Category Archives: Jewelry

August ReBoot

“Get up and work.”

 

I actually didn’t intend to take a two month break from my space here. My studio’s in need of a little love too, as long as I’m being honest.

August is here & I’m feeling much better. {I’m the only person I know who can catch pneumonia in July. July fourth.} I’m adding work to my shop, doing some serious cleaning, & putting my wardrobe through another overhaul. Anyone interested in buying a pair of worn-twice 9.5 limited edition Fluevog boots that I love, but are too small – send me a message, or they are going on eBay!

I’ve gone and invested in two new pairs of shoes:

Best. Boots. Ever.

 

These won because the heel is the perfect height, the arches fit like a glove, and on my 35″ inseam, they go up to my knee on their lowest setting. I. Love. Them.

The perfect Oxford.

 

Truth Selby’s. I could walk all day in these, and probably will. Love. I need more Alexander Wang and Black Crane in my wardrobe to go with them…

So, everything that doesn’t go with these shoes are being hung in the potential-elimination section of my closet. We’ll see how that ends up going. {Luckily, it looks like I have a good foundation of pieces that already go with them.}

Oh! I’m also selling this ring:

Vintage Sapphire Ring

 

It’s on my Etsy page!

♥ Momo

 

 

Holiday Show & Work Photos

Dahlia Ring: Sterling & Ocean Jasper

I have five pieces in the Danaca Holiday Show!

Dahlia Ring

Agate & Sterling

This necklace is a point of particular pride; I found this stone at the bottom of a box of tools donated to my starving artist studio. Sad & alone, it’s a peculiar cut that I stared at for a week before I took a breath & sat down to set it.

Agate & Sterling

Agate & Sterling

Agate & Sterling

Rutilated Quartz Cube & Sterling

This is probably the cutest choker you could ever get for the holidays. It’s tiny, but still stands out above a little black dress or even a t-shirt. I have a limited supply of these rutilated quartz cubes, and am making them to order for $32.

Rutilated Quartz Cube & Sterling

Moonstone, Labradorite, Ruby & Sterling Necklace

I love the color of labradorite: that blue flash with a subtle backdrop of grey, brought out by the white opalescence of rainbow moonstones. I added a tiny string of raspberry-red rubies just up the collar.

Pink Ocean Jasper & Sterling

I love this stone; it looks like candy. ♥ Like the ring and the agate pendant above, this is a one of a kind piece, with a chain handmade by me! It will be on display at Danaca through the end of the month, and if it survives the show without sale, will go up on Etsy.

Pink Ocean Jasper & Sterling

I’ll be adding a few other pieces to the shop over the weekend; earrings for stocking stuffers, a couple of bracelets, necklaces, and a couple of one of a kind fabricated pieces with cabochons to capture your {or your sweetie’s} heart.

I also have a shameless plug about the joys of supporting a small artist rather than venturing out into the violent holiday madness of the season. Have you seen the ads that have come out this week? “Better than Black Friday”, “Post Black Friday”, “The Next Black Friday”. Before T-Day, there were pre-Black Fridays, and now we have desperate marketers with three more before the Big Day. Wal Mart is even having Black Wednesday.

I’ve been out for only one Black Friday in my life, and all I remember was how sad it felt: people lined up in the cold at 4 a.m. with coupons either in hand, or jostling everyone else uneasily, afraid that they will miss out on the limited number of “first come first serve” coupons handed out when the doors opened. I was hit multiple times by a cart pushed by a woman who wanted so badly to get past a child who was in her way that she didn’t ask, she shoved. It was just a lot of junk, but I had the chance to have it for $25 less.

So I make a point of not going shopping that day. No one I love or who loves me wants anything from me from a sale like that. Nothing worth having can be found amid the throngs of angry, anxious shoppers running through a Wal Mart for something that was made with the sweat of factory girls in China or Taiwan, Mexico or Haiti. It’s 50% off? It’s never going to be 50% off of the people who worked inhumane hours & wages to make it, or the time that American retail associates are putting in working til midnight or later at minimum wage to make it available to you.

And no one I know wants a present with that much karmic stress attached.

I’m baking this year. Chocolate stars, vanilla wafers, ginger cookies, butterscotch brownies. {Someone recently asked me if this was made with those butterscotch chips from the store: no. Just lots and lots of sugar, with some more sugar for good measure and a lot more butter than you really want to know about.} I’m doing something small and fun for each person, but I’m not actively shopping for them. I just find things when I’m out & about throughout the year that make me laugh, & look somehow just like that person to me, & I hope that when they open their presents they feel as much joy as I did in putting them together.

My shameless plug: I hope that something I’ve made inspires you to buy it for someone special. I understand that everyone’s budget is tight, & I try to make my prices reflect that. I hope that your holidays are bright, full of laughter & good food!

♥ Momo

Etsy Update: October

Carnelian & Labradorite

I have put my favorite necklace up on Etsy! It was hard to do, but everyone who saw it loved it so much, & I recognize that eventually I’ll be making enough jewelry that it will be impractical to give them all names & tuck them all into a cozy bed at night – I have to learn how to let go.

I hope you love it as much as I do! I have a proper torch now, & first on the agenda are more octopus designs. I also have a small line of simple hoops and little earrings, which are perfect stocking stuffers, party favors, and bridesmaids gifts! {I’m a fan of Fall weddings.}

♥ Momo

It’s All About the Packaging

Cute.Tape.

Have you heard of Cute Tape? I stumbled across it while working out packaging solutions for holiday jewelry. I kid you not, a stranger stopped me on the street a week ago {when I was still going outside} & asked me if I realized that there were only three pay periods left until Christmas. No kidding.

Washi

Glassine Envelopes

Tape Dispensers

I am woefully underprepared for this holiday season.

♥ Momo

Owl Thursday

Owl Wing

Owls for your hair!

Me & My Owl

Owls for your wall.

♥ Momo

The Big Board

“Gentleman! There’s no fighting in the War Room!”

Scenes from my bench! September updates on the business, and some pictures from recent adventures:

Our beach, as seen in the Mason jar on my window sill.

Stormy Sunday I

Stormy Sunday II

…the view from my work table, to the right of my bench and the big board. It’s been sunny, windy, drizzling, pouring and thundering today; my favorite weather. ♥

Small Work

Small Work III

I have this amazing collection of big and small lampwork beads, and I’m finally playing around with making them into something!

Beads!

Beads! II

Walkabout:

Sad Pillow Sunday

…yeah. There’s really nothing to do when you turn the corner to find this other than to take a picture. Grey sky, grey sidewalk, grey pillow with the stuffing beat out of it. Real feathers.

Pillow at Pike & 11th

“Sidewalk Cat welcomes you to Cafe Presse”

I love Cafe Presse – stop making the waiting list so long, guys.

I sold my first piece last week! I hope that this means good things. {Fingers crossed, working feverishly away.}

♥ Momo

Fall Wardrobe: Part II

Cordelia. Carnelian & Labradorite. Sterling.

“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”

-A.A. Milne {Winnie the Pooh}

This is my favorite necklace I’ve made so far! Carnelian & Labradorite, wrapped with sterling silver.

I was downtown early before work last week and ducked into Anthro to dig through the sales rack. {You know it’s bad news when the sales associates grin at you and say “We haven’t seen you in forever! It’s so good to see you!”}

Identical dresses, one in plum, the other in a medium grey, they are 100% felted Merino wool, on sale, just put out, the only two XS’s in the entire store. They layer perfectly, and make me happy. ♥

Isn’t that a great way to start Autumn?

♥ Momo

Fall Wardrobe

James Perse: Funnel Neck Dress

It’s officially getting cold, with promising bits of haze in the morning burning away into warmer afternoons.

Because I never seem to be content with what I have, I’d like a comfy draped dress by James Perse. ♥

♥ Momo

Sleepwalking in Style

Sleepwalking in Style

Sleepwalking in Style: Etsy. I’ve published an Etsy treasury titled Adventuring; check it out!

Oh, and how cool is this:

Kitchenaid Charm

♥ Momo

Motopresse on Etsy

Alice Necklace

New pieces up on Etsy! Rutilated/tourmalinated quartz drop necklace finished with a stack of tiny rubies, on a fine double sterling silver chain.

I’m sure I’ve talked about my octopus designs before; I’m awfully fond of them. I call him tako-chan, & I hope he’ll find a good home!

I tried something different this time: offsetting the clasp. I also placed a corresponding ring on the other side for balance, & like the effect. The ring also doubles as an additional loop for the clasp to shorten the necklace if you like. If it goes over well, I might bring it back in future pieces!

I’m not sure why I call him “he”, when he’s got several sweet faceted garnets keeping him company. Habit? In any case, I’ve named it the “Olivia”.

I’m so excited to have these up! A couple of people have actually made my first piece a favorite, and I hope that means that people like my work. I really wasn’t sure what to expect as far as Etsy traffic goes: I’ve heard from people who sold their pieces within 24 hours of listing, and some who have been on for a year before selling anything at all. I have high hopes.

♥ Momo