A Thank You; (Growth):

Thank you for being here.

 

This month marks my 8th year anniversary of working professionally in this industry. 

 

 As a kid, I never thought that one day I would call myself a jeweler. I have to tell you, though, it is one of the most wonderful, awe-inspiring, challenging, and exciting things I have ever done with my life, and every day I become more and more enamored with what I do. 

 

 It is not always easy; some projects are much harder than I expect, some months are much slower than others. Still I truck on, and still I love every little bit of it.

 

So that's why I want to thank you THANK YOU thank you for being here, for supporting me, for encouraging me, for being my customers, for cheering me on. Many of you have watched me grow from the very beginning, and I am so grateful for you. Many of you have never met me in person, and I am honored you have found me and like my work enough to 'like' me on Facebook and follow my blog. Many of you have purchased something from me--the biggest version of the message of 'keep doing what you're doing'!

 

So, thank you. You guys rock. :)

 

Much love,

Erica

 

 

Obsessed. With. Rings.

May, June 2014

Forever obsessed with rings. Newest additions to the collection.

(and as always, each lovingly handmade entirely from scratch)

Available at www.ericafreestone.com or http://ericafreestone.etsy.com

 

New Little Darlings

New to my online store at ericafreestone.etsy.com are two darling rose cut sapphire rings. One in a stunning bright pink, the other in a lemony pineapple yellow. Both can be offered as unique engagement rings, a gift to Mom (Mother's Day is May 11th), or as a gift to yourself. Happy May, dear friends!

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.

Wow, It's Been a While...

This blog has been bare for many,  many moons. So much has happened. Life. Life happens. And isn't it lovely?

News.

Admittedly, for the past couple of years, my etsy and online presence have been pretty dismal. This year, I've decided to change that. I'm not big on making New Year's Resolutions, but focusing more on etsy with my one of a kind pieces is my big goal for 2014--it resembles a resolution, but is also a goal that I know I can keep up with. I think I usually try to 'do it all' (etsy, personal website, blog, gallery, shows, farmer's markets, etc.) and that's where it goes a bit awry. There is a lot to keep up with, and it's a bit overwhelming sometimes. Life is busy, and beautiful, and I can easily get swept up in all of that and forget to enjoy myself every once in a while.

Life has re-focused in many different areas in the past year or so. I'm in love (>still!< Which really throws you for a loop sometimes!), I have a new job (still in jewelry--will share later), I have a new home... and while I have been able to maintain an ever-changing collection of my one of a kind pieces in Sun Studios in Pacific Grove, I am also feeling able to branch out a bit, and so etsy seems to be the natural next step.

And with that, this commitment in writing on a blog with which I hardly share, I look forward to sharing with you my efforts to my goal. In short, wish me luck! :)

New Pieces.



Hand-Pierced Sterling and Sapphire Butterfly Necklace



Natural Royston Turquoise and Imperial Jasper Opera-Length Sterling Silver Necklaces



Handmade Sterling Silver and Turquoise Ring

 

 



My bench in my home studio, also lovingly called 'The Sanctuary'.




 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends, family, clients, and supporters. You make it possible for me to follow my dream, and I couldn't be doing this without your love and support. May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with those you love, with lots of yummy food, and tons of love and happiness.

To thank you, I'm having a BLACK FRIDAY sale in my workshop in Pacific Grove. Everything in stock will be marked down!

Please join me!

Erica Freestone
handmade artisan jewelry
157 Grand Ave. #109
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Hours: 10:00 - 6:00

Model Manzanita Reed modeling my jewelry on Carmel Beach, CA.