Tag: design

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

Moon Drop has Landed!

She has finally arrived! This Collection has been something on my mind for some time and I am so glad it has come to fruition in such a beautiful way. The process of inspiration and design is something i love to explore and love to read about how others explore this process, so this months blog is all about the meaning and exploration of design for the Moon Drop Collection.

I have always been fascinated by the Moon and it’s cycles. From its influence on the tides, to growing plants (see any Farmer’s Almanac), to how the energies affect our daily lives. This practice i have been exploring along with a group of friends who i share my learnings with. For over a year we have been following the Moon Cycles each new and full moon and tapping into intention setting at the New Moon and releasing at the Full Moon. It has been a great way to connect regularly and support each other to grow and evolve in new ways.

This year I have stepped up that study and have been diving deep into Astrology with a Mystic Astrologer Apprenticeship. It has been such a ride and as it is coming to an end as i post this blog, it has been such an exploration of learning and tapping into my intuition and i love that this piece is a symbol of this time of my life.

The Moon Drop has been in the back of my mind this year as I have been exploring this topic. I wanted to create a piece that symbolised the journey of learning and how much influence the planets can have in our lives.

The Moon symbolises the starting off point of my learning and it being the influential mother who is guiding us in our everyday lives, making us change and evolve. The Moon in Astrology is a feminine energy representing our emotions and feelings. Silver is always associated with the moon and the feminine so I love that connection to my material of choice.

There is a saying related to Astrology ‘as above, so below’ and this is in reference to what is happening with the planets above us have an impact on us on earth. The grounding Drop part of this design is about that ‘so below’ aspect and how we are impacted by the planets. The Drop is also a symbol of grounding and securing our energy to the earth to help support us and hold us as we ride the tides of these planetary influences.

Choosing to integrate crystals/stones in the collection was also of high importance. The first stone i chose to use is my favourite: Amazonite. This stone is all about Calm and Hope which has been something that has helped guide me through the 6 months of this course. I look forward to exploring this collection with more stones and see how its meaning can evolve and change.

The process of creating the elements in this collection was one of continual trial and error, with lots of small sketches in the margins of my daily lists to full sessions of mapping out all the elements i wanted to include and how they relate to each other.

When designing and creating jewellery, there are so many factors that need to be considered and it’s a balancing act of concept, aesthetics, construction and wearability. The textures chosen in this collection accentuate the moon theme and let the colour of the stone pop. All specifically chosen to bounce off and enhance each other.

If you would love to see the progress of the creation of the first Pendant in this Collection, check out our Reel on Instagram here.

I have loved the journey of this collection and look forward to seeing how it evolves. If you need one of these pieces in your life be sure to grab them quick as each stone has a limited quantity.

Please share what you connected with most about this collection either here or on our Instagram or Facebook pages.

See you soon

Corinne xx

8 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY WHILST STAYING HOME

Creativity begins at home, and with the current situation we’re facing, this is where we are spending more of our time. This is the perfect opportunity for reflecting on and investing in our inner growth with fewer worldly distractions. To make the most of this, we at A Silver Circle are here to help you discover and recover your creative self.

Whether you are a professional creative or simply seeking a creative outlet, we believe that tuning into your inner artist is a wonderful form of therapy. Whether you like to design, write, craft or produce, any act of creativity should be enjoyed for the sake of self-expression! So it doesn’t matter what your stage in life or walk of life, we have put together a list of 8 simple activities you can do to help exercise your creative muscles!

Our first two exercises are drawn from Julia Cameron’s well-renowned book The Artists Way (1991) which our very own Corinne is reading and already finding amazing results!

Morning Pages:
This exercise is what the Artists Way is most known for. Three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, ideally done first thing in the morning. This might seem like a bit of a feat for your every day. However, there is no wrong way to do Morning Pages. They can take any structure you like, and be about anything and everything that crosses your mind – and they are for your eyes only, so you don’t even have to worry about neat handwriting! This exercise unclogs your mental and emotional channels, getting rid of anything that might be in the way of your happiness, productivity and creativity. No need to overthink it.

Artist’s Date:
This is all about drawing inspiration from things around you. So what does an Artist’s Date look like under life in lockdown? Going for a (state-approved) walk by yourself to get some fresh air, with no particular destination in mind, observing your surrounds and allowing yourself to wander peacefully can go a long way. An indoor Artists Date can look like watching a documentary or looking into some art books to expand the horizon of your mind and eye. Our go to art books are on Patterns, Surrealism and Art Nouveau!

Declutter:
Take a look at the physical space around you. Are there things that you no longer use or need? Is there a way to make more room for the things you do need? Decluttering your bedroom or your closet is a great way to not only clear the space you live in but also your head space – which is also a place we live. When we are free of what is distracting or blocking us, we make more room to create. For detailed tips on how to declutter, we recommend looking into famous organising consultant, Marie Kondo, who has written four books and has her own show on Netflix, as well as the book Outer Order, Inner Calm (2019) by Gretchen Rubin.

Decorate:
Love the space you’re in! Decorating to your style is the next step in forming a space which you not only can think clearly and happily in but also be creative in. Really make your living space your own by putting up whatever you find beautiful and inspiring. What style do you gravitate towards? Bohemian, eclectic, minimal and fresh, modern? The more personal you make it, the more you’ll enjoy just being in that space. If possible, carve out your own designated creative space where you have all your tools and mood-boards to encourage productivity. In the ASC studio which is full of natural light, indoor plants, gemstones and vibrant images, we are able to draw inspiration from our surroundings as we work.

Media Detox:
With more time at home these days, our screen time may have also gone up significantly. Make sure to take long breaks from binge watching that Netflix show or scrolling through Instagram and perhaps even from the news, in order to reduce the noise that can often take hold of our minds and even make us anxious. Give yourself time to enjoy silence and the natural world around you, listening to your incoming thoughts and ideas. A media detox one hour before bed will promote better quality sleep, and in turn, a well-rested and clear mind. Taking care of your body is also like taking care of your capacity to create.

Reading:
Stimulate your mind and your imagination by diving into a book that you find interesting or inspiring. There are so many genres and topics to choose from: fiction, non-fiction, philosophy, psychology, science, etc. Learning about the world and seeing through new perspectives can often strike you with ideas and fill you with lasting inspiration. At ASC we particularly love reading up on ancient cultures, architecture and spiritually, which we then are able to translate into our designs.

Sketching:
Take up a pencil or a pen, or whatever medium you prefer, and make a quick sketch of your ideas. If you don’t have any ideas, sketch what you see around you in your home or the view from your window. Try to see these familiar things in a new light. Your sketches don’t all have to be good. Focus on the process; it is more about the practice! Your free hand sketches don’t have to make sense to anyone else, as long as you’re able to get some sort of idea out. You can then refine and hone in on them later. Don’t hold back on your self-expression! To uncover more possibilities, we suggest trying experimental drawing, for example, not looking at your paper as you draw or continuous line drawing.

Meditation:
Set aside some minutes in your day for mindfulness. Focus your mind to access your reality, your feelings; what you are grateful for, what is important to you, what you would like to work towards even just for the day. Meditation is very personal, and can be done in many different ways. Try to find what works best for you so that you can refresh your mind and increase your self-awareness. Working towards inner peace allows for your inner artist to flourish.

Remember that art is not a thing, but a way! We can try all sorts of activities to be more creative but at the end of the day what is most important is the mindset with which we do them. Allow yourself to be more open, more patient and kinder to yourself in order to discover what you are capable of. With these eight simple yet holistic exercises you can do from the comfort of your home, we hope this helps you to do precisely that!

We would love to hear how you go! Perhaps you have your own tips and tricks to boost your creative energy; don’t be shy to share them with us. Leave a comment here on the blog or get in touch through our Facebook or Instagram.

Happy creating!