Torn...

I think this word perfectly sums up how I've been feeling for the past week...

...torn...

This is not necessarily a bad thing!

I'm torn between wanting to continue with my *Moroccan Odyssey* Collection...

and wanting to start something new,

something fresh.

I bore easily...do you?

I'm certainly not done with my Moroccan collection...

there are still many, many more ideas waiting to be brought to life!

Yet, I want a change.

I want to try something new.

So, tonight I did.

In between cooking dinner and packing for a 3-day trip interstate tomorrow (well, I was procrastinating on that packing bit), I taught myself how to make a basic prong setting...

This is just the beginning,

there is much work yet to be done...

but can you see where I'm going with this?

I felt revitalised, energised seeing it come together...

...a buzz of exhilaration as I watched the solder flow...

(and I held my breathe ever so tightly because I was certain I would melt the wire!)

And now I'm torn because I have to leave this unfinished while we go away for three days!

(ARGHHH!!!)

But, good things come to those who wait, non? ;-)

~*~

I was also torn over these earrings I made last week...

The *Lost Medallion* Earrings

...because I just can't stop wearing them...

...and they were supposed to go into the shop...

...so that someone else could love wearing them just as much as I do...

Dilemma!

Soooo...I decided to create a Made to Order Listing.


I will create a pair of these earrings just for you!


All you have to do is ask :-)


~*~


Wishing you a wonderful, wonder-filled weekend, my friends!

The studio is open...part two!

So, when we left the studio yesterday there was a ring yet to be finished,

more cups of coffee yet to be sipped,

and half an orange cake that was just begging to be devoured!

Are you ready to head back to the studio?

Come on!

Well, the tumbler has been a-rumblin',

and the ring has emerged oh-so-shiny...

...so now it's time for a bath...


...in Liver of Sulphur :-)
(you might want to hold your nose...things get rather smelly right about now)

Nice and dark,


and ready to be rubbed back to a matte finish.


Then the fun really begins,


all of the components come together,


bit by bit.


Throw in a little bit of hammering,
(here, don't forget your ear muffs!) 


and voila...she is finished!

A custom made turquoise *Desert Flower* Ring...

...perfectly pretty...

...and ready to be worn by her beautiful new owner! :-)

Thanks for visiting me in the studio,


it was really lovely to have you here.


Let's do this again soon, ok!

The studio is open...

It seems that you like to watch me work,

to see a creation come to fruition


from a seed of thought through to a wearable jewel.

That is human nature though, isn't it...

to be voyeuristic :-)


I love to see the creative process of other artisans,


so it is my pleasure to share my own with you!

~*~

So, the door to my studio is open...

come on in!

The kettle is boiled


and there is orange cake baking in the oven.


Take a seat over there...


I'm going to sit down at my workbench


and we'll chat as I work...


There is a custom ring to be made,


my *Desert Flower* Ring in a size that is *just right* for someone special :-)  

It starts with a circle...

...which is curved ever so slightly...

...and you're wondering why there is a latex glove sitting in my wooden doming block?


It's so that the metal disc doesn't get wedged into the indentation in the wood (which happens rather too easily!)  The glove helps the disc to pop right out after I've finished hammering ;-)

...my makers mark, stamped and sawed...
(I do have so much fun with these...nearly every mark I make is a different shape!  But that story deserves a post all to itself)

...the components wait patiently to be married together...

...and not forgetting the Flower itself, waiting in the wings...

It's time to solder!  So I crank up the iPod...

...the ring starts to take shape...

...and I remind you that you can never have too many (third) hands! ;-)

And at this point, my two little rugrats come screaming into the studio and everything must be forgotten for an hour or five :-)


Such is life!


Do drop by the studio tomorrow though...


there is a ring to finish,


and more cups of coffee to sip.


Oh, and half an orange cake that we have yet to devour! :-)

Drumroll please...and the winner is...

I needed some help with the very important task of drawing a winner for my giveaway necklace...

...so I enlisted the help of my three year old daughter, India...

...she was very enthusiastic...

...there were 183 entries in that little yellow bowl...

(Wow!)

...and India really wanted more than just one of you lovely people to win...

("Oops...just pick one, darling...ONE!")

...but finally, she picked just one...

Eeek, so exciting...who is it??!!!

...and the lucky winner is...

Amy!!!

Congrats darlin', it's you! :-D

I'll send you a message soon so we can get your brand new necklace winging its way to you asap ;-)

Thank you to every one of you for participating in my giveaway...I'm completely overwhelmed by the response...

I wish I could give each and every one of you something special!

I had so much fun with this giveaway though,

that I cannot wait to host another giveaway very soon! ;-)

~*~

Wishing you all a wonderful, romantic, love-filled Valentines Day, my friends...

With much love,

Sterling silver and labradorite ring

Do you remember the custom ring I was working on last Thursday?

It is now tucked safely away in its little gift box and is heading overseas to its beautiful new owner as we speak.

Here she is:

Wonderfully organic...

...and textured...

...a tactile delight...

...a ring to trail your fingertips over...

Don't you just want to reach out and touch it!


It is a pleasure to watch a ring slowly unfurl and come to life,


from that first seed of thought, 


to a wearable dream come true.


~*~


Today is the last day to enter my giveaway.  I have been overwhelmed by the response so far...thank you everyone for your amazing support!


I'm so excited!  


I cannot wait to find out who the lucky winner will be tomorrow :-)

My creative space...

...has been taken over by a small army of silver pebbles...

These wonderful little baubles will be adorning a custom ring I am working on for a very special lady...

...a compliment to this beautiful labradorite...

How gorgeous is that rainbow flash!

This ring began with a sketch...

...then slowly began coming to life...

...the ring band is wide and textured...

...ready for soldering...

...starting to take shape...

Now, it's back to the workbench...


those little pebbles are waiting for me :-)

Pop on over to Kootoyoo to see what other creative people are up to today.