Friday, November 21, 2014

Around The World Blog Hop - Little Cherry Hill

The idea behind the Blog Hop is for creative bloggers to write a post based around a few questions.  Their answers offer an insight into their creative thoughts and processes.  The blog ‘baton’ is then passed on to another artisan and so the trip around the globe gathers pace.

Kristen has passed this 'baton' onto me to continue the hop around the world :) I have been following Kristen's blog for sometime now and love to read her posts on her latest jewellery making ventures. She makes gorgeous pieces of wearable art and has some great wire designs incorporated into her work.

So lets start with the first question:


What am I working on?

I have several pendants on my bench at the moment - some only just beginning and another almost finished and some enamelled earrings.  I'm also working on a giveaway for reaching 500 'likes' on my facebook page. But seeing as the weather is so awfully hot here (early might I add), I am struggling to get to my bench to make anything - way to hot to wield a torch!

How Does My Work Differ From Others in it's Genre?

This is honestly a hard question to answer. When I look at my work, I want it to be easily recognised as my own. But there are so many of us out there with similar taste/style, that it makes coming up with fresh new ideas to represent my own style all the more difficult.

Being self taught means I can only go as far as my skills have and there are many other skills I want/need to learn to help my style grow.  This journey I am on is one for the long haul - my children/family come a solid first and so it takes me a while longer to get new skills in. So that being said - I am still trying to grow my 'style' and this will come with time - something I wish (don't we all) I had more of.

Why Do I Create What I Do?

My style when growing up, was always large statement pieces. Bags, shoes and accessories. I favoured things that no one else had, that were memorable, fun, stylish, but a little bit different. Perhaps pieces that were bold, pieces that others might not choose to wear themselves.

When I began Metal Smithing, it was for a means to an end. I needed to learn to solder to complete what I was working on at the time. But as my skills with soldering grew, I wanted to make those 'large, different, statement' pieces for myself and I have been enjoying trying to do that ever since. It doesn't always work out, but when it does, it's a real buzz!

How Does My Creating Process Work?

99% of what I do, comes from my imagination alone. I don't sketch - unless I absolutely must. I'm terrible at drawing. 

Most of the time I begin with the stone/s, I will choose the best type of bezel setting for it and from there the design will grow. Every now and then I will have a definite idea of something I want to make and I will try my best to execute it as close to how I've imagined it to be. 

Other times, it is just 'go with the flow'. I think for myself half of the fun is playing around with all sorts of components to see what I can come up with and if I can make it come to life. 

The picture below is a perfect example of that:

 

 

  





























I hope you have enjoyed reading my little blog hop post and now I would like to pass the 'baton' onto Mossy from Silver Moss Jewellery :)

Emma ♥

6 comments:

Cinnamon Jewellery said...

They look like some beautiful pieces in progress! It's nice to learn all about your creative process.

K S Jewellery Designs said...

Thank you Emma for a peek into your world.

I am so impressed that your designs are just held in your head and then created like a magical process! I do think your jewellery is definitely different from others in it's genre and I now realise that is because of the way you create it(starting with the stone).

I too have had to juggle family with my jewellery making but recently, with both kids at secondary school, I have had much more time and it is luxurious!.

All the best to you from across the seas.

Kristin :)

littlecherryhill said...

Thanks Tracy! It's certainly interesting to see how each other works behind the scenes :)

littlecherryhill said...

Thanks Kristin. I'm lucky that my smallest still naps a little bit, but that's only helpful for housework and not the jewellery making side of things! I do look forward to more time, but I don't want to wish the little years away either.

Halle Jay said...

Lovely post Em.
Do try and pick up a pencil and sketch. I always said I couldn't draw BUT I actually can!!
Think the thought of my sketches looking like kindy grade is what put me off but I've been sketching for the past two year and go back to my journals frequently xx

littlecherryhill said...

Thanks Vicki ♥