A Graceful New Year

 

Happy New Year, mes amis!  :)  I've been thinking a lot about my hopes and dreams for 2014, and the kind of life I want to live.  Each year a friend and I choose a 'theme' word, rather than a list of resolutions per se, and this year's motto is going to be 'grace'. 

 

 

 

As I reflect on some challenges that last year brought, as well as my continued love for the gentler times witnessed in period dramas so popular now, I yearn to bring more grace into my world. 

 

 

 

I vow to accept the grace of God; to treat others with grace (including kindness, respect and dignity); and to have the grace to let go of judgment, envy or immaturity.

 

 

 

I will strive for grace and beauty in everything I create from jewelry to a loving meal for family.

 

 

 

By handling myself with grace in both social and business situations, I shall always expect a favourable outcome.

 

 

And I hope to handle life's inevitable difficulties with the grace of acceptance and strength.

 

 

Perhaps if I'm very good at it, I will even inspire grace in others.

 

 

I hope I have honoured my theme word this week by offering some 'graceful' pieces, soon to be available in my Etsy shoppe this evening.

 

 

And for my fellow Abbey fans (you know who you are!), here's a little eye candy to get us ready for Sunday night's Season 4 premier! 

 

Wishing everybody a happy, healthy and graceful New Year!  x o Robyn

 

Shades of Autumn

 

With the fall foliage turning comforting shades of gold and red, I was inspired to create this week's jewelry pieces featuring just such colours.

 

 

Rich ambers and berries in the form of citrine, garnet, ruby and amethyst accent classic themes like crosses, hearts and flowers.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and I hope you're enjoying the changing leaves in your own backyard!  <3

 

The Leaves of Brown

The leaves of brown came tumbling down / Remember, in September, in the rain / The sun went out just like a dying ember / That September, in the rain*

Though it thankfully hasn't been raining in my area this week, the days are getting shorter and there is a bit of crispness in the air.

As a result, my jewelry designs are turning toward the melancholy that fall brings for me. Warm shades of amber and amethyst

mix with mother of pearl and shades of blue, like the misty skies.

I'm still loving bronze, mixed with rich jewel tones like garnet and sapphire.

A sweet bracelet featuring flowers, rosary connectors, and a rhinestone leaf, remind me of taking a stroll in a tranquil garden.

And here, a vintage celluloid sparrow brooch softly blends with old mother of pearl rosaries and rhinestones for subtle allure.

What has you inspired now that the leaves are turning brown?

*Songwriters: Harry Warren, Al Dubin

Mothers and Pearls

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I spent a good amount of time in the studio this weekend playing with new designs that I hoped would make pleasing gift ideas for moms and daughters alike.


Fittingly, I used lots of mother of pearl, such as in these 'ivory tower' earrings.



This 'mother of pearls' necklace pays homage with an old celluloid 'Mother' pin, an antique photo locket featuring a Victorian woman and Art Deco rhinestone bracelet links.





Next I thought I'd try my hand at some brooches and assembled this one by draping a sterling silver shield with shell cameo, old watch chain and mother of pearl rosary beads to a sterling marcasite bow.




A French-inspired sterling silver cuff bracelet with rosary crosses and agate.




These 'souvenir de bains' charms are so popular I keep getting requests for more. Don't worry... I have one more set that I can make another pair of earrings with! ;)



Brass crowns hang from chains and more mother of pearl.



Another brooch assembled from a 1920s goldtone rose pin, handmade Virgin Mary pendant, enamel cross and... you guessed it, mother of pearl rosary beads!




Finally, I just had to get this beautiful pink scapular from France as soon as I spied it! I've never seen another quite like it and its colour is so yummy.


I complemented it with vintage rhinestones, tarnished religious findings, and pink glass and brown wood rosary beads.




I'm happy to report that half of these items had already been spoken for by the time I was able to write this blog post, so thank you to all my loyal customers. Please keep checking back since I am always striving to come up with new treasures.


Enjoy the rest of your week! :)