A Rainy Day Giveaway!

**  Friday, April 12th **

And we have a winner!  
A big thank you to everyone who got in touch with me..via twitter, this blog or when blogger failed, by email :)  I love your feedback and hearing from you is always such a treat.
After 27 entries..we've randomly selected a name out of the (cookie) jar..Shannon.M from VA, USA!  Yay!  Thanks so much for participating..and I wholly agree that forget-me-nots should be given the status of spring flowers and not weeds! You'll have to get me your mailing address..will contact you by email!   
Have a fantastic weekend everyone! xo BG

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We've been hit with a few days of rainy, dreary weather this week and the forecast for tomorrow is..gasp!..snow??  

Unbelievable..will this winter ever come to an end?

To brighten things up a little on this dark and rainy Wednesday, I've decided to have an impromptu giveaway!  For no better reason than that free stuff always brightens up a persons day..

and my, you deserve something to be given to you for no apparent reason at all, don't you think?

So for those of you interested in putting your name in the raffle, I'd love to hear from you!  

Tell me your favorite spring flower..or what you're looking forward to the most this spring after winter finally decides to leave us be!

The catch?  

You have to be a follower of my blog to comment..or simply follow me on Twitter and shoot me a msg!

Oh, and the item I'm giving away?  I nearly forgot..it's a Collections necklace made especially for you.

Looking forward to hearing from you lovelies.. xo BG

**  Contest closes midnight tomorrow and the winner announced here on Friday, April 12th! **

Bling, Bling!

 Wildflowers - embossed sterling & citrine

Stacking Rings - Sterling, amethyst, chrysoprase, aquamarine, garnet & amber

xo Blue Gnome

Bangs..Or No Bangs?

An unexpected order will be helping me do a little spring cleaning in the shop this week..out with the old..the in with the new will surely follow!  

We're having a tough time this year moving old man winter along on his way.  Leaving to run errands just last week in glorious spring-like weather and coming home in a snow storm isn't something even us Canucks are used to.  I've seen some brave ladies out there wearing adorable little flats in various shades of spring, mincing around the frozen over puddles and slush still on the sidewalks, pretending that their bare legs haven't gone numb from the frigid winds.  

Ugh.  

I'll even welcome my spring allergies with open arms if we can just get the warmer weather to stay.

And as the weather has me fidgeting around impatiently, this time of year is also when I'm suddenly totally and completely sick of my hair.  

I've been toying with the idea of cutting bangs (again!) although if I actually think about it, I'm pretty sure the last few times I've run to my hairdresser with that same request, I've left the salon obsessively trying to brush away that foreign feeling of having something taped to my forehead.  There's usually about a 2 week period where I actually enjoy having them and I have fun changing my make up and outfits to better suit my new "look", then inevitably comes the "growing out" phase which always seems to take forever.  My mother mentioned the last time I had bangs that I was squinting a lot..the sensation of having something touching my eyelashes all the time led to me squinting..which in turn gave me a chronic headache until I finally gave up and pinned them out of the way.  

And yet I persist.  

I desperately want to like them..to love them.  

I want to be like Jane Birkin in the 70's, with her huge doe-eyes and her casual elegance with the blunt cut bangs and sweeping long hair.  And so although it didn't work out quite like that the last few times, I'm pretty confident that it might this time.  And as I look longingly at my phone right now..

God help me, please don't let me make an appointment..

Jane Birkin - 1968

Jane Birkin - 1969

**  A self forced intermission..a lovely cup of tea has brought me back to my senses...almost. **

I'm still on the fence about it..ah, the important dilemma one faces.  The threat of a nuclear attack from North Korea is nothing compared to the life changing decision of committing to a drastic haircut.  More on this will follow another day.  

The bread needs kneading and the wee monster stirs in his lair upstairs..

Have a wonderful Friday afternoon lovelies!  And I'll try not to do anything drastic this weekend that I might later regret..

xo Blue Gnome

Celebrating Spring With Sterling

Sterling, Embossed Wildflowers

Sterling, Embossed Branches

Sterling, Pussy Willows

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A big thank you to C for purchasing the Roaring 20's  and Seedling rings!
How delightful of you to support handmade..xo BG

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xo Blue Gnome

Newbies

I've been a little behind in introducing some newbies!  

With the weather around here not knowing what to decide on, we've been experiencing some wonderful spring weather..only to be hit with 10cm of snow the next day.  This winter has been a long one, and although it's been glorious having a real winter this year and watching Sachi enjoying the abundance of fluffy, powdery snow up at the cabin..I'm ready for Old Man Winter to pack up his bags and bid us all farewell..and to finally let Lady Spring arrive.

 Sterling & Kingman Turquoise

 Sterling & Chrysoprase

Sterling & Gaspeite

It's been a productive little while in my shop lately, my longing for warmer weather has been my inspiration in choosing some gorgeously hued stones to work with.  The oceanic hues of larimar, chrysoprase and the classic turquoise have me daydreaming of warmer beaches.  

I've been loving the fresh spring-like colour of gaspeite, a vibrant reminder of the life that's just awakening under the cold, still frozen earth.

Sterling & Grey Moonstone

Sterling & Graveyard Point Plume Agate

And a couple of other pieces, just because.

Hope your weekend is a restful one!

xo Blue Gnome

Thank you.

It's already the middle of March and we've just come home from a St. Patrick's Day play date "hosted" by Leo.  The turn out was great..and as I pat myself on the back for an event well planned, I'm suddenly aware of how much my life has changed in just over a year.

I made the huge life changing decision to be a stay at home mom after my maternity leave was up earlier this year.  And by huge, I mean HUGE.  Despite the fact that I'd been waiting for years for that kick in the derriere to finally leave the cozy and comfortable yet unbearably boring job I've been holding down for the last decade, the thought of not going back had me in moments of utter panic.  

Have you ever thought of what you are, or who you are without that job description to define your exact role in life?  

Don't get me wrong, I never lived my life around to my job.  

But outside of that, what exactly..or who exactly was I?  

Tina Jones..dog owner?  

Tina Jones..daughter and sister extraordinaire?  

It's a funny thing to suddenly not have a job..or a career.  To suddenly drop the main thing that's defined you in society, to take a leap of faith into doing a job you've really only been doing for a year, and still fumbling along at day after day.  

It's terrifying and exhilarating.  Horrifying and exciting.

As of January 2nd this year, my job description is Tina Jones..mother. 

 I work for a wee person who barely reaches my knees standing up, who demands my full attention and has a temper tantrum when he doesn't get his naps.  

Not much different from my former boss..except he was a little taller and he didn't take naps.  

Although perhaps somedays, he should have.

After many sleepless nights of soul searching, I've come to the conclusion that this is absolutely the right decision.  There's closure in finding that place within yourself, when for once you stop listening to your rational brain and 

actually listen to your heart.  

I've had a good many years of doing what I wanted, when I wanted and I feel that I owe it to this little person to give him everything I've got right now.  

The silversmithing has proven to be a life saver of sorts - a hobby that's grown into something so much more, an escape from the daily "mommy life", a creative outlet so I don't lose myself completely.  

And with all this said, Leo and I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting our journey.  

With every purchase or encouraging comment about my work, you fuel that creative fire in me that gets me through the most trying days. 

The days are finally getting longer and the morning sunshine is streaming in my kitchen window.  Ah..the first day of spring. 

 Life is good.  

And the coming months with be fantastic.

So we thank you for embracing one of a kind 

and for supporting handmade.  

Without people like you, there wouldn't be people like me.

xo Blue Gnome 

Orca

Sterling, Larimar - Orca Totem

Sterling and Lolite - Orca Totem

I've been obsessed with all things oceanic lately, 

it's a dream of mine to one day live in a little sun bleached house by the sea, 

embraced by the sound of the crashing waves and the ever changing tides.

I've created a couple of totems that are close to my heart and close to my dear British Columbia, 

totems that embrace both my love of the ocean and my admiration of the sea mammals that reside near its coast.  

A long time symbol to the west coast Native American community of family, community and protection, 

the Orca or Killer Whale, like wolves, mate for life and travel in pods; 

groupings of family who they protect fiercely.  

Orcas are said to rule the northern waters, working with seals and dolphins to keep them sacred and safe.  

Reincarnations of human souls lost at sea, they have often been known to seek contact and communication with humans on boats.

  As a totem animal, Orcas teach us how to swim in life with grace and strength 

and to dive deep into the depths of your being.  

Playful at heart but ferocious in battle, this totem serves to protect the wearer through life's uncharted waters.

Available now in the shop.

xo Blue Gnome