• Blog
  • In the Studio
  • FAQ
  • Contact Me

Moonspinner

Artisan Jewelry by Michaela Batstone

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop

Archives for November 2019

November is for Ravens

November 12, 2019 ·

Goodness, what a whirlwind six weeks this has been! We have been in our beloved Maine since the end of September, and it has been a blur of packing and unpacking and packing, head colds and anime, anxious cats and revisiting our favorite parts of the state.

Everything is still in a state of flux here, but I was able to carve of a small space for my metalsmithing tools and gemstone cabinet. I thought perhaps I would take a few months to rest, to gestate, to build up potential energy for a big special collection I have only just barely been able to keep secret.

Yet here I find myself, with a tiny flock of ravens scritching at the windows anxious to be let out into the world. I was unable to keep my hands away from sharp, unforgiving metal, the smooth, cool surfaces of gemstones, a sketchbook blooming with ideas despite the frequent frosts we’ve already had here.

And so, the ravens. The moment the trees lost their leaves and I began to see the silhouettes of the crows perched in the birch stand near the house, I threw myself into the studio and coaxed the ravens out of metal and stone. I make them every year, and I knew I just couldn’t leave them tucked away until next year. My autumn would not be complete without a studio full of noisy, rustling, clacking ravens.

They have all been claimed (within thirty minutes of their release in the shop!) and now I am carefully wrapping them in paper, tucking them in cozy cardboard and cotton boxes, and tossing them off into the gray afternoon so they may wing their way to their intendeds.

And now, I find myself already working on my annual Redux offering.
Redux is a special collection I do in November where I select a few pieces from the previous year’s work and remake them for those who either missed out or would like a special holiday gift. This year, I will be making a few bowl fulls of Honey Necklaces and Apiary Rings. Since I won’t be making any Honeybee pieces in the coming year (2020) I thought it only right that they be the focus of this year’s Redux.
What better way to spend a late autumn than with the glow of citrine?

Filed In: Uncategorized

A place for stories behind jewelry pieces, glimpses into the process, and musings on inspiration.

Newsletter

Sign up below for exclusive previews of new collections, glimpses behind the scenes, and words on the inspiration behind the work.

Recent Posts

  • Violet Linings Collection
  • Revisiting Memento Mori
  • Garnet Valentines
  • The Last Flock of Ravens
  • Nocturne Collection, Part II
  • Nocturne Collection, Part I
  • Violet Linings, Part I (Third Preview)
  • Violet Linings, Part I (Second Preview)
  • Violet Linings, Part I (First Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part II (Final Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part II (Third Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part II (Second Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part II (First Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part I (Third Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part I (Second Preview)
  • North Wind Collection, Part I (First Preview)
  • Be My Valentine
  • Silence Amidst the Owls
  • The Ravens Are Flying In
  • Beren’s Shield Necklaces
  • Mossflower Collection, Pt. I (Fourth Preview)
  • Mossflower Collection, Pt. I (Third Preview)
  • Mossflower Collection, Pt. 1 (Second Preview)
  • Mossflower Collection, Pt. I (First Preview)
  • Just a few more owls…

Blog Archives

  • April 2022 (1)
  • March 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • November 2021 (1)
  • October 2021 (1)
  • August 2021 (3)
  • May 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (3)
  • January 2021 (1)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • November 2020 (2)
  • August 2020 (4)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • March 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (3)
  • April 2018 (3)
  • February 2018 (3)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (6)
  • September 2017 (2)
  • July 2017 (2)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (3)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (2)

Categories

  • At Home
  • Gifts for You
  • In the Studio
  • Inspiration
  • Jewelry
  • Musings
  • On the Bench
  • This and That
  • Uncategorized
Unless otherwise noted, all images, designs, and writing is property of Michaela Batstone. All rights reserved.

Newsletter

Sign up below for exclusive previews of new collections, glimpses behind the scenes, and words on the inspiration behind the work.

Greens upon greens upon greens in the northern for Greens upon greens upon greens in the northern forests of Maine. ๐ŸŒฒ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ
-
-
-
-
-
#livefolk #staywild #quietinthewild #exploretocreate #countryliving  #folkgood #livesimple #optoutside #foundforaged #earthspirit #natureinspired #getoutside #forestlife #forestcore #wearewildness #intothewoods #seeksimplicity #hikenewengland  #appalachiantrail #hikingmaine #maine
Thank you to everyone who raised their hands on my Thank you to everyone who raised their hands on my call for how many of these necklaces to make. It is such a help! 

If you have a preference, do you prefer oval necklaces, or teardrop shaped ones? It's now time for me to choose from my gemstone collection. 

I think I will be able to make juuuust enough necklaces, though as always, everything will be first come first served.

Stay tuned for more previews!
โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
๐ŸŒฒ North Woods Collection: Date TBA ๐ŸŒฒ

.
.
.
#agate #mossagate #terrarium #forestcoreย #handmadejewelryย #mainemadeย #madeinmaineย #forestjewelry #gemstonejewelry #maineartist #artisanmade #artisanjewelry #mossagatenecklace #madewithlove
๐ŸŒฒ A call for ring sizes for the first design of ๐ŸŒฒ A call for ring sizes for the first design of my North Woods Collection! ๐ŸŒฒ

Generous slices of moss agate, each unique and holding tiny forest-like worlds. Set atop an undulating bark edge base, textured and sawn to look like a tree slice. 

These also have a secret message inside the band.

I have about a dozen more of these in the making, all with wonderfully different gemstones. 

If this ring calls to you, let me know your ring size! They will still be first come first served, but I will try to make the most requested sizes. 
.
.
.
.
#moss #mossterrarium #mossagate #agate #agatejewelry #gemstonejewelry #gemstones #terrarium #terrariumjewelry #mosslove #mainemade #madeinmaine #maineartist #forestcore #forestlovers
๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ” We have begun hiking (in most cases โ€œre ๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ” We have begun hiking (in most cases โ€œrehikingโ€) the Maine 4,000-fters with the goal of consciously ticking them off starting now. 

What a gift it is living in this area for the summer. Towering granite cliffs and each road a tiny corridor through endless green. 

It seems every moment my fella is dashing out the door to mountain bike or hike part of the AT or fly fish his favorite river or go running on the trails.

And I have been gathering up the entire valley in my arms, the one our cabin is nestled in, to spin it into a bold, rugged collection for you.

We been relishing all the clearwater, bluebird-sky moment of these north woods. (Despite those early summer black-flies.)

-
-
-
-
-
-
#livefolk #staywild #quietinthewild  #countryliving  #theartofslowliving #folkgood #optoutside  #earthspirit #appalachiantrail #getoutside #forestlife #wearewildness #naturelove #intothewoods #seekthesimplicity  #wildandfree #natureisbeautiful #naturesbeauty #beautyinnature #mainelife
I am gathering up the forests of northern Maine an I am gathering up the forests of northern Maine and translating them into a big, earthy collection for you. I hope you will love it!๐ŸŒฒ๐Ÿ’ซ
.
.
.
.
.

#moss #mossterrarium #mossagate #agate #agatejewelry #gemstonejewelry #gemstones #terrarium #terrariumjewelry #mosslove #mainemade #madeinmaine #maineartist
๐ŸŒฒ I have been soaking up so much chlorophyl, I ๐ŸŒฒ I have been soaking up so much chlorophyl, I must be nearly drunk on it by now! 

Being in this cabin near the Bigelow Preserve has been like a tremendous exhale. The first thing we did when we got here was to turn off the alarm clocks on our phones, and now summer stretches out like a yawn. I feel like I am 8 years old again with a summer vacation just beginning.

#moss #mossagate #naturelover #wildflowerseason #getoutsidemore #mosslove #mainelife #naturegram #beadedlily #lilygarden
My endless thanks to those of you who plucked some My endless thanks to those of you who plucked some amethyst earrings! About three dozen pairs were claimed, and are waiting to be packaged up. ๐Ÿ’ซ
๐Ÿ’ซ Everything is in the Etsy shop, sweet friends ๐Ÿ’ซ Everything is in the Etsy shop, sweet friends! ๐Ÿ’ซ

The easiest way to see everything, is to click the * Violet Linings section on the left in the Etsy shop! 

(Direct link to the shop is on my profile.)
Goodness how these earrings glow! For these summer Goodness how these earrings glow! For these summery earrings, I sawed a tiny window from the back of the sterling silver base so that the light comes pouring through while being worn. I hope you love them as much as I do!
โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
๐Ÿ”ฎ Violet Linings Earrings: TONIGHT at 7pm EST in the Etsy Shop ๐Ÿ”ฎ
๐Ÿ’œ ๐Ÿ‘พ Amethyst Vines and Stranger Things ๐Ÿ‘พ๐Ÿ’œ
โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
Goodness how I love these earrings, I am wearing my pair as I write this. 

Light and long, they twirl with the wind and make the gentlest susurrus. These will all bloom in the shop in two days!

Until then I will be eating vegan peanut butter cookies and rewatching Stranger Things (currently on Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer) before we hop onto Season 4. Have you watched it yet? (No spoilers, please!) 

Also, I rather enjoy giving my posts chapter titles, a la Stranger Things.
โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
๐Ÿ”ฎ Violet Linings Earrings: Sunday, June 5th at 7pm EST in the Etsy Shop ๐Ÿ”ฎ
โ€œMorning Gloriesโ€ by Mary Oliver Blue and dar โ€œMorning Gloriesโ€ by Mary Oliver

Blue and dark-blue
rose and deepest rose
white and pink they 

are everywhere in the diligent 
cornfield rising and swaying 
in their reliable

finery in the little
fling of their bodies their 
gear and tackle 

all caught up in the cornstalks. 
The reaper's story is the story 
of endless work of 

work careful and heavy but the 
reaper cannot 
separate them out there they 

are in the story of his life 
bright random useless
year after year 

taken with the serious tons 
weeds without value 
humorous beautiful weeds. 

โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
๐Ÿ”ฎ Violet Linings Earrings: Sunday, June 5th at 7pm EST in the Etsy Shop ๐Ÿ”ฎ
We are fully ensconced in a cabin for the summer, We are fully ensconced in a cabin for the summer, tucked against the Bigelow preserve in northwestern Maine. 

Long verdant days tinged with birdsong, and crisp nights, full of stars and mountain wind. 

And coffee has never tasted so good.
Follow on Instagram

Navigate

  • Blog
  • In the Studio
  • FAQ
  • Contact Me

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis