Spam and peace

It's been a little quiet around these parts lately... in some respects at least. While I've not blogged for a while I have received many a visitor, although a fair few of these have been by way of spam comments. When I checked my blog recently I was slightly surprised at how many views it was getting, moderately amazed at how many page views a specific, and relatively obscure, post was getting, and a tad disappointed to uncover a rather excessive amount of spam comments, mainly on that post.

So, for now, all comments on my blog are moderated. If you leave a comment (and it's a genuine one and not an attempt to sell me, or anyone else, something they wouldn't really come to a blog about jewellery to find), then it may take a little while to show up, so forgive me.

As for me? Well, I'm pleased to report my period of quiet isn't because I've been too busy aiming spam at blogs to bother to post here. I've had a break of sorts, from both jewellery making, and *deep breath* the internet. Okay, the breath didn't have to be too deep as I still had some web access, but it was limited enough to make blogging beyond possible.

Did I enjoy this? Well, I've had times away from the net before, when staying with friends or family (or just when it stops working!), and it's a mixture of relief at being away from the pressure and weight of it all, combined with missing it too. I go from feeling overwhelmed by things to do, things to read, things to learn, and the sheer possibility the web lays at your feet, to feeling slightly lost when I can't get to it and indulge in all those things and kid tell myself that I will get more organised and structured, that I'll blog on certain days, pin on certain topics, and limit my blog reading and commenting to just three a day...

Of course, that never happens (so far), not least becuase when I am away from the web the chances are high that the blogs I love will keep on being posted to, and I'll just have to indulge in some catch up time when I get back to the www...

But I've got plans a-plenty, both for living better digitally, and for blog writing and jewellery making too... while I may not have been making much lately, I have been reading and, most importantly, planning. I hope to have something to show you very soon.

In other news, winter has finally given way to spring (see photo above!), the countryside is green again, and life feels a little easier at long, long last... I hope it's the same with you.

Folksy Friday - Spring Flowers

I've not done a Folksy Friday post in a while but I fancied collecting some flowers this morning, and collecting them in silver too. I've done a jewellery flower collection before so I'm wondering if this is my weak spot...

 

1 - Silver orchid flower necklace by Garden Shed Silver

2 - Silver flower necklace by Dancing Dragonflies

3 - Sterling silver flower pendant by Jewellery by Annie Combs

4 - Silver flower earrings by Gracie Flo Jewellery

5 - Silver flower ring by Jennie Swift Designs

6 - Silver flower cup earrings by Mila Jewellery

7 - Silver flower pendant by Crafty Pear

8 - Silver flower earrings by Iddy Biddy Boutique

9 - Fine silver flower necklace by Ruth Makes Jewellery

Hope you like - Happy Friday!

It's (been) oh so quiet . . .

. . . on my blog of late. I'd fallen into a combination of busy, busy, busy in the non-blog world and a curious blogger's-block which meant that every time I sat down to compose a post I either couldn't think of a word to type or couldn't find a photo I wanted to share.

So I stayed quiet, until now. The dust in the non-blog environment is starting to settle a little, and that has helped free my mind also.

Like the spring after the winter, I feel I'm coming back to life.

So, what have I been doing? Well, I've moved house; nearly found everything I misplaced while moving house (including smithing tools!); finished a long and arduous Open University course; nearly finished a very long-standing silversmithing project; and I've got over the long, cold winter as it has melted into a late spring which is as warm as summer . . . until it turned cold again *sigh*

Something else I've been doing, after discovering where my silver had disappeared to, is a bit of jewellery making. Here are a few rings I've finished making, which gave a nice sense of satisfaction after such a time away from things, and also provides something for me to show you . . .

Blue skies, buds, flowers

It felt a lot like spring today. I dug down into the soil to move some daffodils and found the earth soft and rich and full of worm-life! I didn't take a photo of that but I did of some honeysuckle, against the blue sky and suitably fluffy clouds



Unfortunately, what you don't get with that photo is the sweet scent that was being gently released around me.

Some old hydrangea heads lurking in the shade looked a little like lace to me . . .



But my eyes were drawn back to the blue sky



Now to try and translate spring into silver . . .

Spring, snow, sun, blue skies . . .

It has been a slow silver week. I've got things done but only by edging forward, one step at a time. I had a good spell yesterday, worked on some more leaf ideas, developing the theme, playing around with it.

But the week feels dominated by weather and the results it's created in my world.

I found this earlier in the week . . .



A flower! Having seen snowdrops a little earlier, I felt all kind of spring-like.

Then this happened.





I added to the prints, inspired by some of the photos I've found through this wonderful blog



Yesterday, the sun came out. It didn't melt all the snow, which I was glad about, but it did make the sky glow.