spiralstone

firebird

2012-02-09T21:00:00.000+11:00

I’ve started the year with many dreams plans and aspirations. I took January off, but I created this one piece - Firebird - Symbolic of beginnings and endings, rebirth and renewal.

It is a reminder to me to push into the depths of myself to reach that place of creative renewal and rebirth, to design pieces that are meaningful to me.

Made from 100% recycled sterling silver, 18k gold, 14k gold and 9k rose gold, and garnets.

In my Etsy shop tomorrow morning.

shifting focus

2012-01-25T19:05:00.001+11:00

I’ve always been too scared to share more than my jewellery on my blog. This year I really want to be free of those restraints I’ve put on myself, I want to let go of the fear and feel free to share more of my life here.

“Shifting Focus” will be a series of photographs that will capture more personal aspects of my life – people, places, objects, and little moments that are meaningful to me.

*Despite my husband adding "Mr Dinosaur" chasing me to this image, this post is really quite serious.

inspiring

2012-01-15T13:06:00.002+11:00

Yesterday I stumbled upon Kirsty Mitchell’s beautiful photographs from her “wonderland” series on Flickr, which led me to her website and diary entry about her creative process in making this extraordinary series of work. I was moved to tears by the deeply personal nature of her work and so inspired by her exceptional creativity, passion, determination and dedication. The amazing amount of time and energy that went into creating such incredible handmade work is absolutely inspirational.

http://www.kirstymitchellphotography.com/diary/?p=1333

the chair on the edge of tomorrow

2011-12-31T16:44:00.001+11:00

I just wanted to say a deep and heartfelt thank you to all of you who have followed my work and been a part of my life over the past year. You have all provided so much encouragement that it has made me feel really blessed. Your connection and support helps me believe in myself; that I can really do this.

Looking forward into the New Year I wish to continue on this journey, with only a part of the way lit ahead. Otherwise there would be no surprises.

I wish you all an inspiring and creative and fulfilling New Year.

Michele x

enchanted

2011-12-21T01:00:00.001+11:00

The Gatherer's Locket
37mm x 37mm, 21 inch chain

The Seer's Ring
size 8 3/4

The Dreamer's Bracelet

The Seeker's Necklace
pendant is 4 1/2 inches, chain is 15 1/2 inches to 17 1/2 inches

The Maker's Ring
size 8 1/4

The Weaver's Ring
Size 8 1/2

The Healer's Ring
size 5 3/4

The Keeper's Necklace
pendant is 3 inches (including bells) x 2 inches (at the widest section)
chain is 15 1/2 inches to 18 1/2 inches

All the jewellery will be listed in my Etsy store tomorrow night. If you'd like to reserve a piece then just send me a convo and I'll make sure it's reserved for you when I list it.

Well that took longer than I thought it would, and now it is time for me to go to sleep. Michele x

a little update

2011-12-19T17:44:00.001+11:00

EDIT: Running late ... sorry! Aiming for 10:30pm :).

Yesterday a stone cracked while I was setting it and another design didn't really work out so I'm down to eight pieces. I need to remake the bezel and replace the cracked stone but I don't have any time to do that now so that particular piece will have to wait until the new year. The good news is that the eight pieces that I have are completely finished! I'll photograph them tomorrow and post the pictures here tomorrow night, Sydney time, around 8pm.

a few things

2011-12-11T18:59:00.000+11:00

I'm really close to finishing a little collection of jewellery I've been working on. I have ten pieces completely soldered so there is just the sanding, polishing, stone setting, photographing and pricing to do. I'm hoping to have everything finished by this time next week.

Besides making jewellery I've been doing all the "end of year" stuff. Our pottery classes finished for the year last week. The classes have been so relaxing and such a contrast to working with metal, the clay is so soft and the glazes are so unpredictable, it has been fun experimenting without worrying about the cost of materials. My little ones have made wonderful things like spherical teapots,

and mermaids,

I made some little saggar fired pottery cups. A saggar firing is when you place your pots into a saggar/container which is filled with sawdust, seaweed, oxides and organic materials, and then fired in the kiln. I wrapped my cups in copper wire before I put them in the saggar, I love how they turned out, almost like batik fabric.

And I've been taking some photos.

Of the stormy seas (it has been coldest first week of summer in forty years).

Of birds; our new house is high on the hillside amongst the birds' nests and hollows. I've always had to look up to see the birds and now I'm level with their homes. I'm hoping for a telephoto zoom lens for Christmas so I can photograph the little birds leaving their nests and learning to fly.

And photos of my little ones doing their end of year things.
My daughter's piano concert.

And that's about it. I'll be back soon with some jewellery to show you.

sale!

2011-11-24T20:17:00.002+11:00

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone in the US!

And a wonderful weekend, everyone else :)

eleven eleven

2011-11-13T16:32:00.001+11:00

On Friday 11/11/11 we went to Sculptures by the Sea, Australia's largest annual sculpture exhibition. The coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama beach is lined with over one hundred sculptures by Australian and international artists. There are so many amazing inspiring sculptures, here are some of my favourites.

11:11
artist: Alison Lee Cousland

i have been dreaming to be a tree
artist: Byeong Doo Moon

ammonite 2006
artist: Bert Fllugelman

cover the rainbow
artist: Hyoung Kwon Kim

look this way
artist: Ken Unsworth

who left the tap running?
artist: Simon McGrath

private poetry 2010
artist: Richard Tipping

dance
artist: Sandra Pitkin

moebius in space planet
artist: Keizo Ushio

cellular memory
artist: Greer Taylor

childhood horizon
artist: Chen Wenling

isometric trinity
artist: Fatih Semiz

provenance (a gilt frame)
artist: Jane Gillings

transfiguration "unite" III
artist: Mitsuo Takeuchi

The exhibiton is on until Nov 20th, it's worth taking a stroll along the cliff top to have a look if you're in Sydney :).

connected

2011-11-02T22:01:00.000+11:00

Connected from spiralstone on Vimeo.

Often my jewellery is about cycles and rhythms. This collection is about being connected. There may be no loop, no beginning or end. It is about links and bonds that are here now.

I am connected to my children through love.

I am connected to my family by blood.

There are people I am connected to through friendship.

I am connected to a community of home schoolers and attachment parents through beliefs and ideals.

I am connected to a worldwide community through a love of handmade, through nurturing the craft and skills of individuals.

These connections are like overlapping ripples in a pond. Rippling outwards, across the world, or just down to the local shops.

We are connected somehow. You are here now making a connection with me, from mind to mind, across time and space.

This work began as an idea, came together as a whole piece, and now will go out into the world as a symbol of the way in which we are all connected.

Each ring comes with a card that shows the entire collection and its place within it.

Each ring is 25mm x 25mm and they range in size from 5 ¾ to 9 ½ .
I’ll be listing them in my Etsy store tomorrow night (Sydney time).

waiting for the sky to clear

2011-10-30T12:03:00.001+11:00

Waiting for the rain to clear so I can photograph the jewellery I've just finished making. I should have photos and a little animation to show you later today.

EDIT: The rain has been playing a little game with me today, everytime I go outside to take photos it begins to rain again. When I go back inside the sun comes out. I think I was a little optimistic regarding how long it would take me to photograph this jewellery and post the photos here. So, I'm now aiming for Tuesday night ... Wednesday at the latest :).

new home

2011-10-05T21:02:00.000+11:00

office

studio

front yard

back yard

The office is looking a little more organised now but my studio is still a shed in a box. It has been an exhausting couple of weeks but we're feeling so happy in our new home, the house is nestled in the tree tops and the views and nature surrounding us are incredible. Hopefully we'll have my studio up and running by next week and I can finish what I've been creating.

time to fly

2011-09-13T08:14:00.000+10:00

We're moving. I'll be back in a couple of weeks. xx

Ocean Moon

2011-09-10T14:49:00.001+10:00

When I asked my daughter what she wanted to do for her birthday, part of her answer involved sparklers on the beach at night. It just so happened it was a full moon that night, rising over the ocean.

I love this photo of the moon rising over the ocean. The photo has transformed the waves to appear like a misty cauldron. It has an ethereal and other worldly quality, and is a reminder to me of the magical special event of her birth.

I felt inspired being on the beach at night; there is such a different quality about the ocean. The moon rising through the clouds lighting the sea glittering silver over an endless expanse of black inspired me to make a ring of this enchanted night.

I’ve also been working on some jewellery that I’m close to finishing but our landlord has thrown a spanner in the works and decided to auction the little cottage we’re living in :(. To avoid the next four weeks of "open homes" we quickly found another place to live, and we’re moving on Thursday! So it will be a few weeks before I have photos of my next collection.

Off to list the Ocean Moon ring on Etsy now.

seasons, cycles, permanence and change

2011-08-15T01:16:00.000+10:00

This collection is based on things that seem eternal and steadfast,
yet are changing as time goes on. Cycles begin again and again and yet
something has changed ever so slightly from the time before.

The relationship of the elements, each an enduring part of the whole,
is balanced against the cycle of the seasons providing continuance over
time and change. The elements are matter, and the seasons are time.

Mountains rise, trees grow, rivers erode, and we age and change.

What appears to remain the same is forever changing.

Seasons

Spring

size 7 3/4

size 8 3/4

Summer

size 9 1/2

size 8 1/4

Autumn

size 9

size 8

Winter

size 8 1/2

size 7 1/4

Elements

Air

size 7 3/4

Water

size 9

Earth

size 10 1/4

Fire

size 9 1/2

I'll be listing these rings in my Etsy store tomorrow.

jewellery update

2011-08-12T20:27:00.000+10:00

Forty three bezels

Forty three stones

One hundred and six soldered parts

Twelve finished pieces

Photos here on Sunday :)

mushrooms

2011-07-24T20:35:00.002+10:00

We went for a bush walk the other day and I was amazed by the variety of mushrooms.

New jewellery is about a week away.

YEARLY SPIRALSTONE SALE!!!

2011-07-10T21:48:00.000+10:00

The sale will run from Wednesday 13th July at 12:01 am EST (2pm on Wednesday if you’re in Sydney) until Wednesday 20th July.

I'm taking 20% off EVERYTHING in my store for the week of the sale. Just type in the coupon code SALE2011 when you check out and the 20% will be automatically deducted from the price.

relisted

2011-07-04T18:05:00.002+10:00

I've just relisted this cuff. It was part of my unseen paths, unknown choices collection and has been all the way to the US and back again, it was slightly too big for the person who bought it.

new

2011-07-01T11:00:00.005+10:00

moon cycle rings with labradorite

size 8 3/4 sold

size 9

Moon Spirit - size 8 1/2 sold

favourites

2011-06-28T15:16:00.002+10:00

Occasionally I create a piece of jewellery that more than one person wants. I don’t usually like to make the same thing twice, but because I’ve had so many requests to remake this particular ring, I thought I would!

And a few more “endless journey” spinner rings.

I’ve contacted everyone who originally asked me to remake these rings so some of these will be reserved for those people, the rest will be available to purchase when I list them tonight.

I’ve also made two more “waxing and waning” rings that are a slightly different design to the original ring, and a one of kind ring with an amazing Botswana agate. I’ll have some photos of these new rings on Friday morning at 11am (Sydney time) which is around 9pm Thursday in the US, you may want to check your time zone.

vivid

2011-06-12T12:58:00.000+10:00

Over the last three weeks Sydney city has been lit up as part of the vivid festival. It’s a festival of light, sculpture, music and ideas, it’s also about creativity and inspiration and included talks from creative thinkers from Australia and around the world.

Matt Stinchcomb, Etsy's European Director, spoke about handmade and creativity as part of the festival. We went along to meet him outside the Opera house and spent a few hours chatting about all things Etsy. It was great to meet Matt and talk about Handmade, Etsy, and the exciting things they have planned for the future. I felt reassured to know that the importance of supporting handmade and making our world a better place is what Etsy is still all about.

unseen paths, unknown choices

2011-05-19T22:45:00.007+10:00

What would happen if you took another path? Is there a right or wrong path? Where do our choices lead us? Do we think we are travelling in a certain direction, only to find ourselves somewhere else, doing something unexpected? Has the right path ended badly, and has the difficult road lead to unexpected treasure?

Quite a few years ago I found myself on a harsh road and wondered how I got there. I didn’t choose that way at all. I had to cut away the branches and get back to the inner core of my true self. The journey pushed my creativity and reserves of strength and I began making jewellery. The path has led through forests and over mountains and been a source of continuing inspiration to me. And now I realise that I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that difficult path.

This collection was inspired by my reflections of this journey.

I’ll be listing these pieces in my Etsy store tomorrow night. They’ll cost a little more than my jewellery usually does, not because I’ve suddenly increased my prices but because the price of sterling silver has increased by such a lot in the last few months. Michele x

field

2011-05-08T23:47:00.000+10:00

blue

2011-05-02T21:10:00.000+10:00

Last week we went away for a little break. We drove over the Blue Mountains to spend a week in a little cottage in the middle of nowhere. The scenery was beautiful and so inspiring.

I went to a gem show while I was away and bought some boulder opals from people selling stones from their claims in outback Queensland. I fossicked through lots of rocks and bought some amazing cabochons. I love boulder opal, it’s one of my favourite stones, I love the earthy browns combined with the iridescent blues, greens and purples, the colours looked beautiful shining in the sun that day. I’ve bought opal cabs from the US before, it seems crazy that when I finally sell the piece of jewellery with the opal in it, the stone has travelled from Australia to the US, back to Australia and then often I’ll sell the finished piece to someone in the US! That's one less flight the opal has to take!

Blue Mountains, blue stones ... blue metal! I spent the day at an anodizing workshop yesterday. I made some earrings and then turned them blue and green! I’m so excited about using these coloured metals in my new designs!

a sequence of events

2011-04-21T22:23:00.000+10:00

inspiration

discovery

contemplation

design

elements

stones

tools

production

merging

finishing

reaction

transformation

conclusion

I originally made a similar ring to this as part of the Natural Mandala series of rings that I made in November last year. I didn’t end up listing that particular ring because when I was setting the last stone it cracked in half, I did manage to remove the stone and replace it but the bezel was ruined in the process. I loved the ring so I decided to remake it as part of a collection of jewellery that I’ve been working on, although this time it has a wider spirally band. I’ve almost finished the new pieces, I just need to set the stones and add little finishing touches to all of them. I’m going away to the mountains for five days tomorrow so I won’t get a chance to work on them until I get back, hopefully I’ll have some photos to show you in a few weeks. Michele x

finally finished

2011-03-19T11:29:00.002+11:00

rising sun

This is a huge agua nueva stone with the most amazing scene within it.

silver moon

The stone in this necklace is 34 carat blue chalcedony, it cost me a fortune but it is such a beautiful colour and I just couldn't resist a crescent moon shaped stone!

I'm hoping to have these listed in my store later today.

some holiday photos

2011-03-16T08:39:00.027+11:00

dingo

my daughter's sand angel

my daughter's 10th birthday party ... 15 kids running around the sand dunes at night with glow sticks :)

There was also swimming, snorkeling, sand boarding, shell collecting, time spent drinking chai with awesome friends around a camp fire, dolphins, bush turkeys, diamond pythons, a heap of dirt and sand, marshmallow toasting and a bunch of happy children running free. We had a magical time away :)

good and bad timing

2011-03-04T00:57:00.007+11:00

It's good timing because I'm going on a little camping trip tomorrow! I'll be back on the 15th.

It's bad timing because unfortunately I didn't finish the necklaces. The chain didn't arrive until today ... such is life.

I have very little to do to complete them so I should have some photos here when I get back, see you then! Michele x

2011-03-04T00:54:00.002+11:00

sold :)

jewellery and life update

2011-02-28T14:38:00.011+11:00

Thank you so much to everyone who sent me such kind messages, gave me such amazing feedback, and purchased pieces from my latest collection of jewellery. I was amazed at the incredible response to what I’d made, your support of my work means the absolute world to me … thank you :)

Things have been busy here; we’re getting ready to go camping with our unschooling/natural learning group. There will be lots of children and my daughter will turn 10 during the week so we’re all excited about getting away to spend some time with our close friends and celebrate her birthday. My daughter has made lolly bags for all the kids for her birthday, but instead of filling the bags with lollies she has hand sewn little dolls and aliens for everyone … there will be lollies too though :). Here is what she has created in the last couple of weeks:

My husband arrives home today!! He has been working overseas off and on for the last year and is now finally home for good. It has been a tough year for me keeping spiralstone going, home schooling and trying to keep the house in some kind or respectable state. I have sketch books filled with designs and I’m so excited to have more time to bring all those designs to life now that he is home.

Much of the inspiration for these designs comes from growing up in New Zealand. I grew up in Christchurch and my family and friends still live there. So this week has been devastating for me, watching my beloved little city crumble to the ground. I have so many memories wrapped up in every corner of that city … my first kiss was in that park where the trees are now uprooted, my friends and I road our bikes along that road that is now carved up and split into pieces, we hung out as teenagers at that beautiful old art centre building that has crumbled to the ground and is destroyed forever … I feel so incredibly sad seeing the pictures of the devastation. My friends and family are safe and well but my Mum’s house has cracks in the walls, every appliance hit the ground, her precious little trinkets smashed to pieces, her hot water cylinder moved a metre and spilled water all over her carpet, and she has been without power and water to her home for a week. Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, ice storms … what is happening to our precious earth?

I have managed to make two more “distant sun, silver moon” pieces, I’m just waiting on some chain to arrive and then I can show you what they look like.

Here is a picture of their backs though (unoxidised and without their stones set):

Hopefully I'll have some photos to show you tomorrow (fingers crossed the chain arrives today).

distant sun, silver moon ... this day

2011-02-09T18:52:00.052+11:00

Often we get caught up in what we are doing. We have to think about what we need to do next; pay the bills, go to the shops, get the kids ready for something. Then when we stop and relax, we reflect back on the things that have happened that day, or about moments in our past.

What is rarer and more beautiful is when our minds are neither in the future or the past - when we are in the present, in the "now". Times when we think of nothing and gaze out at what is there right now - living in the moment, emptying our minds of cares and passions to enjoy a sunset, or listen to the rustle of the leaves in a tree, to see the dappled light of the full moon shifting shadows across the ground, staring into our children's eyes and seeing into infinity.

I designed this collection around my feelings in those moments of a day when we are eternal.

heatwave

2011-02-02T11:27:00.013+11:00

the only relief is here ...

The weather is unbearable. It’s too hot to work, to sleep, to think … to do anything really. I have twelve pieces of jewellery ready to be oxidised and photographed but the shed (where I work) is like a sauna at the moment. Hopefully it will cool down soon so I can show you what I’ve been making.

AUSTRALIA DAY ON ETSY!

2011-01-25T18:27:00.007+11:00

Australian Etsy teams (the Down Under Street Team (DUST), the Sydney Etsy Team, the MadeOnTheLeft team from Perth, and the BrisStyle team from Brisbane) have teamed up to have a huge Australia Day Sale. The sale starts on Jan 26th and ends at midnight on Jan 31st. You can find all the details and links to all the wonderful Australian Etsy Sellers stores that are participating in the sale at the Sydney Team Blog. You can also use "ausday" when searching items to find all the participating stores.

Just use the coupon code “ausday” from Jan 26th to 31st and receive 15% discount on everything in my store!

We’re off to the beach for the day! Have fun browsing all the beautiful Australian Etsy stores sales, I hope you find something special :)

2010-12-31T12:55:00.007+11:00

happy new year!

Today I find myself reflecting back over the year about to end.

I decided to make collections of one of a kind pieces this year, and moved away from making made to order jewellery. I have received so much encouragement and support from people following what I do, I have made friendships, and I feel enriched and connected with others in the handmade community.

I am so thankful for this.

I’m looking forward to next year and all the things I have planned.

I hope 2011 is inspirational, creative and fulfilling for everyone.

Michele x

december

2010-12-21T21:12:00.014+11:00

I’ve been caught up in all the “end of year” stuff and haven’t had much of a chance to make any jewellery at all. I do have a collection of jewellery that I’ve cut all the pieces for, but I haven’t had a chance to do any soldering. I thought I’d try to make just one piece of jewellery at a time but I starting designing what I wanted to make and before I knew it I had fourteen pieces! I seem to see things in cycles and connections so I suppose my jewellery just ends up like that too. I love these new pieces I’m making at the moment, they just may take a while to complete, I’m hoping to have them finished early in the New Year.

We did manage to escape the madness for a day of bushwalking and swimming. Now that my little one is six we can go on longer walks as I don’t have to carry her anymore. There is a National Park half an hour from our house with the most beautiful walks and amazing beaches.

We’ve been doing these walks with another homeschooling family, it has been lovely spending the day in nature, the children have a wonderful time and we have the entire beach to ourselves (one of the many advantages of homeschooling - we never have to be anywhere crowded which is great if you’re like me and feel claustrophobic in crowded places). My camera is too heavy and precious to take on these walks so I’ve had to make do with our little “point-and-shoot” camera which doesn’t really capture the detail or texture how I’d like it to – but here some photos of our day :)

There were many Aboriginal engravings and stencils on the walk (this one is an adult hand in a rock shelter).

goanna

treasuries

2010-12-08T22:50:00.006+11:00

I just arrived home to find my jewellery featured in two beautiful treasuries.

The first one is called "Everything is Bliss", it has the most beautiful colours and peaceful feel, it's curated by Ancient Sun Jewelry.

The second one is called "my favorite fellow Metalsmiths", it features the most amazing pieces of jewellery and is curated by carole axium.

Thank you so much to Ancient Sun Jewelry and carole axium for including my jewellery in these gorgeous lists!

fairy circles

2010-12-03T10:12:00.008+11:00

I just had a walk around the garden and my little ones were out there playing fairies.

I thought I’d photograph the little pixie gathering they had made because it reminded me of how much I love handmade items. I’ve purchased all these gorgeous items from different Etsy sellers over the last two or three years, they’re beautifully made and my children love playing with them.

If you’d like to check out the Etsy sellers who make these lovely little creations their shops are;

dreamalittle7
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dreamalittle7
for the cutest little bugs

lespetiteschoses
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lespetiteschoses
For the little felt houses, the roofs come off so you can put things inside them (pixie bugs or precious pieces of jewellery!)

greenmountain
http://www.etsy.com/shop/greenmountain
The larger felt houses, the roofs come off and they can fit an entire family of tiny fairies.

And here’s another fairy that my daughter made;

In other news Etsy has just added “circles” to the site; it’s a way to see other sellers and buyers favourites and treasuries and new items, etc. I haven’t really had a chance to have a good look at it but it all seems a bit too social networky for me and I’m not very good at that side of things. I just hope Etsy remains a place to buy beautiful handmade items and doesn’t become something else (because if it becomes all about social networking I’m doomed!).

natural mandalas

2010-11-21T22:35:00.028+11:00

I made all the individual parts for each of these rings, they were incredibly time consuming to make. I cracked one of the stones in the spiralled/green onyx ring just as I was finishing setting it, I managed to remove the cracked stone and replace it but the bezel was slightly damaged so I don't think I'll sell that ring. I'm looking forward to making some pieces now that don't consist of so many little pieces that need to be soldered together in a symmetrical pattern!

I'll be listing these in my Etsy store on Tuesday morning (although I may not be able to part with the first ring!).

today

2010-11-18T21:37:00.032+11:00

On my bench

On my daughter's sewing table

On my bed

In the kitchen (cooking in 3D)

In the garden

In the mailbox

On the side of the road

At the beach

In the post

I should have the rings on my bench finished and in my etsy store by Monday :)

Finally ...

2010-10-18T09:45:00.015+11:00

... I finished something :)

spiralling vines bracelet with prehnite leaves

spiralling vines ring with kyanite and prehnite (this it that ring!)

And this unnamed prehnite ring

I’ll be listing them in my Etsy store on Wednesday.

sewing

2010-10-10T19:35:00.012+11:00

I haven’t been very productive in the last few weeks, most of what I have made is sitting in a bowl amongst all the other scraps of silver ready to be taken to the city for recycling. The ring I was making didn’t work for the second time, I’m not sure whether I should attempt it for the third time or move on. I’ll probably try again, I don’t know if I can let it go. I have managed to almost finish a bracelet and a ring so at least that is something, I should have some photos by the end of the week.

My daughter, on the other hand, has been VERY productive. She has made seven rainbow dolls, a mummy, an angel, a "night time" doll, and four little forest dolls. I have no idea where her love of sewing comes from as I really can’t stand sewing, I like the outcome but I don’t enjoy the process at all – I curse the sewing machine and throw cotton, it’s actually quite a stressful process for me. Perhaps loathing sewing has something to do with “manual training” at school. Manual training involved getting on a bus once a week and travelling into the city to learn how to cook and sew when I was in Form 1 and 2 at primary school (aged between 10 and 12). The girls had to do cooking and sewing and the boys metalwork and woodwork; we got to do fun things like make meatballs and pasta or tack together hundreds of hexagonal shapes (before sewing them on the machine) to make a tea towel, while the boys made tools and chairs. I'm convinced manual training destroyed my love of sewing.

Or perhaps sewing just isn’t my thing … or cooking :).

Here are some of my daughter’s creations (she turned 9 this year).

And my smallest daughter’s dolls (she just turned 6).

2010-09-15T12:53:00.013+10:00

Sometimes the designs I draw on paper just don’t work in metal. I’m working on a ring right now that was almost finished but a little design fault and a few strokes of my hammer have destroyed it. I’ve gone through a range of emotions trying to make this ring – from frustration to anger to rage to sadness and despair; I’m now waiting for patience and persistence to quick in so I can start making this ring again from scratch, because I am determined to make it work!

But I’ve got some other things to show you :).

My children have been doing a pottery class for a few years now; I used to wait in the park with the other mum’s while the class was on. This year they ran a class for adults so I thought I’d enrol and make some bowls and things while my little ones made unicorns and ponies.

My daughter’s unicorn

My first pots :)

I was in the city buying some metal and cabochons the other day and I couldn’t resist buying this piece of celestite. It’s the most beautiful crystal, I love its smoky pale blue/grey colour, I wish I had a big celestite cabochon I could turn into a piece of jewellery for myself.

And finally my new computer. It works better and looks a lot nicer than that old beast I was using.

That’s it for now, I was hoping to have this jewellery finished today but it looks like I’m heading back to the shed to saw out some metal and start again … breathe.

signs of spring

2010-09-03T18:05:00.000+10:00

Suddenly the wattles are covered in bright yellow flowers, the jasmine is opening it’s beautiful scented buds, there are native flowers and birds everywhere, we’ve turned off the heaters, I’ve booked the car in to get the air conditioning fixed, the lawn needs mowing, the kids have dragged out their summer clothes and abandoned their shoes, the cat is sprinting around the yard pouncing on me, the sun is beating down, and when I look out my window the world looks yellow ... it must be Spring!

And the harvest moon - for my friends in the northern hemisphere celebrating the arrival of autumn :).

YEARLY SPIRALSTONE SALE!!!

2010-08-20T18:43:00.004+10:00

In celebration of three years selling my jewellery on Etsy, reaching 800 sales, the arrival of spring, and in appreciation of all my wonderful customers over the last 3 years I've decided to have a SALE!!

The sale will run from Monday 23rd August until the first day of spring ! (September 1st).

I'm taking 20% off EVERYTHING in my store for the week of the sale and you’ll receive a free flower ring with your order.

***All prices will be changed in my store at midnight (Sydney time) on Sunday 22nd August***

See you there!

handmade

2010-08-04T18:00:00.003+10:00

I met someone recently who really liked handmade items but argued that they were too expensive to buy. I tried to explain to her that you may pay a little more but what you receive is a beautiful handcrafted object that has often involved many many hours being made by one person. It is an object that often lasts a lifetime, it's unique, it's special, and it holds within it some sort of feeling/energy that the artist has imbued into it whilst making each and every component lovingly by hand.

The making of a handmade piece of jewelry requires so much of me it's almost impossible to describe. From the vision in my head, to the actualisation of that image into a piece of jewellery requires mental, emotional, physical and spiritual energy, it requires art, design, mathematics, physical strength, patience, endurance, creativity, etc. I enjoy every aspect of the process and I feel proud of the end result.

I thought I would share the process of making this particular piece of jewellery, how an idea/image in my head and some metal sheet and wire ...

... is transformed into a beautiful handmade wearable object.

Sketching my idea and deciding what size the bracelet should be, the thickness and texture of the metal, and how I'll manage to solder it all together. The mountains in this bracelet start as thinner pieces of metal representing distant mountains and slowly increase in thickness and then decrease again, it was quite a challenge working out the layers and thickness of the metal for the design.

Ordering the metal I need and then cutting out each disc, mountain and ocean by hand.

Filing all the discs, mountains, suns and ocean to form neat little pieces. Each disc had several pieces to be soldered to it in layers so I organised everything into separate bags so I could make sure I soldered the right sun, mountain and ocean to the right piece.

Soldering the mountains, sun and ocean to each disc.

I've drilled the holes to link the discs together and then filed, sanded and cleaned each piece.

Making jump rings and chain to join the bracelet together. Each jump ring is made from sterling wire and each is soldered one at a time.

Each disc is given a satin/brushed finish and is ready to be linked together with the jump rings.

All the discs are linked together with soldered jump rings and the chain is added. Here it is fresh out of the pickle and ready to be cleaned and oxidised.

Finally it's oxidised, cleaned and polished.

Here is the finished product!

And then I then write up the materials I've used, price it, photograph it, upload and prepare the photos for uploading onto the net and then write a glowing description for it and it's all done; the making of a handmade bracelet! And when it is sold it is lovingly wrapped and packaged and taken to the post office and released into the post system for it's journey off to a wonderful customer who appreciates handmade!

And this entire process, I believe, is worth paying a little more for no matter what it is you're buying :).

black ...

2010-07-31T21:15:00.027+10:00

our cat "chilli"

dark moon

... and white

my daughter's hair

full moon

flying

spirits

night forest

moon light mist

moon rise

an unusual stone

2010-07-30T20:34:00.018+10:00

I had originally planned to use this agate in my ocean collection. I designed a piece of jewellery which seemed to be perfect for this stone, but the stone didn't work in the design. It's an unusual shape, the bottom of it isn't flat like a cabochon, it's rounded, and the sides are uneven, it's more like an irregular river stone than a cabochon.

But I just had to add it to the collection as it was absolutely perfect - it has the most amazing fish shape within the stone.

I wanted the stone to be simply set and to be the centre/emphasis of the piece, and something that worked with the irregularity of the stone. I finished the ring today; mother fish guiding her babies through the ocean currents.

I'll be listing this ring in my Etsy store tomorrow morning.

I've also got seven new pieces that I've just finished that have nothing to do with the ocean, I'll have some photos to show you by Monday.

birthday wishes

2010-07-25T12:21:00.010+10:00

A lovely friend of mine asked me to make a piece of jewellery for her - as gift to herself for her 40th birthday. When I asked her what she had in mind in the way of design, colour, size, etc, she said she completely trusted me to make her whatever I wanted to! She is such a strong earthy woman, and a beautiful mama to two little girls who are her world. So I chose a crazy lace agate stone with a beautiful landscape, I see her as the full moon and her children (one born in summer and one in winter) as the sun and the snowflake - all interconnected, dependent and reliant upon each other, yet unique and independent in their own way. I was so worried the ring wouldn't fit her or she wouldn't like it or both! I gave it to her last night at her party and it was a perfect fit, it looked beautiful on her and she loved it :) ... phew.

ocean collection

2010-07-02T13:15:00.036+10:00

Since having children I can’t tolerate being in small confined spaces, or amongst crowds, or surrounded by trees and bush … I need space, air, and the horizon. I’m not sure why I feel like this, confined spaces were never an issue before I had children. Perhaps I instinctively feel that I can protect my little ones if I have space to see and feel what surrounds me?

That is why I moved away from the bush to live by the ocean. I have space and air and wind and salt and water near me. I can look out at the endless horizon and feel connected to this enormous earth, and imagine what mysterious worlds lie beneath the incredibly vast and endless ocean. It’s where I feel calm and peaceful and free.

In one way being by the ocean is being in a wide open space where I can see the horizon; the curvature of the earth as far as the eye can see. Yet when I look down at my feet there are secret little gardens hidden amongst the rocks, underwater worlds that are unknowable to us, hidden treasures hiding in the seemingly clear and spacious landscape. The boundaries of three worlds - earth, sky and sea.

If you’re wondering where my new collection of jewellery is ...

2010-06-19T08:41:00.002+10:00

... I’m having a few problems!

My husband keeps going overseas to work which means I have very few uninterrupted hours to work every day.

I’m battling firescale, just when I think I’ve removed that last little bit, I discover another patch in the light of the new day ….arrrggggh firescale!

I had the most beautiful chrysocolla stone that I planned to use for the cuff that I’m making but as I was making the bezel for it, it cracked, so I searched for weeks for the perfect stone to replace it, which I eventually found, but now that my cuff is curved, I’ve discovered that my new stone is too big to fit the curve. I’m now waiting to receive another stone that I’m sure will be perfect, I just need it to arrive.

I’ve managed to destroy the bezel for another ring I’m making – I’m a perfectionist and in my attempt to perfect this ring I destroyed it.

And, we’re turning our lounge room into our office/craft/workspace, and our teeny tiny office (which is really the dining room/extension of the kitchen) into our lounge room. Our dining room/kitchen will only fit a small couch and the TV, we don’t have reception for the TV and only use it to watch movies when we have the time so a tiny lounge room in our kitchen will be perfect for us :). The conversion of these two rooms will give us so much more space to work, I’ll have an entire desk all to myself (we all will), my daughter’s sewing machine will be permanently set up, and we’ll all be in the same room happily creating together … but all the moving of computers and sofas and desks and stuff takes time … and I don’t have any of that.

On a positive note I have nine almost finished pieces of jewellery that just need their stones set, I think I’ll have some photos by early next week … well that’s the plan :).

sunshine and storage

2010-06-09T16:13:00.010+10:00

My husband came home, the sun came out, and I finished this custom order.

I've been looking for something to store my collection of beads and stones in and I finally found a beautiful piece of furniture that is just perfect! It's an old typesetters chest, I can't wait to fill it up with beads!

rain

2010-06-03T10:07:00.011+10:00

My husband has been away working overseas for three weeks, and it has rained every day since he left. He's flying home today ... maybe it will stop raining :).

We homeschool our children so it's been difficult trying to find any time to work while he has been away, but I have managed to finish these pebble stacking rings - a custom order I made with the stones I collected on our holiday.

I've also been working on a new collection inspired by our recent holiday, I'll hopefully have some photos to show you soon.

a change of season ...

2010-05-28T18:25:00.009+10:00

... and more changes for spiralstone. I’ve decided to remove all made to order items from my store for the winter season. I love all the stacking rings and moon cycle jewellery that is in my store, it represents what my store is all about, but I’m trying to reduce my workload and free up my time to create more one of a kind pieces at the moment. On the first day of spring (that’s September 1st here in Australia) all made to order items will be back in my store again :).

changes

2010-05-19T10:30:00.015+10:00

To enable me to fulfil my creative needs I need a little more time to work on my own designs, so I’ve decided to make a few changes to spiralstone. This means that I’ll be taking a break from making hoop and spiral earrings, and they will no longer be available to purchase in my store for now. I feel a little sad about removing them from my store as they have been such a big part of it over the last few years. My design and method of making spirals has slowly evolved over time and I feel that they are close to as perfect as I can get them now, so I’m thinking of writing a tutorial that I can share with you on how I make them …. and then you can make your own ….well, that’s the plan.

in search of pebbles

2010-05-16T09:09:00.015+10:00

When designing jewellery I always make what I think is beautiful and something that I would wear myself. Some of my designs linger in my store until someone connects with that certain something that compels them to make it their own. Yet other pieces I make fly off the shelf accompanied by numerous emails asking me if I can make another one. And this is exactly what happened when I listed these pebble stacking rings:

Unfortunately the stones I used for these rings were collected in New Zealand. I only had about ten of these little pebbles, and living in Australia I couldn’t go back to collect any more of them. I tried to find similar stones here in Sydney, but I realized that it was the pounding surf that polished those little pebbles to perfection, and gave them a beautiful smooth surface that was perfect for making into rings.

I’d given up hope finding similar pebbles here in Australia and had abandoned the idea of making more pebble stacking rings until I could visit New Zealand again and I could return to the stormy coastline of Birdlings Flat and collect more pebbles battered and polished by the wild stormy seas. But on our way home from our holiday we happened to stay next to a beautiful little beach. As I made my way over the dunes and onto the beach I found that this little beach was covered in pebbles! Pebbles that were being thrashed and thrown around by the pounding surf which tumbled and polished those stones into perfect little cabochons for spiralstone pebble stacking rings!

The colours of the stones are beautiful,

And amongst them I found these spiral shells that I'm looking forward to making into jewellery.

I’ll be making new pebble stacking rings in a few different sizes over the next month :).

holiday photos

2010-05-15T10:58:00.016+10:00

wild ocean holiday

2010-04-27T19:04:00.005+10:00

I’ll be away on vacation from May 1st until May 16th, I’m off to spend some relaxing time in nature with my family :). I have been working on a new collection of jewellery that I’m looking forward to showing you when I get back. See you then!

moon cycle

2010-04-27T19:02:00.007+10:00

I love this agua nueva stone with the phases of the moon within it ... I don’t think I can sell it :).

womb

2010-04-27T18:52:00.010+10:00

rainforest collection

2010-03-20T20:35:00.038+11:00

I started this collection of jewellery a couple of months ago. After finishing the natures sculptures collection created around rugged stone shapes, I wanted to make something more fluid this time, which unlike the solid timeless motionless rocks and pebbles, was more about movement, growth and change.

I’m also deeply attracted to the rainforest, I love the colours, the light, the density, the air, the life, the stillness, the interconnectedness, and how everything is interdependent upon each other within the rainforest. I love the contrast of light and dark, how the plants spiral and intertwine their way around each other as they struggle to reach the light.

We were married in a rainforest and as our wedding anniversary was approaching I felt the need to revisit, in my mind and in real life, everything that it represents to me. There is a small reserve not far from where I live that has a rainforest and it was here that I was reminded of everything that I love about it.

My rainforest collection has been made with 100% recycled sterling silver and will be available to purchase in my Etsy store on Tuesday.

life stacking rings in gold

2010-03-14T23:50:00.004+11:00

I've just finished making a custom order for a lovely customer - life stacking rings in 14 carat yellow gold.

My new collection is finally finished! I won't have time to photograph everything until Thursday, I'm hoping to have all the photos and the story behind this collection of jewellery on my blog by Friday :).

2010-03-04T09:44:00.008+11:00

I’m back after my little break away :). I didn’t really have a break but spent the week working on a collection of jewellery I’m trying to finish. The collection started with 5 pieces and has grown into 10 pieces, so it’s taking a little longer to complete than I planned! I’m almost finished, I just have the stones to set and then the pricing, photographing and listing – hopefully it will all be listed in my store next week!

I also spent time working on a custom order. A couple wanted to buy a “water” and “fire” ring from my “elements stacking rings”, and they also wanted a ring to sit between these two rings with braided strands of gold, silver and copper that represented transformation, spirituality and relationships. I sketched some designs for the middle ring with different ways to intertwine the three strands and came up with an organic, fluid, flowing design – almost like a river. After deciding on the way the strands intertwined I thought it would be a nice idea to combine all the elements (water, fire and relationships/spirituality/transformation) into one ring. It was a challenge soldering the middle strands to the ring (being three different metals and crossing over each other) but I love making jewellery that is symbolic and meaningful and I’m really happy with the final design and the finished rings :).

time to create

2010-02-19T22:11:00.007+11:00

I’m taking a break for a week. I’ve been craving the time to update my Etsy store and finish creating a collection of jewellery I’ve started but don’t seem to find the time to finish. I’m looking forward to listing my new collection when I re-open on the 1st March, see you then! Michele

opal heart stacking rings

2010-01-25T09:50:00.006+11:00

It's not very often I find a stone with a little heart within it!

new stacking rings

2010-01-12T23:38:00.005+11:00

I'll be listing these new stacking rings in my Etsy store this week, they will be made to order and available in any size.

seasons

moon phase

End of year SALE!

2009-12-26T10:27:00.004+11:00

Selected items in my Etsy store have been reduced by 20% until January 3rd 2010!

Natures Sculptures - a collection of rings

2009-11-27T23:22:00.051+11:00

In September this year we flew to New Zealand to visit my family and friends. I grew up in Christchurch and whenever I go home I like to visit all the places that trigger my childhood memories. Although I’ve spent almost half my life living in Australia almost all of my inspiration when it comes to creating jewellery is based on New Zealand’s nature – the smell, the texture, the air, the remoteness, the wind, the plants, the trees, the wildlife, the mountains, the ruggedness - these are the pictures in my head when I consciously think of nature.

So when we went home this time I took my little family off to Birdling’s Flat on the Canterbury peninsula. Birdling’s Flat is a beach, but it’s nothing like the beautiful sandy beaches of Australia with warm water and the sun scorching your skin, Birdling’s Flat is cold and windy and exposed to the southern seas, there’s no sand at all only cold hard rocks and stones . But that’s what I love about it, you really feel like you’re a tiny part of the universe when you’re there, there is such a feeling of wildness and open space. And it’s easy to forget about the freezing wind once you look down and start rummaging amongst the stones and pebbles and shells and driftwood which make up part of this awesome landscape, because hidden amongst the endless river of grey pebbles there are some beautiful coloured stones. I loved to fossick amongst the stones as a child and take some of them home to add to my collection of nature’s objects, - this time I fossicked with my little ones, but I didn’t add my precious finds to any collection, I packaged them up and sent them home to make into something precious to wear.

We also visited Castle Hill and stayed amongst the rocks and mountains for a few days whilst we were in New Zealand. Castle Hill is a town in the middle of the South Island and is home to an amazing natural wonder. These huge limestone rocks were once below the sea 30 million years ago. Now they are part of the mountains and are named from their ruined castle like appearance. The formations were special to the Ngai Tahu people who called it “Kura Tawhiti” – meaning “treasure from afar.”

spirit

2009-11-18T23:22:00.005+11:00

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34753195

Elements

2009-10-11T15:19:00.010+11:00

fire

water

earth

air

aether

sunrise

2009-09-23T15:25:00.009+10:00

sunrise amongst the clouds - crazy lace agate ring

New Designs

2009-07-31T23:21:00.014+10:00

Here are a few new pieces I've been working on, they'll be listed in my Etsy store tomorrow.

rock pool

flower bangle for children

night sky stacking rings

night sky earrings

woolly pants

2009-07-27T22:56:00.008+10:00

I've just got back from visiting my adorable new baby niece. I made her these little woolly pants, I'm not the best knitter and they took me months to make - but I think they're really cute!

Elements Stacking Rings

2009-07-26T01:17:00.004+10:00

These rings were originally designed for a lovely customer; I found her story and her ideas really inspiring and together we came up with this beautiful group of rings symbolising the elements - water, earth, fire, air and aether. They're now available to buy in my Etsy store :).

the calm after the storm

2009-07-13T23:11:00.007+10:00

Thank you so much to everyone who visited my Etsy store during my sale, it was a huge success! I met lots of beautiful new people during the week and it was lovely to see so many familiar customers return to my store. During the week I made close to 100 individual rings! plus spirals and earrings and bracelets, so I'm taking a little break for a few days :).

Over the next few weeks I’ll be restocking my store with lots of new designs inspired by our connection with the rhythms and cycles of nature. I’ll be listing new stacking rings and lots of new rings and pendants that I've started creating using the beautiful stones I’ve been collecting.

I've been making this beautiful little flower ring as part of a set of stacking rings but I've had lots of people request to buy it on it's own. I've finally found the time to photograph it and I'll have it listed and available to buy in my Etsy store this week.

Yearly SpiralStone SALE!!!

2009-06-18T17:29:00.009+10:00

In celebration of two years selling my jewellery on Etsy, over 500 sales, the new emphasis on wholistic design that my jewellery is taking, and in appreciation of all my wonderful customers over the last 2 years, I've decided to have a SALE!!

The sale will run from Thursday the 25th of June EST until Thursday the 2nd of July EST.

I'm taking 20% off EVERYTHING in my store for the week of the sale, and if you purchase 2 or more items I'll include a FREE pair of small spirals (oxidized or plain finish) with your order.

See you there!

etsy front page

2009-06-09T21:54:00.006+10:00

Last night my newly listed "life" rings made it to the front page of Etsy. It was unbelievable the amount of traffic to my store that one hour of front page glory generated.

For the Etsians interested in stats :)
Visits to my store is usually between 100 and 150 per day. On the day that the rings were on the front page, my store had 629 visits.
I had only just listed the rings the day before and they had about 20 views and 1 heart. After 1 hour on the front page, they had 754 views and 54 hearts!
During the hour I received 44 new shop hearts.
I had no sales during the hour but I'm now working on three custom orders that were requested immediately after the rings were on the front page.

This is the second time in 2 years that one of my items has made it to the front page, I wish it would happen more often!

in celebration of the seasons

2009-05-29T17:17:00.011+10:00

seasons stacking rings

The flowers of spring, the golden light and heat of the summer sun, the beautiful rich brown hues of autumn and the pale silver glow of winter are symbolized by the silver, brass and copper metals in these seasons stacking rings.

seasons bangles

The seeds of spring, the beautiful flowers of summer, the falling leaves of autumn, and the snowflakes of winter are symbolized by the silver and copper in these bangles celebrating the seasons.

seasons bangles with czech glass

The tiny seeds planted in the spring bloom into the beautiful golden flowers of summer. Leaves fall in the autumn before the winter snow, represented by the beautiful Czech glass beads on these bangles.

a little visitor

2009-05-07T16:37:00.000+10:00

I was photographing some earrings today, when a little ladybird dropped by to say hello.

She stayed for a little while,

and when she'd had enough, she jumped off her leaf...

...and off she went.

jewellery of the day

2009-05-05T16:58:00.004+10:00

Moonlit mountains has been selected as jewelry of the day on http://www.jewelryoftheday.net/, it's lovely to be featured amongst such other beautiful pieces of jewelry.

spiralstone interview

2009-04-15T19:58:00.010+10:00

Tayana who runs a website called "lifestyle resource for busy women" has kindly included an interview on her blog about me and my jewellery.

By defining my past and by clarifying my current creations the interview gave me an insight into the future direction of my jewellery. By communicating something that was undefined, innate, and natural to me I gained a further understanding of how I am reflected in my creations.

If you would like to read the interview it's here.

Wholistic Metal - Natural Cycles

2009-04-12T22:06:00.000+10:00

I have been creating a whole new range of pieces lately, and have just finished them. The light was perfect for photographing them yesterday and so I thought I would put a few up here on my blog. I should have them listed in my Etsy store by Tuesday.

life

I am thinking of calling this piece "Life" as it is all about the stages of growth of a plant. From a seed (the tiny smoky quartz bead), a drop of water (the aquamarine bead) and the heat of the sun, a seedling becomes a flower.

moon phase

The oxidised silver on these earrings is the night sky with a phase of the moon on each disc. The full cycle starts at one earring from the dark new moon and descends to the full moon at the bottom. Then on the other piece the cycle continues ascending and ending as it begun on the dark new moon.

the river flows by moonlit mountains

I was inspired by the natural patterns in this beautiful Brazilian Agate to create a mountain necklace. The mountains are lit by the stars and the moon, a river flows from the distant mountain and through the Agate. The chain echoes the pendant with moonstones for the moonlight and little serpentine stars.

life

A different version of the "Life" earrings. The same theme of life growing from a seed (the matte brown glass bead), yet in this pair I have chosen the metals to accentuate the stages. The warmth of the sun is stamped into the brass disc, the flowering plant on the silver disc, and the earthy copper with the growing plant emerging from the ground.