Autumn must be my favorite time of the year, together with Spring. It reminds me of my childhood in Holland, of going to the woods with my parents and our golden retriever and look at the all the beautifully coloured leafs, red toadstools with white dots and acorns and green coloured moss everywhere. Hearing the falling leafs make that crispy sound under your feel while you are walking. (Not seeing the dog poo underneath and stepping on that was less pleasant) ;-)

I wanted to make some jewelry to "capture" that feeling and this is one of the things  I came up with: 

These colours and elements inspire me for lot´s and lot´s of new jewely and other things, things are starting to pop up in my head and make me feel like claying for hours. Those moments I would love for this to be my actual job and to dream away working in my own studio... However I have a full-time job and not all the time I wish to dedicate to this hobby. There are so many new and exciting things I want to try out, and the works of this amazing lady, Kathleen Dustin, marvels me and I would love to have even a 1/100th % of her talent! This is just an example of her work:

For now, I will stop dreaming and continue practicing and trying to get better and better and walk my own path. I will get there one day! 

One of the things I love most of being a clayer, is that there is a "community" of clayers of the internet. Sharing the same hobby and ideas with people make you feel like being part of a secret club! We use words nobody else will understand, and as artists we empathise with other artist worries and problems. One of the things I love about this is "swapping" which means that rules are established, and what to swap with your partner. There is a special swap group created on facebook, by clay friend Tina Holden, and I think it is a great idea! Swapping is a great way to get to know and to admire the ideasand work of other artists, and also to get to know new people. The idea was swapping a window ornament, and I honestly didn´t have a clue about what I was supposed to make, but little by little  I got an idea. 
My swap-mate was a lady from Slovenia, Alenka Obid (http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com.es/) and we send each other quite some messages and I am glad to have known her! Just after the swap started I got a tendinitis in my right hand and I had some trouble finishing it but luckily I finished it on time! 
She sent me a beautiful ornament combining macrame with clay, perfectly finished and in lovely warm colours, which already had a place in my living room window. This is what I received from her: 

And this is what I sent to her: