“Never love anybody who treats you like you’re ordinary”
On The Bench!
On The Bench!CommentIt's been bit of a manic week! My poor bench has been a little neglected while I've been been preparing for BCTF but with more commissions coming in, it gives me a good reason to be sat there rather than in front of the laptop!
I love creating and will very often procrastinate about the paperwork/PR side of it because the bench is my comfort zone! I know what I'm doing when I'm sat there and, I don't know if this is true for all creatives (if it is, please let me know!) but I feel I HAVE to sit at the bench pretty much every day, I need to create or work on something every day. It doesn't have to be a huge amount but I have to get my "fix"!
On top of the commissions and BCTF and social media etc etc, I'm trying to buy a new house! At the moment my workshop is in the attic (with the spiders, ugh!) but my new house has a ready built workshop....with a log burner....ON THE GROUND FLOOR!!! The house buying process never seems to be a swift one but I am looking forward to sharing photos of my new space in the coming months!
Right, I'm off to get my "fix"!
Quote of the Week!
Comment“What we think, we become”
On The Bench!
On The Bench!CommentThis week I'm working with red gold as well as silver on a new design. I really like the contrast between the metals and this will work perfectly when conveying the story of the design.
I also have a new commission that I'm working on today. It is a large statement neckline piece that will suit it's new owner down to a "T"! All pieces tend to reflect the wearer's personality but this one more so than others. I've been given the brief that it needs to include a beautiful spiral and the rest is down to me - being given free rein is exciting but can be nerve-wracking too!
I'm still frantically preparing for BCTF in April in Harrogate. This will be my first trade show so the learning curve is steep and the to-do list is getting longer! Better get back to it :-)
On The Bench!
CommentI can't believe we're in the second week of February already! How did that happen?
On the bench this week is some gorgeous Paua shell from New Zealand. I know a lovely lady from the silversmithing studio that I go to, who has a daughter who lives in New Zealand. She sends pieces of Paua to her mother, who kindly gave me a bag of small pieces. The colours are so beautiful, the patterns so unique, it really is a pleasure to work with something so interesting. There are really vivid blues, pinks and greens, with some pieces looking exactly like pieces of opal ~ Mother Nature really does create stunning things.
For those of you that don't know, Paua is a type of Abalone that is only found in the seas around New Zealand. Paua are harvested by free divers, under strict quotas and enforced regulations, or the meat which is a Maori delicacy. The shells are a by-product. Maori's would use Paua shell in their paintings and sculpture to illuminate the eyes, the rare reddish colour was used for the flashing red eyes of the warriors!
Valentines Quote of the Week!
Comment“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt”
It's A Leap Year - Ladies, Are You Planning to Propose??
CommentAre you still waiting for your man to get down on one knee and pop the question?? Come on ladies, it's a Leap Year, time to take matters into your own hands!!
February 29th only shows up once every four years and so it has become a tradition that women can propose on this magical day! But where did this tradition come from?
It is believed to be an old Irish tradition, dating back to the 5th Century. St Brigid of Kildaire complained to St Patrick that women had to wait too long for men to propose (some things never change!) and so he decreed that women could propose on this one day in February in a Leap Year! This tradition was then taken to Scotland by Irish Monks and a law was passed in 1288 that allowed a woman to propose to the man of her dreams on the 29th February. This law also stated that if the man declined, he would have to pay a fine- this could be anything from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves! In some upper class European societies, if you rejected a woman's proposal, TWELVE pairs of gloves was the fine....so the woman would be able to hide the shame of not wearing an engagement ring!
There was a time when the 29th of February was not recognised as a "legal" day in English Law and so people believed that traditions also had no status on this day. This made it possible for women to propose, altering the unfair custom that meant only men could propose.
So ladies.....are any of you planning to pop the question to your man this Leap Year? If you're looking for a ring to propose with then drop me an email to discuss what you would like!
Here are a couple of rings I have made to give you some ideas....
Sterling silver and 9ct gold rings with a frosted finish...love these!
For the nature lover, can also be made in gold (contact me to discuss)
On The Bench!
CommentI sit here writing this with numb fingers as I have no heating! Thankfully the wonderful plumber is fitting me a new boiler as we speak so hopefully I will defrosting in the not to distant future! And because my fingers are so numb, I haven't been able to work at the bench and have had to catch up on paperwork instead :-(. Let's be honest, it's not my favourite thing to do but at least it's done.....nearly!
I had a meeting with my wonderful photographer Alex (www.alexsharp.co.uk) this week with some new designs #excited! Alex always takes amazing images so watch this space! (Well not exactly THIS space but rather the shop page!)
Right off for another cup of tea, need to warm these fingers!
Quote of the Week!
Comment“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible”
Quote of the Week!
Comment“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step”
On The Bench!
CommentAfter what seems like a mammoth clean up in the studio, this week so far has been pretty good!
I'm working on a new collection featuring sea glass....actually, make that THREE collections featuring sea glass! I love that every piece will be unique as although the designs will be the same, each one will have to be adapted slightly due to the nature of sea glass. This also brings it's challenges. Sea glass is not uniform it shape nor does it necessarily have a flat side like a cabochon gemstone! But I still love it!
Quote of the Week!
Comment“I don’t come here to be average”
New Year, New Beginnings
CommentCrikey it seems like forever since I wrote anything here! So, here we are in a brand new year, always a great reason to look back over the last year and see what worked and what didn't, from both a personal and work perspective and set new goals.
My first goal this year relates to both aspects of my life and that's to get organised and finish each task in turn rather than do what I normally do ~ "Ooh great, this task is nearly finished, what's next on the list?" and dive straight into the new task without properly finishing the first! What do I end up with? A load of not-quite-completed-but nearly-there tasks and a whole heap of chaos!
My second goal relates fairly well to the first ~ get on top of the housework! If anyone has any tip on this one then PLEEEEASE let me know!
My third goal this year is this business. I love what I do and want it to be fabulously successful this year!
Lastly, but most important of all, I want myself and my family to be as happy and healthy as possible!
So, what are your goals for the New Year?
Christmas Quote of the Week!
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On The Bench!
CommentAfter the mayhem of last week, this week is a little more relaxed. The majority of commissions have left for their new homes and so peace reigns once more.....at lease as much as it has ever reigned in my household!
I'm recovering from my day at the MAC (standing for 6 hours is exhausting!) and taking notes on what sold, what didn't and what got the most interest. It's always surprising, very often what you thought would be most popular doesn't get the attention you thought. I'm pleased to say that my new designs were well received and a necklace and cuff I wore got many comments and compliments so keep you're eyes peeled for that one in the new year.
The next big project is getting ready for my first trade fair in April next year and deciding which collections to take and planning new ones. It's going to be a busy few months!
And I know this Christmas isn't over yet but I'm already looking to book events for NEXT Christmas so if you want to see Scarlett Willow near you, drop me an email with eents in your area!
A Few Pictures From The MAC!
2 CommentsI thought I'd post a few pictures from the MAC Christmas Craft Market. If there's anything here you like that isn't in the online shop just drop me an email and we can have a chat!
Quote of the Week!
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Christmas Craft Market at the MAC
CommentFrom 11am to 5pm today, you can find me at the MAC in Birmingham (Cannon Hill Park) for their Christmas Craft Market!
Do some Christmas shopping or treat yourself! I have some new designs with me today including some pendants created using a water casting technique and some very unique pendants created by fusing silver. I love both of these techniques as you can guarantee that no-one else will ever be wearing the same!
I will posting pictures throughout the event on Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest so if you can't come along but see something you just have to have, contact me and I'll put it to one side (as long as it hasn't sold in the meantime).
Have a great day everyone and I hope to see you at the MAC!
I'm Back!!
CommentAfter a wonderful time visiting Santa in Lapland (don't worry, you're all on his nice list!), it's time to get back to work!
It's not just Santa's busiest time of year but also mine. I shall be off to the Assay Office AGAIN today to collect another batch of hallmarking to polish, set stones in to and get ready for each piece to find a new home.
Many homes will be found at the weekend when I will be at the MAC in Birmingham (Cannon Hill Park) on Saturday. If you're in the area, do come and say hello and take a look at some new designs!
Gemstone of the Month!
CommentDecember!! The last month of the year, how did we get here so quickly?!
The month of mistletoe and holly, mince pies and mulled wine, tinsel and baubles.... but the baubles I'm interested in are the ones that make our jewellery sparkle! December has three birthstones, one a much newer addition. They are zircon, turquoise and tanzanite.
Zircon, for many years was used to imitate diamonds which is a shame as it is a beautiful gemstone in its own right. Its name comes from the Arabic words "zar" meaning gold and "gun" meaning colour although it is found in a wide range of colours including blue, green, orange, yellow and red, which is the most sought after. Found in the Chanthaburi region of Thailand, the Palin area of Cambodia and the southern part of Vietnam, it is said to protect travellors from disease and injury, ensure a warm welcome and ensuring a deep tranquil sleep.
Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones and varies in colour from greenish-blue, robins-egg blue to sky blue. Turquoise is plentiful and most often cut as a cabochon, beads, carvings and inlays. This gemstone goes in and out of "fashion" but is always a favourite in the American Southwest.
Tanzanite is a one locational gemstone that was discovered in the 1960's. Colours range from blue to violet and can be found with pale green running through, known as a bicolour tanzanite. Often bought has a cheaper alternative to sapphire, tanzanite is now valued more for its own colour and brillance.
So, which will you choose?