Out Of The Ashes

Sterling, Turquoise

On wings that fill the sky
Like a phoenix rising
Like a phoenix rising
Wings on fire, tearing into the night
Screaming into the light of another day
Carry me out the hurricane
Into the smoke and flame and we’ll fly away
And we’ll rise right before their eyes
On wings that fill the sky 

- Lyrics, Phoenix Rising

For those of you who have survived the fire and risen from its ashes, the Phoenix knows no limitations. 

A powerful representation of rebirth, survival and fight. 

Available in the shop.

xo Blue Gnome

When The Raven Calls

My work in the shop lately has been wonderfully productive, it's amazing how focused one can become when you're limited for time.  There's been no daydreaming, no mindless tinkering around with ideas only to lose focus and scrap it all together.  All the sketches I've been working on in the wee hours of the morning while Leo and I hang out have slowly come to life..and how wonderful it is to finally see them develop.

I've found myself drawn to my wildlife designs - birds, bears..totem animals that speak to me of things I have yet to figure out.  I'm flattered and delighted that people have contacted me regarding the Phoenix ring I listed just before Christmas, a ring I designed and created with no expectation of selling.  My largest ring yet, this design was hand drawn with no thought to practicality, created purely on aesthetics.  I fell in love with it..and must confess that I was a little sad to see it go.  I'm currently in the midst of creating another one, something a little different but just as luxurious with heaps of sterling and a simple turquoise. I'm hoping to have it finished by the middle of the week, Leo allowing, of course!  I'm excited about it..as I am to share this new raven ring I've been working on these past few days.  

Sterling, Agate

Let there be a raven more...
Let it soar and fly.
Let there be a raven nor...
Let it circle by.
Let there be a raven more...
T'will it stay up high? 
Let there be a raven more...
Forever more, the most more ever high. - Michael Gale

Made entirely of sterling and a snowy specimen of agate, a raven sits perched upon the beautiful stone.  This ring sits on your finger with a decadent weight, tumbled for hours for strength and comfort.

Available now in my shop. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

xo Blue Gnome

Keeping My Sanity Series

The last few weeks have been a sleepless blur..the unfortunate thing is that this will not be ending anytime soon..the amazing thing is the capability of the human body to adjust to just about anything.  I'm no longer staggering around the house like a zombie, putting the milk carton away in the cupboard and the toaster in the fridge.  As Leo has slowly begun to establish a daily routine, I'm finally able to entertain the thought of managing my day to day life somewhat (ha!) showering, get dressed and having a meal or two all in the same day! I've even managed to sneak some time in my shop - while some might call that a luxury, for me it's become a necessity to preserve my sanity.  Despite the staggering number of things that need to be done to keep a tiny baby happy, I was craving..no..aching for a creative outlet. 

So with a baby swing set up in the far corner of the shop, Leo and I were able to reach a compromise.  A little "Tina time" makes for a much happier mommy and Leo agreed that a happy mommy makes for a happy baby.  It really must be true when they say that a baby remembers and finds comfort in the sounds they hear while they're in your belly because while the tumblers tumbled and the hammers hammered, Leo slept peacefully in his corner.  

So in brief 1 1/2 hour increments, over the course of many more days than before Leo's arrival, I've managed to put a few little items together.  Although very different in design and inspiration, I'm calling them a part of my Keeping My Sanity series - because without them I'm a little scared I might drown in maternal responsibility.  

All Leo approved.  Currently available in my shop.

xo Blue Gnome

 Bear Totem - Sterling, Ocean Jasper

 Sanity Ring - Sterling, TeePee Canyon Agate

Rumor Ring - Sterling, Turquoise

Happy New Year..And the Arrival Of The Wee Bean

Leo

We hit the ground running in 2012, an unexpectedly early addition to our family made his entrance at 2am on January 2nd.  Leo arrived with a full head of hair and a whole lot of attitude after an exhausting trip down the birth canal.  It's been a long road for little Leo..he's been busy growing, developing, living in quarters that had gotten quite tight in the last few months of 2011.  His entrance was quite spectacular and took every little ounce of his being, announcing his arrival with loud healthy screams, perfect tiny toes and fingers curled tightly in determined protest.  It was warm and safe in there..and now it's our duty to see that he's warm, safe and loved out here in this big, big world.  

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the midwives who made every effort to fulfill our birth plan in welcoming Leo into an environment of calm, without any intrusive measures what so ever.  I'd also like to thank those people who told me time and time again that I wouldn't be able to deliver this perfect little person without medication.  Because without them, I would't have been so damn determined to honor the natural in natural childbirth.  The experience was unreal..never have I been so aware of the miracles of mother nature..when you let go of the instinctive urge to be in control of your body and let nature take over.  All you can do is try to relax and go along for the ride because turning back isn't an option at that point.  And what a ride it was!

So, as wonderful and miraculous as this experience has been the not-so-wonderful phase has begun.  

Whoever thought that 3 consecutive hours of sleep could be such a glorious thing?   

Running on not much more than fumes these days, the days and nights seem to all blend together and the weeks have flown by.  In the wee hours of the morning when the house is asleep, I've been frantically sketching whilst balancing Leo in the other hand.  I have a ton of new ideas that I've been dying to get started on.  Now all I need is a priceless little thing called time.  So bear with me..the updates on the blog will be far and few between but I have some ideas that I hope to share soon :)  

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season in 2011 filled with love, family and great friends.  A time to reflect on the past year, forget all your regrets and face the new year with a kind heart, rejuvenated soul and hope.  

And love.  Don't ever pass up an opportunity to love.  

This will be your year. 

A blank canvas waiting for your brush strokes of creativity, brilliance and a brand new opportunity for you to make your mark in this world.  

This will be your year.

xo Blue Gnome

'Tis The Season When Slowing Down Is Not An Option

So I'm not traveling this holiday season.  Thought it would be nice to stay close to the home front, avoid the crazy holiday travelers with their very merry and obnoxious holiday sweaters.  Did I ever mention that flight home to B.C. where a woman had to be asked to turn the LED lights off on her Christmas sweater?  When I saw her waiting in the line up to proceed through security, proudly twinkling all the way, I instinctively knew she would be on my flight.  Thankfully, I wasn't the one who ended up sitting next to her.  A small miracle since anyone who knows me will tell you that I seem to attract that kind of thing...

Anyway, the plan was to stay here, relax and calmly enjoy the start of the holiday season.  

Not a chance.  

The downfall to staying at home is that there's always stuff that needs getting done.  I'm quickly finding out that spending the holidays in someone else's home is sometimes the only way to avoid doing stuff that starts by promising to only take up a few minutes of your time..and hours later, you're still doing it.

But on the bright side, we finally went out and got a tree this year!  We picked out a relatively normal looking tree and during the time it took to drive it home, it grew another foot high and a few feet wide.  The gargantuan tree now takes up a third of the front sitting room, the sheer thickness of the branches has swallowed up the three strings of lights it took to cover it from top to bottom.  We have way too much tree for our tiny supply of ornaments..and it's absolutely beautiful!  I baked, decorated and hung a bunch of cookies for tree decorations, forgetting that a certain furry family member is a big fan of gingerbread.  But the problem seems to have solved itself since I came home from work one day and found Sachi in a cookie coma after eating everything she could reach, about 15.  Now the tree is missing decorations on the bottom third and Sachi's all cookie-ed out.  She'll look at the gingerbread if you hold it out to her, smell it, give it a courtesy lick and after a quick side glance at me, walk away disgusted.  

A win-win situation all around!

I hope you're hanging onto your sanity so far this festive holiday season!

The countdown's begun..9 more days of shopping left.  So get out your elbows and fight your way through those crowds at the mall...sanity's overrated anyway :)  I'll be taking full advantage of the "Expectant Mother" parking spaces there this weekend.

xo Blue Gnome

On Wings of Fire

I've always loved Art Deco designs and the beautiful intricacies of jewelry from that time.  

Years ago I purchased a gorgeous hanging lamp from an antique lighting store in my neighborhood with pale, blue glass and swirling details of peacocks and foliage all around the frame work.  It hangs in my house and when the sunlight hits it at just the right angel, it still takes my breath away.  So when the opportunity came up for me to design a ring for a client who was interested in something with an art deco feel, I thought I'd have some fun with it and see what I could get away with.

Sterling, Jade

A loose interpretation of the Phoenix, rather than go with the obvious choice of a carnelian or another fiery hued accent stone, I decided to keep this piece secret and demure.  A beautiful example of deeply pigmented oval Jade seemed perfect for the setting, this ring is very large, lovely and weighty.  Hand sawn and textured, a dark patina has been applied to bring out the details and to offer the piece a satin finish to keep the sterling humble.  A powerful representation of rebirth, unlimited possibilities and survival.  Created for all of us who have survived the fire and risen with dignity and strength out of its ashes.  For the loved ones in my life who have shown me time and time again exactly how powerful the human spirit can be.

As my dad always says, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

xo Blue Gnome

Blue Gnome Holiday SALE

Starting at 1pm today until Thursday December 8th, Blue Gnome will be offering a 10% discount on all currently listed items in my little shop :)

 Sterling, Turquoise Ring

Sterling, Fresh Water Pearls

 Sterling, Carnelian Earrings

Sterling Silver

Happy Shopping!

xo Blue Gnome