dreaming in turquoise

I just had to share a recent turquoise purchase... All from Nevada, and mostly boulder turquoise, one of my favorite materials to work with. So keep an eye out for new work to be arriving in my etsy shop as well as my local galleries!

I can't wait to get my hands into this stuff! 

A few completed pieces from the past couple of years...

and a lot more here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsybensen/sets/72157626172661687/

my new love...

Well, maybe not that new, but ever since I was offered some Hell's Canyon herringbone petrified wood a couple of years ago, I've been smitten! 

Discovered in the Hell's Canyon gorge in the late 50's and a portion of what was there was removed just prior to the construction of the Snake River's Brownlee Dam, which subsequently flooded the area. So there's a limited supply, which helps with the mystique, but it's lovely herringbone pattern and vugs, or voids filled with druzy, makes it stand out all on it's own! The wood has been since identified as sequoia, and I'm happy to have a few pieces left and am soon to have more,yay!  

this ring is just the most recent piece to come out of the studio, below are a few previous ways I've used the material...

Cufflinks. These were given as a graduation gift.

A beautiful treasure ring which also features a freeform pearl and raw diamond.

currently available...

And I'll soon be doing my best to see that I have a large supply for lots of future work!  Anyone interested in having something made just contact me through my etsy shop!

A few new pieces

It seems like the past week has been all about rings! I've finished several new rings, all wildly different from each other, and each one extremely satisfying!

a very cool bumpy pearl on a simple sterling band

freeform pearl and rose cut diamond in sterling and 18kt and 14kt gold. These rose cut diamonds are my new love. And I just purchased a new parcel of various sizes and colors I can't wait to get into...

malachite and stick pearl in sterling with 14kt gold

and today I finished this pretty little fossil coral ring in sterling with 14kt gold rivets

My next project is in the works. Moving away from rings for a bit and concentrating on combining various elements in a necklace for David Frank Gallery. Depending on how it comes out, I'd like to do more and perhaps utilize some of those diamonds in the design.

Here I'm using rose cut tourmalines, peridot, ocean jasper and freshwater pearls. Still a bit to work out... I'll be posting it when it's done though!

Full Swing into the Shopping Season

Hard to believe we are almost through November! I'm currently offering free shipping on all new purchases from my etsy shop through the end of the month (Wednesday!) You can use the coupon code "yipee" at checkout and save a few bucks...

Lots of wonderful stuff!

For those in the Portland area, I'll have my work at a fabulous Art to Wear holiday show next weekend, 

Dec 2nd and 3rd at Ann Williamson's in NE Portland

AND, if that weren't enough, you can find me at the LOCAL 14 pop up gallery in Lake Oswego through the Holidays 

and always at The Real Mother Goose and David Frank, both in Portland.

Five Fossil Coral Rings

Newly birthed from the studio are these 5 little fossilized coral rings. The coral cabs, measuring aprox 12-13mm x 17mm were too adorable to pass up, and they became sweet little littermates...

Each ring has it's own personality and is created from sterling silver with small 14kt gold accents.

   All are currently available in my etsy store.  

                 Petite and sweet!

               betsybensen.etsy.com

Photo Fun

There's a farm supply store across the river from where I live and I like to go in there every now and then to poke around, especially in the Spring, to see the baby chicks. They have a display of little plastic animals, all types and sizes. Adorable. I couldn't resist buying a couple, they were so cute, and now every time I go in there, I add to my collection!

 One day I decided to start making them earn their keep, and give me a good reason to keep buying them...

                        
                                           photo props!

just passing through...

      The meerkats are my hands down favorites!

if I need some heavy lifting, no problem.

                          Y'all come on back now, ya hear?