Fit For A Queen

Queen Theresa "L"

A Mother’s Ring

Today in my sunnyVermont shop I recieved the raw materials to make a royal mother’s ring for my dear friend Theresa.

  A royal ring? Whatever does that mean?   Weeeeellll… there has always been something “royal” about Theresa.  Maybe it’s her stunning crown of blonde curls, or the fine cut of her jawline.  Then again, it could simply be her wise and thoughtful ways.

 Whatever it is, the title fits.

   So when I awoke one recent morning and gazed out my magic skylight, I knew Theresa’s ring needed to be made with my favorite precious metal – 18kt Royal Yellow Gold. 

  Setting Theresa’s “Periwinkle” Blue Sapphire and Precious Emerald in 18kt Royal Yellow Gold would provide the perfect combination of color, richness and texture for such a piece.

 Pictured are all the raw materials I will use to create this special Mother’s ring …..check back as I make progress on my  custom design for Theresa.

p.s…..magic skylight?  check back soon to find out what that is!

Warmly,  Sandra

Back it up Mom

All the elements in making this necklace were coming together nicely today. However, I found myself hesitating, staring at it, then putting it down.

Twice I sat on the chilly cement bench (not long enough to get piles as my mother warned) in front of our Vermont shop and ate peanut butter Ritz crackers while pondering the necklaces design.

Mid afternoon our daughters came into the shop and “oooh’d” and “aaaah’d” over the piece but also hesitated over the design.

I realized the piece just wasn’t right and the three of us mulled over how to improve it. The girls input was perfect and exactly what the piece needed to move from really nice to fantastic!

I will “back it up” and make the improvements we settled on, then put up an image when it is finished.

Thanks girls, love you

Mom

Mouse Patch

 Today I am working on a lovely Mastodon Ivory and Ruby pendant. I need to step away from it for a few minutes and ruminate my next step in it’s creation, soooo……

  One arctic, Vermont winter night a mouse moved into my boyfriend’s (now husband) 8′ camper. Yes, I did say “arctic Vermont winter” and “8′ camper” in the same sentence. Bill and I lived in there as well.

   The rodent seemed charming and a good source of  winter entertainment  until one morning I stepped onto the icy camper floor and pulled on my new Johnson woolies. 

  Those thick, checkered wool pants loggers and ski lift attendants wear (which is precisely the work Bill and I were doing at the time), were/are a must in severe northern climes.

  My brand new woolies had a 3″ hole chewed clean through the calf area. I went digging through the table seat bin and found a fluffy nest of new gray and black wool….”get that little turd!” I whined to Bill, “he ate my new woolies”. “I thought he was charming” Bill piped up in a muffled voice, his head crammed under the tiny sink as he swatted at a pile of rusty traps.

   The next morning, by the glow of the propane heater too small to heat a doll house much less a camper, I saw the splayed, frozen body of the  mouse on the floor.  When I squinted my eyes it looked just like a miniature bear rug.  The tiny pelt gave me an idea. Excitedly, I threw off the frosted blanket which had stuck fast to the thin metal camper walls and searched for a suitable skinning knife.

  ….oh, excuse me, I just thought of what to do next on the Mastodon Ivory pendant, gotta run….