Angel Comforter

Some days I just struggle with my designs. No stone looks right, no drawing seems to be good enough, the wire doesn't want to listen to my fingers. An artist block. A depressing day. The feeling of loneliness, hopelessness and desperation make the creative process impossoble. Well, it feels impossible. That day though, instead of just giving up and going to bed  I worked through all this. I didn't know what I wanted to make but I needed to DO something. My hands twisted the wire methodicly making little loops and weaves. Loop by loop, rhytmic movements, like when climbing a steep hill which you didn't think you can climb but you walked anyway. Step by step. Loop by loop, again and again. And after a few hours a little Angel was born :) I named Her Angel Comforter after my Friend said "May she watch over your sleep and keep you safe" when she firts saw the finished pendant.

the heart is made of wood, adorned with Sterling and Fine Silver and Poppy Jasper smooth rounds
the pendant hangs on a tangerine silk cord, hand stitched.

The Fair and the value

Last weekend we had a heat wave, a proper hot Summer weather, something I was so longing for! Blue sky, sunshine and a WARM breeze. And I was at the fair. Indoors of course, in a lovely old building, but still - indors. Of course I hoped for crowds and big sales, my jewellery flying off the table but... to be honest if I was to choose what I would be doing I too would go on the beach. Or spent entire two days on a blanket in my garden. So I understand why it was SO quiet at the fair. It was a split secon, a moment of desperation on Saturday, after those long hours of waiting for somebody to turn up, for a customer to enter the room, that I though "it's no use! it's a waste of my time, waste of such a beautiful day!".

And then I remembered that it wasn't all waste, all for nothing. It all depends of what you think it's of real value.

There was not many customers so I had the time to make something new - I always bring some wire, pliers or a crochet hook to keep me busy IN CASE it's quiet (the irony!).

One of these will become a big flower brooch (once I add some gems to it).

The other thing important to methat happened was the feedback I received on the new boxes I only recently ordered (from my favourite Polish supplier Kasia of Skarby Natury). I really liked them and it was very reassuring to hear it was a right choice - so many nice words I've heard!

 

And the best experience was sharing similar experience and exchanging thoughts and ideas with the other exhibiting artists. I think I can also say that I made a new friend with a very talented and brave bookmaker: Lesley of Murray Books who not only makes books but also resques books that were destined for the skip. The sculptures were my favourite :)

Last minute pin

Remember that super soft and light vest I was working on in the last few days? I managed to finish it just in time to wear it today at the International Women's Day in Merkinch Community Centre. The vest was  ready only yesterday before midnight when I realised I needed a brooch or a pin to wear it with. So, I dug through my gem stash and found this beautifully leaf-shaped Carnelian bead, just right in size and colour! It was already late and I was in a bit of a hurry still packing my jewellery for the event so... 20cm of Sterling Silver wire and 10 minutes later the pin was ready, oxidised and buffed. And it looked great today :)

Snowdrops

Today was such a beautiful sunny day we spent most of it outdoors. By "we" I mean myself and my 1.5year old son. First I chopped the wood for the wood burning stove while he was sweeping the lawn with our big broom - yes he did, and he does this almost every time we are in the garden :) Then we walked to say "hello" to his favourite neighbours - the sheep and then I wanted to see the Snowdrops I'd noticed the other day. Every year I see them I get excited, for me it's the first sign that Spring is coming!

On the way back home my son saw his first rainbow ever. Well, he's seen them in books and films but that was a real one - imagine the smile on his face :)

Now he's asleep and as it's the only time I get to work with jewellery I bid you goodnight and I'm off to work on a certain commissioned pendant.

Lots of time

From midday Saturday till the Sunday afternoon the Internet was down in our area. Suddenly I found myself with loads of time and I wondered what can I do - no Polish online radio, no Facebook chats and stories... I even couldn't check the latest news or ask Wikipedia to answet my questionsthat I have so many times a day! Suddenly I realised how often I turn to my laptop everyday for help and to meet friends, to Skype family, to listen to favourite music, and laso, I have to admit... to waste time. But that day and the following day I just turned to my unfinished project and, to my big surprise, almost managed to finish it!
This is what I've been working on: a base crocheted in Fine Silver, frame in Sterling Silver wrapped with GoldFill and the heart of the pendant: a gorgeous Labradorite with amazing yellow flashes set in a hand made frame. This will make a very special and uniqe adornment.

Calla Lily - the hand weaved flower

This was the craziest project I've done so far - it took 11 hours of work and meters and meters of the thinnest Fine Silver wire. This pendant is an incarnation of my love to flowers and was created with a company of a little Calla Lily plant sitting on my work table. The wire was weaved on a hand shaped sterling silver frame to form light and airy petal embracing softly its heart - the amazing sparkling Lemon Quartz briolette.