New Collection: Modern Relics 2015 available for pre-order on Kickstarter!

You can view the Kickstarter HERE! Please help spread the word! Thank you so much for your support! 

I've been making my "Modern Relics” since 2008 and now I feel like I’m pulling my own designs forward, simplifying them, and making them even more contemporary and wearable. It's been such a joy to put these together. 

I’ve never made an entire collection before. I generally, slowly try out new ideas, one at a time. A few years ago I launched such an idea, my Chakra Kahn Wraps with Kickstarter and they were successfully funded. It enabled me to begin to see how to really grow my business. It was a way to dip my toe into the pool. 

Last year I developed my wholesale line and got into 17 shops. Over the past few months, my goal was to design a line of killer necklaces that would really “wow” buyers and round out my line.

Now I’m taking a leap! My first wholesale tradeshow - NY NOW (formerly the NY International Gift Show) at the Javits center this August. Taking on this enormous show is diving into the deep end of the pool!

In return for your help getting me to this next level, you'll get these pieces before stores and at a discounted price!  Plus this would be a great way to really debut this new line and properly launch it into the world! The funds gathered will help with the production of the line, right here in Vermont and help to fund the costs for doing such a huge trade show (booth fees, booth set up, travel expenses, catalogs, advertising…)

I’m moving into my own REAL studio in the South end in June. I’m hoping to have a kickoff party there as well as have the whole line on display. Locals might even be able to pick up their rewards at that time.

Birdfolk Collective - Coming to Winooski, VT, currently on Kickstarter!

So impressed with Nicole Carey of Nicole's Threads. She's currently killin' it! A month ago this was not even a thing. She heard about a retail space opening up in Winooski and she just went for it full force. She researched, she gathered, she made a plan. Last week she signed the lease and this week she launched her Kickstarter. This will benefit so many artists and will be a great addition to the blossoming Noosk. So excited for Nicole and so thrilled that she'll be carrying some of my work. 

In just one day she made it half way to her goal! So cool! It's amazing to witness the community's support. I love the great Birdfolk rewards she's offering... 

Check out her Kickstarter and help spread the word! The bird's the word! Birdfolk!!!

This Past Week in Pictures...

Been busy in my studio. Here's a sneak peak at some new pieces!!!

Had a great visit with Celie, always inspiring to see what she's working on... 

So good to cuddle Kiwi pie!

Stopped by The Shoe Horn in Montpelier on my way home, awesome to see my work on display right on the front counter.

Amanda Young posted this gorgeous photo she took of herself wearing my Earrings, a ring by Molly and Henna by Rebecca. 

I made these 7 chickadee pendants for a custom order. Love how they came out.

We had 2 45º days! Big melt, lots of mud but the sun felt so good!

Got to enjoy some sunshine and the sunset on the deck at Citizen Cider. We were there celebrating Nicole's big news...

She's opening a shop in Winooski on the top block! Gonna be so great, lots of handmade goods and featuring the work of many Vermont artists, including me!

Fake it till ya Make it!

Sometimes you gotta wing it. I'm still deciding if I want to do this HUGE wholesale trade show this summer but meanwhile I should apply. The application is quite brief and they want a photo of your booth. What do you you do if you've never had a real booth before? (I've done plenty of outside markets and smaller inside craft shows with my table but never needed/used a booth.) You could draw it or do a computer rendering but with so much riding on the image and so much competition for space, I wanted to do the absolute best I could do. So I bought a few more wood displays, I ordered 2 large photos of my work and tore apart the leaving room to have this corner space. I made sure to do this in the morning, when the light was coming in from 2 windows and I used some lamps for more light in the left front of the photo.

I love the motto "work with what ya got" so used my market table, and some items from my studio and my mirror and the bunting that hangs in the bedroom. I kept looking through the camera and filling the space to improve the photo, I got help and advice (thanks Brando, Molly, Celie, Erin and Nicole!) through each iteration until I got this: 

Super pleased with how it came out and I think it conveys enough "boothness".

Behind the scenes - couches smooshed over to one side of the living room.

 This is the first photo I took, with the banner that I bought just for this... I was too focused on the jewelry so it didn't look enough like a booth, like a big 10x12 space.

So I added some stuff to the back wall and stood further back for the photo. I also didn't like how the banner looked so I used the text from it and added it to the wall in photoshop. I like how it looks like decals, and decals are often used on walls in booths. But after looking at the photo on my computer and getting more advice, it seemed I should move things around in the back and better space things out.

 More behind the scenes! Had to move the couches again, I'm standing over one of them! 

A little close up shot, I nailed all the earring cards in place but they weren't hanging straight, a little double sided tape fixed that! 

So that's it...just thought I'd share...hope everyone has a great weekend! It's gonna be in the 30's here!

Lots of Shop Orders!

Thought it might be a bit slow after Valentine's Day and then 7 shops ordered last week! Usually it takes several weeks to make an order but I was well stocked on inventory and able to get 5 out this week. Now I'm looking forward to working on some new designs in the studio today and for the next few days. 

For T. Karn in Telluride, CO

For Trinket in Burlington, VT

For The Shoe Horn, Montpelier, VT

For Nest in Brunswick, ME

For Earth and Wears in Dallas, PA

It Is Very Very Cold...

...that is all.

Finding Inspiration

It was good to get out the other day, leave the Burlington bubble. It seems like thick gray clouds have been hanging over Btown and heading south we pulled out from under it and saw a beautiful sunset. 

We headed to Fuller Hall in St Johnsbury to see two of my favorite musical acts.

I first saw Zap Mama at the old Higher Ground. Antibalas too. Both shows were mesmerizing and their music has made up much of the soundtrack to my life and infused my work. Last November I bought tix as soon as they announced this tour. I couldn't believe they were going to play together. I've never been front row center before and it was AWEsome. The show filled my cup back up. I hadn't realized how depleted it was. 

Marie Daulne is a such stunning, fierce force and bringer of positive vibrations. The combination with the huge band and rockin' sound from Antibalas made for a perfect, harmonious collaboration. Some sunshine and soul shine in the midst of a long cold winter. So many friends in the crowd feeling it too. And then we all got to pop out of our chairs and dance and then Marie joined us in the aisle and I got to dance with her. Zap! 
We even made a night of it and stayed up that way at a little B&B. The next day we awoke to crazy sunshine and blue skies.

So good to take these little breaks and rediscover yourself and the world and the things that make you happy. I felt recharged and ready to work when we got home. I finished up a ton of jewelry for a private Valentine's day show. Very excited for it and for the break that will follow... I don't really feel like last season's holiday train has stopped and I can't wait to take things slower and to work on new designs.