Inspiration, Originality and Integrity

As a maker, I'm always inspired by others! Whether it's the originality, the skill or just plain beauty of what I'm seeing. I follow tutorials to learn new skills, I like to increase my portfolio and range, and for every new piece/style I make, I can get it wrong several times first.

These little earrings were made following a request by a customer to find something to match the pendant I made for her. They took all day to perfect, a lot didn't make the cut and I consider them to be original.

Are they? Maybe not - there are billions of people who have walked this earth and many who practice the same craft, but they evolved in my own creative process. And the style is now part of my repertoire.

What's important in this wonderful group of wire artists I'm part of, is that we have a moral code and an understanding.

If you're inspired by someone and they were part of the creative process in some way, you mention them or allude to it. As dog eat dog the world is, we don't pass off others work as our own or pretend. All of us are artists in our own right, at whatever stage or style and regardless of how you got there. Because of the niche nature of what we do, it's solitary work, we are dependant on ourselves and hear a lot more 'no' than 'yes' from people who are drawn to more mainstream jewellery. That honesty and understanding allows us to share, collaborate, encourage, and feel safe doing so.

You could say there's a fine line but no one is not going to buy something they like, that you made, if they suddenly realise you weren't born with a pair of pliers in your hand and several lengths of 18 and 26 gauge wire!

I'm going to share the names of some artists that have inspired me, whose work has given me the push to try harder, admire, and create pieces that reflect the best version of myself at that time. If you see their work, and you know mine, you'll see who is in those pieces.

Why share? Because it's a wonderful opportunity to tell you. And it's my blog. And I can.

Vic Bee (of Bee Charmer Creations)

Kelly Jones

Cheryl Bennett Goodnow

Nicole Hanna

Artsville Handcrafted

Thank you 💕