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 - Jewelled Variety

After posting about branching out from silver the other day, I felt it was worth a look around Folksy to see what other jewellers are creating by not using silver. Mostly...

As you can imagine, it was pretty inspiring. So here's a Folksy Friday of jewelled variety.

1. Aqua floral fabric necklace by Jewels by Susan
2. Heart shaped pendant by Skylark Lane
3. Sea glass and copper earrings by Celtic Shore
4. Polymer clay and silver necklace by Clare Lloyd Jewellery
5. Daisy glass pendant by Elle & Pea
6. Wood pendant by wood-n
7. Copper flower pendant by LO Designz
8. Bird ceramic brooch by Little Brick House
9. Amethyst and grey felt necklace by Anna King Jewellery

Fabric, pewter, paper, resin, sea glass, copper, polymer clay, glass, flowers, wood, copper clay, ceramic, felt. And some silver, just for good measure. All beautiful. I call that very inspiring.

Multimedia here I come...?

In late April 2011 the price of silver hit £940.67 per kilo, double what it had been six months beforehand. When I started making silver jewellery, a little over ten years ago, bullion cost was around £100 a kilo. At the time of typing this, it's just over £600 a kilo (check out up to date prices here). It's amazing to think back to it being so 'cheap' (relatively, of course). Even then, we were still taught to treat silver as the precious commodity it is, saving offcuts to reuse, and even collecting up sweepings, the tiny shavings created when you saw a piece of silver up. But, now, with the price so high, I'm increasingly nervous of it. And, with that nervousness, the joy of experimenting and creating has decreased a little.

I've been making jewellery with other materials for a while now, just as experiments, and I've been thinking about even more things I could try. I can't imagine turning my back on silver completely; I love it too much and know it too well. But, as the cost of pretty much everything increases dramatically, I think it's fair enough to be more careful with how we use many resources.

Copper, polymer clay, semi-precious stones, wood...

So far, I've experimented with copper (see here and here), and polymer clay (see here, here and here), and have always used beads in my jewellery, combined with silver, both glass and semi-precious.

Next on my list is to use the copper clay that I bought last year, expand my experiments with polymer clay, and also look to fabric and thread, (am fascinated by the idea of Kumihimo braiding already), check out wood and stone, do more with beads, of all types, and try approaching jewellery in a more multimedia-orientated way. I was also pretty inspired by this book about paper jewellery. The idea of combining different materials and techniques with still using silver (just perhaps less of it) really appeals to me.

How about you? Has the cost of materials involved in what you make, whatever it is, altered the way you use it and made you start to consider how you can expand on what you know and do, and perhaps try alternative materials? I'd love to hear, not least to get a little more inspiration!

Hope you're having a good weekend. It's amazingly un-snowy where I am...but the rest of the UK seems to be under snow or water. Hope it's okay wherever you are.

Inspiration, and where to find it

Posts about inspiration are common in the blogosphere.

Whether you make jewellery, sew, or paint, or do anything even vaguely creative, then chances are you've hit that point when you lack all inspiration, and spend a morning just staring at your materials and tools.

And equally likely is the chance that you have times when inspiration is all around and you don't even have to think about it.

I've had both experiences and I'm still not entirely sure what causes one over the other.

I do find that sometimes what inspires me most are things that I don't (or can't!) make. I love textile designs especially, with patterns that make me think about how I could translate them into metal, so I purposely hunt them out when inspiration for new ideas is lacking. I also love interviews with other jewellery makers (especially when they talk about inspiration).

And, yes, nature too is always a source on inspiration, even if I'm not quite sure at the moment how to translate the beautiful textures and colours of the feather, pictured above, that I found in a car park last week.

Here I'm sharing a few hints for finding inspiration that I've found on the web lately (and, yes, that does mean I've been lacking in and looking for that illusive inspiration!). They're mainly based around jewellery, but the principles apply to any craft and, most likely, anything.

First up, Poppy Porter, ex-lawyer turned jewellery designer and maker... the chrysanthemum rings are just beautiful...

How to find inspiration when you need to - just look around you - it's everywhere!

Looking for inspiration after a break - how to find your inspiration niche.

Draw up a shortlist of your favourite designers - whether you're in their league or not... Come back to it, refer to it, dream about what you could make... Have a look at this too on a similar theme.

The whole world can be your oyster.


And if none of that is doing the trick then try this post - 101 ways to find inspiration. Worth bookmarking for emergencies!


Also, here's a link to a rather wonderful jewellery giveaway. Let's face it, you can't make every type of jewellery you'd like to wear. And I would love to wear this beautiful wood and aluminium bracelet...

Have a good weekend!

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!