Gemstone by Dick Desjardenes

14mm smoky quartz Dick Desjardenes 005
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

I was thrilled to see this hand-cut stone that my teacher brought today. It is a smoky quartz 14mm gemstone. Dick Desjardens is a lovely person! He is a retired doctor who has delivered over 2000 babies. Now he spends his days cutting gemstones and taking care of his wife. He is an interesting man and has done many things. I love to hear his stories.

Hans and I alternate weeks where we go and work with him in the studio. So far I'm learning to cut cabochons, but hope to get to faceting one day! I got some equipment a few months ago and have only done two stones so far. My husband loves to cut stones as well--he is much more talented than I am!

I love to work!

I love to work!
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

I recently cleaned and organized my studio. Now I'm back to work and I love it! It really helps me to have a clean studio. I feel that it cleans out the cobwebs out of my brain. My sweet husband is to credit for getting me the shelves and the plastic bins for organizers! In this photo I'm working on a custom order for bluebird.

Tidal Pool Series

tidal pool gemstone rings
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

I've really enjoyed working with this shape lately. I hope to come out with bracelets in this line too. I want to do another necklace with the tube set gemstones in it too. I just wish that I had more hours in the day because some days my brain overflows with ideas! Today I'll balance my time between commissions and new pieces.

The texture on the top is heated to get a mottled look then I took the pointed tip of my burnisher and scratched a circular pattern on the top.

What inspires me....

tidal pool diamond rings
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

My work graphically represents my life. I have come to see my striving for the "perfect and happy" life as a clean form, and all the divergent paths and unexpected detours as the cutting away or crumbling of the original form. It is the acceptance of life as it comes--usually messy, unpredictable, and tragic--can lead to a new kind of beauty with richness and depth that only wisdom of experience can afford. I only now have words to describe this part of my experience that has been in my work for some time mostly because forms and shapes come more easily to me than words. I celebrate life in its chaos, juxtaposed with the eternal striving for order. Those universal themes are what resonate so sweetly to me when I work.

My first "signature piece" was an accident! I was wanting to drill holes to create a "moon ring" but instead the drill bit was dull and wreaked the whole ring. My sweet husband suggested that I salvage the ring by cutting around the unsightly hole in an artistic way with my saw. Even after it was done, I could only see my mistake. Now I don't see it that way, I see it as serendipity or a happy accident. It was the first in my Roman Ruins series.



My style is still developing as I learn more skills and venture further into experimentation. I am enjoying the process and feel that I have lifetime of learning and creating ahead of me.

For more stories about inspiration and signature styles, please read these blogs, whose authors are posting on the topic on June 5 -6, 2009

http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com
http://andescruz.ganoksin.com/blogs
http://andescruz.wordpress.com
http://ashleyakers.blogspot.com
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
http://etsymetal.blogspot.com
http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com
http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com