A Classic Ring with a Classic VW bug

Ever since my 67 bug’s engine caught on fire a few years back I’ve been wanting to get it working again. I had bought the engine parts years ago and I removed the engine and it’s been sitting outside in the elements with just a plastic bag over it. Not a great situation. So I’ve started to dedicate my time to it so that I can get the engine in and get it running again. It has been quite the process and to be honest the engine is back inside. There are potential issues that will force me to remove the engine again, but with limited tools and equipment I will just have to do what I have to do. If I can get it running then I can worry about the rest. If not then I don’t feel I should spend anymore money on it and just sell it for someone else to put their heart into it. It’s in a stage where if I were to do it properly, I would need to redo so much of it, body work and all. I can’t afford to do that and just want the car to run. I miss it. It brings a good feeling when driving it.

My 67 VW bug engine rebuild - Right = engine after fire - Left = my rebuild attempt

Old classic rings are like my bug. They look so cool and have that antique look. Even though it has that look that doesn’t mean it has to have been made a long time ago. I made this one classic ring years ago and I love it. It’s not super old, but still has the look and feel. The one in the image has a 2ct amethyst stone with small diamonds and other cool design elements.

Draping Elegance - A platinum ring with a 2ct round center and accent diamonds and filigree.

So there is just something about that old classic look. It’s beautiful and feels good to just to own one. The amount of time that goes into fixing a bug up and to design a ring, clean it up and set all the stones are similar on different scales. Lots of time and energy spent on thinking and even getting your hands dirty. Patients and a careful sense of attention to the small details. In the end it pays off and what comes of it is pure joy. It’s the journey that is wonderful and we need to see life in a way that is positive. A life that lifts our soul that can help shine onto others so we can all progress forward in a constructive positive way.

Christmas season is here

So I have a tradition that I started with my family and it’s been about 7 years now that we have been doing this. It’s a tradition that I did with my Dad and siblings growing up. I grew up in Paradise California and I remember as a child going with my Dad higher up into the mountains where there would be snow. We would hike around and find a Christmas tree to cut and take home. I don’t know how many times we did this, but the few times we did are stuck in my memory. So I also started this tradition with my kids. It’s about that experience of going and enjoying the day in the mountains hiking around for a Christmas tree. Oh and yes we did purchase Christmas tree permit which you can get at recreation.gov. :) This year I went twice. lol Once with my family and another with my daughter and nephews. There is no snow here in Arizona where we go at this time of year, but it’s still very fun. The weather was in the 60’s. Perfect to enjoy the day and we did. It’s just so peaceful. I wish I could get out more often. So what are some of your traditions around this time of year?

CuttingTheTree

My Daughter cutting the Christmas Tree

Cool Forest Image

Just a cool area we came across

Forest Relaxation

Taking a nap in the forest

Christmas Tree

Our decorated Christmas tree

So I love to celebrate the birth of our Savior with family traditions and a time to remember how important the birth of Christ is. Are we actively engaged in a good cause? I sure hope so and of course we are imperfect, but we should always be trying our best.

Gifts are a joyful way to give and help others out. I remember as I was growing up I loved to make things. I’ve always made things like cloth bracelets, or beaded jewelry. I’ve gotten a lot more advanced since those early days and it’s continues to be a passion for me. I just like to make the best craft or jewelry item I can. I hope you can enjoy keeping up with some of my arts and crafts. I don’t post as often as I should, but this year I’ll do better. You can find me mainly on Instagram @danaarts and You Tube @JustinThorup

I would love to do another give away soon. I missed out on Thanksgiving which is when I like to do it. Maybe I can plan one for the beginning of this coming year. If you agree then just let me know so I can plan for it. :) If no one reads this then I’ll know it’s just not time yet. :) but let’s just keep giving and enjoying life together as we try and help one another out through this journey of life.

Gardening helps invite inspiration to my jewelry designs

So as many of you may know I love to garden even though I am really terrible at it. I do try and try though. Some years are better than others. Now that I’m in my house it should be a whole lot easier to work on the garden instead of having to travel to it all the time. This summers crops were the worst I’ve ever had as it was the building of the houses that interfered. We had no water for a long time and had to transport water. Then when we had it I had to come water it every day by hand. Plants were only surviving. We had no electricity to turn on my drip system. It was just a whole mess though I tried and tried. In the end it fail despite all my efforts. The little that may have survived died because the gophers eat or killed the plants off. So a new season is about to start so I’m excited. I just have to prep the garden and then plant for this winters crops. When I garden it inspires me so much. It uplifts me. I think it’s a combination of hard work and the care I put into it. I also love life and the plants that bring on this new life. Seeing them start out so small and then grow into beautiful plants just brings me hope and keeps me working hard to achieve all this plant life. It’s also just peaceful to be around. I love just sitting there staring at the garden. I waste too much time just staring and thinking.

This brings me to how gardening inspires me at times when I design jewelry. When I’m in that uplifted state, I’m more receptive to ideas and there are many times nature itself will be incorporated into my designs. Many times it’s the beautiful curves and shapes that blend together that make up an ever so unique and powerful design for jewelry. I usually will incorporate these patterns and designs into my pendants and rings. The rings are usually wide so that they can fit these organic patterns. There is more room for me to fill the ideas that flow from my head. Not all of them translate into a great design, but the ideas start happening and I can then jot them down and test them. If it doesn’t work then I can play with it until I find something that does work. I have so many designs I have made in CAD but have never cast into metal. As with any small business owner might know, I can’t just come out with new designs every day. I need to work on many aspects of the business to make it all work together. I do wish I could just sit and create all day. That would be the best, but for now I to it all so time is limited. Even through all that I still am inspired to design and build custom designs all the time. If I didn’t then I don’t think I would keep progressing forward one step at a time. That is where passion comes in. I do all the other non inspiring parts of the business to look forward to do the fun inspiring, joyful and satisfying parts of the artistic side of the business.

sun and wheat patterns inspired by nature

So if you ever wondered how gardening can be an inspiration to make jewelry then well now you know. Gardening does not have to be what helps you make jewelry, but it could inspire you to do whatever you are passionate about. With new life comes new ideas. Try it some time. It does not disappoint!

My Personal Jewelry Design Favorites

I have so many favorites that it’s hard to choose my top favorites, but I’ll give it a try. Some of the ones that I choose may not be the popular ones that I sell so it does not reflect on sales or what you as a customer may or may not like. This will just go over a few of my personal likes.

The first one on my list is this round silver ring with a very intricate knot that is broken up by a bud like pattern. I love how the bud or flowering bud breaks out and sits in the middle of the Celtic Knot. The simple pattern stands out from the highly detailed weave that the knot creates. The next cool thing I like about it is the inner edges of the ring and how the simple grooved twist adds to the overall design and look of the ring. Although hidden when worn, it’s the idea of knowing it’s there and how cool it makes the ring be. This ring I named Celtic Pride because I feel the emerging or flowering bud represents a sense of pride coming out with the roots of Celtic culture and way of life at it’s deep roots base from the inside out.

Celtic Knot silver band with decorative inside

This one is another favorite that I love. Yes, another Celtic knot ring. This is so basic. To me it has a clean look. The knot comes out form the ring a little bit so you can feel the knot on your finger. It doesn’t hurt, but reminds you of why you wanted to have this ring in the first place. A wedding ring that reminds you you are married. How about that. It’s a wide ring which also shows off the pattern very well. The knot also has a U shape profile so the black in the ring is a more gradual faded look. I like the old world look and this gives a nice feel to it. Just something I’d enjoy wearing allowing others to see my choice in style.

Sterling Silver Celtic Knot Wedding Band or Everyday Ring

Another ring I love is this really wide Laotion inspired ring. It’s probably the widest ring I’ve made, but very comfortable. It’s comfort fit and feels so smooth to slip on. It looks thin from the edges, but packs a lot of details into it. The buds are a traditional design element that I’ve seen so many times in textiles and building, etc. while I lived over in Laos. I wanted to incorporate it into a ring that could be worn. I feel this does justice to show off this really neat pattern with the most 3d effect I could give it. The black background really make the design pop. It’s just one of my favorite designs.

Laotion Inspired wide silver ring

I can keep going on and on so I’ll just do a few more. This really is so hard since I love so many. I made this with the idea of pressing leaves into the metal. Although I did not use actual leaves to make the impressions technology has allowed me to still express myself in new ways. I was able to use computer software to take a leaf image and press it into the CAD design file. I then am able to make a wax from it and cast it into this beautiful ring. The leaves also flow to the inside of the ring which makes this design so unique. I love all those leaves and how down to earth it makes me feel. One with nature all the way. :)

Silver leaf impressions ring

Here is another really cools ring. I call this the quadrilateral ring. It’s got these shapes that are all different all the way around the ring. They are not repeated and the unique pattern is so cool. The square rings are so comfortable to wear. I also love the corners of the inside and edges of the ring. The pattern there also gives this ring an overall great look. This one was fun to design.

quadrilateral silver ring design

Paradise California has a special place in my heart. I grew up there and it saddens me to think of the disaster of the Camp Fire that literally wiped the town away. Although I don’t live there anymore, I have family still there that went through all the pain of the fire. Even for those still there it can’t be easy with nothing around or the constant reminder of what happened or no friends or places to visit, or the way of life as you knew it all gone. The rest of my family will soon move away from there, but I’ll still in my heart be connected. When i go visit Chico California to visit more family I think I’ll always make a trip back to Paradise to see the progress of what the New Paradise will become.

This Pendant is of the sign as you entered into the town. I designed wings lifting it up as this has so much meaning to it. I love this piece of jewelry and wear it often. So not only do I like the design it has personal meaning behind it too.

Paradise California Medallion pendant in Sterling Silver

So like I’ve said, I can go on and on. I have too many favorites. So I would suggest just browsing my collections to choose your favorites. I am a small company as it’s just me doing all the work from end to end so if you like my designs and work then please spread the word. That is the biggest help I could get as I try and grow. Thank you for reading this and I hope you have all enjoyed a little more explanation about some of these designs I create. I sure love it and do my best to create quality work and design.

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you enjoy some family time. I’m sure I will. Chau

Adding the essentials

So I'm still working on it.  It will be a while, but the latest is a lot of rearranging and planning.  I'm just throwing up the basics and then I'll slowly refine it.  Nothing is permanent yet.  I am starting to add some jewelry products that I already have listed on Etsy.  It will take a while to add all of them, but I'm excited to finally start selling from my site for the first time.  Sorry if there are any bugs.  Still working things out. 

I love this ring.  Just woks.