Sept.16.2011

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.

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.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

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

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

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.