✧ August 24, 2026 ✧
I just came back from a long forest walk and feel more energized and ready to do some studio work.
It is one of the most healing practices you can do. The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
Waiting for me along the way were a family of four turtles sunbathing on a tree trunk in the pond, a little chipmunk saying hello, and many flowers and mushrooms along the trail. Moments like these remind me how much I need nature and sunlight to feel connected to myself and to the world.
Now I am sitting here, watching the hummingbirds dancing around their little feeder near my studio in the backyard.
Once we turn off the TV and the news, everything seems to become lighter and more hopeful. There are so many challenges for artists and small businesses these days that sometimes I have to stop, let go of the worry, and trust that there are always ways to go through challenges without feeling overwhelmed by them.
Staying with the Japanese theme, I recall a day in my late twenties when I saw a poster on someone’s wall. It showed the Japanese word for crisis and explained that it was composed of two concepts: risk and opportunity.
That idea stayed with me throughout my life, as I have always been more of a believer in doing things outside of my comfort zone.
With new challenges can also come the opportunity to be creative, to change, to go further, or even to move in a direction you had never thought of before.
In uncertain times like these, when high tariffs and regulations are imposed on small businesses and studios like mine, and when new technologies are impacting our ability to reach new customers online, I have to believe that there is a silver lining to these hurdles. Maybe it is time to reopen my studio to more workshops and creative retreats? Perhaps it is time to get out and take part in local trade shows and art markets?
At the same time, I am very grateful to have wonderful clients around the world who continue to be so supportive during these challenging times.
On the other side of worry are some of my greatest sources of inspiration, healing and the energy that keeps me aligned: nature and its magical gifts.
Featured Creation
Orchid Cloisonné Pendant on Viking Knit Chain
Mixing tecniques
A couple of months ago, I shared the making of this little orchid in cloisonné enamel from a plain copper disc. Since then, it has made its way from the enameling bench into a finished piece of jewelry.
I created a sterling silver setting for the enamel and finished the piece with a sterling silver Viking knit chain, which I also wove by hand. I love how the texture of the woven silver complements the fine lines of the cloisonné and gives the finished piece a slightly ancient feel.
It is always rewarding to see one of my small enamel experiments finally become a finished piece that can be worn. Yey!
From the Studio
Metalsmithing – From Wire and Sheet to Pendant
It is fun to see how a simple piece of metal wire can be transformed into something completely different.
For this pendant, I started with a thick round wire of red brass. By passing it several times through the rolling mill, gradually reducing the space between the rollers, the round wire becomes longer, thinner and flatter until it reaches the dimensions I need for a bezel.
The strip can then be shaped around the stone and soldered onto a brass backplate, creating the setting for the pendant.
Red brass is particularly beautiful when polished. It has a rich, warm golden color that can be remarkably close to the warmth of 18k yellow gold. In one of the photos below, I placed the brass bezel strip beside an 18k gold chain to show the similarity in color.
Unlike gold, however, brass naturally oxidizes and changes color with time. One of the ways I protect a finished brass surface is with a very thin coat of Renaissance Wax, a microcrystalline wax that is applied sparingly and gently buffed.
It creates a nearly invisible protective layer that helps slow oxidation and preserve the polished finish for much longer.
I enjoy working with different metals, each for its own qualities. Sometimes the material itself becomes part of the inspiration.
Sacred Geometry in Focus
The Pine Cone
During my forest walk, this little pine cone resting in the middle of the path caught my attention.
Pine cones are beautiful examples of how geometry appears naturally in the living world. Their scales grow in interlocking spirals that can often be counted in numbers from the Fibonacci sequence, with spirals moving in opposite directions around the cone.
This arrangement allows the scales to grow efficiently around the central axis while creating the balanced pattern we recognize so easily.
I find it fascinating that something as ordinary as a pine cone can hold such an intricate pattern, one that we can easily walk past without ever noticing.
Treasures from the Past
A studio cleanup this month turned into an unexpected trip down memory lane.
I opened several boxes that had been stored away since the days of my old store and found crystals, gemstones and all kinds of materials I had almost forgotten about. Going through them felt a little like opening a treasure chest, with so many memories attached to things I hadn’t seen in years.
Among everything I found were these little pieces of sea glass. My daughter was only eight or nine years old at the time, and she used to write positive words on them to give as little gifts to customers. These were some of the ones left behind.
Smile. Trust. Joy. Luck.
Small and simple affirmation souvenirs, but finding them again after all these years brought me right back to that time.
I truly enjoy discovering these little treasures.
Studio Friends
This month I wanted to introduce my friend and client Debi Fraser, a writer, children’s book author and creative entrepreneur. Her creativity has taken many forms over the years, and I have been fortunate to receive some beautiful pieces from her along the way.
Over the years, Debi has gifted me some very special pieces, including these beautiful paintings and a book about angels. I am sharing a few of them here, along with one of her own children’s books, The Wiggly Woggly Lady. You can find this and her other lovely books on Amazon and other books sellers.
Her gifts have found a place in my home and studio, where they continue to remind me of the friendships and connections that have flourished around my work over the years.
“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a different way to stand.”
~ Oprah
Share and Inspire
You are invited to contribute to the Studio Journal — with stories, images, reflections, or inspirations. Email me at:
studio [at] marciacormel [dot] com
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Thank you for being here and sharing this moment with me.
With love and gratitude,
Marcia
