Changes are coming. . .

I'm busy at work on my fall/winter collection and a (drum roll please) a website for Tangleweeds! Yes, that's right, this here modest blog will be movin' on over to a new web home in the not-so-far-off future. In the meantime, some snapshots from the last few days. . . 

seaside lunch break

new leather colors for some of my earring designs

Otis reminding me that rest is just as important as work ;-)

custom tea blending at home

custom work for a local customer

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and staying cool!

Life Lately - It's all about the bling

Some snaps from the last couple of weeks or so. . . Sometimes, based on my photos, one would think I live, sleep, breathe, think jewelry. . . oh, wait, I do! Happily so.

A few of the goodies that were shipped off after my Etsy flash sale ended. 

Stones all lined up for my By Chance horseshoe necklaces. Front to back of photo: labradorite, lapis lazuli, green onyx, carnelian. 

Wearing some earrings my sister made for me a few years ago. These are made of copper, silk ribbon and jasper stones. She's pretty creative, that sister of mine!

A shot from just this past weekend at the Temescal street fair here in Oakland.

Hammer-time =)

Part of my display at the Treasure Island Flea Market. This market is the last weekend of every month. You can find me there about 2 to 3 times a year. (Check my events page for upcoming fairs.)

By Chance and Featherlight pieces all prepped and ready to ship off to shop!

July is really looking so crazy for me this year. Car repairs, doc. appointments, wholesale orders, working on my new pieces for my fall/winter collection. And sales taxes are due at the end of the month too. Oh boy, oh boy! Time sure is it's own train that just keeps on moving whether you're ready for the ride or not. 

(All photos are from my Instagram.)

It's all about perspective

All of these are from my Instagram. Follow me if you like. I post mostly jewelry related photos, with generous helpings of kitchen, home, cat, family and friends. 

This cat is too cute. Keeps me mellow and relaxed when working from home.

New colors in my Featherlight pieces.

It's funny how when I have the least amount of time for designing and scheming up new pieces, that is EXACTLY when I get flooded with new ideas. Figures! Early morning coffee here with my sketch book.

New crescent moon pieces. These are available in the Etsy shop.

My nephew being a goof ball. Got to hang out with him and his mom this past weekend. Sort of impromptu, spontaneous fun. Sometimes my life gets so packed full it's difficult to make time for it, but when I do I remember that there's always time for it. It's all about perspective.

Time to start wrapping up my day. I hope everyone out there has a lovely and restful evening!

A balance in opposites

Work lately. . . 

these can be found at Good Stock

on Etsy soon!

now available on Etsy

Just a quick peek at where my creative muse has been taking me lately. I'm finding myself working on tiny, delicate pieces AND chunky, more ornate pieces. I think it's a good manifestation of the internal tug-of-war that goes on inside of me continually: the "maker" vs. the "artist." 

Trying to Do it All

I feel like I write about this a lot here: the striving to find balance that is a constant when one is trying to run and maintain one's own handmade business. Or, at least, it is a constant for me. Recently, I visited family in Idaho and was able to really slow down and relax for the first time in a long while. It helps that this was my view most days:

My mom and I stayed at my Aunt Mary's house. It is surrounded on all sides by these gigantic pines. Gorgeous!

It's funny/obvious how getting away from my regular day-to-day life helped me gain some perspective on things. Mainly this: it helped me see how lucky I am. I love living in Oakland. I love that I am surrounded by creative and daring individuals to whom success is not defined by a paycheck but rather the level of joy and satisfaction they get out of their lives. This is good living.

Upon getting back tho, I knew I had some big decisions to make about Tangleweeds. Basically, I have a pretty awesome business opportunity, but I'm not sure if I want to take it. I can't really get into the details of it here, but the gist of it is that I feel like I may be taking on a bit too much given where I'm at with Tangleweeds currently. I don't want to grow to big too fast and have everything get out of control. 

Which brings me back to how I opened this post: balance. I feel like this decision I have to make is going to sincerely test my balancing skills.

So, there's all of that. Sorry to be so vague and cryptic, but I'm sure you fellow creative souls understand.  In the meantime, here's some kitty-cat goodness to make your day that much brighter!

His name is James and he's part rag doll part Siamese, my Aunt's cat. He was my alarm clock!

K, now time for some soul-searching-decision making. . . 

Here Comes Life. . .

Whether I'm ready or not!

What, exactly, do I mean by that, you may ask? I think I mean that I'm just having one of those years. One of those years where it seems like as soon as I confront and deal with one thing another thing is upon me rather quickly, or immediately! Car troubles, a cat I need to take to the vet, relationship troubles, money troubles. There absolutely is a silver lining: I am doing what I love to do. . . and. . .

Tangleweeds classics that will be shipped off to New York tomorrow

I'm trying to learn how to not stress out about the daily miasma of life. The way we all manage to keep the cogs oiled and turning blows my mind sometimes. We all shoulder so much everyday. My friends and my co-horts impress me often.

That's it for now. I'm gonna rest and enjoy some snuggly time with Otis.

Have a wonderful evening and a wonderful holiday tomorrow, however you choose to spend it!

Off to Forestville

Today I start taking a series of classes at the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville. I'm taking the 5-part series Herbal Essentials. I'm so so excited. Even though I am questioning my sanity for choosing to try and fit these classes in right at the beginning of craft fair season, I am quite happy I did make this decision back in December when I registered.

Finding time to still pursue my other passions (my none-jewelry related passions) has been a challenge ever since I started Tangleweeds three years ago. Taking these classes helps me down along that path of balance just a bit more. . .

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

Stones, Healing, Minimalism, Complexity

My head is aswirl with new design ideas. . . I find myself bouncing back and forth between a simple but beautiful minimalism and an ornate but balanced complexity. Wait. That kind of sounds like my thoughts. My hand-work is mirroring my thoughts.

Petite semi-precious stone earrings. I actually managed to photograph these yesterday. They'll be going up in my Etsy shop on Thursday.

Wild-flowers picked on a walk through Berkeley. I often go for a walk in the middle of my studio days. It helps to clear my head. Sometimes, when deadlines are pushing down on me and there doesn't feel like there's enough hours in the day, my walks feel like a time luxury. Something I can't afford to squeeze into my day. Ultimately, though, I think they keep me more focused and calm. 

Gorgeous labradorite teardrops. I did a little research the other day about labradorite and I think I better understand why everyone loves this stone so much (myself included). It balances the aura and grounds spiritual energies. It stimulates the imagination while simultaneously calming an overactive mind. (Info found here.) The times we live in require us to wear so many different hats, and not just day to day, but hour to hour, minute to minute. Anything that helps us find balance seems just perfect.

Everything's Coming up Sapphire and Citrine

My obsession with blue and gold has taken a firm hold. I'm wearing this color combo,

it's showing up in my jewelry, 

and now I want to use it to decorate my home! I'm seriously considering painting my kitchen sunshiny-yellow walls, white cupboards, royal blue on the moldings. But that's if time, motivation, and money allow. . . For now, pink walls =).

daffodils in my kitchen

My sister and I went to the Alameda Point Antique's Fair on Sunday, and oh wow, was it a ton of fun. The time flew by! I felt super-uber-productive because I actually left with what I went looking for: a set of glassware for mixed drinks. They're a pretty ambery-rosey color. 

A few photographic snippets from my sister's and my adventure:

Going to the Antiques Faire seriously helped re-stock my creative juices. I've been floundering a bit creatively lately. It's not that I don't have ideas, it's more just that when I sit  down to my workbench, I feel like I always need to make the most of my time. . . And creative time, as all creatives know, is not always "productive" in the most literal form of the word.

But I know it is productive, and that's why I'm making sure to start "scheduling" in some creative play time more often. . . I'm getting more excited just thinking about it!

Welcome to a new week!

A New Feature: Style & Reason

Last week, as I was convalescing at home, I decided I wanted to start a new feature on my blog. A style inspiration feature. I regularly (and sometimes obsessively!) look at style and fashion blogs, websites, online journals, and what not. Last Monday I shared with you a video from the fantastic website, StyleLikeU. It is my personal fascination to step into someone else's wardrobe, which this wonderful site allows you to do via their short interview videos and photo galleries. I had meant to post expand on my thoughts about style and fashion then, but as I was not feeling well, it was put on the back burner 'til now.
(*all photos credited back to their source*)

Coury Combs of Fancy Treehouse

As I was saying I love to step into other's wardrobes. . . And that has led to some problems when it comes to stepping back into my own wardrobe. As a gal continually fascinated by clothes and all that we adorn ourselves with, I am in constant revision, assessment mode of my own apparel. What shoe do I need to make that dress look perfect? What color cardigan am I lacking? Do I need another three-quarter length skirt in just the right shade of oatmeal? 

Gypsy Den - From the Bell Jar's Darling Little Blog

And while I do love to shop, and I do love clothes, and I do love to put outfits together (so much!) I am not a rich girl. I am not even a "sort-of okay as far as money goes" girl. I am a girl who has decided to make a go at making a living off of her art and am subsequently dealing with the financial reality that my decisions have created. In other words: money is really really tight!

Kimi Recor for StyleLikeU.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

Looking at fashion blogs and all of the other gazillion fashion-related sites one can find on the web started out as a way for me to stay inspired, and encouraged my resourcefulness. I discovered handy little tricks that I could easily employ: Tuck a short dress into a skirt and Voila! A new blouse! And I was continually given the extra courage to try things that others might think a bit odd.

Marie Antoinette Gown

But as I said, that was simply how things started. Eventually I found myself sincerely craving certain "statement" pieces. Shoes, bags, coats. I found myself "window shopping" on certain sites I would have never even considered shopping from in the past, simply because I knew they were distinctly out of my budget. And while "window shopping" doesn't break the bank, the longing it created inside of me could not be tempered. I would attempt to save money for a $300 pair of boots only to realize, before buying those boots (luckily) that I needed that money for any one of a dozen other things. 

me!

My roots in fashion have been forged in thrifty soil. I do most of my shopping at thrift stores. I comb through free boxes in my city whenever the opportunity presents itself (which, in Berkeley and Oakland, is quite often.) I alter things I have that I love but don't fit quite right, I re-stitch hems and seams, and get my shoes re-soled, I love (love love love) to find ways to make "ugly" pieces wearable. Somewhere along the way I started craving more than I could afford. While I am already on my way towards a better balance again, one where the inter-webs are fodder for inspiration rather than frustration, I thought that this moment was the perfect one to kick-start a little challenge for myself.

My challenge: To go one whole year without purchasing any new (to me) "wearables." Meaning no clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses, coats, etc, etc. I am absolutely allowed to purchase genuine needs. And I am allowed to get my existing items repaired if I so desire. Also, trading is a-okay, given I am planning a clothing swap at my house in the near future. And, with Christmas on the horizon, gifts are fine too.

Honestly, I am genuinely excited by the prospects of my challenge. And yes, my challenge is "stolen" in a way from other bloggers who have committed themselves to a similar challenge. I am excited for many reasons. One, I think this is going to really make me realize what in my wardrobe works for me and what does not. Two, I am going to be much more motivated to work through my "alterations" pile. Three, I am going to save money, and hopefully, find that I don't want or need nearly as much as I have been lead to believe I want or need.

I may fall off the wagon now and then. I may throw my arms up in the air a month from now and say "I quit." But I am going to give this my best try. Here I go!

Occupy Mindfully

Oakland. You are beautiful. I went down to 14th and Broadway today and saw the encampments for the first time. I listened to Angela Davis give a moving speech. I walked around and saw so much sharing and giving and compassion. I was moved to tears. A random lady said I looked beautiful today as she bustled about with supplies for the occupiers. I am humbled and awed by the dedication of these people. Our world has come to a place where and when we need this: we need to find ways back to a more egalitarian society.

After leaving this sacred space I went on my way to my Berkeley jewelry studio. Back to my work. I will work today. I will work for myself as I have done for the last seven years of my life. I am infinitely proud of what I do, but at times the amount of strain and stress, the discouragement from a society that doesn't "get it" can become almost too much.

So, Oakland, this is what I say to you: You have re-charged this working artist's batteries. You have reminded me of why I do what I do. I make decisions everyday to stay committed to a way of life that hasn't been spoon-fed to me: supporting local and businesses who operate with integrity, biking and walking places as much as I can, sharing what wealth I do have to offer with the people around me. But I will stop there. I do not want to turn this into a laundry list of all of the things I do to make this a better planet. Because I could be doing so much more. Oakland, you've given me the extra "oomph" to keep striving in this direction.

Thank you thank you thank you.

Questions

Yup. Not much going on in the Boozer-Komush abode tonight. I'm staying in, taking care of my sick honey, and relaxing. We lounged on the couch and watched An Officer and a Gentleman, and wowzers, romantic!

Seriously though, life keeps throwing me all of these curve balls. I feel like the universe is either 1. trying to tell me I need to be doing something else with my life (i.e. not the jewelry biz) or 2. is seriously testing just how committed I am to my work and thus making sure I'm doing the right thing with my life. I won't get into all of it right at this moment, but basically I've had to move my studio space, rather unexpectedly, this week. Right when I would be buckling down and preparing for the holiday craft fairs I'm slated for (hello, Baz Biz and Renegade!!!).

But the space is nearly all moved and should be completely moved by this time or earlier tomorrow. Yes, I am frustrated that I've basically lost a week's worth of jewelry production time. . . And, yes, I am trying not to focus on that. Because there are some silver linings to my new workspace. I have some wonderful friends that have pulled me through.

But still, many questions nag at me. Mainly, how much is too much to sacrifice to pursue my passion?

One Woman Jewelry Factory

If you need to find me I'll be in my studio. Craft fair season has begun!!!!

My Haven

Even when life feels like it's all just too much, I always have my workspace.

(all photos taken by my good friend, Anni Pattee. You can find more of her work on her flickr page: Make a Scene Photography.)