Two point five...

...is the size of Indie's ring finger.

Infinite,

is the size of my love for her...

that little fairy

of flight and fancy.

She is certainly a girl after my own heart...

it seems she has inherited not only my crazy, curly hair
(though her Daddy can take half the blame there)

and my stubbornness to succeed first time, every time!

But also a deep love of adornments.

She loves seeing what I am working on,

and trying on what I am working on,

declaring that everything is 'Oooooh, so beeeeeeeeautiful!'

She has been asking me to make her a ring for some time...

she loves to open my gemstone drawer and pull them all out,

poring over the colours and textures,

and choosing her favourites.

I had a few hours to myself in the studio yesterday
(which I RELISHED...blissful studio time in the daylight hours is a luxury for this full-time mumma!)

and I decided to make her a wee ring...

what better way to spend Mothers Day afternoon,

than fabricating a trinket for my most loved creation!

She chose the amethyst...

(purple is her favourite colour)

a ripe, plump specimen,

just perfect for her petite little digits...



and I did the rest...



At a teeny tiny size 2.5, I couldn't even squeeze it onto my little finger...

...but it fits Indie perfectly...







Sweet and petite...

just like her...

~*~

And the winner is...

As always, 

I was overwhelmed by the response to my giveaway.

Overwhelmed not only by your show of support,

but by the bravery shown by those who were willing to share their fears.

We are not so different,

you and I.

We all have fears...

and within us,

the ability to overcome them.

Life is too short and too precious

to allow fear to stop you from doing what you really want to do.

So, what are you waiting for?! 

;-)

~*~

Drawing the winner is always a fun affair.

I like to do some things the old-fashioned way, so... 

187 little pieces of paper were cut and folded and added to the bowl...

 

As always, my trusty assistant was nearby to lend a hand...

After a moment of tense anticipation and paper-jiggling...

a winner emerged!

The lovely Karyn from Releases By Rufydoof!

Congratulations!!!

I cannot wait to collaborate with you to create something extra special!

♥

It was at this point that Jett discovered he was being left out of the action, 

and he wanted in...

He decided I needed to have a runner-up...

...and who am I to disagree with a two year old...

Congratulations Kay of Kay's Artycles!

I'll put together a little something for you and send it your way ;-)

~*~

Thank you again for joining in the fun!

I'm already scheming the next giveaway :-)

And I think it may just involve these beauties...

Rose cut sapphires...

BIG rose cut sapphires.

:-)

One Year Etsyversary Giveaway!

*** ENTRIES ARE OFFICIALLY CLOSED***


Thanks to everyone who entered - stay tuned for the winner to be announced tomorrow!




A first anniversary is always cause for celebration.


Reaching the one year milestone on Etsy is so special to me,
because it almost didn't happen...


It came down to fear, you see.


If I'd let my fear of failure get the better of me,
(and let me tell you, Fear tried its hardest!)


I never would have opened my shop in the first place.


I put it off for months,


trying to justify why I wasn't yet ready...


not enough stock,
timing isn't right,
the world will end if I do...


In reality, I was just fearful.


Looking back today,


with a fulfilling and constant workload,
and a fully independent business I can proudly call my own,


blissfully away (and thankful!) that my handcrafted jewellery is worn by women all over the globe...


I'm so glad I took that first step into the fearful unknown.


Closing the door on fear
opens the door to a world of possibility and opportunity.

It has been an unforgettable journey in so many ways,
and I couldn't have done it without you!


So, I want to thank you in the best way I know how...


... a giveaway!


I thought long and hard about what to give away,
and on my Facebook page I even asked what you wanted me to give away.
(free house cleaning for a year was a popular choice...)


Seeing as I'm the kind of person who wants to keep everyone happy,


I'm going to let the winner choose their own prize in the form of 


a custom made creation to the value of $150.


I know, right!


You will have access to


my time,
my supplies,
my imagination,
all of my resources...


and together we will dream up and bring to life something that is just for you.


Ring,
necklace,
earrings,
bracelet...


the sky is the limit!


You'll have plenty of cabochons to choose from...

and faceted gems too.


Though my efforts to show you what I have went a little something like this...





Yup.


It didn't quite go according to plan.


So, here's a few photos I took another time...


...when Jett was nowhere in sight...








Pretty...


In reality, my faceted gem collection is about 50 times the size of what you see here,


so rest assured, 
if you like faceted gems, 
you'll have plenty to choose from!


You have four different ways to enter...


~*~


1.  Tell me what you would do if you had no fear.  
Be it sky-diving, taking dance lessons, opening your own business, learning a new skill, swimming with sharks, telling someone you love them, whatever... just be honest, and tell me what fear is holding you back from doing.
(One entry)


2.  Follow my blog.
If you're already a follower, 
thank you, you're the best!
Just leave a comment below to let me know.
(One entry)


3.  Like me on Facebook.
If you're already a fan,
I love you.
Leave me a comment below to let me know, please.
(One entry)


4.  Tell me your favourite creation from my Etsy shop - sold items included.
It may just help you plot your custom made creation should you win! ;-D
(One entry)


~*~


If you could leave a separate comment here for each entry, that would be brilliant!


As always, my giveaway is open to anyone and everyone from all corners of the globe.


I will accept entries until 5:00pm AEST on Monday 7 May, 2012


and the lucky winner will be announced on Tuesday 8 May, 2012.


Any questions?
Email me:  belinda.saville@y7mail.com


I'm SO excited,


and so thankful.


:-)


Good luck!

Back to work

Two months between posts...


...and what has gone on in that time 


is more than I could ever put into words.


I just can't even begin...


So, I will tell you about the here and now,


this moment.


These hands of mine which have remained idle for so long 
are now reaching for


tools, 
silver,
gems,


again and again and again...


working with a fever and a fervour
that has been so healing for the heaviness in my heart...


I have been making gifts for special people...





All good things are wild and free...





...rings,
blissful and bright...

...earrings,
petite...








and pretty...








...necklaces,
light and lovely...














It is ridiculously good to be back at work
:-)


I want to thank you


for being so very patient with me,


for your loving words and sentiments of support during my absence.


And I know I'm a few months late,


but it's about time we celebrated my first year Etsyversary, right?!


Details coming in the next few days...


I'm cannot wait! 
:-D

Oh, tourmaline...

"When one's emotional experience is defined by the rising and ebbing tides of the events of life, happiness is often short-lived.  However, Watermelon Tourmaline teaches one the meaning of joy - that unbounded happiness is not caused by any external circumstance but is instead the natural condition of being."


from "The Book of Stones" by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian


No wonder I love this gem so much.


I'm addicted to Watermelon Tourmaline...


it soothes my soul and makes my heart happy, 


and it's ever-so-pretty to look at :-)


I wear my own set of rose cut watermelon tourmaline stacking rings all the time...





And you have kept me busy creating your own beautiful, unique ring sets too!














*le sigh*


I just want to wear them all at once...





Almost too much loveliness to bear!


Though I started with 15 of these beauties...





there are six that remain should you wish to create your own unique set...





Available in my Etsy shop :-)


~*~


The past month has been occupied with:


selling a house,


daily visits to the hospital as somebody I love fights the battle of his life
(and I can say, unequivocally, that cancer of the brain is the MOST evil, heartbreaking, soul-destroying disease...),


starting school for the first time...



(despite never having spent a day away from me in her four short years, India has taken to school like a duck to water!  On her first day, there were no tears...until it was time to come home! LOL  My heart is absolutely bursting with pride for my beautiful little girl ♥),


seeing my work and words published here...
,


and restoring antique furniture.


There is a magic about breathing new life into something that is timeworn and unappreciated.


This sweet little antique corner table has beautiful bones and I fell in love the moment I saw her...



(and she cost me all of $12...!)


After many hours of laborious sanding and painting, sanding and painting, sanding and painting...
(did I mention there was lots of sanding and painting...?)


she has a new coat to wear and renewed personality that the years had stripped away...

















Next on the restoration list is an antique dresser...then two antique boudoir chairs...then the dining room table and chairs...then...then...then...


I think my newfound obsession stems from an unquenchable need to make something better, to heal what is broken...


...because, despite ever fibre of my being wanting to, I cannot make somebody better, I cannot heal their broken body.


It is a daily battle to understand and accept what it out of my hands...


I am trying hard to learn the lesson of watermelon tourmaline,


to not allow the ups and downs of life to dictate my happiness,


but rather, to find contentment in simply being...


~*~


With all of the above craziness occupying my every waking moment,


I completely overlooked the fact that February 1 was my first year anniversary on Etsy!


This call's for a celebration, lovely people...


...you have made it an amazing, unforgettable, fun-filled first year...


...you have allowed me to run my business self-sufficiently and to be completely self-funded, and I am grateful beyond words!


So stay tuned, I will dream up something special...


just for you :-)