Living Your Bliss

1. Dandelion clocks and cute dresses

2. Middlemarch Ring

3. New packaging

4. The Literary Wanderers Collection

5. Work for the week on my bench

6. Gathering up sketches on scraps of paper and drawing them in to my sketchbook

7. Jane Eyre Rings

I was reading Conversations with Creative Women and one paragraph in particular spoke to me, so much so that I copied it in to my diary. 

"everyday is an occasion to celebrate your creativity. Creativity does not just mean making a piece of art or a handmade card, creativity to her means designing your life just the way you want it to be, and living your bliss."

What beautiful words to inspire gratitude, contemplation and dreams. I spent the day considering the many ways I am living my bliss, and what I could change to achieve such a goal.

Lately I feel like I really am living my bliss. A renewed sense of freedom now that bubba is one and not so heavily reliant on me alone, a balance between home, family and business, acceptance of the things I can not change and a sense of fulfillment in the paths I've chosen.


I hope you are living your bliss too!

Fall Fashion : Classic Simple

Lately I have been welcoming the cooler weather with simple skirts, tights, coloured scarves and flats. I must say, striped shirts are my go to. I love them and I have several in my closet. (I'm actually wearing one right now!) While the 'Jane Eyre' topaz ring makes the perfect accessory for a stylish Autumn outfit for day or night. 

Add a picnic basket or a library bag and you are ready for a lovely day out!

Art Deco Darling

I had the pleasure of making this darling ring recently. Simple, geometric and striking, this custom ring came from a design idea the client had for the gemstones from three meaningful rings she didn't wear. 

As you can see from the sketches and the first pieces of the ring, I made some changes as I went along, swapping out the flat top plate for a rounded top plate with an opening beneath to add interest. I also increased the thickness of the top plate to make it more substantial and balanced. The Diamond setter I use did a fantastic job of setting the Diamonds and Sapphire in this piece and applying that sweet mill grain edge. It really completes the vintage look and softens those straight lines a little.

I really love this ring! It's the kind of piece that you could wear everyday as a right hand ring, or an Engagement ring. It was very well received by it's new owner, which made my heart swell with pride. And just a little heads up, there will be a few more Art Deco custom order rings to come soon.

If you would like to have something custom made, you can find out more about working with me here.

If you would like to see more of my past work, visit my portfolio here.

On My Bench - Wax Carving

I remember years ago, when I was being taught how to carve wax, the jeweller was very particular and not altogether friendly. While I was interested in creating free flowing organic curves, he was interested in teaching me how to measure, mark and carve a symmetrical piece of jewellery. It was all very dry and mathematical and my left brain kept wanting to wander off. I'm so pleased now that I wrestled with my will to day dream (and his unpleasant nature) and listened carefully. 

I carved wax for the first time in a long time yesterday and it was like riding a bike - it all came back to me. I carefully measured my stone and marked out the wax with my calipers. I sawed, filed and emeried the plastic-like wax to reveal the first piece in my next range - a statement ring featuring a large, faceted Mint Quartz (also known as 'Green Amethyst').

I will be transforming more of my sketches in to three dimensional wax pieces this week. I promise to share progress photos of this new collection as it goes from creation to completion! For more behind the scenes peeks, find me on Instagram @christinalowrydesigns

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!

Coming Soon - Edith

It's been a busy month for custom made jewellery. Much of which I can't show you yet, as it is for birthdays and special occasions. But I will update my portfolio when I can. 

Meanwhile, I have also been working on the Edith scalloped rings, which is coming soon to my online shop. I am offering it first to my newsletter subscribers for pre-order from Monday 3rd November, at a special price. If you are interested, sign up to my mailing list to find out more.

Happy weekend! 

On My Bench

Do you remember On My Desk? The meme Kootoyoo hosted before My Creative Space? Am I showing my blogging age?! Well, it was one of the reasons I fell in love with blogging. It opened my eyes to the creative community online, introduced me to many of the creative bloggers I still follow and gave me a chance to not only peek in to the crafty lives of other makers, but share my own works in progress. Some things never change, and you will quite often find me sharing On My Bench posts on Instagram.

Above are a couple of the things I have been working on lately. Pictures one and four show a blue quartz ring in progress, for a custom order. I love this beautiful dark blue rock, it's such an intense colour. It is going to be one amazing ring! A simple four claw setting and solid band, showing off the gemstone. The second image across is a pile of castings for orders and stock. The rings on the far right are a new design I have been working on and will be released next month. I have a couple of other ideas up my sleeve with these rings and I do believe my Christmas present will be taken care of as a result. The third image is of a pair of Maeve rings being resized for a customer, using a jewellers trick to make sure they are both the same size.

So my lovelies, what have you been making lately?

Did you used to play On My Desk?

Do you miss My Creative Space?

Design in a Visual Age

Recently I discussed with Carly Hennessy how I stay true to my design vision when there are so many images around. I found this question really interesting, and I believe it is an issue faced by the creative community as a whole, more so than ever before.

For me, the constant stream of visual stimulation available is really exciting. Instagram, Facebook, blogs, Pinterest, there is so much content at your fingertips. Beautiful handcrafts, corners of the world I would not see other wise, behind the scenes glimpses, inspiring details. And with each decision of who you follow and on what platform, you are able to curate that content to your personal taste. No doubt, despite some similarities, your feed and mine would be extremely different, reflecting our individuality. Increasingly it feels that you are what you 'like'.

The downside of this flux of images is that consuming media can be a form of procrastination, rather than inspiration. While comparison and jealousy can be paralysing for an artist. I think we all have these moments of self doubt. But I have learnt that the key is using this stream is to challenge yourself in a positive way. Stop comparing. No one is in the same position as you and vice versa. Accept that jealousy is showing you a clearer vision of your goal - if another's achievement is making you jealous you probably want that for yourself - and keep working towards it. Celebrate the achievements of others in your industry, as it shows you that it is possible for you too. Experiment, explore, collaborate and use the content in your feeds to help you push your boundaries, make new contacts and introduce you to new mediums, processes etc.

One great exercise to use images to hone your style or give you a new direction is to pick five images that really attract you and study them. Try to pin down exactly what it is about them that is drawing your eye, and how you can reflect this in your own work and make it your own. Is it a colour palette? The composition? Is it an interesting mix of materials? Textures? Use this as a jumping off point for your next design. Challenge yourself with a new process or use your tools in a new way. Allow yourself time to 'play' with no expected outcome. This way where you end up is often a lovely surprise.

My designing process usually happens away from that stream of images. I need to step away and put pencil to paper. Looking back at when I have designed recent pieces I have finished I have been sitting on a deck on holidays, laying in bed at night, and mopping the floor! By allowing life to happen, inspiration strikes. I keep a sketchbook within reach most of the time, to record these ideas. Sometimes those sketches will sit in my journal and inform another design, sometimes I will revisit them in the future, yet other times they come out fully formed and I sit down and make them at the bench just as I have seen them - as is the case with the ring in the above photo.

What about you? What do you love or hate about our visually rich social media? How do you stay true to your design vision? 

From The Bench - Custom Ring

In progress

I made this stylish 'Travelling Poets' ring yesterday for a client. She spotted the design in my shop and wanted one of her own, made from her recycled silver. She posted me with a small collection of old, unwanted pieces of jewellery, from which I removed the gemstones, melted down the metal and rolled it out. From there I handmade this solid hammer finished ring with a beautiful polished comfort curve finish inside. 

And there is still enough silver leftover to make another piece.

A lovely ring, and a great way to save money and put unwanted jewellery to better use!

New in the Shop - 'History Class' Signet Ring

This solid sterling silver ring, handmade from recycled sterling silver, is the epitome of simplicity and charm. Following in the tradition of wax seals, signet rings have evolved to be symbols of individualism. These rings are beautiful as they are, or may be personalised with engraving or gemstones.

Signet rings became popular during the Ancient Roman Era. Emperors and the ruling elite wore rings that contained impressed symbols or signatures. 

These rings feature a weighty, brushed finished 15 mm wide, 1.5 mm thick curved disk, on a comfortable polished half round 2 mm wide band. Stamped 925. Currently available in sizes L, O and W. This design is also available for order in custom sizes - please allow up to ten days from placing order. Check your ring size here.

Gift wrapped in a white ring box, wrapped in vintage sewing pattern paper, tied with string.

Check it out in the shop here.

Made By Hand - Link Up

Sweet Jane Ring - hand formed in wax and cast in Sterling Silver

I have a 'job box' on my bench. It's full of craft paper seed packets which contain sketches, notes, gemstones and/or metal for various projects and repairs. Like my knitting basket, some projects have been sitting in that job box for a long time. Sometimes there is a problem that needs solving before the piece can be finished. Sometimes something is missing. Sometimes the parts just need to be assembled and polished. Sometimes I'm just not happy, but only after letting the piece sit for awhile, and grieving the wasted hours, can I bring myself to melt it down (which is much like frogging in knitting). 

I've been rediscovering some hidden beauty in my job box lately. Such as the ring above, which sat patiently waiting to be cleaned up and polished for years. I had intended to bring it to the FK market with me, but it sold as soon as I posted a photo to Facebook. The new Springdrop and Starry Night Pendants I showed you yesterday were also sitting in my job box since before Emerson's birth. Both just needed assembling and for the stones to be set. Quite honestly, I had forgotten about both of them, and was rather excited to rediscover them.

This week there are pearl necklaces to thread, earrings to finish and tags to make. Then I am going to have another sift through my job box and see what else I have forgotten about.

What have you been making this week?

Do you have a stash of unfinished objects?

8 Little Things

1. A row here and a row there - a new cardigan by next Winter?

2. New in the shop, Everyday Adventurer Rings in silver or two tone with 9ct gold

3. Watching the sun set from our front deck feels like a little holiday

4. Pickings from my flower bed

5. My dear old cat Seth, who must be about 14 now, and spends most of his day relaxing in above mentioned flower bed. He comes inside smelling of lavender.

6. Roses and lavender, also making my dining room smell amazing

7. A custom ordered One For The Pot as a pendant - now also available in the shop

8. This little mantis came in with the laundry and fascinated Cohen for hours before being released again.

Resin Ring and Bangle Workshop

Bangle mould filled with resin.

Smaller silicone moulds for jewellery.

Pouring resin into moulds.

Dying resin.

My completed pieces - two bangles, two rings and a cameo.

Mylene's display bangles, in translucent and opaque jellybean like colours.

I had a lovely time at the Resin Ring and Bangle Workshop today. It's something I've always wanted to do. So it was the perfect 30th birthday gift from my darling husband - who picked up my hints nicely. 

Mylene skillfully taught several of us how to mix, colour, cast and finish resin in her purpose built workshop. We imitated her practiced movements - stirred, scraped, poured and eventually removed our new treasures from their moulds. Pulling away the silicone to reveal the finished colour and shape beneath.

It was wonderful to be able to add to my knowledge of resin and leave with finished pieces, as well as the inspiration and materials to make many more. I love the look and feel of the bangles in particular. And I see further experimentation in incorporating resin into my existing jewellery practice.

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New in the shop...

'Imagine' Ring

“Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein.

The "Imagine" Sterling Silver concave ring is an idiosyncratic, modern and individual dress ring which can be worn during the day and into the evening.

It is an unusual ring that might be coupled with coloured bangles and beaded bracelets, paired next to a cocktail ring, or worn alone as a statement piece. The “Imagine” ring is equally suited for browsing musty old bookstores, looking for that perfect something at the markets on the weekend, and spending evenings sharing stories over a glass of wine.