Family Headcolds

We are coming up to day 4 of Head Cold 2014 around here.

It's been mostly Sonny really.  Geoff and I are just getting it now. 
But whoa, for a kid who is usually pretty mellow, we've had some pretty amazing meltdowns in the last few days.

So he's watching ANOTHER episode of Dora the Explorer (why does she always have to yell??)
while I putter around the house and try to stay on top of things.

I have NO idea of what we will eat for dinner.

So I know what I will be doing for the next little while I guess.

Figure THAT out, is the answer.  In case you weren't sure.

please bear with me... pregnancy brain (aka The Stupids) plus headcold = s l o o w   J a n a.

(I love this picture of us from this summer.  That HAIR!  Oh those curls were so out of control!
Taken by the always lovely Stephanie Rae)

Sketchbook

A little peek into what Spring is shaping up like.

Long chains with Barnacle pendants!
New Leather Feather Earrings!
Chain style Charm Bracelets!

Plus some returning favorites... Recycled pendants and charms, Barnacle Earrings (in copper AND in silver!)  all of the Birdie series are still in action (bangles, charms, pendants and maybe some earrings?  We will see.

I'm working on a big order for a new account right now, and then I am going to jump right into commissions and inventory for The Fox Fair! 

The Fox will be my last market before baby, but I am working hard to maintain accounts until the very end, and then I am even hoping to come back after a shorter maternity leave this time!

Fingers crossed this baby is into it.

Ceramics!

I started taking a ceramics class in the fall with my lovely friend Paige (who is the genius behind Blackbird Studio and The Congress Collective) and I had kind of forgotten how much I LOVE it.

We did ceramics for two years during my Foundation Arts program back in *gasp* 1999 (!!) and I really liked it, but it wasn't the Passion.  So once I was finished that program I didn't take another class, even though I really like it.

So when Paige offered open studio classes at her studio I jumped at the chance to get back into it.

These are all the pieces that I made in the Fall, all of them Christmas gifts.

Actually, if I am totally honest, Sonny claimed one as his, so I am thinking of making three more and making him  set of little tumblers!

THE CUTENESS!!

I am really looking forward to getting back in the studio over at blackbird and making more!
I love how the cloud shapes came out in the glaze and I want to explore that a bit more.

Kids in suits

The only time he will wear this Bear Suit is when we go out.

Obviously.

In no way a productive post, I'm just thinking out loud and sharing with THE INTERNET

My Stellar ring is one of my absolute favorites.  It's so simple, but still has some whimsy and it just feels right on my hand.

When Geoff proposed to me, I had a really hard time deciding on which of two designs I wanted.

Did I want to make myself a stellar ring in gold with 2 little diamonds and just have the one ring.
Or did I want to have an engagement ring and a band that I would wear as a set?

I decided that I wanted us to both have bands.  And my Mom offered me her original diamond when we told her we were getting married.  (and it's just slightly too big for the Stellar design - OH THE HARDSHIPS!)


So I made my sweet little ring and a gold band to match Geoff's.

I have since altered BOTH of those rings for various reasons.

Ridiculous I know, trust me!  But I had good reasons both times!
First that Geoff gave me my Chrysoprase ring by KyleAnne Metals, which I still wear every single day.  And I wore it with my wedding band, so I sized my engagement ring down to wear on my right hand.

Then about a year later I switched the chrysoprase over to my right hand and my engagement ring spent some time in my jewellery drawer.  Because it was too small for my left hand now.

So it got sized up again and is back in rotation.

I feel weirdly MORE married when I am wearing it.  Even though I wear my wedding band every day.

And my wedding band also has had a transformation.
I originally made a simple flat band in gold to match the silver one that Geoff wore.

Now it is forged down narrower and I added a layer of white gold on top so that it looks similar in colour to Geoff's, and has a shiny gold center!

I really love it.  (I loved it before, but I really wanted them to match.  More)

But my stellar ring!  I keep coming back to it.
I wear it with my wedding band and it looks great stacked with the simplicity of the narrower band.

So I have decided that I will make myself a Family ring, with little set stones for each of us.  Set in gold.  In the Stellar style.

I am very excited about this.

I told you.  In no way a productive post!