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

Fresh from the bench

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!

xx

Sabine

September 12, 2011

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

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

A few new items

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.

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.

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

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

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 work

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