Music to Create By - Vol. 2

Good evening, lovelies! 

Quite a while ago now, when I was still operating under my old business name, and doing some very different jewellery, I did a "Music to Create By" blog post which turned out to be super popular and got a really positive response. 

Since then, I've been through some stuff, personally, academically and professionally. My art has changed, and so has the music I listen to when I create. It is still super important that I listen while I work (as opposed to whistling, hehe) because the mood I'm in is reflected in my music, and in turn, in my jewellery. If you've been keeping an eye on my Facebook page, you'll know that I try to post a "Song of the Day" most days (okay, I've been sorely lacking here lately, but I'm trying to get back into it!) which gives you an idea of the mood I'm in on the day. Sometimes it's rock, sometimes country, sometimes something sexy and sultry, sometimes pop, sometimes really, really sad. 

So here's a teeny glimpse into what's on my Spotify playlist! These are 15 random songs that are in my saved songs list. They haven't been put into any specific playlist; they're just the ones I hear and think "Oh!! I love this song!" and add to my collection. I'm doing this with shuffle ON, so this could be interesting! 

Ok here we go!
1. This Is How We Do - Katy Perry

Katy is sort of my guilty pleasure. I love her songs, her videos are totally kooky and fun, and she's got an all round awesome attitude. Love this song!! 

2. Lips are Moving - Meghan Trainor

We all know that person, right? The one who just lies constantly. Yep, thought so. I love Meghan's take on this! 

3. Never Ever - All Saints 

I adore the vocal on this song! The girls of All Saints were all so beautifully talented. Their harmonies still give me goosebumps. The rhythm of it just makes me happy. I can't sit still while it's playing; it's one that just makes me move.

4. Dear Mr President - Pink

I've been a HUGE fan of Pink since I saw the video for "There You Go" where she sends a motorbike flying through her no-good ex boyfriend's apartment. I knew right then she'd be a force to be reckoned with. Her vocal on "Dear Mr President" is incredible, and the message this is provocative, powerful, angry, and yet she remains perfectly vulnerable and gentle. I can't say enough. 

5. Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite

Oh dear. I knew there'd be some in here that might be a tad....out there. I am, if nothing else, a child of the 80's and 90's, and this song was huge back then. The video is bizarre, but this song is still one that has me bopping in my chair. 

6. I Got Money Now - Pink 

No official video for this incredible, moving song. I'll let her lyrics speak for themselves: 
"When I was a young buck
I tried to be liked by
Everyone
Everyone
I tried so hard to be funny and nice
I tried so hard to be sugar and spice
Didn't work for me
Got old quickly
But now I'm not losing sleep at night
No one's calling me on the telephone
To see if I'm at home
Cause now I've got everything that I have ever wanted or so it seems
Yeah so it seems yeah"

7. Fades Like A Photograph - Filter 

I first heard this amazing song on the end credits of my favourite ever movie, "2012" . I love it. I can't figure out why. I'm not sure if it's the lyric, or the melody, or the stunning harmonies and backing vocals...or what. Just give it a listen. You won't regret it. 

8. With A Little Help From My Friends - Wet Wet Wet 

 

I repeat. I was a child of the 80's! I adored these guys, and honestly thought that I'd grow up to marry Marti Pellow because he was (no sorry, is) just gorgeous. That Scottish accent, the cheekbones... Sigh. I just found out tonight that Wet Wet Wet is touring the UK in 2016 and will be in my old stomping grounds of Newcastle in March. I'm devastated I won't be able to go, but might have to send some friends to get some awesome video for me! Now, as far as this song is concerned, yes, some will say that The Beatles or  Joe Cocker  sang it better, but for me, Marti just aces it. Sigh. 

9. Tessie - Dropkick Murphys

I don't even know what to say. GO RED SOX!!!!! (Song doesn't really kick in until about 1:20 in). It's such an awesome, loud, song!! Enjoy!

10. Runaway - The Corrs

I remember this song came out the year before I left England. I sang it over and over and over until those harmonies were second nature, used it as a lullaby for my oldest daughter, and even today, 20 years later, it's still one of my favourite ever songs. Exquisite. 


11. Cheerleader - OMI 

Just a happy, smiley, boppy song. Love it. 

12. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson 

This has to be an anthem for every single girl on the planet. I'm not single, but this song just kicks so much butt, it's obviously on my list and one that I like to belt out whenever I'm alone :) 

13. Hot in the City - Billy Idol 

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love me some Billy. That bleach blonde hair, those piercing eyes... anyhoo...enjoy the song! I always think of Spike from Buffy The Vampire Slayer every time I see this (or, any of Billy's stuff, actually. I just think that Spike would sing it really well LOL! The video is quintessentially 80's and completely over the top, but it's still loads of fun and a great song to dance to! 

14. I Found Someone - Cher 

Oh Cher how I love you! That voice never fails to give me chills. Thanks to my lovely mum for bringing me up on songs like "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" and "Dark Lady" and all her other classics. Awesome stuff. 

15. Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne *NSFW - language warning!* 

To finish up, here's one of my absolute favourites for when I just want to dance around my living room like a complete idiot. Enjoy! 

So that's it!! Fifteen awesome songs from my own personal Spotify playlist! 

I hope you found something you forgot you once loved, or something completely new. Until next time, lovelies, 

8 Things I Learned By Designing Jewellery

I've been feeling a little flat lately and wondering if this whole jewellery making malarkey is worth it, or if I've totally wasted the last 4 years of my life doing something that nobody gives a crap about. 

Then, the other day, I saw a post that said simply: 

Awesome. I let the words sort of sink in, then I sat down then and started to think about what I have really learned on this journey. Here's what I came up with: 

1. I can take criticism (when it's done properly). Don't just walk up to me and tell me my stuff sucks. Actually, don't do that to anyone because it's kind of a dick move, to be honest. Say something like, "Hey, I really like this piece, but have you thought about doing ............... instead?" Yes, offer me a suggestion! I won't bite your head off for doing so. Sure, I might bite my tongue and then cry a little bit when you're not looking, but I'll certainly think over your idea and try to put it into practice later on down the road. 

2. I have more artistic talent than I thought I did in high school. You remember those art classes? The ones with the little paint pots and A3 sized paper and a gazillion brushes in the room? Then the teacher, blabbering on about some famous painter or another, expects YOU to create some sort of weird masterpiece? Yeah. I sucked at those. I mean, I really sucked. I remember one "creation" I came up with that supposed to be a silhouette of a sunset and the piers I used to go to as a kid...it looked nothing like it. I talked myself down so much over that stupid painting that I decided I would never, ever, ever, in a million years, ever be an artist. Ummm..... my mistake. 




3. I'm really good at online shopping. Do I need to explain this one? 

4. I might be just a tiny little bit pedantic. This is not a good thing, people. Okay so being pedantic about some things and needing to have stuff in a certain way can be constructive and helpful. For me, it's the most paralysing thing EVER. I can't work if my workspace is a mess. My workspace is always a mess. You see the problem? I clean it up, I work well for a while, then by the time I'm done it looks like little jewellery making elves came in during the night and had a party on my desk. Then I can't work because it's a mess and it's too overwhelming to clean it up, but then I do because I'm so desperate to create something...... and so it goes.  Sigh. 



5. I am far too easily distracted. It's a problem. Oh look.....beads and wire and cogs and clocks and...Oooh someone liked my Instagram photo! I have comments on Facebook.... Oh yeah. I was writing a blog....my bad. 

6.  The jewellery making community ROCKS. For the most part, anyway. There's always the few who look down their nose and go "Oh, you just string? That's nice." Yeah, I did just string until a few weeks ago, and I don't see anything wrong with that. It is still art! Aargh! I'm a member of SRAJD (Self Representing Artists in Jewellery Design) and that community is amazing. It's full of super supportive, funny, entertaining and insanely talented people, all trying to make the world a better place one creation at a time :D 

7. I have a serious addiction to storage boxes. I can count 15 different types of storage just sitting here. That doesn't include the stuff that's NOT here on my workspace within easy reach, or what's in my filing cabinet which doesn't actually store anything that needs to be filed.. My husband sent me a text a couple of weeks ago telling me he'd bought me a present. It was more storage for my clay. I was so excited I actually squealed when I saw the photo. I may have a problem.

8. Making jewellery is my world. Apart from husband and children of course. It comes a very close 2nd. I've learned that if you're not doing something that you truly love - something that you can be proud of and that is pretty much an extension of yourself, you're not really living. Go. Find your passion. 

With all my love,

xxx