Quote of the Day

We can only be said to be alive
in those moments when our hearts
are conscious of our treasures.
Thornton Wilder

Pursuit Chain Necklace

Maybe with the economic "downturn"*, I've been going back to basics. Here's a simple, elegant design, but a bit heavier/chunkier. Sterling rings linked by 3 lengths of rolo chain. It's long, 32", so it slips right over the head and doesn't have a clasp. It can be worn several ways: just as it is; over one shoulder; looped several times around the wrist for a fab bracelet; and (in the photo) I've tied it up on itself with a bit of ribbon. Called the Pursuit Necklace, it's available in my Etsy shop.

*eu⋅phe⋅mism  /ˈyufəˌmɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [yoo-fuh-miz-uhm]
the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.

Transfix Quill Ring

A new Transfix ring. This one is pretty simple, but I like the way the upper arch mimics the shape of the lower curl. This one is made of a heavier gauge (10g) than the others have been.


The motif sits about .5" above the band, so it's suitable for everyday wear. It somehow reminded me of feathers or a birds tail, so I call it Transfix Quill. It's a size 6.75 and is available in my Etsy shop.

Smack Me If I Complain Again

"Every day, Furah carries an enormous bundle of firewood and her 18-month-old daughter 10 miles on the road linking Rupango to Sake, Congo. She must cross rebel-controlled territory to reach government-held Sake in order to sell the wood."

River Band

I feel like I'm leaning towards simpler, more straight forward designs lately. Not that this is a big departure for me, but almost everything I've worked on recently seems basic in style. Here's another one. A very simple ring, a basic band. Hammered for a lovely texture that sparkles a bit and catches the light. It's wider than the average ring, about 1/4", and of a thicker stock, so it's got a really nice weight. I've named it River Band and it's available in my Etsy shop.

Saleless and Fancyfree*

Woo Hoo! Made it! Ten whole days with no sales. Hell, I've only even had one convo in that time. Now that's invisibility.

Back to our regularly scheduled new bracelet picture:

*I lied. I'm not fancyfree. I'm tied up in knots and I don't think I can make it the three weeks until my first holiday event for another sale.

Le Derriere du Chien

She loves to lay like this. With her arthritic hips, you'd think it would
be uncomfortable. The way she was laying on her tail, it looked like she was trying to be modest or something. And her old lady footies.
That's my girl.

Hey Look At Me - I'm Invisible!

Well, I did it! I made it a whole week without a sale. Nope, not one. I'm hoping to make it to 10 full days. That would be a record!

I've been absolutely ignored to death this week. Honestly, I don't think there is one thing that jars my applesauce quite as much as being ignored (I'm guessing in the hopes that I will go away). And LOTS of things jar my applesauce. Friends. Acquaintances. Non-friends. Professional people I'm attempting to do business with. The aforementioned non-customers. All of them making me feel invisible (and, yes, I used to live in California, so I know: no one can make me feel anything).

Whatever. I'll go crawl back under my rock now.


R.I.P. Sandy dog

Sunrise Bouquet Necklace

Another vintage find. The focus of this simple necklace is a vintage Japanese pressed glass cabochon. The 3D flowers are in a lovely warm coral color (what attracted me to them in the first place). Bezel set on sterling and oxidized for an antique finish, it's simple and sweet and eye catching. The Sunrise Bouquet necklace is available in my Etsy shop.

Nan Porcelain Necklace

I bought a bunch of these vintage porcelain ovals a while ago and have just started working with them. I have several different designs. This one has a sweet floral motif. Bezel set in sterling with an antique finish, I think it has the feeling of an heirloom. The 6mm moonstone rounds that adorn the chain contrast really nicely with the dark oxidation. I call it Nan Porcelain and it's available in my Etsy shop. Look for more of these ovals to be coming out soon in various designs - although I'm sort of partial to the simpler design that focuses on the porcelain.

Maybe if you hum a few bars...

Years ago I took yoga regularly. Generally once or twice a week for several years. I wasn't great at it, but I knew what I was supposed to do whether I could actually do the pose or not. The style of yoga I did is called Iyengar, named after B. K. S. Iyengar (read more about him here).

For several reasons, I stopped taking yoga classes in 2002. I never had much of an at-home practice and anything I did do soon fell away. I was, however, still in touch with my yoga teacher, Sabine Kühner over the years. When she learned I was moving to Portland, she told me that if I was ever interested in taking yoga again that I should look up her friend and fellow Iyengar teacher, Anne. After more than a year in Portland and spending most of my time sitting on my butt either at the computer or at my workbench, I decided it would be a good thing for my body to look into starting yoga again. Turns out Anne teaches at a studio (Yoga Shala) very close to my home. What luck! My first class, I introduced myself to Anne and told her I used to study with Sabine. She asked if I moved up about a year ago; Sabine had told her about me!

Taking yoga after all this time is like hearing a song I used to know. I still know the melody, but I don't remember all the words. Last night Anne said, "Do you know yaddayaddasana?" I said "maybe if you hum a few bars". Fortunately the other students though this was funny and not out of line. I really don't remember the names of most of the asanas, but my body seems to remember doing them. I still can't do them very well, but me and my body are happy to be getting back in touch with each other. I'm hoping we will be friends again soon.

Little glass Yoga Ladies by artist Leah Pellegrini and available in her Etsy shop.