Sterling silver and drusy ring...and a workbench that is abloom!

I knew I had to have this stone as soon as I saw it...

Can you blame me?

It is spectacular with a capital 'WOW'!

And now it has a sparkling new home built of sterling and fine silver...

layered and lovely...

terrifically textured...

painted with a pretty patina...

(and doesn't it just make the layers and textures leap out at you!)

...and ready to be worn and loved!

The only thing I love more than working with beautiful gems such as this,

is working with gems of people such as the new owner of this ring.

Thank you SO much for letting me create this special ring just for you, Triz!


This stone is *nearly* half as lovely as you are ♥

~*~

My workbench has also been abloom with my Desert Flower rings this weekend!

I'm working on a custom made Desert Flower ring for a lovely, lovely lady...

...and I had the idea (some time ago) to create a 'petite' version of this ring.


The original is a sweeping 37mm in diameter.


And the petite version will be 31mm in diameter :-)
(no, really, it IS petite!)


I couldn't decide which colour to start working on...


...so I started with three...

Tangerine, Saffron and Azure.


Delicious!


The ring bands haven't been attached yet, so send me a message if you'd like me to make one of these lovelies in your size :-)


Wishing you a wonderful week, 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! :-)

Sneak Preview: The *Desert Flower* Ring in Turquoise

There blooms a flower

in the rolling sands of the Sahara.

Delicate,

yet strong...

radiant,

and robust.

Her petals turned skyward,

kissed

by the desert sun.

She basks,

glowing,

honouring the endless blue.

The desert winds,

rugged and relentless,

push,

and drive,

testing her tenacity,

her fortitude.

Yet she remains,

her stance is resolute,

steadfast.

She is unwavering in the face of adversity.

She is strong.

She is beautiful.

A ring to celebrate your beauty and your strength...

Coming to my Etsy store soon! :-)

Sneak Preview: The *Desert Flower* Ring in Azure

My Muse is happy...


...and so is my husband.


My beautiful new workbench has been put to good use this past week.

The torch was re-ignited after an extended period of quiet...


...filing, sawing, dapping... 


...silver shavings sparkling...


...and a bench pin which is beginning to look as though it is worn and loved.


*sigh*


What joy!  What fun!


I loved every exhilarating minute!


And the fruits of my labour...

The *Desert Flower* Ring in Azure

A statement for your hand at 35mm wide...


...substantial yet delicate...


...a feminine flower...

Wrought of sterling silver and beads in shades of cobalt and azure...

I loved creating it...


...but I love wearing it even more!


~*~


Would you like to see how this ring came to fruition?


I'd love you to come along for a ride down memory lane...


Let's go!


~*~


It all started with an idea...


...one of those persistent, lingering ideas...


...unrelenting in its pursuit of manifestation!


Silver, saw...

...and a circle is borne...
(uh hello, someone needs a disc cutter...if you're listening Santa...!)

...dap, dap, dap...


...a soft, sweeping, sensual curve...

...ring-a-ding-ding...


...ready for soldering!

...a platform for my beadwoven motif...

...a satellite dish for your finger...?
:-P

...and finally, modelling a perfectly pretty patina...


...ready for an injection of beadwoven colour! 

~*~


To re-live the process of creation is oh-so-satisfying...


...makes me want to go back and do it all again...
(and I will...I WILL...as soon as I finish typing this!)


No wonder I can't stop smiling! :-)

More Moroccan magic coming soon!

P.S.  My lovely husband came up with the name for this ring...isn't he clever?!  I think should ask him to christen my creations more often ;-) LOL