Category: Creative Process

The Power of Learning

Whether it’s mastering a new skill, exploring a fresh perspective, or delving into uncharted territories of knowledge, the journey of learning is a rollercoaster ride that you can find you in new creative territories and expanding in new ways.

Learning new things isn’t just about acquiring skills or knowledge; it’s also about embracing the beauty of imperfection. Too often, we’re held back by the fear of not being good enough or the pressure to achieve perfection in everything we do. But what if we shifted our perspective and viewed imperfection not as a flaw, but as a unique and beautiful aspect of the learning process?

When we engage in the process of learning, our brains undergo remarkable transformations. Neuroscientists have discovered that learning stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which are associated with pleasure and reward. This surge of dopamine not only enhances our motivation to learn but also strengthens the connections between neurons.

I am always someone who loves to learn new things, I explore this learning in different ways too! I love to read or listen to Audiobooks while driving to keep my mind soaking up new information. I also go to courses to learn new creative skills as well as push myself to delve into new territories like i did in 2022 I did a comprehensive Astrology course.

In the lead up to this blog, I wanted to learn a new skill, be outdoors and get my hands dirty. So I undertook some furniture upcycling. The process was much more laborious than I ever thought but so enjoyable to transform something that I now use on a daily basis. Above is the new cupboard in our Studio and below is an in progress shot of a Telephone Table to go under a window in my home.

As someone who teaches people, I frequently see the need to be perfect get in the way of just relaxing and having fun. Once they embrace that they are creating a handmade and that the experience of learning and having a go at something is the main focus, then it all flows and the feel of achievement at the end is far greater.

I hope you have had fun exploring the Power of Learning with me. If you would like to have a go at learning something new so be sure to join us for one of Jewellery Making Workshops or Glass Workshops!

See you soon and happy learning!

xx Corinne

For the love of La Fleur

La Fleur has arrived! This design has been something that has been waiting to get out and has finally come to fruition.

La Fleur literally translates to ‘the flower’. The focus of the design was to use the Daisy motif as the basis for the design and through repetition and form create the design.

With inspiration in mandalas and the concentric patterns of the east combined with this very 70’s style Daisy, the design is new and interesting.

In the Mandala structure and the natural imagery, the design is like looking at a bouquet of flowers from above and the stone being the centre. That way you see it at full bloom every time.

As it’s Spring here, the transformation of the garden is always amazing to me. To see everything so bare and sparse to being rich with colour, reminds me to move forward and be ok with transformation within myself and bloom to my true potential.

Once the daisy mandala design was finalised, the next step was to choose the stones!

I went through many iterations as this design lends itself to many interpretations, but finally chose ones that complemented and enhanced the details to make a harmonious piece.

The final stones for the full collection being Amazonite, Ruby Zoisite and Unakite and an additional Amethyst and Rose Quartz for the Rings.

As most of you know here at ASC we are we love to make sure we have lots of sizes of rings for all of you individually sized people. The logistics of this can be challenging so making an adjustable ring was my mission.

With a substantial ring band to hold not only are large shape and stone but to also keep the tension so that you can have a strong, yet adjustable ring.

Another point of difference in the collection is the Necklace. By choosing to orientate the design, it gives a fresh look that makes it fun and easy to wear.

I hope you have enjoyed exploring the design process of this new collection. It is always an exciting time in the studio when a new collection is coming into being and I look forward to seeing you all wearing the La Fleur Collection!

xx Corinne

Glass Workshops Explained

The Glass Workshops are now in full swing, so I wanted to use this blog to dive into the process of the workshop so you know what to expect or for those who live too far away to attend to live vicariously!

STEP ONE: CHOICES

The hardest part in any workshop I teach is helping people make decisions! Haha! From the decisive to the decision paralysed, it’s a hard line to stick to in order to guide but not influence students.

The workshops have been designed with set patterns to ensure they are all achievable not only in the time frame but also in the ability of a beginner starting. Choosing the colours and patterns of your glass can really change the overall look of these simple designs and change the overall effect.

STEP TWO: BREAK SOME GLASS!

A lot of the time you hear about cutting glass, but we are actually scoring the glass with the lines of the pattern pieces then breaking. Glass is going to break how it wants to, not always how you want it to, it’s important to have a little practice to get the hang of it.

STEP THREE: GRINDING!

Once all the pieces are ready, it’s Grinding time! This is a bit like filing metal but with more noise, water and sharp edges! This step ensures your pattern fits together well and that all edges are smoothed ready for the next step. Once done, wash to remove all glass dust.

STEP FOUR: COPPER FOILING

We bring down the intensity for the next step as we are copper foiling. This step wraps a thin piece of copper around the glass and sticks to the sides, top and bottom of the glass. This will form to basis of our joins that will hold the piece together.

STEP FIVE: SOLDERING

The longest and most intense step is the soldering. Using a soldering iron, we melt the lead solder over all the copper foil to join all our pieces together. This can be tricky to get consistent lines but is so satisfying to see the metal melt!

STEP SIX: TO CAME OR NOT TO CAME

Once all our lines are done, we can choose to came wrap the piece or leave the edge. The came can hide some inconsistencies but at the same time can be a bit tricky to attach.

STEP SEVEN: FITTINGS

The last little soldering task can be a tricky one is to attach jump rings so that you can hang the piece.

STEP EIGHT: A GOOD SCRUB AND PATINA

Into a hot soapy bath to clean off the piece then it’s time to patina. Choosing to keep it silver like the solder or blacken it. Both have their benefits and can really enhance your design.

STEP NINE: WAX AND FINISH!

Once that is done and dry, a little wax polish to seal peice and enhance the patina. Then the last decision of the day is to choose a coloured ribbon to hang the piece and complete it!

I hope you have enjoying this detailed dive into the process of Glass Making Workshop. I hope to see you in the workshop soon to make one! If you have any questions regarding the workshops please feel free to reach out via email asilvercircledesign@gmail.com

FURTHER VIEWING: To see the available designs for the workshop, head to the Glass Pattern Page linked HERE.

How to get out of a Creative Slump

It happens to all of us at one time or another, where we just can’t seem to be motivated or inspired to be creative.

I have experienced this more times than i can count and as someone who relies on their creativity for their job, it can be a real struggle.

So I wanted to share with you some of my go to techniques to help get out of a creative slump. Some focus more inward/mental and others are external/physical influenced. So have a try and see what works for you!

Nature

I am sure you have heard this one before, but there is nothing that helps me get out of my head and just relax than going for a walk in nature. So whether its a bush walk or a seaside walk, make use of the fresh air in your lungs and even better if you leave your phone at home so you are not distracted by what’s going on in the world.

Journaling

You don’t have to be a regular journalling person to use this tool to get out of a creative slump. My favourite form is using the free writing technique of Morning Pages. Writing at least 3 full pages will get out all the crap in your head on to the page so it’s not swimming around monopolising your thoughts.

Mediation

Mediation is a tool that is great to tap into your creativity. There are a couple of ways i like to use it to get out of a slump. The first is using a guided meditation. I love one by Gabby Bernstien called Inspiration Meditation which guides you to feel more confident with affirmations and by the end, you feel as though you can do anything! The other way is using Mala Beads. This is also a great tool for focusing attention and can even be used to envision the end goal over and over if you are mid project. (Check out our Mala Beads Blog for more info)

Inspiration

My favourite way to reinvigorate my creative energy is through creative inspiration. My favourite being Books. Whether you have some at home or head to your local library and see what they have. I find the removal from your screen will help keep you in a creative mindset and to not get distracted. Pinterest is a great digital option too.

Workshops/Learn something new

There is nothing like just jumping in and getting your hands dirty with a fun new project. It doesn’t have to be your usual medium, if anything, it’s great if it’s not as it will help you see things from a new perspective and how you can enhance your creative energy in a new way! Check out our Jewellery and Glass Workshops and have a go!

Phone free time

I think we all aim for less screen time each week but very rarely get it down. But when I make a conscious decision to have even an hour of phone free time, you can give your mind space to ponder things are you may discover a new inspiration.

Watch something

Thanks to Netflix and numerous other networks spotlighting craftspeople in different shows these days, you can be inspired by seeing others create to get you off your butt to get going. From Blown Away (Glass Blowing), to Bake Off to the Pottery Throw Down or Big Flower Fight, there is so much creative entertainment out there and you may just learn something too!

So there you have it, my 7 go to ways to get out of a Creative Slump! I would love to hear your go to methods to add to my repertoire so please comment or send me an email to asilvercircledesign@gmail.com!

xx Corinne

Limiting Beliefs and Creativity

Ok, put your hand up if you want to be perfect at something first go..?? I know i sure do, but how many times does that actually happen?? Not as many times as we would like i am sure! There is so much beauty in the act of learning that when we get out of our own way for a minute, we fun the magic in the exploration.

For a long time i had this idea in my head that i was only good at jewellery, that was my craft, ‘i found it, stop looking!!’ and that was it. It was that if i used my creativity on something else i would use it up and have nothing less to create new products for my business! Ridiculous limiting belief, i know, but that’s what it was. It held me back for so long! But once i let go of it, a bigger world of possibilities opened up. Not only for my creativity, but for my business, my life and how i can connect and relate to people.

The pandemic meant a lot of people had more time to explore and get creative and put away the ‘i don’t have time to be creative’ limiting beliefs because all we had was time – a lot of it!. Which was great! But as the ‘busyness’ comes back, it’s hard not to fall back into those ‘i don’t have time’ beliefs.

I put my time in the pandemic to use by being open to trying things. Leaving those limiting beliefs at the door and saying yes to the opportunities that came up – like saying yes to learning Marquetry when the opportunity came! Trying sewing and only succeeding 60% of the time and being ok with that. Smashing through the ‘i can’t cook’ limiting belief and started to be more intuitive with cooking and telling myself that i am a good cook/baker and for the first time in my life enjoying the process.

This last 18 months has seen me explore the so many creative pursuits and integrate 2 into my business. Marquetry and Stained Glass are just another notch in my creative exploits now and i look forwards to what else calls me in the future. Here is a list of the other creative expressions i have explored: Sewing, Macrame, Cooking, Baking, Writing, Painting, Drawing, Stencil Art, Homemade Cleaning Products, Gardening, Woodwork and 3D Drawing with Fusion.

Another limiting belief a lot of artist have is that you have to be a ‘Starving Artist’ and that to choose this lifestyle, you choose to be poor. On my first day at University (Bachelor of Visual Arts), one of the lecturers announced that only 5% of the year will be successful artists. What a positive way to start your art exploration! This idea stuck in my head and still creeps back in when i am having a low day.

Let’s all not let that limiting beliefs hold you back. If you have any of these thoughts ‘i am not [insert choice word here] enough’ – ‘i am not creative enough’ ‘i am not worthy enough’ ‘i am not pretty enough’ ‘no one will like it’ ‘it will be ugly’ ‘i can’t paint (draw/sew/etc)’ on and on and on….. know that you are not alone and that you can choose again! Rewrite the narrative. It is so much about what we tell ourselves we can and can’t do that keeps us small and keeps us stuck!

So the next time you think about trying that class, doing an online course or picking up a paintbrush. Say thanks to your ego for trying to protect you and just go for it! Fail or succeed, it is all about the experience and that is the true gift of life.

I am so excited to be bringing to you all the tools i have used to boost my creativity in my first Online Course called Creative Alchemy! This course is all about transforming those limitations into positive explorations and it has been an amazing journey to delve deep into this topic. Coming Soon!!!

Be sure to sign up to our Newsletter to be the first to know when you can grab Creative Alchemy! (at bottom of page)

xx Corinne