Scarlett Willow Designs

Long time no blog....

Scarlett Willow DesignsComment

I haven't blogged for what seems forever! 

I now have three stockists of my jewellery so if one of the following galleries is near you or you find one on your holidays then do have a look;

Dancing Light Gallery ~ Whitmuir, West Linton, Edinburgh, EH46 7BB

Fisherton Mill Gallery ~ 108 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7QY

Focus Gallery ~ 108 Derby Road, Nottingham, NG1 5FB

I'm working on some new collections including something that featured a lot in my childhood and also in my daughters.... I'll let you see if you can guess what it is :-)

World Oceans Day!

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Today is World Oceans Day!

Most people when they think of the sea think of white sand, blue skies and a jug of Sangria (!) but they are clearly very much more than that.  This is what it says on the website for World Oceans Day:

www.worldoceansday.org

"A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, help protect, and conserve the world’s oceans. Oceans are very important:

  • They generate most of the oxygen we breathe
  • They help feed us
  • They regulate our climate
  • They clean the water we drink
  • They offer a pharmacopoeia of medicines
  • They provide limitless inspiration!"

 

Three of my collections feature the sea in some way ~ "Morvoren Dagrow" features sea-worn sea glass, "Ngaru" features beautiful Paua shell and "A Drop In The Ocean" pendants are created by water casting. 

From now until Sunday evening, I will donate 10% from the sale of any pieces from these collections to World Oceans Day!

sea-nature-sunny-beach.jpg

 

Most people when they think of the sea think of white sand, blue skies and a jug of Sangria (!) but they are clearly very much more than that.


 

New Home, New Workshop!

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Well, we're in!  There are still boxes EVERYWHERE but the workshop is pretty much sorted (priorities!) and it is sooo nice to have a view from the bench into the garden (photos to follow soon!)  I may not have had a bed to sleep on for six days but at least my bench was up! ;-)

Moving house has got to be the most stressful thing I've ever done but making sure no tooling or pieces of jewellery went missing bought me out in a cold sweat!  I'm just getting passed the "I feel like I'm living in a holiday cottage" to "Oh My God! This is MY house!"

I am just finishing off two orders that will be winging their way to two new galleries, details of which I will be posting very soon.  I think I'll be putting a "Stockists" page up and you can check back to see if SWD jewellery has arrived at a gallery near you! :-)

 

A New Home!

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Well the workshop has just been packed, the rest of the house is filled with boxes and all that's left to do is wait for the removals lorry tomorrow!

I am soooo looking forward to having a new space to work from, overlooking the garden with roses climbing the exterior walls....... "sigh", just have the lovely job of unpacking everything!  I'm trying to decide what's worse, packing or unpacking.

Things may be a little quiet this end while I get sorted but I'll be back really soon, have a great weekend everyone and pray that it doesn't rain on me tomorrow! :-)

On The Bench!

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It's been a little while since I've written under this heading.  Things have been busy busy busy!!  I've had orders coming in from galleries around the country after BCTF which is fantastic and I'm very excited about working with some lovely people.

If my blogging and tweeting become a little sporadic it's because not only am I working on fulfilling the gallery orders, I'm busy packing my house up for the move!  It seems to have suddenly gained speed and for anyone who has ever moved house, you will know how manic this time can be! I also need to pack my studio up which is difficult when I'm trying to make pieces....it feels like I'm being torn in two different directions so I do what any girl would do.....make a cup of tea and watch catch-up TV!

Right, that's that cup of tea finished, those boxes won't pack themselves!

British Craft Trade Fair!

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Last Sunday was the start of the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate! This was my first foray into the world of trade fairs and had no idea what to expect.

Apart from aching feet (!), I thoroughly enjoyed meeting exhibitors and buyers who felt the same as I do about handmade and British craft.  There were so any exhibitors who create such beautiful pieces, ranging from jewellery to ceramics to embroidery to upcycled items to prints of artwork - there was so much to look at!  I certainly don't envy the buyers trying to choose!

I've met some wonderful designer/makers to keep in touch with, as well as buyers interested in my work.  So watch this space, SWD jewellery may be appearing in a gallery or shop near you....I'll keep you posted!

 

On The Bench!

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This week has been all about polishing, setting gemstones and refining the set-up for the British Craft Trade Fair that starts this Sunday.  

With this being my first trade fair, I have no idea what to expect when I get there, which is pretty scary for someone who likes to know exactly what is going to happen and when - I like an itinerary, I like plans!

Designing and making jewellery is the easy part, so is talking to people about my jewellery and my love of textures and gemstones (be prepared for a good chat if you're coming to see me!). I love what I do and really hope that comes across.  The one thing I didn't really think would take so much time is the price lists, press releases, planning advertisements etc.  This is so different to designing and making and I don't find it the easiest thing in the world.  

Working towards BCTF has been a very steep learning curve, my lovely friend and photographer Alex (www.alexsharp.co.uk) has done some amazing product images and I've met some wonderfully supportive Designer/Makers (Thank you everyone on Twitter, you know who you are!) and I'm looking forward to meeting them in person.

On The Bench!

On The Bench!Scarlett Willow DesignsComment

It's only a little over a couple of weeks until the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate and there still seems to be a lot to do!  My lighting arrived yesterday so I'll be testing those out today.  The final pieces will be going to be hallmarked at the end of this week and I'm finishing what seems to be a mountain of paperwork - press releases, catalogues, order forms, artist statement etc.

I'm so excited to be meeting people who have a passion for all things handmade.  So many things are created by machines, it seems that we're losing skills that have been passed on over thousands of years.  

So the next time you're looking to buy a piece of jewellery , or something a little bit special, whether for yourself or as a gift, consider buying a handmade piece. Handmade means a little piece of the artist in each piece, you don't get that with a machine. Buy a little piece of the artist...a little bit of their passion...a little bit of the skill that produces such wonderful pieces.

If you're a gallery or shop owner who is looking to stock handmade items, visit BCTF this year....I'm on stand N65 by the way!

On The Bench!

On The Bench!Scarlett Willow DesignsComment

The workbench has been a bit neglected of late.  Apart from commission pieces, not much has been happening.  All of my time has been taken up with preparation for the British Craft Trade Fair next month.  I've had to learn to do things I have never done before and this wouldn't have been possible without friends and other people within the trade giving their time for free.

A journalist friend has helped me write a press release (much harder than it seems!), my wonderful photographer Alex Sharp (www.alexsharp.co.uk) has helped with digital images queries and people I've met who exhibited at this trade fair before have given me some very useful hints and tips.

I'm always pleasantly surprised by how happy people are to share their time and expertise for nothing.  I only hope I can return the favour in the near future!

Right, back to it! Have a great weekend everyone :-) 

On The Bench!

On The Bench!Scarlett Willow DesignsComment

It'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"!