Story telling...

I love telling a story with metal and stone...

...but I also love telling your story,

weaving your words into a tangible thread,


piece by piece,


moment by moment.


It always begins with an idea or two...

(or three...)



(initial design sketches)


...and ends with a meaningful, wearable tale...





This set tells a story of old Serbia,


of churches rich with decoration and history,


ornate facades and masterful craftsmanship...








But it also tells a story of a daughter's love for her mother,


a bond all at once enduring and eternal...






A gift,


a token...





...a tribute to a woman admired and adored...

To know that these pieces will be worn and loved by a wonderful woman


as she makes memories and enjoys moments,


and who will, 


in turn, 


add her own words to this story,


makes me very, very happy...


:-)


~*~


What is making you happy this week, my friends?

Fanciful facets...

I have been so busy with custom orders since opening my Etsy shop, that I haven't had time to add new pieces to the shop as often as I would like...


...but as I see it, that is a very happy problem to have :-)


I did manage to add this necklace to the shop a few weeks ago though...
(and COMPLETELY forgot about mentioning it here... *oops*)

The *Drop of Desert Sky* Necklace

Faceted gems are finding their way into my work more often...

...including this to-die-for Sky Blue Topaz which I could not WAIT to use...
(it really is just like a droplet of the most perfect blue sky!)

I cut out a teardrop shape from the back of the pendant to let the topaz really light up...

...and one of my hand sawn Moroccan motifs sways from beneath the topaz...

I don't usually leave my jewellery with a polished finish (I think a patina brings out all the lovely details), but this necklace needed to be shiny.  


Do you prefer polished or patinated jewellery?


~*~


Speaking of faceted stones, I fell in love with this enormous 27.5 carat smoky quartz the moment I saw it...

...and I bought it even though, at that time, I had no idea how to set faceted stones!  
(Sometimes my creative visions far exceed my abilities LOL ;-) But it's an excuse to learn and challenge myself, non?!)


Anyway, about a month ago I decided it was time to use this beauty...

...so I set about creating a bezel for it from scratch...
(because it was far too big to fit my pre-made bezel wire)

...you know how much I love sawing ;-) ...

(and yes, I saw barefoot - doesn't everyone?!)

...add a 'bearing' to the inside of the bezel...

...and some filigree to the sides...

...and a matching filigree-adorned ring band completes it!

...big and bold...

...delightfully detailed...

...heavy and hearty...

...and it's all mine, mine, MINE! :-)

It looks top heavy and I kind of expected it to swing around on my finger,


but it's surprisingly well balanced and sits perfectly.


I think I wear it just about every time I have to leave the house :-)


~*~


More fanciful facets coming soon!


And some new jewels will be added to the shop too...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

My creative space...

I feel as though I am being pulled in so many different directions at the moment...creatively speaking.


Sometimes I wish my Muse would switch off, or at least take a nap for a little while.


I'm working away on my collections, but my Muse also yearns to create something epic, something laborious and time-consuming...


...and also get back to bead embroidery...


...and also crank up the torch and try some silversmithing...


...and...


...and...


...and...


Do you ever have so many things that you want to do but don't know where to start?  


*le sigh*


I put this down to the fact that our big move from Perth to Melbourne (a mere 3,000kms, give or take) is only about six weeks away, so I'm a bundle of nervous energy right now...desperately trying to cram in as much creating as possibly before my entire studio is packed away into uninspiring brown boxes.


*le sigh*


Rant over, thanks for listening.  You're the best :-D


Here's a little something I've been working on for my *Moroccan Odyssey* collection...

It has been dark and rainy all day today, so I had to take these hideous photos with my daylight lamp...blerk!

The gemstones are smoky quartz and the MOST beautiful AAA grade yellow chalcedony...


...it's like a little ray of sunshine... *le sigh*


More creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

The 'Marrakech' earrings

Last week I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favourite bead suppliers in person, the lovely Jo of Cranberry Beads, at the Perth Bead Fair.  I came home with some gorgeous new seed beads and some of them have already found their way into one of my latest projects...

Following along with my Moroccan theme, the Marrakech earrings feature seed beads in shades of bronze, chocolate, silver...

...from the teardrop-shaped earrings hang three gorgeous wire-wrapped micro faceted smoky quartz briolettes...

...the earrings are slightly convex in shape, and are reminiscent of the arches and domes so frequently found in Moroccan architecture...

I wasn't sure about this design after I made the first earring, so I let it sit in my studio while I mulled on it overnight.  My husband saw it, loved it, and assured me it was a great design.  What do you think, should I listen to my husband more often? ;-)

Thanks for looking, and be well!