Sunday 24 March 2013

I Need Your Help!

Hi all! Well Spring is here.... oh no wait, it's not! There seems to be nothing on anyone's lips but the weather and it's hardly surprising, Easter should bring chocolate not bring two feet of snow!  We've been lucky again, we live on a steep hill and were aware of being battered by winds and rain, but no flooding - indeed, it was only when we saw the water cascading down the steps from the park at the top of the street on the news that we realised how bad it had been. Many people have suffered though.  Here's hoping for Spring to begin soon.

I've not got any making to show you this week as we've been doing the dreaded decorating that we've been putting off!

I've been carrying out a little bit of research lately to try to establish how people search for my jewellery.  I'd really appreciate your help!  Take a look at this picture - if you saw someone wearing something like it and you didn't know it was made by me - what search terms would you use to find it on Google? It would be brilliant if you could leave me a comment with your ideas. Thank you.


Do remember that I posted about BASCA winner Simon Dobson's crowdfunding music project? Well, there's still some time left to help him reach his target. For more information and to find out what Euneirophrenia actually means take a look at Simon Dobson's profile



This is a picture of him taken recently by photographer and member of Hugh's Three Hungry Boys, Tim Cresswell.  Isn't it a fabulous photograph? It would be wonderful if you could help this album to be made.  Thank you.

If you live in or around the Plymouth area I will be at the Tavi Arts Market in Bedford Square, Tavistock on the 6th April and at Crocadon Producer's Fair, St. Mellion on the 20th April so why not come and see me and help me try out my nice new shiny card machine!

So wherever you are, whether you've been plagued by snow or floods, I really hope you have a happy and peaceful Easter with lots and lots of choccy!






Monday 18 March 2013

News and What's New

Hi all - I missed you all last week! We had a very busy week at home and I have to say that this week may well be the same as we start decorating! Needs must!! My husband's an artist and our lovely white walls are covered in little splashes of prussian blue, don't get me wrong it's one of my favourite colours, however, thankfully he's on a waiting list now for a studio!

Well in some ways this week has been quite exciting - I've delivered work to one new gallery, Hannah's at Seale Hayne, Newton Abbott, Devon, I'm about to deliver work to another new stockist, Tania Holland in Bridgnorth and there will be news of a brand new gallery who will be stocking my jewellery but a bit more about that next month when they're a little closer to opening their doors, so good news.  On the down side I'm still waiting for my shiny new mobile card machine to arrive....grrrrr. Would have been nice to have had it for Crocadon Producer's Fair last saturday!!

Anyway, I've been making though and have added Brocade collection and Peonies collection to my stock though there has been a lot of interest so they may not be around for long!  What do you think?


Brocade Collection 1
 
Brocade Collection 2



















Peonies Collection
I have a couple more people lined up for Three Beautiful Things so hopefully I'll be able to include another one soon, hope you all enjoyed that feature.

Can I remind you that there's only a few days left to vote for me in the Selected Awards, if you have already, thank you. If not please do take a look, there's loads of categories to vote for and you could be helping someone like me (or me!!) to get a little more recognition for their work. To vote for me just follow this link and click vote at the bottom of the page Val Williams - SlickSilver Jewellery

See you all next week - have a lovely week.





Sunday 3 March 2013

Euneirophrenia - Read to find out more!

Hello all! This has felt like a busy week, but a fun one too!

On Friday, I was fortunate enough to have lunch at The Treby Arms in Sparkwell, just outside Plymouth, and the food was pretty amazing so if you get the chance to go, then do! The chef and owner Anton Piotrowski was the 2012 winner of Masterchef and the place has a really lovely and surprisingly informal ambience.

Yesterday saw me visiting the Eden Project for the World Pasty Championships as my good friend and forthcoming Three Beautiful Things contributor, Jackie Butler (Features Editor for the Western Morning News) was one of the judges.  I met up with my daughter and son-in-law there and we had a really lovely day. Hayley and Alex even managed to talk me into going up to the extremely high metal mesh walkway in the roof of the tropical biome. Very very scary!!! It took an hour for my legs to stop feeling like jelly, but I did it! Definitely somewhere everyone should visit!

So, what have I been making this week?  Well as you saw last week, I've now launched my upcycled collection and this week I've added brooches to my website in other quirky and fun shapes. They're only £15 so make sure you get yours! SlickSilver Jewellery



I've also been busy making another aluminium set of jewellery, this one is called Eau De Nil as I think it looks like water.  What do you think?



Anyway, onto something I really want to share with you all this week, because I think it's important for this particular album to be made.


My son, Simon Dobson, is a composer. He writes for any type of ensemble, however, a large proportion of his work comes from the field he grew up in, brass bands. For many this will bring forth memories of Terry Wogan performing the Floral Dance on TV, but for those involved in the scene, they will know that there is now more cutting edge and quality music within the genre, but very little money around to commission more in this country.  Whenever Simon writes a new work he pushes the boundaries and is renowned for this.  One of his more recent works A Symphony Of Colours was nominated for a British Composer Award and Simon did indeed win his BASCA in December 2012.  He is now trying to raise the funds needed to produce an innovative album of his music which will cross and blend genres, styles and ensembles. Even if it's only £1, please do consider helping to make this happen, only through public finding will it come to fruition.
Read more about this great project from Simon Dobson here.  Make sure that you're a proud part of Euneirophrenia.

That's all this time folks, see you next week and thank you for helping with the album!