The Stories

I love doing custom work.

The stories behind the inspiration of the piece are often adventures in which I can live vicariously, or tales of love and romance where I'm hands-down on board, or personal mementos of strength and virtue.

Elaine, who found me in a breath of graceful openness, beautiful and charismatic and easy to be-friend, found herself in need of a piece that connected her to her inner strength and power of visualization. She had recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and commissioned me to create a ring to remind her of her own healing capabilities.

Elaine and I spent several weeks looking for the perfect stone that would inspire the course of healing she intends for herself. She was looking for a pale pink stone, suitably sized for her finger, that would represent the mixing of bright red and angry blood cells that are being softened and diluted with happy and healthy white cells. After some searching, we found a beautiful rhodochrosite that fit the bill perfectly.

Once we found the stone, I got to work on the design options. Knowing also that Elaine was looking for a band or shank that has some visual interest, I knew that I also had to give the band some great thought, and so after several days I came up with three different design options from which to choose.



Both Elaine and her husband loved option 3 (which I also loved!) which, to me, represented the DNA and also the ladder upon which she will climb as she learns to deal with and stay strong against her disease. The ring was ready to be made in sterling silver.

The Process

The first stages of the ring (and others, too!).

Bezel is ready to be soldered to a back plate, band is complete and ready for forming.

 

Bezel complete, band formed and ready to be put together.

Ring is oxidized and ready for finishing.

The Ring

It is always and honor and a joy to help someone manifest their ideas into physical form. This ring was so much fun, from beginning to end, and I'm so grateful to have opportunities like this. Elaine, I wish you much healing and pleasure from this ring--that it finds you in your moments of needing strength. Your story is now part of mine, and I am in your journey with you.

Monday March 24, 2014


Just a little peak into my world, as it stands, today.

My home studio I lovingly call The Sanctuary. 12 square feet of creativity abounds in this little nook in our home.



Work-in-process photo. Each little piece of the wings are pierced, which means I drill a hole into each area that needs to be cut out, thread my tiny saw blade into that hole, and then hand-cut each little part out using a jeweler's saw. Beyond that, each little place has to be filed and sanded down. Meticulous but oh so rewarding when finished.

Where the butterfly necklace started. As you can see, I got a bit better at drawing by the last one, although the second to last is quite charming and I might pursue that design today.

Early September Update

Well, it's been just a little over a month now in my new studio, and it's coming together nicely. Every day that I'm in there, it feels more and more like 'my studio' and not just some weirdly-shaped office/storefront. It is so nice having my own designated creative space, but I definitely miss my artist friend (and his amazing family) at my old work studio. 

I have to admit, though, the best part about my new studio is that it's only two blocks away from this. (Yep, I feel pretty lucky.)

A lot of things have happened since the move, too. I took a collection of pieces to a beautiful art gallery up in historic Folsom City (just east of Sacramento on 50) called Fire and Rain Gallery. They have some really phenomenal artists in there, so I'm feeling pretty flattered that they accepted my work at all! I brought them a few of my big statement rings and some more of my simpler pieces. I am in anticipation to see how they all do up there. Fingers are crossed that every piece finds a new and completely stoked owner!

Also, my fall dance classes have all started, so among all my kazillion jewelry projects I constantly have on my plate, I am teaching 7 different classes a week at various studios here in the area. I've got a pretty diverse group of students to keep me on my feet, too. Choreographing warm up exercises secretly happens while I'm taking a breather from too much sawing or my hands hurt from filing!

I also decided to re-work my website and in fact re-do it almost completely. Before, it was created and hosted on Wix, a flash-based website builder, but I've been totally unimpressed with so many different aspects of it that I decided to try a different route. Low and behold I discovered I had iWeb on my mac this whole time! iWeb is so easy to use, I put it together in less than three days. It's still not completely finished, but it's a constantly evolving project anyway. Make sure to check it out! What do you think? 

http://www.ericafreestone.com

Anyway, since lots of you have been asking for them, I figured I'd share some more pictures of the studio and it all coming together!

Cleaning! Mess equals stress as my old boss used to say.
Started off with a clean slate. Well, okay, mostly clean. The space is a weird double hexagonal shape with windows on almost every wall. Kinda neat, but also kind of like working in a fishbowl.

See? Clean, empty slate!

Front doors to the studio.

My work bench and design table.

Design table with new fancy homemade bead rack.

Signage. (Also homemade. Having little to no money forces one to be creative.)

Well, many more things need to be added, like the perfect jewelry display cases. It's all a work in progress. Just like everything! Hope you liked the pictures. If you're around, come stop by and say hello! 

Erica Freestone 

Handmade Artisan Jewelry

157 Grand Ave. Suite 109

Pacific Grove, CA 93950

www.ericafreestone.com

Much love and many wishes for creativity,

E

News from Pacific Grove

Sterling silver flower and turquoise necklace. Handmade by Erica Freestone. Available on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/listing/80112273/necklace-handmade-turquoise-and-sterling?ref=v1_other_1

Now announcing my new Open Artist Studio

157 Grand Ave. Suite 109

Pacific Grove, CA 93950

(on the corner of Central Ave. and Grand Ave. 

across from the library, next to Back Porch Fabrics)

Open Hours

Mondays 10 - 6

Wednesdays 8 - 4

And by appointment

This is a unique opportunity to visit a working metal artist in her natural habitat. ;-)

Stop in, take a peek at my newest pieces, see works in progress, google at all my neat tools (don't mind the mess!)--be a part of my creative process!

Let me make you something beautiful. 

Something you will treasure forever.

Something from both your heart and mine.

See you soon!

Quick Update

Hello everyone!

I am busy preparing inventory for the Monterey Peninsula College Mother's Day Sale which happens May 3, 4, and 5th in the student center. I am working on a bunch of new things, and wanted to quickly share the new ring that is almost finished! 

It still needs some polishing and a few perfectionings (I made that word up), but, it's pretty much finished. I love how it turned out! And, I went with a larger size, I believe it's a size 7. I have a bunch of new stones and I can't wait to get back in to the studio!

Now I'm off to Pacific Grove's Good Old Days festival to enjoy this beautiful sunny weather! Hope everyone's having a great day! Come see me at the MPC jewelry show! I'll give more information in the next posting.

Also, if you haven't already, come find me and 'like' my page on Facebook! You can get up-to-the-minute updates and see projects like this in the works all the time! Go to: 

http://www.facebook.com/ericafreestonejewelry

Much love,

Erica