Rings

I know it is only January but I yearn for spring already. So I decided to make a couple spring inspired rings. Hope you like them!

Bloom ring in oxidized 925 silver and green chalcedony

Take Flight ring in oxidized 925 silver and green chalcedony

New work

Today I finished a piece I have been working on for quite a while. I like using stones that are cut and shaped to make it a bit  more challenging to work a design around them such as the variscite in this statement piece I finished today. I remember purchasing it in a place called Freiburg in the Black Forest area in southern Germany. Peter, who is a trained lapidary artist cuts many of my favorite stones and when I saw this beauty I had to have it, although it was incredibly expensive. I like unique stones that stand out from the rest even if they cost a bit more. In addition I find it really important to support handmade. There is something special about purchasing something handmade, that feeling of love and labour most of us artists feel when creating something.

Earrings on the bench waiting to be finished tomorrow!

Have a lovely day ya'll! 

Sabine

Bench news and other ramblings

I do have to admit that I am quite envious of those of you who are going to attend the Tucson gem fair. Perhaps once I will make the long trek "over" there to check it out.

I will though attend the second largest gem show again in Sainte Marie aux Mines in France at the end of June. Can't wait. It's a heaven for jewelers.

I haven't talked about this before, however, John and I are planning on moving to Germany to be closer to my family. It will be also much much better business-wise since we'll be able to visit more gem shows, never mind the much lower cost of almost everything. John loves it there and can not wait to move. I am not sure when it will happen. Perhaps this year or next year.

Being closer to my family would mean a lot to me. My dad is very sick. He has got stage 4 prostate cancer which has moved to the bones in his shoulders. It makes it very hard to be so far away when a loved one is not well. He has taught me a lot. He was the one that introduced me to stones and the lapidary arts. Dad has always been very creative and for him to be unable to continue doing his crafts hurts a great deal. Last summer he was still carving figurines in wood.

I have not lived in Germany since I left for Canada in 1991. It will be challenging without a doubt, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, at least from my experience.

Looking forward to be near a Starbucks ( yeah, I know, but that is something I miss greatly here in Norway ). Small things folks are what matters...hehehe.

I won't though drive 2.5 hours to drive to the Airport in Oslo just to get to Starbucks. That, by the way is the only Starbucks in Norway!!
I almost cried when John and I went to Cologne about a year ago and noticed a Starbucks. I must've looked ridiculous the way I freaked out! Small things folks are what matters...hehehe

Anyhoo, before I ramble on too much I would like to show you a couple of necklaces that I finished today. I had them lying on the bench for a few days now and today I finally managed to put the last few touches on them. The agua nueva one has already sold! *Thank you*

There will be a couple more necklaces in the next two days!

Wishing you all a wonderful wednesday!

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday ring finds

Today's ring finds:

Beautiful unique modernist ring by Chris Young on Etsy:

Pink morganite ring engagement ring by metalicious on Etsy:

Pomegranate garnet ring by Wing Lion jewelry on Etsy:

Beautiful quartz ring by Martha Sànchez Oms on Etsy:

Stunning Cleopatra ring by Melissa Caron Jewellers on Etsy:

Cool gear ring for the tech guy made by Kinekt Design:

News from the bench

Here's a little collage of work I finished over the weekend. I brought back my Lotus pendant necklace after getting some requests. It is available with two different colored chalcedonies, one in lime green and one in aqua.
All of these beauties are now listed in the Etsy shop.

After I am finished with some local custom orders I'll be working on a few more necklaces later on this week.
I'm looking forward to be going to a trade show later on this month in Germany which will also include a visit to my family *yipee*  Hopefully I can pick up some more cool cabs and stones while there.

How was your weekend?

Thanks for reading!

Early Morning

I find the best time go for a walk is either early in the morning or late at night. This morning I took a walk down to the boardwalk to capture some incredible light. Such a great way to start the day. 

Clockwise from top left:

1.The Color Line ferry in the dock, getting ready to go to Sweden

2. Outside my front door.

3. Boardwalk in Sandefjord

Boardwalk in Sandefjord

When I got back I went straight into my studio to finish what I started yesterday. There are tons of new items which will make it in the shop sometime today.

7 pairs of earrings and three necklaces.

I feel a nap coming on. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Thanks for reading!

Earrings

Sometimes my ambitions get ahead of me. I really wanted to show you a couple of new necklaces today, but time just got the best of me. I did, however, manage to make three new pairs of earrings. Lots of good texture. Oh the fun one can have with manipulating metal.

There are two necklaces and three more pairs of earrings in the pickle pot right now, however, it is almost 9PM and I think I'll call it a day and spend some cozy time with my Johnny-boy watching a taped episode of Project Runway Allstars....woot woot! That's how we like to party here on a friday night at the Sjöstrand mansion! 

Wishing you all a super duper weekend!

Thanks for reading!

Bench news

I finally got my first batch of druzy stones which are about to be turned into necklaces. I'm super stoked about a new heavy gauge heart chain I purchased yesterday that screams to be incorporated into some new designs. I've been playing with new textures this afternoon and should have a couple of new earring designs to show tomorrow as well. I'll preview my work here first.

Hope your day is as splendid as can be!

Thanks for reading!

Justine Brooks Design

I have been admiring the work of Vancouver jewelry designer  Justine Brooks for quite some time now. I love her use of natural materials which she casts in sterling silver. Her designs have a beautiful organic look and texture which is just divine. Below is a little sneak peak of her work, which can be found here.

The whereabouts of Chilli

I don't know about you, but I tend to be an early riser. I like getting up early, catching up on news, with either a mug of herbal tea or a cup of hot chocolate ( eek ). I love the silence in the house and the neighborhood. It's soothing to my soul and kind of meditative.
I spent the majority of the morning cleaning up my dirty bench while listening to Nik Kershaw, sorted out cabs, packaged orders that came in over new year's. It's such a great feeling to be sitting at my desk with a clear view of every tool I need on a regular basis. It's probably not going to last to look like this for very long, but for the time being it's kind of zen-like...
This afternoon I turned in some of my silver scrap which was a whooping 1400 grams! Super cool, considering that I get store credit which I can use for purchasing more recycled silver.
I am waiting on a large order of titanium agate druzies which hopefully will arrive this week sometime. They'll be primarily used for necklaces. I have been on such an earring binge that it will be nice to add some new necklaces to my Etsy shop.
I did list a new pair of earrings though. Cute, everyday lovelies with a nice pattern and adorned with moonstones.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year Everybody!

Here's wishing you a year filled with an abundance of love and peace!

Thanks for reading!