Autumnal

Is there anyone who doesn't love fall? If there is, I just don't understand. All that cool, fresh air after the heat of the summer? And the rain! The rain here in the PNW is maybe my favorite thing in the whole world (followed very closely by Roots' cabin socks). Especially this year after our terribly hot, dry summer (and yes, that's right my Kansan friends, I now consider 80 degrees farenheit oppresively hot). I am *so* relieved that autumn is here again.  

I guess it also helps that the end of summer brings the return of my beloved Lucy from her annual summer trip to Kansas. 

I sure did miss that smile!  

But it was a good and fairly productive summer. The best part of it was that Alice actually enjoyed spending time with me in my new, big studio space (I *still* haven't snapped any shots of it - I'm just going to have to do that, mess and all), so I was able to bring her to the studio and get a lot more work done this summer than I have in summers past.  

By far my favorite project of the season was tackling these big-ass (come on, at 6mm wide and 2mm thick they are big-ass, there's no other way to put it) 14k yellow gold bands for Beaumont Studio-mates and candle-makers extraordinaire, Nick & Farouk at Vancouver Candle Company. These beauties are now also available as a made-to-order item in the shop: 

In other news, I will once again be participating in the Etsy Made in Canada Market - in just two short weeks! Come by and see me in booth 14 (across from the Etsy Booth) in Robson Square, Saturday Sept. 26th. If last year was any indication, it should be a lot of fun!! Until then, I'll be a busy, busy bee building pieces for the show and filling orders! And oh, I'll probably fit in a little puddle jumping. 

We're All Mad Here

The Mad Hatter: You're not the same as you were before. 

You were much more... "muchier." You've lost your "muchness." 

Alice: My "muchness?" 

The Mad Hatter: (Points to Alice's heart) In there.

I recently re-watched Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland, and was inspired to create a line of rings for the Muchy Alice at the end of the film. Warrior Alice. The Alice who can slay a dragon! 

Or maybe... maybe they're actually for the Alice at the beginning of the film. To remind her that she *is* the Alice at the end of the film...

Wear this ring and summon your muchness.

In the shop here 

(sorry, the turquoise one is already gone, but I promise there will be more!). 

~~~~~

I've had a rather unproductive couple of weeks in the studio (sick kids, pro-d days, just some-of-those-days, blah, blah, blah), but it all turned out okay since these rings were the final result and I am so so in love with them. I have a few more things near completion on my bench and will definitely be making more of these also!

I trust you all had a good Halloween. Halloween is always kind of a big deal in our family. It was always our favorite, but then our "little" one decided to come into the world on that day five years ago and now it's especially extra special.

And I have to say, Vancouver does Halloween well. 

We had so much fun trick or treating last night.

I've never seen a neighborhood so in the spirit.

So many spooky houses.

Grown ups playing witches and ghouls and goblins.

Fireworks!

Even honest-to-goodness fog.

It was straight out of a movie set. 

Couldn't have been more perfect.

Happy Friday, my friends!

xo

Giving Thanks

This past weekend was Thanksgiving here in the Great White North. One of the best parts about moving back to Canada is that we have more frequent visits from my family. We were graced with the company of my brother and his lovely wife for part of this weekend and we made the best of it! 

We are having the most amazing fall! Last year it had already rained a lot by now and we'd settled well into our wellies, but this season has been dry and sunny and glorious! I don't mind the rain (I love how impossibly green it makes the forest!) but I'm doing my best to appreciate every single moment of sun before the rains come.

I've continued to be productive in the studio. I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to work there. I love everything about it. Even getting there. We are a one-car family so I often take public transit and I even love my bus rides! One morning I was literally moved to tears by the amount kindness I witnessed as I watched strangers interact with each other during my 10 minute commute. 

People are good, when it comes right down to it.

I also love that my new building is a whirlwind of artistic activity. There are always models coming and going for fashion show fittings, or artists nervously preparing for show openings, or filmakers filming, or party planners planning... not to mention the regulars, making art in the studios around me. It's impossible not to be inspired. And the best part is that even with all of this creative energy and activity just outside of my glass-doored studio, I can close the door, turn on my music, turn my back to the action, and be in my own creative space, just like that. 

A few new items in the shop. In addition to adding some new options for mens/unisex wedding bands, I've also finished this beast:

Sterling silver (but of course) and New Mexican Apache Rhyolite. Size 7

And two bracelets:

Double Strand Bracelet, Sterling Chain and Seed Beads

 And this, the first of several made-to-order bangles I will be adding to the shop:

I've also worked on several custom orders and have a few other pieces near completion on the bench. 

I can't wait to get back to work tomorrow. 

How lucky am I? 

xo

Color Therapy

Today I spent a couple of hours stringing beads. It was meditative and the resulting color explosion made my heart happy. Though I suppose that also could have been due to the sunshine that graced us with its warmth on this glorious autumn day. 

A Vancouverite never takes a sunny day for granted. 

I ended up gifting these babies away, but they were just a beginning. These seed beads popped up in some of my designs last week and now they're just begging me to incorporate them into some work in a bigger way. 

Stay tuned. 

xo

My blasted computer died!

This weekend we spent some time traveling around eastern rural Kansas visiting some farms on the annual Kaw Valley Farm Tour. You might remember the bison from last year! Unfortunately, the bison farm wasn't on the tour this year, but that gave us the chance to visit some new farms.

I took tons of pics, and was excited to share, but as I was processing them on Sunday, my laptop gave up the ghost. It's currently on its way to the Toshiba service depot for repairs (thankfully it's still under warranty). No idea how long I'll be without it.

So... I guess no photos for a while.

Except for these few that I managed to upload to Flickr before the big crash...

(Corn field, freshly harvested)

(and the most adorable farm cat award goes to...)

(Hyacinth bean)

And that's all for now (and indefinitely!).

Expect a barrage of photos whenever I get my laptop back!!

In studio news, I'm working on a few custom orders and at least one or two new items for the shop this week. I'm also waiting on a supply order and then I'll be listing the leaf necklace that sold (from my last post) as a made-to-order item.

I'm off to enjoy another lovely Kansas autumn afternoon with my girls!

xo

Oh give me a home...

Guess what I got to see today?!

That's right! We spent the day exploring local farms as a part of the annual Kaw Valley Farm Tour. Of course the highlight for me were the bison! Alice was also especially enamored with them:

She cried when we left. And said "bye bye buff" all the way to the next farm.

Where we met...

The alpacas. Which were Aidan's favorite:

And our final stop was Pendelton's Country Market Farm:

where Aidan and I did the "no left turn" maze. We only made it out with help:

It was a perfectly Kansan way to spend a crisp autumn Saturday!

Welcome Autumn!

One new item, in celebration of the autumnal equinox (already in the shop!):

Rusticated sterling silver bangle with charms of carnelian, aventurine and hematite.

And a couple of scenes from the backyard where Lilah was getting into mischief and picking baby pumpkins from the patch!

Happy first weekend of fall!

xo