Not One, But TWO Videos

Well, I said I wanted to make some videos, and that is what I have been doing. I like to do this because it gives so much more insight into how a piece of jewelry is made - I like to make jewelry, so this process is endlessly fascinating to me. But I think, and hope, it is fascinating to other people, too. I would think it’s more interesting and engaging to see this as opposed to a photo posted on social media. It’s a peek into another world, because another world it surely is!

So here are two videos. In one, I show stones and pick up where I left off in the studio last fall. In the second, you can see me at work at my bench, making a magical crescent moon pendant!

Hello again!

I’m happy to be writing here, again. It’s been 8 months since I worked in my silver cave and while life has been a whirlwind, it is good to be back. I anticipate I’ll be having a good bit of time to really focus on this work, and so I am going to continue where I left off, detailed in my previous entries below. It was a very exciting stream of creativity, with so many ideas, and they have been waiting in what has felt like a little cloud hovering next to me during the past months.

I am striving to record more of my process, in small videos, because I really love that medium to communicate a story - and that is what making a collection of jewels is, to me: diving into a story. It is a story that I would like to share in this way, rather than just writing + photos.

So, here is the first video! I show some of my working area / studio and talk a bit about what I’m working on. Check it out if you are interested. And check back for more in the future. Also, you can follow me on Instagram and Youtube!

Staccato & Moonstone

Staccato. That is the word I would use to describe November. Despite my very wholehearted efforts, it was a lot of this: start working, unexpected event happens, refocus and get into a delicious groove with making jewelry + recording the process of it + updating here, I’m stopped in my tracks by something dramatic, I fix it or maybe not, I resume working - and the cycle repeated that way several times all in a month!

Moonstone. I’m not sure anyone wants all the details but imagine some of the following, a mix of blessings and curses: a torch igniting where it should not in your face, an empty gas tank, a new gas tank but with errors, very long repeated trips to rectify said errors, an unexpected ability to purchase some beautiful materials!, more than one intense but brief illness, finding a source for more beautiful materials (endless moonstone!), and, there’s more.

I just want to focus and make a bunch of jewels and send them out to the world! All of the above has been a chaotic whirlwind and I don’t see it stopping. So, I am working on things as I can around the happenings. What else can you do. My hope is next week I will be back on track at my bench sawing, hammering, filing, and creating away! If not, I’ll take whatever life throws at me next and be grateful for it all with photos and writings <— check them out

One clear theme in my life is this: I find myself within a lot of waiting and then one day, something overwhelmingly beautiful happens, more than I could have imagined. I think this collection will be much like that. I work and wait and eventually, the beauty will materialize!

Work in Progress

Here are some photos of the work that’s been going on. I’m working on a bunch of pieces at the same time which is fun, normally I work on one at a time. But all of the ideas for these came to me up front, so now I’m making them. Then they will all pretty much be done at the same time! A scattering of stars they’ll be!

Making bezels, the “frame” around the stone

Stones with silver bezels

A really beautiful moonstone, it’s hard to photograph but I’ll get it

A crystal friend

Celestial components freshly sawed and soldered

Stars that will be earrings

A celestial sky, these are some of the colors that really inspire me

A Little Story of Magic

Here is a new necklace! She will be in the shoppe after her photos are taken.

With each piece of jewelry made, a new idea arrives to fill the empty place. When I began this craft, I couldn’t help but feel forces unseen that were there—observing, inspiring, helping. And it has always been that way since. I don’t ever feel like it is just me in ‘The Cave’ when I am working on jewels. And that brings with it a brimming, electric, uncanny sense of enchantment in every moment I am working.

I will say that there is something to stories of myth. I have always believed they are half true, half tale. Something arrived as a little spark in someone’s awareness and the story unfolds from there.

In ancient Norse stories, and others that branch out from them, black elves work to craft otherworldly jewels. Goddesses and gods commission dwarves to make talismans for journeys. Giants steal them and barter great things to possess them. Humans make offerings of stone to garner immortal favor. There is a tome of stories that have traveled down through the ages and inspire us still. The line between truth and tale has grown over with moss, like an old path worn into a foggy mountainside.

When I am working, there is the question: Who is it that visits me? I have ideas but can one ever be completely sure? Perhaps. One day.

The First Piece of The Celestia Collection!

I hope November is treating you well.

A pair of handwoven beaded earrings are available now. I’ll be adding more jewels, beaded and silver, through the coming days.

Beaded fringe earrings

And a brand new necklace design is in the works!

Some Pictures

I wanted to share some pictures of working in the studio, so you can see a little of what it looks like.

At my bench, reaching for The Best Saw

Hammering the LUMINO maker’s mark into ring bands

Sawing out ring bands

Nice exact measurements

Silver dust is captivating!

Stardust

A ring in the flame

Filing rings

Checking the rings for any further hammering or filing they might need

Making potions

A Sneak Peek

Something I have been wanting to do for awhile is make videos to show behind the scenes of LUMINO! And now I am doing it!

Check out the first video, a little sneak peek of stones and ideas that will be coming to the shop:

Hi, I hope you had a warm and happy summer!

Here in Lumino world, there’s some exciting news to share: This autumn and winter I am working on a new collection! That’s right, some new pieces are coming to the shoppe over the next couple of months.

There will be one-of-a-kind pieces with unique stones, and there will be pieces that will always be available to order in my shoppe. In the case of rings, they will be made custom to your requested size!

I am really excited to have fresh ideas and inspiration to share in the form of new jewels! I hope you will be, too.

You can stay updated on the process and release dates via social media, my newsletter, and here on my website.

Happy season to you!