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Artisan Jewelry by Michaela Batstone

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Mossflower Collection: First Preview

April 27, 2018 ·

With a sudden wind, Springtime has waltzed herself over the hills and into the valley where our home sits. She has passed through the magnolia near our house, pink-tinged buds waiting for just a moment more of encouragement from the sun. Fields seemingly shifting from brown to green overnight. Springtime has charmed even the wildflower seeds brought from my family home in downeast Maine last autumn and doubtfully planted when the snow first melted a month ago, garish orange tiger lilies and lavender lupines that render me homesick at the very thought.  With her palm to the ground, Springtime has persuaded those precious seeds to crack their husks and send out tender roots and sprouts. What a startling contradiction plants are: fragile enough for even a child to pluck and snuff out, yet possessing the power to crack boulders and consume man’s mightiest designs.

We have had several warm, sunny days in a row, which has set me thrumming. It is incredible how the hint of spring sends us all into a fervor of motion. The whirl of kinetic energy outside is infectious. It seeps through our windowpanes and slips under our doors. The rush of green into the countryside was unable to slow itself before the walls of my house, and so my bench is dripping with green, as well. The energy of birds frantically gathering twigs for their nests has me quickly sketching new designs. There are grackles nesting under the eave on the northside of the house, and I can hardly keep myself from tossing open the window each morning and calling out to them. I feel as though I could soak up this green energy and have it carry me through any amount of gray rain without slowing, bowls of light sitting upon my bench and leafy gemstones waiting to be set.

With Springtime resting her hands upon my shoulders and imbuing me with vigor, I have been a blur of movement in the studio! Each spring, I create a new version of my Mossflower Collection. I choose stones that reflect the delicate green of new growth and the warmth of springtime. Prehnite encapsulates this season for me, swirls of soft green and tiny, dark rutile shoots throughout the stones.

I have been working tirelessly at this year’s iteration. Light and warmth pouring out of my hands to coax ferns out of sterling silver, encouraging them to unfurl. I have been hammering texture into the surfaces to reflect the rough uniformity of bark and stone. Layers of sterling silver stacked like the accrual of past growth and decay, each leaf springing up out of the detritus and then falling back upon its forebears to give way to next year.

This collection will be a large one. Similar shapes and patterns of springtime will be repeated throughout all the pieces, but each design unique, comparable to how a forest may appear homogeneous at a distance, but every plant and flower distinct upon closer inspection.

And so, here is the first preview of this year’s Mossflower Collection. These are the first pieces to emerge from torch flame and coping saw, natural and uncomplicated. While creating these pieces, I have also had The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien on my mind, particularly the story of Yavanna and Aule. But I will speak more to that in the next preview.

Check back here and on my Instagram for more previews, as well as a date and time announcement for this collection’s shop update. I hope you are gathering up all the light and green of springtime to tuck in your pockets as I am!

Filed In: Inspiration, Jewelry / Tagged: art, artisan, artist, artists, forest, inspiration, Jewelry, metalsmith, metalsmithing, moonspinner, naturalist, nature, prehnite, springtime, studio

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

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Unless otherwise noted, all images, designs, and writing is property of Michaela Batstone. All rights reserved.

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The Presold Collection is closed! I have nearly fi The Presold Collection is closed! I have nearly finished making all the custom listings and ironing out details for everyone who reached out. 

I will be working on the commissions in the order they were received, alongside all my other collections in the works. (Hessonite garner, tanzanite, and Nocturne coming at ya!) Some of the stones are being cut and so I have to wait to receive them to get started. 

Thank you for your patience, and I am so excited that some really deep cut designs get to be revisited!
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#uniquejewelry #artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #prettylittlethings #etsyhandmade #heytheremaker #ladysmith #makersvillage #madefromscratch #ardentfinds #bohoinspo #modernmaker #justmyart #madewithlove #makermovement #handmadeaf #handcraftedjewelry #handmadejewelry #bohoinspo #crystaljewelry #inherstudio #wildmagic #wildatheart #inspiredbynature #silversmith #moonspinner #etsyjewelry #flashesofdelight #etsysuccess  #instasmithy  #whatwomencreate
Thank you to everyone who has reached out so far t Thank you to everyone who has reached out so far to reserve a spot for a commission of a piece of my past work! I am slowly working through the requests, pulling gemstones, checking silver stock. Thank you for your patience, if you sent a message, I am on my way! 🙃🏃🏻‍♀️

I have gotten a fair number of requests for the Darkling Sea Rings.

(Can I just say how much it makes my soul sing that there are so many other mermaid-hearts out there!?)

And so I have put the preorder listing back into the shop from the last time I made them, if you'd like to catch one. (I am absolutely determined that everyone who wants one of these rings is able to get one! 🙇🏻‍♀️)
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#kyanite #kyanitering #kyanitejewelry #tealkyanite #oceanring #oceanjewelry #oceancore #gemstone #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #supportlocal #mermaidcore #mermaidjewelry
Okay, friends, the Presold Collection is finally a Okay, friends, the Presold Collection is finally a go!

✨ I am going to start by taking (24) commissions for past work, just to see how it goes. 
✨ If there is a design from my past that you'd like me to recreate for you, send me a message on Etsy and we can chat about whether it is possible or not, as I will have to see if I have the right gemstones, silver, etc.
✨ I won't be able to make modifications to the design, because custom work gets complicated quickly, so they will be the same as previously designed. 
✨ I wont be able to create designs from Mossflower, Honeybees, Nocturne, or Night Owls, as those will be coming back later this year. (Hurray!)
✨ I also wont be able to recreate designs from the collaborative collection I did with Maia Toll, as I promised those would be one of a kind pieces. 
✨ The turnaround time will be 8-10 weeks (sooner if I can manage it) between date of purchase and date of shipment. Production will be a bit slow as I am going to be working on these alongside other collections.
✨ I think it's easiest to pay in full up front, rather than figuring out invoices. That way I can pop your piece in the mail the moment its finished! And so once we've chatted over on Etsy about whether your request is possible, I will make you a custom listing to purchase. 
✨ Please be patient with my responses, as I am trying to do this will also pulling together two other collections for you. (A whole bunch of tanzanite rings, the very last of the stock I've had for years! As well as a big, beautify Hessonite garnet collection for February.)

And that's it! So if there's a past design that's been singing to you for years, send me a message and I will see if I can spin some magic for you. 
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#opthandmade #bohojewelry #instajewelry #jotd #shopsmall #handmadejewelry #bohemianjewelry #craftsposure #metalsmith #ladysmith #maker #artisanjewelry #artisan #freepeople #bohemian #livefolk #gypsystyle #bohostyle #dslooking #makersgonnamake #makersmovement #bohochic #gypsysoul #bohofashion #jewelrydesigner #festivalstyle #onthebench
✨ My endless gratitude, moving from Etsy to Shop ✨ My endless gratitude, moving from Etsy to Shopify, and a Presold Collection question for you! ✨ 
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Cozy friends, what can I say! Each Winter Berry Tea Ring was claimed within about 15 minutes. I like to imagine us all with our darkly brewed rings chatting an afternoon away. What a lucky gal I am! You are the sugar in my tea!
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Also, I know once again Etsy was a headache for some of you. Showing rings sometimes, and then disappearing again. Showing up if you sort by price, but not if you searched "Winter Berry." I couldn't even see any of the newly listed rings for almost 10 minutes... UGH. 

And so, with some computer work on my part, my next release (a batch of tanzanite rings) will be in a new Shopify shop. 

For the past week I have been setting up the new shop, figuring out Quickbooks integration, and getting through all the unfun parts. I am also learning how to make checkout fast so you can quickly catch your pieces. And I am loving the idea of early bird access for newsletter peeps. 

And best of all, no glitchy releases. (I hope! If you use Shopify and do timed releases, please let me know how they go for you.) 
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Also, I know some of you missed these rings. As well as many past designs. 

So! I am officially going to attempt my Presold Collection where you can request a past design. And if I have all the stones and silver necessary, I can then create a preorder listing for you and hit the bench running! 

There will be a few exceptions, like I wont be able to recreate any Mossflower, Honeybee, or Night Owl pieces, since those collections will be returning later this year!

I am likely only going to take on a few dozen commissions at first, just to see how things go. 

Production time will be a bit slow because I am going to be making the commissioned pieces alongside all my other collections (likely 8-10 weeks?). 

And so, if you are hoping to reserve a presold slot, let me know below what past design you are hoping for, so I can start peeking into my gemstone cabinet to see what's possible. 

And then in a few days, I will let you know more!
(Sold) All the Winter Berry Tea Rings are in the s (Sold) All the Winter Berry Tea Rings are in the shop! I hope you'll have a cuppa with me. ☕️💕
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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: TONIGHT, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademia #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
A love affair with rhodolite garnet on a snowy aft A love affair with rhodolite garnet on a snowy afternoon. 💕
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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: TONIGHT, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademia #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
Oh! I forgot to tell you, the blog preview of all Oh! I forgot to tell you, the blog preview of all the Winter Berry Tea Rings is up. There's a direct link to it in my profile, if you'd like to take a gander. 🌨🧣🫖✨
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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: TONIGHT, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademia #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
Tonight, tonight, cozy friends! I have brewed 48 l Tonight, tonight, cozy friends! I have brewed 48 little cups of garnet tea for you. I hope you'll join me! 

Also, thank you to everyone who pretended you were having a cuppa with me, and told me how you take your tea, what the weather is up to where you were, and what novels are on your nightstands. It was the loveliest tea time! 

It is bright and blue and cold here, and I am currently reading the manga "Rose of Versailles" as well as "Leviathan Wakes." Craving a classic these days though too. 

Any recommendations?
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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: TONIGHT, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademia #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
🫖 Winter Berry Tea Rings🧣 I just love these 🫖 Winter Berry Tea Rings🧣

I just love these rings. Spare and simple, but rich and comforting at the same time. 

Like a hot cup of berry tea on a  winter afternoon, shadows clinging to ever surface. 

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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: Sunday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
🫖 Winter Berry Tea Rings🧣 I like to imagine 🫖 Winter Berry Tea Rings🧣

I like to imagine that each of these is a cup of tea I have made for you cozy souls. You would tell me whether you prefer yours sugared or no, and I would ask what novels you've been reading lately. 

We would drink our berry tea before it got cold while we watched the gannets meander down the river. And I would be watching the sky for snow.

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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: Sunday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
A cup of winter berry tea while I photographed the A cup of winter berry tea while I photographed the Winter Berry Tea Rings. Each were equally comforting. 🧣🫖✨
🫖 Winter Berry Tea Rings🧣 Garnet is the per 🫖 Winter Berry Tea Rings🧣

Garnet is the perfect stone for January. 

Like this dusky, restrained month, rhodolite garnet is often quite dark. That is especially so in a low-dome cut, such as in this batch of gemstones. The color is rich, but furtive. 

When encased in silver, rhodolite garnet darkens to a deeply shadowed purplish red. 

But then, like those shining, bluebird days that we sometimes catch during January, the right conditions give the most saturated colors, light reflecting and refracting off every facet. 

When you wear these rings, they will be dark with flashes of berry red in the right light. On the hand, they look like dusky cups of the strongest pomegranate tea you can imagine. 

But since I have sawn out the backs, the promise of light and color is there for you. 

If it be a dark day and you need the bright comfort of a cup of tea, you can take your ring off, hold it to the light, and let it sing the warmest song you've ever heard.

Whoever chose garnet as a birthstone for January, I see what you did there. 

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✨ Winter Berry Tea Ring Release: Sunday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. EST in the Etsy Shop ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal
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