Skwigga-zine Blog Ring -- Blog of the Week

This week's featured blogger is Annette of Under the Loupe and AnnettePiper.com. A jewelery artist in rural NSW, Australia, Annette says about herself:

I love gemstones - I love the delight I feel when I gaze into their depths and I love how the tiniest inclusion can give clues to the history of the stone. I love the amazing patterns and am in awe of what mother nature has provided for our use and definitely for our pleasure!

Qualifying as a gemmologist way back in 1986(!), I worked in the jewellery trade, and found myself specialising in opals. I left the world of sparkling, gleaming gems and jewellery to follow my husband around Australia and eventually to settle down on our farm in the Central Tablelands district of New South Wales.

When my youngest (the twins) were toddling around, I felt my creativity bursting forth and the natural outlet for me was to return to gems. This time, making my own creations and designing how I saw jewellery could be - elegant, simple and timeless. I also wanted to highlight the beauty of the natural stone and share their mesmerising qualities with the rest of the world!

Constantly searching for the new, the unusual and the different, from all over the world, I endeavour to create jewellery that will be unique yet still very affordable.

I now work from my home studio where there are magnificent views over the surrounding countryside and of the wide blue Australian sky.

As a mother to three very active children and wife to an aviator/farmer, I also share my surroundings with two lazy cats, two working dogs and a few hundred cows.

Annette's web site offers a wide array of beautiful and unique handcrafted occasion jewelry as well as lovely everyday pieces. Annette's blog is an eclectic blend of insights into her creative process and scenes of rural life. Please take a moment to check out both and leave a little love!