Last shop update before the end of the year

Hello friends,

First of all I'd like to thank everyone who has supported my work over this past year! I'm up to 704 sales! WOW! This has been my most successful year on Etsy. 704 sales might not be much to some, but to me it is huge! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Throughout this journey I have met some incredible people from all over the world which makes selling on Etsy so much more fun. Nice to be able to interact with customers and to get to know some of you.
I see now that I did the right thing about cutting my hours back at my day job so I can focus more energy on what I love to do most. This bonus energy also helps me to focus on becoming better at what I do and gives my muse more time to play with. I will try my best to grow in my craft and as a person over the next year.

There will be one more smallish shop update tomorrow, perhaps one more on thursday. I'll see how much time I have left. We are driving to Germany on thursday ( a 1150km/ 710mile journey ). We'll be staying the night in Cologne so that we can visit a local gem and stone show there on saturday and their traditional christmas market. On sunday we are off to visit my family. I am so looking forward to it. There is to hoping that I can withstand overindulging. I have my doubts since I can't disappoint my mother by not eating some of her baked christmas goodies.

My Etsy shop will remain open for the two weeks I'll be gone for. There are home jewelry parties that I hosting plus a small, intimate art show. So, my jewelry is coming with me. I have made quite a large amount of new items for those occasions. Whatever is left I will list in my shop.
It will be great to find new and interesting stones. John is eager to find new ones also for his stone shop. My dad has already planned a trip to one of my favorite stone guys. Lots to do and see which I love!

I'll be updating my blog with pictures of the trip over the next couple of weeks!

How are you spending your christmas this year?

Thanks for reading!


xox
Sabine

From the bench

Heat forged necklace with bezel set red jade.

Heat forged necklace with gorgeous rutilated quartz.

Heat forged necklace with gorgeous rutilated quartz.

Pyramid shaped hematite pendant necklace in sterling silver.

Pyramid shaped hematite pendant necklace in sterling silver.

Feather and pearl necklace in sterling silver.

Feather and pearl necklace in sterling silver.

Pyrite colored titanium agate necklace in sterling silver.

Pyrite colored titanium agate necklace in sterling silver.

Hand casted medallion with bezel set chalcedony.

New Rings

Hello friends,

It's been a while since I made rings for my Etsy shop. Yesterday I got a package from  my German stone seller and I could not resist using them. I wanted to make simple, yet modern rings with stunning stones. I absolutely love them. All of these stones are hand cut and polished by Guenther, a hobbyist stone cutter. He travels to places all around the world, excavates rocks, cuts and polishes them. He is a good friend of my dad and always knows what kinds of stones I am looking for.

Agate druzy ring in a beautiful mint color.

Agate druzy ring in a beautiful mint color.

Mexican Lace Agate 

Brecciated Mookaite ring

Brecciated Mookaite ring

Relic ring in hand casted sterling silver

Relic ring in hand casted sterling silver

Relic ring in hand casted sterling silver

Beautiful Azurite ring.

"Sunburst" necklace with bezel set rose cut chalcedony

Aztec necklace in sterling silver and Arizona turquoise. The triangular shape is hand casted from sterling silver in a very rustic style.

Aztec necklace in sterling silver and Arizona turquoise. The triangular shape is hand casted from sterling silver in a very rustic style.

And lastly:

Hand casted snowflake necklace in a satin finish without oxidation. I LOVE this one! I have made a few of them now for custom orders over here.

I am still working on earrings. Not quite sure when I will be able to have them ready. Perhaps the beginning of next week.

We still don't have any snow which I can say I don't mind. No sliding down the iced up streets or digging out the car from underneath a mountain of snow. I've shut down production for today. I might have to spend some studio time tomorrow to finish up a couple of items. However, if it's nice outside I'll hit the trails instead. Brisk walking in some fresh forest air.....can't beat that!

THANK YOU for ALL those incredible positive comments and feedback some of you have been sending me about my latest work! So grateful for that! Often,when trying something new with my work I feel vulnerable, not knowing if this is going to work. Ultimately, like I mentioned before, I have to feel that it's right, that it comes from deep within and that it rocks enough for me to wear it.

There will be more items coming in the next couple of months that will be a marriage of hand casted items, rough beads and bezel set stones.

By the way:

Do you mind if the chain on some heavier, hand cast items is something else other than sterling silver? I am thinking that a beautiful, sturdy gunmetal or brass chain would keep the cost down of some of the more elaborate items. What do you think?

If you live in the US I hope you are having a lovely Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy trails,

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

More new items

I can't seem to stop casting these days. Never thought it would bring me this much joy and fulfillment in terms of metal-smithing. I find new ideas all the time that would be great for casting. It is a great, needed change from my other, more elaborate bezel set designs, in my point of view.
It's a new avenue to explore and the possibilities are endless. I realize my latest creations are kind of dark and rustic, a tad old world style, but I absolutely love it! There is a lot of thought and time that goes into these pieces.

I am working on my catalogue of made to order items so that it will be easier for me to sell on different online venues.
There have been requests for more earrings in my Etsy shop. I am working on that, as I really want to make something unique. I actually have started on a pair of ear cuffs. Just need to tweak it a bit.

Next month John and I are driving to Germany to visit my family for x-mas. It will be a surprise visit. Can't wait! My dad's prostate cancer has spread to the bones. Last month he had received some radiation, but it turned out that his cancer had spread to other parts as well. He is now receiving a heavy dose of chemo. I so hope his cancer will go into remission. He has a very aggressive type of prostate cancer which he has battled with now off and on since 2004.
I'll hope for the best. Having left Germany to move to Canada at the age of 21 I didn't see my family very often. The distance made us grow apart quite a bit. However, since I have moved back to Europe we have rekindled a beautiful bond again. Even though I miss Canada quite often at times, I think it is important for me to be near my family.
It will be nice to eat tons of different christmas bakings like gingerbread coated with chocolate....mmmh yummy! Most of all it will be good to be around loved ones during this time of year.

What are you planning on doing for the holidays?

Thanks for reading!

Sabine

Growing

Hello ya'll,

It's a super lovely foggy day here in Sandefjord. No complains though. In fact, what's there to complain about? Cozy warm radiator heat, torch heat, Jazz fusion playing in the background and an overall positive vibe...Life is good around these parts!

I am working on made to order items and hopefully will be able to have many new items finished by next week and ready to add to my shops.

There is quite a large shift in my designs and I love it. I have been feeling incredibly inspired and hope that my new items will be embraced by others as well.

The new designs are simpler, cleaner, organic and a bit more edgy with a tiny touch of Rock'n Roll which you have probably noticed on my last posting. I'm having great fun making molds and hope to be casting some of them early next week.

I have made a few titanium druzy necklaces which are great for the season, in fact, anytime of the year! They can dress up any plain outfit and really make you stand out!

This weekend I'll offer 30% off ANYTHING in my Etsy shop. The sale starts today at 1PM EST and ends on sunday, Nov. 20th at 12AM EST. Sorry,  no returns, no reservations, no layaways, in short, all sales are final.

Here are some of my latest items which I'll try to have in my shop early next week. Again, if there is anything that catches your eye you are more than welcome to reserve it. Just send me a message via Etsy conversations or leave me a comment here and I'll make you a listing in my shop!

Hope life is good to you wherever you are!

Thanks so much for reading!

xox

Sabine

Here is some of my latest work:

"Weathered" organic necklace in oxidized sterling silver. It is is slightly warped. I wanted to make it look like a wave. A reminder of the rough and rugged coast line here in southern Norway.

Bracelet with decorative hand casted button in sterling silver. This bracelet is made to fit your wrist size. 

Titanium druzy necklace in gorgeous sparkling colors.

Titanium druzy necklace in gorgeous sparkling colors.

Titanium druzy necklace in gorgeous sparkling colors.

Titanium druzy necklace in gorgeous sparkling colors.

Titanium druzy necklace in gorgeous sparkling colors.

Viking inspired ring with hand casted decorative antique button in sterling silver.

Viking inspired ring with hand casted decorative antique button in sterling silver.

Hand casted sterling silver snowflake necklace, oxidized to show off detail.

Seashell necklace in solid hand casted sterling silver. Oxidized.

Fresh from the bench

Hello friends,

I just finished a whole bunch of my hand casted items. I sanded so much that my fingertips feel raw but with every turn all the pieces started to come together beautifully. I felt like I was on some kind of casting high. Out of 12 items that I casted yesterday all turned out, except one. It was a good day.

These items don't have the usual color punch to them like most of my other work does. But I'm totally okay with that. I wanted to achieve a more rugged and edgy look.

My mother had sent me a small box, stuffed full of different buttons that she had stashed away when she was still doing a lot of sewing. There are so many fun, vintage buttons that will make great molds for casting. I did use one of them, the one with the skull impression. Never thought my mother would have a "skull button" in her collection...hehehe.. Who knew?

I'll be listing these after my SALE is over, otherwise it will be too confusing to customers having some items in the shop that are not eligible for the discount. If there are any items from this new batch that you'd like me to reserve for you before they hit the shop, send me a convo through my ETSY shop.

I'll continue doing a bit more casting today and then it's Pizza night here at our place.

Skull Ring in sterling silver embellished with a bezel set red garnet

Skull Ring in sterling silver embellished with a bezel set red garnet

Cherub necklace in solid hand casted sterling silver. Oxidized to show off detail.

Cherub necklace in solid hand casted sterling silver. Oxidized to show off detail.

Geode, set inside a hand casted solid sterling silver mold.

Geode, set inside a hand casted solid sterling silver mold.

Organic heart pendant necklace, hand cast in solid sterling silver.

Geode, set inside a hand casted solid sterling silver mold.

Geode, set inside a hand casted solid sterling silver mold.

Snowflake necklace casted in a handmade mold. Solid sterling silver.

Snowflake necklace casted in a handmade mold. Solid sterling silver.

Snowflake necklace casted in a handmade mold. Solid sterling silver.

Organic hand casted drop necklace in solid sterling silver.

 

Organic hand casted drop necklace in solid sterling silver.

Organic style heart pendant necklace in solid hand casted sterling silver.

Organic style heart pendant necklace in solid hand casted sterling silver.

Statement ring with hand casted and faceted embellishment.

Statement ring with hand casted and faceted embellishment.

Skull pendant necklace, hand casted in sterling silver.

Skull pendant necklace, hand casted in sterling silver.

Skull pendant necklace, hand casted in sterling silver.

There will be more to come in the next few days, but I wanted to show you a glimpse of my new work!

Hope you like it as much as I do!

Wishing you all a super duper fantastic weekend!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine