Month: March 2020

Day 81. I have been making jewellery for 30 years. Yes, it’s been THAT long! Over the years I have collected lots and lots of books on jewellery making, and I used to spend a lot of time immersed in these books. They have helped inspire me to try new things. Lately my own making has been inspiring me to make new things. You may have seen my post about tweaking old ideas. Today I made these cute little earrings, inspired by old findings I had tucked away. Now I think I am ready to have another look at some books and see where that inspiration might lead me. You never know. In times like this I feel like I have to think outside the box, and hopefully be pleasantly surprised by what happens. Worst case…I made something!

Day 80. In times like this, when things are changing every day, and we have no idea of how much more change or for how long these changes will be in place…it can be easy to think “why bother?” I spent some time thinking about that today as I sat down to make my daily earring challenge. Why am I bothering? And for me, it was actually easy to know why. It’s because it’s actually more difficult for me to think about my life where I am not making something every day. It’s not like breathing, or eating, but it has become a really important part of what I do every day, and to stop doing that…well, THAT makes no sense to me. I have been feeling the pressure and the anxiety of our world, and I have been challenged by it, and will continue to be challenged by the daily updates, but I will keep making, because that’s what makes the most sense to me at the moment. Hope you are all navigating things as best you can. Find your own happiness every day, make every day count! Oh, and it was super cool to see this article published in Embellish Magazine about my artistic endeavours too.

Day 79. I was just talking to my friend Jenny as I was making this pair of earrings, and then I realised that I had to photograph them and put them on Instagram before it got dark! I will call her back as soon as this has posted 😛. Thinking of everyone in these mind-losing times!

Day 78. When all else fails, take an old idea, and tweak it a little. These earrings feature beads from recycled and Italian glass.

Day 77. In a world that is in turmoil at the moment, it’s hard to stay positive and optimistic, and yet I am still trying to make a pair of earrings every day! Hoping these earrings made from Bombay Sapphire Gin and Banrock Station wine bottles.

Day 76. Many years ago, before I started making my own beads, I used freshwater pearls and crystals for a lot of my jewellery pieces. It has been lovely returning to pearls, and adding them to my handmade glass beads. This pair of earrings features beads made from a champagne bottle.

Day 75. Working on a new idea for an exhibition and it includes pearls in all sorts of colours and shapes! I love the slightly greyer colour of these pearls, and with the Hendricks Gin – Limited Release recycled glass bead….just stunning and a forever pair of earrings.

Day 74. Ideas sparking ideas here! These earrings, while similar to yesterday, are much, much longer!! And swingier. Maybe a bit more fun too!

Day 73. When the weather and the world have turned a bit bleak, there’s always rainbows 🌈 hopefully things will brighten up again soon. 

Day 72. Loved all of your feedback yesterday! Just wondering how you feel when the beads are this close together? Does the left earring work better for you? Or do you prefer the one on the right? Smallest to biggest? Or biggest to smallest? All beads made from a wine bottle.