Winter reminder....

I love the snow...but our two months of ground covered snow had almost completely melted away.

And then we got another fresh blanket in the middle of the night...

I have to admit, I am ready for spring. After the holidays I usually feel this way....but, snow is still a sweet novelty for this 'desert child'. ;) Might as well make myself a cup of coffee and enjoy it while its here.....

New listings will be up on Monday!

Have a fabulous weekend :)

Workshop and then some....

Here's my new puppy :)

I've already been playing with it....so excited! I ran outside and gathered all kinds of dried plant life and I've been looking all around the house for other impressions I can make. I am definitely more drawn to making impressions of things I find in nature....plants, twigs, etc. But I'm thinking of using some other designs too.

I haven't included any shop pictures in awhile....

I'm working with those three stones at the moment. When I took this picture I was getting ready to measure the bezel (fine silver strip) around the stones.

I took those pictures yesterday while working.....today I did this:

I made tortillas with my little monkey's help. Both of my boys love getting the stool and standing at my cutting board when I am cooking. Of course, the real reason they love it is because they get to sample and snack on whatever I'm making!

I grew up eating tortillas, chile (red and green!), sopa, beans and papitas, so I make an effort to make this for my sons as well. Norbert and I always talk very fondly about the food we grew up eating.....one day we had the epiphany that we wanted our boys to have those same experiences. I didn't want them to experience that only when their grandmas were around!!

We get a lot of joy out of being able to create these same memories for them (have I mentioned how much I love food???!).



I'll be back with pictures of new work ;)

Wrapping up...

I'm almost done! I've been working the past week on redesigning my business cards, banners, avatars, etc. So I'll very soon be revamping everything, including my website.

Tomorrow I am back in my workshop, which is exciting because I have a new piece of equipment I can start working with. We bought a rolling mill a few weeks ago and it just came in a few days ago. It is a really heavy piece of equipment and Norbert needs to reinforce the end of one of my worktables for it to sit on. So a rolling mill will allow me to do a number of really exciting things. I can make my own sizes and types of wire, but more importantly I can make impressions on metal using any number of objects. I'll take a picture of my new rolling mill this week along with pieces of work that I make using it. I am very excited :)

One other quick note because I am on my way to the gym and I'm late! is that I just found out I was nominated for an award over at Poppytalk. It is in the handmade jewelry category and can be located here.

I am thrilled that someone nominated me.....Poppytalk is well known in the handmade world. I don't care if only my mom and sister vote for me (okay, okay I'd love for you to vote for me too ;) just the fact that people are taking notice of my work is an absolute honor!!

I'll be back with new work this week....bye! ;)

Miscellaneous

Good morning :)
I am busy working on the computer this morning: convos, flickr, facebook, designing and the blog this morning. I thought I would share a couple of custom orders I completed recently.

I cannot tell you how much I love Botswana Agate. Perhaps its the gray...the markings? Whatever the allure is for me, this stone is just flat-out gorgeous.

I read recently that some 'expert designers' declared this year to be the year of the color turquoise. We shall see.....I love this color in accent pieces for sure ;)

Well, I wanted to share one exciting piece of information with you all....last month, right before the holidays, this necklace:

...found its way into an Etsy treasury that made it to the front page of Etsy. I've mentioned in the past that the exposure from being on the front page of Etsy is tremendous, right? Well, a costumer for the show, Grey's Anatomy, saw the necklace on Etsy and ordered it to be worn on the show 36 hours later (I had to overnight the necklace). I can't tell you how thrilled I was with all the views I received from that treasury, but to top it off with that high-profile sale was a big fat cherry on top to say the least!!! I won't even pretend I didn't celebrate a little after sending it out ;)

So I'm going to continue plugging away here and then I'm going to get out in the warm Colorado sun for a run. My hip is annoying the hell out of me....lots of running and stretching is a great cure for it.

Have a fabulous day! ;)

Changes...

Hello, hello :)

Here is some new work for the week:

this puppy has already been snatched up! :)

So, there is soooo much to talk about......where to start ;)

I just got back from attending my first meeting with the Louisville Art Society. I joined in November, but I was too busy those couple of months to make any of their events until now. I think I'll like it....it was pretty packed tonight, but the great thing about belonging to these kind of associations is the networking and support you receive from the group. They seem very involved so it should be fun :)

Well, I've made quite a lot of changes to my Etsy shop's profile and policies pages. I've mentioned a bit on here about how my husband has become an integral part of this business and we finally made the changes to include him. Norbert is handling most of the business/marketing end, which is allowing me to concentrate more on design and production. It never ceases to amaze me how much this business has evolved.....even in my own mind. I really had NO idea how much time running a business takes....outside of actually making my jewelry. Blue Hour Designs is now fully a team effort :)

Thank you to all who have been following my progress and watching our little business grow :)

I'll be back soon with more news!

- Alysia + Norbert :)

New Beginnings....

I am coming out of my snow covered cave today :)
How are you all?? I realized on NYE that it was not just a new year, but also a new decade. A little slow on the realization, but I do think that is pretty monumental. I'm into that kind of thing. I'm the girl who likes new beginnings and New Year's resolutions. It just feels fresh and exciting.

Oh yeah, and speaking of fresh, here are a few pictures of some of my new pieces that entered the shop yesterday:

I also put up a new banner, which I am sure you have already noticed. I've been trying out some ideas and I think this one will stick for a little while. I am also working on a new shop banner and new packaging....probably a new picture for my facebook page as well. I guess you can tell I like change ;) The problem is finding the time to do it all!

So I've resolved to accept that I will not be a daily blogger. I will try to get on here as much as possible and there may be times when I am here everyday, but I am buckling down and prioritizing my time so that my work days are more effective. I just need more time in my workshop (the fact that I am getting busier is a good thing!). I'm actually posting this on my 'day off', which basically means my day to watch the boys who happen to be napping. My husband is laboring away downstairs catching up on the accounting. Boy do I love that I don't have to do any of that!!

Tomorrow I am back in my shop and I'll be working almost exclusively with metal. I have so, so many designs that I want to dip into.....I may do one ring with a big stone, but otherwise just a lot of metal. More earrings too.

Talk to you all soon.....

It's good to be back :)

Happy Holidays!

Luminarias in my hometown

Have a Fabulous weekend :)

Etsy and a little bit of Funk

this necklace will go up in the shop this weekend :)

Yesterday I came across this article about Etsy. It's a good read. I thought it was interesting to note how some of the people interviewed dealt with growth and success. On my own small scale we have definitely been dealing with some of these issues, especially those related to balancing family life and business. I have a lot of thoughts and comments concerning this subject matter, but I think we will discuss them more in depth in the future......

So I have decided that I am going to leave my Etsy shop open during the holidays, but it will be limited to only what is in-stock. I won't take any custom orders or make any jewelry during that time because I will be in New Mexico opening presents and drinking eggnog!! ;) Well actually, that is only partially true! We will be in NM for one week and then when we get back I am going to lock myself away and work feverishly on new work. I am excited to re-open my shop with a different look! I have worked out a system to balance 'made to order' and new/one of a kind designs. I think it will be best for my business because it will keep people interested in my work, and for me because you have all heard me mention several times how I need to have more creative time. So on Monday night, the 21st, I will close down my workshop. I have already put this information in my shop announcement on the Etsy page and there is also some additional info if, between now and Monday, anyone is interested in ordering some last minute Christmas gifts.

Okay, so the music that I've been listening to this past week has been decidedly more uptempo with a dash of funk for good measure ;) I've had Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest & Fatboy Slim, among others, on heavy rotation while working. And speaking of Fatboy Slim.....one of the best videos I have ever seen is this one:

Fatboy Slim - Weapon of choice (Christopher Walken)- Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Have a great weekend!!

Milk and Loveliness

Look at what we are getting delivered to our house every week!

Fresh milk from a dairy down the road!! Woo-hoo :) In glass bottles no less! It is so cool to hear someone tell you that there are no antibiotics or growth hormones in their milk because they milk their own cows, so they should know.

I really do love how even though I am 5 minutes from Boulder and 20 minutes from Denver, I am still surrounded by farms. In the summer there are farm stands EVERYWHERE. There is so much wonderful fresh food to choose from and it is all grown or milked within the area.

Ever since I had my oldest son I have become so much more aware of what is in the food we eat to where now, the bulk of our food is 'whole food' basically meaning unprocessed. I used to be so obsessed with low-carb/low-sugar/low-fat during all of those stupid fads before I had my kids. Now I eat bread, butter, potatoes (within reason) and of course lots of vegetables without worrying about all the other crap. I finally realized that as long as I am active, eating mainly whole and unprocessed food and not eating five servings in one sitting I'll be healthy.....which is really the most important thing, right?? Of course, lets not forget looks, because I'll be honest....I'm a bit vain. I want to look good too! Interestingly enough though, ever since I stopped worrying about 'dieting' and just eating good normal food, my weight has stopped fluctuating.

Okay, on to some loveliness. What do you think?

Found via Papernstitch

I think this lantern is utterly gorgeous.....everything from the exquisite fabrication itself to the photography. I would love, love, love a trio of these to put on my patio table in the summer.

I also found these lovely items from Pacha Design....

I am continuously inspired when I venture into the huge world of design blogs and sites. I need to set aside more time to do so because it is definitely very inspiring as an artist. Its almost like getting a bit of a 'inspirational pick me-up' when I browse through these sites.

So now it is time to play with the boys because nap time is over......I did want to mention quickly that my title last blogpost was in reference to going a week without posting in my blog. My husband was very confused about the 'record' that I broke.....so perhaps some of you were confused as well ;)

Bye!

I broke my last record...

I am wonderfully caught up and I am now getting my orders out in droves. I suspect that a lot of the Christmas shopping will start winding down for my Etsy shop this week. I plan on working up until next Monday or Tuesday and then we will be leaving again to NM on Wednesday. This time, though, we will stay for almost a week. This will be a much more relaxing type of vacation than Thanksgiving. Taking off those few days was hard because I was so busy during that time. It was hard for me to unwind. I just knew how much I still had to finish on my bench. This time should/hope to be different.....

On Friday night I went to the opening of the Gallery show and sale I've been talking to you about. I popped in only for a little bit because I was by myself. My husband had to watch our two monkeys. There was no way in hell I was going to take those two to a gallery overflowing with breakables ;)

I covertly snapped a few pictures, because I wasn't exactly sure if it was allowed, but I really wanted to document this experience.....I am SO proud.

I have to say that I am stock full of emotions right now. I have been for the last month to be honest. I opened up my Etsy shop in May and then closed it up for 7 weeks in the summer when we were in Europe, so basically I've had it open for only 6 months....and it really has been such a whirlwind. Thankfully, my husband has become so completely indispensable with this business that I can no longer say that this is my business. It is ours. Without his strength in business, marketing, and all things technical, I couldn't have come this far. That is the truth of the matter. And that is why I can say with complete humility and pride: that we have had a successful 6 months.

The emotions I am going through though, are feelings of elation with multiple doses of fatigue and excitement. Have I mentioned that I am a gemini?? I do happen to feel all emotions in the 'emotion spectrum' to their absolute fullest! hahaha!! I guess that means I am also a bit (bit might not be the word my husband would use) moody and passionate.

So, we have been able to share a work schedule that we are still fine-tuning to meet the needs of our business (we are sitting down and going over this again tonight!). We have to share it without both of us working full time because we also have our two young ones at home. So we split time with them and working, but I can't tell you how satisfied we feel at the end of the day working intensely on our business and creating so, so many shared memories and experiences as a family.

There are mucho, mucho ideas and plans on the board, but this post is already reaching its limit! I'll save some of this for later ;)

Sorry, again, for the sporadic posts....it will get better!!

Almost....but not quite a week

That's how long I've been gone :( I guess it goes without saying that I've been busy...so that's my reason for being a delinquent blogger! I did take some time off over the weekend to spend some much needed time with my family. I got some work in, but not too much.

We also spent some time getting all of this loveliness up.....

We got a fresh blanket of snow yesterday.

This is what I am peering at from inside my warm, toasty house....

I think it is so beautiful. Quiet, too.

I have a full day ahead of me and I am making some new work as well. I slipped it in. I've realized that is how I have to plan my days. Otherwise when it is busy I'll never get new work posted in my shop. I think its good to do this for several reasons: First, I have customers who love one of a kind pieces and by not having a good selection in my shop I am totally ignoring them. Secondly, its good for my soul. I love to play with silver and stone and that completes the artist in me. I do have to say once again that I am so, so happy that there are many of you who are drawn to my 'made to order' designs. I've been making Amber Burst and Petite Amber rings like a mad woman!! :) This has been a great year for me. Really.

I foresee my time here being a bit sporadic this month: Hey - its the biggest shopping season of the year, right! ;) I will really try to write more often than once a week though.....because that's just bad!

Until next time....;)

Almost back to normal...

I'll be working late again tonight....but everything goes to the gallery tomorrow morning! Woo-hoo, I'm almost done :) To keep me pumped today I blasted this song over and over and over....

I think I still have the New Order cassette tape with this song floating around somewhere in a box with other pieces of junk that I am sentimetally attached to and have dragged with me over the last 15 years ;)

I've been working on orders from this past weekend's sale as well and I'll be able to finish them up and send them off on their merry ways this week.

Off to work! ;)

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!