Lately - Happy Days

Lately I have been investing my time in to a new website that combines my shop and blog, appreciating the gentle transition from a humid Brisbane Summer to a rainy Autumn, seeking out tell tales of that change, spending as many hours at the bench as I can around a toddler with a tummy bug and a newly minted four year old full of 'character', while also working on custom orders and training my new intern. (My oh my, how long a tummy bug can last and how much character one four year old can have!)

Meanwhile I have missed my much loved blog and the opportunity to take photographs just for the sake of it. Though I love faffing jewellery and directing photoshoots, my first photography love was capturing everyday moments. Just for the joy of looking, noticing and capturing. As in the photos above. Mushrooms found among the grass in our back yard. Four year old feet ready to jump from a cubby house. The first sprinkle of yellow leaves amidst the rain indented soil. I am looking forward to pointing my camera at more beautiful and mundane moments, and sharing them with you while I snuggle back in to this safe, warm space and share my musings, inspirations and creations.

Ah, happy days indeed.

Photo Shoot Loving

Have I mentioned that I love working on jewellery photo shoots? So much goes on behind the scenes. The research - products, style, location, model. The gathering of props, the organisation of people, the dash of 'unknown' that each shoot brings with it. I'm always awash with excitement and nerves when we get started, worried that my ideas won't work together, and I'll have nothing to show for everyone's hard work. Even with six successful shoots under my belt now, those nerves are just as crazy each time. I like to think that nervousness is what keeps you on your toes and shows you that it is important to you. Once the shoot starts the nerves melt away and only the excitement and satisfaction remain.

I was heady with excitement and butterflies twice recently, as I worked on a Mother's Day and Easter photo shoot with photographer Trudi Le Brese. The first, we collaborated with the talented Louise of Floralovely Calligraphy at Vieille Branche to create a floral feast of creativity. Louise shone in my jewellery as she hosted one of her sold out calligraphy workshops. Beautiful, talented and generous, she was a dream to work with. Once a florist, she styled my jewellery, flowers and props with professional flair. It was such a joy to share the shoot with her. 

Last Monday I spent two hours sourcing quail eggs in order to fulfill my creative vision for Easter inspired images. I was up in the early hours of the morning polishing the final pieces, before driving around to three shops and one warehouse on the hunt for quail eggs. It was well worth the effort, as we shot more beautiful, original content, featuring the Wilderness Collection.

Keep your eyes peeled on my newsletter and Instagram account for the finished images!

Aiming High For Business Success

It's a week of meetings this week. Photographer, intern potentials, marketing and graphic designer meetings. I've been flipping between my 'maker hat' and my 'manager hat'. I'm looking at the future direction of the business and creating action plans. Working out where my time is best spent and where I can bring in other people. Getting my head around letting go of some parts of my business, while remaining the designer and creative director of the whole. Anticipating ways I can grow my business while staying true to my vision. My brain is bursting with ideas and excitement!

I am so pleased to be surrounded by such creative and talented women, whom I consider friends. By combining our skills and talents, Christina Lowry Designs is going to become the best jewellery designer, manufacturer and retailer in Australia. 

Watch this space!

xx

Intern Wanted!

Wanted: a jewellery intern! 

Rochedale, Brisbane. 9am -2pm Tuesday. 

Creative, reliable, passionate about jewellery, some experience an advantage. Tools not necessary.

My previous intern went on to undertake a jewellery apprenticeship and has stayed a close friend. So I'm looking for someone who is interested in learning, or furthering their skills as a jeweller, while helping me fill orders. Duties will include finishing and polishing castings, then progress from there. Training in jewellery design, creation, small business, industry contacts and bench time in exchange. Suit someone looking for experience to gain an apprenticeship, or someone looking to start their own small business. 

Please email me at Christina-lowry@hotmail.com with some info about yourself and any examples of your work - even in another creative field. Know someone who might be interested? Please point them this way! xx

Goodbye

How foolish I was thinking I could prepare myself for the death of a loved one in the hope of easing the pain. Neither time or knowing it's inevitable make it any easier. I've been learning this with my lovely old cat these past few days. For all his sixteen years, and all my adult life, he was my dear black cat. Then suddenly, it was his time. I had kidded myself in to thinking I would cope better when that time came, knowing he had had a good life, knowing he was an old cat, knowing the time was coming sooner rather than later. But it did nothing to lessen the pain.

Saturday night he lay about the house in his usual cat like manner. He was a cat that knew just where you wanted to put your feet, and so there he lay. He was most fond of sleeping in front of the fridge while we attempted to prepare dinner. I think he just loved to feel involved (and annoy my husband.) Amongst the hustle and bustle of bedtime on Saturday night, he had an accident inside the house, but I thought nothing of it until the next morning. When I saw him, his little tummy was blown up like a balloon and I knew something was terribly wrong. 

We sat on the back deck with him while I waited for the Vet to open. Crying and cuddling him. Part of me still hopeful that it was just an infection and a table was the answer. But in my heart I knew it was time. I called my husband, my sister. I called my neighbour and arranged for her to look after the children. Then I called the Vet. I explained the situation and she told me it was time.

I brought a baby blanket to the Vet with me. It was a baby shower gift when I was pregnant with my first born. I've wrapped each of my babies in that soft blanket. After the needle did it's work and the Vet helped me lay Seth down, she wrapped him in that blanket too, and tucked him into my arms like a newborn.

He's buried in the garden now. Wrapped in our love, our memories and a baby blanket. 

-

More of Seth's story and my Goodbye letter to our dog, Odin, in this post.

'The Wilderness Collection' Release!

The Wilderness Collection

Botanically Inspired Fine Jewellery

 "Reconnect with nature through the botanically inspired 'Wilderness Collection.' Each piece in this range has been created using twigs cast by way of the traditional burn out method. The organic shoots are surrounded with plaster, which is heated until they are completely burnt out and only a hollow in the plaster remains. Molten metal is poured in to these cavities to produced finely detailed replicas of the original twig, meaning no two are alike. Designer and jeweller Christina Lowry then transforms these precious metal pieces in to beautiful, textured jewellery."

View the collection in store now!

Christina xx 

Photos: Trudi Le Brese Photography

Model: Rochelle Vaisanen

Product photos: Christina Lowry

Bright and Beautiful

I stared at these underwater marvels for ages when we visited the Solitary Islands Aquarium in Coffs Harbour. I really wanted to share them with you, as surely there is nothing else comparable in terms of colour, shape, movement and strangeness? They waved, nodded and undulated as the water moved. So alien to this affirmed land dweller. I can't tell you what each is called, though the last picture is a crown of thorns sea star. I hope you find them equally mesmerising.