Feb. 4-7 take 20% off all purchases
when you use coupon code CELEBRATE at checkout!
motivation
Sometimes a little motivation is needed when there is a lot of jewelry to be made. Audiobooks make all the difference. There is nothing quite like getting sucked into a captivating book. Below is a selection that we found especially engaging Last year.
Good luck with getting your projects done in 2016!
Holiday Open House
Our friends at HEW will be hosting a holiday open studio and invited us to participate. Come by and visit, eat some treats, and drink cider with us and if you are looking for a gift there will be plenty of unique handcrafted options to choose from.
5-10 pm Saturday Dec. 5, HEW Holiday Open Studio, 4505 SE Belmont
The Annual Holiday Sale is Here!
THE HOLIDAYS HAVE ARRIVED! TAKE 25% OFF ALL PURCHASES NOV. 27-30TH.
Learning Lapidary
The Lapidary process
Rock Hounding is a fun way to acquire rocks. Rocks are all over the place but if you have a good guide and know what to look for, rockhounding is like an outdoor treasure hunt! The other way to get rocks is to check out a rock shop or rock/gem show where you can find rocks and minerals sourced locally and from around the world.
Cutting the rock to a workable size
Using small rocks requires less preparation but if the rock is big then it has to be cut down to a workable size. This usually starts with a big saw with a big diamond blade that will cut slabs from the large rock that are usually from ¼” - ½” thick. These flat slabs can then be cut with smaller trim saws so they are easy to work with.
Making shapes
all sorts of shapes and sizes can be made with flat and round surfaces. Many people like to make a cabochon that has a domed surface and a flat back that can be easily set into jewelry. To make something like this you would draw that shape on a flat slab of rock and work around it, trimming the edges/ and then taking off material with diamond wheels/discs than with sanding discs. Working with rocks is always a wet process. Water or oil is used when the tools are running to eliminate dust and keep the rock and tools from getting too hot.
some recent stones that have been hand formed and faceted .
Finishing a stone
After the rock is shaped with diamond wheels/ discs, a series of rough to fine sandpaper wheels are used to get the rock smoother and smoother until all the scratches are gone. Then it is time to polish them which gives the extra shine and brings out all the details and colors.
If you live in the Portland area and are interested in learning Lapidary or just like rocks, check out The Mt. Hood Rock Club!
What is SUBDUCTION???
The new collection is called SUBDUCTION but what does that mean? It kind of sounds and looks like seduction. Many of the pieces and the lovely ladies wearing them are seducing but in fact subduction has its own special significance.
Subduction is a geologic process which has informed and developed the geography and geology of the pacific North West. As the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate converges with the North American plate, it slides under it (subduction) which creates volcanos and strong earthquakes among other things! The plate boundaries are off shore, deep under the ocean.
This fascinating process happens very slowly every day and usually goes unnoticed but the results of it can be seen in the dynamic Pacific NW landscape.
lern about the cascadia subduction zone
Faces From the Neighborhood
Lisa Ratzlaff writes a blog about people in Portland who have their own businesses called Faces From The Neighborhood. NEW REFINED BASICS was fortunate to be featured. Check out her blog and support locally owned businesses!
COLLABORATING
COLLABORATING WITH LUCY ROCKWELL, DESIGNER AND MAKER OF WOMEN'S STUDIES, IS EASY AND ALWAYS FUN. FOR HER SPRING 2015 SHOOT WE PICKED OUT SOME PIECES OF NRB JEWELRY TO COMPLIMENT HER BEAUTIFUL PALATE OF SILK SHIRTS. THE PHOTO SHOOT WAS PLAYFUL AND WE HAD HOMEMADE PIZZA TO FINISH IT OFF. HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT?
CHECK OUT WOMENSSTUDIESPDX.COM
A WOMEN'S STUDIES piece makes an appearance in the 2015 SUBDUCTION collection photos!
Holiday Open Studio!
ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN STUDIO!
Join us Saturday December 13th for fun and merriment at our shared studio. We will be offering delicious drinks and tasty treats for you to enjoy while we mingle and jingle. A selection of our goods will be for sale as well if you are looking for some handmade holiday gifts.
We would love to see you!
Saturday December 13th 3-8pm
534 NE 18th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97232
WRITE UP
CHECK OUT THIS WRITE UP ABOUT NEW REFINED BASICS FEATURED IN THE LOU & GREY'S ONLINE MAGAZINE, THE AMPERSAND. YOU CAN FIND A SELECTION OF NEW REFINED BASICS JEWELRY AT LOU & GREY STORES WHICH ARE CURRENTLY SCATTERED ALLONG THE EAST COAST.
BIG BRONZE HOOPS
Fall is here
Time to feel the crisp Fall air on your cheeks before Winter arrives.
Women's Studies
WOMEN'S STUDIES
A NEW LINE OF HANDMADE (AND SOMETIMES HAND PAINTED!) WOMEN'S SHIRTS AND ACCESSORIES WAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED BY MY FRIEND AND COLLABORATOR, LUCY ROCKWELL. SHE CREATES BEAUTIFUL PIECES THAT LOOK GREAT ON AND CAN BE EASILY PAIRED WITH NEW REFINED BASICS.
Dusty Sunsets
South + West
Landscapes of the southwest
rio grande river, northern nm
the petrified forest, eastern az
colorful colorado
canyonlands, Ut
the grand canyon, az
Persistence
Almost everyday I hear him going at it. Don't give up little woodpecker
The State of Jefferson
SPRING IS IN THE AIR
SPRING IS ON ITS WAY AND SO IS AN APPEARANCE IN ADAM ARNOLD'S FASHION SHOW!
THIS FRIDAY MARCH 21ST 2014, COME SEE BEAUTIFULLY MADE CLOTHING ACCENTED BY NEW REFINED BASICS.
338 SE MLK BLVD. PORTLAND, OR 97214
Washington Winter Wetlands
