New Designs

Now that I have the time to do it, I've been focusing on my jewelry and creating new designs. I've also been challenging myself to work on some new techniques, pushing out the designs that I have and exploring certain themes. You'll see more bezel set work incorporating vintage cabachons - I've been so lucky to find some good ones (check out the two pieces below).

I've also been torturing myself with these miniscule glass flowers that my friend Jill Popowich gave to me. They have about a 50% mortality rate so far, but I'm hoping to improve. For those interested in these pieces, they should wear well and not be fragile - as long as you aren't hammering on them like I do.

Still Life

I love still lifes. I especially love perfect little still lifes that you stumble upon, particularly sparse ones that occur by chance. While photographing some new pieces yesterday I noticed this nice little still life in our kitchen. A little pile of fresh bay leaves that I was drying for future use and a stack of fabric napkins. So simple, so serene that I couldn't help taking a picture of it. In this 250 year old cabin I live in, these still lifes are everywhere.

Weekend Sale: Necklaces!

To kick off the weekend (yes, Valentine's Day weekend) I am having a sale on my best seller - necklaces. 15% off all weekend long just for you. Also, my sale was featured in this week's Etsy "Weekend Deal" email and blog feature, which is very exciting. Thanks to Mary in admin and Etsy for the feature.

• To take advantage of the sale, please enter the code "kisskiss" at checkout and you will be refunded via paypal. Have a lovely Valentine's Day and a restful weekend.

The Man Bracelet and My New Life

Well, we never know where life is going to take us right? For months I've been slammed with tons of Etsy orders, shows and more. At the same time, I was working at a demanding day job, fantasizing about the day I could just work on my art. All of the sudden that day is now. Here I am with no job and all day to work on my jewelry, starting yesterday. It's a little shocking, but exciting at the same time. For instance, I could go for a hike - right in the middle of the day or write this blog entry. It might take me a little while to wrap my mind around this.

On another subject, I was commissioned to create a "man bracelet" for a very nice Baltimore girl a few weeks ago. Her boyfriend is Mexican and we brainstormed different Mexican themes and landed on Day of the Dead. I'm so happy with the way this bracelet turned out. I'm especially proud of the little skull that I sawed out by hand, and the manly badass quality of this bracelet. It was such a thrill to be challenged and to spend a lot of time developing one piece, sort of like being back in art school (except without the stress and grades). It was the perfect project for me right now, and I dropped it off in person right after I left my day job for the last time on Friday. Pretty symbolic, I think.

I heart Baltimore Magazine!

On December 5th, the ladies of BEST (Baltimore Etsy Stree Team) threw a party to celebrate the December "Made in Baltimore" feature in Baltimore Magazine at the Budda Lounge. Our party actually made it into the Baltimore Main Event section of the magazine this month. I've never been featured in the social section of a magazine (my parent's synagog newspaper really doesn't count) and I have to say, it's pretty exciting.

In case you're curious, I'm the girl with her arms in the air, second to the right, in the bottom picture. Good times!