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. 

Letting Go

Once again, it's been about a lifetime since I last posted. There is just always so much going on and even though writing and blogging feel important to me, they rarely make it to the top of the list. Sometimes I feel like there is SO MUCH I want to get done that I start to feel a little panicky about the fact that there will never be enough hours in the day to make all of the things, write all of the words, take all of the photos, read all of the books, appreciate all of the art, AND be the best parent and partner that I can be. And then I just have to take a deep breath, let it all go, and remember that there will be the time that there is to do what I can do and that will be enough. Instead of panicking about the things I'm not getting to do, I need to LET GO, SLOW DOWN, and ENJOY the things I am doing. 

Like moving into a brand new studio, ALL MY OWN, and making pretty things out of silver. That's right - March of this year I moved out of my shared space and spread my wings into a space all my own. It's been a bit of a secret dream since I started this little venture five years ago to have my very own studio space to do with as I please, and now it's a reality! I've been waiting to take photos of my new studio until I put the final touches on the space, and that's taking a little longer than expected, but it's coming along! In the meantime, if you're local, feel free to come by and see me at the Old Beaumont building, Studio 5! Here's a sneak peek: 

And here are just a few of the new items I've added to my online shop since moving into the new space:

There's plenty more, but this is getting picture heavy, so stop by the etsy shop, or the shop link above to see what else is new! I'm adding new work on a pretty regular basis these days so don't forget to follow me on FB and Instagram for the latest. xo

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

Simon Says

Three new turquoise rings in the shop tomorrow.

Don't miss them!

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

Cat on a sill in late October (a short photo series)

Oh, and a few new items in the shop. ;)

Hope your Monday is moving along smoothly!

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

How to Spend a Sunday

Get up before sunrise (and the children), build a fire, 

sip coffee, spend two hours chatting with the love of your life.

When the kids wake up, snuggle by the fire

Enlist some help and do some gardening.

Admire your work.

Play with the dog.

Splash in puddles!

Then go inside, take a hot bath, and snuggle up on the couch!

xo

Oh Wow, Hello March!

Apparently February was not my month to blog!

As I type this, Jeff Buckley is crying achingly into my ear, "oh that was soooo reeeee-aaaaal," while the biggest, fluffiest snowflakes I've ever seen are fluttering past my window. 

Yesterday it was 70 degrees. 

So much happened in the last month that I had every intention of blogging about but just never made the time.

The month of February in pictures:

(a birthday present for my beautiful birthday girl)

(sold)


(sold)

(pink and blue sold, yellow available here)

And I think that about sums it up! February was good to me. My family is beautiful and amazing in every way. I made things and people bought them. We had every type of weather I love (snow, thunder, sun and warmth). What more could a girl like me ask for?
 I am blessed.

Here's to another beauty of a month!

xo