A Beautiful Day!

Rich and I spent the day enjoying the colorful sights of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, near MT. Vernon, WA. It's nice to get away from thinking about work or jewelry for a day and just enjoy the beauty of this place. You can see the entire album of photos on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005011&id=1550907357&l=bf1a35a83e

Practically Sold Out in MN!

I'm back in WA after a whirlwind week in MN. I had a great time visitng family and friends and eating my way through the week with everyone. And, I sold 90% (out of about 100 items) of the jewelry items I brought with me! I'm overwhelmed, honored and very pleased.

I met with an art gallery owner in Hudson, WI and will be selling my jewelry at Seasons on St. Croix this fall. I also met with the Fairview-University Hospital gift store manager. She purchased 28 items from me for the store and ordered another 30+ items for July delivery. It will be great fun to make new items for the gift shop! Both of these wholesale meetings were due to my sister-in-law's urging and her connections. My sister and a friend invited several friends to see and purchase my work. I also got to stop by one of my favorite MN bead shops, "The Bead Monkey", and pick up some really fun new beads for summer jewelry.

I feel like I got some terrific exposure this past week. I came home with some custom orders that I need to get busy making and then on to making items for the gift shop and the art gallery! My etsy shop will be pretty bare for a few months.

I was also excited to come home to my hubby and see my mail after a week. I had ordered several tools and supplies before I left and they are now all here and ready for me to play with! Finally, I have a really nice disc cutter - yeah! I also now have several fun brass texturing plates and a nice supply of sheet metals to use them on. I can't wait to get back to making new things after a week of visiting and selling!

One Last Preview of MN things to come

Just thought I'd post one more item that you've never seen before. I'm bringing this one to MN with me tomorrow. It's actually a re-make of a necklace that was previously on etsy, titled "Copper River". I decide that since I've learned to rivet, I would change the look of this necklace to something I like a little better than it's original. I took the copper river off of it's sterling background and riveted on a sterling silver sunshine charm. I used copper wire for my rivet, to give the center a little accent. I love this pendant now! The background is sterling silver that I have oxidized to bring out the textured pattern. I have left the sunshine piece shiny and bright. It's a wonderful contrast and compliment to each other. Although not pictured, this piece will include an oxidized sterling chain.

There are many more jewelry items coming to MN that you've never seen on etsy, so be sure to come to the jewelry open house in Woodbury on Saturday, April 18th! If you'd like to come and need more info, just leave a comment and I'd be happy to send you a copy of the evite! Everyone's invited!

Looking forward to seeing all my MN friends soon!

A Coppery Delights Treasury!

I'm honored once again by Kathleen Krucoff to have one of my jewelry pieces featured in her Coppery Delight's treasury! It's a beautiful treasury filled with copper jewelry items. She chose my "I'm All Mixed Up" pendant to include. Be sure to visit this treasury and visit Kathleen's web site also to see her wonderful glass items!

Thank you Kathleen!

A MN Preview

Here's a little preview of some of the things I'm bringing to MN next week! I've been busy working on my mixed metal riveted pieces; these aren't on etsy. There are more new items, but some are already packed and not shown here. I'll bring all of my etsy items with me to MN as well. My suitcase will be full! I can't wait to see everyone.

Meanwhile, here at the homefront, the shrubs are blooming. My husband will be home minding the house, plants and pets while I'm gone.

Wishing everyone a blessed Easter.

My Solstice II Earrings are featured in a Treasury Today!

I'm honored today by fellow Seattle area etsy artist, Jill MacCorkle. She has included one of my jewelry pieces in her etsy treasury called "Let the Sun Shine"! My Solstice II earrings are featured in the top row, middle column. Visit the treasury today and explore all the wonderful things each of these artists have on etsy, and be sure to visit Jill MacCorkle's shop, too! Jill makes beautiful, colorful gemstone jewelry!
Let the Sun Shine, indeed! Have a great Day!

The Beauty of a Spiral

If you’re a follower of my etsy shop, you won’t be surprised to read that I love the look of a spiral. Many of my jewelry items contain or focus on spirals. My Simply Spiral necklace, I’m All Mixed Up earrings, Dizzy earrings, We’re All Linked Together, and Dreaming of Spring all have spirals as a main aspect of the design. Many others have small spirals here and there in their details.

I was making a bracelet piece today and one of its components is a spiral. My engineer husband noticed it and told me that all architects go gaga over spirals; they are well known as one of the most aesthetically pleasing forms in nature.

We did a little research on spirals and found that the golden spiral is the symbol of harmony and beauty. Plato called it “the key to the physics of the cosmos”. I won’t even try to explain the math here, mainly because it’s been way too long since my college math days. But it is important to know that its mathematical sequence is infinite (phi) and the arithmetic number is found incorporated in all know organic structures. From the bone structure of human beings, to the seed pattern of a sunflower to the spiral of a sea shell, and the spiral of the galaxy, the phi proportion is there. Amazing, isn’t it?

We are compelled instinctively to be drawn to this shape. It’s in our bones. When we see it, we feel it. A symbol of harmony and beauty, indeed.

Take a look and enjoy: