Star seekers.

There is a story told in the Christian scriptures of three astrologers who followed an immensely bright star (Matthew 2:1-12). They were so drawn by this star that they followed a hunch in their hearts that it would lead them to the Divine. So set were their hearts on this bright vision in the sky that they pursued it over great distances and through many struggles. Following the star meant that they had to do their traveling at night. They did not know where they would be led. They only knew that they had to follow. They lost sight of the star, and in great humility, they had to rely on other starseekers to tell them where to locate the star again.
This star "filled their hearts with delight"(Matthew 2:10). They continued to follow it in the darkness of the night, journeying until finally they found themselves at the feet of the one whom they had long sought...
from The Star in my Heart by Joyce Rupp

Wings of Gold and drop of divine.

                             18ct gold, parti sapphire, 45cm chain.

The stars on the way...

                     The stars on the way... necklace- Sterling silver, fine silver

     Star earrings- Sterling silver.

    Star Spangle earrings- Sterling silver.

    Star Spangle bangle- Sterling silver.

London Angel

    Earrings- 18ct gold, London blue topaz briolettes.

Golden Flower earrings.

Fixed hook earring-  Sterling silver and 9ct gold  (one flower is 9ct rose gold and the other is 9ct yellow gold) These sit very nicely just below the the ear lobe.

Ear Wings.

      Studs- Sterling silver, hematite.

Little Sparklers.

          Studs- 18ct rose gold, yellow gold, diamonds

            Studs- 18ct rose gold, yellow gold, diamonds.

Amber and citrine.

  

       Sterling silver studs with amber and citrine.
     

Rose bouquet

I was lucky enough to be given these homegrown roses. Divine!         

Homegrown and sewn.

 Cornflowers from my parents garden and a tablecloth that was embroidered by my grandmother.

I thought this flower was fake when I first saw it, but this stunning pink rose is real and from my parents garden.

Night tree and aventurine.

This piece of aventurine has pyrite inclusions that look like a galaxy of stars.

Bee, rosemary and hibiscus.

I followed this bee as it collected pollen from the rosemary and native hibiscus in the garden.  I think it might be time to make more bee inspired jewellery! 

Moonstone Waterfall

                      Sterling silver, fine silver, moonstone, enamel paint.

                      detail

Starship.

                     Sterling silver, fine silver, mother of pearl, pink pearl.

Neckpiece and earrings.

                     Neckpiece- Sterling silver, ruby, black onyx beads.
                     Earrings- Sterling silver, 18ct gold.

    Detail.

Blue moon earrings

Sterling silver, fine silver, 18ct gold, blue moonstone, chrysoprase drops.

White Peacock

Fine silver, sterling silver, faceted white agate beads.

Enchanted forest box.

Some of my 18ct gold rings set with sapphires, diamonds and ruby.

As seen in British Vogue!

These earrings are available from my shop  and are in the August edition of British Vogue. 

Hello Brits! I am really excited to be in Vogue

Don't forget to get free shipping type in iamapreciousjewel where indicated at checkout. 

The Aviary is for sale!

My aviary is for sale. I now have an online shop and will be selling some of my signature pieces at 10-20% below the retail value. I am also offering free shipping. To get free shipping you must type in the affirmation iamapreciousjewel where indicated at checkout. I'll hopefully be adding more pieces very soon.

Winter in Bavaria

Frail living leaves...

                                  O love, O pure deep love, be here, be now
                                  Be all; worlds dissolve into your stainless endless radiance,
                                  Frail living leaves burn with you brighter than cold stars:
                                  Make me your servant, your breath, your core.
                                    Rumi

      Studs-  925, 18ct gold, citrine.

Winter violets and gemstones.

 The first violets of Winter from my garden. I love these delicate flowers, they have a divine scent and colour. (that is a paint by numbers picture in the background that I did when I was a little kid)

Green sapphire, iolite and purple sapphire, from my stone collection. I'll make something with them one day...

Pearl Cage Earrings

Sterling silver, fine silver, 18ct gold, pink pearl.

The Feathered Perch.

A new pair of earrings. Available at egetal. Now I have to get back to pinterest. 

Sterling silver, fine silver. 35 x 24 mm

The Rabbit's foot.

 Unlucky Rabbit- drawing.

Lace teacup- lace, silk thread and Rabbit's Foot necklace- fine silver, sterling silver, pyrite beads.

Two new bangles

I have been spending so much time on the internet lately and not as much time at my bench as I would like. I have managed to make these two bangles. I am now on the great time sponge pinterest (which is fascinating, but literally can suck up hours of time). 

 Woodland bangle- Sterling silver

Coral Antler bangle- Sterling silver

How the diamond led me to the pea...

Many years ago I got a job in a small jewellery shop. I had just finished my gold and silversmithing degree. I was fresh out of art school and eager to get some industry experience.The shop specialized in gold and diamond jewellery, it was very conservative and very mainstream. I was way out of my comfort zone.They asked me not to wear my birkenstocks to work and to try and dress more corporately.
 I spent most of my time at that job writing tags for jewellery, cleaning the glass and cleaning jewellery. One day I came across the Certificates of Guarantee for diamonds. There were seals and signatures and the guarantee that all stones are checked by polariscope, refractometer, ultra-violet, spectroscope and microscope. I thought this was hilarious, a whole lot of pomp and ceremony over a diamond (remember I really was fresh out of art school where we were encouraged to make outside the jewellery box) I started thinking what if the diamond were replaced by something else; like a pea. Like the pea from the story the princess and the pea. And the pea became world famous, like the diamond...So that became my exhibitions Treasure trove of the Princess Mirabelle... and She really couldn't sleep a wink... 
Of course I do now understand that diamonds are serious business.

 Pea necklace- 925, 18ct yellow and rose gold, chrysoprase beads

 Pea ring- 925, 18ct yellow gold, emeralds, diamond.

My pitch bowl and my hammers

The hammer on the far right is my absolute favourite. It has a lovely weight and springy action. But oh unhappy day it broke and is repaired with masking tape, as I've been unable to find a replacement handle.