Travels in Japan: The Wonderful World of Ghibli

There's something magical in Mitaka! Disembark from the train, take a short, suspense-filled stroll through some leafy suburbs and you will be in for a real treat...

OMG! It's Totoro!

...because Mitaka is home to the truly amazing Ghibli museum. But, it's more than a museum, it's a fabulously joyful Ghibli microcosm with fantastical animations, models, artwork, topsy-turvy architecture and lots of opportunities to encounter well loved characters.

Although a supposedly grown up woman (whatever that means), I love cartoons! From the silly crude humour of Family Guy and American Dad to the schmaltzy cheese of Disney (yes, that's me happily singing along in an off key manner to Tangled!). So, as soon as we started talking about Japanese travels Ghibli was top of the list.

Just thinking about this day brings a smile to my face as I remember how emotional I felt to see this wonderful body of creative work presented in such an original, interactive and loving way. On arrival you are welcomed into a lively warm and friendly homage to Totoro, Ponyo, Kiki and their many companions. The spaces that resonated most for me were those which replicated artists studios filled with inks and drawings, books of inspiration and bound rough sketches for the films. Beautiful and so inspiring!

It's not permitted to take photos or recordings within the museum and rightly so! Such a special place can only really be appreciated in person. It's an incredibly immersive experience and I can most thoroughly recommend the trip, even if you do have to travel across the world to get there ;)

I'm leaving you with a handful of photos outside the museum (just a tantalising taster) and a promise for tales of imperial castles and woodland adventures to come.

If you've read this post wondering what on earth I'm talking about, why not give one of these fabulous films a try?! From the story of a girl with magical abilities to communicate with cats through to harrowing tales about war there really is something for everyone and they are all truly beautiful.

Happy times in Ghibli land :)

Riveting!

I'm learning all about mixed media in my current jewellery class. This is awesome! I'm experimenting with texture and colour and will hopefully finish one of the projects I enigmatically started last October (no I haven't forgotten/given up!). It's great to have a chance to dig around for inspiration and things to accompany the metals as well as just jumping in to PLAY.

I'm an avid lover of coastal walks and often return home with a pocket full of salty treasures. I can't help but pick up a smooth sea beaten stone or perfectly carved shell. One such find had been accompanying me to class for a couple of years and it's time had finally come. When my tutor proposed rivets - a means of attaching metal to other material without heat - the stone suddenly became a piece of jewellery (in my mind!). I had a vision of a bug perching jauntily atop the pebble and promptly set to work sketching and, of course, my all time fave - piercing :)

Sawing that fiddly little bee-st was no walk in the park mind you, and despite my piercework passion I went through more saw blades than I care to mention. I'm still mulling whether I can use this as another argument in my case for absolutely NEEDING this - the world's sexiest saw frame, oh and the most expensive too.

Sadly another bit of kit let me down (I know a bad workwoman and her tools etc, but...). The drill bits in our workshop were not the sharpest in the box and after winning the battle with the bee, I lost the war with the stone :(. My attempt had worked but had taken a chunk out of the back. In the spirit of experimentation I persevered. I was delighted my first time riveting worked but in the process a crack developed on the already weakened back.

So, I now have to decide whether to consider this a test piece or shore up the back somehow. If I do give it some TLC I think it could make a rather nice brooch. Or maybe I'll start over with some silver. 

What do you guys think? Any riveting stories to share?

Happy Bank Holiday to any lovely UK folk out there - enjoy the SUNSHINE :)

A Sable Silver'd: Sweet Little Bunny Pendant...

It's been quite the couple of weeks at Silversmith HQ with some major ups and downs, of which I will definitely be sharing more soon! But for now, a little tale about how a local market on a bitterly cold day lead to a love of piercework (sawing silver).

I work in central Cambridge and can stroll past beautiful college buildings during my lunch break within seconds. However, having grown up in the area, this all whizzes by unnoticed most days as I dash out for lunch or a last minute chore.

One day when I was taking the time to enjoy my enviable environs I decided to venture into the Cambridge Art and Craft Market. The day was wintry and the stalls were few. Amongst them was a young girl, surely freezing her fingers off, selling a colourful array of jewellery - I had to take a peek.

To my delight I found this little beauty...

Orange and bird themed! Hurray! So, this little friend (I called the bird Nigel) came with me on one of my early jewellery classes at White House Arts. My tutor suggested making a silver version, to learn the piercework technique, which seemed like a good idea, were it not for my compulsion not to plagiarise, copy or pilfer the works of others. I'm very morally upstanding in that way ;)

But, the seed had been sown and I pondered how to make my own little lovely pendant. From birds to... bunnies...

I have a great affection for my bunny, although unlike Nigel, he didn't get named. A number of people asked if this is the work of an excellent local jeweller who specialises in sawing metal - The Hairy Growler. I take this as a great compliment! But do confirm that it's my own, because as you know that's  very important.

Anyone else had a great flash of inspiration when they've taken things more slowly, or when venturing out to a wintry market stall?