Retrospective Reflections

Hi all!

Hope you will forgive my lack of contact for the last couple of weeks, but it's been a very busy time!

Anyone else visit The Contemporary Craft Fair at Bovey Tracey this weekend? If you did, you probably agree with me that it was fantastic, if you didn't, you really should go next year! My objective this year was different.  I wanted to catch up with a few people I already knew, I wanted to have a closer look at a few people's work I admire, but mostly I wanted to chat to exhibitors to get a feel for the show as I'd really like to apply next year.  Everyone was friendly and keen to pass on tips.  I also looked at the ways in which the stands had been set up, all so different.  I was thinking about my own work and trying to imagine it in the space.  I also want to say a big thank you to Justine Allison who gave me loads of great advice long before she realised that we were going to buy some of her beautiful handmade porcelain vessels. Hopefully she's going to take part in one of my collaborative blogs in the future. Also lovely to catch up with Alison Graham again and buy some of her lovely porcelain too - that's it now, all wedding present money finally spent on art (we've only been married 2 years!!).

I would also like to mention the lovely Sue Gregor, whose cuffs I adore.  She generously told me how she works which is a fascinating process and her display looked gorgeous.

In the Aim Higher section I was amazed at the quality and the designs of the jewellery coming out of the regions colleges - such a positive impression.

We also fell totally in love with the furniture at Coucou Manou - thinking I'm definitely adding some of their wares to my Pinterest want boards!!

One of the reasons I've been so busy is that I'm working on a brand new website! the address when it goes live at the end of the month will be the same so keep checking. I hope that you will see a more developed style throughout the site.  I've been working on lots of new pieces that will be seen for the first time when the site is launched and I hope that you'll like what I've been up to!

Here's a little teaser for you!

I'm also currently experimenting with a shape that is completely new and involves solving some pretty niggly mechanical issues, but I'm working on that! It is sometimes difficult to make something look simple!

Anyway, that's it for this week.  I'll be back in 2 weeks as I'm on holiday next week - I'll be coming back with a bang and a launch!!

Bespoke or Commission

Hello, me again!

I thought this week, I'd look at an aspect of my work which you might be less familiar with - bespoke creations.

What does bespoke actually mean?  Traditionally it's a term used to describe clothing which has been tailored to fit a particular customer ie a made to measure suit, however, it is a term often used to describe other items which have been made in line with a customer's requirements. It is often also known as a commission. 

Bespoke seems to suit my jewellery better than commission does as my end product is specifically to match clothing.  I work with bride's mums who also want to their outfit to look special, often want to compliment colour schemes and who don't really want to come face to face with a guest wearing the same! My journey starts with ideas from the customer on shape, style and design and will then include colour swatches supplied by them and if possible a snippet of material, but if not then some good photographs of the outfit in question.  I dye several samples of aluminium until I'm happy that I've got a good match and then work on a selection of pieces for the customer to choose from. I'm also happy to work with customers who are not mums of brides but do have a special occasion to dress for though!!

Of course, I'm also happy to work on commissions! I recently had a customer ask for a blood red cuff via one of my stockists and the customer was very happy with it, but that highlights the difference for me - yes I was making specifically for a customer, but as a commission, not bespoke to match a particular item.

Anyway, I shall be starting to work on the new website soon and hopefully that will be live from the end of June and I plan to launch with a whole load of new work so make sure you take a look.

This week I've been cutting up a sheet of blue aluminium which is covered in writing - a bit different to my normal work but I'm quite happy with it so far, but I might keep you in suspence until the new site is launched!

This gorgeous pendant will feature on my website soon

See you all next week!

Does it remind you of a Mojito?

Hello all, me again!

I enjoyed summer, we had a whole week of it this year! Last night sounded like Armageddon out there with wheelie bins being blown over and being sent rumbling down the cobblestones and it's mid May for goodness sake, we should be celebrating beautiful spring days, not putting the central heating on! Rant over....

Second rant.... 17 years of having to get up at 6.00am for work, you'd think now I work for myself I wouldn't naturally wake up at the crack of pip....wrong! I've also discovered that it's not much use doing your social networking at 6.30am because nobody else is up in the world, no-one!!!

So, what's been going on since my last confession?  Well, I've placed some of my work in another brand new craft venture. If you're in the Nottingham area then take a look at Nottingham Craft Mafia.

Does anyone else use Google+? I registered but other than having a profile and posting this blog on it each week haven't been particularly active.  By accident the other day though I discovered the 'communities' section and through posting a few bits and pieces in various relevant jewellery communities I've found a lot of new interest in my work which is great. If you haven't ventured into them yet, take a look, there's some interesting bits.

I have been making this week though which is good because I've been doing so much admin lately that I haven't had much time - oh, the irony...... Anyway, what do you think of my latest offering which is, as usual, made from handpainted and printed anodised aluminium? I'm sneakily quite pleased with how this has turned out.  For some reason it does make me think of a Mojito......

I hope you will forgive the fact that my quick snaps are taken on my iPad. There is a reason for this and it's the change in the law regarding ownership of pictures posted on social networking areas. My understanding of it is that unless the photograph is protected by being on your website or has links directly to you then it's licensed for anyone to use, therefore my good quality images will only be posted on my website. I don't know the full details of the law change but I do know that the changes were bought in over night with no warning.

The next week will see me at Crocadon Producer's fair on Saturday 18th so if you're in the area of St. Mellion, Cornwall come and say hello, mention that you read my blog and i'll give you 15% off!! How's that for an offer!

See you next week......