Old Friends and new methods

lantern light

I know. I know.

flintwitch

Like some magical incantation, all I need do is state 'I'm taking a break from jewelry for a while' and I will be creating in less than 48 hours. You could plant seeds by it, it's that reliable.

Barnacle

Although most of this is actually from a little pile of stuff on my desk that I'd finished before I left, but never listed. The rest is just stuff that needed a clasp or a back. But I am making again, as I'm sure you all expected I would.

In Vino Veritas

In truth I really did think it was it this time. I had no interest in making anything what-so-ever, and really hadn't felt the need at all while I was away.

green earth

But talking with fancifuldevices about the whole 'losing my mojo', and then perusing her shop, and finding this:


...with it's achingly attractive porridge tones and just a hint of stripeyness... something clicked in me. I wanted to make something. Start something new, not just finish old projects. I tried starting a necklace that night but I gave up halfway through, unimpressed with my efforts.

The next day I went wading through my sold items to find something, and found myself almost in heartbreak. How wonderful my work used to be, how complex and dark and ornate and alive.


Questions clambered in my mind, all desperate to be answered. How did I do it? What happened? Why did I change? How did I change? What's wrong with me?


Luckily I know there's nothing wrong with me, not really. (It's the rest of the world I swear.) I just burned out a little. I wanted evolution in my work and as I've said before, all growth is good. even if it doesn't look right or feel right, because as soon as you know that, you can go back (you can always go back) and put things right, and then you know even more what it is you want, even if you only know what you don't want.


I've come to realise that here, I don't have enough space. I told myself I did, and I tried to work around it, but it's just not happening. I catch myself putting things off because I have to clear the table of yesterday's project (man those tiny collages take up alot of space!) , and that's a tell-tale sign that productivity will suffer.


Anyway- I've got my groove back a little. I'm studying my favourite sold works (the ones that illustrate this post) and in the mean time I've a huuuuge box of unfinished work that feels easy to do- less plumbing of the depths is needed than when a new piece is started.



I'm feeling a melding of styles at the moment- tribal faery and Dickens dust combining- as it was always meant to, really. Looking through my favourites there's a distinct pattern- dark and rough with just a hint of sparkle. It's a starry sky over Chancery lane, a bit of faery dust on Fagin's old coat, a diamond on the Havisham gown. And as the two mix, I feel in love with my work for the first time in a very, very long while.

So in future, when I say I'm not doing jewelry any more, don't believe me, will you?