New Work

Good day all!

Here are some new pieces which I completed over the last couple of days. Trying to mix some commercial products and put my own handmade touch on them. This is just a tiny preview as I am still waiting on new material. I think it's fun trying out new things. After all, if one wants to make a scratch in this overcrowded jewelry market one can't just sit still. 

If my ideas don't pan out the way I want them to I just move forward. Hopefully coming up with a better idea next time. This creative journey is about growth, in many ways. I love it!

Right now I am ( again ) in a botanical kind of mood. Almost everything I am starting turns into some sort of floral design as you can see below. Perhaps its the urge for spring to get here. Wishful thinking I suppose even though we have been having such a great winter so far with hardly any snow. 

Going to take the rest of the day off. I am having an egg liquor cake on the go that needs tending to!

Plus the agony over what to make for dinner! Never gets any easier!

Wishing you all a super fun weekend!

xox

Sabine

New Concept

Hello friends,

I have been thinking a lot about my existing designs lately and the lack of steady sales. I love what I do, but I also have to be realistic in terms of what sells and doesn't sell.
After much thought we have decided, instead of opening a new shop, we'll  use our existing shop for our new concept. This will make the transition much easier for us and for our customers. We'll take a chance and see how it goes! The new concept, like I have talked about before, will include many more affordable items, some with pre-made components in combination with my own handcrafted sterling silver parts. I will of course still make larger bezel set items as I have in the shop right now, as well as some hand cast pieces,  but on a lower scale.
This will also give us the chance to gain more of a following here in Scandinavia where fashion jewelry is a total hit.
I'm super stoked about this new venture and can't wait to show you new designs. I really hope you will be as excited as we are!

I am hoping to have some of my new work in the shop sometime this weekend! Stay tuned for picture updates here on the blog and on the Facebook fan page.


Thanks for reading!

xox
Sabine

Shop update

Shop update tuesday, January 24th!! 

Sunrise in Sandefjord

I took these two pictures with my mobile phone through a window the other day at around 9 a.m. This is the harbor in Sandefjord. It must have been the most beautiful sunrise I have ever witnessed. The colors in these pictures were not enhanced in any way. Luckily it had just snowed the night before which I think it gave these pictures that extra wow factor.

I'm having a very lazy sunday and I am embracing it, for once. Tea, home baked spice cookies and lots of reading...love it!

Hope you are enjoying your sunday as well!

Thanks for reading!

xox
Sabine

New work

I know it's been a while since my last shop update, but I had very little time these past two weeks since we got back from Germany. One of my co- workers is on holidays and I filled in most of her position at my day job, plus I had quite a few local custom orders that I needed to finish.
I do love it though when I know that I'll  have some time to spend behind the bench, creating whatever comes to mind. So, this is exactly what I did these past two days, create, from the heart.
I am waiting for some new materials and stones which I hope will make its way into my mail box early next week.
Quite a few have asked if I am going to continue making cast jewelry. I sure will, it is just a big process that takes a lot of time, plus I like to do a big batch all at once so that I don't need to stink up the house a few days in a row. It is quite a health hazard actually to be breathing in the fumes from melting silver. I do wear a gas mask plus I work under an exhaust fan, however, after last time I had a metal taste in my mouth for 2-3 days afterwards. I did some research and found out some rather disturbing news regarding those fumes that I now reduce my time casting to just a couple of hours versus a whole day.
I do find it SO much fun casting, but health comes first.
My mother gave me a ton of ancient coins that I will try to cast in silver next week.

I am also still working on my new line of more affordable jewelry which includes a lot of brass, copper, gold and silver plated brass and leather. Not sure though it if will be a good idea of combining those items with my higher end items in my Etsy shop. Perhaps I'll open a new shop for that alone.

Below are some of my latest creations. Hope you like them as much as I do! I had so much fun. Sometimes it feels great being a hermit and be a slave to the muse!

Chrysoprase in oxidized sterling silver.

Chrysoprase in oxidized sterling silver.

Chrysoprase in oxidized sterling silver.

Chrysoprase in oxidized sterling silver.

Funky German glass bead earrings with hand forged sterling silver links.

Funky German glass bead earrings with hand forged sterling silver links.

Butterfly necklace with bezel set turquoise cabochon.

Butterfly necklace with bezel set turquoise cabochon.

Butterfly necklace with bezel set turquoise cabochon.

Sunrise necklace in oxidized sterling silver and rhodochrosite.

Sunrise necklace in oxidized sterling silver and rhodochrosite.

Sunrise necklace in oxidized sterling silver and rhodochrosite.

Frontier earrings in sterling silver and light pink amethyst.

Frontier earrings in sterling silver and light pink amethyst.

Green jasper druzy necklace in sterling silver with embossed butterfly.

Green jasper druzy necklace in sterling silver with embossed butterfly.

Green jasper druzy necklace in sterling silver with embossed butterfly.

Green jasper druzy necklace in sterling silver with embossed butterfly.

Turquoise necklace in oxidized sterling silver.

Turquoise necklace in oxidized sterling silver.

Hand forged earrings in sterling silver and lapis lazuli beads.

Hand forged earrings in sterling silver and lapis lazuli beads.

Frontier earrings in sterling silver.

Frontier earrings in sterling silver.

This is my shop update for this week! There will be more items to come next week.

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

Happy New Year

First of all I wish everyone a Happy New Year. A little late I know, but life has been so busy since we returned from Germany. Also I would like to extend a HUGE Thank You for everyone who made a purchase during my SALE!! I appreciate you all so much!

We had such a wonderful time with my family. It was wonderful to have the whole family, including my two sisters Anja and Bianca together again. We joked, laughed and cried. My family had no idea that we are coming for christmas. John and I drove a straight 9 hours from the northern part of Denmark ( Hirtshals ) to Cologne in Germany. The weather was treacherous. Driving on the Autobahn with most often no speed limit can make you feel quite vulnerable, especially on snow stormy nights. Unbelievable how fast people drive, even under such conditions. We spent the night in Leverkusen just outside of Cologne and went to a gem and fossil show just behind the beautiful large cathedral in Cologne. After that we did some serious shopping. From there on we decided to drive 3 hours south to visit my family.
John had purchased Santa masks and brass bells. So when we drove into my parents driveway we put the masks on and rang the bells. Funny enough my sisters were there including my niece and nephew. So cute to see the look on their faces when we walked in. My mother had this disbelieved look on her face. My dad was at the time in his woodworking studio where he was carving the last few figurines for the nativity scene that go under the tree. I went inside, knocking first, with my Santa mask on and he thought it was one of his friends pulling a joke on him. Priceless. We had such a great time. It was good on the soul I can tell you! However, as good as it was, it was utterly painful to leave. It just doesn't get any easier.
My dad had Chemo therapy just a few days before we left. The side effects are not very pleasant as chemo therapy kills bone marrow and with that the immune system.
I am so proud of him for being so positive and strong even though he has a huge battle ahead of him. I hope with all my might that he can beat this nasty disease. It is hard on my mother as well. Ahhh, I feel helpless being so far away. Just when my family needs me the most I can not be near. It sucks. Big time.

On a lighter note, John and I got engaged on our last day with my family!!! It was so sweet! Both of my parents can't wait to plan the wedding. If everything goes as planned we are getting married in June in Germany. No church wedding. We are not very traditional people and just want a small intimate ceremony.

After getting home I couldn't wait to start working in my studio. Partially so that I can focus all of my emotional energy into some creative work. It always works for me. Time goes by lightning fast. Being in the moment and enjoying every minute of it. There is this sense of peace that overcomes me when in my creative zone. It's like therapy.
So I made some new items. I purchased some gorgeous quartz crystals and some other lovely stones in Germany and made some good use of them.

I am also working on a new collection of hand cast items and more affordable made to order items. It will take me a while to get everything organized and put into action. I feel the need for growing out of my comfort zone when it comes to my designs. There is this urge to reinvent my work. It's a good thing I think because I don't want to become stagnant or stop learning.

Yikes, this is a longer post than I anticipated it to be. If you are still reading by this point, thank you!

Below are a few pictures of our trip to Germany.

How was your holiday? Hope everyone had a very peaceful and joyous time!

Cathedral in Cologne

Colognes longest shopping street, December 18th,2011

My mothers delicious thumbprint cookies.

Yummy vanilla crescent cookies from my moms kitchen...

Lambs my Dad carved for the nativity scene.

Angel my creative Dad carved

Arch high up in the vineyards

View from a castle into a neighboring town, surrounded by vineyards.

Lonesome house amidst tons of vineyards, Dec.26th

Sundial at the castle

Castle Staufenberg near my parents home

High up in the vineyards. As you can see there is no snow and it was Dec. 26th

Scary carving on the entrance door to the castle. Perhaps designed to scare off potential intruders many many years ago...

Sunset at my parents place.

Have a great rest of the week everyone! 

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine