Knowing Your Worth

If you have been following along my creative journey, you will know how much I love creating.  The exciting part for me is not only the end result but the entire process, which begins with a sketch.  Wracking my brain how each piece will be made, what materials best represent each line for the overall story of the piece excites me.  Yet, the most wondrous part of all is seeing the finished piece that works aesthetically and practically.  There are some times where my ideas don't quite come together in this way when taking the design and transposing it into something tangible and so trying to keep within the same theme, I correct my mistakes.  And so the story evolves.

As this entire process for me comes when it's ready, the completion of each piece has no timeframe.  Components are sketched, made, rested, painted in multiple layers with resting in-between, sealed, rested and each part is pieced together with intention as the sketch becomes alive.  And once the piece is complete, it sits and waits.  I pause and observe making sure each piece is just right and I smile to myself with that internal warmth of joy.

Then I begin the online process - taking numerous photographs trying to capture the piece in such a detailed way so the intended market can virtually feel the essence and intention the piece has.  I do this as my life is such where I'm still unable to attend markets.  And so inlays my problem.  My dream of being a successful jewellery designer is still that - just a dream.  I'm so grateful to have a few pieces bought online as well as in person but for some reason, online selling continues not to be for me and I'm unsure as to why my pieces are lost in translation as the feedback I've received has been wonderful.  So yesterday I decided to close my Facebook page and let it go.  

Today I finally knew my worth.  This is something I've been working on for many, many years.  Being and feeling confident and aligned in my own skin.  Today, I realised I'm more than just likes, comments and shares.  I'm someone who expresses themselves emotionally, meaningfully and mindfully through art.  I love what I do.  I love what I make.  And that's all I need to be.

On that note, I finished a piece that's been in progress since mid-March.  I shared the intended pendant dangles in my last blog post and now, its story was complete.  Intended for my "Findings of Nature" series, this one features a found piece of driftwood, recycled sari silk and handmade polymer clay components inspired by my love for nature.  It's certainly a statement piece, bold and armouresque representing my love for the forest - the strength and wiseness of the old trees, the whispers amongst the leaves, the life that lives deep beneath the earth amongst the roots or on the branches of the trees, finding comfort in the stillness, new life protected in tiny cups bursting free into the wind and the smell of deeply rich earth laying in wait for the cycle of life.

Here is a close up of the pendant:

And a full view:

Enjoy your week :)

Gardening, Beadmaking and Painting

It's been a little while since I last stopped by my blog, mostly as my time has been spent in the garden tending the patch when not working.  We had such an abundance over Summer which was quite surprising as we started late in the season getting ourselves sorted and secondly, as we were just seeing what would thrive or fail not knowing what the summer temperatures and the amount of rainfall would be like impacting production.  Ummm .... all I can say is we haven't needed to shop for fresh fruit and veggies since early January.  We've only needed to purchase the staples - onions, garlic and avocado - but that is it, which is massive as three-quarters of all our meals use fresh vegetables.  Am remedying the onions and the garlic with seedlings growing already for next season and will attempt a test run on avocados by building a suitable environment, so keeping fingers crossed for next year.

Since early March, I've only had a chance to work on two projects.  I recently completed the design and made the dangles for my next "Findings of Nature" necklace:

And over the last few weeks, I finally plucked up the courage to paint a painting in colour.  Now I've painted before in my dot-like style, however, I've never actually painted something 100% with a brush.  So dealing with serious handshakes, constant confidence questioning and concerns of stuffing it all up was uncomfortable, but fulfilling as I finished it by pushing my boundaries way out.  It is a bang of colour ... perhaps too bright for some, but I wanted something seriously vibrant and weirdly interesting to adorn our plain, stark walls with dark brick in places.  I've named this piece "Woodland Faerie", acrylic on canvas, 40x30cm.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead :)

The Birth of a New Necklace Series - Update

So admittedly, I "ummed" and "ahhed" over how to connect these components together for a little longer than normal.  We've encountered rained out days so far this week meaning more days at home (last week, our work vehicle was in for repairs for almost a week!), but the upside to that was time to work in the garden, rest and ponder on these components some more.

I was nervous as I didn't want to marr the driftwood by wirework mistakes (as more often than not, the wire has a mind of its own - ha!).  I wanted to create a pendant that was structurally sound, asthetically pleasing and retained the vibe I was hoping for.  This is what I came up with (it only needed a redo once - yayyyy!).

The next step was to go through copious amounts of beads to find the perfect ones - the ones that spoke to me.  Ever since I was young, whenever I created, when I found the perfect "thing" to use, it would almost feel as though it was thrumming.  To this day, I still choose my materials this way and such is the case with each and every bead, paint or fibre used in my work.  What'cha think?  I'm excited!

Next was to make the necklace portion incorporating the clasp -

- and tahdah, after connecting it altogether .... introducing the first piece from my "Findings of Nature" series ...

This piece consists of a found piece of driftwood, a tree limb disc, a handmade polymer clay nature-inspired seed stick and a found stone handpainted by me and brought together by an eclectic mix of stone, seed, wood, glass, bone and Irish waxed linen in a macrame style.  All wood, stone and polymer clay has been baked, sanded and sealed for wear and tear.  All natural beads have been ethically sourced.

My heart is full!  I am completely stoked with the outcome, so much so I think I skipped in to show Heath hahaha. I'm so looking forward to start the process over for number two but more percolating is to be had. Am thinking a different colourway ... Stay tuned!

The Birth of a New Necklace Series

When out in nature - whether it be in my day job, working in the garden or venturing out with Heath - there is always something that makes me catch my breath, and stop to take a closer look.  From time to time, a small trinket from nature comes home with me to be added to my collection as a source of inspiration.  It might be a leaf where the texture or shape or colour catches my eye or a perfectly smooth rock that almost vibrates with energy when held in the hand.  My most favourite pieces are displayed in the corner of my workspace as being surrounded by meaningful and/or inspirational bits'n'bobs imbues for me the most perfect ambience to create.  

Here is one of my offering bowls - a leaf that fell at my feet when we first moved here which has the most glorious colourings; a stone so smooth and energy-filled; a cap from a gumnut I found in our garden which sat in a circle of dirt with nothing surrounding it; a succulent flower from my "Lavender Scallops" which blows my mind how perfect the colour and structure is; and finally, a gift of labradorite and crystal from one of the most soulful and kindred spirits I've met online - Julie of Uglibeads - all nestled in a handmade ceramic dish from Thailand which I bought on our honeymoon. 

Recently, whilst arranging a collection of items, my muse screamed at me "yessssss" and after a lot of percolating, my "Findings of Nature" series was born.  I've three one of a kind pieces planned thus far, the first of which will contain a found piece of driftwood, a tree limb disc from another project I'm working on, one of my polymer clay nature-inspired sticks and an interestingly shaped stone which I've handpainted.  Here is a sneaky peek:

I'm currently trying to nut out the best way to connect it altogether so it's structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing so am letting that stew for a bit longer as sometimes the drawing doesn't always work out hahaha.  But can't wait to share the finished result :)

Enjoy your week ahead!