The Last Lap

I'm back to work today...I was able to extend my drop off to the Arvada Center by one day so we'll be getting my jewelry to them on Wednesday. Thank goodness for that because otherwise I would have been pulling some seriously late nights. As it is, we are in crunch mode. I'm excited to have my jewelry showcased in this gallery, but I have to admit that I am looking forward to finishing up preparing for it! Between this show and the wonderful steady flow of Etsy orders I have been unable to work on new pieces or designs.

On the drive home from NM I was sketching and sketching new ideas. I can't wait to get started on new work!!! I'll definitely be able to get this going after Wednesday. I consider myself an artist, first and foremost, and its hard to sit on my inspiration for so long.....it makes me antsy. I need that release.

Well our little vacation was a nice reprieve and I recouped a lot of energy. I have to admit that I was ready to get home and get back to work though! Ha! Can you believe it? That is a very good sign in my eyes.

While at my parents I ate a lot no overeating though...that's a thing of the past and hung out with my parents, brother, sister and their significant others', aunt, as well as had a wonderful visit with my uncle, who I hadn't seen in 10 years or so. Have I mentioned that my dad has 12 sisters and 4 brothers?? Yes, that makes for a very, very, very large family! They are scattered everywhere, but there is a good concentration of them in the Albuquerque area....about 9 of them including my dad. And yes.....they all have the same mother and father!

I also got a lot of playing time in with my nieces and nephews. We celebrated my little one's birthday again and also my niece and nephew (twins).

This birthday cake my sister made was added in with all of the pumpkin pies my mom made. I think she made about 6 or 7 pies! We cleaned them out those few days too :)

Okay I'm off to post this lone ring to my shop. I snuck it in last week along with all of my other orders ;) It is such a gorgeous piece of turquoise....I couldn't resist.
Bye! :)

Sale

These rings will be re-entering my shop this morning.

I am going to post some pictures later of my Thanksgiving holiday, but today's post will be short and sweet. The sale I am having starts today on Black Friday and ends on Cyber Monday.

The details:

- All jewelry orders in my shop are 15% off (refund through paypal)

- All jewelry orders over $100 USD are 20% off (refund through paypal)

- Plus, free domestic shipping & $2.00 International shipping

- This sale does not include gift certificates

- This sale can not be combined with any other sales, promotions or coupons

- The orders from this sale will ship out December 1st - 5th.

I am off to my shop to change the announcement there and to re-open the rest of my listings.

See you later in the weekend! :)

Holiday season

I don't want to bore you too much with what my days have been like since I last posted....yes it has been awhile!! I've really just been putting my nose to the grindstone and trying to keep up with the holiday rush and preparing for the Fine Art Market in Denver. Absolutely no complaints here! Especially since I am about to head down to my parents' house in New Mexico for a few days of vegging, eating and flat-out hibernating. We leave tomorrow after dinner and we should be back on Friday or so. And then I'll be back with all of that recouped energy to throw myself into work again.

Last time we visited my family we headed out in the evening as well and it really was the best travel experience we have had with the boys. Why? Well because they slept 90% of the trip! That is always the best way to travel with little ones ;) So we are doing it again and we'll be getting there around 1 a.m. I also already told my mom that I am very excited for her and my dad to take over and entertain my monkeys while we're there! I don't think it will be much of a problem either :)

So a few bits of business before I go: First of all, I received my shipment of amber today!!! I am big-time excited because I ordered more of a variety of Baltic amber than I had bought when I was in Poland. For all of you new to my blog, all of the amber that I carry in my shop I purchased while we were on vacation this summer. I happily made a contact in Poland and I'll continue to order amber supplies from them (I am very, very impressed with their quality of amber). So when I get back on Friday I will relist my petite amber rings. I also got more of the green-hued amber too.

Secondly, I will be having a promotion this weekend that will lead up to Cyber-Monday and I will give you more details in a few days. But I definitely will post the information here first! Cyber-Monday (for all of scratching your heads at that term!) is the 'Black Friday' of the online world. Black Friday (for all of you still scratching your heads!!) is the day after Thanksgiving when people rush the stores in swarms and mobs to catch all of the marvelous deals and sales. So basically I am going to participate, along with many, many Etsians, in this weekend hoopla :)

So I'm off to finish up some work and packing and I'll see you all later from NM.....bye!

p.s. I forgot to mention that I will have an abbreviated shop over the next three days while I am in New Mexico. So basically only 'in stock' jewelry pieces will be in my Etsy shop. All of my 'made to order' items will resume on Friday, November 27th.

Bliss

I really love that word. Hard not to love it considering its meaning, right? I feel like I experience that emotion quite often. This is not hard for me though. I'm easy to please. All it may take is a really good song, a cup of afternoon coffee, my boys laughing, a hug and kiss, happy hour, great conversation......oh the list goes on and on ;)

Beautiful photography always seems to hit that sweet spot too. I guess that is why I love Traci French's Bliss blog so much and I think it is time that I introduce you to another 'neighbor' from my blogroll.

this lovely photo graces one of my walls

Not only does Mrs. French consistently compile inspiring images in her posts, but she also happens to be an incredibly gifted photographer.

I've mentioned her blog here multiple times in the past because I love it so much and I also happen to be a proud sponsor.

You can see more of her work here in her Etsy shop.

See you tomorrow.....it's an early night. I'm making up for yesterday ;)

What am I doing still up??

I am up at a ridiculous time!! It is 1:15 a.m. I usually try to be in bed around 9:30 p.m.....I'm a bit off the mark ;)

I just got really stubborn and decided to finish all of my work tonight. I've got more orders to get out tomorrow morning and so I wanted to get all of my listings up and my newsletter sent out tonight because chances are I wouldn't have time for them in the morning. I have fully decided to let my husband get up with the boys in the morning and I am turning off my alarm ;)

So I have a few bits of info to share and then I am off to bed. First of all, my November newsletter is going out right after I post this blog and there is a nice promo in there for the recipients, along with, of course, some extra tidbits of information ;) Also, I wanted to announce that from now until Christmas I will be offering -free domestic shipping & $2 international shipping- for all orders in my Etsy shop!

We are in the throes of the holiday season now, so I am working like a mad woman in my workshop to keep up the pace :) Plus, I am preparing for the Arvada Fine Art Gallery Exhibition that will be held at the beginning of December and I need to give them a whopping amount of my jewels.

Okay, so my husband decided that I should include more photos of me in the blog to give you more glimpses of my day......


I am obviously cracking up at him here....because he fancies himself as my own personal papparazzi ;)

And moving right along, here are a few of my new pieces that are up in the shop!

I am yawning a very big goodnight!

Weekend wrap-up

So this weekend was full of birthday celebration and work. We had a fun and interesting birthday party for my little monkey who is now the big 2. He strangely decided to drop his nap the day of his party, which is really, really odd because this boy takes the king of all naps. He happily sleeps a 3 sometimes 4 hour nap every day. He needs his beauty sleep I guess ;) So he wasn't the perkiest child at his own birthday celebration, but that's okay because his older brother had enough energy for both of them.....and then some!

Luckily there was leftover birthday cake and guess what was for breakfast the next day? Happily, this is what I sat to in the morning yesterday:

We got a lot of fresh snow throughout the night as well so I took my time eating 'breakfast' and staring outside.....

Then I got to work planning my upcoming week. I compiled a pile of design sketches that had been laying around the house....I tend to jot things down especially before falling asleep when an idea pops in my head. I'm excited to get to work on many of them this week. I have been working so hard the last few weeks fulfilling custom and made to order pieces that I am anxious to get started on new work. My shop needs it....as do I :)

Okay off to work....see you tomorrow!

Comfort food

this yummy bowl of soup sits on a pot holder my mom made :)

It's the season for comfort food. I won't deny that I love it either. I guess you could say that I am a bit of a foodie. I get great satisfaction that doesn't even sound as big as it really is! out of eating delicious well-made food. I'm not really into junk food and I can easily pass on candy, but pretty much any meal out of Martha Stewart's Living mag just causes uncontrollable drooling ;) I like pastries and desserts and French, New Mexican, Italian, Indian, Japanese, Thai, etc........food!!! Oh yeah and pretty much everything my parents or my mother-in-law whip out onto the table - yum!

Speaking of food, my husband also happens to be a great cook. He made the soup pictured above. He said he just wanted to use up whatever he could find in the fridge and voila....he made one of the best soups he has ever made. He's not much for recipes...I think a lot of men are that way. My dad is the same. He is excellent in the kitchen and mainly just experiments and tries things. I, however, am a pretty good recipe follower ;)

This evening my husband is in the process of baking a cake he will be making it over the next few days that he grew up eating in Estonia. It is my absolute favorite dessert and every time his mother comes and visits or we visit there, she will bake this cake. I think she knows I love it very, very much ;) So this cake is special and intended for my little-est monkey's birthday party this Saturday. He is turning the big 2.

Food is obviously on my mind....I've yet to eat dinner and I am super hungry, so I think that is why.

See you tomorrow with some new pieces....:)

Short and Sweet

Today was a good day. And here is why:
- woke up to a sweet good morning from my firstborn
- went for a long walk, shuffling in the leaves with two little monkeys (who knew this could bring such joy?)
- hung out at two parks
- listed these five pieces:

this one is already gone!!

- made it to the gym this evening, after dinner

- getting ready to get to bed and curl up with my book and a hot hubby

Its the little things.....:)

So this is again a short post, but I really want to get a jump on that last one on my list!

goodnight.......

p.s. happy birthday my sweet sarcastic little sister...it would've been 31 today. missing you will never end.

Where did it go?

hanging out in the sun at Pearl St.

I'm here :)
I didn't intend on being gone the past three days....it just happened. Well, let me tell you.......the past week has been a bit insane. I received a lot of exposure from the giveaway on cup of jo. People found me and it was wonderful. Plus I sent many, many of my pieces to Estes Park and Fairhope. All of a sudden my shop was depleted at the same time I had more people venture in. Not planned, but absolutely loved nonetheless.

My mind is all over the place. I think the season does this to me. I am always so (more so anyway) reflective at this time of the year. Thinking a lot about the past........where will I be in the future? I prefer thinking of the future.......its exciting. I am not too keen about the past. Unfortunate to say that, but its true. I think its because it took me a long time to grow up....and too many sad events that my mind still has a hard time wrapping around.


I am excited to list new pieces this week....it feels like its been awhile and the process of finishing a piece successfully and showing it to the world is such an exhilerating feeling. ;) I'm addicted.



This song is ridiculously beautiful. It is a fitting song for today.

Her name: Maria Taylor





(sorry for the chaotic nature of the blog post today.....I think I need some chamomile tea and a good book to curl up with)

goodnight
xx

Inspirational neighbors

One of the unexpected aspects of opening my shop on Etsy was the surprisingly strong sense of community I found amongst artists, stylists and lovers of all things artisan, handmade and inspirational. As a result, I have met a lot of fabulous people who have blogs and sites with fully wonderful things to share and say! I try to visit these sites as much as possible....although lately it has been far less than I like.

Tonight, I finally added a link list of some of these wonderful people and sites to my blog, so that you can visit them as well. The list is located in the lower right column.

I would like to introduce each of my 'neighbors' in the list throughout the month. I love visiting their locations.....so I figure you probaby will as well ;) First up is Charlotta's Space for Inspiration blog. Her blog is always chock full of inspiring images and somehow once you're there you will find yourself with tea or coffee in hand and your feet propped up ready to spend some (okay not some!) serious time browsing and reading (more like wishing and hoping you can visit every location she blogs about!).

I found these incredibly beautiful pictures on her site today, in fact.

I love the old world.....and as much as I am drawn to clean, simple and modern lines, I also completely adore all things ancient and old, with loads of history. This house to me is like something out of a beautiful storybook.

Click on the pictures to read more about this stunning 15th century home.

That bed, in front of that fireplace, looks exactly like the place I can imagine myself at.this.exact.moment!

I think that means its time to go to sleep.......'til tomorrow ;)

Great Day!

So I have mentioned on here before that one of the blogs I enjoy perusing is Joanna Goddard's blog, a cup of jo. I am sponsoring her this month and I also set up a giveaway with two of my petite amber rings:

She posted the giveaway this afternoon on her blog here and there are already just over 1000 people who have entered!!!!!!!!! She will choose the winners sometime tomorrow and then I'll get to work making the custom rings :)

I have to admit that I have been reading some of the comments left on the giveaway post and as a result I am sitting happily on Cloud 9. Really, is it a bit strange that I am completely digging all of the amazing comments??? ;) If you could only understand how much I put into my work, the uncertainty of my very scary leap with changing professions.......to read or hear positive comments just does wonders to my soul! Not that I have ever wanted to turn back, but these postive affirmations make me hold my head up a bit higher....do you know what I mean?? (this goes for ALL of you wonderful people who have from the beginning sent me some serious love!)

A great day....really. Just a fabulous day.

If you need me, I'll be in my workshop ;)
goodnight!

Reconnecting and News

I have been having so much fun again on Facebook. It is incredibly nice reconnecting with a lot of my friends, especially because most of them live pretty much all over the world. I have a lot of family on FB as well, which is nice. I have run a bit hot and cold with it in the past where I get on a lot for a week and then I'm missing in action for months.....I want to keep that to a minimum.
Plus, I have the business page now so I am trying to keep that current with my shop activity.

I decided to finish listing the rest of my jewelry this morning and then came down to my workshop after. Here are a couple of pictures....I listed 12 in total.

This Lemon Burst Amber ring is made in the same design as my Dark Cherry one.

This one, however, was my favorite and it has already been snatched up :)

So, I mentioned in my last post that I would let you know some of the exciting happenings that are occurring in my neck of the woods. Well, this weekend some of my jewelry will be making their way into two brick and mortar shops: one in Estes Park, CO and the other in Fairhope, AL. I am very, very excited about this because one of my goals from the beginning has been to have my jewelry sold in artisan boutiques and shops. I personally love small boutiques and it just makes sense that I would want my pieces showcased in them as well. Plus, it is similar to fairs in that people actually get to personally see and touch my work rather than view it from pictures online. I like that idea very much! No worries.....not leaving Etsy anytime soon!!

I was also asked to submit my work for the Arvada Center's 23rd Annual Fine Art Market Show and Sale that is being held December 11th - 20th. The Arvada Center is a fine art gallery that houses visual and performing arts and is located in Denver. I am incredibly honored to be included this year!

Lots of happiness and busy-ness......I am thrilled at the direction I am heading.

I'll see you all tomorrow :)

Getting ready for a mucho busy week

I have lots of wonderful things going on but I'll save the juicy details for a future blogpost. Sorry for the tease, but I am just so dang tired that I want to go to bed and I am done with sitting here at the computer! ;)

I had a fabulous morning of productiveness in my workshop and a fairly good run this afternoon I say fairly because my knee wasn't too thrilled with me today :( The only thing is that I wasn't able to list all of my new items, but at least I got a few up:

And here is the tray of the whole lot. I made these last week and a few today.

I'll try to list some tomorrow as well, but I'll be busy with my torch and hammer all day so we'll see.

goodnight! ;) zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz