lucky rocketship underpants

ho hum

2011-05-30T05:48:00.000-07:00

you'd think as much as i talk, i'd be better at this blogging thing...

BUT i shall try to post more as i am starting a summer camp here for my kids this year and want to document as much as possible! camps aren't in the budget (seriously, who has $600 to send two kids to half day camp for only a week???) and i feel so bad that mama can't swing that kind of dough so i'm starting CAMP of AWESOME (kids picked the name). i picked Camp Lackofmoolah but that has a negative tone, yes? i have about 100 things i want to attempt, including art projects, field trips, etc. that will keep the kids happy. i'm determined to make this an epic summer, y'all! more to come...

frosty photos and site update

2010-12-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

My 2010 shows are finally over and I can now focus on stocking my retailers and get down to the holiday nitty gritty with the kids. It has been frigid outside and I have been dreading taking product shots but I recently discovered that we get such fantastic late fall/winter daylight in our huge front windows and got totally lucky with these shots. I'm in love with how they turned out (post processing is fun, too).

These new pretties are in the shop but going fast! I'm so thrilled with the positive response to my new resin work. I can't wait to get the storybook charms back up and running with resin instead. I'm so burned out on soldering after all these years. =)

all work and no play...

2010-12-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

Actually, my work is play so that phrase doesn't really apply. I am worn out all the same though! =) I have two shows on Sunday and it has been hard for me to make such a massive amount of jewelry this week. I'm just ready to walk away for a while even though I think I've done that a bit too much this week already. I don't think I have enough made but I am burned out at the moment. Here's a sneak peek...

okay, back to work. i mean, PLAY.

2010-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine brought this piece to my attention again and I'm so thankful. For years, I have only had Holly's feature as a good record which unfortunately had broken links (the original site is much different now) but through some poking around and slap happy clicking, I found the original article and the tutorial, too! Hurray! At first, viewing the pictures, the text and the jewelry (and the house in the background) brought a big lump to my throat and a few tears to my eyes. Amy contacted me about the feature not long after the ex and I split and it was such a wonderful boost at a no-good, rotten time and a great distraction.

It is a such a beautiful piece and so well crafted. Amy Powers is gifted like that I'm so grateful that she found me worthy. Thank you, Amy.

Photo credits to Holly of Decor 8 and Amy of InspireCo. The really nice picture of me above (one of the two in my lifetime) was taken by the lovely Casey Futrell.

*

2010-11-20T18:29:00.000-08:00

Thursday was the 25th anniversary of Calvin & Hobbes. I was obsessed with reading this comic in "the funnies" each day back when I was 16 and I vividly recall finding out on my birthday that Bill Watterson was taking his first hiatus. I was crushed. How would I live without my daily fix of a boy and his tiger? Calvin and his little buddy were a wonderful, insightful, hysterical escape for my teenage self and I've never tired of reading and re-reading the books.

Once a boy broke my heart and kept all of my Calvin & Hobbes books, except two, and I remember calling him after we broke up to ask for them back. I asked more than once to no avail and ended up screaming into his answering machine that I didn't give a damn about our break up; I just wanted my beloved books back! (No, I never got them back. Asshat.)

Calvin & Hobbes was one of the things my Dad and I talked about the night he passed away.

I used to visit Grateful Dead shows just to collect the bootleg Calvin & Hobbes tees. Bill Watterson, I'm glad you'll never read this.

Last year, The Boy finally discovered my C&H books in his bookcase and fell in love, too. I think he's read them all a zillion times each and we delight in reading them together before we fall asleep. Giggling together over the endless shenanigans, sarcasm, jabs at the hapless Dad, the brilliant snowgoons, the philosophical questions that need a little explaining and the tender adoration of Calvin to his stuffed tiger are memories that I will take with me to the end. I know he will, too.

“If your knees aren’t green by the end of the day, you ought to seriously re-examine your life.” -Bill Waterson

*

2010-11-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

tgif.

2010-11-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a bit of mental revamping and planning for a new direction for my work. I've been beyond burnt out on recycling vintage for a long time however that's what my stores and customers want so I've been accommodating them. However, I find myself dreading putting things together the same old way with the same old components. I can't tell you what I'm up to (b/c then I'll jinx it) but I can tell you that I will be retiring my soldering iron for Storybook Charms and moving into a more streamlined (and easily reproduced) direction. It takes forever to create one of these pieces,

to get it just right with all the perfect bits and bobs and to do that a zillion times for stores and shows and my site is nothing short of torture. I used to love it but now...I LOATHE it. There is a certain appeal (at least for now) of repetition for production's sake.

I have three shows coming up and we'll see then how the public takes the new stuff (gosh please let me be over the learning curve by then!). Hopefully I'll even have my rebrand up and running soon, too. I'm blessed to have an extremely talented friend who is willing to take on a logo redesign.

By the way, how did October, the most amazing month EVAH, come and go so quickly? I never even had pumpkin cheesecake like I usually do. And I turned 41 without nary a balloon or cocktail. Damnit.

Okay, November, whatcha got?

2010-10-28T10:48:00.001-07:00

Coming out of hiding soon...new look, new lines, new me. Can I get a hell yeah?

weekend recap

2010-05-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hurray! Our 9th Handmade Market was a terrific success. I needed a good show badly and I got one. Whew! I think I'm still recovering and am definitely experiencing the post-show "i don't wanna make any jewelry for at least a month" feeling. Too bad; not gonna happen.

The after party at The Busy Bee was super fun and I got to hang out with a few friends that I rarely see. No pics to share b/c we were all tired and sweaty from a long hard day's work and did not want to be facebooked or blogged. Oh wait, here's one:

Me and Rosy's shoes. Exciting, I know.

Must get to work creating a whole bunch of new stuff since Saturday cleaned me out. Me thinks getting back into recycled vintage was a smart move as that was most of what sold. Maybe it is time to head out of town to thrift for some supplies since Raleigh is no fun to thrift in anymore. Hmmm, Grannie's Panties anyone?

busy bee

2010-04-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

The Girl is home sick today with a fever. She hasn't had one of those in a while and I darn sure don't miss the days that she had them every other week (and they lasted for at least 5 days in a row). I hope she bounces back quickly because we have plans tonight to celebrate with one of my sweetest friends. Not to mention this is the week before The Handmade Market which is usually just obscenely busy. Nothing like a sick child to make you slow down and make priorities so not much more jewelry making for me. Since discovering that box, I've been making stuff non-stop and I'm suffering a little burnout anyway.

I also haven't stopped thinking about a display I saw at my favorite junking spot (the one i alluded to many posts ago). If I could talk the dealer down by 10 bucks I'd be thrilled...it would rock this weekend at the show although it would be a bitch to lug around. Ahhh, the price of beauty. Maybe if I have good sales this weekend I will reward myself?

Me and the mister went shopping there over the weekend (see a pic of the finds in the last post) and it has changed tons since we were there last month. One of my favorite (yet unwavering on her overpriced junk) vendors has now moved out of the cutest tiny barn (with an upstairs). She always had tons of great stuff but now the barn is completely different (and brown, my favorite!) and all the good junk she had spilling out of every nook and covering every inch surrounding her building is gone. Sigh.

Regardless, that place has made me happy for years. I only wish I could give them all of my money!

Here's a display from said shop that I got a few months ago. It is tall and kind of awkward but I love it. The mister spotted it in a corner; what a good eye he has.

We did a little plant shopping last night and I can't wait to get back in the dirt. I was a horticulture major for quite a while before corporate america and its fancy health coverage lured me to the dark side and I dropped out. I'm not much for being out in NC summers anyway but I still feel at home in a nursery. I picked up some basil, pineapple sage (omg the scent!) and grape tomato plants as well as some annuals for the kids. Plus my one of my favorite plants, spanish lavender.

I must wait until after the Market to get my hands dirty for now I am in major show prep mode:

I cannot tell you how much I'm looking forward to the after party with all of my out of town (and in town) friends. Gin and tonic here I come!

bright and happy

2010-04-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

oh my, what a week. the first half was spent knee deep in a box just recently returned to me from my ex's house and it was full of vintage stuff i had bought off of eBay 4 years ago. good heavens, how could i have forgotten that when i moved out? so now i have no choice but to dive back into my recycled vintage days, as much as i loathe to since the market is so saturated with it. my customers have been after me to get back into it so while i've got the supplies, why not?

introducing my new line of recycled vintage jewels, "Good Girls Don't."

the second half of the week was spent at the hospital with mom who was getting a fun little angioplasty. (i have officially given up cheese). she made it through fine and i got to spend some very amazing quality time with my dear aunt, whom i adore.

today i went thrifting with my sweet man on the search of new displays as i'm very very over the ones i usually use. he surprised me by buying these goodies:

...a turquoise painted piece of wood, a dreamy card of vintage buttons (oh hell yes!), some vintage sugar beads and a vintage necklace that i will be putting something pretty on (details of that top secret surprise soon). that man knows how to make me swoon on every level. thank you, love.

also, my jewelry was called bright and happy today by a new wholesale acct. i think that's a nice reflection of where i'm at right now. yay ❤.

so here i sit at 6pm on a Saturday night and i'm about to clock in and get to work. the handmade market is next saturday and stores are asking for stock...who needs sleep?

and why am i craving brie? damnit!

ain't no party

2010-04-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

like a mood swing party cuz a mood swing party don't stop! i have no idea what is going on lately but it feels like it is the good old days around here!! blog mentions, press and some super duper top secret plans for some fantastic things are in the works. i can only think that it has to do with the fact that i am mentally in a much happier place than i have been than in the past few years (okay, try decade). the more distance i get from my craptacular times, the more clarity and wisdom i gain with retrospection. wow, what a hot mess i became and all of it completely justified, thankyouverymuch. =) but oh the joy that is coming back to my heart and soul.

❤

thou shall (not?) covet...

2010-04-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Currently coveting:

I think gin & tonics on my deck would taste even better in these:

found on Etsy from seller Yava Glass

I love the bright colors in Wheatfield's work and want each message poster for my home

My kids would love this but probably not as much as I do:

found at Treasure Again's shop.

and as long as i'm virtual window shopping, I need this just for me:

from you guessed it.

that was fun. it reminds me of my old blog from years back. and here's a little something to put a bounce in your step!

The Boy and The Girl's current favorite song:

**each photograph is property of each shop owner, please and thank you.

and so it goes

2010-04-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

my divorce was made final today and i am a mix of emotions that is probably not being helped by one cheap bottle of wine. ones of failure, relief, exhaustion, sadness, regret but ultimately, hope. i simply married the wrong person and had the right kids. i am so very sorry to put them through this but if i had stayed, what would i have taught them? that a mom sleeping on the couch is the norm? that a silent with a tense undercurrent mom and dad is the ideal? that a mom that cries at night is expected? that a mom that acquires a new and irregular heartbeat is acceptable?

it was bad, i moved on. he didn't. it hurts. but it will get better for him and for me and for them.

we'll be okay. and here we go.

back in the saddle

2010-04-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

oh mojo, how i've missed you.

there's a sale going on at the shop as i revamp and restyle, streamline and focus and get my %$## together. maybe?

eeny meeny miney mo

2010-04-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

a few life changing decisions need to be made. now.

no pressure.

2010-01-31T17:08:00.000-08:00

i'm a really bad blogger and i'm okay with that.

i've had a very yucky bacterial infection all week, got the house packed up and halfway moved until the snowstorm stopped progress but i'm on the upswing finally and can finish moving tomorrow i think (i hope). my sweet kitty escaped on friday, the night the snow arrived and hasn't been seen since. i'm worried but cats are notoriously self reliant and usually quite pissy about moving so i hope he'll show up tomorrow acting like nothing is wrong.

here's a picture or Banjo, master of the world's loudest purr:

we miss you sweet boy. we hope you're warm and just holding a grudge for moving. come home soon.

2010-01-17T15:08:00.000-08:00

You see that girl back there? Yes that one, back on those sad, miserable pages. I can barely recognize her anymore! Not forgotten mind you, for I never want to forget her. I carry her deep in my heart but she's not out front and center anymore. Thank goodness, let's all breathe a sigh of relief.

2010 has been rocking so hard already with such wonderfully good things that the terribly hard times have been pushed deep down into the recesses of my mind. I've had some doozy of some things come up but I'm blaming them on 2009. Yep. 2009 just keeps on coming back to kick my ass but 2010 is just so sweet and warm that I'm staying within its warm embrace and not letting go.

The new studio is amazing. I'm so happy there even though I haven't really gotten settled and into my groove yet. I'll get unpacked and decorated properly this week and post some pictures. The Handmaidens are getting back into gear this week to discuss all of our many goals for the year and that's always exciting. I'll start packing up the house this week, too for next week, WE MOVE into the new chateau. Not really of course but a house that is so big it will feel like one. I think I'll even wear roller skates to cook and serve breakfast.

Here's some pics of a girlie date I had yesterday with some of my sweetest buddies. We went to a bead show (I haven't been to one in over three years!) and to a retailer of mine (we love you, Pam!) and lastly we went to one of my all time favorite haunts for some thrifting. The girls hadn't been here before and sadly it wasn't as awesome as it used to be. I appreciate that they've opened up the yards now but the place seems very neglected and nothing like it used to be in the 90s and early 00s. Sigh. Durham has many other delightful thrifty haunts that we'll be going back for soon. I still love you Grannie's Panties.

Here's the adorable potting shed out back. I could move in here, really I could. Le sigh.

Fantastic vintage plates line the parking area. I've never been so lucky to find such amazing plates as these in all my decades of thrifting and these were just in the dirt! The temptation to pull them out and take them home is always strong.

Yard art! There was much more but were short on time and my paparazzi needs were frivolous.

And oh my, the Dog House. My Dad would take me here as a little girl and I loooooved it so. I would always get the "Puppy Dog" (plain hot dog in bun) and giggled with delight over the barking dog noise in the background as we placed our orders. The crinkle cut fries were the best.

And today my sweet man and I went out between rainfalls and enjoyed some breakfast and treasure hunting at one of my most favorite places. That's right, he loves to go thrifting, flea marketing and junking. Score! He found a new display for me and a ton of other things we'll go back for after we move. I would show pics and tell you where it is but I like to keep this one hush hush.

Happy days to you all!

One Day Closer

2010-01-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

This blog needs more pictures and less bitching. How about some rings I made yesterday?

I'll never qualify for a spread in Artful Blogging nor do I want to try but I need to make more of an effort on this sucker, yes? Maybe that can be a goal for the new year. Until then, I'll get back to packing up the beads, tools, books and furniture for tomorrow's move to my new studio. It hasn't hit me yet that I'm having one of my dreams come true. Tomorrow I'll probably shed a tear or two as I get my key and unpack. Yay! Score one for Team Kristen!

i gotta wear shades

2010-01-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

And a Happy New Year to you! What did you do to celebrate? Me and the kids slept right through the turning of the clock this year and that's okay with me. I don't really drink anymore and we had gotten back into town from visiting my family in Swansboro that afternoon so we just chilled out with some chicken nachos and a Pinky & the Brain marathon and crashed early. I think it was rather fun although I do miss the parties and cocktails, too. Maybe next year in our new house?? That's right, we're moving in the coming weeks. I dread packing up yet again but it is to a house twice this size and in a good neighborhood near crafty folks and some of the kids' friends and oh my the excitement is building! I'll post pictures as soon as we get in there, promise! So many good things are starting 2010 off and oh boy do I deserve them. Now I'm off to pack up my studio and get moved in and back to work. So much for a hiatus! Spring designs are calling!

Goodbye 2009, you will not be missed....hello 2010, you sexy bitch, you.

hindsight

2009-12-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

It's the time of year when the madness of shows, store stocking and holiday orders are over, christmas and mayhem have come to an end and I'm left with the usual thoughts of "what's next?" Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the quiet!

This year has been a doozy. Oh who am I kidding. It has been just short of hell for most of the time with sprinkles of good times that kept me going and focused on the future. There were quite a few times when I really wanted to just throw in the towel, on just about every level. Yes, that towel. There's only so much a person can take after a while but thankfully I had some very good friends who kept me going and of course those sweet faces you see below. A few of those friends recently shed some light on just how much I did this year and how little I realized it. One of them told me in no uncertain terms to stop being so hard on myself, stop a second and realize just what I had survived and achieved. I had been so busy just getting through the day that I had failed to see the big picture. Despite my crashing and burning repeatedly, I still managed to keep Mood Swing open and paying the bills (barely and not without help from friends and relatives and always late, believe me) but they got paid. My kids are coming along about the divorce and are for the most part, happy little people. Again, and I know I'm flogging a dead horse in this blog, we'll get there. I just need to keep telling myself so I'll believe it.

Mood Swing is moving later this week into a studio space and out of this dinky house. I'm a bit scared because I've all but run my business into the ground this past fall and fear that I'm upgrading when I should be closing up but I need to take a chance and keep going. I think being around some folks I like every day will do wonders for my mental health not to mention production for the business. I used to dream of working at home but that dream ended years ago when I realized how difficult it is to turn work off when it lives with you. I'm going to keep going because if I haven't quit after this shitty year, I can't quit now.

Christmas was wonderful but bittersweet. Last year the kids stayed at their Dad's to keep the normalcy for them and I snuck over at 5am so I could be there when they woke up for Santa. That idea didn't fly for this year and luckily, Christmas landed on my week! It was just the three of us quietly watching Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas and eating a really lousy dinner (don't ask) but they had fun and opened a few presents after nagging me all day to open "at least onnnnnnnnee?????" Here's a shot of them in their new jammies (a tradition I accidentally started a few years ago) on Christmas Eve.

yes, they are that cute and i take full credit.

They woke up to find Santa had brought the Nintendo Dsi's they coveted in pink and blue, scooters and other stuff that Santa spent way too much money on but divorce guilt does that...then they were dropped off at their Dad's at 11 and I spent the rest of the day in tears. They traveled to their Dad's family beach house for the usual Christmas fare there and were having a great time being spoiled (as they deserve to be) when I spoke to them last night. I hope these shuffling to and fro holidays get easier. Somebody tell me they do?

Thanks friends for making me see this year a bit differently. I promise to give myself a break for 2010. Pinky swear.

* * * * *

2009-12-17T17:30:00.000-08:00

Well hello! How are you? Tonight I'm wrapped in a blanket on the living room floor with lots of jewelry bits lying about to create some new things for Saturday's show. Too bad I am completely without inspiration lately and I am struggling to give a damn about Mood Swing. I think that I need a few months off to regroup and reorganize and get my shit together. In fact, I think I'm a few years overdue for that. I'll be moving Mood Swing into a studio in a few weeks as well as moving (yet again) into a bigger house for me and the kids. I'm excited about both and want some time to enjoy it without having to make jewelry in between packing. All that organizing and purging will give me time to clear my head and focus which I desperately need. Just ask my customers, they'll agree. =)

The weatherfolks here in Raleigh are calling for lots of wintery weather here starting tomorrow afternoon. Well, here being anywhere but Raleigh. It almost always stops at the Wake County border and turns to rain. Booooo. I'm one of those loonies that wants to get snowed in! I spent many falls and winters up in Concord, New Hampshire when I was a kid and was forever spoiled by those snowfalls. I want lots and I want it now! Of course, being 40 in the snow and ice isn't as fun as being say, 5 & 7 and taking the kids in and out of their wet clothes every 30 minutes can get old but this is the stuff of which memories are made. Remember this from last year?

this was their first real snow and it blew. their. minds. oh please let it do more than rain.

learning the hard way

2009-12-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

I lied about the ArtWalk being my last show because I have one more this coming Saturday that is a local favorite and in a new location this time! It will be the 10th Rock & Shop (awww, I remember the first at the little YWCA off Oberlin Road) at the All Saints Chapel. Michelle always does a bang up job organizing and promoting the event and I'm really looking forward to it and seeing the new location! Sadly, I won't have much jewelry for it but that's what I get for having an unending cluster$%^ this past month of back/chest issues, bad reactions to new meds, divorce issues and just bad luck (oh yeah, that's called life, right?) so I'm WAY behind on those beautiful True Love collaboration necklaces with wonderful artist Mati McDonough and have to spend the next few days knocking those time consuming beauties out. Then I have jury duty on Thursday and Friday. Happy Holidays to me from Wake County. =) I admit that I'm curious about jury duty and I'll probably make more money doing that than Mood Swing so why not, right? I'll serve my duty well!

Speaking of True Love, because I have so little time to fulfill even the demands of Mood Swing much less a very time consuming side project, Mati and I have decided to break up. Ha (sticking to the True Love theme, you see)! But seriously, I have crashed and burned on our collaboration and will not be taking on another that requires such a huge workload on my end. In fact, I'll probably just stay away from collaborations altogether. I never expected to have such a hit with the custom orders (I know they're pretty but wow!) and I just do not have the time. I thought I would but life got in the way and I should have pulled out back in October but that didn't feel fair. Instead I've done more harm than good. It truly breaks my heart to pull the plug and I hope that my inability to follow through in a timely manner has not hurt Mati but it is what it is (oh how I dislike that phrase sometimes). I'm human, I make mistakes but I've learned a lesson (and Mati has, too I'm sure) so that's got to count for something right? She's an amazing artist, an amazing woman and has been an good friend. It has been a fun and wonderful (and painful) learning experience and for that I'm truly grateful.

On a much happier note, last week was about the best week I've had as a Mom in a very long time. I felt like the Mom I want to be and that is such a good and rare feeling. It helps that my stress level has decreased greatly. Amazing how the ability to pay bills greatly reduces the stress and anxiety which affects how you carry yourself and treat others. Our future looks bright and as much as this separation/divorce has been debilitating, I refuse to let it define me and them. There is no reason for us to not get through this and have an amazing life together. We're just different and there is most certainly nothing wrong with that. 2010 looks outstanding.

If the sun comes out ever again (been gloomy lately), I'll take and post some pictures of some holiday craft projects that the kids worked on this weekend and of our beautiful tree. We didn't have a tree last year and I left all the ornaments I collected over the years at the ex's house to give the kids some normalcy over there. So we've started from scratch and I've thrifted a lot of vintage ornaments (shiny brite!), made a pinwheel garland out of vintage kids books and purchased a few special new ones. Just having a tree this year, full with ornaments, symbolizes so much about this year and how far we've come. I often just sit and stare at it with a tiny tear in my eye and a smile in my heart. I love this tree.

Happy happy joy joy!

Tap tap tap, is this thing on?

2009-12-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well hello there! I've been a neglectful blogger but certainly not because I haven't had loads to say (I always have too much to say, you know). I've just been a busy bee and it has been very good for my tired soul, lemme tell you. As an artist* if I don't get to create something daily, I start to get twitchy and cranky. Add the pressure of creating for a living and well, that cranky gets right dangerous. Let's just say that last week was devoid of any creations and I was full-tilt cuckoo for cocoa puffs. Enough of that, let's get on with the happy stuff shall we?

I have one last show this weekend and it is one of my most favorites so I've been knee deep in solder, beads and wire this week. This will be my fifth year doing the show and my fourth as a Handmaiden. There isn't much better than a gorgeous old neighborhood (I've lived here twice!), local artists set up on porches and yards and a great atmosphere of friends and fun. Here's a peek at a few things I've been working on:

New Storybook Charms with a lovely touch of childhood immaturity. More are coming soon to the shop.

And oh boy, looky looky. I've taken my stash of lenses and picked out some of my favorite vintage photographs from a collection I've had waiting for just this kind of project and backed them with postcards that date from the 20s and beautiful etched clear glass. They all hang on hand-dyed bias cut silk ribbons and are accented with sweet vintage copper flower beads. These will be available this weekend and then they'll head over to the Collector's Gallery on Monday.

Also coming this weekend and heading over to the same gallery is more of my collaboration with Elizabeth Galecke which is sort of similar to the pretties above except with her stunning photography. Pictures are coming! Elizabeth is a very dear friend whom I wish I could keep in my pocket and carry with me daily. We've temporarily named our line "Jewelry so awesome it makes you wanna get naked and cuss."

So if you're in the area, drop by Boylan and say hi. I'll be the cold but happy girl in the corner all bundled up with her friends.

Coming next week: getting caught up with loads of True Love jewelry that is long overdue, stores that need restocking, a show recap in pictures, new trinkets for the shop and decorating the house & tree with the kids. Look out Buddy the Elf, we're aimin' to match your over-the-topness this year. Okay, maybe not match...

*I feel very pretentious using that word and don't feel that I am an artist. I guess I should work on that. Or not. Whatevsky.

awesomeness

2009-11-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

I was just about to go to bed but I clicked on one link before shutting down and oh boy, I fell in love. My Parents Were Awesome. Here's three out of so many that I loved:

I am so very unphotogenic that I have skillfully avoided the camera for decades. After seeing this site, I tearfully regret it because I realize that my kids will have hardly any photos of me from my 20s and 30s to look at (and submit to this site!!). So, I vow now to just get over myself and allow my photo to be taken. I'm the only Mom they've got (and can be very awesome at times) so I might as well document what I can!

Click and prepare to lose all track of time lost in thick mustaches, hippies, crown royal bottles, afros, shag carpeting and when you're done, take a few self-portraits for your kids to enjoy later, too. Vanity be damned.

young hearts be free tonight

2009-11-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

I'm really really really a horrible blogger and am sort of regretting trying to do this again. I think I'll probably start one just for my kids, kind of like an open letter. Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows. One person reads this thing and she probably gets enough of me on Facebook. =)

I've had lots of good days lately and I am so thankful for each and every one of them. Last week before The Handmade Market was rough physically (therefore emotionally) but taking the week off from soldering, setting up a new space for it AND getting a kick ass massage has done me right. So there's good thing #1. Good thing #2 is that I finally committed to a studio space that I've wanted for a few months and luckily the space is being moved to a different building where there is more room so I don't have to wait for someone to leave anymore. HURRAY! I'm so ready to have my house back and have co-workers, so to speak. Good thing #3 is that I've been getting more new stores than I can handle. Wait, is that a good thing or not? I'm only one girl so it is tough but paying bills is grrrrrreat! There's more good things but I'm not sharing those just yet.

I have some new jewelry ideas bubbling just below the surface and I expect that when the kids are with their Dad next week the designs will explode and I won't get much sleep but I'll be immersed and content. I also have a playdate with one of my most talented friends, Ndidi, to work on a new Luxe Storybook Charm line. Ooooooooooh......intrigued, yes?

My son got a kiss from his girlfriend today. Granted, they are in 2nd grade and the kiss was on his arm BUT I could see that he was floating and distracted from it all afternoon and evening. I'm not ready for young love but I do love seeing him radiate. He also learned a new word today: ass. And yes, I gave him all the definitions of it that I know. I know he won't use it improperly. Yet.

Life is good. Yes, yes it is.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

2009-10-30T18:27:00.001-07:00

I'm 40. Well, as of this posting I'm still technically 39 but who's counting? I'm not that phased by the number really. I'm so glad to still be here and to have these beautiful children to be with that I'm welcoming each new year. However, that does not mean that I can't lament my youth gone by. Today has been unbelievably unexciting. No black balloons, no "lordy lordy kristen's 40" (thank you), no party, not one piece of cake, no drinks. I'm a bit short on cash so today was just another day really. But now that I'm at the end of the day and having time to think, I'm kind of bummed! Mainly because the kids were heartbroken when they found out that we weren't having the karaoke party like we had discussed and oh my gosh, no cake???!!! They were incredulous.

My mom made my birthday a big deal when I was growing up so I blame her for my birthday ego but I carried it into my adulthood with joy. For the past 3 years I've sadly done nothing (either too broke or too depressed or both) but before that there was always always always a pumpkin carving party, or a potluck with a keg, or a huge pot of hot cider and rum and even costumes on some years. Next year will be better financially than the past two and I hope I won't be as blah as I have been in the past but next year....look out 41. My birthday will be on a Saturday and there will be 3 years of absence for which to make up. This year is a wash but next year will be epic. I'm already planning the guest list.

out with the old, in with more old but different

2009-10-27T10:17:00.001-07:00

I'm home today with a sick little girl and I'm taking the day off from Mood Swing (ah, a rarity). I've been thinking about my designs and how much I've changed in a few short months. You might have noticed that I don't really do the whole recycled vintage jewelry thing anymore. The market got absolutely saturated with it and it all looks the same to me. Same components, same designs, blah. I still love vintage and will continue to use it but I can't stand looking like everyone else. There are a few standouts like Reverie, Subversive, Kay Adams (who gets ripped off a lot by a few Etsy artists) and my friend Wendy (who also gets ripped off by a few of the same folks on Etsy) but the rest just seem to make the same thing.

I'm rather proud of my newest creations (and in need of a copyright), Lost & Found that incorporate vintage and new found pieces inside their own glass capsule. I have a whole lot lined up to make for next week's Handmade Market (shameless plug) and can't wait to crank up the soldering iron tomorrow. Until then, I'll keep trying to stay ahead and different from the masses and go cuddle with a cute and very cough-laden little girl and watch Phineas & Ferb. Life could certainly be worse!

tmi

2009-10-25T18:15:00.001-07:00

"Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, can be prolonged to the point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation."
— Dorothy Parker

I deleted a recent post b/c I realize that sometimes I just need to shut up and not say everything that is on my mind. (thank you for your comment, Erin ❤)

picture pages, picture pages!

2009-10-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

Just to prove I'm not always a Debbie Downer, here are some photos and a happy little list!!

WHY I LOVE OCTOBER

1: emailing my Mom on the 1st to say HAPPY OCTOBER
2: Pumpkin Cheesecake, hot damn!
3: picking out pumpkins at the Farmers Market (lumina is my fave)
4: Scotch drinking weather
5: big fat acorns
6: pumpkin patches
7: getting darker earlier (still fools the kids into an early bedtime)
8: sweaters
9: my Mom's birthday; so glad she's still here
10: nesting
11: planning costumes
12: cool, crisp air
13: my favorite Naot boots
14: going to the State Fair with the kids
15: going to see U2---for the first time and courtesy of cathy and paul ❤
16: flannel sheets
17: Fall Festivals galore
18: my favorite turquoise coat
19: my favorite orange scarf made by Robin (who never got her ring)
20: Halloween decorations popping up in yards
21: warm cider and captain morgans
22: wearing patterned tights and big clunky shoes
23: pumpkin choco chip cookies from Whole Foods
24: hot chocolate on the porch at dusk with the kids
25: homemade soup with warm grainy crunchy bread
26: pomegranates and wishing Dad was still here to share them with me
27: Martha Stewart's Fall & Halloween themed magazines
28: fall color palette
29: carving pumpkins
30: my birthday, so glad I'm still here
31: Halloween, duh.

(((#15 didn't happen but I still appreciate the gesture of the ticket.))))

Mama Tried

2009-10-19T05:55:00.000-07:00

So I'm starting the blog up again. This may be my 4th or 5th incarnation of it. I tend to dive right in, get excited about decorating the sidebar and the headers and what not and then after a while I get real tired of hearing myself talk about myself and delete the whole damn thing. But this time it is different. This time it is for my kids and so they'll have something to hold on to, just in case. I've had some health issues over the past few years, mostly due to stress, some due to a really nasty blood pressure medicine and have finally realized as I sneak up to age 40 that life is short and you better make it sweet. I have never kept baby books for the kids and that is something I'll regret forever. My Dad threw all of my baby keepsakes out (out of ignorance I'm sure) a while after my parents split so I don't have anything really to document my beginnings, my firsts, etc. My Mom did what she could but she was a single Mom doing her best and I certainly don't hold it against her. She spoiled me even though we didn't have much. She went back to college when I was 7 or so (I think) and focused on school and claims that I raised myself. She apologizes for that often. I think I turned out okay despite what she might say. =) And here I am, following in her footsteps...single parenting at 39 and absolutely immersed in running my business while it runs me into the ground. But here's where the path stops. I'm tired of feeling bad, mentally and physically and I do not want to follow her path. She worked herself right into a nervous breakdown in '84 and has never fully recovered and I see now (hindsight is 20/20) that I've been doing the same thing. So as I try and turn my life and health around, I will document my days and the kids days and everything general so the sweet babies can have this documentation. And although a book with my handwriting and carefully scrapbooked pages would be more aesthetically pleasing, let's face it, this is faster and easier. So here you go, let's get all up in my bizness.