Engagement Ring Alternatives
Looking for an engagement ring alternative or an alternative engagement ring? I’m a big fan of couples jewellery because it’s an excuse to incorporate personal stories and hidden messages. Of course the cruel irony is that my partner refuses to wear any jewellery at all. This got me thinking. If you’re celebrating something very personal like an engagement for example, why wouldn’t the symbol of that also be very personal and unique to each individual? Furthermore, my partner and I probably won’t be getting married but why should we miss out? Does there have to be an excuse to make a grand gesture with something shiny (literally or figuratively)? Alternative Engagement Rings Now some of us actually like rings so let’s not throw that idea over a cliff, maybe just reconsider the diamond and gold band. For one thing, a dirty great gemstone is impractical for everyday wear so if you want to keep the symbol of your love close to you at all times why not consider something low profile and comfortable? And remember that rings get lost or scratched and broken so maybe spending thousands of dollars on something you never intend to sell isn’t a great investment. Now forget what society has told you to want and think about what would make you and your partner happy. A ring with a monogram of both your initials? A signet ring with a new family crest you’ve devised? A poison ring with a keepsake inside? A flip ring that can be worn as a necklace as well for practical reasons? A story ring with panels depicting aspects of your relationship? Even a simple band with engraved text inside is a classic for a reason. Other Jewellery Alternatives And for those who work with their hands but still like a bit of bling? I personally love a locket because you can keep secret messages inside and hang it up on display as a miniature piece of art when it’s not being worn. I had a customer commission a lockable locket with a detachable key as an engagement gift. They hid a message inside which their partner couldn’t read until they were given the key separately at the wedding. Gotta love a bit of mystery! A jewellery box can be both useful and beautiful. For the same reason you might like a watch, pocket watch, lighter/cigar case, pill box, money clip, cufflinks, or chatelaine. And what about more traditional couples jewellery like a pair of necklaces, bracelets, or pins which interlock when brought together? If you wanted to carry something on your person everyday but don’t feel comfortable in jewellery, what about a metal medallion in your wallet engraved with relevant symbols, text or dates? You know it’s there but it’s not showy, it’s just for you and your partner. Non Jewellery Alternatives Maybe your partner disdains any kind of accessory? No problem, you can personalise anything they may be into. Maybe you commission an artwork, set of crockery, a tapestry, rug, piece of clothing or furniture? You could plant a tree to grow in conjunction with your relationship. Thinking long term, it would provide the ideal place to bury/scatter ashes (that one’s for my Goth friends). If you’re into my work you’re probably the kind of person who would have a book custom bound or even have one written! If time is limited perhaps a short poem instead? The number one absolute most exceptional gift I have ever received from my partner which never fails to make me emotional was a song. He had it written just for me and it’s worth a thousand times what it cost him. Basically it doesn’t matter so much what the thing is, but that it was made specifically for that one partnership. The most important thing is not to be held back by expectations. You don’t have to be getting married to show someone how much they mean to you and you don’t have to bankrupt yourself to do it either! Get creative and think about what you associate with your relationship alone. If you do want to explore the jewellery path fill out a custom request form and we can discuss your ideas and the glorious possibilities! Gilded Crypt – Locket Necklace Treasure Chest – Ring Box Custom Monogram Ring
New Skadi logo
New logo The keen of eye may have noticed I just snuck in a new logo. The main issue with the old Skadi logo was that due to the ornate detail it looked great on a large tote bag but not so legible as a tiny thumbnail on Instagram. The problem I face with creating a new logo is that I don’t want to have to just throw away all the business cards, packaging and signage that has the old logo. So for more of a gradual transition I decided to just revamp the old logo. All the elements are there; the ornate snowflake, the name, the high contrast monochrome versatility, they’re all just a bit cleaner and easier to read at different sizes. I figure plenty of people won’t even notice, I just wrote this little message for those of you who are sure something is different but you can’t quite put your finger on it. You’re not losing it 😉 Old logo
Upcoming Event – Dark Moon Exhibition – April 2024
Next month Skadi Jewellery Design is proud to be part of the Dark Moon Exhibition, a curated curiosities, oddities, magic and dark arts exhibition 🌑Featuring local artists showcasing jewellery, candles, sculpture, self care, spooky desserts, cosmetics and etymology as well as live entertainment and demonstrations, this alternative event is not to be missed! When & where:Saturday April 20th 2024 Moonee Valley RacecourseMoonee Ponds Victoria To keep up to date with all the details and discover the artists involved follow Dark Moon Exhibition on Instagram for more details and tickets
Upcoming Event – Raven Witch Market – March 2024
Next month Skadi Jewellery Design is proud to be part of the Raven Witch Market in Melbourne/Naarm’s CBD. Not only is it a fundraising event with ticket proceeds going to a local charity, all of the vendors are talented local alternative artists. From fine Gothic jewellery and cute spooky accessories to creepy candles and spiritual artwork, it shall be a haven for all things dark. When & where: Saturday March 2nd 2024 QV Women’s Centre 210 Lonsdale St Melbourne, Victoria To keep up to date with all the details and discover the artists involved follow Raven Witch Market on Instagram for more details and tickets
Upcoming Event – Dark Moon Exhibition
Next month Skadi Jewellery Design is proud to be part of the Dark Moon Exhibition, a curated curiosities, oddities, magic and dark arts exhibition 🌑Featuring local artists showcasing jewellery, candles, sculpture, self care, spooky desserts, cosmetics and etymology as well as live entertainment and demonstrations, this alternative event is not to be missed! When & where:Saturday January 20th 2024 Moonee Valley RacecourseMoonee Ponds Victoria To keep up to date with all the details and discover the artists involved follow Dark Moon Exhibition on Instagram for more details and tickets
Upcoming Event – Raven Witch Market
Next month Skadi Jewellery Design is proud to be part of the Raven Witch Market in Melbourne/Naarm’s CBD. Not only is it a fundraising event with ticket proceeds going to a charity supporting the homeless, all of the vendors are talented local alternative artists. From fine Gothic jewellery and cute spooky accessories to creepy candles and spiritual artwork, it shall be a haven for all things dark. When & where: Saturday November 25th 2023 QV Women’s Centre 210 Lonsdale St Melbourne, Victoria To keep up to date with all the details and discover the artists involved follow Raven Witch Market on Instagram for more details and tickets
Making a Custom Elven Lantern
I’m very fortunate I get to bring some amazing concepts to life. Collaborating with customers to create something truly unique is the best part of my job. Every so often though, the stars align and I get the ultimate commission with the quintessential elements; a grand idea, creative freedom, an unrestrictive budget and a healthy dose of challenge. The Elven Lantern is just such a rarity and as such I thought worth sharing! The brief for this one was appropriately, well, brief. Simply create a lantern which fits a candle inspired by the architecture of the Elven city of Rivendell from Lord of the Rings. Obviously there was nothing simple about it, the design process alone took over a week and involved a cardboard mock-up to get the shapes and dimensions spot on.Hand piercing all 34 elements took about 4 days, then I spent a further 2-3 days to engrave, shape and rivet everything together. I think it was the most relaxing week I’ve enjoyed this year. The completed lantern is made from copper and brass and a total of 84 rivets (yes, I do make every single one from scratch from wire. No, it doesn’t bother me, repetitive tasks make my brain happy). This thing should outlive me by centuries. And I may not be an architect, but if you do need a miniature village handmade from metal I’m ready and willing. If you would like to commission a piece of your own simply fill out the custom request form and I’ll be in touch ASAP! https://www.skadijewellery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PXL_20230808_030441123.TS_.mp4
Saw Pierce Your Own Pendant – Video Tutorial
Saw piercing metal can be an absolute dream when done right! You can lose yourself for hours when you get in the groove but like anything worth doing it takes practice. I’ve been practicing for over a decade and a half now and I want to share some of the helpful techniques I’ve picked up. I’m going to tell you all of the things I wish someone had told me when I started! Enter the saw piercing video tutorial! If you want to be cutting fairly detailed designs out of metal this is a great place to start. Accompanying the downloadable video is a template for two different floral pendant designs so you can create a necklace on your own. As a bonus I’ve included a beginner’s exercise which is great to practice with before tackling the main event. So if you’re wondering how to learn jewellery making from the comfort of your own home (without the need for a torch), this will set you on the right path. The video covers the whole pendant making process from applying the pattern, drilling, choosing sawblades and saw frames, cutting techniques to finishing. Happy saw piercing! Clare Download the full tutorial and templates
Book Recommendations from a Gothic Jeweller
If you’re fond of my jewellery, you may very well like these books! Fair warning, they are all Fantasy but you won’t find any elves, dragons or damsels in distress, that’s not really my cup of tea. Think more murder, mayhem, mystery, magic and mirth.As a librarian my partner is actually far more qualified to make book recommendations. I’m more of an amateur book fancier but I thought I’d share a few that have affected me personally in some way and you’ll almost certainly see some of their imagery in my work. These are the kind of books which you would miss meals to finish reading. I won’t give a full synopsis of each story as a professional has already written those far more competently than me, I’ll just let you know what I loved about them in the hope it helps you discover a hidden gem. The Barbed Coil by J. V. Jones I had to start with the Barbed Coil as this is the only book I’ve ever read where I got the eerie feeling it was written just for me. I recognise that sounds extraordinarily egotistical but hear me out. Somehow J. V. Jones manages to encapsulate the magical experience of designing highly intricate patterns within a thrilling Fantasy adventure. It’s like Lord of the Rings meets the Book of Kells. She makes the creation of illuminated manuscripts feel like climbing a cliff without a rope. There’s even a sinister knotted, thorned gold ring which features heavily throughout the tale. This author just gets me! And if you’re wondering what it’s like to get lost in a design without actually drawing something, reading this book is as close as you can get. There’s also a highly compelling narrative involving monks, armies, sorcery and a lot of blood. So you know, something for everyone. https://www.patreon.com/jvjones The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks For some reason I’ve always been a bit of a sucker for assassin books but this particular trilogy definitely tops the list. The designer in me loves the way Brent Weeks paints weapons as objects of art and accurately depicts the protagonist’s difficult journey to acquiring the skills necessary to master their art. In this case of course that’s chaos and death, but the creativity employed to achieve those ends is really quite inspiring. It’s always nice to learn about people who truly excel at their craft and fictional characters are no exception. Like a particularly satisfying whodunnit, I constantly find myself thinking ‘oh that’s clever’ when reading these books.And let’s not forget the imbued jewellery which compels people to do different things as well as self sealing earrings. Where can I get my hands on some of those?! Throw war, Gods, a little unconventional romance and non stop action into the bargain and these page turners will keep you entertained for days! https://www.brentweeks.com/series/night-angel/https://twitter.com/BrentWeeks The Mask of Mirrors by M. A. Carrick Unsurprisingly this one features some exceptional fictional designs and imagery also (I’m just noticing a pattern here). The costumes, accessories (the eponymous mask of mirrors included) and architecture really come alive in such a way that turning the book into a movie would require no interpretation at all. It made me seriously consider getting into costume jewellery design.The book gives life to the parallel world of dreams and nightmares, a concept which holds specific appeal to me as someone with particularly vivid dreams. I get the distinct impression the authors can relate to the idea of sometimes not being able to tell the difference between dream and reality.But generally it ticked all the boxes for me by seamlessly weaving together murder, mystery, politics, adventure, horror, history, romance, sorcery, intrigue and even fashion design (have I missed any genres?). It’s the kind of all encompassing book you give to a teenager who isn’t sure what they’re into yet but you desperately want them to get into reading. I made the mistake of judging this book by it’s cover and assumed it might be directed at teenage girls. Fortunately a more useful part of my brain overrode my initial prejudice because I hate to think of missing out on this thrilling story. https://www.macarrick.com/writing-type/novels/https://www.instagram.com/alychelms/ Sword in the Storm by David Gemmell This one actually has a character who is a jeweller so we’re off to a good start! I first read this book as a teenager and it was a real rollercoaster of emotions! In hindsight I should have twigged then when reading about Riamfada the jeweller and thinking ‘that sounds marvellous! Can I do that?’ that I would follow that path. But it wasn’t until I was 18 that I realised you could actually legitimately make jewellery for a living. Thanks to this book for planting the seed. Now that I think about it, it also kindled my nascent interest in Mythology and history so I guess I owe this one more than I realised!Like all of David Gemmell’s work, not one word is wasted, not one sentence carries extraneous information. If like me you struggle with novels that move at a sedate pace, rest assured this tormented tale of fate will not leave you sleepy. In fact, if you’re just a fan of history, myth, fancy weapons and a jolly good fight generally, you might as well read his entire back catalogue. There’s also some humour to balance out the brutality. Enjoy! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gemmell The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett A guy covered in magical tattoos who fights demons! Do I even need to go on? Well I will because the concept for this one grabbed me instantly but I’m rather fond of tattoos so maybe you need more. So, in this world you can delicately paint or carve intricate symbols which draw in magic to repel or fight demons in different ways? You got me, Tell me more! Cover yourself in these wards from head to toe so you’re perpetually protected, seems logical, why has no one else thought of it? Well I won’t
The Valentina Collection
How a 1 star review became a beautiful collaboration Serendipity isn’t a word I use often but the manifestation of The Valentina Collection, a collaboration between myself and Vanyanis, sure felt like it.It all began back in 2019 when I was surprised by a message I received one day enquiring why I had left a 1 star Facebook review (understandable as a bad review for a small business can be devastating). Now I’m usually the kind of person who only leaves very positive reviews for businesses I’ve had a great experience with and want to support. If I receive poor service I’d rather just forget about it and move on so this unexpected message left me scratching my head and assuming they had the wrong person. But sure enough, when I looked up the business in question (which I had never heard of) they had a 1 star review from me with no explanation! As I wasn’t aware of my account being hacked or someone playing a sick jest, the only logical conclusion was that having my two lovely cats constantly walking across (and sometimes sleeping on) my keyboard was more than just disruptive to my work. After we worked out an explanation and I of course changed the 1 star to a 5 star review, Lowana from Vanyanis and I got chatting and realised that not only did we live in the same city but there was a strong mutual appreciation for each other’s work. The moment Lowana suggested a collaboration is when I felt the stars align and jumped at the opportunity! https://www.skadijewellery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Vanyanis-Skadi-Jewellery-Teaser-1-Design.mp4 Video courtesy of Vanyanis, edited by @triskellepictures The design Lowana’s main idea was to create a collection based around the opulent Baroque style of her corset themed logo (as you could imagine this was right up my alley). We both wanted to design something special, something that makes the wearer feel glamorous and formidable. As Lowana says “Investing in special jewellery that you love, is an investment in yourself. What we wear and how we present outselves has incredible power to change the way you feel about yourself. Choosing something that you know will fit no matter how you change is powerful because you know you can always count on it to make you feel wonderful.”Lowana also suggested using Swarovski crystals for extra sparkle and I was delighted when she tracked down some black crystals resembling chandelier pendalogues. So I got sketching and in a surprisingly short amount of time we had a complete set of earrings, pendant, ring and statement necklace ready to test. Building a collection Utilising mainly saw piercing and hand engraving for a delicate appearance, I created some samples we could use to experiment with chain lengths, sizes, crystal colour etc. We tried especially to consider all of the things we would appreciate in a decadent set of jewels. For example for Lowana proportions were key: “It’s always been a pet peeve of mine when sets like this all feature pendants in the same size – I’ve always felt from a design perspective the necklace pendant should be bigger so that’s a design choice we made for this set.”As for me, apart from the usual aesthetic and technical considerations, I was focused on making sure each piece looked spectacular from every angle (you’ll notice this in small details like the tiny charm Lowana suggested we put on the end of the extender chain). Once the necessary tweaks were made we settled on the idea of having the full range available in Brass, Silver or Gold in order to have a varied choice of price points and colours. https://www.skadijewellery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Vanyanis-Skadi-Jewellery-Teaser-2-Making.mp4 Video courtesy of Vanyanis, edited by @triskellepictures Due to the pandemic we had to postpone the Valentina release but you can finally view the collection in full or make a purchase by heading to the Vanyanis online store. The collection is limited not only because I make each piece by hand to order, but also because the Swarovski crystals we’re using have been discontinued for small businesses. Maybe we’ll cook up something new when they’re sold out, in the meantime enjoy what two mischievous cats, a laptop and a lot of luck can create. It sure feels a lot like destiny. -Clare View the full collection
