Where has the time gone? (A familiar refrain at this time in my life.) I haven't updated my blog in so long that I am dedicating my 2016 New Year resolution to being better at adding more frequent posts but I don't think you have to worry though about my sending out more than you want to see in your mailbox!

Most new work is on my website:

Susan Ronan Studio

so while a number of previously posted pieces on this blog have been sold, the website and new blog entires give you a taste of what's new. 

New for 2015, a body of work in steel and gold is being represented by Artful Home. Simply type RONAN in the home page search box. You can see the pieces on either site, or in Studio #33 in Balboa Park at Spanish Village Art Center.

2016 is promising to be very busy and full of excitement! I have been invited to participate in a show at Taboo Studio here in the Mission Hills district of San Diego entitled, "Noir + OR" which will open on Friday, February 19, 2016. Either subscribe here on my blog or on my website for details.

"Galaxy Pendant"
Dressy rainbow hematite, ecycled steel, 22K, 20K with sterling silver chain

Two more shows will be upcoming and details will follow. I am busier than ever and looking forward to making new friends and future collectors!

Please accept my best wishes for a happy and prosperous 

New Year!

Make them green with envy!

These beautiful Arizona peridot earrings are 18K with hidden ear wires that

extend the length of the earrings to the top of the stone, with clear rubber stops for

added security.

I just can't seem to help myself as far as Peridots are concerned...

Astonishing on a redhead also fabulous on any girl!
$1850.

I always have plenty more peridot and we can create a custom piece
just for you!
Custom jewelry doesn't cost any more than buying the piece
already made!

 Aquamarine briolettes

Beautifully faceted aquamarine briolettes with

14 karat Palladium white gold and 14 karat gold clutch.

The aquas may be removed and the hoops worn alone.

SOLD!

                                                                    About Aquamarine  

  

Idyllwild Workshop

I like to attend one or two workshops a year and recently returned from Idyllwild Arts Academy, in the mountains of Idylwild, California where I participated in a workshop with Harold O'Connor, one of the foremost names in Studio Jewelry. Trained in Pforzheim, Germany, Harold makes a few tools do the work of many and while this was my second workshop with him there was plenty new to learn. No doubt you will see his influence in some upcoming pieces because my head is swirling with design ideas, so stay tuned!!!

This was the view from the deck of our cabin in the woods of Idyllwild. What a serene and beautiful place. That pine tree is growing right out of the boulder!

boulder opal pendant

Boulder Opal remains one of my favorite materials

and this stone in particular, begs

for your attention!

A magnificent Australian boulder opal in matrix,

set in 22 karat yellow gold with

6 pt. diamond in 18 karat, with 18 inch,

18 karat gold chain

SOLD!

                                                       

  

The "Wave" cuff in sterling silver. 

Elegant, substantial. imposing...

Two inches wide with soft sandblasted finish

Make a statement.

SOLD!

The Color of the Celtic Sea

My recent trip to England brought me to beautiful Cornwall and the ruins of Tintagel Castle, the birthplace of King Arthur. What legend, what romance! Lady Guinevere, Knights of the Round Table and he himself, King Arthur. The stuff of legends.

And the Celtic Sea... the color of this aquamarine cabochon.
Carry on the legend...

Sterling Silver setting, hand made chain of Palladium Sterling which

resists tarnishing. 17 3/4 inches long and the aquamarine measures approximately 

3/4 inches square. Quite a beauty!

SOLD!

Recharging the Batteries

ArtWalk was a great success! I talked with a lot of interesting people, shoppers and artists alike, and the weather was superb! What else can one expect in San Diego in the Spring?

Doing outdoor shows is exhausting and this one was no different... Once recovered I went back into the Studio and worked hard in preparation for a little time off in May, a trip to England!

   The weather was perfect! No rain for the entire two weeks and temperatures in the high 70's, not at all what was expected. I wore my down jacket the first few days, and by the end of the trip had worn the only short sleeved top I brought, four times! We went all over the country, at the end a trip to Buxton and Great Hucklow where we had a lovely luncheon with distant relatives (and now new friends!) and enjoyed the countryside with endless pastures of grazing sheep. Just beautiful! And most astonishing were the incredible fields of the most intense yellow flowers we had ever seen and were surprised to learn that it was Rapeseed, known more commonly as Canola. The same color as your yellow marker for highlighting, it was almost too intense to look at in the sunshine!

A visit to the Tower of London and a viewing of the Crown Jewels were just the icing on the cake! I wonder how this trip will inspire future work?

Tahitian Circle Pearls

Tahitian Circle Pearls leave no doubts as to

 being naturally grown. Each one is unique in 

shape, color and "circles" around each pearl. Very nice luster and affordability for a naturally black pearl. The pearls range in size between 8 and 11 mm and the strand is 18.5 inches long. The handmade "signature"

clasp is 14 Karat Palladium White Gold. Palladium is a Platinum

family metal that I use exclusively rather than white gold that

is alloyed with nickel, eliminating the potential for allergy 

that is so common.

$2195.

Peridot and 18 Karat Gold Necklace

This color is no exaggeration!

18.5 inches of beautifully faceted peridot with

my signature handmade clasp.

Just delicious!

$1195.

Drusy Onxy Drops

Long Drusy Agate drops 2 1/4 inches long, stones cut by the German cutter

Herman Petry. Sterling Silver
with scraffito.

SOLD!

More Drusy Onyx from Herman Petry
in Sterling Silver with
self locking ear wire.

SOLD!

To my greatest fan and private collector, Judy.

Agate and Onyx

Intriguing.

The German stone cutter Dieter Lorenze is known for his most unusual shapes

and these sandblasted onyx creations are no exception.

Onyx, Sterling Silver, Freshwater Pearl. 

                                                                           SOLD!

Another pair of Deiter Lorenz stones, this time

in sandblasted Banded Agate and Sterling Silver.

$285

   

Australian Boulder and Tanzanite Earrings

These interesting boulder opals are a book matched pair cut from a single stone.

The tanzanites add a nice additional bit of color and sparkle. 

18 Karat Gold

I photographed these last weekend, and put them on display in the Studio on Monday. Before I could

even put a price tag on them a lovely collector Susan, came in spotted them and

out the door they went!

SOLD!

I can't get enough of those Peridots!!

 Wow but it has been quite a summer! It has been very busy in the Studio with visitors and long time clients. Yesterday a charming lady bought the earrings I was wearing that I had considered my own! Oh well, guess I can always make another pair.

A recent trip to Salida, Colorado to attend the annual conference of the Colorado Metalsmiths Association was inspiring. To hear Judith Kaufman, Tom Muir and Michael Zobel talk about their work was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The workshop I took with Michael; incredible! A delightful man, Michael has become a friend and I feel fortunate to know him. He works with beautiful 24 Karat gold fused to sterling silver and uses the most beautiful stones, many carved by Tom Munsteiner. See Michaels work here; http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/michael_zobel_atelier.html

Now, back to peridots...

These are some peridots! 12 carats of German cut gems set in 22 Karat Gold

with 18 Karat Gold hoops. The hoops may be worn separately. 

Absolutely gorgeous stones!

$1600.

Ummm... Peridots are Delicious!

They are especially delicious when wrapped in 18 Karat Gold.

The ear wires are not visible from the front but are the entire length of the earring and gravity held, quite securely. Very light and comfortable to wear they move both in the ear and at the stones. 7 mm trilliant cut Peridots mined in Arizona, beautifully matched for color, earring overall length is 1 3/4 inches.

SOLD!
These beautiful earrings went home with Suzi, my favorite collector from Indianapolis!

Mabe Pearls from the Sea of Cortez

Mabe Pearl from the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. I purchase them directly from the only farm to grow them, Perlas del Mar de Cortez, without a "middle man." For more about pearls from the Sea of Cortez go to my page, "All About Pearls."

This piece is set in Sterling and Fine Silver, 18 Karat Gold Filled mounted on an 

18" Sterling Silver neck wire.

$575.

The matching earrings have beautiful color and are Fine and Sterling Silver.

$625.

Pearls for Every Girl!

Okay. Where was I before black Saturday struck and I lost my blog? Hmmm. Oh yes; Pearls for Every Girl!

I've had these luscious pearls for some time and decided that now was the time to do something fun with them. 14 Karat White Gold tubing was cut into lengths, the tube hole smoothed and each tube sgrafittoed with a file edge. (from the Italian word sgraffiare: "to scratch") It's a lovely finish and shows the piece to be handmade. The clasp also solid 14 Karat Gold and sgrafittoed is my signature spiral hook and eye design.

To learn more about South Seas Pearls, check out my All About Pearls page.

SOLD!

Donna is one of my favorite collectors and possesses a
lovely collection of my work

Boulder Opal Pendant

A beautiful boulder opal from the Karoit region of Australia,

set in 18 and 22 Karat gold, and mounted on an 18 Karat, 16 inch neckwire with bayonette clasp.

SOLD!