The Summer of Weddings!

As I've mentioned in a previous post...we have 5 weddings this summer! Which means fewer Artist Markets for me, fewer Phish shows for us, more travel and more celebrating. It also means the summer is flying by! My Bro-in-Law Dusty just got married to the lovely Sarah this past Saturday, the Solstice, in Cambridge, VT. The weather was perfect and the day was filled with family, friends and fun - a great way to spend the longest day of the year! I was honored to make Sarah's bridal and bridesmaid jewelry. She picked my Eclipse Earrings and we designed a new version of my eclipse necklace - love the Y shape. She chose my Solstice Pendant for her bridemaids, so apropos! 

The set looked stunning on her, here she is pictured with our fab friend Brennan and me.

The evening brought a glorious sunset that illuminated Mt. Mansfield in the distance. 

I've been meaning to put together my bridal line since getting married last year but I decided to work on my wholesale line instead. Over the past decade I've adorned many a bride and bridesmaid and I'm excited to pull my higher end work into a bridal catalog, maybe next year.
So, 1 wedding down, 4 to go... and some friends just got engaged today! The next wedding is in less than a month in Santa Fe, NM. Getting excited to get my work into some shops/galleries out that way while we're there. 

Shout Out to Amanda Young

Making jewelry and sitting a lot to make jewelry can take a toll on the body. I started seeing Shanti Mama Amanda Young a year ago. She is an AMAZING massage therapist and Doula. I've had a few massages in my life but never saw someone regularly until Amanda. Her studio, in the Chase Mill, is so inviting and peaceful filled with lovely scents and soothing music.

I prefer deep tissue massage. It loosens muscle tissues, releases toxins from muscles and gets blood and oxygen circulating properly. After a session I feel so much lighter, looser and relaxed.

Amanda is so warm and so comforting, she has a way of being both professional but relaxed and open. She's very easy to talk to and will customize the session to your needs. She's super skilled in the rhythms of the body and deeply cares about the art of massage and bringing health and well being to her clients. I know so many locals who see Amanda regularly and she has just been nominated for a Seven Daysie Award! Vote for Amanda! She so deserves this recognition!

She has this to say about her practice: "Shanti Mama Wellness has grown out of a love of tradition, of peace, of healing and of acceptance. There are many things that we cannot change but we can affect how we treat our spirit and our bodies. Shanti, a Sanskrit word meaning peace and tranquility, reflects my intention that this work brings peace into the lives of those who receive it and encourages my clients, whether it is in the birthing room or in the massage studio, to breathe, be present, and be at peace."

A Crazy Busy June!

There was a minute there, during the last week of May when I had nothing on the docket. No new shops, no current shops re-ordering, all caught up on Etsy orders and fully stocked for the Artist Market. In those moments, it's easy to let panic or uncertainty in...especially when making a change or transitioning from one way of doing things to another. But everything can change in a day... at the end of last month, I had my first Etsy Wholesale order, the next day a super great Artist Market and a re-order from the Shoe Horn. Then it's easy to let the panic swing the other way and feel completely overwhelmed! But I can schedule things out and do what needs doing first, first. 

T. Karn Imports in Telluride, CO just happened to find me while scrolling through jewelry on Etsy Wholesale. Owner Tesha Karn ordered a collection of silver and brass pieces that go so well together. Her store incorporates unique items for the home and body - apparel, accessories, beauty products, textiles and decor from around the world. My jaw dropped when I saw photos of her shop, such gorgeous wooden treasures, old doors, pieces from India, Tibet, just my style. 
As far as I can see though, they don't have much jewelry and I'm just so honored that they're choosing my work. I did tear up a bit at the thought of it...that if a place like that, carrying world craft and ethnic arts wants my work... that I've achieved my aesthetic. I'm working on their order right now.

In the midst of everything, I was invited to be a vendor at the Dealer.com summer party. It was last Friday and it was amazing. Such great music, food and drinks and Ben and Jerry's! They really know how to throw an epic bash, complete with psychic readings, stilt walkers, an arcade, and carnival-like games. The highlight was selling a gold bar necklace to Alisa Xayalith from Naked and Famous. I didn't know who she was (but she was gorgeous and had mad style) until I saw her on stage and then I started freaking out. She even came back to buy more and so did her band mate and I got to get this pic. Eek!

Yesterday was a big day for me for 2 reasons... I did a count down sale and after having 7, I finally hit my 1000th Etsy Sale!!! 

And I received a HUGE order from the Stoweflake Spa. 

So if I wasn't feeling overwhelmed already now I'm kind of beside myself. But again, I'm scheduling things out and doing my best to breathe and hold on. It's all happening and I'm so grateful.

Outline Earrings!

I'm having a blast designing these new earrings. So big and bold but so simple and super light! I love the contrast of the brass and blackened sterling. I had some of these at the Artist Market last week and sold 4 pairs! The open frame work of these goes so well with my Shadow Earrings! I will post these in my Etsy shop soon. Which ones do you like the best?