The Story of Orange Avocado Jewelry...

Best of Edmonton 2018 & Edmonton Made Gift Catalogue

Published Sep 28 2018 in Highlights, News

It's been a good year for me. My jewelry was voted for the 6th time Best of Edmonton 2018 "Best Custom Jewelry Store" by Edmontonians who have supported me from the beginning. It is the raw and handcrafted aesthetic of my jewelry that continues to have an allure for my customers. I am very grateful that my work is acknowledged by them. Also having one of my pieces of jewelry curated and chosen to be in the Edmonton Made Gift Catalogue 2018 has been a major highlight. Although I have been at this craft for over 16 years, I was still nervous as to what to submit. I choose the "Solitary Pebble Necklace" which is inspired by the circles formed when you skip a pebble in the water. Here is the link to the Solitary Pebble Necklace.

This is picture of my daughter Erin

when she was 3 years old

skipping rocks in the pond at Hawrelak park.

My Solitary Pebble Necklace reminds me of this day.

Of this moment.

Memories of my little one.

Inspiration for my jewelry comes to me daily. I am always creating pieces in my head which I then often draw out and then head into my studio to create it in bronze or silver. It is a never ending process that I live each day.

Thank you for acknowledging this desire to create every day.
Molten Collection: Pure Chemistry

Published Aug 27 2018 in New Collections

Nothing is more satisfying than taking my silver and bronze out of my kiln and seeing my work come to life. I’ve hand formed literally thousands of silver and bronze clay pieces into various links and deconstructed pendants over the years. I’ve watched my silver pieces become molten pieces of liquid metal under a torch and in my kiln. And I’ve sifted through my coal carbon and pulled out bronze pieces that have sintered under intense temperatures up to 1600 degrees farehnheit. I love and appreciate the process from start to finish.

The Molten Collection is one that celebrates pure chemistry. It is a homage to those incredibly high temperatures and liquified pieces of silver and bronze that change from a solid to a liquid and back to a solid. This collection is one of raw and irregular shapes. No two pieces are the same as unique bumps and gentle curves characterize each individual pendant. It is finding beauty in the rough.

And so I bring to you the Molten Collection from my hands to yours: raw, strong & feminine.

View online: MOLTEN COLLECTION
A Zoo Story

Published Jul 13 2018 in Custom Pieces

Lynn contacted me about creating a custom piece for two of her classroom helpers. She requested possibly using two pieces of art that a couple of her students created, one of which was the child of one of the helpers. I loved the pictures; children's art is so original! I hand etched the drawings of an alpaca and a ladybug onto pieces of silver. The alpaca was the favourite of one of the helpers whenever they went on their zoo visits. Sadly, when they went to visit the zoo where inspiration for the alpaca came from, they were informed that the animal had passed away due to age. This will be a special and lasting momento for the child and the parent to share a memory with.
May Spring Show 2018 - Friends & Family

Published May 04 2018 in Events

Thank you so much to all of my customers and friends that came out to my May Spring Show at the The Derrick Golf & Winter Club. Over 175 people attended the show and the lucky winner of the $100 Gift Card is LeeAnn T!! Thank you to everyone on social media that shared the details of my show because word of mouth is the strongest affirmation of the work that I do.

In this picture is Debbie, Roma, Kirsten, Calla, Erin, Simone, Maddie, Catherine, Eric, & Colleen, and not in the picture is my mother Kim, and Jackie. These are my friends and family that came out to help me and help you find the perfect piece of jewelry. It is a representation of who my customers are; they are mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, aunties, friends and family. Friends and family are everything! I loved seeing them work so well together and seeing every customer feel a little bit of joy when they found the perfect pieces. It was a fun and gratifying day. I am forever grateful that you allow me to share my love of making jewels one by one for you.

Love from me to you.

xo Sandra
Inner Spirit Collection: Calm, Serenity & Balance

Published Mar 17 2018 in New Collections

My family and I were able to visit my sister in Kailua, Hawaii again this year. It’s been a few years since I last visited this beautiful natural landscape of ocean, lava formed mountains, and endless greenery. It was like we never left. We all fell comfortably into our routine of tank tops, shorts and flip flops. The roosters woke us up every morning along with the morning military bugles playing “Reveille” (we lived just off the nature reserve near the Kaneohe military base). We ran or swam every day. We tried to beat the heat and would start our runs just as the sun was rising, but never managed to conquer it by the time that we got home. But each time I was out there I felt at peace as the sweat dripped from my brow.

You see, I am at peace with routine whether it be at an old vacation spot with my family or at home at my jeweller’s bench. There is comfort in familiarity.

The Inner Spirit Collection is inspired by our quest to find contentment in our lives. Your inner spirit let’s you know that you are loved, and that you are enough. Incorporating the beautiful semi-precious stones of the earth discovered in Kailua, I have created a jewelry collection exuding calm, serenity, and balance. The colors are subtle and pure: soft ocean blues in the chalcedony & laramar stones and radiant spa green tones in the peridot and gooseberry stones. It is a celebration of the captivating beauty in nature and ourselves.

Find the collection here: Inner Spirit Collection