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Artisan Jewelry by Michaela Batstone

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The Last Flock of Ravens

January 8, 2022 ·


My studio is brimming with ravens at the moment. They have been squabbling and clacking at me while I have been working on them for the last month. Shaking their feathers when I am trying to focus, spreading Picasso jasper all over my bench. I think they are still miffed that the spiders took their place in the November restock.

Anyways! I have finally finished up the Waiting Raven Collection for you patient souls. There will be lots of Picasso jaspers necklaces with raven silhouettes on the back, onyx Talon Rings, spinel raven earrings, onyx and raven cuff bracelets, and one new design.

Since I am taking a good, long break from many of my annual collections to make room for new ideas, this Raven offering will be the last for a few years.


Raven Earrings

There will be 22 pairs available.
Price: $125 per pair

Winter has shaken down a dust of snow, and with it, a flock of tiny Ravens.

I believe this might be the first time the Ravens have arrived in my studio mid-winter, and I am all the happier for their company.

As a little aside, just a few days prior to finishing up the rough solders of this collection, we watched one of the Christmas episodes of Northern Exposure (my absolute favorite show!) wherein the raven was a harbinger of Christmas and winter. And I have been thinking about that, and the timing of these ravens, ever since.

Anyways! For the first time, there will be Raven Earrings in this last Waiting Raven Collection.

Sweet, little corvids outlined in shadow. And below are spinel briolettes, swinging furtively as though from a midnight branch.


Dust of Snow Necklaces

There will be 10 necklaces available.
Price: $135 per necklace

“The way a crow
shook down on me
the dust of snow
from a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
a change of mood
and saved some part
of a day I had rued.”
– Robert Frost

The fronts feature Picasso jasper of various hues, dark branches silhouetted against a gray winter sky.

The backs each feature a single feather silhouetted against matte gray silver, cascading through the air as though shaken from a raven perched in a tree.


Corvus Rings

There will be 13 rings available.
Price: $85 per ring

Sizes: 5.75, 6, 6.25, 6.75, 6.75, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5

Smooth onyx, sleek black as a ravenโ€™s wing.

A beaded circlet.

And a toothy serrated bezel holding the gemstone in place.

Since these are simple half-round bands, they fit true to size.


Waiting Raven Cuff Bracelets

There will be 8 cuff bracelets available.
Price: $195 per ring

Sizes: Six S/M (5.75″) Bracelets; Two M/L (6.75″) Bracelets

Faceted onyx marquise focals. Beaded accents. And two ravens waiting patiently one either side.

The small/medium bracelets measure about 5.75โ€ณ (+ a 1โ€ณ gap) and the medium/large bracelets measure about 6.75โ€ณ (+ a 1โ€ณ gap). They are easily adjustable.


Talon Rings

There will be 18 rings available.
Price: $125 per ring

Sizes: 5.5, 6, 6.25, 6.5, 7, 7, 7.25, 7.5,
7.5, 7.5, 7.75, 8, 8.25, 8.75, 9.25, 9.5, 9.75,

It has finally happened. I spent so much time with the crows and ravens, Iโ€™ve grown great, black talons of my own. Although mine are made of onyx it seems.

Midnight black onyx gemstone, serrated bezel, subtle rim around the top, and split double half-round bands with a branchy hammered texture.

A ring fit for the queen of crows.

This fits a smidge snug because of the split band I wear my true size with this band, but I know others prefer about 1/4 bigger for breathing room.


Waiting Raven Necklace

There will be 59 necklaces to choose from.
Prices range from $135 – $165 depending on size

And of course, the very first Raven design I ever made, the Waiting Raven Necklace.

I tried to make so many, not just because I won’t be revisiting the ravens for a while, but also because it wont be available for custom requests during the presold collection.

So I hope that if you’ve had your heart set on one, you catch the perfect little raven as they soar by!

To make it easier to to quickly choose the right necklace, I split all the necklaces up into the following size ranges, measuring from top to bottom of the pendant, not included the loop.

Small – 25-35mm
Medium – 35-45mm
Large – 45-55mm
Extra Large – 55mm+

Since this is the last of these designs for quite a while, I used up the very last of my store of these stones. Every darkly laced jasper I could find in my gemstone cabinet, or have cut since last year, will be included in this offering.

I am certainly going to miss having these sweet little fellows rustling around on my bench, but I know they will make wonderful companions for you, if perhaps a little cheeky.


And thatโ€™s everything that will be included in this final Waiting Ravens Collection!

Waiting Raven Collection Release: Sunday, January 9th at 7PM EST in the Etsy shop

Filed In: Jewelry / Tagged: art, artisan, artist, artists, creative process, inspiration, jasper, Jewelry, metalsmith, metalsmithing, moonspinner, onyx, picasso, raven

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Greens upon greens upon greens in the northern for Greens upon greens upon greens in the northern forests of Maine. ๐ŸŒฒ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒณ
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#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!
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๐ŸŒฒ North Woods Collection: Date TBA ๐ŸŒฒ

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#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. 
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#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.)

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#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
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#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!
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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
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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.
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