is making egg cup. An egg up to hold soft boiled egg. My feeling for egg cup is blurred. I hate soft boiled egg. My mum forced me to eat soft boiled egg when I was a girl. She said it would give me more proteins. Imagine eating soft boiled egg for everyday. My little dog was life saver for me because he always finishes up my quota eggs.

In Burma, if you are sick, the family will give you soft boiled egg and bread. It is very popular as recovery food after illness. Others are eating colourful curries, chillies and various flavours of food while you are eating white creamy egg. No.. No.. No...I hate that moments.

But I had to do research about egg cups and eating soft boiled egg culture. It opened my eyes. I was surprised that there was a way to eat soft boiled egg to have better taste. There was table etiquette for eating soft boiled egg. Wooh..

I was crazy between the project I have to make which will be marked and my personal feeling. How you could create a thing that associated with your dislike? I did make an egg cup at the end and I couldn't believe myself. I also found myself that I hold lots of things in my heart somewhere and now I found a way to use them.
you never know where the beginning and end in egg.

Whenever my mum gave me soft boiled egg, I hated to eat it. I didn't realsied her warmest thoughts for me, to grow as a healthy person with enough nutrition. After being away from her, married and living with my own family, I realised so many things about my parents that I have never thought in that ways. Actually my mum was giving me her love and care to me. I accepted soft boiled egg with my two hands. (this is Burmese traditions - a manner of respect to elderly people by receiving thing with two hands) I didn't show thanks for that.

In Australia, a bunch of flower has been sent or given to someone to show thanks and remembrance. I should send a bunch of flower to my mum to say thanks for what she did. I chose my favourite flower, Magnolia for her. I am giving bunch of magnolia flowers to my mum.



Breakfast from mum
Bronze, silicone rubber

My Early works - Knots

More photos...

My Early Works - Knots

It is Pan Chang knot and means Endless in Chinese. It represents cycle of life; birth, death and reborn. One of the most basic concepts of Buddhism is cycle of life, it will never ends. As one of the eight Buddhist treasure, it also represents mysteries of the Universe and also known as mystic knot. One of the garnet energies is 'Love'.

I used garnet chips and endless knots in this necklace to tell about 'Endless love'. Love will be never ended in life of cycle and it will be mystery.

Endless love necklace
Garnet, stain cords

Endless knot earrings
Stain cords

One of my commission works for my client to match with necklace.

My Early Works - Knots

As an Asian, I grew up with using button knots and seeing other decorative knots. I love button knots to wear on blouses and dresses but I didn't find time for learning them in those days. After moving to Australia, while I was trying to settle in new place and to cope with home sick, I looking for something to occupy myself and my mind. Something crafty. The first thing come into my mind was 'Button knots'.

I was looking for books and instructions on internet and learn a lot of knotting through them. It did occupied my time. Spending so many hours on internet and books, I have found not only the instructions to make but also meaning of them. Each knot has its own meaning. They are thoughtful. They drew my interest and knotted me around them well.

I didn't understand conceptual jewellery well at that time but I wanted to wear jewellery which could tell a story. I noticed there were beliefs for some gemstones and ornament stones as well. I made an experiment of writing my thoughts through jewellery I wore, by compiling thoughtful knots and meaningful gem stones and ornament stones.

This is the beginning of my journey, making jewelleries and objects


Button knots bracelets
Stain cords and gold colour findings

It is series of button knots. The seemingly endless pattern of this knot is considered a symbol of good luck. It is also used to represent the Buddhist concept of the cyclical nature of all existence.

This bracelet with series of button knots is for the existence of good luck for the wearer.

Rats are making thier nests with bits and bits from everywhere

I was bringing jewellery tools and found objects (collecting from streets, parks and beaches) into my house one after another during last three years. My collections were growing slowly. It was taking places at home gradually. It was same as rats were building up their nests with pieces and pieces from everywhere. This was a lovely comment from my husband. Yes. May be I inspired them!

During my study at Design Centre Enmore, my collection of tools and materials were started. Left over materials from school projects took places corner of our study room. Then I tried to make more jewelery works after study days, I ended up buying more tools and materials. Like rats, I did bring bits and bits from different places, not all in once, slowly and gradually..
One more thing... better than rats...I did shopping to get them... As a woman, Shopping....Credit card...Things I want...Yep..All good for me..

Another rats' nest from corner