New items

It just goes to show that inspirations can often come from very odd things. For example, this ring was inspired by a recent blog posting I read ( yes, Vita, your blog posting...yum! :-) about jelly beans... ( by the way, one of my favorite little indulgences ).

This ring is very rustic and comes with a nice Turquoise bezel set Cabochon and a molten organic band.
As most of you can tell I love organic pieces in combination with some precious stones and metals. Well, I had the circle shapes made quite a while back and just needed to figure out how to implement it into a design. This one comes with two hand cut and stamped leaves, a lovely Amethyst bezel set Cabochon and a forged 14 carat gold filled clasp. It's a very romantic kind of necklace.

Well, and here we have a handcrafted Lotus pendant necklace with a gorgeous Lapis bezel set Cabochon, oxidized sterling chain and a 14 carat gold filled clasp.

All these pieces will be in my shop tomorrow or perhaps tonight if I have the time to list them!

Backyard happenings

The lovely and cuddly neighbor catcoming to get a little cuddle.....
The view from the backyard to Tromsø Island. As you can see there is still quite a bit of snow.
Icicles on the neighbor shed.
The view right outside our entrance

It's a gorgeous day!

I just came back from a nice and brisk walk. The sun is shining in all it's glory....*sigh*...feels sooo good to see some of the ice and snow melting. I hope we are finally on a transition to spring. I remember snow falling on the 12th of May last year.

I'd like to thank everyone so far for your comments regarding my easter give-away! Wow! I can't believe how many of you have responded so far! Thanks also to those of you who follow my blog! I am working on keeping it updated more frequently now. It's not an easy thing for me to do since I'm not that creative when it comes to writing. I used to love to write, however, I think I am in the midst of a transitional period between three languages. Often I can not remember how to spell a certain word in english (!) which really bothers me to bits. I prided myself on how well I wrote and spoke english before I came to Norway. Now, my main focus is on learning Norwegian, which, even after three years, is still quite difficult for me. Most people here tell me that it is easy for Germans to learn this language due to some similarities but not in my case since I think in english all the time. Having lived in Canada for 15 yrs. has really put a bump in German. The only time I still speak it is when I call family.

I haven't really done any work in my studio today. The rays of sunshine poking through the windows has given me a restless feeling of wanting to just stay outside all day and fuel up on some missing Vitamin D.

Tomorrow I will definitively catch up on some projects I had started a couple of days ago. Looking forward to that:-D

Now I'm off to making some din din: French ham and roasted potatoes with rosemary....mmhh yummy!

Keep those comments coming! I promise to take each and every one into consideration!

Hope wherever you are the sun is shining as well!

xx,

Sabine

Easter Give-away

I finally got all my orders of supplies this week. I was completely out of sterling sheets, solder and some stones. Before I start working this weekend again I will need to clean up my work space. It's been neglected quite a bit and am tired of getting spiked with bits and pieces of wire that pierce through my crocs.

Feels like I am suffering from some sort of sleeping disease. I am not sure if it is the long winter and the lack of sun we've had for a few months, or just some vitamin deficiency. No matter how much sleep I get I seem to want more. I know that I should start up running again or at the very least continue with Pilates which has helped me in the past to stay energized during the day. For some reason it seems utterly difficult to get my butt in gear this time around. Like John always tells me, stop talking about it and just do it. I know he's right, but....a million excuses are about to follow...

Well, on a brighter note: As you can tell from the title of this post I am going to have a HUGE easter give-away:

The first price will be a copper blossom pendant necklace with a rustic copper poppy ring and then I will have four additional poppy rings to give-away.

To enter simply make a comment about any suggestions you might have to improve my Etsy shop wether it be photography, the jewelry itself, more or less mixed metal jewelry, banner, what is the overall feel of the shop, more color etc....don't be afraid to speak up....I appreciate good constructive criticism.

The winners will be chosen next friday april 3rd.

I'll be looking forward to hear from you! :-D

Sabine

xx

I have to say, that after months of winter I am getting a tad anxious to see some green. About a week ago I thought that the winter is almost over, but then the snow hit again, big time! One almost gets tired of seeing white everywhere. It's fun for a while, but after about six months of winter the urge to see some Crocuses or Daffodils poking through the earths crust gets stronger and stronger. I miss talking my walks along the beach down below.

The online local news just had a story on a triple murder that happened just about a mile away from where we live! Some Psychopath had killed three people that lived in the same house. He has been since caught by police, thank goodness. This is quite a huge story for such a peaceful and tight-knit community.

Looking forward to tomorrow. John is off work and perhaps we can go out for lunch and a tour to a local Shitzu breeder who has puppies for sale at the moment. I just want to go there to pet and cuddle them.....awww I LOVE dogs.

Hope everyone is having a cozy and warm sunday!

FREE SHIPPING

FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE UNTIL MARCH 31st!!!

Ramblings and such

I really don't want to make a big issue out of others copying my work. In a way I find it actually quite flattering. However, I get a bit saddened when you look at those shops and find that they don't use their own ideas and inspiration. Often, just a couple of days after listing a new product I can see those shops selling the same pieces. I work hard on coming up with my own ideas and designs. I know that we, as jewelry designers often get inspired by others in the same profession. I think that is cool, but more importantly, one has to feel good about ones work and the place deep within where the initial inspiration comes from. It's okay to be inspired, and yes I know that most jewelry techniques and designs have been re-done thousand fold. I get that. In my case I get this incredible blissful feeling when I follow my own inspiration and ideas when finishing a piece of jewelry that I can call my own. Think outside the box, is my message for today.

I am really grateful for being able to do what I do on a daily basis. My life is great. I could not ask for more! I'll leave on this note tonight! :-)

I'm off to bed! I've got to get up early to do some work before John goes to bed tomorrow morning when he gets home ( he's working the night shift ). Respectively I won't hammer around in my studio when he's sleeping, although he always tells me that it's okay. I just can't get myself to do it.

xx

Nighty night!

Rings

I left this ring in its natural silver color. I haven't decided yet wether to oxidize it or not. It looks so crisp and beautiful the way it is with its gorgeous milky Aquamarine Cabochon. All these rings will be available in my Etsy shop starting today.

Oh my, Rubies, one of my favorite stones to work with. This lovely ring also comes with a hand stamped leaf pattern.

This beauty features a natural Rhyolite Rainforest Jasper Cabochon that has been embellished with some sterling pebbles. The band is flanked by a hand stamped leaf pattern.

I absolutely love this ring, it comes with a gorgeous natural African Sandstone and a small round Ruby cabochon. So pretty!

Tired but still smiling

Ate dinner watching Stevie Wonder's new "Live at Last" on blue ray. I absolutely love that guy! He is so exuberant. I recommend this Blue Ray Disc wholeheartedly.

I'm so tired right now and feel like I should go to bed, but it's only 8:30 pm. Too late to take a nap and too early to go to bed! Early bedtime is for sissies!

Early morning madness

Geez, some nights I just can't seem to sleep longer than 6 hours. I got up at 6 am, went out to shovel some snow ( yes, it snowed again, and it just keeps on going ), came in, took a shower and started baking an apple pie. And this at 7:30 in the morning. I woke up John with the smell of the baking pie. He thought I had gone bananas baking at such an hour.

I often miss baking. I find it extremely relaxing and soothing. Like my cooking style, I always make way too much. John always says that my portions are meant for an army, not for two people. I think it has something to do with having worked as a pastry chef and making everything in large batches.

I just came back from the post office with some gorgeous Rubies and other lovely Cabochons that I have been anxiously waiting for. Now I am just sitting here with a big smile on my face looking at these lovely stones. I can't wait to implement them in some new designs. I mean, can you imagine Rubies with oxidized silver?? I guess I will be busy for the next few days...:-D

Now I'm off to making dinner ( sweet and sour wok with rice ).

Hugs,

Sabine:-)

Men's thumb ring

I used to make a lot of men's rings a couple of years back, but somehow lost interest in it. I find it often hard to come up with masculine designs. However, lately I have been feeling quite inspired again in designing some new men's items. This ring being one of them. There will be more to come within the next week or so.

Let me know what you think.

Tada,

Sabine :-)

xx

New pieces

This time around I actually managed to post some pictures of some new items before posting them on Etsy. I often have people visiting me at my studio and when they see an item that was meant to be listed in my Etsy shop they snaggle it up before it even enters the shop, which is a great thing, however, I realize now that I just need to make more pieces of the same kind. I am working on that these next couple of weeks.

Been working so much that I often don't realize how tired I am until I get to bed at night. Often I catch myself snacking on chocolate bars during the course of the day which has not been great for my waistline. I eat when I am low on energy. Sometimes I think it would be great if there would be some sort of surveillance kept on me during the day, just so I keep my snacking habits at bay. And I used to think that Callebaut was the best, u uh...not the case.

Norwegian grocery shops have the BIGGEST and longest isles of snacks I have ever seen. Hundreds of different kinds of chocolates and snacks. It is unbelievable. Of course the have them place right in front of the checkout section. I often have to just turn my head the other way so I won't be tempted to buy something I will later regret.

Anyhow, I am going to post some new pictures of jewelry I just finished today!

Have a super lovely day!

xxx

Sabine:-)

Tromsø Island

After having spend most of last week working on a few large custom order John and I decided to take sunday off and go for a nice long drive. We love taking drives and always bring our camera gear. We have his and hers actually. John has a Nikon D 200 and I have a basic Nikon D 50. I usually get passed down all of Johns oldish gadget gear. Its like an ongoing joke in our relationship. We get a good laugh out of it.

We already have two large iMac computers and yet we "had" to buy a MacBook Pro as well...we just can not have enough of the latest technology in the house....:-) I can never be too far from any source of computer gear, that's why I even take the lap top to bed with me occasionally when John is working the night shift at the hospital. I hope he won't be reading this....

Life is good, busier than ever and I love it that way. Although I find it very important to take a break once in a while from working to regain focus and get new inspiration.

We are planning a long road trip to Germany this summer ( 3000km = 1684 miles ) to visit some friends and family.

Also a trip to NYC just before christmas time is in the planning stages. Can't wait.

Off to make some dinner! Shepherd's pie it is...yummy!!

Ciao for now,

xx

Sabine

Production Mania

I've been sick with a nasty cold this past week and haven't done a whole lot of work other than filling some custom orders. So, today I am feeling quite a bit better and spent quite a few hours in my studio creating new items which I am very excited about. I finally got a huge shipment of some tiny gemstones that I am planning on setting onto some cool new designs that I have been sketching out.

I'll take some pictures a bit later and hopefully list some in my Etsy shop tonight.

Ta da for now!

xx:-)

Sabine