Archive for 2017

stones for custom pieces!

Monday, April 10th, 2017

red-pink-orange rose-cut diamonds

I have, over the years, accumulated a handful of stones that would love to find a home in some sort of custom awesomeness. The above trio are some sweet red and orange translucent rose-cut diamonds. (More details & photos of these below.)

Ethiopian opal in snake ring

I could not pass this flashy Ethiopian opal up when it called out to me from the sidelines of the Tucson gem show. I think it would work nicely in my snake cocktail ring, or perhaps you have another idea?

MORE more more after the click: (more…)

rococo leaf swirl pendant

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017

18K hand-carved Rococo Leaves Pendant with diamond, 18K

Hand-carved pendant with a swirl of feathery Rococo-style leaves. I absolutely love carving free-form pieces like this—not so much that the overall shape/design is free-form, but more the detail and contour on each leaf, which I just kind of got to make up as I went. It’s in 18K gold with a 1/4 carat diamond dewdrop. Or maybe a moon rising through a break in the trees. I keep changing my mind..

Bunch more photos after the click: (more…)

epic snake cocktail ring

Monday, March 13th, 2017

14K snake cocktail ring + boulder opal & OEC diamond

More snake rings: BIGGER snake rings. This ring I carved around a sweet boulder opal I just couldn’t pass up because I thought it was like looking down upon a little tropical inlet, like maybe in the Baja perhaps, specifically around here… I got a nice little Old European cut antique diamond to accent the piece and finished it up a couple of weeks ago! LOVE how it turned out. I was hard pressed to let it go, and honestly, if it weren’t one of my favorite clients who bought it, I may have had to keep it myself.

This is, however, a new studio piece and I can customize (different stones, change up the diamond, 14K, 18K white or yellow gold, etc.) and adjust for size. It’s now listed in my Etsy shop!

14K snake cocktail ring + Boulder opal & OEC diamond

See how amazing this ring is? It makes even my ratty old studio sweatshirt look chic! (I kid.)

The other ring in this photo is my Coiled Snake Solitaire—also available in the Etsy shop.

More angles & photos after the click: (more…)

tapered poppy band

Saturday, March 11th, 2017

Poppy Band wax-carving

Completed wax carving for my tapered poppy band.

18K carved poppy wedding band

And the finished ring in 18K white gold! I love this ring!

I made this design as a replacement for a customer who was finding the evenly wide, fully carved-all-the-way-around band uncomfortable between her fingers. The tapered shape is perfect because you get lots of carved action up top, but the underneath is smooth, uncarved, and comfortable when you close your fingers. I kept the sides fairly low-action but still detailed.

18K Carved Poppy Band + Rose Bramble Ring

Oh hey. I see it pairs nicely with the 12mm wide rose bramble band. Figures.

Click for many more pics: (more…)

ocean water + waves motif wedding bands

Thursday, March 9th, 2017

Custom-carved ocean waves wedding bands

A pair of wedding bands in white gold: His a scene of the ocean on a blustery day, and hers a more delicate splashy band to accompany her engagement solitaire.

Custom-carved ocean waves wedding bands

As usual, many many more photos after the click: (more…)

12mm rose-cut solitaire

Tuesday, February 28th, 2017

12mm rose-cut solitaire, platinum

Craaaaazy giant rose-cut moissanite set in a chunky platinum mounting. Yum!

12mm rose-cut solitaire, platinum

More pics: (more…)

morning glory ring II

Monday, February 27th, 2017

Hand-carved morning glory ring in rose gold, pink diamonds

Morning glory blooms, buds, and leaves motif with a few purplish-pink diamonds scattered about. 14K rose gold.

Hand-carved morning glory ring in rose gold, pink diamonds

More photos after the click: (more…)

tucson gem show 2017

Monday, February 13th, 2017

Yet another Tucson gem show in the bag. I got a bunch of things. Some I needed for current projects, some I needed only to make my monkey brain happy.

The above is some giant beautiful emerald rough. It wasn’t for sale, but rather just for show (it would then be cut into the finished stones that were for sale).

aurochs_skeleton

There was also a lot of this! This is a large proto-cow. (Aurochs maybe?) I thought he had a nice expression on his face. He may have been a she though, and she might actually have been really pissed when she died. But her fossilized skull looks quite chipper. Funny how that works.

More more more: (more…)

sailboat wedding bands

Wednesday, February 8th, 2017

Hand-carved sailboat wedding bands

Sailboat wedding bands for a racing couple out of Texas. 14K gold. And more images after the click: (more…)

ouroboros & pacific NW wedding bands

Tuesday, January 24th, 2017

Hand-carved ouroboros + Pacific NW wedding bands, platinum

A hand-carved ouroboros wedding band for him, and for her, a Pacific Northwest forest band with trilliums, ferns, and one teeny little snake peeking out. Platinum 950.

Hand-carved ouroboros + Pacific NW wedding bands, platinum

She was generally less interested in having a giant snake around her finger, but they wanted a hint of continuity between the two bands, so the little snake amongst the foliage was the answer. Of course, I am always happy to carve a snake on a ring, whenever needed.

More detail shots after the click: (more…)