I've Been Stranded on an Island...

... in the Andaman Sea ...

  

Away on the best kind of holiday...

...OUR HONEYMOON

 
Fresh from the ocean...

swimming with tropical fish ...

... the salt still on my skin
 

... kissed by the coral ...

Relaxing in tranquility by day...
 

... resting in bliss by night.

THAILAND

you've left us mesmerised.

And I am completely rejuvenated.

I haven't moved from the workshop in days.

(and that's just the way I like it)

- Mariann -

oxox 

The Little Desk That Could

...and tales from the typewriter...

I'd like you to meet

Dorothy

(the wind picked her up and she landed in my path)

and

 

Ophelia

..the retro orange typewriter.

Dorothy has such heart.

Every scratch,

dent,

and broken handle

has so much to tell

of her long

adventurous life.

And sweet little Ophelia.

Your presence in my home

and the clickity-clack

of your creamy bakelite keys

makes my heart skip a beat.

You will write many tales

and thank-yous

to the lovely people I meet

and greet

through the humble

little gems that I so dearly

love to create.

What new addition to your home has you

dancing in circles,

and whistling,

and singing songs?

xx  All my love  xx

Mariann

 

There she is...

... at her workbench,

making and creating

on a windswept Saturday night.

She

is

in

heaven.

xx M xx

My Offering

I've made a decision.

I'll open my heart

to you.

When I sit at my workbench, you will be with me.

We will sit side by side,

and laugh,

and smile,

whilst wires, stones and sheets of silver dance along the benchtop

and come to rest on our fingers, in our ears and near our hearts on a necklace.

This will be my offering,

my contribution to my fellow jewellers,

and the lovely friends I meet along the way.

Seeing the process,

and the result.

It's as though the jewellery making process is a sacred, guarded secret. But I want to share it with the world, a world that is so full of mechanically made, identical, quick-fix jewellery and components.

They have no meaning,

no feeling,

no story

and no strength.

My aim is to let you see the handmade process,

and for you to share in the journey of each and every piece.

Care to join me?

Let's start with this pretty ring...

...it follows on from the picture in my previous post.

The components, the bezel and the ring shank were soldered.

The stone is now ready to be set in the ring

I created a bezel pusher from a nail head when I studied at NMIT.

It has been my trusty setting tool ever since.

The bezel pusher is pressed against the bezel at opposing sides of the stone until the bezel is nice and snug against the stone and the stone does not move within the setting.

A ring clamp holds the ring secure during setting.

A burnisher helps to smooth out the marks left from the bezel pusher.

I made this burnisher from the pointy end of a nail.

A quick sanding with fine emery paper helps to smooth out the bezel.

I use Jax Oxidizing solution to give the ring an antique finish.

Several coats are needed for a deep, black finish.

A quick rub with scotch brite helps to highlight the layers on the ring.

I like to use fine pumice powder and fine steel wool to soften the metal after the scotch brite.

The result is a lovely satin sheen on the silver.

Floret ring in sterling silver and chrysoprase.

This evening I will be adding more patina to this ring to really give it some serious definition.

It will then be photographed and listed for purchase tomorrow.

..all my love..

- Mariann -

 xoxo

Neglected

Working full time means my creative urges are sometimes left unfulfilled.

This pains me to my very core.

I cannot begin to tell you how much of my waking hours are spent thinking about jewellery,
thinking of jewellery designs,
thinking of jewellery tools that I must acquire to make the most fabulous pieces...

My head is left muddled..
..did I finish that ring tonight?
..I remember having made it. Or was it just another daydream that got mixed up with my
reality of all the jewellery thoughts swirling around in my cluttered mind?

My workshop sits quiet and still in the frozen air of the evenings of late.

I promise to thaw it out.

I'll show you...

...but you must be patient...

xoxo 

-Mariann-

Mookaite Earrings

... the first of many!

I am excited to say that a series is born,
each one handcrafted from sterling silver wire and sheet,
filed,
soldered
and oxidized
for a rustic finish
and adorned with mookaite beads.





Mookaite originates from right here in Australia,
From the very heart of this Great Southern Land.
It is mined near Mooka Creek at a place called Gascoyne Junction,
about 600 miles north of Perth in Western Australia.

Australian Outback Mining,
owned and operated by Glenn Archer,
mines mookaite and many other gemstones,
minerals and fossils in Western Australia.
I am delighted to have found his website.

I am astounded and uplifted by the many
dazzling,
unique
and colourful stones that are mined right here in Australia.
Mookaite is so very reminiscent of the rich, red earth that envelops this sunburnt country.
It sticks in your pores
and doesn't let go of your heart,
it simmers beneath the midday sun
and keeps you warm as the sun sets and the stars sparkle in the midnight sky.

I adore mookaite.
It is the landscape of the Australian outback,
captured in a stone.

Happy Day!
xoxo
- Mariann -

Monday Motivation

I worked through the night last night.
Motivation carried me.

This is what I (almost) finished

The night crept up so silently,
I didn't realise how late it was
when I reached for my hammer.
Alas, the sleepy sun had retired,
and so had my neighbours,
so I didn't want to wake them with my tinkering.

The hammering will have to wait until tonight,
The solder joins will be cleaned up,
the patina reapplied,
all the components will be put together,
the mookaite jasper beads will be attached,
and a new pair of earrings will be born.

The most time consuming part was hand fabricating the jump rings,
and soldering them to make the chain.
I wouldn't change this for the world, though.

I love handmade,
I love making handmade.

My oh my! Did those leaves turn out pretty!
I just have to make more,
I just can't get enough!

Happy Day!
... once again!
xoxo
- Mariann -

I dreamt I was drowning...

... the waves crashed through the window,
I ran up the stairs.
I felt the house slipping,
slipping,
down with the torrent of waters,
and the muddy earth that had given way.

It really does feel that way at the moment.
Like I'm drowning in water,
being pulled down
into the deep,
dark,
abyss.
When I triumphantly reach the surface,
there's no triumph at all.
Just a wishful gasp for fresh air,
that is in fact thick and stale.

My bones are heavy,
creaking under the weight of the world.

(When did earth's gravity decide to pull with thrice the force?)

My marrow is replaced with lead,
My muscles struggle to move me.
I can hear the creaks and groans within.

(I hope I don't fall apart)

There are so many things I yearn to do...

...there never seems enough time.

- Mariann -

...there are still gems in my pocket...

Lest We Forget...

... Our fallen soldiers.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
The acronym ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps whose soldiers were known as the Anzacs.
Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand. This is a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same rememberance day, but making reference to both countries in its name.

The day begins with dawn services at memorials across this great southern land, from the capital cities to the smallest towns. Veterans and their families march through the cities, 'The Last Post' is played on the bugle in rememberance of those who have fallen in war, and one minute's silence is observed for the brave soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest we forget."

Laurence Binyon
'Ode of Rememberance'

Anzac Biscuits

A traditional Australian biscuit, they were sent overseas to serving Anzacs in World War 1 due to their excellent keeping properties.
I baked these biscuits for the first time this afternoon.
They filled the house with the sweetest coconut scent.
I have never felt so grateful for the enormous sacrafice of our soldiers during times of war as I have today.

I'd like to share the recipe with you...

ANZAC BISCUITS

1 cup plain flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
half cup coconut
125g butter
3 tablespoons golden syrup
1 tablespoon water
half teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1. Sift the flour into a bowl. Add the sugar, rolled oats and coconut.
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the golden syrup and water.
3. Stir the bicarbonate of soda into the liquid mixture.
4. Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
5. Place walnut sized balls of mixture on a greased tray and bake at 175C for 15-20 minutes.
6. Biscuits will harden when cool.

- Mariann -
xoxo

Tuesday's Adornment

'Woven Brooch'


Sterling silver,
fine silver,
titanium
and a stainless steel brooch pin.

I made this lovely brooch for my final year studies in Advanced Diploma of Engineering Jewellery at NMIT.
My aim was to explore the differences between cold, solid metal and soft, flowing fabrics.
This brooch was from a series that replicated the textures, colours and the woven detail of fabric by using silver and titanium.



Strips of fine silver, polished and rollerprinted, were carefully woven with strips of titanium. A strip of titanium was heated until it turned blue to add a touch of colour to the brooch.



A handcrafted brooch pin and rivets hold the piece together.

With the days and nights getting colder by the day, rugging up in woolly jackets and scarves is becoming a daily occurrence. This brooch made me enjoy it so much more!


Happy Day!
xoxo
Mariann