A beautiful Morning

My parents went on vacation to Nova Scotia as they do every year. Nova Scotia is where I came to the realization that I wanted to work with my hands for a living, and I discovered I loved designing jewelry.

My parents left just in time to miss the month long heat wave that came through Ontario. It did not rain until they came back, and it has been raining almost every day this week. The flowers are very happy, and I'm happy that my garden is happy.

This morning its a clear sky, the earth is still wet and the garden is thriving. It was beautiful to see.  This will be t he first time I've taken photos of my garden. It's in its first year, and so next year we are hoping it will begin to fill out. The peonies were transplanted from my Aunt's so they are struggling in their new garden, but next year they will be happy too.

I have a German Shepherd, so my mom likes to gift me with German shepherd themed ornaments, key-chains and whatever else she can get her hands on. So one of the gifts she gave me ended up in the garden to welcome her back from her vacation.

And of course our bird bath is now filled with water this morning.

I work with flower jewelry because up until now I've only managed to kill my plants. It seems I've got luck on my side for our first real garden we've put together. The bush behind the bird bath used to take up over 12ft of space in my grandfather's backyard. We hacked it down to a stump and planted a garden in that space instead. We keep it trimmed, but it seems to flourish every time it rains so it has grown quite a bit in the past few days.

There is still some space that needs sod, but otherwise our backyard garden looks great. My Aunt and cousin  helped till the earth and prepare the ground for the garden, but then I planted all these babies myself the next day. Perhaps it was a bit too much work for one person, but I was determined to have it done. =)


Back to Nova Scotia...my parents always pick up souvenirs for the family. My mom knows I love everything handmade, and especially pottery. She ended up finding the beauty of all beauties. She loved it so much that she couldn't just give me one, so she had to buy one for herself too.

Isn't it divine? It is from Ostrea Lake Pottery in Nova Scotia by Deborah Wheeler.

It looks so beautiful with a blending of blues and red to create this purple effect throughout. I've never seen a pottery mug with a gorgeous engraved flower design. I was so nervous using it, but I don't like having mugs just for show either. So this morning I took it out on our patio as the weather is nice today and had some delicious tea to start my day before I begin working in my studio.

It appears that Ostrea Lake Pottery has more of a physical presence in Nova Scotia than an online presence, so if you ever visit Nova Scotia, you should definitely check them out =)

Relaxing Tuesdays With The Help Of Handmade

It has been a long day for me, and it's one of those evenings where you really need to kick up the heels and forget about anymore work or cleaning.Well, frankly I didn't clean today, that was yesterday.

Despite still being young, a trip downtown for a couple hours for a doctor check-up is all I can handle. For us Artisans, the spring is perhaps the season where we are now kicking ourselves into high gear, preparing for all those craft shows where we will spend long hours on our feet. For those 8-12 hours at the show we'll spend many blissful moments meeting new people, sharing experiences and helping to find that perfect handmade design they are looking for.

For that reason I love craft shows, but the laborious days and weeks before a craft show is not something I look forward too.

If you are like me, once you are at the show, you're bounding with endless energy and cheer.

But right now, the hard work of preparing and running my grandfather back and forth from hospital visits is wearing me down, so lets see what I can find in my Etsy Feed that can help one relax....

California Coast The Mermaid's Rock
By lucysnowephotography

This beautiful print just makes you want to step outside and be transported to this calming beach and lean back in your chic outdoor chairs by a warm fire. I can almost remember the smell of fresh, salty air from the beaches of Nova Scotia.

What is even better is when you have distant neighbors so you can't hear them partying. Instead, all you can hear is the waters lapping at the sandy beach. Maybe take an evening stroll through the cool waters to wet your feet.

bamboo hemp convertible travel dress by
RunWithTheTribe

Perhaps you would be wearing a comfy yet urban chic travel dress, perfect to take a stroll through the waters and not worry about rolling up your pant legs. Gracefully clutching the dress in one hand you will be walking like Cinderella across the sand. Better yet, we can add your man into the picture, whispering words of endearment in your ear.

Vintage Shawl - Knitted Wrap
by labiblioteca

 If you have ever been to the ocean and stood on the sandy beaches, you know there is a cool breeze. When the sun sets it becomes even more chilly. Having a nice shawl to help keep warm by the fire will keep you comfortable so you can enjoy the midnight air to the fullest. 

Ivory barefoot sandals
by Lasunka

To complete this visionary moment, feet that love to be bare to wiggle in the sand may love some cottage chic decorations with some knit barefoot sandals.








Now relax, kick your feet up and close your eyes. Somewhere out there, you are relaxing by that dream beach listening to the waves...far away from the dreary everyday life.

Sahetah's Jewelry Presenting a Sneak Peek of the Feminine Steampunk Collection

Delve into a world entranced with beauty and sophistication. Behold our Feminine Steampunk collection featuring elaborate pocket watches in Victorian and modern inspired designs. All this glam could be yours. 

You can own your very own handmade Limited Edition or One-Of-A-Kind necklace and receive an exclusive Authenticity card signed by our Designer. Melissa Arnold's work has also been featured with The Artisan Group at the GBK's Golden Globes Gift Lounge in 2012. 

www.SahetahsJewelry.com

New Romantic Style Bookmarks

I've had many customers in person and online who loved my charm bookmarks that I made a year ago, but with my new style I no longer sold these bookmarks. So I started to sell them this past summer at a discount at craft shows. I've been requested a few times to design a custom bookmark from fans, so I've finally decided to create a new line of bookmarks for my amazing customers who have helped me stay enthusiastic and driven to keep making by hand.

So I present to you my lovely and romantic hand dyed Lucite flower bookmarks.

 

Purple hand dyed Lucite flower bookmark

also in my Etsy Shop

These collectible bookmarks are an elegant design for the ladies who love to read. Nothing is more beautiful and feminine than these hand dyed Lucite flowers to express your feminine side and your love of reading. Snuggle up in your favorite chair, put those book reading techno gadgets aside and enjoy the classic way of reading men and women have done for centuries. Flip through those wonderful pages filled with inspiration, imagination and love without losing your page - unless you have a cat who loves dangling things.

I have loved nothing more than to hold a book...a work of fiction and an imaginative story piece from a wonderful story teller in my hands. These new e-reading tools and gadgets like Ipads in no way pay tribute to these fantastical writers. It does not replace the amazing experience of walking into a bookstore with thousands of books and works of art. Just think of how much one bookstore holds of stories and words of thousands of hours spent writing and rewriting until the author reached perfection. Of all the different faces behind each book and the experiences they lived that led them to write. I want to hold that in my hands. I want to hold the wonderful stories they tell in my hands, and start the experience by visiting a bookstore.

Orange and Yellow Lucite Flower Bookmark

also in my Etsy Shop

Just think - through the centuries writers have been penning, scribbling, scratching out words, rewriting, drawing and imagining wonderful worlds and fairy tales to temporarily transport us from this dismal world and into another. Sometimes these imaginative worlds sound so horrifying and the characters tortured beyond belief that we are grateful to be able to sit in our comfy chair with a roof over our head - whether it be our home, or a library instead of on some alien planet filled with slavers who eat you if you aren't good enough to sell to other aliens. (I have not been reading the Stardoc series again, i swear)

One of my favorite things about owning and reading books is that the artwork is right there. I love art. Having a digital version of the artwork does it no justice. It was meant to be showcased with the novel where everyone can see it. Most importantly, an Author always dreams about having their work in print and walking into a bookstore and seeing their work on the shelves. It gives them a sense of accomplishment. That after the 6 months to -2 years of writing and then editing, revising, publishing and printing....they get to 'see' their fruits of their labor as they walk into a bookstore.

So I myself will always buy a book and flip through the glorious pages that I can touch with my hands and travel on an amazing journey, and keep it in style with these bookmarks.

White and Yellow Lucite Flower Bookmark

also on my Etsy Shop

Visit my new website at

www.sahetahsjewelry.com

or tweet me @Sahetah

The Artisan Group Gift Guide!

The Artisan Group is a collection of Artists who participate in Celebrity Gifting Events for Award Ceremonies such as the Oscars and Golden Globes. Many of the Artists have had their product in the hands of Celebrities!

Two New Steampunk Designs!

I posted these on Flickr, but I want to share them here too!

One of the joys I've discovered is working with Pocket Watches. I have always admired and loved Steampunk, but it was only recently that I begun to delve into this beautiful fantasy world filled with enchanting and inspiring designs.

I have been timid at first in my designs, working with single chains and small glass stones and swarovski crystals. This design was a leap for me, and I am delighted how it turned out.

Isabella Steampunk Pocket Watch Layered Choker Necklace

 

This necklace was a delight to make. I spent 4 wonderful hours creating this piece using upcycled chain that have been waiting nearly a whole year for a purpose. A year ago I would never have thought it would have turned from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan design (a swan with a pocket watch).

I love how this necklace hangs on the neck. A full hour was spent just making sure it hung just right. Some elements had to be taken away to make the composition perfect.

This is a close up of the beautiful lattice work on the Pocket Watch. The Pocket Watch really finishes this look, and it just wouldn't be a complete necklace without it.

This design is the start of something new as my creativity expands. I am constantly inspired and looking at what else I can do. I love working with Pocket Watches and taking something masculine and working with a masculine saturated style (steampunk) and making something feminine and unique. This specific design is not as feminine as my designs using lucite flowers.

You can find this necklace on my shop here: Isabella Layered Steampunk Choker on Etsy

Victorian Goddess - Lariat Heart Locket Vintage Style Necklace

I loved creating this design. It is a new design for me. I started with the idea of using a toggle to hold a centerpiece and open at the front instead of behind the neck. The idea grew into this beautiful design. 

 I love working with antique brass, and this beautiful heart locket was looking for a home. I originally had a simple design in mind, but after discovering these beautiful chunky, high quality glass stones and beautiful, large toggle - this design began to form in my mind.

I tried this technique of clustering beautiful, small stones together atop another big stone. Since I am self taught, I refused to research this technique, and instead problem solved it in my head. Then I quickly realized how simple the technique was.

I was skeptical at first of adding this element into this design. I was worried it would become too busy when I wanted the pendant to be the focal point. I decided to just try it and see, and I think it came out beautifully. I am glad I decided to take the leap.

You can find this necklace here: Victorian Goddess Necklace on Etsy

These are my two newest designs. I am very proud of them, and there will be more in the foreseeable future.