Thursday, December 20, 2007

Seeking Inspiration

I’ve been working on some new designs lately and wanted to stretch myself a bit with working outside of my comfort design zone. After a few conversations with friends about completely off topic things to jewelry making I figured out how different so many of my friends and family are to me.

So I’ve been using them as inspiration for the designs. I’m making necklaces that reflect their personalities and styles rather than always my own – and what I think would work well on them. It’s been really interesting with the results. The inspiration has worked and I’ve made things that are different to my usual style.
OK, not all my friends and family have thought the pieces exactly them but that’s alright, the purpose was to challenge me with different designs – well that’s the story I’m sticking with! :)

I’m sure I’m not the only one to have done this but I’ve found it really useful to do. Where you get inspiration from can be a funny thing. I’m always looking for inspiration and ideas (and figure we all are) so sharing yours would be great.

Smiles, 

Belinda

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Sunday, December 16, 2007

When Is Enough, Enough?

Again I brought home another craft book. My bookshelves are busting and I’m sure I have enough but I see a craft book in the shop and can’t help myself, ‘maybe there will be something else in it that I don’t know that I can learn’ goes the line of thought.

Of course I only read some of the books, I never get through cover to cover with all of them. I have with a few beloved copies and those are the gems that keep me going back and getting more.

I tell myself because I have a creative business that the company can buy the books and they are good for inspiration – both true and valid points (and I use for fashion magazines too) but I’m getting to have too many of them (if possible). Looking at them now in the bookcase next to my desk I think there are a lot there but surely that isn’t too many, surely they are there to give joy and this they do.


When is enough, enough?

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Being Taken Hold of By Color

One of my weak points is color. I use to live in a simple black dress as a teenager and did the whole black outfit thing as a university student but with my jewelry work I’ve found a new life in color. I love it.

I still like black and think it is a great asset but now I look for more color, especially in winter. I absolutely loathed the winter fashion with colors called ‘asphalt’, “charcoal” and “slat”. Don’t we have enough darkness in winter anway? I love having reds and pinks for winter now. Vibrant and alive.

As if I’m not getting enough color from my work I have a growing collection of pencils and pastels that I use in sketch books simply for the joy of working with color. I don’t draw particularly well so there aren’t any inspiring landscapes or portraits, more layered designs of textual colors.


I don’t want to hide in murkiness; I want to live out in color.

Lovely Long Necklaces!

See my designs at www.CreativelyBelle.com/design

Cheers,
Belinda

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Saturday, December 8, 2007

Craft Project Books

Is anyone else using the creative craft project books with different tabbed sections for ideas, suppliers, designs and projects that seem to be everywhere at the moment?

They seem like a great idea and appeal to that part of me that loves everything having a place and being in its place. My reality sadly doesn’t quite get to that – most things have a place and can be found (sometimes) in their place but are usually out and about!

I’ve thought the project books would make great gift ideas but haven’t bought one for myself fearing it would be something that would sit on the shelf and not get used. But I’d love to hear from others about it – have you used yours or having similar thoughts to me?

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