Sip the Sweet Moments - hummingbird ring

I hadn't listed my hummingbird and flower ring as I was trying to come up with a name for it....."Hummingbird ring" didn't quite do it for me. Then last night I found this sweet little quote, about the "essence" of the hummingbird...and thus the ring is now called "Sip the sweet moments".

"Sip the sweet moments. Let your true colors glow. Don’t get your feathers ruffled over little things. Just wing it. Take yourself lightly. Keep your visits short and sweet!"
......Author Unknown

Hummingbird Ring

The hummingbirds are buzz, buzz, buzzing around, and still finding plenty of food with our flowers at the moment. Everyday we see hummingbirds. We don't have any feeders for them - only the natural ones ie flowers!


It never ceases to amaze me the loud noise that such a tiny bird can make - not just with their hovering, but their little squeaks when they chase each other!! And as I see them, I just feel they are buzzing at me, nagging me to make them in silver. I did make a hummingbird charm a few months ago, for my mum....and like the shape of it... the curled under tail....open wings...


So I've combined the "nagging" hummingbird with trying out a new style of ring. This is a simple style of sculptural ends on thick fine silver wire....a type of bypass ring with a hummingbird and flower together. What do you think?


The basic style of sculptural end I first saw from Kate McKinnon's work and she's recently been discussing it in her blog. I really enjoyed making it - and keep looking at it thinking it should be a neck wire or bangle bracelet or something like that....


And yes, if you are like my husband, your first thought is that it is dangerous!!! It is a cocktail ring - not meant to be worn when gardening etc - and definitely catches the eye - but hopefully, not literally :=D It's just a statement. Everything we wear doesn't have to be sensible!

So live out loud - like a tiny hummingbird!

Do birds prefer to shower or bathe?

A question for the birds - whether to shower or to bathe?

The last couple of days we've had our first rain for quite a few months. You rarely see the birds out in the rain, enjoying a shower, but often you'll see them in puddles... Do you think they prefer a bath rather than a shower? I know we see many of them in our fountain taking a bath.



Seeing the birds this summer jostling for position for a dip in the fountain inspired this bird bath ring that I made for a friend this week. The bird has his wings out stretched...making sure the water gets in all those little places!!!



My parrot, Harold, on the other hand is a shower kind of bird. He showers with one of those plant sprays! We fill it with warm water and then start singing "I'm singing in the rain". Since we first got Harold, he's always had that song sung to him as he showers!!! Then he spreads his wings too to make sure water gets everywhere.....But when it's all finished, he does tend to go and dunk his head in his water bowl, for one last big splash!!!...just like this little birdie:




Well, I think the bird bath ring works...makes quite a statement... but not sure a bird shower one would work as well!!!!


So what do your birdies do - both wild birds and pets?

Did you know you can buy shower stands for birds so they come with you in your shower and sit on the perch! I can't ever imagine Harold doing that! If you have a pet or watch the garden birds cleaning themselves, tell us whether they are shower or bath types!!

The Love Boat - cocktail ring

I was recently asked to use my love boat necklace design and make a love boat ring. I finished it today!


The boat is 3/4 long - so imagine the size of those two little people sat inside!


The person who commissioned the piece is married to a very keen fisherman, so she asked if it was possible to add a fishing rod to the boat too. So on one side, you can see a little fishing rod, and it was good day - so there is a fish on the end of the rod. Yes, you have to look carefully, as it's quite small!


I loved making it. Two little people, sharing their love as they sail away in their boat (with the advantage that they won't get hungry as they have a fish to eat!).


What do you think? My ring ideas are a buzzin'......

Two new cocktail ring designs

Here are a couple of new cocktail rings that I've made.

What is a cocktail ring I hear some of you ask? A cocktail ring: is meant to be a dramatic large ring, worn at cocktail parties. The cocktail ring was especially popular to wear during US prohibition at illegal cocktail parties. Such a ring flaunted not only the fact that one was drinking illegally, but also that one was doing it with style.

The first ring is good old Quentin Quail! I can tell you, he is soooooo happy to be a cocktail ring! He's always loved cocktail hour and now he is a cocktail ring, he can have cocktail hour every day and go to all the best parties!

The second ring is "On the Street where you live" - as home is such a great place to have cocktails! Remember the song from My Fair Lady? " I have often walked down this street before, but the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before..." What great lyrics!

So where is your favorite cocktail place and who is you favorite cocktail companion?