It’s been months since I last wrote a blog. Monthly, did I say? Oh dear, I owe you an apology—I had so many reasons for not finishing any of them until now. Life, as it does, has kept me busy in the best and most unpredictable ways.
After my last blog in August, September quickly arrived, bringing with it a period of reflection—and some extra trips around Europe. I need to get away from the mountain every now and then. Trips are needed to take distance from my passion, which is an essential process when I create and I needed to create new work for the Cluster Contemporary Jewellery Fair in London, which was scheduled for December!
Soon came October, when we embarked on a longer trip to the United States, and visiting New York City at the beginning and at the end of our trip was an extra treat.
The amber ring in this photo, worn by fellow jewellery maker Aline, was later lost by me in New York.
Connecting with friends, fellow jewellery makers, agents, shop owners, and gallerists was a highlight—many of these meetings were serendipitous rather than planned. That sort of spontaneity resonates deeply with how I think and work.
At the MET museum with my jewellery club members, I always love the private viewings and tours.
Never ending impressions from New York, and so many memories.
After NYC, we've spent a few days with the Flemings -part of my extended family- in Pennsylvania—a place that I first visited back in 1988 and this time I asked uncle Dan to pose for me. Such a natural!
We began our unplanned road trip down south, and hoped to spot alligators in their natural habitat, I wanted to enjoy music in places of their origins, savour fresh seafood along the coast, eat local country food, soak up modern art and culture, visiting the historical houses of the deep south, and to overall simply embrace a much slower pace of life.
It was a journey that truly nourished my soul. However, it wasn’t without sobering moments, and I'm always drawn to them, it's in my nature to be deeply grounded, for example when travelling through areas affected by Hurricane Milton was a stark reminder of life’s fragility and resilience and the power of nature. It was sad to find many houses ruined in some of the states. We spent a few more days in New York before departing home. Each time NYC is full of life, somewhat gritty, next to being stylish and cosmopolitan and surely captivating.
By the time we returned home, November arrived, and I was eager to create, inspired by the state of the Earth, and by the different views that each culture has on it..
In this photo, you mainly find my Conversation Pieces. The ring seen on the centre photo is from the Adore series and was featured in a recent magazine.
You all know that I had my complete focus on the Conversation Pieces collection, as it takes a real focus to create jewels where stones take centre stage. I love these one-off stone jewels.
In this photo, you find my Arty Scenes work and some of the new brooches.
But my trip taught me that I’ve neglected my most expressive and challenging work named Arty Scenes—which are the pieces that allow me to explore my identity as an artist, works that directed me in becoming a jewellery artist in the first place, yet they’ve taken a backseat in recent years, and changes are coming.
Shoreditch, London
The weeks flew by, as they always do. In the end, I managed to create a necklace and a few brooches—something I’d been envisioning for ages—and as is in my tradition, often finishing things at the very last minute. My mind is always overflowing with ideas, and the challenge is in channelling them into the work that is balanced for me, but the time it took and the process I needed also reminded me of what I truly love, and it inspired me to make important decisions about my work moving forward. I’ve decided it’s time to let go of my Purely Wired collection. Don’t get me wrong, I adore this collection, but I need to dedicate more time to the other two collections, and focus more.
Yes, the PURELY WIRED collection comes to an end..
That said, although my Purely Wired collection is on its way out, I’m not parting with everything at once, I suppose, but this process can be helped, by telling others about it, or by choosing a piece for yourself or gifting them to others.
For example, Imagine my one-off earrings as a unique gift to a dearest and or stylish friend! In these lightweight, practical earrings and other jewellery I've put many hours of thinking and creating, and did you know that they come in a beautiful 100% woollen felt from The Netherlands, and I had them handmade in Switzerland, it's truly sustainable packaging!
Anyone who has subscribed to my newsletter will receive a special code to buy anything from my Purely Wired collection with 40% discount, a thank-you for your continued support.
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Since today you now find two main collections on my homepage! To easily find the Purely Wired jewels click here to access the Collection
Thank you for taking the time to catch up with me. Here’s to creating, evolving, and communicating (not my strongest asset, I must admit) but I do find that any contact that I have with you is inspiring because questions and assignments help me to evolve as an artist as well. You are part of my driving force, and you know who you are.
Sheila xx
