Memories of tiny feet.

I got a request this last week of making a pair of cufflinks for a dad’s birthday gift, inspired in their 1 month old baby.

After several sketches, going through initials, silhouettes, shapes, some designs I had already made etc…

I suggested we could use his little foot, ..

And so it began:

First she sent me a photo and with the help of photoshop I did some arrangements to get it to a proper size to fit one of the cufflinks:

I printed a couple, and my bench was filled with adorable chubby little feet

Time to cut away with a jeweler’s saw.

She decided on a triangular shape and to have his initials engraved, I didn’t take photos of the rest of the process, because I was too busy finishing  them

Here is the result!

They are sober enough to be worn to work, but works as the sweetest reminder.

These are exactly the kind of custom orders I like to make, something to hold a memory, this time of how sweet and miraculous a new life is.

Surreal days..

Let me start by telling you a little story,

When I decided to move to Spain, one of the biggest questions always my the tools, where to get the metal,etc… for this I asked my teacher which also happens to be from Spain to help me see what would work better..he advice to look for second hand things over here.

I have some tools but I always hold back on the shopping since I have just the basics, or what I can carry in 2 suitcases, and so while looking online for used tools in Spain , prices and such.

I found Don Juan.

He happened to live just 10kms from where we, were to live and well after some conversations, photos, he decided to sell us his tools.

How can I explain?

The closest I can come to, is like if you have a dream, something that you know will take years to achieve, I had an idea to have something like this in a period of 10 years, some of the larger tools like an electric rolling mill was out of that list, it was beyond my reach, then the torches, smaller tools,files,burs, so to me is  like having a loan for college and suddenly finding out is all paid for, like winning the lottery, like having that one thing that would change everything,right there.

 

 

 

No room for excuses,no need to think what’s next..

If I could only tell you how much I’ve cried, happy tears that is..

When I got here, saw the tools and started unpacking, I would cry with every single thing, had a little nervous smile, with each of the things I pulled out of the boxes, we are talking boxes and boxes of these..

I adoreeeeee that each and every one of these tools, has a story, you can see the years, I cherish and respect experience, and he as kind as he is, is willing to help me set up the workshop and explain things, his tools are his tools and well there is a bond, they are what make us earn a living, and facilitate to make whatever comes out of out head, and now little by little I’ve spent my days, sorting them out, cleaning, trying to convince myself this is real and they are mine.

The jeweler’s table, sitting there makes me think how many things have been made there, I am enjoying myself,  I feel like a little girl just playing with everything, getting to know everything..

Moments like this make me feel humble and grateful..

New work is coming soon..I’ll have fire!

I can’t wait!

Lazy,lazy weekend.

I had a big schedule planned for this weekend, taking photos,thinking and sketching what to make for 2 upcoming fairs, answering several emails I had.. but then, a friend asked me to STOP for a while and it was exactly what I needed, a little time to relax…had to go to the city to do a little shopping for some very specific things I needed, talked,talked and then talked some more while having a  little decaf *arghh I know but they don’t let me have the real thing any more* over at the national theater..

 

 

  I was supposed to list several pieces today at the shop but it is a bit late already so I will just list this one..

I seriously have to use other stones, I am on an ocean jasper frenzy..

 

This one at least has a little quartz too..

 

  

Isn’t it pretty?  want to make more on this same line, this one follows the one I made for myself, but then like I said I have to build a stock for the coming fairs that start in a week and a half and a really big piece for a wedding I am quite excited about making..I will show some of the process of it, in the next few days..

Ribbit!

Finding things and turning them into jewelry, is one of my favorite things, it’s really eye catching and gives a little back story to the piece..

For example, this little piece of wood, was picked in a beach in Costa Rica, and then turned into the home of this little frog..

 

I apologize for the dirty,messy fingers in the photos, if you know me, you know sadly that’s their natural status

As for the pendant, all made with sterling silver, the frog, some little leafs, a wonderful Ocean Jasper cabochon in one of my favorite colors..

Making her way to the shop this coming Sunday

Construction work.

 

This pendant is the matching one for the ring I posted a few days ago, this is a rather big geode, with an extremely rough and irregular back..

So it needed a box to protect the wearer from the back, to hold it high but firmly.

Looks a little bit like an eye, the stone had an outline with little gaps in the borders, I had to accommodate the prongs to that to facilitate the setting of the stone.

I added a couple of circles in the bottom and top, side to side, to help support the stone and to follow the design of the ring..in this last photo you can see what I mean by the box holding the stone up high…

I finished the pendant a little late so I decided to take a close up shot of the inside, it’s so hard to capture..

Here is the front …

And since today I got into one of my hyperactivejewelrymakingfrenzy mood.. I forgot to take photos of it worn, there is one thing I can tell you, it is BIG!

If I run into the necklace again but worn, I will make sure to post it here..

That’s all for today, I am officially out!

Good night!

Custom order…Dragonflies.

Finally got a photo I like..

 

They say the 167th time is a charm!

I did it!

I survived today wow! It started early in the afternoon..

I opened the shop,changed the texts, answered some emails, and then a big big big cup of tea and listing it is, it takes me a while to do each one, description,photos etc.

But I am almost done.. my neck says I should leave the computer aside..

So before I go I wanted to show you these:

     

 

I did a bit of everything as you can see.. and also in the never ending fight between me and earrings, earrings won, now I am on a little post earrings frenzy..

 

 

Then I listed  just one of the “Bubble blower necklaces”.

 

   

 

 

The first one was very well received on Facebook, so this week I’m giving myself the task of making some more.. I will post them here when they are ready..have you seen how it works? look:

 

Yeeeeeeeee! I love them…

Ohhh well! I am off to rest and watch a movie.. a long week ahead, have lot’s of production work to do..

Good night!

Under a perfect blue sky..

 

  

 

I can spend hourss and hoursss looking at shells, specially if found in a beach filled with treasures, tiny white shells, perfectly smooth pebbles and wood, I am in love with branches that have been swept by the sea..even the sand has tiny mustard,green,gray stones.

Sitting there with no many people around feeling the waves crashing at your feet and the sun shining upon you, a small breeze, for me is better than what any spa can offer.

I borrowed a few things to play with in the future and incorporate into my work..

 

I sometimes miss living in the beach..

The process.

I’m making some custom wedding rings for a couple and I am showing a step by step over here.

Hopefully this can help or be interesting to someone who makes jewelry or is learning to.

These kind of rings are great because you can basically just put anything you could think of inside.. stones, symbols, etc.

The ones I’m making will be like a small mosaic with turquoise and malaquite..

 

 

I took photos of half of the process, the other half is coming soon and I will make sure to show you what they look like when they are done..