I am a jewelry designer with a love of all things beautiful. I am drawn to modern handcrafted lovelies. You will see them all as I discover them here on my blog. Enjoy!

psst.. and visit my shop to see these inspirations turned into jewelry.

Monday, June 29, 2009

A few new characters in my life

I want to introduce to you a few new characters in my life. These 3 little guys will be coming to you soon in the form of a ring, necklace, and earrings (wonder twin powers activate). I hope to have some pictures for you by Wednesday.

"Bird with a Beanie"

"Duck on a cold day" "Knock Knee'd Baby Dear"

By the way, you must check out the most useful giveaway I have seen in a long time. My friend Paige from Hammer, Stitch, Burn is giving away an animated gif for your shop. If you have ever done advertising on a blog you know that a free animated gif is a great value. While you are there, check out Paige's shop. Really beautiful jewelry - and can you believe that she is self taught?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Weekend Eye Candy - My fav's faves

I'm a day late - but not a dollar short! These are some of my favorites from my Flickr Faves. Have a wonderful weekend.

1. Custom Wedding Pendant, 2. OAW - FlowerPower, 3. Garden002, 4. Red Bird cameo pin made out of polymer clay, 5. Flowers and Vines Box Bead, 6. IMG_1957, 7. Under The Sea, 8. Untitled, 9. necklace

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tulips - silver and golden


I love flowers - shocking right? If you've read my blog for any amount of time you have probably already figured this out:) I just finished and posted 4 new pieces that are inspired by tulips and a little bit of folk art. While I was researching some reference art for the wedding rings below I came across this great folk art pattern. I'm sorry that I don't have the artist to credit, just the beautiful image. Anyways, I really liked the shapes in the painting. Here is my interpretation of it.

They are $64.50 each

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

a little bit - alright more like a lot!

I've been tagged. Read all about it:

What is your current obsession?

Macro photography. It started with getting a new fancy camera. But now I want a new fancy lense. Check out the detail in this picture. How can you not love it?
I can't believe that life looks like this up close.

What is your weirdest obsession?
hmmm, this is hard because I don't think any of my obsessions are weird. I think everything I love is completely normal - not that others would agree. Here's one, I can't kill bugs. Even snails that are eating all of my plants get gently moved to a separate part of the garden that is termed "Snail Lane".
Another obsession is that I need to have my refridgerator organiz
ed by food group category. All produce is in resealable zip locks with a paper towel to absorb extra moisture, next shelf is leftovers and breads, and the top shelf is dairies. Cheese and meat have their own drawer as does fruits. I'll even try to stuff a huge cantelope in the fruit drawer just because that's where it belongs.


What are you wearing today?
All new clothes!! I had a shopping spree at H&M a couple weeks ago. I got the BEST $15 jeans (which I had bought in the past for $40 and thought they were a steal). A sweet graphic tee and a striped teal/ivory cardigan.

What's for dinner?
My husband's out of town so dinner is much simpler. We had a salad, toast with mashed peas and mint on top, and chicken taquitos (that was the child's choice).

What would you eat for your last meal?
so easy! seaweed salad, sushi eel roll and spicy tuna roll.
if I was really hungry then I'd go for Canter's Reuban sandwich, fries, and a
pickle.

What's the last thing you bought?
ink for my printer

What are you listening to right now?
the hum of my very noisy computer. I might have to retire it soon.

What is your favorite ice-cream flavour?
Mint Chocolate Chip

What do you think of the person who tagged you?
I think Lori is so talented and such a wonderful positive spirit. I'm so happy to have found her.
and
Belinda is just a joy! Her paintings cheer me up everyday. I feel like sometimes we see things through the same eyes.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
as boring as this might sound, it would be right here in Los Angeles. Even more specifically within 5 blocks of my apartment. I love where I live and long for the day when we can have a house and a yard here.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Yucatan
What is your favorite colour?
blue (all shades although I lean towards green)

Which language do you want to learn?
Italian

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
a blue and white striped fitted jacket with frog closures and slits at the wrists. I bought it at Anthropologie about 8 years ago.

What's your favourite magazine?
favorite? gosh it's so hard to choose just one. I think my favorite is Readymade but followed by a close Martha Stewart living and InStyle magazine. Unfortunately many of my favorite mags have closed up this year.

If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
speakers


Favorite artist/s?
Elsa Mora

What's your favorite season and why?
I like the transitional seasons. It's the change in weather that I most appreciate it. So I love spring because you get these wonderful sunny breezy days after some damp cold ones. And then Fall because it's when the breeze returns after dry hot days.

Describe your personal style?
cheerful and comfortable. Lately I prefer jeans and cardigans, but I put a lot of focus on the colors, and the combination of colors.

What are you going to do after this?
sleep. I should be doing that now.

What are your favourite movies?
I love Closer, Lost in Translation, and Pan's Labrynth, All about my Mother (really anything by Pedro Almodóvar). I love a good story but at the end of the day it's really the aesthetics of the movie that determine if I love it. I typically fall in love with the look and the feeling of the movie. I just watched a beautiful film last night called "The House of Sand". Gorgeous!!!


What's your favourite fruit?
hands down - white peaches.

What inspires you?
other people's enthusiasm

What music do you like this week?
Adele

What is your dream job?
I'm living the dream:) If I only had 6 more hours in the day and could split my day between making jewelry and farming a backyard veggie garden.

What is stopping you?
It's the whole 6 extra hours in the day. I haven't figured that out yet.

If you could change something in the world to make it a better place what would that be?
With a magic wand I would give everyone vast amounts of TOLERANCE!!!!!!

What do you have planned for tomorrow?
Acupunture on my aching wrist. I'm optimistic that this will help. I'll also post a couple pieces to my Etsy shop and start rebuilding my inventory for my next show. It looks like a good day is heading my way.


The rules :
1. Respond and rework; answer the question on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.

I'm Tagging:
Lora Hart
Hammer, Stitch, Burn
Kendall (color)
Livewire Jewelry
OliveStreetStudios
Marbella Designs
SassyGlass Designs
Inside the Artisan

A bear marries a bird

I just finished up some wedding bands that I made for a really cool couple. First they sent me some examples of art that they liked and mentioned that they like Salvador Dali and concert posters from the 60's and 70's.

Then I sent back some very rough sketches (not shown - I think I trashed them). From there they told me what they liked and didn't like about them. Which resulted in this:


And then resulted in these:


Congrats Wayland and Christy!

Monday, June 22, 2009

We get along

This dress and I would get along really well. Oh how I love thee, Vivianne Westwood.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Shopping List Saturday - my dad

Happy Father's Day to all of the dads out there. This week's shopping list is all about my dad. He loves dogs (Akitas and German Shepards especially), the Dodgers, and Willie Nelson. He has a cactus garden that fills his backyard front to back, top to bottom. A bit nerve wrecking when you have a little one that was learning to walk and very curious about everything within his reach. I love my dad very much. He is a quiet and compassionate person that loves his family so much. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.




Friday, June 19, 2009

Weekend Eye Candy - the colors that inspire

I'm totally inspired this week by this color combination of red, yellow, and aqua. As I write this I only now realize that these are the colors of the rooms in my apartment. We have one red room, one yellow kitchen and a blue hallway:) Hope your weekend is extra nice! Be sure to call your dad and be especially kind on Sunday. I know I will.


1. concrete, 2. primary angst, 3. Scattered, 4. Sunset Hues, 5. summer wharf colours, 6. EXIT, 7. Street, 8. modern architecture 2/3

Need a little more inspiration? Check out The Ornamentalist, Hammer, Stitch, Burn and Lora Hart Jewels

Monday, June 15, 2009

New York

In the past few months I have been sparse in my blogging. It is so hard to do everything I want to do in the short amount of time that I have to do it. I really miss my blog (and yours!). It gets lonely when I don't get to socialize. So, here's a quick catch up on what's been going on while I've been away.

I flew across the country to New York to do the Renegade Craft show in Brooklyn. I had a really great time! My neighbor was the sweetest anyone could ask for - Kathy from Bossa Nova Baby. She has the most adorable patches of sewing machines and scissors.


Next to her was the Berkleys of Berkely Illustration. I FINALLY got my prints that I've been wanting to buy. So happy to meet Ryan and Lucy as well.


I spent a good 6 hours in the pouring rain wandering through the Brooklyn Botanical gardens. I saw only about 10 people while I was there. Did I mention it was raining? Evenings were spent with good friends eating Chinese take-out. What a whirlwind trip - but totally worth it.


Now I am back and trying to get going on preparations for the next 3 shows. My son is out of school after next week so I'm kicking it into high gear to try and get everything in order early.

Hope your weeks have been great and inspiring!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Weekend Eye Candy - fresh

Today I am taking James and 2 of his friends to the farm to go pick some fruits and veggies. I'm most excited about the blueberries and strawberries. Here are some inspiring pics to set the tone.

1. Lettuce, 2. Blueberries, 3. raspberries, 4. carrots, blurred, 5. | Texturing Peas |, 6. Strawberry macro 1, 7. immature pomegranate fruit, 8. persimmon fruit macro, 9. Macro Photography - Rambutan Fruit

I have been working hard getting ready for shows. I should have some better updates next week. Can't wait to tell you all about Renegade Brooklyn! I had such a good time.