I Can't Predict...

...what will sell at a show...

Last Sunday I participated in the Cypress Point Circle Holiday Bazaar for CHKD. The 6th Annual show. My 1st time. Fabulous publicity. Some of my pieces made their television debuts!

I had THREE full tables to work with and I FILLED the tables up with jewelry. As I was unpacking my jewelry and feverishly trying to design an alluring display, I thought about my Smithsonian ELITE Series. I left it unpacked. Undecided. Would people really be interested? Sometimes they are; sometimes they're not. I walked around the show and checked out the other jewelry vendors. Their pieces were a lot less expensive than mine. And this particular collection consists of more high end pieces...

I arrived THREE hours early for the show as I couldn't sleep and at the last minute I decided to display the collection since I had so much room anyway and you never know...

Well, guess which collection received a LOT of attention??? If you guessed the Smithsonian ELITE Series, you guessed correctly! People were enchanted with the history of the beads. And they PURCHASED pieces!

I am always happy to sell pieces, but I am most happy when someone feels excited about a purchase!

"Mint Julip" - Pre WWII Czech Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!

yellowishious

Today was sponsored by the color yellow! It seems like (almost) everything I created was yellow or had yellow in it!

I was thinking today about the competitiveness between jewelry artists. I don't concern myself much with it. But I notice it. Here is my advice: create what you love; create what makes you happy!

("Fae Jaune" Bracelet - Lustrous Cat's Eye, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver! Earrings to match!)

Meet Adriana...

"Adriana" (from Comedy of Errors) is one of the newest sets in The Elizabethan Collection!

("Adriana" - Handmade Lampwork Glass, Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

has it been a month? OMG!

WOW! Time really does fly! I stopped designing for a bit while I unpacked and settled into my new place. But I am back to work now! I have titled this photo "A Drop In The Bucket" because this is just a small taste of my newest creations!

Featured in this photo of all bracelets: From The Elizabethan Collection - "Helena," "Adriana," and "Calpurnia." From The Natural Stone Collection: "Purple Haze." From The Fresh & Fun Collection: "Orange Chakra 2" and "Fiesta 2."

Waiting (Impatiently Tapping My Foot) For Spring

("Les Fleurs Jonquil" - Swarovski Crystal & Sterling Silver!)

Take Two...

Okay... so we took a few more photos today. Still no better. It's me. It's totally me. Just not in the mood to smile I guess.

I created the set in the photo for The La Motta Art Show 2008. The first time I wore it with a bombshell red satin dress. But today it was jeans and bare feet all the way!

You probably can't tell, but I am sitting on my favorite red stool - my painting stool - and draping my legs over the back of it... Comfy? Not so much! Maybe one of the reasons I am not smiling! LOL

("Flame Dancer" - Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

what is she doing with her hands?

All I can do is try to get a few decent photos of me wearing some of my own jewelry. Today? Apparently not my day. Tomorrow? Tomorrow is another day. And I will try again. For your amusement - your viewing pleasure (or not) - I offer up one of the pics from today's shoot... Is it me or do I look totally pissed?

(The Mid-Night Cowgirl Collection - Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

i can't wait...

... to introduce you to the newest bracelet in The Elizabethan Collection: Viola! From Shakespeare's Twelfth Night! Also the name of my mother's mother...

("Viola" - Premium Handmade Lampwork Glass Flowers, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

i heart you

If I ran the world, every day would be Valentine's Day. Or something like it anyway. Each day would be devoted to showing others how much you love and appreciate them.

("Kate" - From The Elizabethan Collection - Handmade Lampwork Glass, Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

desire

i desire to be perfect sometimes

it's a flaw to be sure

on the best of days i desire

nothing more than to be

just be

("Lantern" Bracelet & "Bloom" Earrings - Vintage Hand-painted Chinese Porcelain, Pressed Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

Imogen

"Imogen" - The newest addition to the Elizabethan Collection!

("Imogen" - Handmade Lampwork Glass, Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

today we celebrate; tomorrow we work

Today, I raise my glass for Obama, his adminstration, and to us all...

("of Wine and Roses" - Handmade Lampwork Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

walking the labyrinth

There is no way to describe my experiences walking the labyrinth. Each time I walk the experience is different.

Three years ago I walked a labyrinth on New Year's Day. I had made plans to walk this particular labyrinth. One of the women who created it came out in the freezing rain and snow to open it for me. "Take your time," she said. "We are so blessed that you have chosen to walk our labyrinth on the first day of the new year."

I was with a man who did not want to be there. "I'll wait in the truck," he said. He wasn't happy with me. I didn't care. He had brought his dog along and I figured they could keep each other company. I knew I had to walk. And nothing, including his displeasure, was going to stop me.

The labyrinth was built into the side of a hill and completely honored the original landscaping. The walk was treacherous. Rocks. Sudden deep puddles. Unexpected large roots of trees jutting out of the ground. As I walked, to my left was an old run down barn filled with outdated and broken tools and machines. In that moment, those behaviors and beliefs which no longer served me passed before my eyes and I realized they were of the past. I continued my walk. In front of me was a forest. Beautiful. Lush. Overgrown. A little frightening. For a moment, I gazed into my unconscious - into my potential - into the unknown. I wondered how I might tap into that potential and use it for good. My answer came immediately as the next thing I saw was a church. It was situated on a nearby hill a good distance from where I was standing. I knew my path through the unknown required a return to my spiritual path, the path of faith from which I had strayed. Suddenly, a feeling of love and warmth moved through me and despite my wet and frozen feet, I actually began to sweat. I stood motionless and stared at the church for a good long while. Finally, it was time to complete my walk. In front of me, in the place where I began but didn't notice until now, was a beautiful garden center with plants and statues and windchimes and signs with encouraging words engraved on them and one of the women who created this labyrinth. She was patiently quietly lovingly working in a tiny building. In that moment, she was me and I was she. We were one. We were at peace. My walk was complete. Almost...

I thanked the labyrinth. I prayed for all those who had walked it before me and all who would follow. I prayed they would receive the peace and grace and love I felt in this moment; I prayed they would receive whatever they needed. I thanked the woman. "No, thank you. You have truly blessed us on this day." I loved her in that moment. I still love her.

Happy and fulfilled, I walked back to the truck where the man who did not want to be there was waiting for me. As I got back into the truck he was laughing. I thought perhaps the labyrinth had worked on him as well. Then he said, "While you were gone, me and Jack (his dog) had to take a piss. So we walked to that church over there (my church, my future) and we both pissed on the building." He continued to laugh, obviously pleased with himself.

Yes, the labyrinth worked on both of us that day. We were both able to be finally finally true to ourselves.

("Labyrinth #2" - Malachite, Swarovski Crystals, Hill Tribe Silver Charms, & Sterling Silver!)

Feelin' Blue

Today I went to The Town Traveler for the last time. The Town Traveler is a store that featured Cosmic Geisha Jewelry. The truth of the matter is this: Shirley, the owner of the store, is the main reason I began designing jewelry. I will miss the store. I will miss Shirley and Lisa and Diana and Mark and Anne and the free bottle of room temperature water which was always provided for my refreshment. I will miss their excitement and enthusiasm over each new piece I brought to the store. I will miss the possibilities...

("Princess #1" - Gorgeous Hand-Faceted Blue Quartz, Cracked Quartz, Swarovski Crystals, & Sterling Silver!)

Ah the sea glass, shells and coral days...

I grew up in a small town along the coast of Connecticut - Niantic.

During the summer, whenever we could, we walked to the beach where we spent our days swimming out to the raft, avoiding jellyfish and crabs, digging holes in the sand near the shore to create our own wading pools, eating peanut butter, jelly, and sand sandwiches, looking out at the big rock to see if the shark was there, and combing the beach for shells and sea glass.

I love going back even now. Maybe it's me, but the beach seemed a lot bigger then.

("Coral" - Coral & Sterling Silver!)