Flowers, Beautiful Gems, Full Weekends, Preparing

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently moved my studio space from West Berkeley to Jack London Square in Oakland. The former space, while lovely and peaceful (it was actually a space in a friend's home) was difficult to get to at times what with bay area traffic and all. The new space is a hop skip and a jump from where I live. I'm looking forward to the added convenience in so many ways!

But, I am feeling a bit wistful about not working in Berkeley any longer. I always highly enjoyed my afternoon walks to the post office or the coffee shop.

Berkeley gardens are so gorgeous.

California poppies and nigella (also known as "love-in-a-mist")

Also, on Saturday my folks and I got together to have a late mother's day/early father's day celebration. Of the many things we did, my mom and I both went to Baubles and Beads in Berkeley to stock up on jewelry makin' supplies. (My mom does bead work.) I acquired these gorgeous amethyst gems and can't wait to turn them into funky and unique necklaces. They'll be some simple-classy ones too!

brass beads

lapis, pyrite, and African trade beads

Tangleweeds earrings at CH Good Stock

This guy spends many a morning sitting in my lap while I'm catching up on emails or drafting blog posts. (He sat in my lap while I drafted this post!)

my table at the most recent A Fair to Remember

This fabulous fair is coming up soon on the Tangleweeds calendar. Maybe I'll see you there!

Well, there you have it. A brief wrap-up of my life this last weekend/week. I'm busily catching up on emails and Etsy orders today, so if you're waiting for a response from me you can expect to receive one today!

Well, I better get to it!

A Stroll Through Berkeley

Inspiration folder

Off to LA today. Wish me luck!

Gorgeous and Green

About a week ago I had the great privilege of dropping off a lovely selection of jewelry at Gorgeous and Green, a stunningly beautiful shop located on San Pablo avenue in Berkeley. The owner of the shop, Pilar, and I collaborated on choosing a selection of pieces that. It made for a lovely mix of rustic and delicate.

Pieces like this one:

But I also wanted to tell you about the other great items that can be procured from Pilar's shop. 

Like By Nieves' skincare. Locally made and totally natural and AWESOME for your skin. I use the "C" Perfect Skin everyday and think it's amazing!

And a stunning assortment of organically grown flowers. Did I mention Pilar is also a florist? She creates stunning floral arrangements for weddings and restaurants.

Stop on by the shop at 2524 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley and you're sure to find a special something for yourself or someone else!

Goings-Ons

Just a few goings-ons in my Tangleweeds universe that I wanted to share with all of you!

Last week I was interviewed by the lovely ladies of Clay, Wood & Cotton, a shop in New York that carries a hand-picked selection of my jewelry. You can catch the interview on their blog here:

Tomorrow I'll be vending at this local arts and crafts gathering in Berkeley. Stop on by 3192 Adeline Street and say hi! You can click on the flier below for more info on this arts collective.

Then, next week while I'll be away camping, the local Etsy Team that I'm a member and leader of, will  be having an arts and crafts fair, in Oakland. It should be a lovely event! I'm definitely disappointed that I won't be there to enjoy the wonderful company and grab a handmade goodie or two for myself!

I'm starting to get a teensy bit nervous about this whole quitting my "day job" thing. But I know it's the right thing to be doing! I know there's no going back from here, that once I get a taste of working for myself and only for myself I'll want it no other way for as long as I live!

Walks Around Berkeley

I never seem to be able to keep up with internet time - as in "if it's not posted within 24 hours of it happening then it's not relevant" time. Honestly, I think I may just give up on it all together and just continue to post my goings-ons as I can, as my "real life time" allows for. I could just pretend that these photos are from yesterday. . . but those of you clever enough would recognize the blossoming trees as early spring. 

These photos are from April 2nd. It was one of those days when Jeff and I had little work (at least little work that needed to be accomplished that day). We decided we wanted to go for a walk and enjoy the summer-like weather we were having at the time. 

So we filled up a bag with some snacks and hoped in the car and headed over to the Berkeley campus. It's a beautiful campus to walk through. This particular Saturday it was pretty quiet (I think it may have been spring break for Cal students, but I'm not sure.) 

the Berkeley Campanile

We took the elevator to the top of the Berkeley Campanile as well, something I had never done before.  The view was lovely. It was easily 10 degrees colder up there too! 

Walking is my absolute favorite mode of transportation. It frustrates me when life gets so chaotic and busy that I feel like I don't have the time to walk places. 

I have found that if I plan my errands and my week carefully I can maximize walking and riding my bike  as opposed to jumping in the car. It's all about maintaining a balance in my life that is dynamic rather than static. And quiet, reflective days like this one help to keep things in perspective. 

picture-perfect bridge and stairway

It was a lovely stroll that ended with beers and pizza at, Jupiter, one of our favorite spots in Berkeley. 

Two is Better than One!

Two craft fairs this weekend!

Tomorrow:

And Sunday:

The Easter Parade and Festival in SanFrancisco

On Union Street

10 am to 5pm

Hope to see you at one of these fun events!

Telegraph, Berkeley and Renegade, SF!

My next two craft fairs are quickly sneaking up on me! But I'm ready. . . I gotta be right? =)

First off, I'll be selling at the Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair in Berkeley! Details below:

11 A.M. to 6 P.M.

December 11, 12, 18, 19, 23, 24

Located between Dwight Way and Bancroft Way near the U.C. Campus in Berkeley CA.

Holiday shoppers to the Telegraph business district will be treated to an abundance of good cheer, great music, fine food, and unique and unusual handcrafts by some of Northern California's finest artists!

This fair offers the rare opportunity to buy fine art originals and inexpensive gift items in the same place. Shoppers can choose from a tremendous diversity of arts and crafts, including jewelry, beadwork, wirework, hats, candles, leather work, silk-screened and tie-dyed clothing, pottery, wood crafts, metal crafts, paintings, henna-art, gift boxes, photography and sculptures.

Festive lights, colorful decorations, and a 

friendly multicultural shopping

atmosphere complete the experience.

(p.s. I'll be selling at this fair 3 of the 6 days: the 11th, 12th, and 23rd!)

Next up is the Renegade Craft fair at the Concourse Exhibition Center in San Francisco. Details below or clickity-click here for more info!

Hoping to see some friendly, smiling faces at both of these faires! The holiday season really is in full swing (yes, this amazes me slightly.) Enjoy your day!

Two Local Markets

I'm a busy girl this weekend. I'll be selling at the Beehive Market in Berkeley on Saturday. . .

and then on Sunday, I'll be at Real Mercantile in San Francisco at Chez Poulet, 3359 Cesar Chavez at Mission Street from 1 to 7pm. This local artisan market is organized by the lovely Nieves Rathbun, creatress of the skincare line By Nieves.

I will have some new earring designs as well as some "early-holiday shoppin' " deals. But you gotta drop by in order to find out what they are!

Hope to see you there!

Beehive Market take two CANCELLED

This lovely market has been cancelled for Saturday due to inclement weather. I am sorry to disappoint those of you who were considering going. I will keep everyone updated on my future craft fairs!

I hope everyone has a lovely Halloween/Day-of-the-Dead holiday weekend!

Beehive Market take two!

I'll be selling at this fun market this coming Saturday, again!


I sold at this market in the beginning of October and really enjoyed myself. It's a good time, the music is not too loud but definitely loud enough to enjoy and everyone is very neighborly; it has the feel of a small town market. This Saturday you can here the San Francisco band Burnt Ones. You should definitely stop by 'cause I'll be having some great buy one-get one half-off deals! Hope to see you there!

Beehive Market

I'll be selling at this fun market this coming Saturday! It's a free market to attend, with a full farmer's market and live music at noon. This Saturday you can here the local band Social Studies. You should definitely stop by 'cause I'll be having some great buy one-get one half-off deals! Hope to see you there!

One weekend full of roses

A couple of weekends ago Jeff and I had a lovely day out and about in Berkeley and Oakland. The weather was gorgeous! First we had lunch at the Rose Garden in Berkeley. Afterwards we checked out some of the open artist studios throughout the east bay.













At the end of the day we went to our usual Sunday night spot, Jupiter for live bluegrass music. It was the perfect ending to a relaxing day.

A Walk

My mood’s been reflecting the weather lately. . . Dark and dreary, but warm, like it can’t decide to be spring and cheerful or wintery and rainy for a bit longer. One minute I feel inspired and revved up and ready to get to work and the next I feel sluggish and simply ready to sit down for a good long while and just do. . . well, nothing, really.

I really bear down on myself heavily when my momentum starts to lag, and yes, I recognize the way I’m chasing my own tail when I do this. It’s just part of who I am. But also part of the whole equation is my job. I work at a coffee shop, and while it isn’t as soul-sucking as some jobs can be, it still leaves me frequently drained. There’s something about constantly trying to meet other peoples’ needs for seven hours straight that wears on me in subtle ways. I especially think that customer service jobs can be taxing to sensitive folks, you know, the ones who are easily affected by the way others feel, who have a thicker and wider empathetic streak than most. It’s taxing to be exposed to so many different people’s issues and needs and wants; you walk a fine line between feeling like a barista and a psychologist/friend to these people, your customers. To someone who’s never worked in customer service this may sound melo-dramatic, but trust me, there is truth in my words.

In an effort today to get out of my head and away from my overly critical thoughts, I decided to take a walk through my south Berkeley neighborhood. I had to go to the post office anyways, the filling of two needs at once made my muti-tasking self happy.

One of the things I love love love about living here (as opposed to the well-coiffed suburbs where I grew up) is the abundance of overgrown flowers. . .






And while my neighborhood isn’t exactly the nicest in all ways, it’s charm has grown on me considerably since moving here a year and a half ago.