Growing up as a child, there existed a room in my house that we labeled the ‘craft room’. This treasure trove contained the exciting wonders of my mother’s creative passions.
Sewing equipment, doll making needs, chocolate moulds and cake decorating wares, an over-locker, paints, pastels, crayons and a tin box of 72 coloured Derwent pencils. A never ending supply of textured papers; all shades under the sky, wools, fake furs, an array of glues and special scissors that were off limits to our shaky young hands.
My strongest memory of this room was the ‘busy box’. A magical box created for my sister and I by my craft loving mother. The busy box was brimming with crafty materials with which we would build, make and create inventions of sorts. Hours would pass unnoticed as we were enthralled with cutting, sticking, drawing and making masterpieces that would end up proudly displayed atop the television or on the the fridge’s smooth surface.
This room was almost forever messy. However chaotic, you could always find what you were after and more. Searches uncovered long buried strands of sequins, bags of sparkling glitter, googly eyes, pompoms and fuzzy pipe cleaners. It was overwhelming and the possibilities were endless. In retrospect I now realize that my passion for making and working with my hands a my primary tool for creation began at a young age.
This jewellery project, 20 years on from my childhood aims to recreate the idea of the ‘busy box’. Approached in a sophisticated manner using more complex materials and involving professional emerging and established jewellers and makers who’s technical skill and knowledge of contemporary jewellery far exceeds the good old days of Clag glue, Crayola and safety scissors.
