Ready for Easter?

I'm not ready for Easter but I certainly am inspired by these little beauties.

A good reason to get in touch with dear friends by Invita Paper Studio.

Everyone needs a little music during an Easter egg hunt and this Avocado Guitar by Celentano Woodworks would be the perfect way to launch Spring into song.

Celebrate bunnies with my Bunny Hopping necklace. Illustration by boygirlparty.

And to top it all off the perfect brooch by WhimsyandCharm for your Easter dress. Easter bonnet not needed.

HAPPY SPRING!

New Stores

I am back from Buyers Market in Philadelphia. It was a good show, all things considered. And those things? A BLIZZARD! Many buyers did not attend the show due to the blizzard. How dare they:) So the aisles were a little quiet but I was very fortunate to be picked up by some awesome stores. And to top it all off, came home to the sweetest thing (picture at the bottom)

Please pay my new stores a visit:
California
ARTISANS GALLERY
1368 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Iowa
IOWA ARTISANS GALLERY
207 E. Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240

Maryland
RED ORCHARD
10253 Old Georgetown Rd
Bethesda, MD 20814

RED TREE
921 36th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211

Massachusetts
THE ARTISAN GALLERY
162 Main
Northampton, MA 01060

WOMENCRAFTS
376 Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA 02657

North Carolina
MADDI'S GALLERY
1530 East Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28203

TIN ROOF STUDIO
1990 Dillard Rd (HWY 106)
Highlands, NC 28741

ZOLA CRAFT GALLERY
626 B Ninth Street
Durham, NC 27705

New York
THE CLAY POT
162 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Pennsylvania
TSELAINE
1927 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

South Dakota
STICKS AND STEEL
401 E. 8th Street
Suite 118
Sioux Falls, SD 57103

and a Happy Valentine's Day to you and to me:)

Off

I am off in Philadelphia for Buyers Market of American Craft. What an inspiring show! You should see the mass amounts of talent in this room. I am here with Lori of Moda di Magno.

So Philadelphia is cold.... really cold. My flight was canceled on Monday (supposed to leave Tuesday night) so I hopped on an early flight and landed just in time. Picture is of all of the canceled flights.
The storm arrived with my plane. I made it to my hotel, left to get dinner and by the time I left the restaurant the whole city was covered in white. Thank goodness my friend insisted I borrow her super warm coat. It's like walking around in a sleeping bag.

Something odd has taken over

Something odd has taken me over. Here are some drawings that I've been working on. I have no explanation.

Retired Meerkat

Owl D'coy

I have been to the Great Wall

I received the best picture in my email the other day.... my little birdie ring in front of The Great Wall of China! I love this picture! It is so fun to think that things that I make are going to all different parts of this planet.
The woman behind the ring and fabulous picture is Allie of Alliebeans. I met Allie at Bazaar Bizarre and immediately fell in love with her creations. Her craftsmanship is impeccable. I bought myself a little iPhone pocket with hedgehogs on it. It's adorable. This is a picture of another great one - Le Cactus Francais.


I made some other purchases too! A great coat rack from Tiny Sparks Design. This isn't exactly the one I bought. Mine had little red houses with shadows on it. I LOVE it! Can't wait to move into our new place so I can hang it up. You really have to see his work in person. The quality is flawless.


And finally I bought my Christmas present for me (from Dave). This sculpture that you may remember me writing about many months ago by Double Parlour. What a surprise to walk down the aisle and see the sculpture that I have been obsessing over for so long. I totally made a fool of myself to the artist telling her how she's like a celebrity to me.



I will be sharing some more great purchases later, in case you are interested.

I hear wedding bells.....

I'm so excited to share this with everyone. I worked with the MOST lovely couple to design and make a wedding ring. This was a big deal for me because it was in platinum and used 4.6 carats of diamonds. Holy smokes!! I can't tell you how nervous I was carrying around this amazing ring (if I do say so myself).

So congrats to Richard and Alison. Did I mention how sweet they are? I even got a Christmas card from them.

and a happy new year....

It kind of cracks me up that my last post was on Black Friday and never to be seen again. What a crazy 6 weeks! I am so happy and feel so lucky that this holiday was busy for Chocolate and Steel. Thanks to you all!

I am really looking forward to this year. We are moving in a couple weeks to a larger apartment - woohoo!!!! For you that really know me (like in person) know how small my apartment has gotten since the arrival of a child and another dog (which makes 2). I'm excited to get my new work space set up too (another factor to my shrinking apartment).

I wish you all much love and happiness in the new year.