burnished and buffed

MUSHROOM

2012-01-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

Why not make your bedroom dreamier? This bone china mushroom lamp is like a prop from some fairy tale inspired movie. It comes with a child safe LED light fixture.

Bone china lamp available from Corky Saint Clair. Base $110. Light fixture $15.
Resin Mushrooms $12 for set of three.

VICTORY

2012-01-05T04:42:00.001-08:00

Sterling silver Victory Wreath pendant by Corky.

Available from Corky Saint Clair and Kids in Berlin.

CHRISTMAS

2011-12-23T22:33:00.000-08:00

The staff at Corky Saint Clair want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. We'll be closed until next Wednesday.

Peace Out 2011.

WHALE

2011-12-13T02:51:00.000-08:00

The Loneliest Whale in World
In 2004, The New York Times wrote an article about the loneliest whale in the world. Scientists have been tracking her since 1992 and they discovered the problem: she isn’t like any other baleen whale.

Unlike all other whales, she doesn’t have friends. She doesn’t have a family. She doesn’t belong to any tribe, pack or gang. She doesn’t have a lover. She never had one. Her songs come in groups of two to six calls, lasting for five to six seconds each. But her voice is unlike any other baleen whale. It is unique—while the rest of her kind communicate between 12 and 25hz, she sings at 52hz. You see, that’s precisely the problem. No other whales can hear her. Every one of her desperate calls to communicate remains unanswered. Each cry ignored. And, with every lonely song, she becomes sadder and more frustrated, her notes going deeper in despair as the years go by.

Just imagine that massive mammal, floating alone and singing—too big to connect with any of the beings it passes, feeling paradoxically small in the vast stretches of empty, open ocean.

The Happiest Whale in World
Not as lonely as the Baleen Whale above is Jeremy the Sperm Whale last seen circling the crafty circles of Corky Saint Clair. Jeremy has a cheeky smile that makes him a popular member of the Corky family.

BEAR

2011-12-09T02:04:00.001-08:00

In the 70s TV series Grizzly Adams, Adams is a woodsman during the frontier era who flees into the mountains after he is wrongly accused of murder. While struggling to survive, Adams discovers an orphaned grizzly bear cub whom he takes in and calls Ben. The bear, despite achieving huge adult bear size, becomes Adams's closest companion.

Adams proves to have an uncanny link to most of the indigenous wildlife of the region, who have no fear of him. In return, he resolves never to harm another animal whenever possible.

In the television series, Adams had two human companions, an old trader named Mad Jack the Mountain Man (Denver Pyle, commonly featured with a mule named "Number Seven") and a native American named Nakoma (Don Shanks). Together, they helped various visitors while protecting the wildlife.

At Corky we love bears too. Here is our sterling silver bear pendant that celebrates the bear strength of Ben and all his ursine companions.

HOLIDAYS

2011-12-09T01:37:00.001-08:00

BUNNY

2011-12-04T22:57:00.001-08:00

Cast Iron bunny bookends $75. Available from Corky Saint Clair.

PENGUINS

2011-12-02T23:10:00.001-08:00

As well as being adorable these penguin jumpers helped keep penguins warm while they waited to get cleaned up in the recent oil spill in New Zealand.
Fashionista reports: "Independent green news site Gist put out a call for knitters to knit some penguin sweaters for the oil spill victims.	A New Zealand yarn store even posted patterns for penguin sweaters and judging by these pictures, penguin sweater knitters actually get pretty creative."

PRINTS

2011-12-01T14:34:00.001-08:00

Akiko Ueda from Assorted Press recently made a series of prints and cards for the 'For Japan' in aid of the Japanese Earthquake Fund' at the Japan Culture Festival.
Assorted Press is ultimately a study in form and colour. Inspired by all things natural and manmade, the resulting outcome may take any form, in any medium.
Ueda's stall at the fundraiser. All profits from the 'For Japan' series will be donated to the Momo-kaki fund to aid the lives and education of children orphaned in the tsunami and earthquake disasters earlier this year. The prints are currently available on my etsy store.(www.etsy.com/shop/assortedpress)
These greeting cards and the prints above will be available from Corky Saint Clair.

GIVEAWAY

2011-11-30T16:01:00.001-08:00

We have a giveaway in Desktop Magazine today. Click here to enter. Bon Chance tout le monde!

PASTEL

2011-11-28T21:53:00.001-08:00



These candy coloured dishes would make the perfect Kris Kringle. Available from Corky Saint Clair $25AUD

HTML Tables

MARKIT

2011-11-28T00:24:00.001-08:00

We had fun at Markit -which seemed to be the biggest design market in history. It stretched on and on, beyond the atrium and NGV foyer, deep into the BMW Edge.	As usual our custom made jewellery stands + trees designed by Akiko Ueda and Vince Chan made our stand look extra stylish.
There's Dave from Naomi Murrell Jewellery behind me in the distance and Sarah from super hot stationary label Ask Alice to the right.

...and there's illustrator Christian Roth in the sunnies on the right. There seemed to be a million people at Markit. The first three hours were a blur. We are becoming such old hands at design markets that it was far less traumatic than previous outings. I only fretted over one thing but decided to let go of it. The day became stress free and I was free to have some nice chats with old customers and design buddies.

WOLF

2011-11-24T03:39:00.001-08:00

Our seventh featured artist for our jewellery exhibition EVERY MIX TAPE IS A LOVE LETTER is Architecture student and burgeoning designer-fabricator. Phillip Burns.
Phillip made this silver wolf which looks like it is either morphing geometrically or maybe exploding. I can't wait to see what other work he generates using this technique.
	I recently met up for brunch with Phillip at one of Melbourne's hottest eateries to record this exclusive interview.

Hi Phillip. Thanks for meeting me. I love the piece you made, it's very different to the other works in exhibition
Thanks Chris. I love your outfit, you look amazing!

Thanks man. Can you tell me what is this stunning work called?

It's called Crystal Lycanthropy. Lycanthropy is the study of the professed ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a werewolf, or to gain wolf-like characteristics. And the crystalline appearance of the wolf is in part capturing a split-second in time when the wolf is about to transform - and part palimpsest of the process of making the piece.

Can you tell me a little bit about the fabrication of your piece?

The piece was manipulated using 3D software, with particular intention to maintain evidence of that process.

What song inspired this necklace?

I chose Midnight Juggernauts - Devil Within. My Favourite Melbourne band - both the piece and the song were made in Melbourne. REPRESENT. The video clip shows the bands interest in Tron-esque 3D virtual environments. And the juggernauts are always going on about wolves.

Can you tell me what materials were used in the final version of your work?

The piece was 3D-printed in wax then cast in sterling silver. In fact - a Silver bullet is often sited as one of the only ways to kill a werewolf, so perhaps we've freeze-framed this one at that exact moment. Or at the exact moment of transformation from wolf back to human - it appears as if something is trying to escape from within the animal.

Are you intending to make other animals in this series using this technique. If so what other animals are you thinking of making?

I'm thinking about a bear, a swordfish, a eagle - quite defensive animals, and ideally I'd like to make one from every continent.

click for YOUTUBE

FALLING

2011-11-19T23:40:00.001-08:00

Celebrated contemporary artist Michael Peck chose these parachutists models to cast in sterling silver. Peck has a most awesome show at Metro Gallery at the moment. If you get the chance check it outas it really is overwhelmingly beautiful.


	We loved the spazzy 'falling-ness' of this parachutist. There is something sweet about his open palm, as if he is experiencing a moment of ecstasy Available from Corky Saint Clair $100AUD

MUSIC

2011-11-18T18:50:00.001-08:00

Our exhibition EVERY MIXTAPE IS A LOVE LETTER opened last night. We were lucky enough to have actress/model Annie Last choreograph three performances that electrified our audience. Annie Last is wearing my headpiece - *"The Endless Prescient Vision of the Goddess Athena"* which is cut from a solid piece sterling silver and supports a large quartz crystal. The quartz crystal increases extra-sensory perception and sensitivity increasing your psychic powers by a factor of seven.
Phillip styling Annie Last before her big performance.
Young lovers enjoying the electric vibe at our exhibition opening.



Blender Crew Represent.
Young people checking out the amazing displays at our first jewellery exhibition EVERY MIXTAPE IS A LOVE LETTER. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the show; we got some really interesting work from a people from very varied backgrounds - from jewellery makers, sculptors, fine artists, architects and stylists. It was very balmy in the city yesterday so thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend our opening. It was still warm as we walked home; I sighed and smiled to myself because it felt like our best Corky Party ever.

SAME

2011-11-18T16:53:00.001-08:00

Subsection 5(1) of the Marriage Act 1961 defines marriage as ‘...the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.’ Accordingly, it is not possible for same-sex couples to marry under Australian law and same-sex marriages entered into under the laws of another country are also not recognised in Australia.

MUSIC

2011-11-17T17:27:00.001-08:00

Our sixth featured artists for our exhibition EVERY MIXTAPE IS A LOVE LETTER for the Melbourne Music Week are designers Ruby McMillan and Sergei Netchaef. They have made a complicated body piece inspired by the video of Radiohead's LOTUS FLOWER They wrote: "The clip for Lotus Flower is pretty powerful and a little bit uncomfortable. It's really about seeing this music in a body, and how these tiny notes and rhythms are expresseds as movement, when mostly we just dance to the basic rhythm of a song. Music is so much about the body and not just the sensation of sound' There is something interesting about the way jewellery typically adorns the body.
Often it sits over the body, centred or held in place by gravity and a chain, or strapped or pinned to it so it doesn't move. We started trying to make a piece that was somehow dependent on the body, that would make the body part of the piece. necks and collarbones and the way they move are really pretty and quite strange.
The end result is something that places itself across the body, and uses the movement of the arms and neck to change the shaped of it. Different connections between the chains become visible when it moves differently, and the chains kind of 'play' on the body as it moves.

MARKIT

2011-11-16T15:03:00.001-08:00

Markit@FedSquare is on again in two weeks!

Corky Saint Clair will be showing at Markit at Fed Square again. Markit has always been our favourite design market - The atrium at Fed Square is the perfect venue for that type of market - it's kinda outdoors but not really. It's also easy to get to and combine with other activities.

A Unique Christmas Shopping Experience

For one day only, Markit@FedSquare will showcase 100 of the most coveted independent designers in Australia, now doubled in size and spilling from the light filled Atrium into the huge BMW Edge Theatre at Federation Square.

There will be many delights for you to fill your Christmas stocking with at Markit@FedSquare, featuring fashion, jewellery, homewares, kids products, stationery, textiles, and collectables. Buy beautiful gifts, add to a collection or simply spoil yourself at Markit@FedSquare.

Visit www.markitfedsquare.com.au to see what's new from our November stall holders and start your Christmas shopping list.

And, don't forget to put Sunday 27th November 10am-5pm in your diaries!

MUSIC

2011-11-14T23:55:00.001-08:00

Our fifth featured artist for our exhibition EVERY MIXTAPE IS A LOVE LETTER for the Melbourne Music Week is my silver smithing teacher Janet Marnell-Brown. Janet has made a gigantic brooch tribute to legendary film Singin' in the Rain.

Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography. It offers a comic depiction of Hollywood, and its transition from silent films to "talkies."
Although it was not a big hit when first released, it was accorded its legendary status by contemporary critics. It is now frequently described as one of the best musicals ever made, topping the AFI's 100 Years of Musicals list. Janet hand cut her silhouette from an old vinyl record. Another fun fact: the lamp post 'globe' also glows in the the dark.
At silver smithing class today I worked very hard on my piece for the exhibition. It is starting to look amazing thanks to Janet's tutelage. Hands down, Janet is the best teacher.

MUSIC

2011-11-14T00:31:00.000-08:00

I forgot we mad this tee shirt a few years ago - the Every Mixtape is a Love Letter tee.

It's an original drawing by Sarah McNeil.

I might even reprint them this summer.

MUSIC

2011-11-14T00:20:00.000-08:00

Our fourth featured artist for our exhibition EVERY MIX TAPE IS A LOVE LETTER as part of the Melbourne Music Week is none other than everyone's favourite fashion blogger FASHION HAYLEY.

Hayley has made a bizarre but eye catching tribute to that Russia's Greatest Love Machine - Rasputin.

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is one of the most intense and controversial figures in history. He was a Russian Orthodox Christian and mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their only son Alexei. Some people called Rasputin the "Mad Monk", while others considered him to be a psychic and faith healer.
Hayley has really captured some of Rasputin's intense mystic vibe with this beard necklace. I love all the brassy and ashy highlights Hayley has in her hair right now.
The beard piece is equally striking worn on your chest.
Hayley says she was inspired to make this piece by the classic Boney M song 'Rasputin'. You know the one - it has that unstoppable pop hook *"RAH RAH RASPUTIN"*
CLICK HERE FOR	YOUTUBE

DIAMOND

2011-11-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

Sterling silver claw with Hermiker Diamond crystal. 80cm square link Italian sterling silver chain.

Available from Corky Saint Clair $200AUD

TRIANGLE

2011-11-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

I recently bought this painting from General Braddock. I like the way the triangles interact with each other and the water colours spreading softly across what he called 'fag paper'.

I bought it in a social situation and didn't really notice the intense inscription on the first triangle until I got home. But like the inscription says 'I'm OKAY' with it.

CRYSTAL

2011-11-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

This quartz crystal has been electroplated creating a striking effect.

Crystal pendant on 80cm sterling silver chain $110AUD. Available from Corky Saint Clair

MUSIC

2011-11-10T02:39:00.000-08:00

Our third featured artist for our exhibition EVERY MIX TAPE IS A LOVE LETTER is Brennan Oliver, our youngest contributor to the show. Oliver is a first year art student majoring in "spatial practice" at VCA.

Brennan's contribution to our show is a stunning bandana suitable for large dogs or very small people. His piece while not strictly 'jewellery' falls into a broader category of 'accessories'. Brennan revealed that his work is made from cotton with an iron on transfer a stick on letters. It is a homage to Advice Dog.
Advice Dog is a series of popular image macros that first surfaced on 4chan’s /b/ in 2006.
A typical example of Advice Dog depicts a cute puppy’s face against the background of a color wheel, often accompanied by unrelated advices and ridiculous instructions (i.e. Do the laundry / Rob a bank)

Brennan will be playing a slowed down rendition of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love on the night of our show.

MAGIC

2011-11-08T16:50:00.000-08:00


Gaze upon this chunk of icy beauty caught in this sterling silver dragon claw by Christopher Bril for Corky.

We made this ring to snake around your finger making it adjustable and comfortable to wear. The dragon claw is clasping an uncut Herkimer diamond. Herkimer diamonds are double-terminated quartz crystals discovered within exposed outcrops of dolostone in and around Herkimer County, New York and the Mohawk River Valley. Herkimer Diamonds are known for their extreme clarity; Wiccan and New Age belief systems often ascribe specific occult properties and a wide variety of mystical powers to them.

This would be the perfect engagement ring for a nu-goth couple or a witch house themed wedding. Due to restrictions imposed on us by the Trade Practices Act we can't guarantee with 100% certainty that this ring has mystical powers, but it will, at the very at least bring a great deal of beauty to your life.

MUSIC

2011-11-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Our second featured artist for our exhibition "Every Mixtape is a Love Letter" is Holly Magenta Diadora.

Holly, a text based artist, has made this stunning friendship bracelet carefully woven from pink iridescent cotton, which holds in place wooden blocks bearing the inscription MAC OS X.

MAC OS X, whose X is the Roman numeral ten and is a prominent part of its brand identity, is a Unix based graphical operating system, built on technologies developed at Next between the second half of the 1980s and Apple's purchase of the company in late 1996.

MAC OS X is known for its stability, as well as being hard to hack.

Holly's bracelet brings to mind the notion that most friendships are 'hackable', whether it be from boyfriends, replacement friends or outside interests. The psychological pun here is that MAC OS X bracelet much like the MAC OS X the operating system, may well bring stability to your relationships.

Holly was emphatic that the piece was not a tribute to the late Steve Jobs.

Holly's piece was inspired by the song "Halcyon On + On" by Orbital

click for youtube

Here's to friendship... that goes on + on.

CRYSTAL

2011-11-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

A section of the infamous Corky Crystal Tree.

GIFTS

2011-11-04T17:43:00.001-07:00

Some cool gift ideas for the holidays, whether it be Christmas 2011, Hanukkah or Wiccan New Years - you can find something at Corky Saint Clair.

Sterling silver 'Button Ring'
Sterling silver T-Rex pendant
Enamelled Cloud pendant

MUSIC

2011-11-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

Joanna Kawecki, editor of Ala Champ Magazine is our first featured artist for "Every Mixtape is a Love Letter" our exhibition for the Melbourne Music Week 2011.

Ala Champfest Magazine Issue 001 from Joanna Kawecki on Vimeo.

Joanna has made a stunning sterling silver ring using Keum-boo, a special Korean technique of silver-gilding, using depletion gilding.

Keum-boo (also Kum-Boo or Kum-bu - Korean "attached gold") is an ancient Korean gilding technique used to apply thin sheets of gold to silver, to make silver-gilt.

Traditionally, this technique is accomplished by first depleting the surface of sterling silver to bring up a thin layer of fine silver.

24 carat gold is applied with heat and pressure - mechanical gilding to produce a permanent diffusion bond.

Pure precious metals such as gold and silver have a very similar atomic structure and therefore have a good potential for bonding.

Heating these metals to a temperature between 500-700°F increases the movement of the atoms. When pressure is added, this causes an electron exchange at the surface between the two metals, creating a permanent diffusion bond. This diffusion bond occurs far below the soldering temperature for either metal.

"My piece is inspired by the song "After the Rain" by Little Dragon," says Kawecki, citing nature and Scandanavia as other influences for her ring.

"I think it's a bit natural yet a bit edgy."

And I think it's absolutely beautiful. You can see this ring and other musically inspired Jewellery at our exhibition launch on Friday, November 18, 2011 at Corky Saint Clair.

Interview by Award Winning International Blogger Christopher-Hussein Bril for Corky Blog.

TRILLIONS

2011-11-02T07:35:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for a special gift for that special person? At Corky we have eight trillion gift ideas - even if that special person is yourself.

PINECONE

2011-10-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

ROBOT

2011-10-29T18:33:00.000-07:00

STARS

2011-10-27T03:33:00.001-07:00

CLAW

2011-10-25T19:57:00.003-07:00

In the last few weeks I have been working on my new Dragon Claw Ring at silver smithing school. The Dragon Claw Ring snakes around your finger and it isn't closed it is fully adjustable.

I wasn't sure how it'd feel to wear but it has turned out really well - it's very dramatic but feels like the weight is in the right place.

The Claw Ring is getting cast right now. I kinda miss wearing it.

GUN

2011-10-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

	New at Corky: Beretta Gun sterling silver studs. Our model is wearing the guns facing out, as it would be pretty intense imagery for her to have guns facing in toward her head.
	Beretta has been owned by the same family for some five hundred years. The Beretta company was established in 1526, when gunsmith Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta of Gardone Val Trompia (Lombardy, Italy) was paid 296 ducats for 185 arquebus barrels by the Arsenal of Venice.

.	Sterling silver Beretta studs. Available from Corky Saint Clair. $120AUD

MUSIC

2011-10-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

We are busily planning our contribution to the First Ever Melbourne Music Week.

Music plays a huge part of our business. Over the years we have received many compliments for top tracks we have played for our customers. There are tracks that pretty much guarantee safe, fun times in the shop.

Time is Tight by Booker T + the MGs

Rap Snitch Knishes by MF Doom

Candy Sprinkles by Rafter

Little Dreamer by Future Islands

Sloop John B by the Beach Boys

Come on! Feel Illinoise! by Sufjan Stevens.

Sometimes, however, you just have to play music to amuse yourself. Whenever, my sales assistants leave the shop I like to play over the top tracks such as the soundtrack to TRON or t.A.T.u tracks (in Russian). I find this creates psychological space which is very calming.

On Getting Mix CDs

Getting a mix CD-R is such a personal gift. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to think the person who made it for you chose all those tracks for you. And of course making a mix cd for someone is an even bigger deal. I gave a mix CD to someone once, who instead of saying 'thank you', said 'I've heard most of these songs'. It wasn't just tracks that got burnt that day.

More poignantly, I recently received a mix CD from someone that I can't listen to. I just carry it around in my anorak pocket like some tragic amulet. Maybe I'll make some who works for me listen to it and tell what they felt, what is on there.

MIX CD-R HIERARCHY OF DRAMA

	LEVEL OF DRAMA
Mix CD-R	6
Mix CD-R with track listing	8
Mix CD-R with track listing and hand made cover art	9
Email with MEGAUPLOAD or similar media file sharing URL of uploaded album	2
USB stick with data music dump	4
CD-R with songs written for you	10

For the exhibition I am planning a very dramatic headpiece inspired by CEO's 'white magic'. Get ready for some witchy crystal beauty.

DOGHOUSE

2011-10-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

It's very fashionable right now to have tiny floral arrangements scattered around your immediate environment. A lot of people are following that chemist/industrial chic vibe with that but I think it's cuter to use more random finds such as this dog house vase.

Vintage doghouse vase $60.
Available from Corky Saint Clair

GRIFFIN

2011-10-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

The Griffin is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. As the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle was the king of the birds, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. The griffin was also thought of as king of the creatures. Griffins are known for guarding treasure and priceless possessions.
What treasures could you carry in your own private sterling silver griffin carry all pendant?
I recently attended the Merri Creek Fight Club. It was very intense, gruelling and slightly homoerotic. Afterwards my hands and head hurt so I was glad I had these provisions in my Griffin Carry All. Of course I took care to remove the necklace while fighting as it is dangerous to wrestle while wearing heavy chains. You might get strangled, cut or garrotted. It is also important to consider your jewellery might get damaged. You wouldn't want to break anything as beautiful as this Griffin necklace.
Sterling silver matchstick carrier pendant on an 80cm Italian sterling silver box chain. $190AUD available from Corky Saint Clair.

SQUIRREL

2011-10-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what your totem animal is?

A totem animal is an important symbolic object used by a person to get in touch with the specific qualities found within that animal. These traits might be qualities which you need, connect with, or feel a deep affinity toward.

Your spirit animal guide will instruct and protect you as you learn how to navigate through your spiritual and physical life.

Anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss suggested that animal totems are chosen arbitrarily for the sole purpose of making the physical world a comprehensive and coherent classificatory system.

Here are some useful questions you can use to locate your spirit animal.

When you go to the park, forest, or zoo what animal are you most interested in seeing?

When you are using tumblr or flickr what animal images do you download and cross post?

When you listen to music and there is an animal reference in the lyrics, which animal references make you sigh the most?

When spying hipsters around the city, which of their animal tattoos are you most drawn to?

Which animal do you find most frightening or intriguing?

Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal? If so what animal was it?

Is there a recurring animal in your dreams or do you have one you have never forgotten?

In the summer of 2000 I undertook a vision quest, during which time it was revealed to me that my totem animal was infact a squirrel. Squirrels are one of the smartest animals on the planet, they store things away for the future and they are extra cute.

My flat is covered in squirrel figurines.

Squirrel remote control console.

Bone China Squirrel Lamp with little holes cut out of the acorn to let light out. Available from Corky Saint Clair. $120AUD for the base.

LION

2011-10-11T14:37:00.001-07:00

CLEMATIS

2011-10-11T02:00:00.000-07:00

RAT

2011-10-10T01:08:00.000-07:00

This little guy came to live at Corky Saint Clair during the Great Flood of 2010. He was scared and he was cold; he wanted somewhere safe to live so we found him this little glass sewer pipe.

Those first few floods really changed our lives. The first one was insane.

The second was the worst.

By the time the third hit I was like 'whatever' and just got to cleaning up and raising all the electricals off the ground.

Solid silver sewer rat available from Corky Saint Clair $100AUD. Comes in shiny or matte.

BLACK LIGHT

2011-10-04T02:30:00.000-07:00

Some things seem dark on the surface.
...but have a natural light inside them.
These dark crystals have colours that shift
refusing to remain static
knowing that 'stasis is death'
Our new collection of rough hewn crystal and sterling silver rings entitlted *BLACK LIGHT* has finally arrived from California. They are even more beautiful than we had anticipated.
*Black Light* on your finger - summoning every power you ever needed.

WINNERS

2011-10-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

We received hundreds of entries for our CORKY SAINT CLAIR photo competition.

How amazing is this couple's effort? How could they not win?

Thank you to everyone who entered.

EIGHT

2011-10-01T00:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came to our Eighth birthday party. The Kent Street Cocktails were a hit. Less successful were the "assault whistles" that we handed out as gifts. They were pretty but I don't think they are going to save anyone's life.

DELFT

2011-09-28T00:52:00.000-07:00

These gorgeous delft brooches started selling the second we put them on the floor. No wonder - they are all hand formed and hand painted. Sheep Brooch $45AUD
Owl Brooch $45AUD
Deer Brooch $45AUD
Cat Brooch $45AUD
So real.

THANK YOU

2011-09-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

It's apt that I am sitting in Corky Saint Clai r wearing a fitted gingham shirt and a vaguely ironic gigantic sterling silver curb necklace while blogging - some of my favourite activities on what is the store's Eighth birthday.

I am still enjoying running this enterprise. When I'm into this business it's very obvious as the shop looks prettier, we get better stock and more people flow through.

In the last year we have been venturing further and further from the shop looking for the brightest and best jewellery and gifts from all corners of this planet. I especially enjoyed my epic buying trip across the US in May and June of this year. Travelling puts running this very Melbourne-centric business into keener perspective and makes me more appreciative of what this city has to offer.

This year I have also enjoyed exploring my new interest in crystals. My next collection of rough hewn crystal rings is titled BLACK LIGHT. It is insanely beautiful. Girls in the shop make this sound that is a mix of sighing and purring - that is what we are going to be hearing a lot of when the collection hits Corky Saint Clair.

I'd like to thank everyone who has helped build the shop - especially Louis Italiano, Lisa-Marie Corso, Jasmin Chen, Mina Akiyama, Dion Effern, Sheree Ford, Clara Little, Callum Reeves, Claudia, Phillip, Elwyn Murray, Richard Stephens, Claire Lehman, Mandy, Matt Petersen, Elise Sheehan and Leo Gester. I'd also like to thank all the amazing people who help put Corky Label together: the girls at Koodaks, my mentor Janet, my jewellery agent Alan, Designers Akiko Ueda, Vincent Chan, Michael Peck, Sarah Mcneil, Brendan "Monkey" and our screen printers Ben and Shelley at Super Special.

We are having a little party this Friday to celebrate our birthday. EIGHT IS NOT ENOUGH. If you aren't a fan on Facebook it's never too late.

We will be serving gluten free pizza and cup cakes and serving something called 'Kent Street Cocktails' - which is a delightful mix of tequila, kahlua, lime and soda water.

There will be giveaways every twenty minutes culminating in our grand prize draw. The prize is the solid sterling silver heart locket above as well as a $200 gift voucher. Absolutely no one has entered our contest yet so if you enter you have more than a 50% chance of winning.

AMETHYST

2011-09-26T02:25:00.000-07:00

Rough hewn faceted amethyst drop crystal suspended from an 80cm Italian sterling silver fine curb chain. Such a lovely weighted piece. We have eight of them, all slightly different.

Available from Corky Saint Clair $49AUD.

LETTER

2011-09-23T00:24:00.000-07:00



	Solid sterling silver envelope locket. 80cm Italian sterling silver fine curb chain. $80 available from Corky Saint Clair. We have nine of them

PRIZE

2011-09-22T03:42:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody. We are having our eighth birthday party at the shop next Friday.
There will be free giveaways every twenty minutes as well as 'Kent Street Cocktails'

To coincide with out birthday celebrations we are announcing Our Eighth Birthday Competition.
To enter please email us jpegs of you or your friends wearing any Corky jewellery.
Competition ends this Thursday.

email entries to
corkysaintclair@gmail.com

First prize is a $200 Gift voucher and the Heart Locket below. There will be other prizes for best creative effort and most improved.

SKULL

2011-09-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Hand painted skull on an 80cm Italian sterling silver chain. Comes in test tube gift pack.

LODOLITE

2011-09-16T23:54:00.000-07:00

Lodolite rings set in sterling silver. This time I made sure to get girl's sizes.

Lodolite must be one of the loveliest stones. The depth of colour and shifting shapes suggest staring into your own private universe - a universe on your finger.

These rings will arrive at Corky Saint Clair in the next week.

BIRD

2011-09-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Solid Brass flying bird pendant. Cut from 3mm brass so has added heft + class.

Available from Corky Saint Clair $35 Au RRP

GLASS

2011-09-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

There is nothing cuter than making a little garden in a glass container

	Lately I've been making little terrariums using succulent plants I got from the Victoria Markets, you know from that nice guy with the fuzzy jumpers. I use cactus soil as it drains better. Glass bubbles $20 and $30 from Corky Saint Clair
	Carefully suspend your glass bubbles from the ceiling using wire and chain. Please make sure you fasten everything securely as it would be heartbreaking if your bubbles fell and broke. How awesome would it be if the crane in this photo had a giant glass bubble with a mini garden suspended from that chain?
	Don't worry even if you don't like getting your hands dirty, you can still make a terrarium. Just put a little pot plant under a glass dome. Place your little terrarium on a plinth. I got my glass dome from Paxton Gate in San Francisco, which I think is my favourite shop in the whole World.

GLASS

2011-09-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

I'm so into glass right now.

We have a new collection of glass chemist's flasks at Corky Saint Clair. The large one takes 750mL which would take a whole bottle of wine. Even if I didn't want to put out, I totally would if so someone put this on the table. This flask retails at Corky Saint Clair for $30AUD.
Small chemist's flask. 250mL volume -perfect for olive oil. Or massage oil.

PURITY

2011-09-07T02:56:00.000-07:00

Purity rings (also known as chastity rings or abstinence rings or promise rings) originated in the United States in the 1990s among Christian-affiliated sexual abstinence groups. Wearing a purity ring is typically accompanied by a religious vow to practice abstinence until marriage.

I've been thinking about what kind of purity ring I would design if I had to wear one. I guess it would be silver and have the word '4EVER' on it.

My current obsession is a band from Canada called Purity Ring. Check out their creepy new single "BELISPEAK" which is a witch house take on the little red riding hood narrative.

Grandma, I've been unruly
in my dreams
and with my speech
Drill little holes into my eyelids
that I might see you
that I might see you when I sleep

BFFLs

2011-09-05T01:43:00.000-07:00

New Characters have joined the Corky BFFLs gang.
...and this new mushroom. Names to be advised.

BIRD

2011-09-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

Bird in my Heart. Sterling silver bird in silver heart. 80cm chain. Available from Corky Saint Clair $235AUD
there’s a bird in my heart that

wants to get out
but I’m too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody’s asleep.
I say, I know that you’re there,
so don’t be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he’s singing a little
in there, I haven’t quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it’s nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don’t
weep, do
you?

Charles Bukowski

CRYSTAL

2011-08-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

I made this stunning crystal pendant at silver smithing school.
It is a pretty hefty piece. I should have spaced out the jump rings more so it doesn't turn when I'm wearing it. However the back is kinda interesting looking so I don't mind it when the piece turns around.

MONSTER

2011-08-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

The Carry Monster and some of his Corky Friends have finally made it to our porcelain range. They turned out looking a bit tattooesque.
Shilo is my favourite Corky character so it's always a bit exciting when he makes it to a piece of jewellery. We will be offering a couple of these characters at Eight is Not Enough - our first Corky event in a year.

FACEBOOK

2011-08-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

New stuff, Giveaways + behind the scenes

CLICK TO LIKE

INTERVIEW

2011-08-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

Interview at Broadsheet by Lisa-Marie Corso. I cringe at being interviewed but this is funny and I don't sound stoopid.

BONES

2011-08-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

Look what I made at my silversmithing class: a sterling silver crossbones necklace, which I cast from bones that I saved when I was still officially eating meat.
I also made this voodoo cannibal crucifix. This piece is a lot heavier and feels nice to wear.
	Table Cell

HEESCO

2011-08-19T23:09:00.000-07:00

I recently travelled to Sydney, Australia to watch my friend Heesco compete in the Grand Final of Secret Wars.

He competed against Sprinkles, from the Half Star posse.

The judges: Ben from Via Alley and Dare Jennings from Mambo.
Heesco won!

HEART

2011-08-16T00:30:00.001-07:00

SKULL

2011-08-13T17:01:00.001-07:00

The Corky Triangle Skull tee is the current feature at STREETANATOMY.COM

SKULL

2011-08-09T01:34:00.001-07:00

TREES

2011-08-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

Corky is exhibiting at Life Instyle Winter 2011 in the lovely Royal Exhibition Building in Museum Gardens, Carlton. This year we are keeping it clean and classy with a minimal wood themed display.	You might remember the awesome wooden trees Akiko Uedo and Vin Chan designed for our last Life Instyle showing.
This time around we blew the trees upto 2 metres high. It was a high fiving a million angels moment when I realised they had actually worked.
	I didn't realise how thick the wood was when I ordered them. I guess they aren't going to break, huh? These trees turned out so well I want one for my flat after the show finishes.
Look who I saw during bump in. Anna and Gareth from everyone's favourite card design label Able and Game.

RAINBOW

2011-07-31T02:27:00.000-07:00

Imagine sitting in that light

RAINBOW

2011-07-26T07:02:00.001-07:00

BIRD

2011-07-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

Enamelled hummingbird necklace with sterling silver chain. Designed by Christopher Bril for Corky.

SQUIRREL

2011-07-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Squirrel necklace - drawing by Sarah McNeil for Corky.

BRACELET

2011-07-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

Sterling silver bracelets. Beautiful Italian square link chain with chunky silver charms. Available from Corky Saint Clair $65AUD

BIRDCAGE

2011-07-19T23:51:00.000-07:00

Stainless steel birdcage necklace. The bird in the cage moves freely as you walk.

Designed by Christopher-Hussein Bril for Corky. This bird cage pendant is cut and polished in Melbourne.

It hangs from a 50cm Italian sterling silver fine curb chain.

GREATEST

2011-07-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

THE GREATEST
Sterling silver boxing glove pendant by Corky.

Available from Corky Saint Clair
$100AUD

SALE

2011-07-15T00:59:00.000-07:00

Classic Corky Katsu for sale. Sterling silver. Designed by Christopher Bril. $40 AUD
Classic Corky Batsu for sale. Sterling silver. Designed by Sarah McNeil. $40 AUD

ORGANS

2011-07-15T00:39:00.000-07:00

I CARRY YOUR HEART IN MY HEART by Corky. This sterling silver anatomical heart was carved for us from our original design. Each heart comes on an 80cm Italian sterling silver fine curb chain.	The clasp on the locket will closes firmly and will hold tiny treats or mementoes safely. A favourite customer recently told me she wore this necklace while travelling across America, coast to coast - L.A. to Chicago. She suffers from claustrophobia and was able to carry some sedatives in her heart locket. She managed to fit 5 xanaxes into it's little cavity - proving that Corky jewellery can be functional as well as fun to wear. Limited stock- only two left. $170 AUD


Brain Locket by Corky. Sterling silver. Surprisingly large space inside locket to hide any number of things. $200 AUD
Ribcage Necklace by Black Jewlz. Sterling silver. $220 AUD

ANIMAL

2011-07-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

Delicate hand-made necklaces From Brooklyn, New York. Bee Necklace $39 AUD
Bear Necklace $59 AUD
Lion Necklace $39 AUD
Hand painted porcelain necklaces on silver chains. Each piece is unique and bears a maker's mark. Small $39 AUD Large $59 AUD

ANCHOR

2011-07-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

Brand new at Corky Saint Clair, solid silver anchor insignia ring designed by Christopher Bril for Corky.

Available from Corky Saint Clair $85 AUD

CRYSTAL

2011-07-05T23:53:00.000-07:00

For that paleolithic edge that is so hot right now you can't go past a rough, uncut crystal ring. This raw amethyst ring screams caveman chic. It has a a sterling silver base and is handmade in the USA. British size S. Available from Corky Saint Clair $120AUD
Pale lemon coloured rough druzy ring with sterling silver base. British size R. Available from Corky Saint Clair $70AUD.
Pretty Awesome in Pink. Pink Agate with sterling silver base. British size L. Available from Corky Saint Clair $70AUD

FOOD

2011-07-03T01:21:00.000-07:00

I have thought about this quite deeply - if I ever have kids, I will call my daughter Boadicea and my son Julian. They seem like butch names. I think I would be one of those dads that doesn't let his kids have processed sugar. Maybe I'd let my kids have a donut to share if it was this size. Cute handmade donut necklace. Made in America with an Italian sterling silver chain $40AUD. Available from Corky Saint Clair.
If little Boadicea and Julian behave themselves I might treat them to some nigiri sushi. Raw Salmon is full of free radical eradicating antioxidants. Mmmmmmmmmm, what a special gluten free treat.	Nigiri sushi studs with surgical steel backings $30AUD
Nigiri sushi platter necklace $45AUD
Mini Hamburger necklace $40AUD

CABINETS

2011-07-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has ever worked at Corky Saint Clair knows that I talk about glass cabinets every single day.

The saddest single thing about The Accident was that my oversized 1950s wooden jewellery cabinet that the lovely people at Koodaks sold to me got destroyed.
It weighed a million kilos and was over 2.5m long. I got my two largest male friends Matt and Callum to help me carry it.

Somehow we got the cabinet down the elevator in the Capitol Building and then moving that cabinet became the furniture moving equivalent of the Stations of the Cros s - staggering, stopping and tragically posing through the city - through the lobby, down Swanston Street, down Flinders Street and finally and most torturously down the stairs to the subway where Corky Shop is located.

It was so ludicrously large it caused a rupture in the public space as we carried it through the city. People felt compelled to comment.
-that's a big cabinet
-yeh no shit

It was really hard going. We felt physically and mentally violated afterwards - like we had pushed ourselves a bit too far. I think being that strung out was actually an intensely bonding experience; I will always remember how much Matt and Callum helped me. You guys know how much I love you.

Cabinet Two
This is the cabinet I got to replace the first one. It weighed as much as the first as it was made out of cast iron.

This time I had Elwyn and a Man with a Van to move it. Once again it was almost too hard. I feel like Elwyn and I nearly died as we struggled to carry it down the stairs. At one point I panicked a little and thought I couldn't do it. At another point I thought

'if the cabinet moves even a little it'll snap my head off'

Cabinet lesson
I guess the lesson here is get more men to help moving Very Large Objects

New cabinets
I guess the carthartic fantasy I held for the entire year after the shop was destroyed by Yarra Trams and their reckless engineering was the idea that I could recreate the shop in some new and interesting manner. I discovered that people like vertical cabinets - so I am slowly gathering a collection of vertical jewellery cabinets and laying them out in a charming maze like pattern.

BABE

2011-07-01T03:55:00.001-07:00

FOUR

2011-06-28T01:49:00.000-07:00

New from Corky - a four faceted version our popular chunky crystalline ring.
	Four faceted crystalline ring by Christopher-Hussein Bril for Corky available from Corky Saint Clair $120AUD

SWAN

2011-06-28T01:27:00.000-07:00

How amazing was Nathalie Portman's Oscar winning performance in Darren Aronofsky's tour de force *"BLACK SWAN".* Her portrayal of a strung out ballerina was so real it was like watching a f***ing documentary.
To commemorate this groundbreaking role we have created a stick pin we have named 'Silver Swan'
'Silver Swan Stick Pin' by Christopher-Hussein Bril + Clair McArdle for Corky. Available at Corky Saint Clair $60AUD.

GARDEN

2011-06-28T01:10:00.000-07:00

Terrariums are so huge right now.

I made a little terrarium for my flat. Nothing has died yet. I'll post more photos as I make more of these little bubbles of green beauty.

FRIENDS

2011-06-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Leather + sterling silver friendship bracelets for men by Voyager, which is currently the greatest menswear store in the world.

Voyager has a cool nautical theme going on.

Voyager
365 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
USA

The store features a submarine room made out of janky off cut bits of wood. How awesome is this polygonal submarine window made from recycled glass?
The centrepiece of this innovative retail space is a working periscope.

DIAMOND

2011-06-23T09:24:00.001-07:00

Giant steel diamond by Love + Luxe
Cermamic diamond by Michelle Quan
Silver diamond necklace by Christopher- Hussein Bril for Corky.

HTML Tables

BABE

2011-06-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

OWL

2011-06-23T02:02:00.001-07:00

Available from Corky Saint Clair.
Hand carved bone owl necklace from Williamsburg, NY. Italian sterling silver curb chain. $40AUD. Come in stunning gift box. Each necklace is different.

NAUTICAL

2011-06-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

Pewter Cuff by Flotsam Jetsam. $100AUD Available from Corky Saint Clair.
	Handmade pendant by lee at fools gold le sigh* Available from Corky Saint Clair $80AUD. Italian sterling silver curb chain.*

STAG

2011-06-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

Sterling silver stag head pendant. Available from Corky Saint Clair $75AUD. Limited stock.

MELBOURNE

2011-06-20T23:52:00.000-07:00

HEY EVERYBODY
I have returned from my epic trip to the US. The shop will reopen on Thursday. There is so much cute new stuff - come in have a look at all the awesome stuff I found.

I have new collections by STK, Inedible food, Yellow Owl Designs, Fool's Gold, Magic Illusion amongst others.

The shop will now only be open
MONDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY.

10am to 6pm
10am to 5pm on Saturday

Appointments available to long term customers - please email or call.

I need more time to make things and be in my studio. If you want to buy stuff from the shop please time your shopping to coincide with those days.

RAINBOW

2011-06-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

I took some time out from my Awesome American Adventure 2011 to have some vegan Rainbow Cake and a low fat soy latte. MMMMMMMMM.

Rainbow Cake + Takeaway Coffee cup pendants. Available soon at Corky Saint Clair.

GOLD

2011-06-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

Like a lot of craft and fashion in NYC, Fool's Gold make work that riffs on civil war - Cold Mountain - hill billy imagery, but this was a really good version of it.	It is so funny and well made. How sweet are these mini moonshine bottles. They are filled with poppyseeds which I intend to replace with chia seeds when I put them in the shop.
Hand printed inspirational bunting flags.
One off assembled cribbage board/ printed friendship piece. I am going to use it to display necklaces.	Bottom photo: Lee from Fool's Gold at her super cute tent at the Renegade Craft Fair. The quality of work at the Fair was unbelievablygood. I liked Fool's Gold the most. I could have bought every single thing in their tent.

OWLS

2011-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

As one of Melbourne's foremost expert vintage shoppers I was delighted by the array of treasures at The Brooklyn Flea.

Saw this sweet owl collection at the Brooklyn Flea Sunday Market.

I wanted this big boy but it weighed about 45kg and I can not be arsed lugging that across the globe.

2011-06-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

BILLY

2011-06-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

There are few things more beautiful than a sunny day in Williamsburg.

Jamima from Lenko and I checked out the action at the Brooklyn Flea Food Market. Where we ate this hot mess: a lobster roll. MMMMMMMMM.

JUNK

2011-06-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

Vintage shopping is infinitely better in the USA than Australia. There is just more stuff.

As one of Melbourne's foremost vintage shoppers I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of goods at the Junk Shop in Williamsburg, which unlike the Junk Shop in Melbourne has genuine bargains to be found. And the service was top notch. Americans are better at customer service because of their tipping culture. I also think they are just friendlier and less uptight.

Check out this super sweet 'Sky Lab' commemorative bottle I found. It cost $3.75USD (At the current exchange rate about $2AUD). In Melbourne it would cost, like, $600AUD.

197 N 9th St
(between Driggs Ave & Bedford Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Neighborhood: Williamsburg - North Side