Just because...

...he loves me,

he bought me a fan-dangly new camera...

A Canon EOS 550D, no less!

Oh husband, how I love thee ♥

Anthony is notorious for the best 'just because I love you' gifts,

but he outdid even himself with this one.

Now I understand why all the cool people have a Canon...

(including her, and her, and her)

They are unbelievably good!

So, I've been having fun re-shooting some pieces that have been sitting around in my shop...

The *Drop of Desert Sky* Necklace

{ SOLD - thank you!}

The *Petite Desert Flower* Ring in Tangerine

Available here

The *Moroccan Trinkets* Necklace

Available here

The Canon has also been great for shooting some new custom orders,

including this lovely Twilight Topaz and filigree ring...

...this all black version of my *Safi* Earrings...

...and my *Mosaique* Necklace, newly embellished with pebbles of 9 carat gold at the request of a lovely lady...

~*~

The camera was also a blessing for October 7...

our daughter's birthday...

Four!

I cannot believe our baby girl is four!

I will never forget the first moment I saw her,

I gasped because she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.

And she grows more beautiful with every passing year...

The hula hoop was a big hit...

she danced and twirled for hours...

...only stopping to ride her new scooter...

It's a Tinkerbell scooter,

naturally.

:-)

And when the new toys had been thoroughly broken in,

my budding chef helped me to decorate her own birthday cupcakes,

complete with sprinkles and princess decorations...

What more could a little princess ask for!

♥

~*~

I'm looking forward to sharing the culmination of my giveaway prizes with you soon as well...

they are coming together beautifully...

Stay tuned!

~*~

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend, my friends!

Don't forget to smile :-)

Truth & Beauty

'Beauty is not in the face.

Beauty is a light in the heart.

~Kahlil Gibran~

Beauty that is true and everlasting

is not to be found in features nor facades.

It sprouts from somewhere deeper,

a pocket untouchable by time

and unfathomable in its depth.

It is uplifting and contagious…

it calls out to you across the room,

charging its way into your presence like a steam train.

Real beauty is not all about a porcelain complexion,

nor a 27 inch waist…

…features will fade and ripen with time,

leaving only truth,

the essence of character.

There is beauty in the lines upon your body,

they tell your story of a life loved and lived…

…and those grey hairs that start appearing,

one day, 

some day,

they are a totem of knowledge and of knowing,

only possible with the passing of years.

There is beauty in compassion

and laughter

and light…

There is beauty in imperfection,

and shadows,

and truth.

And there is beauty in you…

you may not see it in yourself,

but ask anyone who loves you,

anyone who believes in you…

you 

are 

beautiful...

The *Truth & Beauty* Necklace ~ available here

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?

The Pace of Nature

Adopt the pace of Nature

Her secret is patience

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

~*~

Mother Nature knows that good things take time.
Her every action is thoughtful
and productive…
a perfectly orchestrated symphony of creation.

She weaves every thread to a glorious whole
with a magic that is only possible
with time and temperance.

She works with Time's hand,
not against it,
at a pace that is patient and deliberate,
wasting not action nor moment.

Her masterpieces are crafted
with a tender hold,
coaxed piece by piece,
thread by thread,
moment by moment.

There is no urgency,
no limit on time.
Growth takes as long as it takes,
life cannot be rushed...

Slow down,
live,
breathe,
and entice life at a gentle pace,
with a peaceful soul
and a patient heart....

~*~

{ SOLD - thank you! x }

Times flies...

...when you're having fun :-)

Gosh, things have been busy around here!

I said goodbye to a few favourites during my 15% off sale in the shop...

...and I can't tell you how happy it makes my heart to know that these lovelies are heading out across the globe!

~*~

I've also been busy with custom orders, including this matching *Koutoubia* Necklace and Ring for the gorgeous Katia of Plushka's Craft...

The necklace is constructed of silver and copper, mixed metal match made in heaven!  

With the cost of silver rising all the time ($48.55 an ounce at the time of writing), incorporating copper into my work is a great way of keeping my prices down.  

Plus it's beautifully warm and pretty and takes texture better than any other metal!  What's not to love :-)

Katia chose the gemstones to compliment the necklace - apatite, iolite, smoky quartz, mystic orange carnelian and a glowing Chrysoprase cabochon...

Katia also asked me to create a matching ring,

(which is one of the reasons why I love custom orders SO much - 

I would never have thought to create a matching ring had Katia not asked me!)

and this is the design we settled on...

The gemstone is a stunning 1.18 carat apatite...yum!

And you know that I always have fun signing my work... ;-)

~*~

This past week I was also very blessed to read some gorgeous things written about me and my work by the super lovely and super talented Triz.

(and even now I'm blushing thinking about it!)

I cannot wait to see what your incredibly creative and capable hands can produce with metal and flame, Triz! ;-)

~*~

The postman has also brought me a bounty of gems this week...

...a little of this...

(arghhh...I just want to eat them!!!)

...and a little of that...

...and a few of these...

Seriously, is there any such thing as too many gems?

No, I didn't think so.

I'm glad you agree :-)

Have a fabulous week, friends!