About time!

It has been quite some time since my last blog post! Its been almost two months since we set off on our little Italian adventure, but my mind still wanders to idyllic little Tuscan villages, gorgeous gelato and the beautiful colour of the sea at Cinque Terre...

Needless to say it was quite a challenge getting back to the workbench and working through my list of orders. Luckily I had some very exciting orders on the list! Engagement rings remain my all time favourite. Especially when I know the beautiful brides to be : )

Here are some pieces from the past few weeks.

 

Hot News! This ring was involved in a very special engagement last night! Right after an awesome win by Germany in the Soccer World Cup Final Martin proposed to Meraai! Clad in their 'Deutschland' supporters gear and surrounded by friends and family and of course high spirits after such a great win, he proposed and she said yes! Big congrats guys!



 

This gorgeous champagne diamond came into my studio quite some time ago and I have been itching to share this ring with you! I had to wait for the couple to get engaged before I could post the picture. And I am so glad they are finally engaged! Congratulations Wilmili and Richard! Such a special ring!

 

 

This ring is a new spin on an old ring : ) I remade this ring for a client after the diamond fell out of the original ring. We decided to stick to the original design, only changing the claw setting to a tube. A much safer option for busy hands!

 

This 'I love Nam' ring was a special idea that a client came up with as a farewell gift for one of her friends moving back to South Africa.

 

A rose gold rope ring for a pretty pregnant fairy.

 

 

A pair of anniversary earrings for a very special lady from her husband. 34 years of marriage. I had fun making these for her! She has brought me about 70% of the succulents in my little garden : )

 

A regular client. Tourmaline, diamond, 18ct yellow gold and silver ring.

 

You sometimes meet people that just 'sparkle'. And this girl is one of those! From the first day I met her she sparkled! She had a white gold engagement ring with diamonds but she wanted to start wearing her rings as 'stack rings' on her ring finger. So we started the collection by creating two simple rings. One plain hammered finish, one with flush set diamond. Using the original stones and metal. Now she can add to the 'stack' with birthdays and anniversaries.

 

New wedding ring using the original design, stones and metal.

 

3 Esther crowns for three little girls. This is such a special gift. A mother had these three little crowns made for her daughters to wear on chains. They vary slightly in size, from oldest to youngest : )

 

A sentimental 30th birthday gift for a lucky lady in Katima!

 

 

I'm feeling very inspired and ready to get started on new orders and a new range for the Christmas season! Launching October! Some exciting new ideas in the pipeline : )

Wishing you all a blessed week!



Bon Voyage!

These past few weeks I have been tackling my little list of orders that has been coming along for quite some time. What satisfaction to wrap tiny polished pieces in tissue paper and make a big pink tick next to each order on the list!

I am counting down the hours till Thursday morning 09h25 when we have to be at the airport. The reason behind all the rush and the excitement, is a little holiday my husband and I have been planning for quite some time now. La Dolce Vita! Italia!

In 4 days time my husband and I will be enjoying the Italian sun, wandering the Sentiero Azzuro in Cinque Terre, finding our way through the countryside in Tuscany and soaking up each and every moment of our little adventure. So looking forward to tucking into some Italian dishes!

I will be back in June, and then its full steam ahead with preparations for Tente 2014! What a thought : ) We will almost be halfway through the year!

Enjoy these orders : )

These rings are wedding bands for our friends Paul and Saskia who got married at the start of May, in Wit Rivier. And what a feast it was!

 

Saskias Ring. 9ct yellow gold.

 

Pauls Ring. Silver.

 

Saskias earrings. Brass, Silver and pearls.

 

Some 9ct stack rings for Swakopmund Ladies.

 

A 9ct gold pendant on a silver chain for a sister.

 

A set of silver Autumn leaves. Pendant and matching earring.

 

Black pearl and 9ct gold earrings.

 

A 'mina' ring turned into a pendant. This interesting little ring comes from Italy and means 'little mine' because it has so many small gemstones set on top.

A brass and tigers eye bangle.

 

See you all in June : )

5 of a Kind

Today is the last day of our exhibition at the Omba Gallery in Windhoek. This evening all the purchases are collected by our clients and we can pack up the rest of the exhibition.

I promised my biggest fans ( parents...) that I would post some photos from the exhibition. The pieces were made specifically for the exhibition and are all once - off designs. The majority of the work has been sold which I am very happy about! (...A little extra spending money for our trip to Italy at the end of May...an extra sugar cone and gelato everyday!)

So before we head off for the long weekend, I'll share some of the pieces from the exhibition.

Pendant Oxidized Silver and 9ct yellow gold with silk thread.

 

Earrings Oxidized Silver and 9ct yellow gold with silk thread.

 

Pendant Oxidized Silver and 9ct yellow gold with silk thread.

Bracelet Oxidized Silver with silk thread.

 



 

Rings Oxidized Silver with silk thread.

 

Rings Oxidized Silver with silk thread.

 

Pendant Oxidized Silver and 9ct yellow gold with silk thread.

 

Neckpiece Oxidized Silver and 9ct yellow gold with silk thread.

 

Pendant Silver, pearls and hand dyed silk thread.

 

Earrings Silver, pearls and hand dyed silk thread.

 

Pendant Silver, pearls and hand dyed silk thread.

 

Pendants Silver, pearls and hand dyed silk thread.

We are off to a wedding in Wit Rivier. Really looking forward to a beautiful wedding celebration, a weekend of friends and sight seeing in Mpumalanga! And hopefully apple and cinnamon pancakes in Pilgrims Rest : )

Tuesday I am back in Studio and have a few interesting engagement rings lined up! Watch this space.

Wedding Weekend

This past Easter Weekend, we were privileged to be guests at the most beautiful wedding! The reception was held in the veld, with the most awesome view! In the Gamsberg mountains in Namibia. I only met the bride last year through a mutual friend, but since our first tea date - turned brunch - turned - coffee- turned to setting up a cycle date, we have become such good friends! We can chat about gardening, new recipes, wedding blogs, African adventures and love stories and dreams and all pretty things - all the things my husband is very grateful I have a girlfriend to share with : )

So when she asked me to make their wedding bands and gifts for bridesmaids, as well as gifts for both moms, I was so excited! I felt so privileged to be part of their wedding in such a big way.

To George and Karlien (who are at this very moment soaking up the sun in the most exotic honeymoon location!!!), weereens baie geluk! En vreeslik baie dankie vir die mooiste troufees! Wat n droom : )

The pendants for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. Brass pendant on silver chain with personalized engraving.

 

Bridesmaid bracelets. Each shape different and each with a pastel shade of embroidery cotton detail from the wedding colour theme.

The 9ct yellow gold wedding bands. Rope ring and hammered texture wedding band with significant gps co-ordinates engraved.

 

I love this last photo. The engagement ring was designed and made by the mutual friend that introduced us, Alet Snyman. one of my good friends from University and an AMAZING jeweller! If you live in Durban - shes the girl to go to! Very special that we both get a spot on Karliens ring finger ; )

 

xxx

Mid March Maddness

The year has got off to such a crazy start and we are already half way through March! And what an eventful year it has been.

Since my last blog, quite a lot has happened! We have moved house, set up my new studio, attended the Design Indaba in Cape Town (what a treat!), started exhibiting at the monthly markets at the Village Complex and we are expecting an addition to our family ; ). Exciting time ahead.

I am currently working on an exhibition that will run for two weeks in the Omba gallery in Windhoek. I am exhibiting jewellery with 5 very talented jewellery designers in Windhoek. I am looking forward to the challenge of creating a series, based on my final year body of work at Stellenbosch University.

So I will keep this blog post short and sweet and hope that you will all excuse me until the 17th of April when the exhibition opens. Lots to do and my list of orders doesn't seem to be getting any shorter!

Have a look at some of the orders from the past month:

 

New heart pendants. Available @ The Village Complex Market

 

New Silver shape bracelets

 

New brass studs

 

GPS co-ordinate wedding bands

 

Silver and 9ct yellow gold wishbone ring

 

Silver ring with gold leaves

 

Brass Pendant. 'Brings Victory'.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! x

Welcome the new year with colour!

New year. New resolutions. New house. New Studio. New ideas. New range.

We were in Swakopmund for the weekend and I stumbled upon the most amazing trade beads from Ghana. I have loved trade beads since I found out what they were. How fabulous would it be to have brightly coloured beads in all shapes, sizes and colours as our currency! I would be a much more conservative spender that I can guarantee... I would want to hold onto each and every bead! Each bead is unique. Each bead was made by hand and no matter the similarity in colour or shape, they each possess a very unique quality.

I was so inspired by the beads that I came back to Windhoek with quite a collection! As much as I love collecting, I am by no means a hoarder. My husband is a very conservative spender and very practical, so before I buy something, I need to be able to tell him exactly what I intend to do with my new purchase... unfortunately some projects do take a while. I have a cupboard full of fabric waiting to be turned into curtains, quilts, tablecloths, bunting and who knows what else. So in my mind, as long as I have a plan, the purchase is justified ; ).

Back to the trade beads: The most logical solution for my trade beads - combine them with silver and turn them into wonderful colourful jewellery! And with the launch of the Village's monthly organic market coming up, I thought it would be a great opportunity to launch a few of the new trade bead pieces.

I hope you enjoy these pieces as much as I do!

 

Have a lovely weekend!