Valentines and Romance

Hello all, it's February and the physiotherapy continues, however, I am improving! I have managed, with a little help from my friends (!) to start a little bit of work! Yay!! I seem to have no dexterity with my saw or strength for my hammers yet and have many chunks missing out of various fingers to prove it, but strangely my bench guillotine and rolling mill are the easiest to use. Strange but true!

Onwards!

So, it's nearly 'that' time of year again.......Valentine's Day!  I thought this year I would try to have some alternatives available for those who like pretty, but not blingy.  There are only two of these very pretty Chantilly pendants so drop very big pointed hints to the boyfriend/fiance/husband!!

Chantilly Heart
 

On the same theme I thought about producing something for girls whose style is a little more punky - again there's only two available, so get in there quickly!! These are called Heart Rocks. 

                                                                     Heart Rocks


Both of these designs are available on my website and nowhere else at all! SlickSilver Jewellery

I'm a bit of an old romantic at heart and thankfully so is my husband! He's an artist and I usually receive a card that he's painted for me which is lovely.  We're coming up towards our second wedding anniversary so I do appreciate that that may not always be so, but I hope it is!!  We spent our honeymoon in our favourite place of St. Ives and no doubt we shall go back there again around the date like we did last year, even if only for the day. A magical place!

So, girls, what's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to you? I know I'm very lucky, but one of the sweetest things that's ever happened to me was last summer when my husband (he knows my love of all things gadgety) secretly bought me a much desired iPad with my name and SlickSilver Jewellery engraved on it. It wasn't for a special occasion either - needless to say I howled copiously! He aslo leaves me little notes when he goes away, I even found one in the fridge once! He'll kill me for telling you this though!! I'd love to hear about your romantic stories although romance is different in everyone's eyes!  I always remember my very dear grandad buying my nan a delivery of manure for her birthday because he knew she really wanted some for her roses! Good thing we're not all the same!!!

If anyone fancies coming to see my work I shall be at Crocadon Producer's Fair, St. Mellion, Cornwall on the 16th Feb so come and say hello and remember to get your hearts!

Have you voted for me in the Craft and Design Selected Awards yet?

Val Williams - SlickSilver Jewellery

Colour & Texture Collaboration 2

I would just like to open this week's blog with a word of thanks to our emergency services and police for their stirling work, a hearfelt saddness for lives and livelihoods lost, deep thanks for the social media's tea and broom gangs cleaning up and a profound hope that we can turn all of this horror around.


When I came up with the idea of a collaborative blog featuring the work of artists I admire, I wasn't sure whether it would work or not, but I hoped that it would at least bring those people together in a common cause. I'm pleased to say that this week I have another fabulous knitwear designer's work to share with you.  I first came across Corinne Carr's designs at Gallery Latitude 50 when I was on honeymoon in St Ives in June and was instantly drawn to the colours and textures she uses.  I asked her about her inspiration.

1. Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

My inspiration for a new design usually comes from wanting something different to wear, going into shops and not finding it. I find that is the trigger for a new shape. People will say, 'Oh I really like that jumper/jacket/cardigan' and it will become part of my collection. Then in terms of colourways, I draw a lot of inspiration from the Cornish countryside. My studio windows overlook the moors of Zennor and I find that the changing colours of the seasons filters through to my knitwear.

2. Is there a craft medium that you've always had a hankering to try your hand at?

I'd always wanted to do printmaking and finally a few years ago I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow a printing press and experiment. I fell in love with the process - the alchemy of it. Of course, you have control when you put the ink on the paper and place in on the press, but then there is a magical moment when the print is free from the pressure of the press and the final image emerges. That transformation that takes place beyond your gaze - beyond your control - is the fascinating part. Unfortunately, with the gallery and my knitwear business growing so much over the past few years, I haven't been able to return to printmaking and develop further. But I have every intention of doing so as soon as I have the time. I have not ruled out trying my hand at painting either!

3. If you could see one famous person wearing your designs, who would it be?

I can think of a few (if I'm allowed)

Ines de la Fressange because she is the epitome of French style and makes everything she wears look absolutely fabulous.

Camila Batmanghelidgh because she loves colour as much as I do and because she is such an inspiration with the work she does for children and I admire her greatly.

And maybe Annie Lennox because she is so stylish and she sang songs I danced to when I was just starting out in design. And because my aubergine 'Feather' cardigan would look amazing with her platinum hair!

. Where can fans buy your work?

My full collection can be found year round at my studio gallery Latitude 50 just outside St Ives and knitwear can be ordered online at www.corinnecarr.co.uk. In Cornwall and the Scillies: Gallery Tresco, Trelowarren Gallery; Trellisick Gallery; Guild of Ten Truro; The Round House Gallery Sennen; The Square Gallery, St Mawes; Wave 7 Gallery, Port Isaac; Mid Cornwall Galleries, Par; UK wide: The National Trust Cotehele Gallery, St Dominc; Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge; Blue Duck Gallery, Reading; Blue Ginger Gallery, Malvern.

I'll also be exhibiting at these national craft fairs for the first time this year: The Cornwall Design Fair, Trereife House later this month, Made11 Brighton in November and Made by Hand Wales in Newport in December.

 I'm sure that you will agree with me, that Corinne Carr's work is stunning.  Walking into her gallery is like looking at an open packet of Fruit Pastilles - your mouth literally waters at the array of coloured cones of wool lining her work area! Make sure that you visit the gallery at www.gallerylatitude50.co.uk or check out www.corinnecarr.co.uk and start writing that Christmas list.


I asked Corinne to think about autumn colours and I love what she's supplied.  I think that her designs would work really well with some of my own pieces.
The collection on the left is called Stained Fingers from Blackberry Picking and the collection of the right is called Nighttime Reflections in Inky Water.  Both collections are available from my website at www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

I've also included a few images of some other pieces which are available from me on request.

This wide cuff is from the Andromeda range and is £39.00 It is approximately 5cm wide.

The choker pendant on the right is also from the Andromeda collection and is £29.00.

I hope that you've enjoyed my blog and that you will add Corinne Carr and Mhairi Wild to your list of 'must haves' (and me too if you like my designs!!)  I shall now toddle off and ferret out another top designer to share with you in the not too distant future.

The Frustrations Of A Recovering Designer/Maker

Hello world, 

A lot has happened since I last blogged and it is my intention to be a more frequent blogger from now on! The most major change since last time is that I got married and anyone who wants to see a picture, scroll down to the bottom of the page for a sneaky look!  As you can probably tell, it was for the second time but it really was the most fantastic sunny day to get married by the sea to a wonderful man with our families and friends around us.  Following the wedding we had a honeymoon in a former artists' studio in St Ives and spent all of our time wandering around galleries, partly getting inspiration for new work, partly meeting inspiring people and just occasionally thinking that our work was ok after all!! An hour or two peace and quiet in Barbara Hepworth's garden led to some new ideas for jewellery being sketched out for trial at a later date.

The second major thing to happen to me recently, just two weeks ago, was planned surgery on my right shoulder and yes I am right-handed!  I sadly oiled my tools, tidied my bench and shut the door on my studio for a while.  I know that it will be some time yet before I have enough movement and little enough pain to be able to venture in there again.  Because I knew that I would be having surgery I worked hard beforehand to build up a store of new designs.  Part of my plan for my recovery time has been to work on my online presence and to convince myself that marketing is fun.  Like most creative people I would much rather make jewellery than try to sell my work, however, my bank balance does not approve.  As I've now got to the stage where I can move my arm from the elbow down ok, it's time to get on with some laptop based work and to resist the urge to buy things!

At the bottom of my blog you will see where you can buy my work from and whilst I do hope that you will take the time to have a look, it caused me to ponder whether people like buying jewellery online.  I'm always open to ideas about how to best present my work so please let me know if you have any suggestions. 

So, for the rest of this week I shall continue to rest and be waited upon whilst my reluctant mind absorbs computery stuff and I pick the brains of my long-suffering other half and Twitter friends.

See you here next week!