‘Top posts’ for 2013

As I did this time last year, I thought I’d see what the ‘top posts’ were in 2013.

Excluding ‘Home Page’ and other pages, the top 10 posts with the most ‘clicks’ during 2013 were:

• #1: Short courses in Melbourne, update
  13th January 2013: NEW ENTRY: an update on the #2 post
  although I have since published an update to the update!
• #2: Short courses in Melbourne
  17th October 2011: it’s exciting to see lots of people are interested in learning jewellery
• #3: What is contemporary jewellery
  8th June 2009: interesting that such an old post has been so popular this year
• #4: Makers Mark Gallery news
  13th July 2010: again, an old story, people generally searching for ‘makers marks’
• #5: Jewellery at auction: Makers Mark
  3rd August 2012: stock left from the failure of the jewellery store
• #6: Do you know a hallmark maker?
  16th January 2010: again an old story, interesting to see it resurface
• #7: NMIT graduates ’33 Carat’ @ Red Gallery
  10th November 2013: NEW ENTRY: how exciting to see such a new entry in the top ten; and this is the first exhibition review in the top ten listing too
• #8: RMIT graduates ‘Good+as+Gold’ @ fortyfive downstairs
  9th December 2013: NEW ENTRY: there were only 4 views between this and the NMIT post
• #9: “The world’s best contemporary jewellery shops”
  23rd April 2013: NEW ENTRY: a simple relay of an opinion piece
• #10: Goldsmithing vs Silversmithing
  12th October 2011: again an old story; which thankfully beat the Pandora jewellery / Trollbeads by 1 view

Most popular posts since I started writing (March 2009):

• #1: Short courses in Melbourne, update
  as #1 above, only written this year but now the most read story
• #2: Makers Mark Gallery news ; as #4 above
• #3: Most famous ring in the world
• #4: Pandora jewellery / Trollbeads
• #5: Artist Profile: Nicole Polentas

I’m looking forward to a busy 2014 … happy reading!

A new plan

I think I may have a new plan, to relight my jewellery-making love-fire.

Simple making. Simple skill exploration.

I’ve bought a few little stones recently (above: pretty pink tourmaline, seraphinite, peruvian opal), and have many I’ve collected over the years (sapphires, onyx, opals). The new plan is to make these into ‘traditional’ jewellery items, without the woven paper-silver I’ve used to date. Simple pretty things. Perhaps without any conceptual development (*gasp*).

Making presents

I love making presents.

What could be better than having an idea for a gift especially for someone you love, and being the single person in the whole wide world to make it come into existence.

These are for my most favourite 10-year-old in the universe. I should probably wait until after Christmas day to share these photographs, but I’m pretty darn sure that the recipient doesn’t read my blog. Plus, I’m a bit excited about them.

image not to be reproduced without permission

This is her first Christmas having pierced ears, so I hope she likes these. Naturally she can’t wear them to school, but I envisage her wearing them to friends’ parties and such.

I thought about making her hook earrings, instead of studs; but she’s very active and hooks are more easily misplaced than studs.

They’re made with purple banded agate beads, fine silver and some sterling silver components.

And then I totally outdid myself in spectacularity (it’s a word now) by making my card into a little stand for them. I know.

image not to be reproduced without permission

Merry Christmas beautiful young lady.

Mmmmm silk

I may need an intervention. I have a developed a magnificent compulsion to buy (from DyeforYarn) and knit with mulberry silk yarn.

I’ve already shared the lovely dark blue silk shawl. Lately I’ve made another shawl, using a different pattern … this time in a more neutral silver and grey.

shawl

The specifics:

• Dye for Yarn 15ply mulberry silk in ‘Silver Ghost’ colour
• Dye for Yarn 8ply mulberry silk in ‘Dolphin in my Whirlpool’ colour
• ‘NoFa Shawl‘ by La Maison Rililie
• if you’re on Ravelry, check out my project here.

Next: not sure, maybe more socks or a light-weight pullover…