My creative space...

Lady Spring has been blessing us with glorious sunshine, warm breezes and the eruption of wildflowers that Western Australia is renowned for.  


The scent of renewal and awakening drifts through the open windows in the house, and my mind swirls with endless ideas and inspiration.  

So many ideas...

I have been dreaming of ways to combine metal and beads...

...the lure of metal is irresistible...

...it haunts my dreams, distracts me, delights me...

...and I feel the only cure is to create!

~*~

 But alas, my metal must wait...

Our move from Perth to Melbourne in less than a week away,


so with all but a few of my beads, tools and notions packed away, weaving a few components is all I can manage...

...just playing with ideas...

...and new concepts, based on old ones...

...they won't be completed until after our move to Melbourne, but my hands cannot remain idle...as if packing boxes isn't keeping them busy enough!

~*~


Now that my *Marrakech* Cuff is completed, of course I have to make another one...


...in turquoise AND orange...

...I just love colour, I can't help myself...


...I try to enjoy using neutrals and browns and blacks...

...but colour is what really makes me happy :-)

~*~

What does your creative space look like today?

The *Marrakech* Cuff

It feels as though I've been working on this cuff for weeks...

...and then I realised that I HAVE been working on this cuff for weeks!

What a relief that it is finally finished...

and I'm so happy with the final result...

The *Marrakech* Cuff

It is exactly as I had envisaged... I love it when that happens!

The clasp is so pretty that it can be worn on top of the wrist...

I'm just crazy about the negative space...

Actually, that's what this cuff is ALL about...

...a beautiful balance of positive and negative space...

I wore it all day today, to see if it's a piece that I could include in my *Moroccan Odyssey* Collection...despite the fact that terracotta looks rather blah on my fair skin...

...and the verdict is a resounding 'yes'!  

It's comfy, it's lightweight (but packs a visual punch)...and it's just a little bit chic.

I think I can forgive this cuff for being so time consuming to create (did I mention each 'X' shape is stitched individually, then they are all stitched together?  Uh...yup)...

...because it's just begging to be made in vibrant cobalt, scintillating chocolate, and tempting turquoise...

What do you think?  

I'd love to hear your verdict on my cuff!

Neither coming, nor going...

One would call it a state of flux...

...and that's where I'm at right now.

Most of my tools and beads are packed away in anticipation of our move interstate in two weeks time.

So my Muse has gone into hibernation, saving her energy for a burst of creativity once we're settled into our new home.

Which leaves me feeling like I'm neither coming, nor going....


*meh*


However, just because my tools are packed away, doesn't mean I can't read...

...and learn...

...and dream...

Looks like Smallus Handus is at it again!

...and use my credit card to buy pretty things... ;-)

Gorgeous clay cabochons and beads from the lovely Natalie at Peruzi.  Just watch what I do with these beauties!

Hey, I may as well enjoy myself while I'm hanging in limbo!


Waiting, and waiting, and waiting...


*yawn*


I did manage to give my Muse a little nudge last night so I could finish my Moroccan-inspired cuff...I've been working on it on and off for the last few weeks.  Now it's finally finished!  Photos to come later...


I love the clasp...a bit of tweaking, and it would make a great pendant...

Here's hoping the next two weeks fly...


...let's get this show on the road already!

Inspired to create...

...with metal!

Perhaps it was Jess, or maybe Lenita?  

Maybe it was Tess, or Anna-Karin?

Most likely it was all of these exceptionally talented ladies who inspired me with their beautiful silverwork (and equally beautiful personalities!) to get back to where this jewellery journey all began.

See, when I was 16, I had a dream...

...no, seriously!...

...I wanted to become a jeweller...

A jewellery-making class in high school awakened something in me, and I fell head over heels in love with working metal to create something beautiful for adorning the body.

I wanted to become a jeweller.

I was determined to get an apprenticeship somewhere.  Anywhere.  I was happy to sweep metal shavings for years if it meant I could one day create jewellery.


I really wanted to become a jeweller.

I started a jewellery-making course at night school.  I learnt how to drill, saw and file sheet metal. But that was where it ended!  I only went along to three classes because I moved interstate shortly after starting.

And somehow, my dream got pushed aside.

I still wanted to become a jeweller.

But I had to get a job and earn money.

In an office.

Enough said!

So, fast-forward 14 years and here I am, a stay-at-home mum to two crazy toddlers, creating beaded jewellery because being at home with my daughter gave me the time and freedom to pursue my creative side once again.

And one day, through this big ol' blog-o-sphere, I stumble across the blogs of the aforementioned talented ladies...and my dream is suddenly re-awakened.

Metal.

Silver.

Fire.

Beauty.

Adornment.

Seeing their incredible work sent my heart racing and my imagination into overdrive.  I ordered silver, solder, saw-blades, and stalked my postman for a week until they arrived.

I read and read and read everything I could get my hands on about bezel setting a stone.

And then I created...

So small, so humble...


...but it is a dream realised...


...a dream finally caught, after years of chasing...

And the most wonderful part of this necklace...the 10mm amazonite cabochon!  I bought it way back when I was a wide-eyed 16 year old, dreaming of one day being a jeweller.  I have carried it with me for the last 14 years, and now it finally has a home.  

14 years in the making!

And I enjoyed (ok, LOVED!) creating this humble little necklace so much, that I went and created a large, statement ring...

I still dream...

...but now I'm chasing my dreams...

...and I hope that you are chasing your dreams too.

Featured on La Bella Joya

You all know, Marcie, right?  The lovely and talented artist behind La Bella Joya.

Marcie is introducing a new weekly feature to her inspiring blog called Artists Answer.  Each week, she invites a different artist to share their thoughts on the topics of inspiration, creation, organisation, or publication.  Topics which interest all artists!

Guess who Marcie's first featured artist is...! ;-)

Read all about what inspires me, and how I find inspiration on La Bella Joya here!