New in the Shop - Something In The Way

'Something In The Way' is a set of three charming rings featuring the Diamond set 'Florence' band and two scalloped 'Edith' rings.

Feminine and lace like, this doily inspired set of rings features a unique drilled and punched design and is set with 6 = 0.06ct Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds, G/H, SI. The perfect piece for everyday wear, the three rings create an eye-catching double lace edged look. 

They can also be worn separately and mixed and matched with your collection.

Available for order in the shop.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - SouleMama 

Salmon and Spinach Pasta for the Spirit

I read recently that the times you need to slow down the most, are the times when you don't have time to do so. The concept struck it's mark with me and most likely resonates with you too. I had been feeling overwhelmed by my to do list, the fridge full of invitations, the calender scribbled with events, the list of custom work on the whiteboard. I realised that the only way I could keep all the plates spinning was by taking time out for myself and not exchanging food preparation time with bench time. So I have committed to a weekly yoga class (bliss!) and am making more effort in the kitchen.

I have a bad habit on bench days of running upstairs to eat lunch while the children sleep, and resorting to a cup of two minute noodles before heading down to the bench again. Yesterday I made myself this beautiful pasta instead, which took an extra ten minutes, but was delicious and satisfying and good for my spirit. It's funny how we change as we grow - five years ago I ate neither spinach nor salmon, and now they are two of my favourite foods!

Makes two servings.

Salmon and Spinach Pasta

A handful of tubular Spaghetti (or whatever you've got)

1/2 lemon - juiced

A spoon full of sun dried tomatoes

A spoon full of capers

A spoon full of sliced black olives (or whatever else you love)

Two handfuls of baby spinach leaves (and/or rocket leaves)

A tin of roasted salmon in springwater

Olive oil

Boil water with a pinch of salt and add pasta. Cook until al dente and drain all but a quarter of a cup of water. Return to low heat and add lemon juice, tomatoes, capers, olives, spinach leaves, salmon and a sprinkle of olive oil. Stir through over low heat until spinach has wilted.

Serve and enjoy!

Simple, delicious and filling for lunch or dinner.

Proud Rock Nerd

A 22kg Fluorite. (Wow!)

I can admit it, I am a proud rock nerd. I love pretty rocks. I have books and books about them. I love the science behind them. The history of discovery. The tales about individual gems. The rarity and the symbolism. I go to gem shows to buy gems for my jewllery as much as just to poke around and see all the pretties on offer and learn something new.

As a child I collected tumbled stones and crystals. I'd spend my pocket money on pieces of pyrite, clusters of amethyst and smooth samples of rose quartz. I was so drawn to the colours, shapes, endless variety and beauty. I've never outgrown that awe and fascination. It's one of the things that really excites me about being a jeweller; finding interesting and unusual gemstones and designing around them. Alongside my collection of cut stones for jewellery, I have a collection of fossil, crystal and mineral samples. My children love to fossick through them. There are polished thunder eggs, fossilised ammonites, petrified wood, dessert roses and all manner of boulder opal. To some they are probably just so much clutter, but to me they are endlessly fascinating and I like to sift through them occasionally when seeking inspiration.

Recently I discovered a second collection of specimens at the Queensland Museum (images above) on a landing in a stair well. Oh, how I love a museum cabinet full of such wonders! The little name tags, the clear stands and angled lights, exhibiting the wonder of what lays beneath the earth of this wonderful planet of ours. I hovered before each piece until my poor husband and children dragged me away. Must find a moment to visit undisturbed...

Are you, or have you ever been, a rock nerd too?

33!

I celebrated my birthday this past weekend with some of my favourite people and favourite things. Having already had an early birthday present farm stay didn't stop my sweet family from making the weekend all about me. Dave took the children to visit the big dinosaurs so that I may wander through the wonderful Bristyle markets in the Whale Mall, we all explored the children's art room at GOMA, and then I left them busily making their own Magic Lands (and you can too) while I visited the Future Beauty exhibition, luxuriously alone. 

It's such a shame photography wasn't permitted, as words alone can not do justice to the experience. The space, the designs, the elegance and the outrageousness. If you are a lover of design, fashion or art, there is something in this collection for everyone - except possibly children. We meandered back to the car through the museum and gazed at dinosaur bones, pinned beetles and a formaldehyde shark. I stumbled upon a crystal and mineral collection tucked away on a landing in a stair well and drooled over the contents until my husband dragged me away. (I shall share pictures with you tomorrow.)

Yesterday there was flowers, wine, a lovely lunch and even a delightful nap.

Happy birthday to me and my beautiful twin sister! xx

When an Artist and Jeweller Collaborate

This is the result -

As you may know, I love art and studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts / Visual Arts before becoming a Jeweller. I love collecting art, both originals and prints. I remember I brought my first Belinda Marshall print in 2011. It's hanging in my studio alongside two more of her prints. I am also the proud owner of one of Belinda's original paintings and her latest calender. (Fan girl much?!)

I love Belinda's style and her eye for colour. Her palette is full of richness and subtlety, and her sense of balance and use of texture are rather divine. So you can imagine my excitement when Belinda suggested we collaborate on a limited edition of special pieces. We've been working on this collaboration behind the scenes, with the occasional sneak peek, and now I am super excited to show you the finished pieces!

These five laser cut Beryl necklaces were designed by myself and hand painted by Belinda in her wonderful abstract style and finished with varnish, making them wearable pieces of art. Each is unique and beautiful, and will add colour and style to any outfit.

This collection will be available for sale through my Instagram account tomorrow night at 7pm, Queensland time. I will be listing each piece individually, and the first person to leave their Paypal address on a listing is the winning buyer. (The piece will go to the next on the list, should the first buyer not pay the invoice within 24 hours.)

Each piece is $80 and includes free world wide shipping.

So set an alarm on your phone, double check your Paypal email address (the one which you use to log in) and join me on Instagram @christinalowrydesigns on Saturday night at 7pm (8pm daylight savings time.) If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and encouragement! And thank you Belinda for this wonderful collaboration!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - SouleMama 

Custom Order - Constellation Signet Ring

My clients come up with great ideas for personalising my designs. This History Class signet ring was a birthday gift for my client's daughter. We chatted over email about how to incorporate the different elements she wanted in to the piece, and together we formed this design. The front of the ring is brush finished and features a hand engraved Scorpio Constellation, set with Diamonds, while the back of the signet ring has been hand engraved with the recipients name. It turned out beautifully and is perfect for everyday wear. 

What a beautiful gift from a Mother to a daughter!

-

If you are interested in a custom made design, feel free to email me.

christina-lowry@hotmail.com

Just Listed!

Scallops encircle the entire band of the charming 'Edith' ring, like a little crown of sweetness for your finger. Feminine and lace like, this doily inspired ring features a unique drilled and punched design. The perfect piece for everyday wear, either alone, or either side of an 'Elsa' ring, to create an eye-catching double lace edged look.

Each design in this collection has been handmade from copper, then professionally moulded and cast, to create identical likenesses, so that the quality of each piece is of the same high standard. These castings are then lovingly hand finished in my workshop.

Now in the shop!

Custom Order - Blue Quartz Ring

The colour of this 20 ct Quartz is just amazing! It was just the colour my client was looking for. A big, blue stone for a simple but breathtaking ring. The kind of timeless design that says cocktail party, race day or girls night out! 

Bold and beautiful, this ring was hard to part with!

-

If you are interested in having a piece of jewellery custom made, please email me.

christina-lowry@hotmail.com

Custom Order - Handwritten Pendant

1. The handwritten note, 2. Cutting the design from a sheet of silver

3. Filing and finishing the design, 4. Chain soldered on and ready to be polished

5. The finished piece.

There's two things I really love about custom orders - the challenge and the client's reaction when they see their idea become a 'thing'. Using my skills to bring their ideas to life is so satisfying, and knowing that I have created a piece that means something to them is an even greater reward. When that piece is a lovingly thoughtful gift that's well received, it's even sweeter.

This piece I made recently was very special. My client commissioned a handmade pendant for her sister's 30th birthday, providing a handwritten note from their father, who had passed away when they were quite young. I was so touched to be involved. We worked on turning the biro marks in to a thicker design, I carefully drew, saw pieced and polished the pendant, and showed my client for her approval before I sent it. 

I got little goose bumps when I got a message from her sister to say she cried when she opened her gift and hasn't taken it off since.

A Farm Stay Getaway

Oh, what a reluctant drive it is to the airport when the time comes for my sister to return to her Canberra life. I bite my tongue before saying, 'I wish you didn't have to go', for the one hundredth time.  I needn't say it. She is my twin sister, she knows. She feels the same. 'She'll be back at Christmas time!' I tell my sad faced children, while also reminding myself.

This time as we head for Domestic Departures, we were both happily exhausted from a full six days spent together in celebration of our birthdays. Our legs still aching a little from our farm rambles, but our bodies relaxed with the kind of contentment that settles on you after a much needed getaway. 

I think it is the first time my sister and husband have managed to keep a surprise from me? Two nights away at a farm stay in Maleny, just my sister, myself and my little ones. They booked the flights and accommodation, and kept the secret for three weeks. My husband let slip, concerned I was going to make other plans for that weekend.

They chose well. So well that we decided to stay an extra night. We arrived Friday in dear old Maleny and after exploring the second hand book shops and beautifully curated home wares stores we traveled a few minutes out of town to Arley Farm, Our accommodation was a cleverly converted milking shed, stocked with a wonderful library, luxurious bedding, and pleasing views from every window. We immediately felt at 'home' and scouted out the rolling hills, winding creek, dam, chickens, horses and cows before settling in to admire the view and the wine from the local vineyard. 

It was such a wonderful experience for the children, to play and discover. They learnt much about birds, platypus, horses and farm life. They collected chicken eggs and spotted rabbits and a platypus. They gathered leaves and drew them. They referred to the guide book of Australian Birds so often that we brought our own copy in town. They played the old piano in the large play room, and swung on the swing hanging from the large fig tree. It was a wonderful experience for us too, to slow down - as much as one can with three children - cook thoughtfully, eat well, read, sketch and walk. And best of all, talk. Conversations that carried on, picked up and dropped over days, about our lives, our plans, our dreams, our reminiscences. 

Holidays, like all good things, must end. 

Though I see another stay at Arley Farm in our future.