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

More new items

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

Oct.1, 2011

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.

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

Crazy lace agate in oxidized sterling silver.

Crazy lace agate in oxidized sterling silver.

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

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

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

Beautiful purple chariote, 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

Sept. 24, 2011

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.22, 2011

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