New series

After some good constructive advice I have finally started work on a made to order line of jewelry.
I have been wanting to do this for a long time, but never really paid too much focus on it since I love the freedom of making one of a kind items. Quite frankly, I really do need to have more cohesive collections.

I love making one of a kind items, however, I do realize now that in order for me to do this eventually full time I will need to come up with a more cohesive line of jewelry.
My designs are often all over the place and I really need to gain more of a diverse audience.

So, these past few days I have been working on a made to order collection. Geometrical designs with chrysoprase is one. Simple with a beautifully brushed finish. I'll have a preview of them here on my blog tomorrow. I hope you'll like them as much as I do. They are quite a bit different from my usual floral inspired items.

I am having a big SALE in my shop right now! Please check my sale section! Discounts from 20-30%. I need to make room for my new made to order items.

As far as my stone shop goes I just place another huge order for more smallish cabochons. Very much looking forward to that. So stay tuned and check in once in a while for updates on newbies:)

How creative was your day?

Midnight here, going to bed. Gym early tomorrow. Yawn.

See ya tomorrow!


xx
Sabine

Yearning for spring

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!

xx

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

Crossroads

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

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

Lilac Buds

New work

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.

Spring Equinox necklace in sterling silver and succulent green chalcedony.

Cosmos necklace in sterling silver, prehnite and green chalcedony.

Cosmos necklace in sterling silver, prehnite and green chalcedony.

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

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.