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

Summer Moved On Earrings

Organic Leaf Necklace

Here is one piece of my latest stash that I managed to photograph this evening.

I hand formed the leaf for this pendant by hand while melting the silver. It's very organic and simple. I didn't want to overpower it with embellishments other than a 6mm bezel set onyx and a round "frame".I kept it unoxidized which would have been too rustic for this design.

Hope you like it!

I got up early and spend the majority of today in my studio. Never seem to be able to stay out of there for long these days. The muse is calling on me constantly which is a good thing isolated, but at times I can't seem to concentrate on doing other things that need to get done.

I had such a great time sitting behind the bench smithing away and  listening to some new albums I had downloaded from iTunes.
It's been a great and productive week for me in my studio!

Today I crafted two turquoise pieces, one chrysocolla, one agate and a pair of gorgeous amber earrings. The earrings took quite some time to make since I filed each pedal's grooves by hand.  They also go well with my amber necklace that is for sale in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/56002687/handcrafted-amber-pendant-necklace

I will be listing these starting this evening local time. Not sure if I will manage to post them all since I also need to finish some overdue housework.


How has your week been so far?


xx - Sabine

Handcrafted amber earrings in sterling silver. 

Handcrafted amber earrings in sterling silver

Robbins egg turquoise necklace in sterling silver. All handcrafted.

Robbins egg turquoise necklace in sterling silver. All handcrafted.

Chrysocolla heart pendant necklace in sterling silver. All handcrafted.

Chrysocolla heart pendant necklace in sterling silver. All handcrafted.

Handcrafted turquoise necklace in sterling silver.

Handcrafted turquoise necklace in sterling silver.

Handcrafted turquoise necklace in sterling silver.

Agate necklace with hand stamped bezel. All sterling silver.

Agate necklace with hand stamped bezel. All sterling silver.

Agate necklace with hand stamped bezel. All sterling silver.