Last updated 22 April 2012  |
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 Handcrafted Australian jewellery ... I am based in Perth, Western Australia and make unique handcrafted artisan jewellery. My main interest at present is to create gemstone and silver jewellery. In days when so much manufacturing is done abroad, I pride myself in my "made in Australia" brand, though admittedly many of my components and supplies do originate from abroad. I make some of my own components and all design and assembly is done here in Perth by myself. I specialise in personalised, stamped metal jewellery in a variety of different metals including Argentium sterling silver, regular sterling silver, fine silver, rolled gold (gold-fill) copper, brass and more. Elements in 9 carat gold will soon be appearing in my work too. Features that distinguish my work from other stamped metal jewellery are as follows:
I also use thinner metal when requested or appropriate, eg. stacked pendant sets. My metal of choice is Argentium sterling silver which is a tarnish-resistant, modern, silver alloy. My main sales outlets are the Newman Visitors Centre, direct sales and my online shops being www.madeit.com.au/ChantelMcCabe, www.chantelmccabe.etsy.com (jewellery) and www.rubytuesday.com.au (jewellery supply destash).
As iron ore is mined in Western Australia (with particular reference to Newman) you will see a fair amount of hematite featured in my work. Photo on the bottom right: a flower sterling silver and hematite pendant created and designed by myself in March 2011. I'm currently taking expressions of interest from vendors who wish to stock hematite beaded jewellery that is truly assembled in Australia.
I was privileged to be one of the 2010 Swarovski Create Your Style competition finalists held by Creative Beading magazine. A photo of my entry is on the right ... the purple and silver necklace. For a more complete description, see my gallery page.
While this site does have a gallery page, my album of most recent work is currently best viewed at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chantel-McCabe-jewellery-artist/228728447175990 and my collection of gemstones for my work at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219098888107680.69958.136692736348296&type=3. Rare watermelon tourmaline slices are now in stock and waiting to be used once I settle into my new Perth studio.
Kind regards
Chantel McCabe
Member of the Argentium Silver Guild
Registered user of Argentium silver
PS Click here to see some of my latest work when I was a featured artist for the guild in February 2012: http://www.argentiumguild.com/#!__featured-members/vstc21=fm-chantel-mccabe
Photo below: A genuine South Sea pearl from Cygnet Bay pearl farm in Western Australia set in fine silver.    |
 Above: Argentium sterling silver handstamped, personalised pendant featuring an orissa garnet birthstone and a Hill Tribe fine silver leaf. Left: extra large set of three fine silver, handstamped pendants with a shell pearl. A popular expression ...
Wide variety of styles and materials ... I would struggle to confine myself to one genre of jewellery-making or one medium. Consequently I dabble in a several different techniques and materials. Of late, I have come to realise that the following are my areas of interest and I am in a sense now confining myself to these very broad parameters: Metalwork - I started teaching myself some basic metalwork skills a couple of years ago. I recently had the privilege of attending a couple of goldsmithing workshops at the Gold Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. I am currently grappling with the challenges of gem setting. With effect from 14 March 2011, I became a registered user of Argentium silver and am therefore entitled to use their flying unicorn logo on my work. See http://www.argentiumsilver.com for more information about this marvellous metal. I also dabble with other metals such as fine silver, traditional sterling silver, copper, brass, Shibuichi and Shaduko (two exotic Japanese alloys) and 9ct gold. My metalwork is often combined with wirework. Wirework - the appeal of working in wire is irresistable! Twirls, swirls, wraps and more, the sky is the limit once you start adding beads and gems to this kind of work. I work in Argentium sterling silver, rolled gold (also known as gold-filled which must not be confused with the lesser gold-plated version), fine silver, copper, brass and bronze. Metal clay - Art Clay Silver is my precious metal clay of choice. Working in metal clay adds all sorts of possibilites to my metalwork as these clays can be handled in similar ways to regular clay. Polymer clay - what an astonishing medium! Polymer clay is a manmade clay with limitless potential. I love to combine my polymer clay beads and pendants with my metalwork. Seedbeading - I love those tiny little glass beads! I particularly favour Japanese seedbeads such as TOHO and Miyuki but also love Czech seedbeads. Techniques used with these beads include weaving, embroidery and sometimes even simply stringing. Chainmaille - with its origins in days gone by, chainmaille jewellery is truly fascinating whether to make it or simply to behold. Basic beading techniques - the above are sometimes brought together by some basic techniques like stringing or wire links.
This all brings me to the concept of FUSION in my jewellery-making. Being versed in many different mediums and styles, I like to bring several of these aspects together in one piece of jewellery which results in an end product that is unique and truly original.
________________________________________________________ Immediately below the purple neclace: Argentium sterling silver and gemstone earrings: lemon quartz, peridot and tangerine mystic topaz.
Bottom right: sterling silver and hematite pendant.
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