etsymetal

I just want to give a little shout out to my pals in etsymetal, a juried team of metalsmiths on etsy, of which I'm very happy to be a member!

You can get a closer look at these individual artists here, or peruse an international group of over 100 jewelers and metalsmiths at etsymetal.com, and follow our blog at etsymetal.blogspot.com!

Matchmaker, matchmaker...

I recently finished a sweet little pair of earrings featuring Sonoran dendritic ryolite and thought I might like to accessorize the accessory...

So I began with a lovely piece of clothing from a much admired designer...

A linen jacket from Lois, of 13 Threads (check out the details!)

Then I thought I might like to add this vintage 1960's dress from Vera Vague to wear under Lois' jacket...

as well as these antique Edwardian shoes from Vera's collection, that fascinate me.

And from Dawn, of La Touchables, a beautiful little theater bag, lovingly pieced together from vintage and handwoven fabric.

Finally, I'd add a few of these lovely little square sterling bangles from jewelry designer, Su at Quercus Silver

Now all I need is a place to go... 

I'm having a sale!

It's feels like the right time to let go of my line of rings featuring glass and sterling silver. I've had a ton of fun with them over the years, but it's time to move on... What I have remaining in my inventory is all listed in my etsy shop at a $25. discount plus free shipping added into the mix. Sizes vary from ring to ring, and the sale is for in-store stock only, no special orders. Hope you'll take a peek!

Not every ring shown here is still available...

but still plenty to choose from though.

all the rings are hand fabricated and one of a kind!

a good day

My friend and I scheduled a "day o' thrifting" on Wednesday and we managed to just drag ourselves home after hitting 3 separate Goodwills in the Portland area. There was a nice interlude for lunch at Elephant's in between, but still, by late afternoon we were wasted...

This was my big find of the day, a Flapper dress from the 1920's with lovely beadwork on fine silk. Layers of silk...

The sleeves are strips of beaded silk with a cuff at the end.

It looks like there's been some early alteration around the waist area, and a few small holes in the silk, but considering it's age, and the fact that I found it all messed up hanging on a hanger at the Goodwill just crammed into the dress racks, it loos pretty darn good for it's age. We should all be so fortunate...

I'm trying to find out more about it, so if anyone knows about 1920 couture, I could use some advice on how to care for it. I am storing it flat and it seems to appreciate that, but there may be more I need to do to preserve it. Meanwhile I just love looking at it!

Yachats

Had a chance to spend a few days in Yachats  on the central Oregon coast this weekend. We used to come here when the kids were little for a week each summer. This time it's just me, my oldest daughter, and sister-in-law. The weather has been cloudy, but not too cold and since it's a pretty sleepy little town, not too many people. 

One of the things I like about Yachats is that you have the sandy beach if you feel like it, or the rocky, tide pool filled wilder side.

The sea anemones are my favorite, and this year we watched grey whales spouting off very close to shore each evening...

Pinks were growing everywhere in these rather harsh coastal conditions yet they don't seem to last more than a season or two in my garden.

Nice scarf, Caelen...

Japanese tsunami debris is beginning to turn up on the beaches.

 our catch of the day!

Happy campers, or I guess I should say happy beach housers...

Father's Day...

Not only was the weather fine on Father's Day weekend, but both the girls were home with us. We took a drive south, through the Willamette Valley towards Stayton in search of Shelburg Falls. Oregon has great places to hike and this was a good one.

First, some refueling at the Java Stop on Hwy 22.

Daisies, and foxglove were lining the edges of the fields as we began the hike along the road toward the forest. The temperature was in the 70's all day, perfect as far as I'm concerned!

and Flores found a mud puddle within the first 5 minutes...

 then had to suffer the indignity of being carried over several cattle guards.

The lower falls were not far into the forest

we then began to follow a trail toward the upper and larger falls

Taylor spots it in her trendy hiking gear...

The trail continues behind the falls, which is pretty cool and pretty muddy.

walking under a humongous ceiling of basalt...

 lots of maiden hair fern growing in this area.

Slugs everywhere of course...

But there were also wild roses along the trail

and in the patches of sunlight, wild iris were popping out in various shades of purple.

The dog jumped into every body of water we came across. We kept him securely on the leash around the falls...

All in all, it was a great way to spend Father's Day

and it makes me wonder why we don't do this more often...

my new love...

Well, maybe not that new, but ever since I was offered some Hell's Canyon herringbone petrified wood a couple of years ago, I've been smitten! 

Discovered in the Hell's Canyon gorge in the late 50's and a portion of what was there was removed just prior to the construction of the Snake River's Brownlee Dam, which subsequently flooded the area. So there's a limited supply, which helps with the mystique, but it's lovely herringbone pattern and vugs, or voids filled with druzy, makes it stand out all on it's own! The wood has been since identified as sequoia, and I'm happy to have a few pieces left and am soon to have more,yay!  

this ring is just the most recent piece to come out of the studio, below are a few previous ways I've used the material...

Cufflinks. These were given as a graduation gift.

A beautiful treasure ring which also features a freeform pearl and raw diamond.

currently available...

And I'll soon be doing my best to see that I have a large supply for lots of future work!  Anyone interested in having something made just contact me through my etsy shop!