Wednesday 29 February 2012

Challenge of Music

For those of you who don't know, or haven't guessed from the title of my blog, I am both a jewellery designer and a singer. I am still at the training stage of singing so whilst I do work as a singer, and so a lot of teaching, I am still a student myself. It's safe to say that music and song are a huge part of my life! So, when Erin threw out the challenge to create a piece of jewellery inspired by our favourite piece of music, I jumped at the chance. This challenge was perfect for me, surely!

Teares

Or maybe not....I can honestly say this is one of the most difficult blog challenges I have participated in and hands up, I'm not totally happy with the outcome. I really like the necklace I made, and I love the song I chose (one of, but not my absolute favourite piece of music in the whole world; I just don't think I'm capable of making that decision!) but I feel that I have been inspired by mainly the words rather than the whole song. This month has been quite a busy one with a lot of blog challenges on the way (pinwheel, 7000 Bracelets, Bead Soup coming up in a few days) and with me going away today (it's currently the 24th, last Friday to you, I'm scheduling this post) I haven't had quite the time to devote to it that I would like. I think I am going to do a personal challenge later on, and make myself pick a piece of instrumental music - no words to get absorbed by. I wasted a lot of time worrying about what piece to pick - I think the idea of picking my favourite just seemed too massive a challenge and the very thought swamped me! At the beginning of this week, I was teaching one of my pupils and started her on a new piece, a very beautiful John Dowland song which I performed at a music festival a few years ago. It truly is one of my favourite pieces, but it's one of very many. You can listen to it here, sung by Emma Kirkby with Anthony Rooley on the lute.


Magical....The combination of voice and lute is so intimate; so haunting and other-wordly. The song about finding beauty in sorrow - both literally and figuratively. I took this idea in the form of tears,; the smooth and delicate flowing line of the voice and the gently strummed lute forming lines of the music. I tried to echo these lines and tears of the song. (Ceramic bead caps by ChelleV2.)


As I said, I really like what I have created, I just think I could have risen more to the challenge. So I think I may have a series of personal challenges, right here on Songbeads, to be inspired by other music. Instrumental music so that I can't 'cheat' with the words! Can't wait to see what everyone else has come up with when I get back from Paris. Please hop over to Erin's blog for the list of other people taking part. 

Monday 27 February 2012

Still in Paris

A little more free Internet so a few photos of a beautiful Èglise we visited today - Saint-Eustache. I am not religious in the slightest, but I love visiting cathedrals and churches - I find them beautiful and calming places a lot of the time. Saint-Eustache is a very large church yet whenever I have visited (on previous trips to Paris also) it is relatively quiet compared with the much more famous Notre Dame. I do recommend visiting it if you get the chance. I've been instagramming mg ass off to make the most of the light through the effects available! Hope it brings a little bit of Paris to you. Check out my previous post also.

Sunday 26 February 2012

Pictures from Paris

My hotel for tonight has free Internet so I thought I'd share a few snaps. I'm looking forward to playing around with instagram etc when I'm home but for now, here they are.

Saturday 25 February 2012

7000 Bracelets of Hope

Erin and Christine of Elysian Studios and One Kiss Creations organised a blog hop for the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign. Here's a quote from Erin's blog, explaining what we're doing and why:

"The Global Genes Project exists to raise awareness and support for the more than 30 million people affected by rare diseases. There are currently over 7,000 rare diseases identified, and 75% of those affected are children.  With the 7000 Bracelets Campaign, the Children's Rare Disease Network gives artists and crafters an opportunity to lovingly share their creative gifts with families who have a child suffering with a rare disease."  

 I took part last year with a blog hop organised by Lori Anderson, and got it hopelessly with the blog hop date, only realising when I was in rural Spain without any good internet connection that I was going to miss the date of the reveal! So this year I am being more organised - I am scheduling my post to go out on time, as this year I'll be in Paris on the reveal day! It's a hard life ;-)(I'm not really a massive jet-setter, I promise!)It's such a lovely idea, and such a simple one to participate in. I'm so glad Erin and Christine organised this blog hop again to raise awareness - thank you!



I decided to create a couple of bracelets, relatively simple in design so that most people would be happy to wear them, whatever their style. I also made them adjustable so that again, anyone can wear them. I love the idea that all of our bracelets are made with such love and then getting sent off to total strangers. 

Please check out everyone else taking part and see what they've come up with. I'll be visiting on my return. 

Friday 24 February 2012

Featured

...in a couple of lovely treasuries recently.

'Funky Fish x' by sazzy68

This is an aquarium like no other ! Fishy pieces that brought a smile to my face x


Red fish DPN double pointed ...
$19.00

Bottle necklace koi fish bot...
$13.00

Goldfish Fish Pond Mosaic Ga...
$10.99

bright Mahseer fish
$25.00

Christain Fish Wish bracelet
$5.95

Birthday Fishes Greeting Car...
$2.00

One Little Fish - aqua, oran...
$30.00

Glass Fish - Tropical Glass ...
$7.00

Nautical Fish inspired Handm...
$9.50

Tea towel block printed Snap...
$17.00

Love Card, Wedding Card, Eng...
$3.75

Throw pillow black fish octo...
$25.00

Sea Creature Buttons - size ...
$5.00

Fish Buttons Handmade Porcel...
$14.50

Fishy button bag
$18.00


and another one:


'Lovely Coral and Turquoise' by jettabugjewelry

A few of my favorite things in my favorite colors.


Fabric Flower Necklace,Orang...
$32.00

Vintage Mugs in Mint and Cor...
$15.00

Teapot Charm bracelet - Time...
$24.00

Sun Street - multi-colour be...
$16.00

aqua green HEART BOWL, stone...
$23.00

Seaside Boggle .. handmade l...
$15.00

Strong, Button Stack Pendant...
$24.00

Floral Necklace,Turquoise Ne...
$32.00

Handmade crochet bag
$39.00

La fleur bleu. vintage ename...
$32.00

2 Glass Bell Flower Headpins...
$7.00

Three Tiny Ceramic Cupcakes ...
$32.00

ceramic pendant: little croo...
$22.00

Three Handmade Ceramic Charm...
$3.00

protected heart pendant
$19.00


Thanks ladies!

Monday 20 February 2012

Bead Soup Sneak Peek

Here's a sneaky peek of what I've been up to so far, with the bead soups that Lori sent me (yes, you read that right - soupS! I'm a lucky girl). I am usually working right down to the wire with any challenge or deadline, such are my organisational and motivational skills....but I'm off to Paris (it's a hard life) on Friday, and I want to schedule the post before I go. Same goes for Erin's music challenge but I haven't quite started that one....oh, and I've a Beads and Beyond project due in about 2 minutes....! So lots to be fitted in around work during these next few days.

Bead soup I have managed to do though. 8 pieces....yes, I'm not quite sure how that happened either, but it has! And I've a feeling there is still one or two more to come as well....with so many finished items, I'll definitely be running a give away or two on the big day (March 3rd) so watch this space!!

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