win this stargazer ring

We're giving away one of our very popular stargazer rings in silver + diamonds to a lucky gal!  This is an instagram contest, so head on over and find us and this image @sarahswelljewelry for details on how to enter.

that's a wrap!

Yesterday was the final day of holiday jewel making in the studio!  We absolutely love getting our hands dirty creating in silver and gold, but this time of year is nonstop and a tad overwhelming for most small businesses.  I'm very excited to take the time between now and New Years to do what I love most: design new jewelry! *Sigh of relief*  I look forward to sharing as things come to fruition.

However, if you'd still like to get your hands on something sparkly, be sure to visit one of our lovely stockists in your area.

I just came across this gorgeous gift guide for the Bay Area from the lifestyle blog Exte featuring our flotsam & jetsam studs and 18k gold snake ring.  What great picks!

the holidays are closing in!

I love this image from Crown Nine, one of my favorite stockists, of the silver fishbone earrings.  Just dreamy!

The very last day to order for holiday delivery from Sarah Swell is this Monday the 16th.  Use code "SHIPIT" for free shipping.  Also, check the stockist page for a store near you that carries my work.

holiday treasures

We want to thank you for supporting Sarah Swell jewelry by offering 20% off any order over $100 through the web store until December 5th with code HOLIDAYCHEER at checkout.

Also, the sample sale has moved online!  These are just a few of my favorites-get them while they last!

 green diamond ring $140

 bronze fossil ring $65

 mountain hoops $80

barnacle diamond necklace $210

sample sale!

We're excited to be participating in our second annual Plaid Friday sample sale at the new location of Crown Nine in Oakland!

There will be one of a kind items, pieces with ever so slight imperfections, overstock and discontinued jewelry in silver, gold, bronze and diamonds.  Come on by and shop for yourself or your loved ones.  Hope to see you there!

BUT, if you don't live in the Bay Area, don't fret!  There will be an online sample sale commencing Sunday December 1st at 9 am PST.  Like us on Facebook for details!

 a little teaser of some jewels I'll be bringing 

new stockist: garde

We're growing and it has been very exciting!  Head over to the website to see the recently updated list of locations that now carry Sarah Swell jewelry, with even more to come before the holidays.

One new account that we're particularly excited about is Garde.  This LA based lifestyle boutique calls itself "modern natural," which is exactly the aesthetic that I try to breathe into my jewelry, and life for that matter.

I cannot wait to take road trip south and visit!

But in the meantime, I'm drooling over this this and this.

images via hither & thither, design milk & remodelista

photos from the studio

While the film crew for the Progressive Apron Project was busy shooting video, I had the pleasure of also having the studio photographed by talented Brooklyn based photographer Ren Yagolnitzer.

Take a look at her beautiful work on her blog.  Thanks Ren!

All images property of Ren Yagolnitzer

holiday preview

I've been working hard to update the website with so many pretty new pieces!  As with most things in life, it's taking a tad longer than I had hoped, so here is a little look at what will be online in time for holiday shopping!

14k gold & diamond stargazer bar ring $725

sterling silver & diamond stargazer triple drop earrings $350

14k & diamond weathered bar necklace $650

assorted diamond weathered bands $210-$495

oxidized sterling silver diamond scale earrings $495

Anniversary

A sweet couple sent me this image taken over their wedding anniversary weekend showcasing her Flotsam & Jetsam engagement ring.  It makes my day when clients share their jewelry stories and pictures with me!  

Congrats Melissa & Todd!

image by Jessica Dean

Recently

Below are are some of my favorite images from Instagram of jewelry I've created lately.  I've been working hard to get all of my holiday orders out and look forward to sharing all my new pieces online soon!

 

The Most Progressive Thing

I was really excited to catch a glimpse of the studio and my apron tying abilities in the new Progressive car insurance commercial!  The team behind the new campaign visited me back in June for a half day of shooting in the studio.  I too was wondering what an apron has to do with car insurance, but now I get it.  Stay tuned as they roll out new content and visit the Thread Campaign to see more.

Look for the yellow apron :)

10 years

I have officially been with the love of my life for 10 WHOLE YEARS!  1/3 of my entire time on this earth has been spent in the arms of the most amazing man.  Last week we celebrated a decade together and one year of marriage.  We took a day trip to Half Moon Bay for a kitschy seafood lunch, waterfront drinks and bocce at the Ritz Carlton and (surprisingly) some sunshine on the usually foggy coast.

I also presented him with this ring that I have been "working on" for years now.  That really translates into not having enough time to work on personal projects after putting in endless hours making jewelry for clients.  But, I finally made time for the most important fellow in my life and am so happy with the results.  Scott is a boat captain and spends his days on the San Francisco Bay.  I created a wave texture on the band in 14k white gold, and then tube set 10 diamonds in 18k yellow gold which are reminiscent of the portholes on a ship and represent our time together.

To see our love change and grow over the years has been the most amazing experience.  To know someone for more than half of their life (we met in middle school) and watch how they develop as person is really something else.  Here's to taking time for the things that really matter in life.

the cloud ring

This custom rose gold ring was based on a tibetan cloud design, a motif that the client had long been intrigued by.  We wanted the end result to be stylized and have a natural feel at the same time.  I love how the warm gold tones really make the diamond really come alive.

sri lanka: part 3

Well, I think it's about time I share the last of my honeymoon photos seeing as my first wedding anniversary is just around the corner!

While in the hill country town of Ella, we visited a weaving factory.  The colors were so vivid and I was in amazement watching the women work.  This was definitely a trip highlight.

 We also visited one of Sri Lanka's famous tea factories.   Again I was in complete awe watching the workers take such care in their craft.  The smell in this big rickety wooden warehouse was otherworldly.

 We left Ella by train.  This is supposedly one of the greatest train rides in the world, and we were not let down.  The hill country of Sri Lanka is like a dream.  It's simply breathtaking, and is magnified even more so when teetering slowly across stilt like bridges on an ancient railcar.

 Nearly as good as the views was the street food.  Vendors wander the cars chanting wadi, wadi, wadi and peddling fried delicacies served in newspaper and accompanied by a dried chili pepper.

We ended up in tiny town of Dalhouse which would be our base to climb Sri Pada or Adam's Peak.  We bunked with fellow climbers and tried to get some rest before we ascended the 7km high mountain.  We left about 2 am and prepared ourselves to trudge up 5200 vertical steps.

 The trip up was grueling for sure.  We stopped for tea breaks and huddled in the chilly morning air at the top waiting for sunrise.  It truly was one of the best moments of my life.  Sharing the sunrise with thousands of pilgrims of all ages, colors and faiths.  We were all there searching for something.

The climb down was unimaginably difficult.  My legs were shaking so violently that I could bare lift my feet to take the tiny steps down.  The sweet reward hours later at the bottom was breakfast waiting at our guest house.  If you ever go to Sri Lanka, you must travel out of your way and make this climb

Our final stop was the city of Kandy where we based ourselves to see the sacred Temple of the Tooth.  From here we took day trips to see the world heritage site of Sigiriya

 and Dambulla.

The last few days of our trip I got sick.  Not from food-just sick, sick.  I hid in our hotel room and was very excited to have a television after weeks without.  I curled up and watched hours on end of the BBC interrupted only by Ayurvedic decongestion treatments.

20 hours of flying and we were home sweet home.  Our trip was unforgettable.  Sri Lanka was and wasn't everything I had thought it would be.  This country and its people are anything but simple and that's how I felt about my trip.  It was trying and wonderful, beautiful and ugly, hopeful and sorrowful. It wasn't easy, but nothing worth its weight is.