Explore the heart of handmade creativity through the materials our artisans use every day. From the texture of textiles and the character of timber to the brilliance of gemstones and the depth of fine art mediums, this category dives into the techniques, tools, and processes behind the work.
Whether you’re an artist, a collector, or simply curious, Materials & Making offers insight into how raw materials are transformed into thoughtful, contemporary pieces — celebrating craftsmanship, knowledge, and the beauty of making by hand
Amethyst, is part of the quartz family of semi-precious gemstones, in its purple iteration. Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals and it has been estimated that quartz constitutes about 12% of the earth’s crust. Its chemical composition is SiO2 (silicon dioxide). Colour Importance Purple has been considered Regal since ancient times, as purple […]
Fine silver is considered pure silver and is identified by the hallmark stamp .999. It’s not alloyed with any other metal. Fine silver is very soft and malleable. Because it scratches and dents so easily, fine silver is less commonly used in jewellery pieces that will experience hard wear such as rings, it is more […]
“Eucalyptus marginata, commonly known as jarrah, djarraly in Noongar language and historically as Swan River mahogany” (Wikipedia) Jarrah is a treasured Australian hardwood, Jarrah trees are generally only found only in south-west Western Australia. Trees will grow to 30 to 40 m in height with diameter at base to 2 m. Renowned for its versatility, […]
Have yo ever wondered about what height you should hang your artwork on the wall? Have you purchased some beautiful works of art but still have them leaning on the wall or tucked away under the bed as the thought of hanging them is just too hard? Have you delayed hanging your artworks because you […]
by Natali aka Crochettiky Amigurumi is a popular type of crochet. The word is a compound of two Japanese terms: ami, which means crocheted or knitted; and nuigurumi, a stuffed doll. It often takes the form of an animal or fantastical creature with an aesthetic that’s best described as kawaii or cute. This makes amigurumi ideal for kids or anyone that likes button […]
INTERNATIONAL RING SIZE GUIDE Have you ever tried to work out your ring size? Have you tried googling rings sizes and found lots of conflicting information? We are here to set you on the right path. The International guide for rings sizes is called ISO 8653:2016 Jewellery — Ring-sizes — Definition, measurement and designation The […]
by Rowena Mitchel Ruby (red variety) is a variety of mineral from the family corundum, Ruby is the most valuable variety of the corundum mineral species, which also includes sapphire (blue corrundum). All other coloured corundum is called a sapphire proceeded by its colour, ie orange sapphire, blue sapphire, yellow sapphire, pink sapphire. The […]
by Cindy Wright Early lampworking was done in the flame of an oil lamp, with the artist blowing air into the flame through a pipe or using foot-powered bellows. Most artists today use torches that burn a mix of natural gas and oxygen. Lampworking is also known as flameworking or torchworking, It involves holding a glass cane […]
Polymer Clay has been around, in one form or another, since the late 1930s. A German doll maker Fifi Rehbinder, was having trouble finding her usual supplies, due to the political upheaval of the time. Born out of necessity, she developed a plastic clay she called “Fifi Mosaik”, which she used for sculpting doll heads. […]