Two New Pieces & A Peek at The Process

Stormy Seas Shield Ring 

in sterling silver and natural turquoise

Luna Ring

in sterling silver, natural turquoise, and yellow turquoise

Here are a few new big pieces I have been working on...I love them both very much.  (Click on the links above the photos to find them in my shop.)

I have found that the familiarity of contour, shape, and line...those friends that I made so long ago; sketching, painting, doodling, attending art school, cutting hair, sewing scraps of fabric together...find themselves comfortably working once again, beside me at my bench, as I work as a metalsmith.

Every piece starts as a line drawing.  I see it in three dimensions. I draw a pattern.  I etch its idea into the metal.

I cut, solder, and file away at the work until it is the vision I could have painted on paper..the moment I knew just what I was going to create.

I love the creating.

“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There 

are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the 

ground.”

~Rumi

Simply Beautiful

Everything has been so incredibly beautiful lately, no amount of photos seems to pacify me!  Autumn is one of those sneaky times that slips past so quickly.  I want to soak it in, every leaf, every fiery shade, and hold this time a bit more still.  Already trees are looking more bare and I feel a bitterness in the cold at night.  Darkness is coming so early...reminding me it is that time to start burrowing in for the winter.

Every year, the simple beauty of the season's change is startling, and still surprises me.

I designed a pair of hoop posts, very organic shaped, and beautiful in their simplicity.  Sometimes minimalism is so refreshing.  These earrings made me appreciate how pretty plain silver jewelry can be.

 “Beauty of style and harmony and 

grace 

and good rhythm depend on

 simplicity."

Plato –

Why I Heart Bali

Bali is my top destination dream spot for a few reasons.  Obviously, Bali is beautiful, mountainous, and has so much to share...turquoise clear waters, temples, tropics, jungle, rice fields, culture...how much more amazing could a place be?

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Bali is also source to the art of ancient silversmithing, check it out in this video!  I would love to see this first hand, and am so intrigued by the use of organic plant materials in the soldering techniques the balinese use.



Here's a few examples of Balinese silversmithing (so intricate!):

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I might have to try and talk Matt into going to Bali as our honeymoon....

New Rings

Fun new rings are posted in my shop Tarnished & True on Etsy.  Go on over and see!

Stacking Bands and Rambunctiousness

With all the productivity going on around here,  I have a large enough inventory to feel like a real shop on Etsy...you may be wondering how I get any work done with the kids and all.  Well, I just let them do whatever they want and we're all happy.  Here they are during another long bout of posting listings to Etsy that went on this morning.  Yes, it is past noon and they are still in PJs.  But look how happy:

This is the favorite sport of "fluffy stair jumping" where the kids take every pillow in the house and fill the stair landing to create the perfect landing zone for jumping down a flight of stairs.  I still think the risk of this misadventure is worth the free time I get out of letting them do it...knock on wood!

New Handmade Jewelry

Bali Hoops

Everyday Turquoise Chain

Here's a sneak peek at the newest jewelry I've made for my shop on Etsy, Tarnished & True.  Things are really coming together for me now that I have my own studio to work in.  I just can't get enough time in there! 

I have decided that my jewelry will be completely handmade...every link is soldered closed individually, each clasp and ear hook are hand formed.  I think this makes for a more artisan feel and allows me to really stand behind my work as genuinely handmade.  I only use fine silver and precious stones.  I so enjoy hammering, polishing, and forming every piece by hand.  This work truly makes me feel accomplished and fulfilled.  I can't wait to get even more pieces ready for the shop!