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

Forest Nymphs

The girls and I had to entertain ourselves all weekend as Dr. Foxy was a very busy beaver (hmm... mixed metaphor? oh well, it stays). 

We managed okay, my little forest nymphs and I.

Oh, and as promised I listed a couple of new rings. There's still a turquoise Wonderland Ring on the bench that's being a bit of a boor, but it should be up sometime this week. 

 SOLD

Available here

It was a busy week in the shop! I spent today restocking necessities in the shop and filling some made-to-order orders. 

A day making wedding bands is always a good day. 

Thank you all for your lovely support! It means the world!

xo

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

Slacker!

Oh boy... it's been a really long time since I've blogged!

But I promise it's not because I'm lazy. We've had so much going on!

My parents came to visit over spring break and we had such a beautiful time. 

There were picnics:

Educational field trips:

 (sorry, you know I can't resist!)

And theatrics!

Although apparently neither the girls nor Stephanie were impressed ;)

 Tough crowd.

 (but they sure are pretty!)

Since my last update I've also made (a little) jewelry:

(Chrysoprase and Sterling, in the shop now)

And I worked on a large custom piece that took a whole week of studio time to complete (and was so worth it! I'll share pictures when I can).

AND I revamped the Buffalo Lucy website. Check it out and let me know what you think!

I do have one other piece of exciting news to share! This spring I'll be participating in my first show! I'll have a booth at the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair! Click on the "blog" link on the top right corner of their page and you can see their blog feature on me as well as a bunch of the other artists that will be at this show. I hope to see some of you there in Kansas City on June 1st and 2nd!

That's all for now! I'm checking major to-dos off my list left and right (taxes? check! midterms? check! Post midterm papers? check!) and will have new work for the shop shortly. I've got a leather and mookaite bracelet near completion on my bench right now--hopefully in the shop this weekend or on Monday).

Ta ta for now!

xo

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

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.

Finally Some New Work!

I know, it's been a while! I've been busy working on custom work, caring for sick kids, and, well, other stuff. But I finally have some new work ready for the shop. And more coming. 

Here's a preview:

Vintage Orange Glass set in sterling silver with hand pierced leaves sprouting into a dainty sterling chain

Carnelian and Sterling (size 6)

and finally, moonstone (size 7)

All will be in the shop tomorrow.

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

xo

Vacation!

Ahhhh... 

We're one week into our vacation (Foxy's been calling it a "Fake-ation" since she's having to work) and so far what I'm enjoying most is the weather! Today we reached a (contested) record high back home. 111°F! Who can even live like that? That's what I want to know.

Here in Western Mass we've been having highs in the 80s and nights cool enough to sleep comfortably without air conditioning (unheard of in the summer in Kansas!). I must say, we timed this well.

I haven't been taking a whole lot of pictures (a few I've posted on instagram and my personal facebook page) because I'm too busy enjoying the time with my girls. So far there's been roller skating, beach-going, ocean swimming, sun bathing, lobster-roll-eating, planetarium-ing, ice cream licking, Pictionary playing, wine drinking, garden gazing, playground-frolicking, long-walking, and lots of laughing.

It's been quite a change of pace for me compared to the whirlwind weeks leading up to this trip. I miss being in my studio terribly, but I suppose it's also good for me to have the time away so I'll appreciate it all the more when I get back to the bench (especially now that it's my full time job!! Eeek!)

Speaking of being in the studio, here is a shot of the custom order that kept me working until the very night before we left:

A very special order for some very special friends (who happen to be minding the zoo at this very moment! Thank you M, P, & A, for taking such great care of our house and pets!!). Three acorns for a mom and her two daughters. A special set of matching necklaces to mark the closing of one chapter of their lives and the start of another.

It ended up being quite a challenge, technically, but in the end was *so* worth it. I am really, really pleased with the results (as were, I believe, the recipients). Plus I learned some new techniques and finally got to work with amber for the first time.

~~~

Two more weeks before we head back to the surface of the sun. I mean Kansas. I'm sorry, fellow Kansans, I don't mean to rub it in. But damn. 111? Yuck.

Hot as Heck!

I remember pretty much every 4th of July since I moved to Kansas (14 years ago!) as the turning point for unbearable weather. From here until about the first week in October (I moved here on October 3, 1997 and I still remember the feeling of walking off that plane into the stifling heat and humidity like it was yesterday) we don't really spend much time outside. Thank goodness we're heading to Northampton in a few weeks and will get to hit the beach at least a few times!

In other news, I've added a new made-to-order ring to the shop. 

Textured and oxidized sterling and one tiny garnet.

1/2" wide band (but can be made smaller if you wish). Made to order in your size. In the shop now. 

Don't forget, the giveaway is still open until Friday the 8th! I'll accept entries until noon CST and I'll announce the winner here Friday evening. 

Have a safe and fun weekend, y'all!

xo