My dearest friend commissioned me to create a smoky quartz pendant for her mum’s birthday – I was so pleased, as her mum is one of the reasons I began silversmithing – her collection of wonderful statement pieces stayed in my mind from when I was small!
I found her the most amazing faceted cabochon, which inspired my design.
It is one of my favourite pieces to date, and I was honoured to create it! š
Please note: this stone is reserved for a lovely client!
The creamy carnelian gemstone cabochon shown here is 40mm long.Ā
Carnelian is a variety of the silica mineral chalcedony, which has been coloured by impurities of iron oxide. The colour can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black. It is commonly found in Brazil, India, Siberia, and Germany.
The cocoa brown drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 28mm long. You can read more about what drusy agateĀ isĀ here.
Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina, Ā prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
The beautiful soft moss agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 27mm long.Ā
Moss agate was the agate of warriors. Moss agate helps balance emotional energy. It helps the user to let go of anger and bitterness. It is believed toĀ enhance concentration, persistence, endurance and success in one’s endeavors.Ā It is thought to assist with sensitivities to weather and pollution. Midwives use it to assist in successful birthing.
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
The mysterious grey titanium coated drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 28mm long. You can read more about what drusy agateĀ isĀ here.
Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina, Ā prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.
The titanium coating is applied to the natural drusy stone using anĀ environmentally friendly process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that uses only electricity to deposit a thin coating (measured in angstroms) of titanium, silver, gold, cobalt or other high-grade natural metallic. The PVD process not only enhances and preserves the natural beauty and durability of druzy, but also the planet and ecosystems that created it.
Treat thisĀ titanium druzy as an opal or pearl. A mild soap and water rinse will maintain the color and clarity of the optical surface of your druzy for a lifetime!
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
The glittering goldĀ titanium coated drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 23mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.Ā You can read more about what drusy agateĀ isĀ here.
Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina, Ā prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.
The titanium coating is applied to the natural drusy stone using anĀ environmentally friendly process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that uses only electricity to deposit a thin coating of titanium, silver, gold, cobalt or other high-grade natural metal.Ā TreatĀ thisĀ titanium druzy as you would an opal or pearl. A mild soap and water rinse will maintain the color and clarity of the optical surface of your druzy for a lifetime.
Butterfly with Blue and Orange Wings Resting (photo credit Katherine Sevon)
The Endeavour FoundationĀ is one of Queensland’s oldest charities, founded in 1951. ItĀ is one of the largest non-government disability service providers in Australia. They support more than 3,400 people with a disability, from 230 locations in Queensland and New South Wales.
This year, the Endeavour Foundation are holding their 63rd Anniversary GalaĀ on 21st June, and I was contacted by them to see if I could assist with a donation for this fundraising effort.
I’m really pleased to be supporting the Endeavour Foundation again, as I did last year.
It is good to know that in our wide and varied community, those who face the challenges in their daily lives that living with a disability presents are able to be supported and nurtured; advocated for and given opportunities to learn and grow and have their varying needs met. I have donated a raffle prize to assist with Endeavour’s fundraising effort, and I look forward to seeing what the prize winner chooses from The Silver Forge shop!
Via email, Maggie and I went through some choices from my gemstone collection, and I sent her pictures of a couple of stones that I hadn’t listed yet.
She chose this pale pink drusy agate, which is just divine!
Thanks, Maggie, it was a pleasure to create this ring for you. I’m looking forward to our next collaboration!
Jeff contacted me to see if I could create a pendant using an opal that he got in the opal fields.
The pendant was to be a birthday gift for his wife.
I was glad to be able to help, andĀ I think the end result is great! Thanks, Jeff!
