Monday, December 9, 2013

Tinkerings









Ah.  The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of visitings and events, big and small. A time of year when all I feel like doing is sitting curled up on the couch with a cup of hot, delicious tea and biscuits..but instead, I've been fighting the crowds and traffic in that big, bad world out there where everyone is in such a hurry to get somewhere.
This morning I've woken up to a lovely, sparkling blanket of snow..and all of a sudden the grey, barren landscape has been transformed into something beautiful.  The city noises seem to have been muffled for the time being, everything coming to a slow, sane pace.  I know I only have a few precious moments before the rest of the house begins to awaken and this blessed silence is interrupted by the pitter patter of small feet..and the creaking of big paws walking (..running..) up and down the hallway upstairs.  
And I know my day has begun.

With barely the time lately to create new items for the shop and the request for smaller, stocking-stuffer gifts for the holidays, what I have to offer you today are just that.  Smaller offerings of shoulder sweeping tumblings of sparkling goodness, a handful of "amedama" earrings and a lovely botanical embossed dome ring.  I should note that all proceeds from the sale of the amedama earrings will be donated to Second Harvest - a wonderful organizations whose work has helped to feed people's tummies and souls since 1985.  You can read their story here.  Already a few pieces have been purchased and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for donating, especially during this time of year.

Wishing you all the best of holiday seasons!  


xo Blue Gnome

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Going cross-eyed

I've been craving colour lately, I feel like I've exhausted working with turquoise for the time being and reached for something a little different..seed beads!  Lovely, vibrantly hued, teenie weenie glass beads that have been making me go cross-eyed threading them.  I've heard that working with such tiny, finicky things have been therapeutic for some..maybe with some practice, I too will be able to enjoy working with them without wanting to throw them clear across the room after a few minutes.  Regardless, I'm loving the end results so I painstakingly carry on..

Inspired loosely by a recent visit to a Native American gallery exhibit, the workmanship and beadwork I saw there simply took my breath away.  A simple marrying of antiqued sterling silver and the vibrance of randomly strung seed beads, I'm quite in love with these.





Happy midweek everyone!

xo Blue Gnome

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Rose-coloured glasses


 Sterling & rose banded agate


She sees the world through rose-coloured glasses
Painted skies and graceful romances
I see a world that's tired and scared
Of living on the edge too long
Where does she get off telling me
That love could save us all.

She takes my hand and leads me to nowhere.
No matter where I stand it's always neutral ground,
And in the cool of the evening blue
I feel so tired and alone
Where does she get off telling me
That love could save us all.

-  Blue Rodeo

*********************

A rose hued monocle pendant 
for those dark days when you need a little help seeing the light and love 
in this beautiful world.

Available now in the shop.

xo Blue Gnome






Monday, November 11, 2013

In Flanders Fields


In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

A touch of lunar magic

"I believe the night is more colorful and richly textured than the day."
~Vincent Van Gogh


Sterling, labradorite and grey moonstone.

A custom totem created with a touch of lunar magic.
xo Blue Gnome

Monday, November 4, 2013

Winter Berries





The irresistible pairing of a glowing green prehnite and the gorgeous pop of crimson!

Made entirely of sterling, prehnite and some tiny, darling seed beads, available in the shop later this week.

Have a lovely week all you beautiful people!

xo Blue Gnome

Monday, October 21, 2013

Perfection

When for a moment 
everything is aligned,
when the light is a golden perfection,
when all our worries and heartaches seem to blow away in the gorgeous fall breeze.




These are the memories that last a lifetime.




That day.
That smile.
That big wet smooch as those chubby little arms wrap tightly around my neck.

*sigh*

We are so very blessed.

xo Blue Gnome


Monday, October 7, 2013

Fall Danglies



Sterling, lapis & coral

Sterling, freshwater pearls & mandarine citrine

Sterling, freshwater pearls & tiger ebony

These fall danglies..soon to be available in the shop.

Happy Monday all you beautiful people!

xo Blue Gnome


Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Ramblings

Here we are, the first day of October!  
I cannot believe how quickly this summer has left us!  Despite everyone's complaints about the incredibly hot and humid days we had this year, don't we all pay good money to fly to destinations that host weather like this all the time?  True..there are no turquoise oceans and white sandy beaches anywhere near here but all in all, this summer's been pretty fantastic. 
 The garden's been thriving and the humble crops we've harvested have been amazing..supplying us with an abundance of home grown goodness at every meal.  And as the days get shorter and the nights cooler, the jalapeno plants are still rock'n!  Small fiery peppers perfect for my own jalapeno lime hot sauce, a favorite condiment here all year round.  And I have big plans for those tomatoes still green and clinging to the vines..ever tried pickling them?  A small experimental pickling project a few years ago that produced some exceptional results!  It was my go-to snack during my pregnancy and still a delicious addition to practically any meal.  Mmmm..

The shop is slowly starting to gear up again.  
After almost a full month of family visits and weekends up at Five Maples I'm itching to get back to work..and yet the process is painfully slow to begin after a hiatus of any kind.  Steady orders for custom work have started reining me in however and the more time I log into the studio, the faster my mind and hands have begun to work once more.  It's always such a delight (and a relief) to realize that this is truly in my blood - even after weeks of being away I can always trust my hands to lead the way.  Creating is the very soul of who I am and I'm grateful each and every day that my life allows such a luxury as to be able to pursue something I love to do.  
Not everyone can say that.  
All those articles that tell you to follow your heart and take that leap of faith by quitting that mundane day job is definitely easier said than done.  Sometimes you really do need that seemingly unfortunate "blessing in disguise" event to happen (like your boss single handedly bankrupting the company while you're on maternity leave..) to jumpstart something you've been daydreaming about for years.  
Though motherhood keeps me busy, life is ever-adapting.  The more you  invite into your life, the more the days seem to expend to accommodate.  Sit on the couch all day and it's evening before you know it and you'd gotten nothing done.  Life's funny that way.  The key, I suppose is balance.  Fitting too much into your days can have it's consequences too, so everything in moderation.  
Even a big, cheesy, calorie-packed bowl of homemade mac'n cheese.  

If it feeds the soul, it's all good.

Now as I bring this rambling post to a close, I promise new items in the next!  It's a damp, dreary day here in the big smoke and there's nothing I'd rather do than hunker down and get to work.

I'll be in touch again in a few!  
Have a lovely week! 

xo Blue Gnome




Monday, August 12, 2013

Summer's Day






A something in a summer’s Day
As slow her flambeaux burn away
Which solemnizes me.

A something in a summer’s noon —
A depth — an Azure — a perfume —
Transcending ecstasy.

And still within a summer’s night
A something so transporting bright
I clap my hands to see —

Then veil my too inspecting face
Lets such a subtle — shimmering grace
Flutter too far for me —

The wizard fingers never rest —
The purple brook within the breast
Still chafes it narrow bed —

Still rears the East her amber Flag —
Guides still the sun along the Crag
His Caravan of Red —

So looking on — the night — the morn
Conclude the wonder gay —
And I meet, coming thro’ the dews
Another summer’s Day.


 - Emily Dickinson

Monday, August 5, 2013

Turquoise Love





There's just something about the look of turquoise against sun-kissed skin..a certain carefree elegance it lends to the simplest look.  Worn casually with cut-off shorts and a well-loved faded shirt or as a solitary accent with that little black dress that fits you perfectly every time, I've been a little turquoise obsessed.


I've also been pressing into these gorgeous metal canvases a little bit of summer - wildflowers and leaves, collected up at Five Maples, a small reminder of these lazy, hot summer days when the weather turns cool and brisk again.



I'm especially in love with these earrings!
Perfectly dangly and embossed with the leaves of the milkweeds that grow all over Five Maples - 
life giving sustenance to the monarch butterflies that will soon be getting ready for their incredible migration south.

Both items will be available in the shop mid-week.
Made with love from me to you.

xo Blue Gnome