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! :-)

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.

My creative space...

Although 'My Creative Space' over at Kootoyoo hasn't officially started back up again for the new year, I thought I'd show you what I've been working on anyway!

Lots of delicious stones...

...some sketching of new ideas...

...plus a little *sketching* on the computer ;-)

...and lots of luscious silver...

There is a distinct lack of beads to be found on my workbench these days.  


I think I've been seduced by silver and stone!


~*~

I'm slightly obsessed with Moroccan doors and doorways at the moment.  Aren't they just inspiring!

Photo courtesy of Eliahoo

Photo courtesy of Jamie Anderson

Photo courtesy of Pietro Izzo

Expect to see lots of these gorgeous shapes popping up in my work soon!


~*~


I hope that the new year is being kind to you so far.


Is your Muse still on holiday, or is she inspiring you with new ideas?

The *Earth Mother* Necklace

A gift,

wrought of silver and stone...

An ode to Mother Earth,

for an Earth Mother...

The back of the cabochon was too beautiful to cover.


The essence of Mother Earth,


captured in stone...

So I learnt a new technique*,


to let her shine,

to let her breathe.

She is held by a whisper of silver...

A drop of natural faceted chalcedony,


magnificently milky....

...and faceted aquamarines twinkle above her,

like stars on a cloudless night...

An Earth Mother necklace...

...for my very own Earth Mother.

Merry Christmas, Mum.


B.
-xo-


*I taught myself how to create step bezel.  Rather than create a bezel using sheet metal which covers the entire back of the cabochon, I used heavy gauge wire to create a 'step' inside the bezel.  The wire is just enough to hold the stone securely, but thin enough to expose the maximum amount of stone.  Sheesh, it sounds simple when I say it like that! LOL  But to get a snug fit was, well, HOURS of work!!


Oh, and eight soldering joins went into the creation of this necklace! <:-)