ALIDA CAPPELLETTA

Alida Cappelletta graduated from Sydney College of the Arts majoring in Jewellery and Metal and also studied at RMIT in Gold and Silversmithing. She also has a painting background after completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at Curtin University in Perth. Alida is currently a resident at Gaffa Gallery Studios in Sydney's Surry Hills.

Alida's work is primarily influenced by forms within her natural environment. Her personal collection of found objects bares natures hidden and effortless beauty. Botanical forms with rich surface texture and geometric patterns filter through her current body of work.

FRANCINE HAYWOOD

Born in France, Francine completed a BA in Chinese Art and Archaeology before leaving France to explore Asia. She lived in Hong-Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Kyoto and Kobe before moving to Australia in 1997. She then took an Advance Diploma in Object and Jewellery Design at Enmore TAFE.

After graduating in 2000, Francine participated in numerous group exhibitions nationally and internationally. She has won the Object-Highly Commendable Award and the BHP Cannington Award. Her work has figured in Object Magazine, Lemel, Craft Art Magazine, Larks Books publications and she was commissioned to do several projects for the Art of Paper Jewelry book, published by Larks Books.

SONYA SCOTT

Sonya Scott is a Sydney based jewellery and object designer. Her recent production and exhibition work is centered within her relationship with music and the notion of 'improvisation', that being the practice of reacting, of making and creating in the moment and in response to the stimulus of selected musical scores and tracks. She is fascinated with the notion of technical precision and her striving for it, jute string, rust, rivets and more conceptually, interpreting her personal actions and interactions to and with the world around her.

www.sonyascott.com

ALICE WHISH

Alice Whish is an established and respected jeweller. In addition to being a maker of delicate and intricate works, she has worked in community projects with women from Northeastern Arnhem Land to raise the profile of Aboriginal women's shell and seed necklaces, through exhibition. They exhibited their body of work at Object Gallery project space in 2008.

She has presented solo exhibitions throughout Australia and New Zealand and has been an active participant in group exhibitions, nationally and internationally. In 2009 she had work in Bravura: 21st century Australian Craft and Design, the Art Gallery of South Australia. Past exhibitions include, Transformations: the language of craft, National Gallery of Australia, and Sighting the Past, Macleay Museum, Sydney University in 2005-2006.

NINA BAKER

Recently finishing my BA(Jewellery) at CSU Wagga Wagga I am now based in Sydney as an emerging contemporary jeweller. I am currently developing a personal style/aesthetic. With jewellery as my language I am interested in expressing whimsical curious forms to wear.

The overall aesthetic I am working on is innate, voluptuous and vivacious. Often forms will look like leaves, clouds, buds and drips among things but never really conform to anything remaining ambiguous.

Within each piece you may find little details, nooks and hidden embellishments; 'Secrets for the wearer.' Pieces each have their own personalities and quirks; some are quite shy and do not give up their secrets easily whilst others may be quite unrestrained, friendly, bold, weird, peaceful, abrupt, complex...

Jewellery is made for individuals; it is attached to the body and is intimate. I am quite conscious of this in my work and within this aesthetic/style I am working on personality is fundamental.

GEORGE PLIONIS

Creating objects from and giving a voice to a whispered concept fascinates me. My career as an artisan has been an ongoing exploration of ideas and concepts, learning, assessing and changing directions is the keystone to my practice.

Negotiating a fine line between my clients' ideas and my design style is integral to my craft. I have the ability to hear my clients and give a visual voice to an object that engages each individual.

I aspire to offer the wearer an opportunity to determine different ways of fashioning each piece. Having a living, breathing object, transforms it beyond the designer's intention.

"No work of art is ever finished, it is just abandoned." Jeffrey Smart

FAYE MARAMARA

Faye Maramara is the principal designer and owner of Paro Paro who designs and manufactures hand-crafted accessories and decoratives from the finest natural raw materials that include wood, shell, horn and resin.

Her love of tribal materials extends to obscure findings which she passionately sources combining a contemporary edge to her designs that are innovative and unique.

Always on the look out for new materials and influenced by the fascinating world around her, Faye creates pieces that add meaning. She believes art and fashion exists everywhere. It has to do with ideas, the way we live and what surrounds us.

Faye believes in quality and works closely with a dedicated team of expert craftsmen in the Philippines who use traditional skills and authentic techniques to produce her exquisite items.

Faye founded Paro Paro in 2004 where she has collaborated with some of Australia's leading fashion designers. Including Veronika Maine, Collette Dinnigan, Gorman, Sally Smith, Peter Lang and Kirrily Johnston. Paro Paro designs are also widely sought after by some of Australia's leading fashion editors and stylists. Faye's stylish designs have featured in the 2009 L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival presented by Grazia, Madison magazine, InStyle magazine, Grazia magazine, Shop till you Drop magazine, Cleo magazine, Woman's Day magazine, Woman's Weekly magazine, The Good Weekend Magazine, The Age and The financial Review.

Faye is a current studio artist at gaffa and her creations can be viewed on www.paroparo.com.au.

ALLIE WHEELDON

The collection Madame d'Or is an explosion of girly fantasies, extravagant jewels and golden delicacies. They are a fusion of fashion and fine jewellery. Metals and exquisite gems collide to make pieces for a mademoiselle who likes to indulge in the beautiful side of life  

Allie graduated from The College of Fine Arts (COFA) with a Bachelor's degree in contemporary jewellery/jewellery design, University of New South Wales in 2007, and completed her jewellery trade qualification from Enmore Design Centre in 2010. Launching her collection, 'Lacqueus', in a glittering debut at Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2008/2009. Alison developed a unique jewellery technique that could redefine luxury jewellery by capturing the ethereal qualities of antique lace in everlasting gold and fine silver. The outcome was a triumph: her collection picked up glowing press in distinguished international fashion magazines and sold works to notable clientele. Allie has participated in an international jewellery residency with Ted Noten in Amsterdam in 2009, and was also a finalist in the Next Generation Australian Jewellery Designer of The Year Awards 2008, as well as participating in other national and international exhibitions.

Now working as a fine jeweller at GAFFA gallery Allie's dream is to fuse fine jewellery and fine art into creative engagement rings, wedding bands and other golden jewellery treats.