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| Late Summer sun-bleached grass, wildflowers and heather |
September is here and while the weather is still pretty warm down here in the southern part of the UK, I've noticed that the nights are definitely starting a little sooner, and the days beginning a little later. A fair few trees seem to be shedding leaves already, but it's been very dry and I think that is playing its part - trees can drop their leaves when they lack water as part of a self-preservation trick. I'll keep telling myself that even when Autumn kicks in for real perhaps...
My blog has been a little quiet recently but I've been making a few things in the background and am planning some posts about those soon. Here's some of what I've been reading, and bookmarking to read later, when I've not been otherwise occupied this Summer...
~jewellery links~
As I said above, lots of bees around at the moment. Here are a couple of tutorials on making a bee pendant in silver clay, and a bee bangle with enamel.
If you need some more bee inspiration take a look at this silver pendant, this gold one, and this fantastic wooden honeycomb necklace.
A detailed article on work hardening jewellery made from wire.
If you are willing to deal with Autumn being just around the corner then do look at these exquisite lampwork acorns.
Little tutorials for thread earrings, crochet and knotted earrings, and paper earrings.
Fantastic flower stud earrings. Fabulous flower ring. Floriferous flower necklace. From Folksy.
~non-jewellery links~
Magical photos with old cameras and film, taking in woodland around an ancient castle in Wales. I love how the mass move to digital photography has created a new appreciation of film photographs.
Beautiful books made from fabric.
Weird and wonderful houses from around the world.
Preparing a handmade business for... Christmas... (gulp)
To Anyone Who Thinks They're Falling Behind in Life (caution - contains some strong language).
Wonderful photos show the story of a wolf and a bear in Finland, living wild and living as friends.
Self compassion instead of self esteem?
If you're trying to improve your English, written or spoken, and are looking for a word to replace 'very', then this is a handy and pretty comprehensive list of 128 alternatives.
~My Own Personal Book Club ~
I have been reading...
The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan - set in a strange future world of water and tiny islands, this book is about how to find love and how to accept who you are. Beautiful, in lots of ways.
A Year of Marvellous Ways by Sarah Winman - evocative and imaginative prose, delicate and sad stories, but with hope shining through. I can understand why this book was so successful. I've yet to read When God was a Rabbit, by the same author, but it's on my (hideously long) to-read list.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - I've not read much science fiction before but I loved this. So much imagination in one book, different characters, species, worlds. I'm looking forward to the sequel (and was very pleased when I found out the author was writing one).
I've been reading a good few jewellery books too; reviews to follow (hopefully) soon...
(affiliate links included in the books listed - please check details here for more info.)
It is still Summer. It's still warm, flowers still bloom, bees and butterflies still abound (kind of). I hope the rest of your Summer, as long as it lasts this September, is good.
What a lot to see here, your blogpost is so interesting. I could easily lose an hour or so! I love that silver bee tutorial, I did not know that there was such a thing as silver clay.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Stephanie :)
DeleteSilver clay is very popular now, tho I'm not sure it's any easier than traditional silversmithing techniques!