My lovely client, Pauline, wanted a ring created for her daughter’s 40th birthday, with and opal and two peridots which are the birthstones of her daughter’s three children.
She asked if I could use an opal cabochon that she had. I was happy to do that!
I got in some tiny peridots, and we designed the ring together.
Pauline asked if I could make a simple silver bangle to pair with the ring. What a lovely gift!
Serpentine is the name given to various minerals found in serpentinite rocks. These are used as a source of magnesium and also in industry, and as a decorative stone. The Irish Connemara marble is a form of serpentine.
The name is thought to come from the Latin serpentinus, meaning ‘serpent rock’ – based on the mineral’s greenish color and smooth or scaly appearance.
Serpentine has been used since ancient times to guard against disease and sorcery. It is believed to provide protection against venomous creatures such as snakes and insects. It is thought to balance mood swings, and to promote the ability to solve conflicts peacefully.
Serpentine is beautifully offset by silver I think – it’s my current favourite stone!
I have some serpentine in my gemstone collection. If you find a stone that appeals to you and you’d like to have it set in a ring or a pendant, get in touch – I’d love to create something beautiful for you.
I made this piece when I was studying at the Goldsmith’s School under the supervision of my teachers. I found this black onyx cabochon at the annual Gem Show here in Brisbane, and designed this pendant to suit it.
The spirally curlicues are known as ‘shnoerkels’ (having two German teachers had its interesting and educational side!) and the piece was set in dental plaster to solder.
As I was expecting any minute at the time, my kind teacher Sue was worried that I wouldn’t get back to class to do it, so she set the stone for me! 🙂
What a wonderful thing it is to have kindred spirits in this world. One of them for me is a very dear bestie who I have been friends with since first grade.
This year, I felt she needed to soar among the clouds – so when I came across this cleverly constructed agate and turquoise doublet cabochon, it was just the thing!
I hadn’t made a brooch before, so this is a prototype really – I’m hopeful that it will withstand the test of time!
Three million Australians are living with depression or anxiety. Are you, or someone you know, one of these people? If so, beyondblue could help.
beyondblue is working to reduce the impact of depression and anxiety in the community by raising awareness and understanding, empowering people to seek help, and supporting recovery, management and resilience. They have plenty of information and resources available, so if you need ideas or help, visit their website now.
I know the debilitation and pain of depression and anxiety first hand, so this month I’ll be donating 10% of The Silver Forge proceeds to this worthy cause. If you’d like to help and get yourself something fab at the same time, pop into my online shop.
My gorgeous friend Marg, who is an artist (you can view her beautiful work here on her website), commissioned me to create this ring for one of her daughters.
Marg’s daughter chose this divine drusy agate cabochon, as it reminded her of a supernova. As soon as Marg told me I could see how very apt this imagery is!
It is always a joy to work with a fellow artist who appreciates not just my work, but the underlying complexities of being a creative type. Thanks as always, dear Marg!
I know how much I love seeing people’s workspaces, so I’m pleased to show you a few more photos of my own little workshop!
15 May 2015
I see in the photo above this rhodochrosite pendant, these seaglass and cuttlefish cast pendants, and this gorgeous custom moss agate ring. On the left is a box in which I keep all the gemstones that are works in progress – there are some that have been in there for some time, I know. I’ll get to them all eventually, promise.
29 May 2015
Under my bench in this photo is the page I use to bend ring shanks to size when they are not going to be a complete ring, for example when they are going underneath a cabochon setting. I can see some of the pieces from my new extraterrestrial collection, and the work in progress on this divine custom chrysoprase set – one of my favourites, I confess!
30 Jun 2015
There is a sheet of silver over on the right rear, and I see the beginnings of some drusy earrings and this lapis ring – and a few other goodies, too.
30 Jun 2015
And here am I, working away. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy what I do!
14 Aug 2015
A sneak peak at some upcoming treasures for you here – and as always, tea. A nice cup of tea’s what keeps me going sometimes. How about you?
One of the benefits of being part of organising a school reunion is that along the way, you get back in touch with some lovely people that you haven’t seen since your high school days.
I was thrilled to be commissioned to create this lapis lazuli ring for one of these gorgeous friends (there is a love story attached to this friend and the reunion, but that is a tale for another day!)
Could there be much better than creating a thing of beauty for a person with a beautiful heart?
With help from one of my goldsmithing teachers, I created this hair stick not long after I started at the Goldsmith’s school.
It has become my favourite piece to use to represent The Silver Forge brand – in part because of the simplicity of the plain silver, and in part because of the spiral, which reflects in my logo. I am drawn in a huge way to spirals. Fibonacci sequence = fabulous – but instead of the golden ratio, I’m calling it the silver ratio!
I based the design on a similar hairstick that I found whilst touring in China, so it has special meaning to me. I love my hair stick!
A lovely client, for whom I had previously made this ring, saw these raw ruby pieces that I created and was taken with the idea of a matching set. She asked me if I could source her some special stones.
After a bit of discussion about what colourway she would like, I presented Bek with a few different options – and she fell in love instantly with these totally divine chrysoprase cabochons. So did I, so I was really pleased when she chose them!
I love this set, and it was a joy to create. Let me know if you’d like your own – I’m always happy to go on a rock shopping spree!!
