Welcome 2013!

It has been a while since I've blogged. Christmas rush keeps me busy and handling less custom work, and I'm really trying to get a handle on all of this social media stuff. I'm starting to use Facebook more and wondering if that's the way to go to reach more interested people.... any thoughts on that? There is only so much time when you have your own business and it's tough to know where to use any free non-design/creative time. Wish I had a really organized secretary sometimes. Maybe that will be my work resolution this year- Organize!

Sarah's wedding jewelry

I have know Sarah's Mom, Heather, for as long as I've been doing craft shows. She has been collecting her daughter's birthstones for years along with some diamonds and has saved them for their wedding day. I made some pieces already for her first daughter, Cass, and now I just finished Sarah's. There is a ring, earrings and another necklace to go with the set. This necklace is my favorite of the bunch so I thought I would show it off!

After the rush

This year was the first time I did two summer shows back to back. I'm used to that at Christmas time but never before in August! Both shows were fun and relaxing - the weather was perfect and even the mosquitos couldn't ruin the Edmonton Folk Music Festival! I got back into the studio this week and took a look around at the mess things were in. After two days cleaning and organizing I feel that I can settle in and tackle the next round of preparations. I have several custom pieces to get to so keep checking back. Then it's Christmas stock. That has always been a hard thing for me to get my head around in August!

Sue's pendant

Sue trusted me with an interesting project. She found me on Etsy and send me a picture of an actress wearing a necklace that her daughter just loved. She wanted me to make it and surprise her daughter on her birthday with the piece. We couldn't find the perfect picture, but knew that it was cross like and was made with garnets. I'm hoping to get the perfect picture of her daughter wearing the surprise piece!

Heather's ring

Heather is one of my best friends and celebrated a big birthday this year. She comes with me to the Tucson Gem show and her eagle eye helps me find great stones. Our group of friends chipped in and gave her some money to buy a special birthday stone. She found this beautiful strawberry colored cushion cut spinel. I took it back to Kelowna with me and then 'surprised' her with the finished ring.

Trish's pendant

I have know Trish for a very long time- she was one of my elementary school teachers! She came to me with a personal project using jewelry from a loved one that had passed. I used a combination of casting and hand building to finish the piece. Now it is a remembrance that she can wear close to her heart.

Donna's pearl ring

Donna had an old pearl and blue zircon ring that she wanted updated and modernized. The ring was very delicate and had very little gold in it. I carved this chunkier ring in wax to make it sculptural and hollowed out the underside to lighten it. The pearl is set lower to protect it on the one side and the blue zircons are tube set to modernize it. Her daughters birthday is also in December (blue zircon) and I have a feeling she will be wanting to wear this ring now!