gah. time is passing, isn't it???

i just brought back my classic intertwined rings and realized that the original ring (and photos) were made when we still lived in our old house, over three years ago!  and then i realized that i hadn't posted anything here on the blog for over a week.  *insert smack to the forehead/wicked spanking right here*

i have to admit that i have been going through a little bit of a slump here lately, and haven't been feeling the best.  i also haven't been very inspired in the last little while, which is totally related to the fact that it is fiscal year end at the office and my day job has pretty much soaked up most of my energy and get-up-and-go.  the artist part in me gives the tired part of me a browbeating daily, but i am too exhausted to protest.  today, the easter candy sugar overload has also crashed my fuel tank to below empty.  yup, hoppy easter to ME.

the weather is getting better, however, and things seem to be lightening up on the work front.  the mini's 3rd birthday is on the horizon - yup, THREE! and spring finally seems to have settled in.  i am hoping that it will bring some inspiration as well. 

(BTW - the daily dose is also off to a rockin' start and julie and i have gotten an awesome rhythm - you NEED to check us out here.)

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silvery intertwined ring.

i've finally gotten around to making one of the intertwined rings with thick half round sterling wire.  i actually made it for myself - i'm definitely a "silver" girl, always have been.  the width of the wire is more than the thickest round wire that i use, and the flat side gives it delicious movement  (which makes it perfect for fidgeting.)

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the legend of the puzzle ring.

for a while now, i have been making these intertwined rolling "puzzle" rings - in a combination of sterling, copper and brass.  my version is a simple one of course, but the history of these rings is rich, somewhat misogynistic, and skeweredly romantic.  and it was quite the puzzle on the manufacturing side of things to figure out how to solder the rings together in the right order so that they fit together properly.

all the legends imply that the ring originated long ago possibly somewhere in Turkey where a king or nobleman had it designed as a wedding ring for his beautiful wife (hence the term "turkish wedding ring") .  the ring itself was made up of many pieces and was so intricate that if she ever took the ring off (with the intention of being unfaithful to him while he was away slaying dragons or going to the office, i suppose) , it would be almost impossible for her to put it back together without him - because he was the one with the solution.  kind of romantic, i guess, but i really do hope that he had one made for himself so that she would have had a similar guarantee of fidelity.  and perhaps they could have also worked on their communication skills.  but that's another discussion altogether.

nowadays, puzzle rings are used as a symbol of love, usually given as a promise ring, wedding band, or token of affection.  the more intricate ones usually come with the "solution" so that if one does find themselves hopelessly befuddled, the ring can be put back together.  my version is (obviously) a more simple one - just three rings linked together, allowing the wearer to roll it back and forth over their finger, which is the perfect distraction during boring meetings or family reunions.  and while it is definitely not a guarantee of anyone's fidelity, i can pretty much guarantee that my rings will be cherished.

on that note - talking about love... nothing like a little pop song to start off the day.

the smittens.  100 roses.  because that's darn romantic.

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i can't believe it's october...

every time i turn around, time has flown by and left me in the dust. it's been almost a month since i blogged last (how awful is that?). the mini turned 1 1/2 yesterday. (she's seriously all grown up - except for breastfeeding and diapers, that kid is ready to move out on her own) i've been 6 weeks at my new job - and seriously loving it. we've been in our new house almost 4 months - it's felt like we've ALWAYS lived here, funny enough! the fabulous tia ( from christopherandtia ) won my autumn giveaway. the tradeaholics' october design challenge vote is up - you can vote HERE.

creatively, i've been working on the design of an intertwined bangle - similar to my intertwined rings. thanks to an inspired customer, i've been bending and shaping and soldering wire into all sorts of interesting configurations - and the results are just stunning. it's always interesting to me how one idea leads to another - the intertwined design also lends itself wonderfully to a pendant! the colours also remind me of autumn - which i have decided is definitely my favorite season... the cool, crisp air, the dazzling jewel tones of the leaves... sigh.

anyhow - go vote for your favorite spooky halloween item over on the tradeaholics' blog and congrats, tia! your package is going out in the mail today!!!!!!!!

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