Long, long weekend...

This weekend proved to be a long one, as I had a deadline to meet with the jewelry line I sold last year. So it found me working on Saturday while in the store, fitting clasp and connector assemblies to 48 necklaces, and then spending Sunday completing and packaging another 24 necklaces in two designs, as well as 48 pairs of earrings in two different designs. I was pooped by the time night rolled around, but it's good to know I can step up to the plate when needed...

I did sneak out to the flea market quickly on Sunday morning and connected with another little batch of goodies for the upcoming trunk show later this month. I was happy to pick up some amazing bone and ivory pieces, more cut steel, some cannetile silver filigree and good buttons....

I also landed on this scrumptious load of antique lace, which always makes me happy. Yards and yards of it, in beautiful aged tones, and quality and workmanship that put a smile on my face when I unrolled it all and looked at it. Simply heavenly! In the back, are rolls of openwork and pulled thread trims and there is lots of lovely old cotton insertion lace, plus a beautiful antique ruched ribbon trim edged in bronzed metal thread.

Regrettably, my trip to the flea market was really short, and I spent the rest of the day and evening in my studio, but at least there was a little truth and beauty tucked in there!

Trunk Show, ex voto redux, and a little truth and beauty...

The truth of it is, that I have been neglecting my little blog! It has been two weeks since I posted, and I am going to rectify that right now. Then we can get on to the beauty parts...

We've set a date for the Trunk Show, which will be held Friday, May 20, 2011. We'll have as a special guest Diane Cook, who joins us that weekend to teach two workshops on Brookdale as well. We've been boxing up the bling, and I have actually run out of boxes for all this wonderful stuff. There are some very cool collections in different colors, many one of a kind elements, and tons of rhinestone chain to work with, of which one can never have enough...



Our Riveted Ex Voto Cuff class was absolutely the most fun, and everyone left with a beautiful bracelet crafted by themselves, and a wealth of riveting knowledge under their belts. We've scheduled another seating in May for the 29th, so check in with Dede if you've been waiting for another date to open up....


I've been sequestered downstairs in my studio working on more necklaces for an upcoming show, and having such fun with these....

I landed on some cut steel pieces that are waiting to be turned into something wonderful, and I can almost guarantee that it is going to involve riveting. I'm getting so predictable, aren't I? That's another reliquary ring at right that was just finished up...

I love these beads, and don't have a clue as yet how I will use them, but they deserved to be given their moment in the limelight. They are like tiny pomegranate seeds with an intense ruby color. I couldn't resist pairing them up with this hard glass enamel bar with the little crimson roses...

A little of this, a little of that...

What a wonderful week it was, starting with my day off on Sunday, which I got to spend in the company of Leslie, Dede, and a room full of eager students, who all created amazing coptic bound book necklaces...

Noodge kept and eye on things from the living room, and was available for comment at any time...

Sunday morning also brought a quick trip to the flea market, where I found this darling little typecase with twelve drawers. This diminutive stack of storage would be prize enough, but my friend presented this find to me with each drawer filled with the bits and bobs I so love...

Pearls, rhinestones, old earrings, clasps, watch parts, rhinestone chain, filigrees and cut steel...

In this drawer, a tiny tin type and a porcelain doll head peep out amongst the jewels, as well as antique cuff links and more bling...

Heart stopping stuff, and to have so much of it means only one thing...

Trunk show! Dede and I will mount a show in May, and there will be plenty of bling for everyone! I also scooped up these bone and mother of pearl necklaces, and will be on the hunt for more...

And for the bonus round this week, the remake on the castings order arrived, and the ex voto heart I had been waiting so patiently for was in the box..finally!

The rest of my week has been peppered with work, both copy writing and jewelry making, including the start of a second round of production on my line. Here you see them lined up by the dozens, getting ready to be polished and packaged...

I snuck in a little "me time" though, to fool around with another reliquary necklace. These will be going to a gallery show shortly, and I am trying to get as many made up as possible, and having much fun while doing it...

Catching up...

If anyone has been wondering what I've been up to, this says it all...

In the final throes of production, my desk is stacked with packaged jewelry soon to be on its way to the fulfillment center for the web site. I plan to finish on Sunday, and ship Monday, and will be relieved to have it off my desk for a while, until the reorders start.

It's been a heck of an experience for me, starting with really learning what goes into my jewelry, down to the last pin and ring; experimenting with how I wanted to finish it; and because it had to ship packaged, being involved with developing the inner package and executing that part of the project.

I've managed to sneak in a few minutes to work on my own stuff from time to time, but will welcome the chance to immerse myself in a few projects now, including the Trunk Show in November.

Yeah, you heard me right....Trunk Show! Get your party on, girls!