It generally starts with a something that catches my eye. It can be a vintage broach, like the necklace you see to the right, or a super cool clasp. I am going to walk you through the clasp scenario for my Peridot bracelet. You can view the whole process in the slideshow below.

This particular design started with a leisurely scan through my favourite jewerly supply sites. In this particular case, I was looking at beautiful clasps available through MetalDesignz when I my eyes fell on a funky gemstone and hammered steel clasp.

“MUST HAVE!”, I gasped, and promptly ordered said treasure.

Once the clasp arrived it got lovingly placed on my studio desk. I knew I wanted to make a bracelet, but “What to do? What to do?”, I pondered.

Well, I decided on sterling silver go with the steel. Circles. I wanted circles to match the clasp. But not solely circles, because I didn’t want to detract from the clasp being the focal point. Byzantine links would do the trick … mainly because they are my favourite chainmaille weave and I love making them.

That was it. I was off and running and ended up with a classy yet funky bracelet.

But wait! That wasn’t it. How about some earrings to go with the bracelet? Circles, yes. But byzantine links as well? No, that would make the earrings too heavy. Plus, they would resemble the bracelet too closely, and I am not a matchy-matchy type of gal. Two sizes of circles should do the trick.

Et voilà! Earrings as well.

All from a gasp of “MUST HAVE!” while treasure hunting online.

All my Touchstone Designs are available through Etsy: TOUCHSTONE ON ETSY

Enjoy this slideshow of my creative process.

This story starts back in the late 1970s in Richmond Hill High School. I belonged to an awesome gaggle of girls. One of these girls dated an awesome boy named Stephen. We all hung out together jamming on guitar, bowling, and sitting on the curb eating McDonald’s french fries and drinking chocolate shakes.

As is often the case, we eventually drifted apart. Stephen and my girlfriend were married, then they were unmarried. In the split up, Stephen lost custody of me.

Okay, flash forward to five years ago. I have long since lost contact with my girlfriend, but one day I am doing random searches on Facebook friend finder. You know, those searches you do when bored on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

There is Stephen! A friend request is sent and accepted and we do the catch-up thing. Turns out he is remarried and has added a beautiful daughter to his progeny which already included a son.

On a trip to Halifax to settle said daughter into university, Stephen and his wife dropped in for a weekend visit. It was like we had never missed twenty-five years of each other’s lives. And his wife? I absolutely adore Catherine. By the end of the weekend, she was in my Dearest Friends Circle.

Five years later, Stephen still jokes about regaining custody of me. All through Facebook.

Okay, onto the sub plot. My darling friend is working on his theology degree. In fact, I have already booked Stephen to officiate our wedding, should someday there be a wedding. He also just turned fifty. It was my great honour to make my Celtic Cross pendant for Catherine to give him for his birthday.

Each piece I make gives me great pleasure, but it is a pure joy to make pieces for those near and dear to my heart.

Happy 50th Birthday, sweet Stephen. I thank Facebook for allowing you to regain custody of me.

Oh, and Stephen tells me he was the talk of the seminary when he showed up sporting his new pendant. YAY!

All my Touchstone Designs are available through Etsy: TOUCHSTONE ON ETSY

Enjoy this slideshow. There are some oldie but goodie pics in it.

Sounds a bit far fetched, doesn’t it? But, I bet you have experienced psychometry yourself without being aware of it.

• Do you love to pick up stones and roll them over in your hand?
• Have you put your hand on the bark of a tree and wanted to keep it there?
• Do you walk down hallway and run your hand along the wall?

If you answered yes to any of those you are experiencing psychometry.

“But Eliza, none of those objects are telling me a story?”

I am going to suggest that they have a story to tell, you just haven’t taken it to the next step to hear, or see, the story play out.

Here are the steps I use to tap into an object’s story

1. Sit in a quiet room holding the object in your hand. Or, if you are outside with a tree, focus on the feel of the bark under your hand, blocking out all other noises.
2. Stare at the object until your eyes become unfocused.
3. Ask the object what story it has to tell you. Assure the object that you are open to hear it.
4. Close your eyes and blank out your mind. If you meditate, this will come easily to you. If you do not, this might take a couple of attempts to clear your mind of chatter.
5. As you sit quietly, something will come to you. In my case, I get a vivid image in full technicolour that plays out like a movie. You might hear words. Or you might you feel emotions wash over you. However it comes, do not attempt to control or direct it.
6. Eventually you will feel that the story has come to an end. Slowly open your eyes. You can then capture the experience in a journal if you like.

With any intuitive technique this a learned skill, so don’t worry if it doesn’t work the first time, or even the second or third time. Just keep experimenting with different objects.

The story is there waiting to be heard, you simply need to learn how to hear it.

Let’s Talk

• Do you feel vibrations in objects?
• I am particularly drawn to rocks. What are you drawn to?
• Have you even held an object and had it tell you a story? What was the object and what was the story?

The thing is, it is totally counter-intuitive. The thinner the wire, the higher the gauge. For example, a 30 gauge wire is thinner than an 18 gauge wire.

This totally puzzled me until I found out why. Then it all made sense.

The gauge refers to the number of times a wire is drawn or stretched. So, the 30 gauge wire was stretched more times and, therefore, is thinner in diameter than the 18 gauge wire.

Try this new found knowledge out on a man. Despite doing all our renovation wiring, my Hubby had no idea what gauge referred to. I gained Handyman Points.

And that’s the fun fact for today.

1. Plain old dish soap

Use a jeweler’s soft brass brush and lots of dish soap and water to gently scrub away the tarnish.

2. Plain old baking soda

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Use an old soft toothbrush to gently scrub the piece with the past.

If your piece of jewelry has beads or stones, work carefully around them to avoid scratches. For both methods, rinse well with water when you are done and use a soft cloth to dry well.

You will end up with a beautiful soft polish.