Inspiration...

Just back from a fantastic trip to Skye, Harris and Lewis, where the gold, copper and bronze of the Machair, the turquoise of the sea and the white of the beaches (and the big skies) were really inspiring...

Dramatic skies at Scarasta beach, Harris

Sunset at Neist point, Skye

Waves and a rainbow at Dail Mor, Lewis

KTPR002...

I'm nearly at the end of my period of almost-full-time working, and I'm really looking forward to having more time again for all sorts of makery and crafting.

One thing I have been managing to carry on with during it all has been my current music project (KTPR002).  

The teaser webpage is now live!

Zwierzyna...

My friend Kasia and I just opened up an Etsy shop!

We bring you... 'Zwierzyna' - where we will sell jewellery and perhaps pieces of artwork that we have collaborated on together, made from Kasia's illustrations and my fibre-y embellishments.

The first items to go into the shop are three brooches that we made a little while ago, featuring...

a dapper gentleman cat:

a proud fish-catcher:

and a playful fattycat:

we're looking forward to developing more brooches and other ideas!

Sculpture inspiration...

Today Kasia and I visited Jupiter Artland, a secluded sculpture park outside Edinburgh.  We timed it just right before it got busy, and spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around the woodland admiring the sculpture.

This is 'Firmament' by Anthony Gormley, inspired by an old star map:

Although I love to look at sculpture, it doesn't often move me.  An exception to this today was the group of sculptures called 'Weeping girls' by Laura Ford.  I thought these were the best sculptures in the whole place - very sad and rather chilling, with such attention to detail in the hands and shoes, in a perfect setting in the deserted woodland:

Seeing so many different styles on such a larger scale than my own work was very refreshing!

Meanwhile on a much smaller scale, yesterday I completed a prototype pair of earrings in my favourite wooden bezels.  

Turkus

Inspiration...

Last Friday my sister and I spent a very enjoyable day at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  It was lovely to see some internet friends like Chris and Myfanwy in person (and to browse their wares!), and it provided me with some much-needed inspiration.

Looking forward to playing with these!

Jewellery...

Since coming back from Japan I've been having a long, hard think about my jewellery making and my Etsy shop.

  At the moment particularly I have so little time, but I'm also focussing more on other projects.  Also, I've been trying to think more about what is really 'me', and to make pieces which more truly reflect that.

So, I've made the decision to slowly streamline my jewellery making.  At the moment and for the foreseeable future, the only pieces I will work on will be more 'wooden bezel' brooches.  All other items in my shop will not be renewed when their listings expire.

This feels like the right decision, and in celebration, yesterday I finished two new pieces:

Profond

Peregrine

I'm still in love with these beautifully smooth wooden settings :)

Watercolours...

I spent a very enjoyable time this afternoon having a 'serious play' with beautiful watercolour paints (thank you Kasia!).

Like sketching, painting is something I have certainly felt a bit scared of.  Today however I had a lovely time mixing and painting and spattering!

I love colour!

These were experiments in preparation for using watercolours as part of a secret project... .