The Importance of Hobbies

Hobbies.  It's a frivolous word.  And a frivolous thing, perhaps, but I think having a hobby - or several - is really important.  But isn't making jewellery your hobby, I hear you ask?  Well, yes - it certainly started out that way.  And it still is, in many ways - I've lost count of the number of times my hubby has said to me 'You're working?  Again?' as I'm sneaking out the wire to fiddle with in front of the telly.  It is, of course, my job, and a lot of my working hours are spent completing work for customers, (something I love doing) but finding myself inspired by something fresh and turning it into a piece of jewellery - just because - is the icing on the cake.

It's not my only hobby, though.  As you know if you follow this blog, I have always been a voracious reader.  This dates right back to when I first learned to read, and my Mum and I used to get the bus into town so that she could treat us both to a book from the secondhand bookshop in the square.  Then we'd spend the bus journey home reading - terribly sociable, I know!  Books have ALWAYS been my means of escape from a real life that occasionally sucks.

Similarly, when you're not reading someone else's story, why not write it?  I love words - the way a carefully chosen phrase can convey an emotion, something that hits you right - well, wherever it is you feel things most.  Is there anything quite like finishing a book that makes you similarly sigh with satisfaction and almost weep that the journey is over?  Writing is the flip side of that coin, but it's no less satisfying when the final word is written, and the characters still exist in your imagination, somewhere far outside of the pages.

So why do I think having a hobby is important?  I cannot comprehend the concept of boredom.  If ever I hear someone say they're bored, I'm amazed.  How does anyone have time to be bored?  As long as I have a blank page and a pen or pencil, I'm able to occupy myself.  There are so many things you could be doing with your hands or your mind, why would you relinquish a second of your precious time to ennui?  To me, hobbies - interests, passions, whatever you want to call them - are so important because if you have nothing else to fill your time, they give you purpose, and if you're only able to fit them around jobs/illness/less than fulfilling lives, they provide an escape and a route to personal joy.  And there is always room for more joy in this world.

So tell me, what hobbies bring you joy?

Dorset Interlude

A couple of weeks ago, we went away to Dorset for a long weekend.  We'd been promised (threatened with) abysmal weather, but in fact most of the heavy rain seemed to happen overnight.  This meant that we woke to glistening rain-slick greenery, sparkling in the spells of sunshine we hadn't dared to hope for.  We made our first ever trip to the rock formation known as Durdle Door.

The view was stupendous, but it was quite a trial for me to get that far - I'm afraid of heights, something which is made much worse when it's windy.  And my word, was it windy!  I actually spotted a little girl leaning on the wind as if it were something solid - she was clearly delighted by this, while I was by then heading for the car with as much speed as I could manage against the wind, hoping I'd make it in one piece!

We also enjoyed the sight of the kiteboarders in Sandbanks, who were taking advantage of all that wind - although I'm still mystified by the fact that anyone would pay millions of pounds to live there. ;)

As we were staying right next to some beautiful woodland (and I mean right next to - the trees were overhanging our log cabin), we took advantage of the time of year to tramp through the soggy undergrowth and enjoy the profusion of bluebells blooming there.  Hubby even saw a fox (Did I?  No, of course not - I was wandering around aimlessly taking a million photographs of things on the floor as usual).

It was a lovely chance to recharge our batteries and to enjoy the beautiful Dorset countryside and coastline.  And did I take any wire with me, you ask?  Well, just a bit ... here's my Violet Tree set - started while watching The Eurovision Song Contest.  Hey, even I need a bit of culture now and again ... ;)

That tricky subject ...

That tricky subject I've been avoiding blogging about.  Actually it's two in one - inspiration versus copying.

Firstly, a word about copyright.  In the UK (and many other countries) an original artistic work is automatically copyrighted.  You don't need to register it - you need to be able to prove the work is yours, of course, but it is automatically protected by copyright.  This includes your own photographs - so if you lift a picture from the internet, you need to find the source and ask their permission.  Of course I know this doesn't always happen, but it should.  If you use an image without gaining permission or crediting the source, it's breach of copyright.

And so to copying a design.  What is the difference between taking inspiration from someone's work and copying it?  Inspiration is an idea forming in your mind in response to something you've seen.  That does not equate to reproducing the item exactly.  If you copy the form and style of an original work it is just that - a copy.

So how do you define an original work?  That is tricky.  In the jewellery world, most ideas and themes have been represented somewhere along the line.  It's all in the detail.  An example: I make tree of life pendants.  So do thousands of other people.  It is not a unique idea, and you couldn't possibly copyright a standard design.  But here is something I made earlier:

Yes, it's an apple tree.  Nothing unique there.  Apple trees have no doubt been depicted in one way or another for thousands of years.  If someone makes a wire pendant with an apple tree in it, does that mean they've copied my work?  Of course not.  But if I see one made with exactly the same execution as this one, will I consider that to have been copied?  Yes.

I am happy - no, more than happy, thrilled! - to inspire others in whatever medium they choose to create with.  But I will always speak out if I see my images or those of others being used without permission - nicely, as I'm not confrontational and the whole thing makes me feel a bit sick, to be honest - and I cannot condone direct copying.  Like many others, I work very hard to produce work that is original.  I'm sure I don't always get it right - as I said, most things have been done before - but I never deliberately copy.

And lastly, watermarks are coming!  I've resisted using them for so long, as I don't want to obscure my pictures, but I already use them on my artwork, and I've had so many of my own uncredited photos pointed out to me recently, that I can resist no longer.  The only thing that worries me is all the hundreds of images already out there, that I can't retrieve ...

Random Facts ...

As I have somehow managed to leave most of the stuff I need at home today (Wednesdays are spent in my hubby's workshop), I've decided to write a slightly different blog post today.  A while ago, one of those daft things was going around Facebook where you are supposed to comment, then tag your friends to play - I usually ignore them, but this one intrigued me.  It simply said to state 10 things that people may not know about you.  It was interesting - not so much to do, as obviously I already know these things! - but to read the things other people revealed.  So here are a few random things you may not know about me, although some you may, if you've been following my blog and Facebook page for a while.

I took A-level art at school, chose to forgo my place at art college, and barely picked up a pencil for the next 20 years.

I have two stuffed toy seals and a monkey who always come on our holidays ... ;)

I've enjoyed writing fiction since I was a child writing by torchlight under the covers.  I've written 3 full-length novels, along with many more finished and unfinished stories - all unpublished.

I've been a vegetarian since I was 21.

I met my hubby (some of you will know him as 'the post boy') nearly 24 years ago, while I was still at school.  It took us 12 years (most of those living together) before we decided we'd probably keep each other after all and get married.

I taught myself to touch type when I was 20 - came in handy with all those stories ...

I worked in accounts for 21 years before giving it up to be poor and happy as a jewellery-maker.

Lastly - and this will be the shocker - I'm not a natural redhead. :P

Last Day of the Earring Challenge

If you follow my blog (what do you mean, you don't?!  Click on that 'follow' button right now, or you'll miss access to all my inane fascinating ramblings, and then where would you be?  Having a life, you say?  Oh, okay, then) you'll know that I set myself an April challenge to make a new pair of earrings for every working day of the month.

The Serpent and the Apple

One pair of earrings a day - shouldn't be too much of a trial, I thought.  Well, I was right and wrong at the same time.  There were days when I was so busy, I didn't know how I was going to fit in creating even something as quick (ha!) as a pair of earrings, and they were the days when the execution was less complex.

Nautilus

 

But I'm so glad I did.  An important part of my job is coming up with new (to me) ideas.  I'm not saying many of them haven't been done somewhere in some similar way before, but I don't look for other people's work to copy (you know how I feel about that!), so the ideas were fresh to me.  And that not only keeps me interested in my work, it also fires my imagination.

Marguerite

I made an effort to make more wirework earrings for the challenge, and that took me in a new direction.  I also finally gave some woven backdrop earrings a go - featuring the sheepsies, of course!

Sheepsies

So am I glad I added to my workload in this way?  Of course.  It was fun to do, and as making things to order is also an important part of my job, it was a good exercise, too.  How did any of you do with your own challenges? :)

The Beauty of Buying Handmade

I love being part of the Handmade community.  I am among like-minded individuals, who understand the time, effort, heart and soul that goes into a handmade piece.  Since I started making my own jewellery, I have come to have a much greater appreciation for items that have started in someone's imagination, and grown as if by magic from their fingers.  It's not that I didn't appreciate handcrafted items before, it's just that having imbued each of my own pieces with a portion of my own heart and soul, it is to me a little humbling to own such a piece made by someone else's hand.

Beautiful work by Vicki Foster of VF Designs

 

I also have great appreciation for the sheer diversity of imagination and skill that is out there.  I cannot sew.  The nearest I get is applying a needle and thread to a simple beaded bead, and that is not very close at all!  So I'm in awe of anyone who can take a piece of material and turn it into something useful and/or beautiful.  There are a few things I can do, and many more that I can't - and for all those things, there are craftspeople out there with beautiful items to fulfill my needs.

 Whimsical hoops by Emma Granton of Wordy Sew and Sew

I'm part of a lovely group of sellers who are getting together to showcase their wares on a regular basis now in One of a Kind Market Events on Facebook.  The next one is on Sunday between 6pm and 11pm - here's the link to the Market Night Event.

Stunning silver-smithed pendants by Joanna Reilly of My Turquoise Queen

The wonderful thing about being part of something like this is that there is such a varied array of artisan work to see all in once place.  Granted, there are only a few special items available per seller, but every single one has their own page for you to hop over and drool over their photos.  And every one is happy - as am I - to discuss custom work with you.  Which brings me to the other reason why handmade items are so special.  Where else could you contact the seller and have something custom made just for you, something truly unique?

Adorable pincushions by Jo Porter at Crafty Jo Designs

 

 

Made to order colouring books by Alice Cook Designs

Handmade cards by Jan Colbunn of Agape Crafts

This is just a tiny fraction of the eclectic work that will be available on Sunday - here is a link to the Market Night Album, which will be full to bursting by then!  I would love to share a picture by each one, but I'd be here all day - and so would you, waiting for the page to load!  So here are all the links to their pages - if you get a moment, please do pop by, I have found some truly beautiful pages while taking part in these events.  Hope to see you all there on Sunday night! :)

The LFStudio
Sewing Circus
VF Designs
Lady H
Little Crescent Moon 
Card Bubble
Sun N Sparkles Bags & more
Crafty Jo Designs
Wordy Sew and Sew
Wrap It
Lily Rose
Jim Jim Designs
Mallory Bags and Journals
Waggy & Babbits
Alice Cook Designs
Agape Crafts
The Book Vandal
Mad About Bags
My Turquoise Queen
Bit On The Side - Vintage Inspired Fascinators
Fuzzy P's Crafts
Em's Little Cake Stop
Lovepaperandprint
Molly rose gifts
Louise Goodchild Designs
 

 

A Fixation with Filing

This is a subject about which I feel very strongly.  I don't often concern myself with how others execute their wirework - it's a personal journey, and I'm happy to plod on in my own sweet way without presuming to judge the skill level of anyone else.  There are MANY people who have far greater skill than I, and if I worried about that too much, I'd crawl into a hole, start rocking gently and never come out. ;)

But the one thing that really upsets me is when I see wirework that hasn't been properly finished.  I don't mean the odd nick that you just can't get to with the file no matter how hard you try - I mean working ends of wire that are going to make contact with skin, in particular earwires.  When I see an earwire that has not had the end smoothed properly, I wince, imagining it tearing the earlobe of the unsuspecting person who's about to wear it.

To my mind, there's no excuse for not finishing an earwire properly.  There's no great skill involved - just time.  My earwires are filed, filed and filed some more, then rigorously tested with my fingertip to check for any sharpness.  I spend a long time getting the finish right - this is why you often have to wait a few days when you order findings from me.  And I never use coloured wire, as the only way to retain the colour on the ends would be to leave them unfiled.  (I should mention that this applies to handmade earwires only - proprietary ones will have had the colour applied after the earwire has been made.)

 
Anyway, I'll step off the soapbox now - I'm not suggesting for one moment that my work is perfect, it's just that earwires with sharp ends really make me cringe!  And I do sometimes buy earwires from other handmade artists, which are beautifully made, and thankfully give me no cause for cringing.  Does anyone else have something that sets their teeth on edge in the same way?