so much more

Happy Mother's Day everyone!  Just like most holidays, you shouldn't wait for this one day a year to tell your loved ones they are appreciated and loved, but there is something so incredibly wonderful about a designated day to kick your butt into gear to do just that.  Parenthood is hard and the simple accolade of "you're doing a good job, we see it and appreciate what you do" means so much.  So to all the mamas out there, you are incredible... the moms who love their children unconditionally, the women who love fiercely within their hearts as mothers, the soon-to-be mamas, the mothers who have loved and lost in silence, and the mothers who we have loved and lost but will never forget... you are an inspiration to us all!!!

My Mother's Day this year is commemorated by this beautiful Edwardian two tone gold filigree ring.  Nothing means more to me than receiving a piece of jewelry to mark important days throughout my life and to one day pass down to my own daughter.

up, up and away!

My April baby just turned 3 this past weekend.  She had a very specific list of things she wanted for her birthday, "cake, candles, balloons, presents."  So a hot air balloon-themed party it was!  I can't believe my itty bitty baby has grown up into such a little lady!

baby bracelet

I made Clara her very first piece of jewelry!  Lately, she has been grabbing for one of my bracelets so I asked her if she wanted her own, which she replied yes.  Super excited that she was even interested, I let her pick out what color she wanted from the embroidery floss I had on hand and made her this bracelet for which, once she was presented with the bracelet, she hollered "No," and threw it across the floor.  Spirits dashed, but not entirely squashed, I finally convinced her to just "try it on."  Now she won't let me take it off!  The impossible tininess of it makes me realize that although she is growing up fast, she's still so very little.

happy 2nd birthday

My apologies for the long overdue post.  I was too busy celebrating this little girl's second birthday!  Happy birthday to my wonderful sweet girl!

love of my life

Today marks my husband's and my 10 year anniversary!  I must say we have made a pretty spectacular life together. This man loves me even at my worst and inspires me to be my best, and that is a rare gift.  And for that, these last 10 years have been the best of my life.  He doesn't like the overly used statement, "I married my best friend," but I really truly have!

10 years of love and adoration

Many are focused on buying gifts for Valentine's Day but my thoughts are on my husband and my 10 year anniversary next week!  I have some thoughts on what I am getting him and I know he has a master plan worked up already for me, but here's a few things I wouldn't mind getting for this very important anniversary...
1) Art Nouveau locket- Because placing 2 photos in the locket instantly turns it into a sentimental gift and wins you husband of the year!
2) Small diamond pendant- Because it's your daughter's birthstone and what a great way to remind her of what your love brought into this world... and because who doesn't love getting diamonds for an anniversary?!
3) Gardenia perfume- Because the smell of gardenia reminds her of the flowers on your wedding day.
4) Forget me not ring- Because Forget-me-nots are the symbolic flower for the month you were married (September) and your wife got them tattooed on her on your honeymoon!

happy birthday to my sweet baby girl

Happy first birthday to my sweet daughter, Clara!!!  I know everyone says it, but I cannot believe how fast this year has gone!  Yet, I can barely remember what life felt like before her.  I am in awe of her every day.  She is this sweet, loving, funny, amazing little person... so full of personality!  So happy birthday, my sweet baby girl... the happiness you have brought in to this world is indescribable! 

baby time!

I am extremely excited to announce that Clara Violette arrived on Wednesday April 18!  I'll be taking some time away from blogging (just for a little while) to enjoy quality time with my baby girl.  Thank you to my readers... I'll be back soon!

happy birthday to my love

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! (It's the big 3-0!) Seriously... I am so lucky to be married to this man. He truly is my best friend. Without his support, I don't know how far I would have gotten with this wonderful jewelry business of mine!

sunny california

I am heading off tomorrow for a week long vacation to California so there won't be any new posts during this time. I am so excited to relax, spend some quality time with my family, and read a hell of a lot of books. (I plan to read this, this, this, and this.) And I am especially excited about a shopping trip planned for the jewelry district in LA. See you in a week! (image courtesy of flickr)

smitten

Sorry folks, but I can't think about anything other than babies right now. My niece, Maya Elise, was born yesterday at 7:33pm PST, making me an aunt for the very first time! Now all I can think about are baby clothes, baby toys, baby books, and how I am going to spoil this little girl rotten. I am so smitten, so in love...

nothing wrong with a little name dropping

As I have mentioned before, I love Somethings Hiding Here. And I love them even a little more now for name dropping my etsy store in their featured seller interview on etsy. Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/featured_seller.php... and while you are at it, just click right on through to my etsy store!

a little crush

Lately, I have formed a little crush on Zooey Deschanel. I love her laid back vintage style and I LOVE how she accessorizes her outfits... from her sparkly vintage jewelry to her cutesy vintage headbands. I am loving this image of her from the new cotton ad:...the bow heels, the sailor button shorts, the ruffled white shirt, the shrunken cardigan, the rhinestone bow necklace, the crown braid!!! In my dream land, this would be my most perfect outfit for a casual bicycle outing. I heart you, Zooey!

a surprise gift

I am a lover of vintage books... if I had the room, I would have a rather large collection. (In fact, my dream house has a room entirely composed of wall to wall bookshelves.) I love the hard covers, the fragile discolored pages, the illustrations, the smell! So imagine my surprise when I came in to work on Monday and a vintage book on jewelry design was waiting for me at my desk... a gift from one of my coworkers. She saw it and knew it was for me. Very little has changed in the techniques but the material is far more thorough, rather than broken down step by step into charts or bullet points like most newer jewelry design books are now. Don't get me wrong, these are great when you are in the studio and you need a quick answer, but there is something about reading chapter upon chapter of discussions on jewelry that the nerd in me loves.

something's hiding in here... take a look

I am in love with Something's Hiding Here for so many reasons... one, their point of view and aestethic is amazing... two, their attention to detail is flawless... three, I am in awe of the fact that they manage to do all that they do... four, Shauna and Stephen are possibly the cutest couple I know... and five, Shauna happens to be a regular source of knowledge and inspiration to me because I am lucky enough to get to work with her 5 days a week. The list could go on and on really...

Of course, I am a dedicated reader of Shauna and Stephen's blog... http://www.somethingshidinginhere.typepad.com/ ... and when I saw these photos by Carl Zoch using their "mustache envy" in wedding portraits, I could have kicked myself that I didn't think of it for my own wedding! Visions of my guests using these wonderful hand-crafted mustaches on a stick in the photobooth I rented for the day keep flashing in my mind and it is just another reason why I dream about reliving my wedding 10 different times in 10 different ways. Sometimes the most obvious and brilliant ideas are right in front of your face!

flower headbands and family

This past weekend, my husband and I went to visit family in New Jersey and I made a gift for my little cousin, Kleio. I just got this wonderful picture of her modeling the headband I made for her...I wear a lot of headbands, hair combs, scarves, etc. in my hair (I am obsessed with creating hairstyles a la Jane Austen with my curly hair) so naturally I started exploring making hair accessories myself, just like with jewelry. (Kleio makes a much cuter model for my stuff though!) I am working on different designs and different flower patterns but the one Kleio is wearing is one of my favorites.

Speaking of family... I need to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my big brother, Rick! He is such an amazing person and a great source of inspiration to me. Check out his blog site: http://ricksflickspicks.animationblogspot.com/.