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!

Gem-O-Rama

This week there has been a serious Gem-O-Rama going on in the Saville household...

Oh, yes indeed!

The postman and the courier and the DHL driver have paid me more visits than I can count on my two hands.

(Gosh, that sounds rather excessive doesn't it!  And the crazy thing is that there is more to come!)

So, wanna see the stash?

Of course you do!

It started with some cabochons...

Variscite, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise (the most PERFECT shade of turquoise!) and a very interesting Lapis & Laguna Saginite doublet (two layers of stone, forever joined in perfect prettiness)...

Rhodonite and Porcelain Jasper...

(pretty in pink)

And then there were the faceted gems...

(this is just a select few...I couldn't bring myself to pull 40 odd stones out of their teeny tiny bags and then have to put them all back again LOL)

There is fluorite, Mexican opal, citrine, spessarite garnet, watermelon tourmaline, peridot and ruby...

...and just for fun, a couple of excessively large lab-created madeira citrines...

and amethysts...

These are big with a capital BLING!!!

What do you think about lab-created gems?  

These ones are perfectly faceted, perfectly coloured and perfectly flawless.

And the price is oh-so-right!

The funny thing is, it costs nearly as much to create a stone in a lab as it does to mine natural stones from the ground.

So, what am I going to create with this excessive collection of gem loveliness?

Something like this...

...and perhaps something like this...

But more on those later ;-)

I hear little tummies grumbling so it must be dinner time!

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?