balasana

The cold has finally settled into the bones of our house, the garlic has stopped sprouting and my son's toy trucks are frozen at awkward angles in the sandbox. It comforts me a little, knowing that I can't do much outside...the quietness opens up more space.
It's time to look inward, refocus and set intentions for the coming year.


This past year saw me bounce between frazzled and elated while juggling the daunting task of re-launching my jewelry business, a three year old, odd jobs and a time draining 'intentional' community. It feels good to sit down with a cup of ginger tea and plan the year ahead while reflecting on the past. Like child's pose (or balasana) while practicing yoga...my forehead on the mat, breath flowing in and out, focusing on what is truly important. 


So, January has been full of dinosaur stories, sticky glue, hide and seek...simply being present.
In between those precious moments there was a whole lot of organizing and cleaning my studio (sometimes during hide and seek), photographing jewelry, applying for craft shows, and ordering supplies for new work. 


Looking ahead, February will be a time to nourish. Cleansing my mind and body with much needed studio and yoga time, maybe even a little trip up north with the wee one. I need to balance all of that organizing with some creativity and peace :)




here's a peek at what's inspiring me right now...

from left...
clear bubbly glass from the first series of dawn patrol jewelry.
earrings backed in copper are part of the second series.
last, this pale green glass ball comes from the glassblowing studio i'm working out of in pawtucket, ri. they melt a different type of glass called cullet. i'm so very excited to test these out!

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this place...

 a surf and yoga retreat in Morocco. I've dreamed of a surf trip to Morocco for over ten years, filled with a rugged coastline serving up endless magical waves, rich culture and exotic food.  i think it's time to start planning.

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ocean inspired blueish greenish grey that I painted my living room. a friend gave me about 10 gallons of paint, so in an effort to not waste it or spend money ryder and i spent a week of messy mixing to get the perfect color.
there is an ocean smell this color reminds me of. sometimes when surfing i smell it,  like the wind has been blowing over the ocean, untouched for thousands of miles. ...pure, fresh and sweet. 

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    moss aquamarine gemstones on my wish list, but i can't find them fair trade which may pose a dilemma...

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i love this delicate, whispy, watery necklace by pippa small, a jeweler who has a strong commitment to creating ethical jewelry http://us.pippasmallshop.com/ethical-trade. 




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salty love

After an amazing holiday season i'm starting to dream of warm water and thundering waves. I walk by my thick 6mm wetsuit everyday on my way into the studio...and continue on. I know that with hard work and patience  I'll get there. I'm alright with forgoing some of the  frigid atlantic surf sessions where I feel like the michelin man for the few extra hours spent working. I'll still go for a dip in the sea, just to be in it. Try to surf, laugh at the awkwardness. The ocean is healing no matter what the conditions, but nothing can replicate the feeling of warm silky water rushing around me. For now in order to calm those cravings I'll make work that reminds me of those moments... green and glassy.

a gentle reminder

"i need this reminder. and i figure if i need it, then there are some of you out there that need it too. there’s something about seeing the written word to go with his thoughts that really drive this message home to me. (to be kind to myself) to have patience with myself as i ebb and flow on this creative path. it’s hard work to navigate the way while you are forging the way." ~Meredith Winn http://meredithwinn.wordpress.com/

making

busy busy busy. not much time lately for updating the blog, or surfing, climbing or friends lately...but lot's happening in the studio!

momentum

At last I'm finding more and more time to make jewelry every day, energized and humming along until 11 each night.  The more I work the more it's starting to feel like my job again, rather than something I used to do and the easier it is to say i have to work.  I even opted to work rather than surf the other day...weird.

I'm making a bunch of new work, and keeping it simple for now.  I'm enjoying having the freedom to make what I want rather than the pressure of creating a product line for wholesale. That's how i started...I had just learned to make jewelry, and within a year was I doing wholesale shows with 30 + galleries to keep up with. I think my creativity suffered since I had no time for new work.  I was excited to be getting off to such a good start but found I was making work I didn't really like just to fill gaps in my line.

So for now I'm going back to basics...rivets, simple metalwork etc...building up my crimping fingers :) With that creative freedom has come a creative overload.  There are so many things I want to make, techniques I want to learn. Sometimes I can't focus and make one thing, I'll stop and realize I have three things going at once. One piece giving me an idea for another, starting on that then starting another...it's nice...a little spastic at times but I'm feeling the flow :)