Coral Drops and Commissions

Lakshmi Goddess II


White Pearl Coral Drop necklace

I've spent most of January trying to get my head around events I need to prepare for, while wanting to leave room for creative thinking

I know it sounds like a pretentious term, but I have come to realise how I tick as an artist over time. It is neccessary to do commissions which invariably involves revisiting "old" work. This can feel like a stranglehold when all I want to do is work on the latest ideas trying to burst out

It can become pretty frustrating at times lol, so I'm trying to lighten up about it, get better organised and look at it in a different way.The necklace at the top of the post is a commission piece, a reproduced similar version of my Lakshmi necklace from the Goddess collection, here's a link to the original one


I really moaned and dragged my heels over making it, but knew that if I wanted my precious free time then the sooner I got on with it the better. To my surprise I loved the process and using techniques I'd left behind (for no good reason really) - it was strangely reinvigorating, and I love the final result too. I'll post up more views of the piece at the end of this blog entry

I've also been busy making using up my Mokume Gane Polymer sheets for pendants. I didn't realise how many had built up lol. They have such vibrant colours and patterns turning into a funky little collection. I've posted a few of them in the slideshow below... Im thinking of doing another Etsy shop just for these sorts of pieces,I have so many sitting around the studio - it makes sense to try to sell some lol



The White Pearl Coral drop necklace will be going into the Etsy shop this weekend too. It's inspired by the patterns seen in coral, and is a pretty little tightly woven nugget of a pendant.

Anyway, here are the pics as promised. I'll put up the scanned version of my artists profile article from the Metal Clay Artist Magazine next time











Samantha Braund

Inspirational New Directions

Gorgeous gemstones and my obsession with Marine life , especially invertebrates, are the driving forces behind my new direction.

I'm going to be playing with my wire sculptures, and combining them with silver clay sculptures, to try to emulate these creatures in their natural habitat. I've no idea how I'm going to achieve any of it exactly, I feel there'll be many mistakes on this road...oh well...if you don't try, you don't get anywhere, right?!

Below are a couple of my most beloved pieces, I've just put up in the shop.
One from my Goddess Collection, the other from my Mermaid Amulet Collection. They're both tricky to photograph, they're so much nicer in real life, but I think they've turned out OK on the listings

Bye Bye Babies

Pearl Barnacle Cluster Necklace (Shipwreck Jewellery collection)

I had a wonderful time at the Jewel East event, London Jewellery Week.
Being as I work from my home studio, I don't get to meet many other artists, and I was surrounded by loads of them for a whole week!

The most amazing thing for me really, was exposing my work, to the public for the first time ever. I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and I'd tried to cover all eventualities. I'd made lots of more commercial looking pieces, at all price ranges, in case people did not take to my more unique jewellery pieces.

However, I could not have been more wrong, because the response was unbelievable. Even people who could not afford to buy anything at the time, felt compelled to tell me how much they loved my art work

It turned out that the more unique, "out there" pieces, which are my main passion, were the jewellery collections that really connected to people. They loved them, and wanted to know all about the creative process too

I was thrilled I can tell you! The whole experience has given me such a boost, and has given me a lot more faith in my creative self. I don't think any artist can ask for more really.

By the way, I am in the process of setting my Etsy online shop. There will be jewellery available to purchase from 20th June 2011 if all goes to plan :)

Anyway, here are some of my most beloved pieces that have now been sold, and gone to new owners and new homes. I will miss them terribly LOL


Aquamarine Necklace from the Mermaid Amulet collection


Pearl Barnacle Cluster Bracelet (Shipwreck Jewellery Collection)


Peridot Genie from the Genie In A Bottle Collection


Persephone from the Goddess Collection


Lemon-Smokey Bicolour Quartz and sterling Necklace

I've Been So Busy My Hands Have Said No!

I have been making so many pieces lately, all wire sculpted jewellery too, that today my hands are swollen and achy, which has never happened before!

This enforced rest day has been quite nice actually.Of course, it has hit me that I'm yet to actually put any items in the Etsy shop...I'd actually forgotten! I'm making items to sell offline and put it out of my mind

So this week I will start to put things in the shop LOL. I will be including my Greek Goddess Collection (the picture is of Athena), and the Gemstone Circles made so far, as well as the Mermaid Amulets.

I think I'll list them, on Etsy a few at a time though, as everyone tends to advise