Delicate gold pendant

Gold is just delicious, isn’t it? The warmth of the metal, especially in contrast to something cooler, such as silver or diamonds is just so sumptuous. Lately, I have had the opportunity to work a bit more with gold, as a number of my customers have brought me gold to be reforged.


This time it was a very simple and, to be honest, rather ugly pendant in a lovely, slender snake chain. It was rectangular with 5 little bowls in it, each holding one diamond. The pendant was made of 14k gold and had diamonds – that was the good part. The shape was uninspired, to be friendly. This is when I should show you a before picture and doh… I didn’t make one. Then at least I should show you process pictures and again… I didn’t make them.

So, to be quick about this, before showing you the end result, this is what I did: I pulled out the diamonds and cast the gold into a stick. I rolled and drew it down to 1,5 mm wire and then I created “the usual” Karin-curly-pendant, this time with balls holding 3 of the diamonds and a facet cut drop of clear quartz.

The result I absolutely loved!

Feeling secure

So, I’m all set up in my brand new gallery, which I took over from a goldsmith – with all security measures in place. Tonight I got it tested – not by a burglar, but by accident and myself, which was a very ensuring experience! I had forgotten my mobile in the gallery and after having visited a friend swung by to pick it up. My gallery has roll-down bars in front of all windows, cameras, sensors, you name it, and all hooked up to an alarm central, which I pay for (dearly) every month.

I thought I could just disconnect the alarm, roll up the bars, run in and fetch the phone and out again. Not so – of cause. The second the alarm went off, the company called me to find out if I were the source or if they should get out full force. I called them off and thanked them - and was mightily impressed. THAT was a very fast reaction indeed! So now I pay my monthly fees happily, very sure that my and my commissionaires’ jewelry is very safe indeed…

So, I carry on creating increasingly valuable jewelry with a calm heart. Here are some of the latest beauties from Gallery Castens:

Inspiration or theft?

The cynics claim that everything has already been made at least once. There are no truly new designs and so all of us somehow copy each other. I’m not sure that is the case, but fact is, that we of cause are influenced by many things in our surroundings and work from there. Quite often we see something and go “hmmm… great idea, but if I were to make this I would have….” Now, if you venture into that version of designing –are you a thief or do you actually create something new?

These are the thoughts I have battled as I worked on my newest pair of earrings. I saw this gorgeous pair by the very talented jewelry designer Hikarujewels (I don’t know her real name, but that is the name of her shop at Etsy)

See how gracefully the chains somehow make the wings move? I loved the idea, but wanted to make it even more fairytalish with curls (of cause) and more stones. So I created these:

As you can see, those two pairs are quite close.  Sure the wings have a different design, chains are placed a tad differently and there are way more stones, but still –basically my earrings are the same as Hikarus. So am I a copy cat or do I just humbly honor Hikaru by elaboration on her design?

A lecture from a very wise designer

Sometimes, while doing tedious housework, I like listening to lectures from TED.com. It's allways so inspiring and I am going through many different topics. Today, I heard the graphic designer Paula Scher talk about design and the difference between serious (which to her was the playfull and realy creative frame of mind) and solemn, which can still result in great products, just not true development. This is 22 minutes of a wise woman talking on the design process and how you, as a designer/artist devolpe (or not). Enjoy!