Suggestion

To my metalsmithing friends:

If you are not already a follower of this facebook site, I suggest you join. There's a lot of good info and some great tips!

*edit* the link doesn't seem to be working for some reason, so here is the original URL that you can cut and paste into your browser: http://www.facebook.com/BenchTips

xx-Sabine

Letting go

I don't often get very personal here on my blog, but today I thought to share something with you that has been on my mind a lot these past couple of years.
Having grown up in Germany with a work ethic bigger than anyone would ever expect of someone has made me into a person that no longer feels refreshed, or energetic.  Every job I have ever had I put my heart and soul into it. I worked hard, often doing a job that is meant to be shared by two and thinking that this is the way it's supposed to be.
My parents obviously didn't realize how much damage they inflicted when they raised a child that was constantly pushed to believe that without a super-human work effort one would achieve nothing.

I can't get into great details here, however,  everything  I do or try to learn I do to the best of my ability. I am a great believer in doing a job well, which hasn't changed, it is just that I am often completely worn out and on my days off I feel like a wilded vegetable. Going to take better care of myself. It is a commitment I am going to stick to.
Sooo, I have decided as of today I am letting go. I am letting go of pushing myself too hard, to not beat myself up and to be content with the person I am.
I will be putting more energy into the things I love the most, which is John, my rock and the most beautiful person inside and out,  and then of course my love for metalsmithing.
Growth, a never ending path that inspires me to become a better person to myself and others.

Here is to letting go!

Lastly, thank you so much to all of my lovely customers who made a purchase these past couple of weeks! You all rock and keep me inspired to do better and greater work! THANK YOU!

Have a lovely and content weekend everyone!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo
-Sabine

New items

Yesterday and today I managed to make a couple of new items. I am super excited because I just got in some new varisite cabs. Two cute small green hearts and three large square pieces. There are more on the way. I guess I must be dreaming of spring since I am really into succulent colors at the moment.
Sadly, yesterday, when I took a couple of pictures my auto focus macro lens broke. It just won't focus anymore. It was a very expensive lens and it will take me a while to purchase a new one. In the meanwhile I'll be using my 85mm one which does not take high quality pictures. I have to crop every picture which distorts the image a bit. Oh well, c'est la vie.
My latest pieces are a seafoam colored bloom necklace, a hand formed sterling silver double heart necklace with a pink sapphire, an ocean jasper piece with a cubic zirkonia and lastly my Garden of Eden ring that features a gorgeous green/lime colored variscite cab and an adjustable band.
You can find all these pieces right here:
It's almost 8PM and I am off to take a little walk. For the first time in a long time we are actually having temperatures in the plus range. Hope it will continue and melt all the snow away.

Have a lovely day everyone!

xox-Sabine