What about Love?

I had the dumb luck to run into an old friend of mine on the street a few weekends ago.  Pat is an incredible spirit, always looking on the bright side of things and a joy to be around.  We worked together at a jewelry company years ago and were both so happy to see one another and catch up on each other's lives.  So there was lots of hugging and jumping up and down when I saw Pat.

As it turns out, he's getting married!  And he asked me to make their wedding bands, right there on the street.  Sweet!  He's been together with his partner for 25 years and they are making a documentary about their journey together and what has led them to finally get married after all this time. 

I love being a small part of people's journey and creating a set of wedding bands is one of my favorite things to do as a jeweler.  I feel lucky whenever I get to work with a couple taking such a big step together, it's amazing to make such an important and symbolic piece of jewelry.  

Once we set up the appointment, Pat told me that his camera guy was going to film our meeting.  yikes.  I am not a fan of seeing myself on film (not that it happens often. okay never.) it just kinda freaks me out.  But I was determined not to let that get in the way of helping two people find the perfect rings for their union.  It's not about me anyway, it's about them.  And they are adorable.

Here I am, all dolled up for the meeting...

I'm wearing a silk dress (with pockets!), my faux diamond studs and my pyramid necklace.  Oh and MAKEUP.  And I wore a ponytail since I couldn't figure out what to do with my hair, which looks like this on a GOOD day...

And I used hair-straightening shampoo but it's just as frizzy.  Just let me be angry about it.

Well the meeting went just fine, we laughed, we reminisced and we talked about their wedding.  They are having a beautiful ceremony in a redwood grove in California, surrounded by friends and loved ones.  I suggested my bark texture rings in bronze.  And their faces lit up, in that way they do when you know something fits just right.  

A bit more about the couple.  Directly from them:  "Pat and Stephen are getting married in every state that currently allows same-sex marriage: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire. They are also getting married in California, where the legal status of same-sex marriage is still unresolved. Their final wedding will be in Washington, DC on their 25th anniversary. "

I'm so honored to be contributing in a small way, to make such meaningful rings for people who truly define love and commitment.  Pat and Stephen, you are an inspiration. 

Collaboration Nation

One of the things I like to do to give myself a jump-start in creativity is to work with another artist.  It can get kinda lonely all by myself in my studio doing the same thing over and over again.  So I look to my friends and other artists to get some artistic inspiration.

Last year I was very fortunate to meet an amazing, talented, smart, creative, successful and hilarious new friend:  Lorrie Veasey.  She's down-to-earth and so generous with both her time and her work, PLUS her gigantic studio is 2 blocks from my apartment/workshop.  And she has two adorable kids around the same age as my oldest so they get together and nerd-it-up big time.  Then we get to drink wine and laugh lots and lots.  She's a really goooood friend.  Anyway, she's a ceramicist by trade and a snarky commentator-on-life at heart.  And I'm so lucky to have met her.

Lorrie has been listening to me complain often about my photography.  And in her usual, uber-generous fashion, she offered for me to come by her studio and use her photo set-up.  Oh, and some of her work as props for my jewelry.  It was loads of fun, nice to be out of my own space and great to see her work up close and personal.

Here's a shot of my ring on one of her ring holders:

And here is her ring holder in it's entirety:

And it's already sold, but I know she'd make you another one if you asked her very nicely.

I love Lorrie and I love all of her work, it's really hard to pick a favorite.  Honestly, I don't have to because her pottery is so affordable!  And they make perfect gifts (as my friends and family already know).

I just gave this one to my husband for Valentine's Day:

And at one of the craft fairs she sells her work at, I bought this handmade collage:

This one made me get all choked up, because she made it for me.  *blush*  WHO DOES THAT?!

Lorrie does.  I'm so lucky that she picked me to be her friend.  Thanks for being my inspiration Lorrie!

It's MARCH!

And I'm drowning in ideas.  Promotions, advertising, honing in on my target market, new designs, new customers...

Sometimes I feel like I've got so much on my plate (that I put there) that I'll never finish anything.  ACK!  And that's when I sit down, eat some chocolate, and take it one thing at a time.  I find that organizing things on my desk helps me organize my thoughts and gives me the feeling that I have some control over my self-imposed-chaos.

I take time to go through my orders, order castings and gemstones as needed, then hang them on a magnetic board on the wall behind my desk.  Done.

Then I go through my expense receipts, bills, and assorted crap that has somehow landed on my desk (thank you, sweet husband).  Then I do the old FTP.  File. Toss. Pile.  If I've dealt with it: File.  If I haven't looked at it/don't need it: Toss.  If I don't know what to do with it yet: Pile.  I like to work in piles and I admit it's one slippery slope toward being on Hoarders for me.

I apologize to whomever that pile belongs to, but thought the cat butt sticking out was hilarious.  Schaudenfraude at it's best.

So that said, I am going to continue my FTPing in the hopes that it will give me some energy to continue to plow through the piles and get on with my work.  That said, I just posted a fantastic new ring in my Etsy shop.  Whew.