(We are almost home and I will write a bit more about our travels soon. Meanwhile here is a post I wrote in response to a couple of requests about the jewellery I have made.)
Is there a modest way of saying ‘here, look at my work?’ Probably not. But lets pretend you’ve come to a gallery to see a retrospective of one facet of my work over the last 20 or so years–the jewellery facet. Pun intended.
I started making jewellery and sold it at the markets, but I quickly realised how exhausting this was with a four year old child to raise, who was my main priority. So after a couple of seasons of markets, I found a ‘teen boutique’ here in town. They were looking for some different pieces to add to their selection of off the rack jewellery. This was long hours for not much pay, but great experience for me. For a while I even sold some early pieces in a local art gallery, as well as a gallery in Melbourne. Sadly, I don’t have photos of those pieces. The photos kind of fell in the crack between analogue and digital photos. I would sell pieces at the gallery for a while and then take them out. Not being a machine, I found I needed a break from the constant creating and assembling, not to mention the very tedious paper work and accounting.
So the gallery and I had an agreement, they would have my work whenever I wanted to take them some. I have not really felt moved to create anything in over a year and a half, until a few weeks ago. My hairdresser asked me if I would make him a one off selection of pieces to sell in his Christmas boutique in the salon. I said I would, and for one nanosecond I was actually excited about it. And then the stress hit. So, it was quite a push to get myself over the line for this one. I’m a woman of my word, however, and I delivered the 30 pieces he asked for, on time.
And now, I’m pretty sure I’m over it. I still have all the gear, it hasn’t gone out the door, so I can’t really say never again. But let’s just say, this retrospective is probably living up to its name. It’s in the Past.
Here are a few of the hundreds and hundreds of early pieces I made:
And here are some representative pieces, interspersed with some fun Waterlogue App edits from photos of the latest group now on sale at Headlines in Alice Springs. Thank you for attending my virtual exhibition.
ardysez 
Absolutely beautiful…..you should be immensely proud of your work…very impressed indeed.
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Thanks very much Roger. 🙂
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Artful and attractive! Mel
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you Mel! I hope you are drying out by now!
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Great Pieces. Love the creativity!
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Thank you Brenda, much appreciated.
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Wonderful work. Stunning ideas
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Thank you so much Janice.
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Lovely pieces, not simply jewelry-beading but truly artworks. I imagine the joy the wearers get from the colors and forms. I enjoyed the exhibition, so interesting to see the older with the new, and your photographic interpretation. I wonder if you no longer feel you want to create them whether you could do workshops to pass on your skills and creative inspiration.
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Thank you Dale. I have taught jewellery making and drawing in the past, but found both very consuming of time and energy, away from creating. It gave me new respect for teachers! I saw a few things here in Melbourne that drew a little niggle of creative interest, so who knows what will happen? That is one of the best things about this time of life, the space to choose. 😊
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These pieces you have designed remind me of “earth” and earth elements. The foil glass piece is my favorite… somehow it reminds me of Daisy deer’s woodlands – the canopy of lovely bright greens, and the deeper blue-green of the woodland floor vegetation. The golden beads are illuminating rays of sunshine… stunning. I understand the knowing of being done with something. Creativity comes to us in many ways all through our lives. I have no idea how many projects I’ve worked on in my life, but there always seems to come a time when we’re ready to move on to another endeavor.
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Very insightful, as usual, Lori. I am naturally drawn to the earthy colours and my favourite style to make is the one that looks like I’ve been playing in Grandma’s box of loose beads! When I’m putting together a collection like this, however, I try to make things that will appeal to various ages and tastes so it is more eclectic. I love your description of the colours, though. Thank you!
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So beautiful. Wearable art! The waterlogue edits worked so well. I loved visiting your virtual gallery.
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It was amazing how well those Waterlogue edits worked on that particular set of photos.Thank you, my dear, supportive friend.
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Fabulous Ardys. A great art show, and so pleased to come along.
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Thanks so much Francesca.
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There you are Ardys! Thank you for showing us your beautiful jewellery – love that rhodonite one. I looked all over the Sunshine Coast for a ring, and ended up finding two, one of which was made for me while I waited at the Eumudi markets – rhodochrosite and garnet. Simple and beautiful. I have this range of jewellery in my head, which is kind of odd, definitely not being a jeweller and all :). I am sure your jewellery making has given you pleasure as well as pain – but I know what you mean: when you’re done, you’re done.
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That rhodonite necklace was one of my favourites. I try to design things that will go with lots of different styles/colours of clothing and that one really did. And yes, the jewellery making gave me many hours of joy. I think that is why I am still uncertain about leaving it completely behind, I think it is just the stress of deadlines and the paperwork I want to leave behind, so perhaps I can contemplate that for a while and see what happens. 🙂
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I am sure it would be possible to make jewellery without those constraints…I hope you figure out a way (online selling through eBay or etsy maybe?)
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I love the hand blown glass, and the delicate silver wiring pieces. There’s so much to enjoy here, Ardys. Total eye candy. The colors, the textures, the design–all inviting. Congrats on finishing the big project. I hope it brings some hard earned dollars to fund a few more exploratory trips that will surely have you reaching for your camera, and maybe finding inspiration for that next piece of wearable art.
❤
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