A giveaway...to give thanks

I've talked about dreams before,


and you were with me a year ago when I started on this new creative path...


...so you know just how much it means to me to be here,


travelling THIS journey.


My dreams come true in metal and stone every day,


and I have you to thank for that...


I love that you love my work,


encouraging me with your kind words and gentle hearts...


adopting pieces that I have lovingly crafted with my own two hands and making them your own...


Your support means the world to me...


really and truly!


So I want to show you my appreciation with something special,


made just for you...


One lady with luck on her side will receive a custom made gemstone trio ring in a size that is just right for her.


It could look something like this...

...or this...

...or this...

...or this...





And these are the gems you can choose from...

I went through my faceted gemstone stash and picked a little of every colour,
something to suit every taste...





There are garnets of red and orange, agate, red jasper, yellow sapphire, scapolite, fire opals, serpentine, prehnite, green apatite, maw sit sit (yes, really...), malachite, chrysoprase, chrysocolla, turquoise, spinel, tourmaline, smoky quartz, pyrite, black spinel, white opal, white topaz...and more!





So, the choice will be yours...


:-)


Perhaps you'd like a fiery trio...



{garnet, fire opal, hessonite garnet}


or an earthy trio...


{turquoise, andesine labradorite, red jasper}


or a pretty trio...



{chrysoprase, pink tourmaline, green apatite}


or a trio that is barely there...



{prehnite, white topaz, scapolite}


or a trio that will get you noticed...



{garnet, green apatite, yellow sapphire}


or a trio that will never date...



{black spinel, pyrite, white opal}


Once you have chosen your gems, I will loving fabricate them into a sterling silver one-of-a-kind Gemstone Trio Ring in your size,


and you get to choose the finish...


polished, matte, brushed, oxidized.


If you don't like/wear rings, I will make you a necklace in the same style...
(I'm nice like that...)


Sound fun?


As always, I want to give you a few ways to enter...


the more, the better!


Here goes:


1.  Tell me about a dream that you hold dear in your heart.  It can be big, it can be small...the size isn't relevant, I just want to hear about it!
{1 entry}


2.  Tell me your three favourite colours
{1 entry}


3.  Follow my blog...easy!
{1 entry}


4.  'Like' my Facebook page
{1 entry}


If you could leave a separate comment for each entry, that would make my life a tiny bit easier...thank you!


I'll accept entries up until 9.00pm AEST on Friday September 30, and then I will enlist the aid of my trusty giveaway helper to draw a name out of the hat :-)


I will announce the lucky winner on Saturday October 1!


And of course, the giveaway is open to anyone and everyone,


in every corner of the globe!


Best of luck,


and happy dreaming!!!

Nomad

(no.mad)
n.
~ a person who continually moves from place to place; a wanderer

The nomad is about finding a path that is all her own...
She is a creature of distant places
and intrepid strides...

Self-assured in her skin
she is unafraid to find her own way,
knowing that the open road is long 
and heavy with opportunity for the brave.

She strides forth through life
fearless and free...
When others falter and stop to ask directions,
she forges onwards,
takes the lead,
embraces the unknown…

She doesn't look back,
the steps taken are not retraced..
moving forward is the only way she knows.

Some days she leads the pack,
sometimes she strays…
but she always goes her own way...

The *Nomad* Ring

available here

The Ocean's Keep

Cast your soul to the ocean…




Let her waves wash over you,
and caress the worries from your brow.
She has a salty salve to heal your heart,
and gentle arms of froth and light
to cleanse,
to clarify,
to purify...




Let her tides take the sorrows from your spirit…
surrender to her ebb as she gathers up your woes,
embrace her flow as she bears you peace and plenty.




Let her winds fill your sails to brimming...
submit as she carries you forth,
takes you away,
pushes you ever forward on this journey of life.




And when your spirit is round and refreshed,
walk upon her sandy shore,
grounded,
yet lifted...
feel your soul nourished and full.
Leave your troubles with the ocean's keep,
and carry her riches in your heart.






The Ocean's Keep Ring
Sterling silver, 9 carat gold, chrysocolla


If she needs to belong to you, you can find her here
:-)

P.S.  Words cannot express how much I am grateful for all of your gracious comments on my last post.  I feel blessed that I can take you along on this journey as I chase my dreams! 

-xo-

Slow and fast...

The days are growing steadily shorter here in Melbourne,

(as the veil of night draws longer, in turn)

and the air carries the unmistakable breath of Winter.

There is a distinct calm about this time of the year

as Mother Natures idles and wanes.

The wind has abated to a barely audibly whisper...

I walk the footpaths near home

and there is silence,

a hush that only comes with the winding down of Autumn

and the welcoming in of Winter.

Slow.

And yet I find myself hurried.

Fast.

Greeting the crisp evenings with a flurry of energy and a warm cup of coffee.

(my studio is in the back part of the house...a wall of louvered windows behind me leaves the thinnest veil between me and the cold night air!  Coffee is REQUIRED!!!)

Long, late nights.

Just me,

and metal,

and flame...

(and the moon, when the night sky is bare of cloud :-) )

Here's a little of what my hands have made recently...

The *Mosaique* Necklace

A hollow form pendant, formed by hand from sterling silver sheet and wire...

Chrysoprase and filigree...

I find Moroccan mosaic endlessly inspiring,

masterful art of colour and pattern... 

Source

Traditionally, they are designed to inspire 


meditation,


reflection,


faith...

Source

The *Treasures of the Souk* Earrings in Lemon 

Sterling silver and delicious lemon quartz onion briolettes

And finally, a custom order...

Sterling silver and a beautiful faceted red ruby...

...and you all know how much I love rubies!

*swoon*

There is also another new necklace to be listed,


and custom orders to be filled...


I foresee many, many late nights ahead!


I do like greeting the new day under the light of the moon, though :-)


~*~


Whether your week is slow,


or fast,


I hope that it is wonderful 


and full of wonder!

I ♥ surprises...and sawing

A mysterious parcel arrived on my doorstep the other day...

I love surprises...don't you?

I cautiously peeled open the box,

sifted through the packaging peanuts,

and there was a letter from the lovely people at Rings & Things...

Sweet!

I was one of the lucky blog partners to win a February goodie pack.

Look what they sent me...!

Some honkin' great big slabs of Lime Magnesite...

...these are seriously gorgeous,

seriously BIG,

and I'm going to create something seriously cool with them! ;-D

I also received some colourful Fair Trade Ugandan Paper Beads...

...and the sweetest little Raw Brass Flowers Charms...

I'm going to have loads of fun creating with all of these goodies...stay tuned!

If you like surprises too, then you'll want to sign up for the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program :-)

~*~

This week, I have been busy in the studio with custom orders,

including one which definitely satisfies my insatiable need to saw!

It started with a few sketches,

a turtle and a lily...

(which will be a bracelet and necklace set for two sweet little girls)

...I can't tell you how much fun I had sawing these...

(I know, I really need to get out of the house more...)

...and then I got to try out my brand new 2.5mm letter stamps...

...and the necklaces are starting to take shape...

Such fun!

Have you had any lovely surprises this week...?