Changing from content to creativity

Sometimes, you need to challenge yourself to do something, in order to say proudly that you could, and then feel free to walk away from it. Routines are sometimes really hard to break away from, but are worth scrutiny from time to time.

No worries, I'm not leaving PJ, but change is coming, as I'm going to be focusing more on making, and less on the nebulous idea of Content Creation.

Content is what you make of it

What's the difference between making a thing and content creation? Some circles online have recently been discussing the problem where artists, creators, designers end up less focused on our actual creations (the art, jewellery, pottery, woodowrk...), and more on creating "content" for the consumption of social media. Content is the pictures, text, narratives, blogs, videos and whathaveyou which in theory help to promote the things we've made, encouraging your clicks and interaction, and hopefully leading to folks buying the things.

Varied promotional content does matter, it can't all just be pictures of I MADE THIS, BUY IT PLS? or you'd stop caring. Yet it can become a bit of a trap, creating different content, feeding the social media machine, stressing over relevance and statistics, while watching what we genuinely love doing slide into last place for priority.

Doing you justice

A couple of years ago I decided that I'd try to blog "properly", giving you insight into what I do, why and how, providing  you with ideas, tips, things to try. I'm really proud that for the most part I've managed two posts a month, from simple new product launches, to what amulets mean, and even recipe ideas (my word, you love a crumpet photo). Alongside each blog there's been a newsletter, so you get a handy hello right to your email. Oh, and creating and scheduling the social media images, text, links and reminders... each blog post eats a lot of time.

Some of my better blog post ideas I keep putting to the bottom of the list because I feel that I don't have time to do them justice, which feels counter productive. After all, I wouldn't show you less polished jewellery when there's a much better piece to come.

It also eats into the time I want to play with ideas, try new methods, new materials. 2020/21 has given me chance to experiment, and I want to do more of that so I can excite myself creatively and offer you awesome new types of jewellery!

All aboard the change train

What you'll see going forward is one blog a month, and about two newsletters a month.

• There may an occassional bonus blog, but my aim is for one each first Saturday of the month, keep it simple.
• There may be three newsletters, or only one, but my aim is to keep you up to date on what's important and really new/fun/relevant.

Hopefully in the future you'll also see different ranges of jewellery, with new styles, new ideas, new materials, but still with the same flavours which keep you folllowing what I do here.

​I'm really chuffed with what I've learnt, tried to do, and feel I've succeeded in doing in the past years, but it's time to refocus a bit, and use my time for the top notch goals!