At this moment...

These adorable little hands are tucked under that adorable little chin while tiny snores escape that adorable little nose.  All snuggled up under my arm right here on the couch (I'm typing one-handed).
♥

I made a couple of things last week.  I actually worked on three (plus some made-to-order wedding rings), but the porcelain  jasper necklace didn't quite get completed. It should be ready sometime next week.

So this week was all turquoise, baby!

A nice big, chunky ring:


And some swishy swashy feathery earrings:

(sold)

Oh, and I have a new friend!  His name is Tonka (short for Tatanka). Here he is celebrating Kansas' birthday last week (taken with my iphone):

He's kind of a party animal.

Speaking of parties... who's watching the Super Bowl today?

not me

New Week, New Work

Happy Monday!

Despite my slow start last week, I ended up having a pretty productive one. I didn't finish everything that was on my list for the week, but I did send off four wedding rings (have I mentioned how much I love making wedding rings? What an honor!)

And I made these two vintage glass rings and listed them in the shop:

(sold)

(I was feeling especially generous on Friday so these are listed at a special price -- get them while you can!)

This week I'm picking back up where I left off. I'll have some turquoise and porcelain jasper and maybe some more faceted gems for the cog series in the shop later in the week.

See you then!
xo

Out of Commission

Today was the first sick day I've taken since I became my own boss.

The feeling that my head could barely contain my sinuses was more than I could handle this morning and as soon as I shuffled the kids out the door I turned around and crawled right back into bed. 

Now I'm drowning my ailments in chai.

I feel antsy about not working. I want to work. But the fact that I broke a stone and destroyed a bezel yesterday (remember that boulder opal necklace I promised you? Yeah, not so much...) helped me to accept the fact that maybe I should step away from the tools today.

But I'm excited about what's on the docket this week. A little turquoise, some porcelian jasper, and vintage glass. Rings and necklaces.

And next week I'll be making more cog in the machine rings and maybe even a cog in the machine necklace or two. Lots of faceted sparkling goodness.
Can't wait to get back at it!

Stay well, my friends!
xo

Wait... Where'd it go?!

The week, that is. I feel like it slipped right through my fingers!

Not that I have nothing to show for it. In fact, considering I've been single-parenting it again this week I think I was actually quite productive! But thank the good lord that the Foxy one gets home tomorrow. 

I'm exhausted.

I added a couple of things to the shop today. I still have a boulder opal necklace that didn't make it into this shop update, so that one will come some time next week. For now I've got two new rings. This first one I'm really excited about. It's my first time working with faceted gemstones. It's not a flat-backed cab, it's a brilliant-cut amethyst and its light-reflecting goodness reaches all the way down to the bottom of the four layers of sterling sheet that make up this piece. 

You're not just a cog in the machine

You're unique and beautiful

 and you bring your own brand of sparkle wherever you go.

Also in the shop now is this "little" aventurine number:

Something about the green color of this ring felt very calming to me so I added the word "PEACE" to the band.

So despite my raw fingertips and the fact that the house is complete and utter disaster, it was darn good week. And now  I'm off to put the little one (who at this very moment is emptying the contents of the junk drawer onto the dining room floor) to bed and then I just might tidy up the house a little. And then I'm going to poor myself a glass of wine and take a bath. 

Happy weekend my friends!

xo

OH!! And just because I'm in a good mood on this Friday the 13th, I've decided to have a little weekend sale. Use code JUSTBECAUSE at checkout to get 20% off anything in the shop this weekend.

Whew!

Happy new year and all that. No resolutions or "one word" or big this-is-how-it's-going-to-be post from me this year. I'm just digging right in!

I have to say, I'm more than a little relieved the kids are back in school. We had a really nice winter break but by the end I was getting a little... testy. And so ready to get back in the studio! I really only got one day of work in during the break. It was so nice to finally be back to the regular routine today.

I finished up some custom work and made to order pieces today but I have so much else on the go and ready to start. I can't wait to share it all with you! Hopefully I'll have at least a few new pieces for you next week. And some with *faceted* gemstones! (Gasp!)

In other news, after a short burn-out break, Aidan has hit the sewing machine hard once again. Here she is making the most of her last day of break:

And this is what she made, all with no help from me this time! She also made two other pillows (one for her sister and one for her Mama Stephanie who wasn't feeling well) and a blanket with a pocket for her stuffed animal (which she also made). She's a machine, I tell you!



She really, really wants to open an etsy shop.