Full Moon Monday

So, yes, as stated in my last post I have been quite remiss at regular blog posts. . . I always seem to start the year out bound and determined to regularly post here. And I start out that way because I always have one hundred and one things that I want to blog about. That hasn't changed, if anything I now have one thousand and one things to blog about! 

But, as the year wears on and my schedule quickly fills up with craft fairs and large jewelry orders, I find myself relegating the blog to a fairly low priority. 

Today I simply wanted to share with you some "moon phase" pieces I've been working on. They're not perfect, but I'm so happy about them, I wanted to share them now! These pieces have me thinking about the possibility of getting into some torch-fired enamel work. Which would be a new direction for me, but a consideration going into the new year when I'll have a bit of time to experiment with new techniques. 

Without getting too esoteric about it (nor am I an expert on this matter) the full moon is a wonderful time for "full" energy. The kind of energy that births new ideas and new paths. And I'm thinking it may be birthing in me a new direction with this blog, one that fulfills me creatively. . . 

I make no promises, as I do believe I've said many a times that I was gonna ramp up this here 'ol blog only for it to go pretty quiet for months on end. But, I'm just sayin' I'm thinking quite a bit about some series for the blog and a blog makeover.

So, thanks full moon for giving me the energy and the excitement to dream about change and dream about, well dreams!

Blueberry pancakes and the end of summer

The seasons are changing and I'm really feeling it. Those last few chances to bbq in your backyard, enjoy amazing summer fruits, and get all dressed up and not have to worry about what coat to put on. . . 

And, of course, there's always new work! These necklaces will be available this weekend at Rock Make and Urban Air Markets.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

New Work of Late

Oh, Sunday, how I love you. I hope everyone out there is having a great Sunday. I had the pleasure of having brunch with a good friend today at The Fat Lady. The rest of my day has been unfurling at a pleasant pace. And I thought it was a good moment to share some snaps (mostly via Instagram - my handle is "Tangleweeds") of some of my recent work. None of these are available on Etsy just yet. But you can always catch me at a fair!

I think of this one as a very powerful piece. Obviously not completed yet, but well on the way.

"Chance" earrings. These are available with many different stone options. 

Full circle lariat with triangles.

Something itty-bitty and delicate and perfect by itself or worn layered.

A trio of rhombus earrings.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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.

Birds Birds Birds

Two new pair of earrings, inspired by our feathered friends, now available in my Etsy shop.

Bluebird Brownbird - Leather, Brass, Lapis Earrings

~Marsh Hawks~
In the morning they glide
just above the rough plush
of the marshlands,
as though on leashes,
long-tailed and with
yard-wide wings
tipped upward, like
dark Vs; then they suddenly fall
in response to their wish,
which is always the same--
to succeed again and again.
-Mary Oliver (from her collection titled Dream Work)

And guess what? This May, the 4th to be exact, Tangleweeds on Etsy will be turning three years old! A celebration is definitely to be had. Use the coupon code "birthday" to receive 35% off your entire purchase from my Etsy shop through the rest of the month of April and on into May.

Peregrin Falcons - Leather, Brass, Steel and Labradorite Earrings

These beauties are going to be hard for me to part with. I'm kind of in love with them. . . Also, of note, I have a VERY limited supply of these two leathers. I'll only be making a few pairs of each of these before they're gone for good! 

Busy Day, Lazy Day

This day has simply flown by! Whoosh and it was 6 in the evening. How did that happen? Tomorrow is becoming my regular Tangleweeds day off, re-juice the batteries with relaxation time, reading time, cat time, lazy time. And I picked up the newest issue of the Believer and I am looking forward to sitting around and reading it (possibly) cover to cover.

In the meantime, a sneak peak of some of the jewels to be added to my Etsy shop in two weeks. . .

horseshoe style pendant-necklace with semi-precious stones

Have a restful weekend everyone!

Good things come in threes

I'm not much of a numerologist (although, give me time and I'm liable to grab a book on the matter and start reading) but I've always loved the number three and numbers divisible by three. . .

I figured since this is the first time I've put new work in my Etsy shop in about three months (I gasp when I see that in print) I figured I do it in threes. . .

inspiration: crows swooping and diving through the branches of redwood trees, finding bits of this and pieces of that to take back to their nests

I bring you a trio of new swoops to my shop. Brass, copper, and silver-platted copper, all are accented by spinel stone, all are inspired, to one extent or another by the fall season.

inspiration: the way foggy mornings feel so mysterious, the air a thick swirl of possibilities, all of the starlings lined up on the neighborhood fences waiting for the sun to break through

inspiration: the tiny brown, white, tan, and black sparrows greeting the mornings with their cheerful chirps perched in the spindly white-bark branches of birch trees

I hope that everyone's autumn is coming along nicely. I, for one, am definitely feeling the strong pull of the seasons. I want to make large batches of tomato sauce (with the last of the tomatoes from our very very late summer) to save in the freezer for the middle of winter, and walk through piles of crunchy leaves. Curl up with a steaming mug of mulled cider, and start thinking about what dress I want to wear for Thanksgiving dinner. Mainly, I want to hibernate a bit, and while I can't completely go into hibernation, I can find my own little moments and make them that!

I hope everyone is having a lovely beginning to their fall season.