How I Spend My Money...

Much of the time my inspiration begins with the purchase of some new stones. Today I bought more Nevada boulder turquoise, not that I don't have enough of it already but, well, my thinking is you can't have enough of the good stuff. I also recently purchased several more pair of peach pillow keshi pearls. It's a very sensous pearl and nice to work with.
So I thought I'd share my new little stash before running down to my studio with it and getting started on some new work! I hope to have some new pieces to post within a week. I work best on a deadline...

the keshi pearls are about 15mm

the turquoise vein runs through a beautiful matrix stone

Above: some examples of rings made using the same material   Below: earrings

Below:  keshi pearl earrings. I plan on making more of these!

Etsy Front Page

Thanks to WickedDarling, who included my ring in this opulant front page treasury. She has a wonderful sense of design, as you can see, and a beautiful etsy shop that is well worth perusing. Thanks Pam!

What about Mom?

So the kids are back in school, early morning routines re-established and mom gets to juggle work and school once again. Wow, mom is amazing isn't she? What can you do to show her how much you appreciate her? Aren't the Holidays right around the corner? I've got some ideas for you, and if you get started early, well, you'll have more time to enjoy that eggnog instead of running out to the mall for an uninspiring last minute gift...

                 Mother's Charms, since 1993, have been a popular choice for Mom! I'll be retiring all but the custom charms (bottom left) and my new initial charms (bottom right) due to the rising cost of producing them. But I still have quite a few available, along with a dog and a cat, for the mom who has everything!

               Here's another idea, You have some wonderful drawings you child did in preschool or kindergarden. How about a brooch designed from one of those small masterpieces. Again, with the child's name and age, or whatever you like, on the back. here are a few examples...

These are all good things to get going on early, as they do take some time to complete.

Want to browse some more? Check out my etsy shop for more jewelry ideas or get inspired by these wonderful craftspeople, all on etsy, and all part of the Artisans Gallery Team, dedicated to producing quality art and providing excellent customer service. (really nice people too...)

For the hip mom...

latouchables                      tsurubride      \

AmaliaVersaci                      emilyryan          

For the romantic mom...

elde                                kathiroussel

illuminatedperfume                   13threads

For the crafty mom...

paperphine                       mck254       

greengardenstamps                  fiberstory

Well, I could go on and on, but you get the idea! Check out etsy's Artisans Gallery Team  and find something for all of the mom's in your life! And enjoy that glass of eggnog...

My 15 Minutes!

Nathan Branch, a freelance communications consultant  in Seattle,Washington, uses his website to write primarily about the global luxury and fragrance industries, and design in general. His writing reflects his interest and knowledge of those industries with the added benefit to the reader of a well developed sense of humor. Lately he's begun a series of articles he calls The Artisan Series. It looks at the small, independent crafts person, and the heightened interest from consumers in purchasing our work over what's available in the mass marketplace. Nathan interviewed me several weeks ago and has just published part 1 of the interview! The series is an interesting read for all of us in the ongoing struggle to educate the public about what we do and why it matters! Thanks Nathan!! (and stay tuned for part 2!)

citrine, sterling, 18kt gold

back to school...

Well, those crazy, lazy days of summer are over. Time to get back into the old routines. For me, that means it's time to put away the novels and pull out the French textbooks because it's back to French classes for me. I never really paid much attention to my French in High School, but I bet if I had, it would have been a heck of a lot easier... I have no gift for languages, and my head feels like it's about to explode after 2 hours in that class, mais je suis déterminé! Sigh, I just had to look that up.

hmmm, this will really put me to sleep tonight...