Thinking about this

In the last couple of years I have noticed an increase in the Grey Hair.
I've got one, roughly egg sized, pocket of grey hair on ONE spot on my head.

Right at the top.
Exactly where I part my hair.
(I have tried changing my part but it always travels back)

When they first started popping up I was plucking them out immediately.
And what I learned from that experience is that a grey hair brows back totally differently than regular hair.
Corse and wiry.
Which is GREAT right??

So I had these ridiculous short grey hairs sticking STRAIGHT UP from the middle of my head.

We love that right??

So now that I have gone on a bit of a tangent train, let me get back to what I am actually posting about.

In the past few months the spot has increased in population and I am NOT pulling them out anymore.
So what I am wondering is this... Has anyone tried covering up grey with natural hair dyes?

I am looking at this online right now and considering it.

It's the Caca Brun from Lush.

I have also seen henna style hair dyes at the health food store, that I am thinking of considering as well.

Decisions, decisions!

Heading out for a bit

I am leaving these shores... for the island shores a scant hour and a half away.

Yes yes, I am feeling dramatic.

Two weeks off.
That's right, I will be back in Vancouver in TWO WEEKS.

I might post between now and then, depends on if I have computer access.
I spent the last week here at the house by myself working FURIOUSLY on gifts and getting ready to head over while at the same time working at the clinic.
Last night I was so tired I conked out at 9:30!

But for the next 2 weeks I'll be doing whatever catches my fancy.
When I'm not doing the holiday with family thing (we've got three) and getting ready for the holiday with family things.

I am hoping to do some baking, some reading, some knitting, some sleeping.

sigh.

I hope that all of you out there are having a wonderful week and that the holidays find you happy and healthy.
xox

Etsy shop Update!

I have (finally!) updated my etsy shop!
I've got some of the Lace earrings in there as well as a pair of leather Feather earrings that I've had kicking around, waiting to get into the shop for a little while!
Check it out!


I'll add another pair of the leather earrings in there tonight, but I've got to head off to work ASAP!
After the holidays I plan to post some MORE!!
xox

So I have another blog

It's just a little thing.
About the wedding.

My (our) wedding.

In this other blog I posted about what I did to my engagement ring.

This is the trouble when you are a jeweller.
I keep having these IDEAS that get me into trouble.
So last week I was all "I'm not sure if I really love this ring" to myself.
And I was all "well why don't you do something about it, like melt it down and make it another ring."

And I was all "that's a GREAT idea! I know just what to do!"

So I cut my sweet little engagement ring into bits, and melted it down with some other little bits WITH THE FULL EXPECTATION OF THE METAL DOING WHAT I EXPECTED IT TO.

Which is of course, what it did not do.
Instead of ending up with a bar of gold just the right size for shaping into a new band, what did I get?
A. A BALL of gold that was doing NOTHING for my equanimity.

SO. I spent WAY too much time hammering the crap out of it to make it into a bar so that I could make it into a ring.
And I got halfway to what it needed to be.

And my shoulder was seizing up and I had to have the most painful physiotherapy I've had in a long time.
(please see the other post for pictures)

So I felt ridiculous for a couple of days.

It's what I do.

But I have come up with a sweet little solution for what to do with the gold from my ring. (because I want to keep it, it's just not a ring anymore)

I cut the hammered bar in half and MELTED THEM AGAIN.
(I know, you are asking yourselves What is WRONG with this girl?? Doesn't she LEARN?)

But this time... they were going to be pendants.
YES!! And they worked!

Check out this little bad boy.




It's so cute.
And I am so inspired by the shape of it (yes the one I am currently wearing is just a little blob, HOWEVER! The other one, the one that I have not set yet, is more oblong and organic.) that I am considering doing a few more.

They are entirely recycled! (minus the diamond)
Oh yeah! I haven't even GOTTEN to that part yet. The wee stone in there? It's a champagne diamond. I have had it since school, and never used it in anything.
Until now.

So I am calling them Prospector's Pendants (like gold prospecting! Get it??)
So Cute!


What's not so cute? The 12 (I kid you not, I counted) pictures I took of myself just now. Each one more ridiculous than the last. I look like I am up to no good in every one of them

This is what I do after a day of working in the studio.
Be ridiculous.

New favorite thing.

Oh my god.
This is absolutely HILARIOUS!

Please please read this blog.
I have just bookmarked it so I can read it every day.

EVERY DAY.

Floating Gold Iceberg's Holiday sales!

Next week, my dear friends and cohorts are having a couple of in house Holiday Sales.
Very Exciting.
Wednesday December 17th from 6-9pm
& Saturday December 20th from 1-5pm

There will be wine and drinks, snacks and OH YEAH!
SHOPPING!!

Wristwarmers!
Reversible Short dresses!

Tshirts!
Thermals!
Scarves!

And, jewellery!
Laser cut Lace Earrings!

Sterling Silver Stellar Necklaces!
Pearl Drops!
I will be joining the fun for the Saturday Event. (I've got to work on the mainland until Thursday, so I'll miss Wednesday's fun.) And let me tell you, I am VERY excited!
I love these girls and what they do so much!
So if you are in Victoria next week and have a few more gifts to buy, swing on over for a lovely good time.
And if you aren't able to make it, check out the online shops!
Floating Gold Iceberg
Janamade Jewellery & Design (let me know if there is anything in particular you like, as the shop is running low and I can pop whatever you need in there just for you!)

quick update

Geoff and I went on an extended weekend to the US this past weekend.
His Mom was showing some work from her textile art program in Oak Harbor and it was a great chance to get away and see some talented women at work.
I don't have pictures uploaded onto the computer yet, but I'll be getting to that tonight or tomorrow morning.

Just wanted to throw you a bone, you know.

Today I am off to the office, and tomorrow I am going to slug it out and hopefully get a serious dent made in my gift making.
Geoff is heading over to the island on Friday, so I'll have a week of the house to myself before I go over. Which usually means that I get lots done.
So everything that I can't walk over with myself will have to be ready this week!

Must hustle!
xox

Little somethings

While I was on the island for all of the craft fairs, Angie and I got tattoos!
They are SO CUTE!!

Rebel Rebel's Noel Bazaar 2008

Well Folks, my time here in Victoria is coming to an end.
I burned through 2 seperate multi day craft fairs and am still on my feet.
Not too shabby.
I will be honest and say that the Noel Bazaar wasn't as successful as I'd hoped, the trend of not buying jewellery is still going strong. But I have learned a lot and am a part of something exciting, so I am not giving up hope.

In the new year Janamade will be making a serious push out into the world, new stores, new designs, new directions.
I am very excited about it, and am getting ready for the really hard work that is to come.
Janamade is also joining forces with Floating Gold Iceberg, 5 amazing women who have welcomed me into the fold with open and encouraging arms.
I am more grateful than I can say.

On that note, (a high one, very much so) I will leave you all with these pictures from our booth at the Noel Bazaar. While I didn't sell a lot, I did have a lot of fun.





xox

Rebel Rebel's Noel Bazaar!

Tomorrow (Friday)is the last night of the Noel Bazaar! A whole room full of amazing fashion, accessories and crafts!
I have taken some pictures already, but they are all the way over in my bag and I am already in my bed.
So I will post pictures tomorrow!

Right in front of us is the most amazing 11 year old I have ever met. He makes all sorts of amazing things, including handmade wrestling masks.
Yeah. I know.

He's already sold out!
Coolest kid.

There is also...
Amazing clothes, like rain coats that turn into totebags. Seriously. I traded an Anter Ring for one. Very excited!
Feather hair combs (I got one for my wedding!)
Vampire Bunnies and teeny kittens you can hang on your holiday tree
Wristwarmers and incredible skirts at the Floating Gold Iceberg booth
Amazing leather bags and wallets
Earrings made out of Elk Hide. SO AMAZING! I will buy them as soon as I sell something tomorrow!

Oh and they serve the booze.

Get your butts down there!

Out of Hand!

I realized last night that I posted pictures from Out of Hand on the FGI blog and not mine!

So let me remedy this situation by giving you something to look at!
Out of Hand was much quieter this year than ever before. I understand that the economy is keeping people from shopping, and the One of a Kind show was in Vancouver the exact same dates this year, so a lot of the vendors were over there instead.
So add those two together and you get a slow craft fair!
But it was not with out it's ups. I had a HILARIOUS good time! Angie and I were fighting mad head colds the entire time so we were hopped up on so much vitamin C and echinacea that we just blurrily coasted through NOT GETTING SICK.
Amazing!
And we had some great neighbors this year as well. I will be putting a post together of all of their booths and links to their websites in the next few days.
Today will be about US!

New Etsy shop to check out

My friend Gabe has just opened up his very own etsy shop.
It's pretty amazing.
He's got hilarious laser etched cutting boards and I kid you not, laser etched toast!
Like this bad boy...


And these...


Amazing.
And hilarious.

Good combo.

Check it out here

new website up and running!

My dear friend Kathryn has been an amazing trooper and learned how to code websites so I could have one.
Incredible!

Here it is!

I am losing my mind with this in the BEST possible way!

I looooove the frames!

update

This is going to be very brief, as it is after midnight and I have to get up early and go back to the craft fair.
We're plugging away.

Jewellery sales are not as up as I expected, I think that the economy is affecting peoples luxury shopping. Which is FAIR.
I am in the same boat, so I get it.
FGI is doing great though and I am having fun chatting with everyone and getting feedback.
It's all been positive, people just aren't buying jewellery right now I guess.

And it's only the end of Day Two. We've still got all day tomorrow and Sunday for Out of Hand.
And then Rebel Rebel next week.

So I am not flipping out just yet.
I am going to have fun tomorrow and Sunday and learn from this experience.

Just like a grown up.

new work for Out of Hand and Rebel Rebel

These are some examples of what is coming with me to Out of Hand this year.
I am packing everything up now, got the last few pieces in the tumbler, and I am heading over first thing tomorrow morning.


Pearl Simple Earrings



Stellar Chains (in two chain sizes and various lengths)




Laser cut Lace Earrings in two shapes.

These two pairs are made from Purple Heart. I've also got some Canary yellow ones and some clear lucite ones on their way over this afternoon.
Rad.

It's been an insanely busy weekend, but I am feeling pretty good about things at the moment.
That might change at any point, if for example I realize that I have totally forgotten about something.
But right now, I feel okay.

If you are going to be in Victoria over the next two weeks, please come to either show!
There are so many amazing booths to see, and we're going to be hopped up on chocolate covered almonds the entire time, so even if you're not looking to buy, come by for hilarious sugary girls.


Out of Hand
Thursday November 20, 12-9pm
Friday November 21, 10am-9pm
Saturday November 22, 10am-6pm
Sunday November 23, 10am-5pm
Victoria Conference Centre
VIctoria

Noel Bazaar(Rebel Rebel)
Wednesday November 26, 5-10pm
Thursday November 27, 2-10pm
Friday November 28, 2-10pm
Victoria Event Centre
1415 Broad st
Victoria

Gluten free holiday options

Christmas is right around the corner.
I know that it's another month, but there is so much happening in the next month, that I know that it's going to burn by faster than rocket fuel.
Floating Gold Iceberg and Janamade have 2 markets to be ready for next week.
(FGI actually has 4 if you can believe it, they are at one right now)
But for me, 2 is plenty right now. Maybe next year I can do 4 in one go. We'll see!
And then after that, it's December and I know that I have a HUGE list of things to do before Christmas actually rolls around.

Yesterday I finally got productive and finished all of the smaller necklace components that I was working on, as well as all of the posts for my new pearl earrings.
So I am feeling better about where I am sitting for Out of Hand.
Today I am going into the office, and tonight I am going to work on posts for the Lace earrings and the bigger necklace components.

So it's rolling along.

This link is for Moms.
Moms at holidays who are amazing and make us gluten free food so we can enjoy our traditional meals with everyone else.
At Thanksgiving, my mom even stuffed the turkey with gluten free stuffing!
The Gluten Free Girl writes incredible posts about food.
You can't feel sorry for yourself when you read her blog because she is SO ENTHUSIASTIC about everything she writes about.
So please click on the link above and take a look at what she's offering for holiday meals.
Or her whole blog too, that's cool.

Out of Hand is less than a week away

and I am blogging instead of working on jewellery!
What is WRONG with me??

Oh right, PROCRASTINATOR.

Today I am working on earring posts and necklace components.
I got word this week that my laser connection has some house problems of his own, so I am going to have fewer laser cut lace pieces than I expected.

I am not going to complain about it though, because that's not nearly so bad as what my poor friend is dealing with at his house.
And he's a trooper and is still going to try to cut more for me.

Because he's awesome.

My new and amazing displays arrived last week, and I don't have any pictures to share at the moment. I am trying to focus on the making of things, and save the photos for the show, once it's all set up and looking gorgeous!

Angie was over this past weekend as well and we went over all sorts of stuff for the show (I should say both shows because we're going to be doing Out of Hand as well and Rebel Rebel's Noel Bazaar the week after!)
We've got some new lighting that is going to be SO CUTE and not to mention effective.

So, instead of pictures of new work (which will come soon, I promise!) I'll leave you with some stuff I'm coveting from the internet.



I am picturing myself riding that bike with that bag in the front basket taking pictures of nature trails while in search of perfect picnic locations.

French toast, late starts and Rings of Engagement.

This morning we slept in hard.
I kid you not it was almost 11 when I looked at the clock.

So we lounged around a little bit and made French Toast.
Very delicious.
I threw a bit of vanilla into the egg mixture and it was lovely.

Today I am going to work on Lace earrings, I want to post a pair into my Etsy shop by tonight, and I've got necklaces to prepare for Out of Hand. And I really need to sit down and think about my artist statement for my updated website. (Kathryn is doing an AMAZING job and I am flipping out a little bit at the cuteness of it all)
And I've started thinking about Christmas gifts for family and friends, got to start working on those soon!
So I've definitely got lots to do.

But I can't stop looking at this.

It struck me last night that I will wear this ring on this finger for the REST OF MY LIFE.

Weird.

And kind of thrilling.

I really love this little ring. I wasn't sure at first, the design came to me REALLY quickly on Thursday while I was working on earring posts. I literally had to stop and make it immediately.
So I did, and once it was totally done, I thought that it was a bit big, and that I should open it up and correct the connection of some of the beads.
So I did.
And I made it too small.
And I flooded 2 of the beads out with the solder.

So I had a bit of a cry on Thursday night about it. (hormones played a role in that as well I am not ashamed to say.)

And yesterday morning I sized it up. And today I am going to drill out some of the extra solder and open up those two beads.

But in all of that silliness and emotional drama -I do it to myself!- I have totally fallen in love with it.

And it's going to look AMAZING with the bling ring that joins it in July.

I have to go stare at my finger some more.
And I will consider getting dressed.

Happy Weekend All!

A new (to me) artist

That I am SOOO in love with right now.
Oh my god her work is just so amazing.
Silvia Ji makes the most beautiful, provocative women I've seen in a while.
It's the Jem painting that wins my heart though.
Man I loved Jem.


I wish I had pink hair.

H is for Home

I found this website months ago, LOVED it, then promptly forgot what it was called and couldn't find it again.
this is why I now bookmark EVERYTHING

H is for Home is AMAZING.
These are just some of my faves...





and these too...







when is it appropriate to register for a wedding?
Is it too soon?