Olive Bungalow

Updating the "Customize It" Rings

2012-02-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that the square stones are currently not listed on the "customize it" ring page. I'm in the process of updating my settings for the squares. I'm working on casting the square bezels to make the whole process more time efficient. If you knew how long it took me to make and set the square stones, you would probably think I was crazy to be selling them!

After two months of working 14-19 hours a day (including weekends) to keep up with orders, I knew it was time for some revisions - either that, or I would collapse from exhaustion. I think I've had a total of maybe 6 days off since mid-November.

I should have everything updated by the weekend. I also have some new "customize it" rings on the way. They are completed and I'm just waiting on the new photos. They should also be up sometime this weekend or early next week.

I hope you check back! Thank you all!

The winning numbers of the Winter Giveaway are....

2012-01-27T21:12:00.000-08:00

I first want to thank all of you for participating in the Winter Giveaway and your 750 postings! I really appreciate the overwhelming response. Between now and Mother's Day, I will be working on many new designs, a special here and there and I'm sure another giveaway. I hope that you check back.

If you are one of the two winning posts picked below, please contact me at customercare@olivebungalow.com so that I can email you your gift vouchers.

The first number generated is 244 -

And the poster is "bbarnard" -

The second number generated is 597 -

And the poster is "santana" -

Please note again that my deadline for Valentine's Day is just a few days off (January 31st). The 10% off $75+ orders also expires that day.

Thank you all again - have a great weekend!!

Winter Giveaway Time!

2012-01-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

The holidays are over and it's time to settle in for the long cold winter (actually... it was in the 70's and sunny here today, but I don't want to rub it in). How about a giveaway?! This giveaway will start on January 24 and run through midnight (pst) on January 26th. Please be sure to check back, as winners will be posted here on my blog on Saturday, January 28th. This giveaway is open to all U.S. and International customers.

For the winter giveaway, I am offering chances to win one of two $75 gift certificates. There is no expiration date on the gift certificates and it's easy to enter.

The winners will be chosen by the trusty "random number generator" and you will have 3 chances to win.

First Chance Entry: Leave a comment here on this post letting me know if your preferred jewelry is "earthy and rustic" or "sparkling bling."

Second Chance Entry: Sign up for my newsletter list here. I don't "spam" and only send out newsletters if I'm adding new items or offering a special "newsletter only" promotion, coupon or giveaway. Return here and leave a quick comment letting me know you entered by signing up for the newsletter. (If you are already a newsletter subscriber, submit a comment stating so.)

Third Chance Entry: Blog or post on Facebook about my current giveaway, return here and leave a quick comment stating you entered by blogging or posting on Facebook.

For each entry, please be sure to leave a separate comment for your extra chances to win!

Please note that I currently have a coupon special for 10% off your purchase of $75 or more. Enter "bemine10" now through midnight (pst) January 31st.

A quick note that my Valentine Day order deadline is January 31st. This is for US shipments only. All orders placed by that date will be delivered in time for Valentine's Day.

Please be sure to check out The Nester, who is featuring some other great sponsors and giveaways this week!

Thank you all!

New work coming this week

2012-01-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

I have several new designs I'll be adding in the next couple of days. It's been a crazy year and some of these designs have been sitting in my "design book" since 2010. I've actually been working on the new pieces since mid-October but, with the holiday orders, everything has been set aside. The bracelet above has been a work in process for the past four months and was finally finished today.

Please be sure to check back throughout the week and see what's new.

An accurate (and easy) way to measure for your ring size

2012-01-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

All ring sizers purchased will now include a gift voucher for $4 that will cover the cost of the ring sizer and half the shipping costs. Gift vouchers can be used with discounts and other special offers. Ring sizers ship same day or next day. Ring sizers can be purchased by clicking on the photo below.

If you are unsure of your ring size, here is a technique to measure for your ring size that will give you the most accurate results. Take a ring that fits you and measure the inside diameter of that ring. Do not include any of the metal in that measurement - just measure the "empty" space of the inside ring. You can give me that measurement in inches, millimeters or centimeters. I can then convert that and get you your accurate ring size. You can include that measurement when ordering rings. I will convert it for you, create the rings and also let you know what ring size that converted to.

I created many rings over the holidays using this technique and all of the finished rings fit perfectly.

This will also save you an unnecessary trip to the local mall or jewelry store. If you have any questions about measuring for your ring size, please contact me and I'll be more than happy to help you out.

Holiday Order Shipping Updates

2011-12-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

I want to post a quick note here on my blog about the orders going out for Christmas delivery. Right now, all orders through December 8th will be shipping out this afternoon and tomorrow morning (12/17). Orders from December 9th through the deadline will be shipping out on Monday and Tuesday - all by Priority Mail so that they will arrive by Christmas.

If you haven't heard from me, you will when your order ships out and you will receive a tracking number by email.

Holiday Sparkle

2011-11-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

Three new rings were added to the store this evening. All of the rings have a wonderful satin finish. It's a soft and feminine look. Simple and modern.

I've created rings with a large Moissanite by Charles and Colvard (this ring comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Warranty for the Moissanite), a ring with a sparkling chocolate diamond and a chunky stack ring in 18k gold with gypsy set melee diamonds. I'm also offering the option to purchase this stack ring in 18k white, 14k yellow and white and sterling silver.

More updates to come throughout the week! I am in holiday mode and working around the clock on orders and finishing up some more new pieces. Please check back for updates.

Working to add some new photos

2011-11-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, a customer asked why I did not have a lot of photos of the square and oval stones on my "customize it" page. The answer is that I didn't add the square and oval options to the site until a few months ago and I haven't been that good at updating the website photos. I'm going to make a point to do so from now on.

I snapped the above photo this afternoon just before packing up this stack ring combo for a customer of mine. The lighting is a bit off, but I only had about 5 minutes before I had to run off to the post office with a bag of packages. I love the mix of blues and greens - and the opal compliments both the stones.

This is a perfect example of how a 4mm square really is much larger than a 4mm round.

Imperial Topaz

2011-11-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

I am fascinated by the colors of Imperial Topaz. I think that this gemstone is now on the top of my favorites list. I love the soft pink/peach colors and some of the deeper pinks. The deeper pink gemstones can run anywhere from $1200 to $100,000. There are, however, more generally affordable stones in the colors shown below. I want to use this stone in some simple stack rings. It's such a unique color that can't really be matched by any other gemstones.

I'd like to make some one-of-a-kind and ready-to-ship rings for the holidays using some of the more rare and hard-to-find gemstones, such as this Imperial Topaz.

These rare golden, orange, pink, red and purple colors, are called “precious” or “imperial” topaz and are a member of the fine gemstones.

In Ancient Egyptian times, it was thought that the sun god Ra gave this gemstone its color and it was worn to protect against harm. Topaz was worn during the Middle Ages for goodwill.

“Imperial” and “precious” topaz are used to distinguish between true topaz and the quartz look-alikes and are generally used terms for pink, orange and red topaz, which comes mainly from Brazil.

The most sought after Imperial Topaz color is pink.

Please check back, as I'll be working on adding some new pieces to the store in the coming days!

Giveaway Winners!

2011-11-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for the huge response to the Holiday Giveaway this week. Listed below are the results of the giveaway. Please contact me at customercare@olivebungalow.com so that I can email you a gift certificate.

Please note that the "thankyounov11" 10% off coupon is good through this Sunday. I've added a couple more new items to the site this morning and will work on finishing up more designs as time permits.


Autumn Forest and Blue Cashmire Rings

The $100 gift certificate winner is:

The first $50 gift certificate winner is:

The second $50 gift certificate winner is:

Thank you again for your participation!!

Holiday Giveaway Time!

2011-10-31T22:18:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: This holiday giveaway is closed for comments. Please check back Nov 4 at noon (pst) for the winning entries. Thank you all so much for your comments and entries!

Thank you all for your support this year. I can't believe another holiday season is already upon us. I honestly feel like it was only yesterday, as you have all kept me so very busy since last November! I can't thank you enough for supporting handmade products.

It's time to kick off the holidays with a giveaway for all of my wonderful customers - many of you that have been my customers for years now. This giveaway will start on November 1st and run through midnight (pst) on November 3rd. Please be sure to check back, as winners will be posted here on my blog on Friday, November 4th at noon (pst). This giveaway is open to all U.S. and International customers.

For this holiday giveaway, I am offering chances to win one of three gift certificates - a $100 gift certificate and two $50 gift certificates. There is no expiration date on the gift certificates and I promise that I won't make you jump through too many hoops to enter!

The winners will be chosen by the trusty "random number generator" and you will have 3 chances to win.

First Chance Entry: Leave a comment here on this post letting me know your favorite gemstone color or color combination.

Second Chance Entry: Sign up for my newsletter list here. I promise I don't spam, but will only send out newsletters if I'm adding new items or offering a special "newsletter only" promotion, coupon or giveaway. Return here and leave a quick comment letting me know you entered by signing up for the newsletter. (If you are already a newsletter subscriber, submit a comment stating so.)

Third Chance Entry: Blog or post on Facebook about my current giveaway, return here and leave a quick comment stating you entered by blogging or posting on Facebook.

For each entry, please be sure to leave a separate comment for your extra chances to win!

Please note that, as a special thank you to all of you visiting my store, I'm offering a special "thank you" through Sunday, November 6th. Enter "thankyounov11" now through 9pm (pst) Nov 6th for 10% off a $75 purchase or more. As always, shipping is free on orders over $75.

A quick note that my deadline for international orders is November 15th this year. This is the last day that I will be able to accept orders from Canada or European countries due to the delays in shipping and transit times.

Please be sure to check out The Nester, who is featuring some other great sponsors and giveaways this week!

Thank you all again for your wonderful support!

New Personalized Pebble Charms

2011-10-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

I now have some dainty pebble charms in the store. These can be personalized and are available in sterling silver or 14k yellow gold. The initials are deeply indented into the mold before I cast them.

The original design for these charms came from a small river rock that I used to create a mold for casting in silver and gold. I lightly hollowed out the back of the 14k gold pendant/charm so that it would be a little less weight, but a large cost savings.

New Stack Design

2011-10-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

A customer approached me a couple of weeks ago with a custom request. She really liked the design of my Autumn Rustica ring, but she wanted to create a custom birthstone ring instead. We worked on changing the design of the Autumn Rustica ring to incorporate the birthstones. The results could not have turned out better. I absolutely love this ring! I told her that I would be posting photos on my site.

This is a perfect example of how a mixture of stones comes together for a beautiful ring. Opal, Citrine, Aquamarine and Amethyst were used in this ring design. I often have customers ask me if their mixture of gemstones will work out color-wise. I have created thousands of the stack rings and have never come across a finished ring that I didn't like. Whether it's a mix of colors or a mix of bands, I'm amazed at how all the different combinations come together and create a stunning ring.

I'm going to be adding this ring design to my website as an option to purchase and customize with whatever stones you wish to use.

A few notes about gemstone grades

2011-10-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

With the holidays right around the corner, I wanted to post a bit of information about gemstones and different gradings. This information is only applicable regarding Sapphires, Emeralds and Rubies - as all other gemstones I sell are AA to AAA Grade.

Sapphires, Emeralds and Rubies are all considered "precious" gemstones. They are priced much differently according to their "grading" and are much more expensive than other gemstones. For this reason, I offer different grades to choose from.

The above photo shows the differences in grading Emeralds. I'm no longer selling "commercial" grade Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies for a couple of reasons. First, I have been able to obtain some very nice quality B Grade stones. I'm very happy with the stones and the quality is great.

As you can see from the photo, the "commercial" grade stones are very cloudy. They sometimes even look dirty. If you are stacking several rings and gemstones, these stones will take away from the elegance of a stack ring.

On the far end of the photo is the Chatham lab-created Emerald. I have extensive information on my "gemstone info" page of my website regarding Chatham stones. These gemstones are very high quality and I sell a lot of Chatham stones. I highly recommend the Chatham stones if you want an Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby that will have the same high quality as the other stones in your ring.

There are other gemstones that are also higher in price due to size. Tourmalines are getting more difficult to find in large sizes and so you will see a big price jump between the different sizes. The price difference is not necessarily only due to a larger carat size, but also due to the fact that the gemstone is harder to come by in larger sizes.

Iolite is another gemstone that is getting harder to come by and the price is increasing.

As always, if you have any questions or would like some assistance in putting together your custom stack rings, please don't hesitate to contact me.

New Botanicals and Limited Edition Turquoise Ring

2011-10-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

I've added some new botanical pieces to my website this morning. They include new stackable bangle bracelets (with optoinal charms) and branch rings in 14k yellow gold. The rings match the sterling silver versions already on my website.

I also added a few options for charms that include a river rock and flower bud. The river rock is also available in 14k yellow gold.

All of these items started out here in my studio from original twigs, branches, flower buds and pebbles. I went through these organic items and chose the ones that I thought would work best for jewelry. Each of these items was then molded and cast.

The turquoise ring is created with a wide twig/branch band. I have a limited supply of the oval cabochons. They all have the same coloring and black matrix. It's a high-grade turquoise quality and has a very high shine and polish.

I have so many designs in the works here, but I find myself really short on time to work on new pieces. Orders placed always take priority over adding new pieces, but I'm trying to set aside time on the weekends where I work only on new design ideas.

Thank you all for your continued support and I hope you have a nice week.

Weekend Update and New Limited Edition Ring

2011-10-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

My twig casting didn't go quite as planned, although not unexpected. It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. The leaves didn't burn out completely and the twig itself was quite porous, so it has now found a new home in the scrap pile. As I mentioned in yesterday's post, casting organic materials is very hit or miss. This one was a miss.

However, I do have a new limited edition ring that I am adding to the store in a short while. I was able to purchase 10 Demantiod Garnets a while back and they worked perfectly with a new Autumn ring design that I have been working on. Demantoid Garnets have a high diamond-like sparkle and are one of the rarer garnets available. They do not have the same green tones as Peridot, but a softer, more earthier green.

Autumn Rustica is a wide band ring with a rustic, yet rich and elegant appearance. The colors are wonderful for Autumn - both the colors of the stones and the patina of the metal. I created three different rings with different textures and finishes (the bands are soldered into one). The top ring - with the diamond - is given a hand patina finish and the sterling silver is rich brown. The center band has a high shine and the bottom band - with the Demantoid Garnet - is given a rustic hand finish.

Sales of this ring are limited to ten and the price is $156.

Weekend Project - New Twig Necklace

2011-10-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

9:32 a.m. -

I'll be updating this post throughout the weekend as I work through this new project. I've had an idea for a new necklace on my workbench for the past couple of months (it's been a busy order summer and projects have been put aside for much of the time).

This twig came from a Mesquite tree and I like the organic and abstract shape of it. It's going to be a simple piece hanging from a sterling silver chain. There's a tiny partial branch hanging from one of the bends in the twig and I think a small leaf hanging from that branch might be a nice accent to the piece.

I'm going to try to mold and cast both the small leaves and see if either of them turn out. The leaves are from a Guava tree on my back patio.

So... this is the first step of the project - picking out the pieces I want to use for my finished design...more to come later.

UPDATE 9:52 am - The twig and leaves are now sprued up and ready for the investment process. I now have to pour a plaster/cement type material over the molds, using special equipment to mix and remove any air bubbles which can ruin the process. It then sits for a couple of hours to harden. Once the investment has dried and hardened, I'll put it in a burnout oven. This burnout process can take up to 8 hours. Organic materials are always hit or miss. My hope is that the kiln firing completely burns away the twig and leaves. Once the burnout cycle is completed, I'll melt and cast the metal into the mold. I'll be using sterling silver for this cast. More to come later this evening.

Back to blogging

2011-10-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start up my blog again. As you can see from the last posting, it's been quite a while. Here I will be updating with new items, as well as designs that I have in the works. I'd also like to get into some more detailed information as far as how I'm creating new pieces and to also share the process of what goes into an individual piece.

I'm working on some new pieces right now and I'll be sharing the process and finished product with you here.

P.S. - I'm not on Facebook, so any updates regarding my work will only be posted here.

Have a great weekend! Please check back.

- Michele

"Customize It" Rings are now available in 14k Yellow and 14k White

2011-02-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

I've been asked so many times over the years if my stack rings were available in gold and, up to this point in time, I've only offered them in silver. That's all changed now and I'm able to offer them in both 14k yellow and 14k white gold.

I'm finding that a lot of my customers are wanting to make these heirloom-type ring sets and there is more demand now for the rings to be made in gold.

My current production/turnaround time for sterling silver Customize It rings is 7-10 days. The production/turnaround time for the Customize It rings in white and yellow 14k gold is 3 weeks due to extra steps in production of the gold bands.

New patterned bands for 2011 and Sweetheart Stack

2011-01-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

I'm just beginning to get new items listed and have lots more to come, including some gold and gold-filled bands. I've added four new patterned bands to the catalog. These can be purchased when creating a custom stone order, as well as for purchase without stones. There are now a total of nine bands to pick and choose from.

I also added a "Sweetheart Stack." This ring can be purchased as shown or you can pick and choose and purchase the individual bands. The stones are Pink Sapphire, Pink Tourmaline and a White Topaz set in 14k yellow gold bezels. I have gold and gold-filled bands matching the "xoxo" and "mini heart" bands that I'll be adding to the site a bit later.

countdown to christmas sale...

2010-12-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

An extra special sale good through midnight, December 14. Both the "Lilac Bloom" and "Celadon" rings are priced at 20% off. As an added bonus.. the 10% off "holidays10" coupon still applies. Have a wonderful day and I hope you are having a great holiday season!

December Special and bonus "countdown to Christmas" sale

2010-12-09T00:16:00.000-08:00

The December Special has been added to my store and is also included in this next "countdown to Christmas" sale.

The earrings and ring are both created with a special top quality Sky Blue Topaz. The cabochons are clear and flawless and a gorgeous soft sky blue. It's almost an ice blue color and goes great with the winter season. The inside of the ring band is stamped with the word "dream." The earrings are fun - very long and they have great movement.

The current "countdown to Christmas" special is a bonus discount (on top of the December Special discount). If you purchase both the ring and the earrings, the earrings are only $19. This special is only good through midnight on December 10th.

Countdown to Christmas Sale

2010-12-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

It's time for the Countdown to Christmas Sale. Sale items will be listed on my homepage. There are no coupons necessary to take advantage of the sale items. Please take note of the sale dates, as I will be making different items available on a daily basis. The first daily sale runs through Midnight December 8th. The next one with begin on the 9th. Free shipping over $50 still applies.

Have a wonderful week and please check back!!

Holiday Order Deadlines

2010-12-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

The last day to place an order for holiday delivery by regular mail is Sunday, December 12 (by midnight).

If you would like to place an order after that date and still get it in time for the holiday, I can work out optional shipping methods - but cannot guarantee delivery for the holiday for orders placed after December 15 by any kind of delivery. One-of-a-kind items (which I'll be adding) and gift certificates can ship out after this date with holiday delivery. This pertains only to custom/made-to-order items.

All orders placed within the dates above are guaranteed for holiday delivery within the United States. If you have any questions regarding shipping, please contact me through the website link.

Tis the season...

2010-11-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

I went to sleep last night at midnight and got up at 4am. It's that time of the year. Busy time.. crazy busy time. But all is well - I love being busy.

Although...tomorrow is December 1 and I need to finish my December Special. I will try to find time this evening, but it might be the next day. I have the stones and the designs. It's just a matter of fabricating the pieces. I'll be using Swiss Blue Topaz cabochons - a beautiful summer sky blue.

(first snow - my Mom's backyard in Minneapolis.. a few days after she cut the grass)

I have to find time to run to Home Depot and get something for the drafts coming through my laundry room and front door areas. I don't remember it being this cold here at this time of year. I checked the temperature this morning and it was 25 degrees. Imagine my surprise when I checked my Mom's temperature up in Minneapolis and saw that I was only one degree warmer here in Tucson. That is just wrong! lol

Have a great day!!!

Early Bird Cyber Monday Sale and more

2010-11-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I know that I feel more in the holiday spirit now. I decorated the house and the neighbors have been putting up holiday lights. It definitely feels like winter - even here in Tucson.

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm offering a special Cyber Monday coupon code for 15% off your total purchase. The coupon code is "cybermonday." This code is good now through Monday evening on anything in the shop.

I hope that everyone has a great weekend and stay warm!

Gemstone Drop Pendant

2010-11-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

I've added a chunky sterling silver gemstone drop pendant to the store this morning - perfect for gift-giving without worrying about ring sizing. An option to substitute a 14k yellow gold bezel is available. The example shown is with a London Blue Topaz.

This can be customized to create a "mother's pendant." There are options to add up to 6 gemstone settings.

Holley Lavender Multi Charm

2010-11-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

For those of you that know me, you know how frustrated I get cutting Holley Lavender Chalcedony. It's not that I don't like cutting stone, but it's that this stone is terribly difficult to work with. I have to cut through so much "bad rock" to find a little bit of gem quality material in the stone. For every pound of this rock, I am lucky to find 1/4 pound that is quality. Actually, it's probably more like 1/8 pound. I guess that is why this stone is so expensive. I decided to give it a try again and was lucky enough to find a pretty decent piece. The cab is also a high-dome cabochon, which is pretty rare.

I used the cabochon to create another one-of-a-kind multi charm pendant. I added some gold, a pearl and an aquamarine faceted bead. It's called "Savannah." I am having fun with these "charm pendants."

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Desert Daydreams

2010-10-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

I finished up this piece this morning and it's now on my site under the one-of-a-kind category. I created this piece with an Owyhee Jasper cabochon that I cut and polished, as well as a solid sterling silver twig. This twig is one of the pieces I made while doing some design work and playing around with new ideas for my "botanical" line. More to come on that - hopefully - in the next couple of weeks. It was a lot of fun to see the results and the detail on this twig and I thought it would go great set above this pendant.

I had hoped to have time for more one-of-a-kind, but I am really busy with ring orders right now. I do have another piece in the works and I might take a break sometime this weekend and finish it up.

I'm sorry to have a short post here this morning and I have more I wanted to say and blog about. But right now, I have to run out to the post office to ship off some orders. Have a great day everyone!!