Tag Archives: unique

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli has been mined in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years.

(image credit Philippe Giabbanelli)

Lapis is the Latin word for ‘stone’, and lazuli comes from the Latin ‘lazulum’ which was derived the name of the stone in Persian. The name of the stone came to be associated with its color – the word azure comes from lapis lazuli.

(image credit Parent Géry)

Lapis was long ground up to make the pigment ultramarine, which was widely used during the Renaissance in frescoes and oil painting (this method was replaced in the 19th century with a synthetic compound.)

(image credit Walters Art Museum)

Because of its amazing blue colouring, Lapis has been prized; carved and worn throughout antiquity, in pieces like this Roman Imperial Eagle. I saw quite a lot of it in precious pieces in museums while travelling in Egypt.

Lapis is believed to be good for communications and good judgement, for enhancing memory, and to attract success.

Lapis is gorgeous – and I have these pieces in my gemstone collection just waiting to be made into something fabulous!

Peridot, Black Onyx and Moonstone Sterling Silver Stacking Rings

It’s always lovely to create for people you love, so when my bestie asked me to make her daughter a set of stacking rings as a sixteenth birthday present, I was stoked!

The stones come from my embarrassingly extensive gemstone collection.

If you’d like a set (or just one!) of your own, let me know – I’d love to make you some.

Tourmalinated Quartz and Sterling Silver Ring

Tourmalinated quartz is such a lovely stone, and when my gorgeous client Jane chose this one from my gemstone collection for a ring to replace one that we had an issue with, I was very happy to create with it!

I still get such a buzz out of every ring that I make.

If you need one of your own, let me know!

Boulder Opal and Sterling Silver Ring

My Granny likes opals, (I created this opal ring for her a few years ago), and I wanted to create her a ring that she could wear each day.

She admired this opal ring I made a dear friend, so I thought she would like one of her own! This stone is a boulder opal, which is found only here in Queensland, Australia.

I love my dearest Granny! xx

Sterling Silver Llama Pendant

It’s not often you get asked to handcraft a llama!

I was commissioned by a lovely client to create this pendant as a farewell gift for a psychodrama therapist, who also breeds llamas. Yes, a psychodrama llama farmer.

I was very taken, both by the notion, and by the recipient! A joy to create.

Raw Ruby and Sterling Silver Earrings

One of my clients asked if I could create a pair of earrings to match this raw ruby ring.

I was able to source her some matching cabochons, and here is the end result!

I think they turned out pretty well. I was fond of that ring, too, so it was nice to see it going off to a good home!

Sterling Silver Skull Money Clip

Not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but waaaay back when I was doing a casting workshop as part of my silversmithing training, my husband requested a skull.

I carved this one out of wax, and after the casting process, it lived on my bench for a couple of years. Finally, I cleaned it up, and thought about what piece to create with it for the minimalist man who has everything!

A money clip was the answer. This is the only piece I have ever made my husband, and it was a long time coming – but I think he found it worth the wait. This is a one-of-a-kind piece – not only because I made it for a loved one, but because I don’t have the specialist equipment required to do casting. The perfect gift for a metal-loving guitar player!

Sterling Silver Crown Pendant

A client emailed me to ask if I could help her with a costume jewellery piece she loved that had deteriorated and could no longer be worn.

As she could’t replace the piece, and it had been created in a cheap base metal, I was happy to replicate it for her in sterling silver.

Now it should last forever. Ah, the joys of working with precious metal!

it’s the silver forge’s third anniversary!

I’m amazed to find that three years have passed since I opened The Silver Forge. I finally found what I want to be when I grow up! To be able to send my creations out into the wide world for others to enjoy makes the already zen experience of silversmithing just perfect.

A great big thank you to everyone who visits this website, browses, emails me, buys things; everyone who likes my FaceBook page, likes my posts, comments on them, shares them; everyone who follows me on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media; everyone who subscribes to my newsletter, new release update email, and blog updates; everyone who comes to me with their custom piece requests; everyone who makes donations to my worthy causes, and for all the other forms of love and support you’ve shown; I appreciate each and every one of you ~ thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I love the challenge of creating custom pieces for my lovely clients; and in between times I love to make new creations for my online shop. I even get time to build the occasional piece for myself!) I am also proud to have supported a number of worthy causes this year – I try to help spread a bit of peace and love in our crazy world, and sometimes the best way to do that is to support others who are making a difference.

As a way of saying thank you to all you lovely people for your ongoing support, I am offering 40% off all drusy pieces until the end of May. Just use coupon code DRUSY40 at the checkout.

As part of the celebrations, I am also giving away two pairs of Czech glass earrings to two lucky winners. All you have to do is to be signed up to receive my monthly newsletter ~ and you can do that here if you’re not already subscribed!

I hope you all have a most excellent month, full of joy and wonder. Thanks again to you all!!

Almandine Garnet and Wave Sterling Silver Pendant

I was approached by a new father, who wanted to have a special piece made for his partner to celebrate the birth of their first child.

The design idea started with the baby’s birthstone, which is garnet, and her mother’s love of water. I provided a few quick sketches, and the lovely dad and I worked together to finalise the design.

The baby’s name is stamped on the back of the pendant, making it the perfect piece to treasure for a lifetime!