Five quotes: Jewellery

The jeweler allows me to wear the sapphire blue lake on my finger, the emerald green leaves around my neck, and take the citrine sunset with me wherever I go.  Jewelry has become my daytime link to nature in an office with no windows.  And if I have to work late, there's nothing like diamond stars and a pearl full moon against an onyx night sky.  

Astrid Alauda, 'Office With No Windows'.

My husband gave me a necklace. It's fake. I requested fake. Maybe I'm paranoid, but in this day and age, I don't want something around my neck that's worth more than my head.  

Rita Rudner.

Let us not be too particular.  It is better to have old second-hand diamonds than none at all. 

Mark Twain.

The story of Harold Ross, the New Yorker and me is a mere footnote to the story of our time, and we might as well face the truth that to researchers of the future, poking about among the ruins of time, we shall all be tiny glitters.  But then, so are diamonds. 

James Thurber. 

The most precious jewels are not made of stone, but of flesh.

Robert Ludlum. 

With thanks to The Quote Garden.

Thank you and merry Christmas!

I've just put this notice into all of my online shops: "Please note: I will be away from 22 December to 30 December. I will attend to all messages and purchases when I return. Merry Christmas!"

I'm taking a break from blogging and Twitter, too.

Below is one of my favourite necklaces from the old Silverlight Jewellery branding. I love it because it is so simple, and also because I named it 'Arigato' – 'thank you' in Japanese. Such a simple, beautiful sentiment seemed to suit a simple, beautiful necklace. Since the necklace no longer fits with my new branding, I recently gave it away to a friend of mine as a gift for his wife, in return for some bottles of home-brewed mead that he had given me – so it was a trade, really, rather than a gift; but I felt grateful as I gave it to him.
It felt right to give 'Arigato' as a thank-you gift.

 'Arigato' – abstract, Japanese-inspired pendant on satiny black cord.

Thank you, blog readers, customers, suppliers, and friends, for an amazing 2010. 

Here's wishing you all a fun, peaceful Christmas and an exciting, joyful new year.

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New Whiteleaf design: Ancient Root earrings

These were just listed in my Felt and Zibbet shops.

 Ancient Root earrings: available on Felt and Zibbet

Every now and then I create a design that I'm not sure that I like. I'll make it, and like it; but some time later - usually the next day - I'll look at the design again and not be so sure. Sometimes I vacillate for weeks over a piece of jewellery, liking it one day and wrinkling my nose at it in scepticism the next. Eventually I make a decision, taking one of two lines of thought about it:

either

'If I'm not happy with it, then there must be something wrong with it, so I'll ditch it',

or, 

'If I can't make up my mind, it can't be that bad, so I'll go ahead and list it'.

(You'll notice that even when I'm trying to make a decision, I keep my options open by allowing two potential decisions!) 

These were such a design: I liked them when I made them, but the next day I wasn't sure. They photographed well, but I procrastinated about listing them because I still wasn't convinced that I was happy with them.

Now that I have listed them, however, I have decided that I do like them. They're a tad unusual; even, perhaps, a bit odd; but in a good way - an earthy, 'gnarled old tree' sort of way. And gnarled, wizened, battered old trees can be easily as beautiful as young, fresh, beautifully proportioned trees.

I think that people are the same: there are some beautiful old people around. They have avoided growing truly old; they have an inner youth and joy, and it is from this that their beauty comes. 
Ageing is optional. Stay young forever, so that even when you are old, you will be young and beautiful.

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. 

~ Samuel Ullman 

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