New Pieces....

As the Fiesole record release party approaches, my productivity level greatly increases. It's like the two are somehow linked together...

Here's some snaps of what I've been cooking.

Silver ring! Previously seen in wax, now polished and ready to wear.

Kansashi flower with antique chain and ribbon.

Another silver ring! Size 6, a little too small for me. Blessing in disguise...

The lovely-to-look-at Red Velvet Cupcake. They were doomed from the start.

More Kansashi flower necklaces... This one is made with a turquoise silk skirt that never really fit.

Happy Saturday: (some fun links for you)

Hallelujah, my friendly friends! It is, at long last, The Weekend! It's Saturday which, in my reality, translates to "the day that is half spent in bed, on the computer, and half spent drinking tea in thrift stores."

And, look at all the exciting delights I have discovered in the www...
First up, Unhappy Hipsters!A slightly sardonic look at those inexpressive photos from Dwell. Eye candy, for the interior connoisseur? Yes. Decidedly off-center context? Totally. The perfect marriage between right and wrong.

Next! A posting of the Best of The Best at the Toronto IDS10 at PoppyTalk. Who wouldn't want this King Size pinecone to reside in their living room?

I look forward to seeing it again, first on Dwell, then on Unhappy Hipsters. Ahhh, isn't that what the WWW is about?

And now, for something completely different, check out Kate Bingaman-Burt's Obsessive Consumption blog. With daily, hand-drawn posts of her latest purchases, Obsessive Consumption gives something sweet to the idea of consumption.

Happy Saturday.

Damn Cheerios

I lied. Cheerios do not knock you out in minutes. I was up till two am. Forget YOU, Cheerios. I'm moving on! Lucky Charms are so much better tasting. I never liked you, anyway!

Cant sleep

So, it appears to be midnight. Despite the last two hours I have spent tossing in bed, it seems that I am undoubtably, and unfortunately, wide awake.
It's a blessing in disguise, I guess. Every time I get all excited about something, I find that I can't sleep. Fantastic, because I get all sorts of ideas. But, when you really think about it, it sucks entirely because not only am I dead tired in the morning but I also have forgotten all those great ideas by the time I wake up.
The cure? Cheerios. Thank God for those tiny little wheat life savers floating in the white pond of milk. After this bowl, I'll be dead in bed.
I think.

Pinch me and say that it's true!

If you thought I was excited about the fashion show, you have no IDEA how excited I am about posting this...
I have found a recipe for Samoas!
Yes, Girl Scouts everywhere, stay away from my door! I will make my own, and keep my four dollars!
Millions of thanks to Designs by Vanessa for posting a link to the recipes. I can't wait to give these a try.
Go here

Fashion show at Tazza

Great news, my dear invisible readers! The handsomely handcrafted jewelry of none other than yours truly will be shown at a fashion show/record release on Feb 5th at Tazza.


I know what you're thinking... Does she really have enough to show? Of course I don't! But fear not, friends, this is the stuff that nghts and weekends are made of!

Fun flies

Typically, flies are less than cool. However, I think I'm willing to overlook their nastiness to see the awesomeness in these tiny works of art...

Fine Little Day just posted these fantastically playful pieces by Magnus Muhr.

After looking at these little portrayals of daily fly life, does it make your heart hurt a little for all those that you shamelessly swatted in the past?
Yeah, didn't think so.

Some things aren't meant to be recycled

I'm a fervent believer in recycling (and reducing and reusing). But apparently the rule just doesn't hold true when it comes to baking.
I used vegetable oil that had previously fried tortilla chips to make these lovely red velvet cupcakes...
Apparently, people can taste the difference. Bummer.

Make it! - Corsage bracelet!

Ahhh, Sunday morning! A day when I can lie in bed with my laptop and dog and not feel [too] guilty.

Today's laziness brings you a tutorial on making a bracelet out of old watch bands... exciting!

Check out the tutorial at Ruffles and Stuff

Teach me [patience and] how to sew

One of my biggest desires in life is to sew. Like, really sew. Sew things that I can wear, and maybe you could wear. The problem is that sewing well requires a certain something that I lack; patience. Oh, and ironing - what a chore!

When I do finally learn how to sew, I hope to someday achieve the beauty of items like these.

See the rest of the collection at Willow Ltd

In fairness, it needs to be said that I really should know how to sew. One of my greatest childhood memories watching my mother sew me a dress. I would draw a design, pick out the fabric, and she would sew them for me. I wonder if they're still around...

Get inspired... Vintage romance

I discovered Ruffles and Stuff today, a great blog showcasing her DIY discoveries. From clothing for herself and her child to jewelry on Etsy, she has some wonderfully inspiring pieces.
Seeing pieces like this reminds me to experiment with other mediums. Does anyone know if you can cast lace, or would that be too thin?

Make it! - Bib necklace out of vintage pins

Check out this great tutorial by Bromeliad. The ever-so-popular bib necklace is demystified and perfectly attainable with her simple step-by-step. Go here and learn how to make it!

Now that's a necklace!

Check out the gorgeous jewelry by Maslodesign for sale at Need Supply. The jewelry is made mainly out of vintage jewelry.

Someone, please remind me to save up so I can buy some of these!

Oh, 2010 happened, huh?

Happy belated New Years! Four days late... but better late than never, right?

My resolution is to get all down and dirty about jewelry making. As in, get serious. So that's what alllll thiiiiissss is about (if you could see me, I'd be waving my hands at the blog and the website and the twitter thing and the etsy and the.... stuff)

Meanwhile, other people seem to have a little bit more creative goals. Take Lisa Congdon at PoppyTalk, whose resolution is a collection a day. Sure to be a series of 365 amazing photos... Can't wait to see what she churns out.

The blogger at Design*Sponge is vowing to create a little bit more green in her life. You know, plants and the like.

Good friends!

My fantastic co-worker (and fantastic friend!) surprised me this morning with a book suggestion: Design It Yourself. More than just a book on how to make things by hand, it has great ideas on how to start your own unique business. Exactly what I need! Smart man, he is... And thoughtful!

Speaking of wonderful people; another one of my friends, Johnny Cupcakes, just posted an extensive introduction to what seems like every person that attended his holiday party. Thanks for the kind words, Johnny!
If you don't read Johnny's blog, you don't know what your missing.

Amateur Gourmet's top ten favorite recipes

Mmmm....

Adam Roberts of Amateur Gourmet just posted his favorite recipes of 2009. A delicious list complete with photos and the actual recipes (just click on the title)... Can't wait that Spicy Tomato and Blue Cheese Soup a try!

Check it out here

Red Velvet

The wax rings are at the caster! I'm kind of cringing at the impending doom when I go to pick them up... Big money, I think. Big money, little wallet.

But, the good news is that I won't have to worry about that until Thursday! In the meantime, I can focus my efforts elsewhere... Like setting up my Etsy shop. Trust me, it's not because I'm lazy that I haven't done it, it's just a pain in the ass to do. I chalk it up to poor graphic design.

What I really plan on doing is baking. I'm going to give Red Velvet cupcakes a try. For those of you born and raised in the North (like me), it seems that this is kind of a Southern thing... They're cupcakes, but red. Really red. And I'm not sure that there is actually anything different about them, other than food coloring. (oops, I think I gave away that secret...)

My dilemma is that I recently realized the difference between "homemade" and "professional" looking cupcakes. A pastry bag! This little bag allows you to squeeze out all that delicious frosting in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Without one, you're stuck with the butter knife spreading technique. Not professional. Trust me.

I have plans to create my own pastry bag. Anyone have a big Ziploc I can borrow?

Happy New Year and...

Lovely hair accessories on Design*Sponge, complete with how-to's! I'd love to rock this look... Too bad pretty green leaves aren't in season right now.