… apparently. And given just how untidy my bench has been for the last month or two I started to wonder if there really was a connection with my occasionally equally untidy mind!

So finally I got it together to have a reasonable tidy up, which was followed by several productive making days - so maybe it really did help.

I was inspired to snap a few photographs of the current state of my bench today, along with an image of a nice little collection of what I’ve started fondly referring to as ‘bench junk’, thanks to one of my Etsy Metal colleagues.

These are a variety of bits and pieces comprised of semi-finished components, experiments, pieces I intend to use in ways I haven’t yet decided upon, etc.. I like to keep them collected in little dishes on my bench so I can remember that they’re there (and probably need my attention!) and hopefully so I can get some inspiration from them.

As for what I’ve been working on at my newly tidied up bench … Well, so far I’ve mostly been trying to do ‘catch up’ making - re-making pieces I’ve sold - but also I have been working on my frighteningly long list of components I wish to have made before the holiday buying season kicks off.

I desperately want to start working seriously on some new pieces as I have a brain (and sketchbook!) full of ideas which are all itching to find form. I’ve made a vague start on some of them, but hope to find time over the next week to finish several new pieces which will ultimately before sale in my various jewelry shops.

So before I get back to the grindstone, here is a final image of my bench, featuring my extra lovely Circa Ceramics cup - handmade, of course!