A Day in the Studio

December 15th, 2014 

 @ The Beaumont Studios 

Vancovuer, BC

News, News & More News

So many things!

First of all, I'm so excited to finally be able to announce that Buffalo Lucy will be one of a select few (30, I think) etsy shops that will be represented at the first Etsy Holiday Pop Up Shop hosted right here in Vancouver! Details are still spilling out, but I know it will be held at thisopenspace 434 Columbia St. from Nov. 13th-19th! 

Second, I'm relaunching my email list. I started one a few years back but never really kept up with it. I realize now that it's really a great way to get the news out to my regulars and those of you who would like to know when I have something special to share. Especially since Facebook gets to decide who sees my posts and who doesn't (rather than you or I). So if you haven't already signed up, go here and get in on it. It will be worth it, I think (and i promise not to bug you too much!). 

Third, I realize it's been a *really* long time since I've had a giveaway and with all the thinking and planning I've been doing for the holidays (holiday shipping deadlines, ordering extra shipping supplies, submitting my inventory list for the Holiday Pop Up shop, etc.), I'm getting into the holiday spirit already. So... keep an eye on my social media accounts (and maybe my email list ;) ) because I'm going to be giving something good away very soon! 

Finally, here are those holiday ordering deadlines I just mentioned. I know, it's hard to believe that it's already time to be thinking about this, but it is. 

Also, I think I've added more new things to the shop since I last posted! Whew! Busy busy!! 

Can I Lie Down Now?

Whew!

What a month!

The Etsy Vancouver show was a huge success (it even maybe made me want to do more shows... maybe). I was shocked at the turnout! I don't know what the actual numbers were, but I didn't get a chance to sit down and take a breather for the entire 7 hours! My devoted wife and children were kind enough to bring me lunch but I was only able to sneak in a couple of bites between swarms of people at my table. It was lovely! :)

I was so busy, in fact, that I didn't have time to take many photos. But I snapped a couple:

(my little helper back there!)

I was very happy with my little set-up and got so many compliments from kind shoppers! I was worried that I wouldn't have enough product, but it turned out to be just right. Not so much that it was overwhelming, and not so little that I ran out of anything (actually, that's not true, I ran out of many sizes and styles of stacking rings, but I brought a LOT of those, so I did my best! ;) ). 

I was so busy in the month leading up to this show, trying to build up my inventory so I'd have a tablefull, that I literally worked until 2 and 3 in the morning (after coming home for dinner and to help put the children to bed) more nights than not. It was madness. But long hours in the studio is the best kind of madness I can think of. I almost didn't do the show because I knew how much work it would be starting from scratch, and meeting my clients face-to-face is a little out of this hermit's comfort zone - but I'm so glad I did it. As is almost always the case, stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new was absolutely worth it. 

I owe a debt of gratitude to my amazing wife for giving me so much time and taking on so much of the lone-parenting duties over that month! Especially since she's also working ridiculously long hours as a tenure-track assistant professor. I love you honey!! 

And now that I've caught back up on orders… and sleep… I've spent the last three days taking and editing photographs of the pieces I have left and listing them in the shop.

Here are just a few of the new items I've listed over the last two days:

Shield Rings in Labradorite, Prehnite, and Moonstone 

 Glass Seed Bead Strand Necklaces

 Gemstone Studs

Lots of Rings! 

 Sterling Stacking Rings

 This necklace (one of several new necklaces!)

 Labradorite, labradorite, labradorite!

So head on over to the shop and check it out. Some of the items are made to order but many of them are one-of-a-kind and ready to ship. 

Saw, Solder, Sand, Repeat…

Here's an example of just a few of the pieces I've been working for the Etsy Vancouver show for Etsy's Made in Canada Day, September 27th (find me under the dome of the "ice rink" at Robson Square!). 

There's a lot more where that came from but I'll break it up into several posts. 

More in a few days! 

xo

Check this baby out!

I had to hold onto these pictures for a little while because this one was being given as a gift and I couldn't ruin the surprise! Well, the flashy hunk of amethyst and silver you see below has happily found her way home so now I can share!

Isn't she a beauty?! It's a good thing it was claimed before I even built it otherwise I surely would have kept this one for myself. 

♥  

I've got my nose to the grindstone trying to pump out some work for the big Etsy Vancouver show coming up in a month! And filling orders. Be advised that I may have to put the shop on vacation for a short stint so I can focus solely on building stock. But we'll see... 

Keep an eye right here and on my FaceBook page for some sneak peeks of work that will be available at the show. 

Snippets of Summer

And once again I've let the blog fall to the wayside… 

You've been keeping me so busy in the studio! I am incredibly grateful! It has been a struggle just to keep up with my orders this summer and I couldn't be happier about it. With the kids being out of school and all of the fabulous summertime distractions this city has to offer, it has, unfortunately, also meant that studio time is at a premium and I haven't had much of a chance to add anything new to the shop in the way of one-of-kind work--but I'll have some news about that in a minute!

In non-jewelry-but-still-creative news: after taking a bit of a hiatus from photography (except for product shots), I've been slinging my camera over my shoulder again before heading out the door in the mornings and trying to capture at least a few shots every day. It feels good. 

So… some pretty big news on the work front!

I applied to and have been accepted to show at Etsy Vancouver for Etsy's big Made in Canada Market on September 27th! As a general rule I don't really do shows (nor do I use the term "as a rule"), so this is a kind of a big deal. Mark your calendars and come out and see me and my jewelry (and the work of many other talented Etsians) at Robson Square. 

Once again I'll be a busy little Canadian beaver building up stock for the show until then. And for those of you who aren't local, the good news is that whatever doesn't sell at the show (there is sure to be plenty) will go into the etsy shop afterwards. So there should be a good supply of new ready-to-ship work available, just in time Christmas. ;)

My next post should have some fun shots of some pretty fabulous pieces I've been working on lately. I'm just not allowed to share them yet! 

Until then...

Xo

Oh, hey.

Been a while. 

I apologize. 

Life has been a little hectic since the holidays. 

I mean, life around here is always a little hectic, and actually I've been making an effort to stop and BREATHE a little more these days (literally - I've taken up Moksha Yoga and meditation), and I guess the blog has, unfortunately, been relegated to the end of the priority list. 

I'll try to make more of an effort.

she's said that before

Mostly, I've been busy making jewelry! Wow! I've been a busy little metalsmith since November. 

I spend at least two days a week in my studio making nothing but wedding rings. 

What an honor. 

I am still so incredibly amazed and touched that you lovely people entrust me with such an important task. I love the fact that my rings are out there, being worn by men and women (and women and women and men and men), as symbols of their love and commitment. I do my best to make each one with intention (never mindlessly), and to spend a little time as I'm sawing and filing and soldering and sanding focusing on the love and passion and friendship and partnership that the silver I'm working will eventually come to symbolize. It's been such a pleasure and I'm looking forward to adding even more ring styles to my line in the near future (and gold, gold is on the horizon). 

Speaking of jewelry that's an honor to create, over the winter holidays I had the immense and humbling pleasure of being asked to produce one of the most meaningful pieces of jewelry I've worked on yet:

 A hollow form pendant built to house a portion of the cremated remains of the wearer's recently departed partner.

The sides of the pendant have been filed to resemble my signature wedding rings.

Thank you, Meggan, so much, for granting me the honour of creating this piece with you (and Mikel). It was an incredible honor and I feel like my studio is a different place now that it has contained the vibrant spirit of your love.

♥

As for other pieces in the works, when I'm not busy filling wedding ring orders, I am most certainly still creating one-of-a-kind art jewelry and regularly updating the shop. There's a new Wonderland Ring in there, a recent addition of gemstone stacking rings (made-to-order in your size and choice of stones), and various other pieces come and gone (you'll have to check the sold section to see those).  If you missed anything, make sure to follow my Facebook page - I try to post new work there as I list it.

Now here's to spring!
xo