Echoes of Norway

Fresh from the bench

2012-02-14T17:32:00.000+01:00

Here are three more pieces I managed to finish today! Little bit quirky, fun and whimsical. My style these days. I am sure that will change again. I tend to go from rough and rugged, to fine, to whimsical and then back to rustic. I never know what kind of mood my eager muse is into when she is active.

I just go with the flow.

The first piece is composed of agua nueava agate, mother of pearl and sterling silver. I actually had something completely different in mind when I started on this piece, but somewhere along the crafting process it changed. The first word John uttered when he saw it was "Aztec". I didn't really mean to make anything aztec inspired, rather botanical. I guess it has both elements to some extend.

The second necklace is a fun little necklace that showcases a beautiful jasper druzy in this gorgeous green-blue color, a lovely flower and a hand sawn butterfly. Just charming I might say.

And then lastly we have a "forest trail" necklace which features a running deer, a moon and and several flattened silver granules on copper. Dangling below is a stunning golden colored rutilated quartz cabochon. Love this one because it resembles my love for the outdoors, wildlife and the night sky.

The "Aztec" piece is already listed in the Etsy shop! The other two I'll be listing either tonight or tomorrow. If any of these tickles your fancy let me know and I can reserve them for you!

Wishing you all a happy monday!

Thanks for reading!

Sabine

Yearning for spring

2012-02-13T17:51:00.000+01:00

The sun was out in its brightest force today, making the whole landscape look incredibly beautiful, with sunbeams reflecting off the snow. We have been incredibly lucky this winter so far regarding snow. We have only perhaps 2-3 inches compared to last year where we had a couple of feet. I'm dreaming about spring, about warm temperatures and crocuses poking their heads through the ground.
Yearning for spring, yeah! This is why I have been feeling compelled to make colorful pieces of jewelry lately. As you can see below, my spring like dreams have transformed themselves onto metal. I want to make nothing but floral shapes these days. The muse is on strong. Trying to hold her back a little. She is as usual all over the place. Often, when the creativity circus comes to town here in this household, I could make nothing but jewelry all day. It can really work against me in some ways as I have too many ideas and too many unfinished projects laying around that often don't get finished. I am in the learning process of working on one piece at the time and to stay focused. It doesn't matter to me anymore if I can't manage a shop update every week. I had put so much pressure on myself. If it doesn't feel right I am not going to sit behind the bench and force myself to come with something that in the end does not transcend what my work is about. I want quality, not quantity.
I have been trying to push myself a little bit harder to make more elaborate pieces and to learn something new. I would really like to be getting into metal etching, but am a little weary about all these chemicals. If any of you happen to have a good idea about what to use, let me know.

Here is my latest piece. I am having two more in the pickle pot and hope to have them ready to polish tomorrow.

Hope you like it as much as I did making it!

Sprout necklace. Oxidized sterling silver and green onyx.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Thanks for reading!

Sabine

A shop update in the works

2012-02-11T11:17:00.000+01:00

How are you all? I know it's been a while since I updated my blog and my Etsy shop. Life has been incredibly busy these past few weeks. From working at my day job to making a large collection for a beautiful jewelry shop in Oslo. I am beyond the moon excited, to say the least! It's been a dream of mine for quite a few years to be able to showcase my work at this place.
The owner approached me a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I were interested in selling at their shop!
So I went ahead and made 19 pieces of jewelry for Sugar Shop. It's is a huge honor for me to showcasing my work next to all these incredible Norwegian jewelry designers / goldsmiths.

I still have a few projects on the go, but my primary focus right now is to update the Etsy shop. I should have some new items available this weekend and next week. Stay tuned!

A few of you have asked how my Dad is doing. Thanks so much for that! He is coping and still getting Chemo. He never complains even though he's been battling this nasty disease now for many years. His strength is incredible. I have learned a lot from him through this and hope that I would have the same strength, grace and willingness to fight if I'd be in the same situation.
I miss my family, but I know that my mother takes such good care of him. In addition he has my niece and nephew that keep him on track.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for reading!

My niece and me.

New Work

2012-01-28T17:53:00.001+01:00

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

2012-01-25T19:28:00.000+01:00

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

2012-01-21T06:46:00.000+01:00

Shop update tuesday, January 24th!!

Sunrise in Sandefjord

2012-01-15T19:44:00.000+01:00

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

2012-01-14T21:16:00.001+01:00

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.

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

Butterfly necklace with bezel set turquoise cabochon.

Sunrise necklace in oxidized sterling silver and rhodochrosite.

Frontier earrings in sterling silver and light pink amethyst.

Green jasper druzy necklace in sterling silver with embossed butterfly.

Turquoise necklace in oxidized sterling silver.

Hand forged earrings in sterling silver and lapis lazuli beads.

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

2012-01-05T19:51:00.001+01:00

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

Last shop update before the end of the year

2011-12-13T18:08:00.001+01:00

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

2011-12-04T08:05:00.000+01:00

Heat forged necklace with bezel set red jade.

Heat forged necklace with gorgeous rutilated quartz.

Pyramid shaped hematite pendant necklace in sterling silver.

Feather and pearl necklace in sterling silver.

Pyrite colored titanium agate necklace in sterling silver.

Hand casted medallion with bezel set chalcedony.

New Rings

2011-11-26T17:03:00.000+01:00

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.

Mexican Lace Agate

Brecciated Mookaite ring

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.

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

2011-11-23T18:02:00.001+01:00

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

2011-11-18T19:35:00.001+01:00

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.

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

2011-11-12T15:14:00.002+01:00

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

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

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.

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

Organic hand casted drop necklace in solid sterling silver.

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

Statement ring with hand casted and faceted embellishment.

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

Re-strategizing

2011-11-09T14:10:00.001+01:00

I have been thinking so much lately about my designs and how much I would like to go in a different direction. Not completely away from what I do now, but my muse is craving a bit more rough, edgy and rugged designs that I need to follow to stay true to myself as an artist. I see that my larger bezel set items don't sell that much. Not sure if it is the price, or perhaps the designs are too mainstream or not pleasing to the eye? Regardless, I never make anything I don't want to make. If it doesn't feel right I won't make it. With this said, I am working on sketching out a new line with more hand casted pieces. I will still be making bezel set items, but with simpler, more refined embellishments.
Next month, John and I are going to Germany to foremost visit my family, attend a craft show and also to purchase a ton of new stones, both for his stone shop and for me. So, to clear up some space for new items I am offering a 15% discount on all marked items ( except items in my SALE section ) until Nov.12th and then the discount goes up to 20% until November 20th. Sorry, I will not be able to reserve items during this time!
In the meanwhile I will be working on new items. Not sure if any of them will make it into the shop before the closing of my sale. I'll see what happens, however there will definitively be previews here on my blog.

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm off casting some silver! :)

Have a wonderful sunny day!

Thanks for reading!

xox
Sabine

From the bench

2011-11-07T22:28:00.000+01:00

My two newest pieces are inspired by nature. One features a stunning Australian chrome opal gemstone and the other a beautiful domed chrysocolla. I put so much thought and care into these pieces that it seemed time stood still. It is so much fun to be in a creative zone where one is so deeply into ones work that nothing seems to matter around you. Jazz playing in the background, foggy skies....ahhhh, I love this time of year.

Before I continue rambling I would like to introduce to you the Forest Sunrise necklace which features a chrome opal and a hand sawn double sun and a hand fabricated flower. I absolutely love this piece because it represents my love of nature so perfectly:

Look at those colors! Doesn't get much better than that!

The next necklace features a bird on a branch and a gorgeous hand cut chrysocolla. This necklace got inspired by watching a couple of Magpie birds outside my studio window. They are always there. I love these birds, but don't let a cat near them. I can't count the days when they woke me up because a cat got near them. They make a lot of noise.

Both of these are available in my shop! I hope you like them as much as I do!

Wishing everyone a beautiful day/evening depending on where you are!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

On my bench

2011-10-27T15:01:00.002+02:00

Fresh from the bench

2011-10-26T21:34:00.000+02:00

Custom order bracelet in sterling silver and amber

A stunning hand cut and polished rhodochrosite is set in sterling silver.

Custom order bracelet in sterling silver and amber

Autumn Mist necklace in sterling silver and smoky quartz.

Lotus leaf pendant necklace with beautiful rose cut chalcedony

Lotus leaf pendant necklace in sterling silver and baltic amber

Lotus leaf pendant necklace with beautiful rose cut chalcedony

Custom order: Prehnite and sterling silver

More to come tomorrow!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

Anniversary Meal for Us

2011-10-26T19:46:00.001+02:00

It is our 6 year anniversary today and we decided to celebrate with a rolled kebab! Calorie bomb, I know, but sooo good! Bon Apetit for us! :)

Sabine

Sept.23,2011

2011-10-23T14:19:00.000+02:00

Tried to do a lot of casting these past few days, but for some reason it didn't want to turn out. For some odd reason melted silver was "spitting" all over the place while pouring and never made it's way to the mold. This never happened before so I'll need to find out what the problem is.

I am sure some of you can relate to days when your ideas spin out of control! Well, if I could have a talk with my muse I would tell it to come visit me when I'm behind the bench and not while driving or sleeping. I always think that I will remember all those ideas, but to be honest, most of them disappear when I don't sketch them down immediately. I do keep a sketchbook at my bedside table, however, most times I am so groggy that by sketching down a design in the middle of a sleepy state of mind I wake up and can't go back to sleep. Well well, we just can't have it all. I do find it extremely fascinating how it all works.
The design for the labradorite piece below came to me while driving to Oslo. I stopped at the next gas station, took my iPhone and sketched the design before it had a chance to escape me again.
I had this stone for quite a long time and didn't know how to incorporate it into a design. It doesn't have a flat back and the only option would be ( with the tools I have available ) to either wire wrap it or like I did, cap it.
I am so happy with the outcome and glad that I was able to use this gorgeous blue-green flash labradorite in a unique design.

It is available here.

I also made more items this past week. A couple of rings and a few necklaces such as:

Rosetta Jasper Cocktail Ring in Sterling Silver.

Available here

Mystical Lotus Leaf Necklace with Red Garnet. Available here.

Lipstick colored jasper druzy set in sterling silver. 14 carat gold granules grace the textured baseplate. Available here.

Custom order for a delightful customer from Finland. Sage Amethyst set in sterling silver.

Stars Ring with red garnet. Inspired by my late night walks. Available here.

And lastly a picture of my messy bench which, no matter how much I clean it never stays organized for more than a couple of hours. It's hopeless.

Hope your week was filled with a good dose of joy and laughter!

Happy Sunday all!

Thanks for reading!

xox
Sabine

Sept.16.2011

2011-10-16T17:58:00.001+02:00

Hi all,

This time of year is the busiest for me in terms of crafting jewelry. I love every minute of it. Although I had to take a little breather for a week in between since I couldn't shake off a nasty lung infection I have been battling with for quite some time now. Just finished a week's prescription of antibiotics, but it doesn't seem to have cured it. Will have to further investigate.

I also have made quite a few new items for my Etsy shop. It really has been a blessing in one way to cut back on my day job so that I can focus more attention to my growing jewelry business. However, the down side to it is that there is also some sort of anxiety that comes with it. Thoughts like " am I going to continue selling" or "what if my sales don't pick up?" I guess every artist knows a bit of that, especially when you are trying to make a living doing what you love.
So I have decided to turn all these thoughts around into something positive. I am just letting things flow without worrying about the future so much. I'll look at it as a challenge to pursue a journey of becoming better at what I do and to learn as much as I possibly can along the way. I think it is important to stretch oneself and to not get stuck when a road block comes up. Keep moving forward and to learn from the past.
I know there has been a lot of frustration about the lack of views and therefore sales for some of us Etsy sellers. However, it just means to work harder. It is for sure a time consuming job being self employed, having to do marketing and creating. But this is my dream and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing it. I'm excited about the future! This job gives me so much in terms of happiness and balance that no matter if I have tons of sales or not I won't stop creating. If it comes to a point where I won't be able to continue to make a living doing it, I will just have to start working full time again at my day job.

I am really really grateful for the lovely returning customers I have on Etsy. Your support means more to me than you'll ever know! Thank you SO very much!

Anyhoo, I have a few projects, mainly sketches on the go that I am super excited about. Hopefully I'll have something to show you by the end of next week.

Here are some of my latest items I completed this week:

Whimsical oak leaf pendant necklace with a gorgeous juicy colored carnelian and several silver granules and one 14 carat gold granule.

I just love this one! It represents growth and strength for me. I made this when I felt a bit lost and unsure. I took a step back and decided to step out of my comfort zone a bit and then this beauty came to life. It features a beautiful faceted rutilated quartz cabochon that is surrounded by texture, 14 carat gold and a lovely red garnet off to the side which adds some richness and contrast.

I just had to make another similar one, after my first one turned out so nice :)

Hand pierced lotus leaf necklace with bezel set baltic amber. I just love the amber with the oxidized silver.

Floral necklace in sterling silver and a lipstick red jade cabochon.

Little piece of loveliness. Showcases a an organic reticulated circle and a floating hand pierced flower with bezel set red garnet. A little 14 carat gold granule offsets the circle and adds a touch of whimsy.

I really have it for oak leafs this season. I guess all the walks I take in the forests inspire me. This one is hand pierced from sterling silver and embellished with pink cubic zirconia's and several granules.

A modern and timeless piece with great texture and a bezel set red garnet. Great for the holiday season, or anytime of the year.

Hand cast sterling silver crescent moon pendant with tapered set blue topaz.

Whimsical piece with a gorgeous hand cut and polished rhodochrosite, offset by three mother of pearl cabochons and floral embellishments.

I think I will take a couple of days away from the bench to do other things such as knitting a couple of scarfs for christmas presents and to get my house in shining order which has been a tad neglected due to my overflowing muse....well, it might be an excuse, but it's a good one! :o)

Now I'm off to enjoy some ice cream with homemade moist apple cake!

Have a super duper sunday everyone!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

Oct.2, 2011

2011-10-02T17:33:00.002+02:00

It's a perfect day for staying inside. I could spend all day on the couch today. Perhaps it's the dreary fall weather or the restless night I had hearing the respect less neighbors partying until the wee hours of the morning. Obviously it doesn't help when the better half is gone, working night shift and you have no one to "bark" at them. I try not to get too closely involved utter than yelling some obscenities which they just seem to laugh at and ignore. Must have something to do with my german accent that somehow comes through when I get really pissed off or angry.
However, let's not get into my dislike for drunken, reckless people. I'll try my best to keep this blog free of foul language :)

Anyhoo, where were we? Oh yeah, I took a break from the bench today and decided to use some of my "domestic skills" and bake which is always a good substitute for me when I'm not behind the bench...hence the size of my hips....which reminds me that my stationary bike is calling me....darn...

I made a couple of batches of chocolate praline muffins

and I baked a healthy nutritious bread with sunflower seeds and crushed flaxseed.

I love baking bread. There is something so organic about it. Getting your hands all doughy while kneading. Ahhh, sometimes I miss my days when I worked as a pastry chef.

But what I miss the most is a Artisan Kitchen Aid mixer. I wish I would have one. I left mine in Canada when I moved here since the power supply here is different. They are out of this world expensive here ( like everything else ). You can't get a Kitchen Aid mixer for under $800 dollars!! I am not willing to pay this much money. It's total rip-off.

I don't want to substitute for a different kind. There is no better one!

What have you done this lovely sunday?

Hope life is treating you well in whatever part of the world you are!

Thanks for reading!

Sabine

Oct.1, 2011

2011-10-01T17:55:00.000+02:00

Fresh from the bench:

Oxidized sterling silver, red garnet and citrine

Oxidized sterling silver and carnelian.

Oxidized sterling silver and mother of pearl.

Rustic oak leaf earrings in oxidized sterling silver.

Oxidized sterling silver.

Hand cast sterling silver drop with small feather.

Hand pierced feather pendant necklace in oxidized sterling silver and amethyst.

Crazy lace agate in oxidized sterling silver.

"Soar" necklace in oxidized sterling silver and mother of pearl.

Beautiful purple chariote, sterling silver and mother of pearl.

All these will be available in the shop later today, after I finish making dinner! :)

Thanks for looking!

xox

Sabine

Oct. 1. 2011

2011-10-01T13:00:00.001+02:00

Huge shop update later today!
I have been busy like a bee working on new designs. There will be about four- five new necklaces and earrings. So, if you'll excuse me I'll be in my studio for the rest of the afternoon:)

xox
Sabine

Sept.28, 2011

2011-09-28T19:37:00.001+02:00

While I am patiently waiting for my silver sheets to arrive I did some more casting:
It's been a great day! I am pleased as punch that my pieces are turning out so well. There haven't been any mishaps at all today. In between sipping on hot chocolate ( after a rigorous spinning exercise ) I managed to make three crescent moon pendants, two rings and two drop pendants. I made the molds myself. The drop pendants I wanted to keep organic looking with tiny little inclusions. They look great with an oxidized patina.

Heating up the silver with a bit of borax powder.

After the pendant has been casted

Burn marks from the casting process

This is what it looks like when it gets taken out of the molds. The lower funnel part remains after pouring and needs to be sawed off.

The finished pendant, after buffing and oxidizing.

Crescent Moon in solid sterling silver.

Oh, I almost forgot to include the Daisy which I finished today! Hand formed petals on a round baseplate with a glowing amber cabochon. Lovely.

After a few nights last week of bouts with insomnia I feel like on top of the world these past few days. I have been exercising more rigorously. There is a Bikram yoga studio opening up down the street. I think I will give it a try.

But for now: Couch, book and tea.

Have a great day lovelies!

Thanks for reading!

Sabine

Sept.27, 2011

2011-09-27T18:15:00.001+02:00

Today I opened my mailbox and found this:

Design ideas that my 11 year old German niece Lea sketched out for me! She was completely fascinated by my jewelry when we visited just a few weeks ago and told me she'll send me some of her own ideas.

She has a lot of creative talent and wants to be a clothing designer ( or perhaps jewelry designer ) when she grows up.

So incredibly touching. I saw some of her clothing sketches and couldn't believe that an 11 year old has such a creative talent. I will encourage that as much as I possibly can, even from afar.

I love her.

Lea and her charmingly sweet brother Henrik

I think it's so important to encourage creativity in children.

With this said, I am going to take out the pizza from the oven and watch a recorded episode of the British Fear Factor!

Hope monday has been good to you wherever you are!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

Sept. 24, 2011

2011-09-24T17:54:00.002+02:00

First of all I'd like to extend a HUGE Thank You to all of you who snaggled up a few items from my shop this past week! WOW! I am truly humbled! Every single sale inspires me to continue on my path of metal- smithing and makes me want to stretch myself as a metal artist!

Here are a two items fresh from the bench today:
Left the sand casting alone today and decided to make a couple of bezel set items with some pretty new stones I got in the mail last week!
First we have a stunning picture jasper heart cabochon that is set in sterling silver ( swoon, look at the pattern on this beauty ). I wanted to keep the setting simple to make the stone the center of attention.

The second item is a "Garden Party" necklace that showcases a beautiful ocean jasper cabochon that is suspended off a cute hand pierced flower, embellished with a mother of pearl.

I am still having a few projects I am working on, but it's almost 6pm and I think I will have to keep my promise to J. that I am making breaded chicken nuggets for dinner. So I better get cracking in the kitchen and leave the studio alone for the time being.

Looking forward to spend an evening on the couch watching a recording of this weeks Project Runway!

What are your plans for today?

Have a great one!

Thanks for reading!

Sabine

Sept. 23, 2011

2011-09-23T20:40:00.001+02:00

Woke up at 6 a.m., made myself a cup of Rooibos tea and sat on the back porch to watch this amazing sunrise:

I love serene, early mornings when I can sit outside by myself and enjoy a sense of peace and quiet before the neighborhood starts up their engines. It's a meditative time for me. How about you? Do you have a special time of day that is sacred to you?

Wishing everyone a peaceful and serene friday!

xox

Sabine

Sept.22, 2011

2011-09-22T21:51:00.000+02:00

Fall has made its mark here in southern Norway and with that a quiet force that took its place deep within my soul. Autumn always brings with it this sense of peace for me. I can't explain it, but this is a time for me when things that normally bother me to the core take a quiet turn and somewhat hibernate. I feel at peace and with that comes a great feeling of creativity. I wish I could bottle it and store it away for those days when the world within me is in a bit of turmoil.

Yesterday I had a great day sand casting silver. I think I finally got the hang of it which means that all of the items I casted turned out really well on the first try!

It's all great fun and I can't wait to continue on this path.

A trip to the park is planned tomorrow where I can hopefully find some more interesting things to cast. Thinking twigs and bark. Shall see what kind of treasures the forest holds for me!

Here are some of my latest items:

Hand casted drop pendant necklace with hand fabricated links.

Hand casted star anise in sterling silver and garnet.

Oxidized sterling silver earrings with beautiful lamp work beads.

Cute oxidized sterling silver earrings with red coral beads and dangling freshwater pearls.

They are available in the shop!

There will be another shop update sometime this weekend!

Hope life is treating you well wherever you are!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

Winner Announcement

2011-09-22T20:01:00.000+02:00

Hello friends,

Sorry it took me so long to announce the winners, but Blogger gave me trouble uploading the screenshots.

Here are the winners of my giveaway: 1. Louhetar ( Nr. 8 )
2. Elaine R ( Nr. 113 )

Congratulations to both of you and thank you SO much to everyone who left comments and participated! I'm humbled by your kind words!
I'll be having a giveaway again sometime in November!
There is still a 20% discount available in my Etsy shop until the end of this month for all who participated on my giveaway! This offer excludes SALE items! :) Use code: Fall2011 upon checkout!

xox
Sabine

Sept.21, 2011

2011-09-21T18:15:00.000+02:00

A HUGE thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in my Giveaway! Your lovely comments were very much appreciated!

I'll be announcing a winner either later on today ( if I get my act together ) or tomorrow for sure!

Thanks again!

xox
Sabine

2011-09-16T11:39:00.001+02:00

Giveaway

I am having a Giveaway for two of my hand casted faceted necklaces. You can check out the necklace HERE.

How To Enter The Giveaway

Giveaway is open worldwide to entrants at least 18 years old. I will be pulling a number from random.org after 12:00 PM EST on September 21st, 2011, and the corresponding commenter will win! I will contact that lucky soul for a mailing address. If I don't hear back from the winner(s) within 3 days, a new number will be drawn.

Mandatory Entry: Circle around my Etsy shop then comment on this post with your favorite item and a way to contact you, preferably an email or Etsy username.

Extra Entries: Don't forget the mandatory comment before moving on to these! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry to count.

Enter up to six times which will make your chance to win much higher!

1. Add that same item to your favorites AND heart my shop. Leave a comment with your Etsy username.

2. Get 20% off anything except items in my SALE section by using coupon code "Fall2011" and comment here with what you purchased. The coupon code is valid through all of September, so if you don't win a necklace, you can purchase one at a discounted price afterwards!
3. Like this giveaway on facebook by using the like or share button at the bottom of this post and comment with your profile link. If you have a facebook business page, you may also share it there for another entry.

4. Like the Echoes of Norway fan page on facebook for one extra entry. Leave a comment here and let me know that you did so.

5. Spread the word! Give this post a + 1 on Google or pin it to Pinterest. I'll honor one entry for every networking website you share it on, just make sure to leave separate comments for each.

6.Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment here and let me know that you did so.

Thanks for participating and GOOD LUCK!

2011-09-15T18:56:00.001+02:00

Thursday, September 15, 2011

In between fabricating some local custom orders I did squeeze in some more time casting silver. I went through my yard the other day and picked some twigs for casting. One of the pendants I made today comes from one of my lilac bushes. I love it's organic look. It's a tad quirky and I was told that it reflects my humorous personality. I love the way it turned out. All the grains and sprouts are showing especially after a little hand applied patina. It measures 1.6" (42mm ) and is built of solid sterling silver.

This delightful pendant comes with an extra long long chain ( 22" inches ).

I also made another hand casted medallion necklace, this time with a little twist. This one is adorned with tiny silver granules and a beautiful 12mm carnelian. It is also oxidized and softly brushed to highlight all the lovely details.

Lastly I cast a very sturdy and thick sterling silver band. There was lots and lots of sanding and polishing on this baby, but I love the end result. Shiny, smooth and built to last. I'll be making them available in my shops soon!

Both of these necklaces will be in my shop later on today!

I'm off for some spinning!

Happy thursday Y'all!

Sabine

September 12, 2011

2011-09-12T20:31:00.002+02:00

Hello friends!

How was your weekend?

Mine was great fun. We've been having such rainy fall weather in the last few days and it made me get very domestic. I baked bread, cleaned out part of my studio space, made a casserole and spend some time getting acquainted with sand casting.

I made two new necklaces which I am very proud off. I think they turned out really well. It took me quite a few times to get it right, but I wasn't about to give up. In the end I prevailed :)

One is a faceted pendant which is casted from an old vintage button:

and the other one is a medallion pendant which is cast from an old brass button.

Both have been lightly oxidized to show off detail. I have one faceted piece left which I'll make into a ring.

Have a fantabulous monday!

"See" you tomorrow!

xox

Sabine

In Remembrance...

2011-09-11T20:32:00.001+02:00

Ground Zero MemorialSite N.Y.C. Photo By Getty Images/Pool

2011-09-10T19:21:00.001+02:00

Walnut alert!

Been working on sand casting today and boy gosh I think I might have to dig out all my natural objects I have been finding when going on my walks. They will need to be cast.
Today I made a couple of walnut pendants which turned out really lovely. I actually let out a big chipper "YES" when I dug them out of the sand. I do have to admit that it is a tedious process and I had a few tries that didn't go so well. But that is the fun part for me, to learn something new and to have more creative outlets. It is a stinky process. I think I might have to call it a day since John is thinking about putting my gas mask on. I stank up the whole house.
Nevertheless it was great fun and I will be doing another batch tomorrow.

I made two of the walnut pendants, one for me and one for the shop.
Not quite sure if I should oxidize them or not. What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

2011-09-09T21:04:00.003+02:00

Been working on some new items and really love how they turned out. Sometimes it's best to keep things simple without taking away from the beauty of a stone.
Here are my latest beauties from the bench:

I wanted to make the stone shine with a more simpler setting. This one is a Mexican lace agate that I set in sterling silver.

Kyanite pendant necklace with a handcrafted leaf.

Beautiful heart shaped pendant necklace with the most stunning Mexican lace agate. Looks almost like a cluster of snowflakes.

Medaillon necklace with a striking Pietersite cabochon in beautiful blue tones. The stone also has a super great polished finish and is hand cut. The stone is offset by a sturdy box chain that I threaded around the bezel and soldered onto the baseplate.

Cute copper earrings with sterling silver floral detail. A lovely patina highlights the detail.

Modern copper leaf earrings with sterling silver granules. These beauties come with a gorgeous patina.

Some of these lovelies have made it into the SHOP already and the rest will make it's debut sometime this weekend!

I am super excited as I will be doing some sand casting in the next few days :D

Have a super great weekend everyone!

2011-09-06T18:59:00.001+02:00

Look what the postman brought today! Eeek, a sweet package arrived from my favorite stone cutter! I'm in love! I mean look at them!

A gorgeous Mexican lace agate. The line you see is not cracked, it is a natural part of the stone's formation.

Another stunning Mexcian agate. Looks like snowflakes are making up part of this beautiful heart.

Chrysocolla and chrysoprase. Yummy indeed!

Stunning Russian chariote. Thinking earrings!

And lastly, another Mexican agate with rich beautiful colors. Perfect for fall!

Fall is here. Tons of rain and gusty winds. I even had to close the window in my studio because the wind kept on putting out the flame on my torch. It will be tough when cold weather arrives here again because I love having my window open when I work so that I don't always need to wear my gas mask....I know I know...bad thing....I'm hoping to have an exhaust system one day.

I leave you with a picture I took of some flowers John purchased for me ( my favorite flower is the sunflower )

Enjoy your monday everyone!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

2011-09-05T18:10:00.006+02:00

How has your weekend been?

Mine was spectacular. I did so much. More than I have been able to accomplish in a long time. I was baking, cooking, crafting jewelry ( what else is new ) and enjoying some lazy times on the sofa watching reality TV with my sweet boyfriend. Mindless Television, but who can beat an episode of Project Runway or X-Factor?

I made three lovely similar items today. They are all inspired by my love of nature like most of my creations.

There is so much inspiration right now for me that I could sit and create almost all day without getting tired. I know that there will be coming a "down" time again when it feels like the muse will never strike again....however, I have learned through the last couple of years that taking a break from doing my craft is essential once in a while. Taking a step back and enjoying other forms of creativity like sewing, knitting, cooking and baking helps me stay centered. I am definitively not a person that can sit still for a long time. I like to get as much out of a day as I can. Boredom definitively does not exist in this household. Obviously when I'm working at my other job a couple of days a week I don't have that much energy left over to do other things. I'm not superwoman....hehehehe

These will be my last new items for the next couple of days. I think I will try and finish some of my sketches first for my new catalogue items.

All three will be available here sometime before wednesday. If you'd like to reserve one, let me know! :)

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

2011-09-05T00:04:00.006+02:00

Been working on sketching catalogue items for a second shop I have in mind. I get many requests from people wondering if I could re-create some of my items. This made me think to perhaps create some simple, minimalist items that would feed my creativity when I'm not in the mood to make anything too elaborate.
It will take quite a while to built up an inventory, but since I have a bit more time to spend in my studio I hope to have my new shop up and running early next month ( ambitious, I know ), but I work best when I can focus and put myself a bit under pressure as weird as that may sound.

In between baking some delicious banana bread I managed to make a couple of new items.

One pair of cute hanging basket earrings:

and a lovely labradorite necklace with a "studded" bezel. Loving this one!

The earrings are available HERE and the necklace will be in the shop sometime tomorrow!

Hoping for some better weather tomorrow so I can head on over to one of the local parks to pick some fun, natural items that I can start casting.

What have you been doing this weekend?

Hope your sunday was filled with much joy!

oxo

Sabine

Iolite Ring

2011-09-03T16:09:00.000+02:00

I am trying to make something new every day until the end of the month. Today I made a lovely lilac iolite ring, a new Space Road necklace and a couple of custom orders. The ring is my new favorite. I think I will have to make one for myself.
Both items are available in my shop!
Off to bake some banana loafs....:)

Happy saturday!

xox
Sabine

A few new items

2011-09-02T10:32:00.001+02:00

Since having cut back 50% on my day job I already feel so much less stressed and able to focus more attention on my jewelry business. Amazing how inspired one gets when the mind is at peace and one has time converting that positive energy into some creativity. I'm loving this. This will also give me a chance to blog a bit more which I am really looking forward to.
Here are some of my latest items that are available in my shop:

Hand cut and polished rhodochrosite set in sterling silver

Custom order

Mexican lace agate in beautiful pastel colors, mother of pearl and sterling silver.

Charming lotus leaf earrings

Chrysoprase pendant necklace in a simple, textured setting.

Phantom Quartz pendant with handcrafted sterling silver "cap".

Have a lovely friday everyone!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

The next step

2011-08-24T18:40:00.001+02:00

After much thought and support from John I decided to cut back to 2-3 day weeks at my day job. This will give me the opportunity to focus more on building up my jewelry business.

I just couldn't see myself getting any further with it the way I have been working on my day job. It is a very physical and often stressful job which often times made me extremely drained of creative energy. I have this need to grow, to learn new techniques and to experiment a bit to further my craft.

Since having made the decision to cut back some hours I feel more relaxed and at ease. Ideas have been swarming in by the dozens. What a great feeling. It's so liberating.

I am thinking about heading "down" to Munich in the end of October to go and visit the Mineral and jewelry show ( http://www.mineralientage.de/?lang=en ) to purchase more stones for both John and myself.

John has opened up a stone shop on Etsy: Fabby Dabby Gemstones
Go and check it out. He'll be adding new ones on a daily basis.

Have a fantastic day all!

Thanks for reading!

xox

Sabine

Chrome Opal Necklace in Sterling Silver

Moss Agate Pendant Necklace with decorative setting

Beautiful Montana Agate Pendant Necklace

Hollow Form Pendant Necklace with Amethyst

Custom Order

The muse has struck

2011-08-20T20:44:00.000+02:00

Ever since we got back from our lovely trip to Germany I have been working in my studio. It's been so great to find new inspiration, plus purchasing tons of new stones.
I even had the chance to go to a mineral and fossil sale and exhibit. What fun that was! Gosh, I wish they would have those shows here in Norway.
I must admit that my heart was very heavy upon returning home. My family means the world to me and to have to leave again was heart breaking. I have not lived in Germany since 1991 and I know my parents, especially my mother has had it difficult over the years not having me close by. We have always been extremely close. She has supported me quietly over all those years and never ever interfered with the way I live my life. She gives great advice and is the most warm hearted person I have ever met. I love her to bits and can not wait until my next visit. Hopefully christmas.
I tried converting my sadness into creativity by spending some good quality time behind my bench this weekend and have to say it was like therapy. I feel refreshed, calm and and joyful after having been able to work behind my bench. I feel so blessed for the life I have and for the love I get to feel every single day.

Hope this weekend is full of joy and creativity for you as well!

I think I am going to chill the rest of the night with a iced Bailey's and some milk and watch an episode of Project Runway!

Happy saturday all!

xox
Sabine

Here are some new pieces:

New Stones

2011-08-08T23:34:00.000+02:00

Just came back from purchasing some incredible looking stones from one of my favorite stone cutters here in southern Germany. I'm in trouble. I have never spend so much money for stones in one day. Expensive, but incredible qualities and cuts.

Here is a little preview:

Variscite

Chrome Opal

Argentinian Rhodochrosite

Montana Agate

I will be heading to a gem show this weekend. Apparently there will be a couple cabochon dealers there. I absolutely love picking stones first hand instead of over the internet.

Can't wait to get started sketching some new designs.

Do you use hand cut stones intend of mass produced ones?

Have a super fantastic day everyone!

xo- Sabine

New work

2011-07-19T16:58:00.001+02:00

A perfect day to spend in my studio. Day off work, cloudy skies, tea on the kettle and Michael Franks playing in the background. I am so glad I finally managed to finish a large custom order for a very sweet lady. Three sun pendants with amber. What fun they were to make. I hope she'll like them as well as I do. I also made one for the shop. A beautiful lapis necklace in a scalloped setting on a textured baseplate. So lovely. The chain is adorned with blue quartz beads. These blues look so good against the darkened silver. I'm in love. The lapis teardrop I purchased on my last trip to Germany at a local lapidary hobbyist. He cuts and polishes stones as a hobby and occasionally sells them. I am so looking forward to going to Germany soon to visit my family. John and I will be driving "down" which will involve taking a 3.5 hr. ride on a ferry from here to Denmark. The rest of the trip will take approx. 10 hours to get to the southern part of Germany. There will be laughter, shopping and most of all good food. My mother has a hand built wood fire oven in the basement where she bakes wholesome breads in all shapes and sizes. Can't wait to dig my teeth in one of those delicious creations.

There will also be trips to some stone suppliers which one will find by the dozens around that area. The southern part of Germany has many stone enthusiasts. My dad is an avid stone collector and used to go to caves to search for rocks. When he got from those trips he used to use his stone cutter machine and sliced open different jaspers, often to reveal incredible druzy formations. it was always very fascinating for me, the anticipation for what might be inside the stone. I learned a lot from my dad when it comes to stones and never lost my desire for them.

Off to clean my ridiculously dirty studio. Will post some pictures of my studio space sometime this week.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Thanks for reading!

~Sabine

Gokstad Ship Replica

2011-07-18T21:06:00.001+02:00

At the harbor here in Sandefjord you can occasionally find a replica of the old Gokstad viking ship.

Here are some close up pictures:

Summer in Norway

2011-07-14T10:38:00.001+02:00

Been not spending as much time outdoors lately as I normally do. In this area we are living in there is so much to do and so many things to see/ explore. Trying to divide my time spend in my studio and my day job has made it difficult to get out as much as I usually do. It is summer after all and a lot of my co- workers are on holidays. So I have been working full time these past two months. Things will slow down a bit next month and I will get to spend some good quality time behind my bench. In addition we are heading to Germany to visit my family plus visiting my favorite stone suppliers! I'm excited to be picking stones first hand instead of over the internet. Can't wait to start working on new designs!

Here are a few captions from a little drive we took yesterday!

Have a great week everyone and thanks for reading!

~Sabine

Crossroads

2011-05-18T17:52:00.001+02:00

Have you found yourself to be at a crossroads from time to time?
Lately I have this urge to break out of my comfort zone and try some new designs, however, I think fear often holds me back from trying. Well, I am taking a big leap and without thinking about the cost of silver right now I am working on more bold and sassy designs. I have found myself to be stuck in a rut and not stretching myself enough when it comes to my work. Right now I am feeling so darn inspired that I could work none stop. Love it when it happens, however, the muse often strikes when there is much else going on such as my other job. I went all nuts and ordered tons of new material and tools such as metal stamps. Hope they will get here soon.
We are taking a trip to Germany to visit my family in early august where I also will be attending a arts and craft fair. This trip also will give me a chance to purchase my cabs directly from my favorite stone cutters. I can't even tell you what it feels like to walk into a large room that is filled with shelves and drawers full of cabs in all sorts of colors, types and shapes. The last time I was there you could not drag me out of there. My boyfriend and my sister thought I am crazy to spend so much money on "just" stones. Thought they were going to have an intervention for me.

Today I enjoyed making some new items which all included turquoise, two of them I managed to get finish.
The necklace I made is so super lovely ( if I can boast my own horn ). It is composed of sterling silver and features 8 bezel set Kingman turquoise that surround a red juicy jade.
What a piece! It is large and bold and ever so lovely.
The earrings are crafted from copper, sterling and Kingman turquoise. I am not sure when I will be listing these items. I want to build a collection of new items and list them once I have cleared out some of the current pieces in my Etsy shop. I am having a HUGE sale right now, the biggest one to date. So please hop on over and snaggle up something before it will be gone forever.

Have a fantastic day!

~ Sabine

Spring has sprung

2011-04-25T19:00:00.001+02:00

Spring is finally here and with that newfound inspirations! I can't wait to get behind the bench and start working again.

I have been sick with a nasty flu these past couple of weeks and have not been able to really concentrate on making new items. Once in a while I would "sneak" into my studio space and try to make something new, but my body just did not want to cooperate. Today was the first day that I actually felt a bit better. John and I went on a long drive to a place called "End av verden " ( The End of the World ). It really is called that. It is a place surrounded by the ocean and tons of rock formations. An absolutely stunning place. I took some pictures and hope to show them to you perhaps tomorrow.

I also managed to make a ring which I am super excited about. The ring is inspired by sunflowers. It took quite a while to make along with some cursing off and on because the petals would slide off each other while I tried soldering them together. However, after trial and error it all came together beautifully. I hope you'll like this little beauty as much as I do. I just listed it in my etsy shop.

Hope to have more new work ready to show this week!

Have a fantastic day!

♥~Sabine

Lilac Buds

Happy Sunny Monday

2011-04-11T11:55:00.002+02:00

Ahhh, nothing is more full filling at times then to sit on the porch with a cup of tea to enjoy the early morning sun rise. I went out, took a couple of pictures of some spring flowers that are blooming underneath the apple tree.
A great time for a reflection of gratitude!

Happy monday everyone!

xox- Sabine

New work

2011-04-10T10:52:00.000+02:00

Spring has finally arrived here in lovely Sandefjord. Snow drops are in full bloom, crocuses are making its way through the earth, birds are chirping and the apple and cherry trees in the backyard are just a couple of weeks away from blooming. With all that going on my inspirations are bursting. I'm loving every minute of it! I am trying not to let the price of silver get me down, instead I am putting that energy into lovely new designs that I hope will be enjoyed by future customers.

This week I focused a lot more on earrings which I haven't done for a long time. It felt good. This whole week has been incredibly productive. It probably has to do that I took better care of myself, getting more rest and trying not to overwork myself. Ideas are flowing much easier when the mind and body is rested up.

We went to Sweden a couple of days ago and while sitting on the ferry I sketched tons of new designs that I am eager to work on in the next couple of days. While typing this the sun is hitting my back and I am torn on whether to spend the day outside or behind the bench. Perhaps I'll do a little bit of both. The backyard needs racking and some of my flower pots need cleaning. Plus I am thinking about baking some pita bread for tonights barbecue.

I also want to shout out a big THANK YOU to all of my customers who without a doubt are the best one can ask for! Thank you soooo much for your support! I am truly humbled! Your support means the world to me and makes me want to keep on creating and better my craft!

I'm off to do some spinning!

Below are some of my latest pieces! You can find them all here: My Shop

Happy sunday everyone!

xox- Sabine

Chalcedony and Sterling Silver

Prehnite and Sterling Silver

Spring Equinox necklace in sterling silver and succulent green chalcedony.

Cosmos necklace in sterling silver, prehnite and green chalcedony.

Midnight blues necklace in sterling silver, gold and faceted rock crystal.

Lace and Pearl Earrings in sterling silver and mother of pearl.

Vine earrings in sterling silver and green onyx.

Sterling silver cuff with gorgeous Australian chrysoprase.

Secret Garden necklace in sterling silver, green onyx and amber.

Bloom on a wire earrings in sterling silver and mother of pearl.

Bloom on a wire earrings in sterling silver and serpentine.

Bloom on a wire earrings in sterling silver, gold leaf filled lampwork beads and black onyx.

Tromsø

2011-03-24T16:59:00.000+01:00

This gorgeous video is made in Tromsoe, northern Norway and features the most beautiful northern lights. I lived there for 4.5 years before moving here to the south of Norway a year ago.
http://vimeo.com/21419634

Enjoy!

xox- Sabine

New work

2011-03-11T10:08:00.002+01:00

I have been having a great time crafting new pieces in the past couple of weeks. I'm eager for spring to make its mark which shows in my inspirations and colors of my latest pieces.
Spring has not arrived here yet. It snowed again yesterday. Hopefully that was the last bit of it for this winter. The temperatures are slowly rising, I even sat out on the porch a few days ago enjoying the morning sun and hearing the birds chirp away. What a lovely way to start out the day. Almost meditative.

I am excited about my order of enamel powder that is on its way. I have already started sawing out designs for earrings and necklaces, ready to be enameled. At this point I feel the intense need to further my craft, to learn something new and to step out of my creative comfort zone. I am also investing into some sand casting materials. Can't wait to get started. I need change, and I figure with having more options and materials it broadens my chance to make a more diverse line of jewelry.

Below is some of my latest work.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Thanks for reading!

xox- Sabine

Lavender Chalcedony Necklace in Sterling Silver

Rustic Turquoise Earrings in Sterling Silver

Whimsical Earrings with Mother of Pearl

Organic hand formed and forged circle necklace with pink sapphire.

Perfect for spring: Green chalcedony ring.

Inspired by the snowdrop spring flower:

Mother of Pearl cabs in opaque turquoise and lustrous white.

Necklace in green chalcedony and mother of pearl. I love this one.

Suggestion

2011-02-19T18:15:00.000+01:00

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

2011-02-18T19:20:00.000+01:00

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

2011-02-01T19:56:00.000+01:00

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

Hello again

2011-01-29T17:58:00.000+01:00

It's been so long since my last blogpost that I almost have a bad conscience.
Things are going to change soon. I realize how much I miss sharing bits and pieces of my life and work with you. Life has been quite busy for me in the past couple of months and I just did not have a chance and the energy to blog. After all, blogging should be done with joy and not because one has to.
I'll be working on new jewelry in the next couple of days and should have some new pieces to show early next week!

Below is a picture of lovely Sandefjord that I took today!

Have a lovely day everyone and thanks so much for reading!

xox
-Sabine

Giveaway Winner

2010-12-13T17:33:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone!

I know I am late. I was supposed to have the drawing yesterday, but I wasn't able to get to my macbook.

First of all I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to participate on my giveaway and for becoming a blog follower and ( or ) a fan of my facebook page! Thank you so much!

I used a random number generator to choose the winner!

*drummroll** and the winner is : Sharon Siqueiros ( Nr.52 ).

Congratulations Sharon! Please send me your address so that I can ship this necklace off to you. It might even get to you by christmas!

By the way: I have gotten a couple of requests for the vanilla cookies recipe. Just haven't had a chance to convert the recipe. But I will do it either tonight or tomorrow for sure.

Again, thanks to everyone!

xoxox

Sabine

City Scenes

2010-12-10T20:18:00.000+01:00

Shared a nice couple of hours with my honey today. Had lunch at a local cafe and did some christmas shopping.
I try not to get stressed out purchasing presents. It just puts me in a bad mood and that is not the way it is supposed to be. I wouldn't want to receive a gift from someone that they purchased during a highly stressful time. I like taking my time, finding something that has some meaning and that the person receiving it will find useful.
Tonight, despite feeling a cold coming on, I am going to bake some more cookies. This time I am whipping up a my mothers vanilla cookie recipe. It is a traditional german cookie with real vanilla beans. They melt in your mouth. Actually just writing about them makes me drool..
I will be posting the recipe tomorrow. It needs to be converted first since all measurements are in grams instead of ounces and pounds.

On jewelry news: I have added a few more items on 50% percent off in my Etsy shop. There are some great items to be had. Check them out!

In the meantime be well and enjoy the season!

xoxo
Sabine

Here a couple of pictures that John took today when we were out :