Pausing...

November seems like a good month to pause. December awaits with its cacophony of noise and light, demands on time and energy (and money...), and the increasing onslaught of Christmas-themed everything.

But this November I've been trying to push back against that a little, to notice my surroundings more, and appreciate them, whether they be a mug of hot chocolate in a warm cafe or a pot of tea by the stove, and whether my feet are hidden under damp, fallen leaves or are crunching over shingle as the sea lashes the shoreline.



I'm also finding this philosophy in my jewellery making too, where simple shapes and simple ways of constructing them in simple materials, like round sterling silver wire, are more pleasing just now than elaborate details and complex finishes.

You could say, and you'd be right to, that I'm trying to be more mindful, in every part of my life, including when I'm sitting at my jewellery bench. I know mindfulness has become one of those words which often makes people either roll their eyes in disdain or nod their head in agreement - well, I'm one of the latter and am attempting to use it more and more every single day and let it help me in any way I can. So far, I think I'm better off with it than without. If you're interested in finding out more then I've found

this book (and free CD) - Mindfulness for Health,

this website - Rachael Kable,

and this (free) course - Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance

to be of great use.

But whether you're mindful of mindfulness or not, I hope you get a chance to breathe in some late-autumn tinged air very soon - the scent of fallen leaves with a hint of bonfires is how I'd put it; if only I could bottle it!

Happy the rest of November.

Folksy Friday - Autumn Leaves

It's come. The time of year when we have to stop trying to kid ourselves that it's still the end of summer. It is now the start of autumn, and the leaves, just a few, are starting to turn and fall.

I chose this selection of jewellery, inspired by nature in general and autumn leaves in particular, in the hope that the bright autumn colours and wonderful textures make the lengthening evenings a little more tolerable.

1 - An embroidered pendant, by Love in Idleness

2 - Five sterling silver leaves necklace, by Magic in the Grass

3 - Etched glass and silver bracelet, by Luce Di Luna

4 - A pendant in resin containing a real leaf, made by Wishes on the Wind Jewelry

5 - Made from individual organza leaves, this free-machine embroidered wrist cuff is created by Sally

6 - Oak leaf earrings in sterling silver, made by Jewellery Designs by Sarah Birt

7 - Copper enamelled earrings, made by Maggie Jones Enamels

8 - Made from recycled silver, this tree pendant is created by Ali Bali Jewellery

9 - Images of autumn leaves set in glass make a pendant, by Emily Made Me

Hope you enjoy a bright, colourful autumn.

Leaf Evolution

More leaf work . . . pendants, and some earrings, including some stylised ideas I've been playing around with . . .

More leaves

The addiction continues . . .

I've listed a few leaf pieces in my shop and thought I'd post a few photos here of one of them, a bracelet I made, when it was still a work in progress and not all shiny and and polished and waiting to be worn . . .


I didn't take any shots as the leaves were being formed *sigh* but I did remember to take a few snaps when I was making the clasp up . . .





The leaves have all been created, along with the toggle clasp and connecting rings . . .

Making all those individual pieces one coherent whole . . .

Finished . . .

Return to leaving

My mild addiction to leaves has resurfaced.

I've spent some considerable time this last week or so patiently soldering, filing, polishing, creating pieces of shining autumn.



Okay, autumn isn't quite here yet, or rather, parts of it are (the leaves are starting to fall, even if the changing colours aren't widespread), and different parts of the country experience the turn at different times. Plus, the sun has shone hotly a couple of times, prompting butterflies and bees to fly again. And I still saw swallows when I looked to the blue sky yesterday . . .

But the feel of autumn is in the air. And leaves, which it seems we can overlook with greater ease in summer and winter, are all the more apparent in spring, when they reemerge bright green, and now, in autumn, when they turn to jewel colours and fall around us.




I've experimented with different sizes of leaves, from smaller, and sometimes slightly more abstract forms, at just over 2 cm long . . .




to the longer length, at 4 cm, where creating the veins and texture is easier with a little more silver to work with.




Earrings are proving tricky as one of the things I've always liked about the leaves I create, their individuality, means forming a matching pair is, so far, a slightly frustrating task.



Hmm . . .

Finished articles coming very soon . . .

Sprung!

My leaves are ready. They've been soldered, filed, polished, hammered, even bent a bit - on purpose, I hasten to add. I've put some up on Folksy but I've one I'm not sure I'll be able to part with so have held that one back in reserve.

This isn't it, although I rather like this one too . . .

Leavings

These aren't quite finished yet, still need some filing and polishing, but they're on their way now . . .