My Work at The Stowe Craft Gallery

Really excited to have my work at the Stowe Craft Gallery. This is the start of a transition for me. I'm pulling my work into two lines. A higher end line consisting mostly of silver and a wholesale line - mostly copper and brass - (more on that in another blog post soon). It's nice to see my pieces on display here and I've been told many pieces have sold already. So if you're in the area check out this wonderful gallery - recognized locally and nationally for fun shopping, great service, and unique products.

Chakra Kahn

My new year started with a massage. (Not a bad way to start the year.) Then in that dreamy, blissful, post-massage, "open-to-the-universe" state I stared at a chakra poster on the wall of my friend's practice. Such beautiful Sanskrit symbols.
[Chakra is Sanskrit for “wheel”. It is a concept best described as centers of spiritual energy within the body. There are 7 major chakras. Each one has specific associations with certain elements, glands, colors, gemstones and physical and emotional disorders. Each one is also related to a personality trait, which can manifest in positiveor negative ways depending if it’s energy is balanced or imbalanced.]

I decided I wanted to make a chakra necklace for myself. I wondered if there were any great, silver chakra pendants out there. At home, I searched the internet, searched Etsy and many jewelry sites. I found nothing like the idea I had in mind. I researched, I read, I drew symbols again and again. I got REALLY into it. I just loved everything about this and it made me recall my love of crystals and my lil bag of chakra stones I carried as a teenager. I was so excited to make my necklace. I knew I wanted the root chakra, it has so many attributes that are important to me right now. I added 24k gold to the surface but left an oxidized rim of silver showing. It hangs from a strand of tiny garnet beads - the stone that "goes" with that chakra/color.

It is my new "everyday" necklace and it is a great reminder for me to exercise and take care of my body. I love the way the gold looks, it just glows. I added a tiny bit of gold on my signature on the back too.

I also like the fact that it's pure silver and pure gold touching my skin and meaningful stones surrounding my neck.

Before this I would wear a "J" pendant or my astrological sign pendant (I made both) but they just didn't do it for me. The "J" is just my initial from my name -and I didn't name myself and the astrological sign has to do with this external force, for me it's too abstract and I don't want to feel like something else dictates who I am. What I love about the chakras is it's something that comes from within. Energy, I can believe in energy and my energy and improving my energy. I like that it could always change, I'm not tied to one symbol, I could wear a different one depending on what I'm working to balance. It's this concept, this system that has existed for so long and it's connected to so many things. The importance of color, the meaning of these stones adds so much to it for me. So I made them all...

Then I had to come up with a name and (HELLO!) Chakra Kahn immediately came to mind. It's actually a name I thought of years ago for a line of jewelry but at that time it didn't occur to me to make chakra pendants. Now it REALLY fits. These pieces seem to truly resonate with my friends and customers. We are all seeking balance, we're all seeking meaning and beauty and something real. Many have felt very connected to specific chakras and many have had a hard time choosing, some even want a set of all 7 (workin' on a special set)!

I make each one by hand and they each have a cracking/natural edge which looks great and very old and rustic. They are so light and comfortable to wear and they layer so well with other necklaces. I'm also making them available on cord, on sterling chain, and as single pendants.

You can read about the meaning of each individual pendant in my Etsy shop.
I will also be selling them through yoga studios. More on that soon...

A New Year, A New Line Emerging... the year of the Wrapture.

I've had the idea to make arm/boot cuffs for a couple of years but it's pretty much been simmering on the back burner. Many things have aligned for me to finally move forward with this. Last fall I bought an old Singer sewing machine. Found it at a barn sale right in town. It came with a beautiful wood table that it folds down into. It's one from the 1920's and it works so well. Best part, it sews leather which really opened the door for this new line.

I've also been eager to make an attempt at combining the best of the fashion world with the best of the jewelry world. (Maybe even have a fashion show!) While in NYC over NYE we stopped in an amazing trim shop and I bought some feather trim, some lace and leather and from there the idea really took off.

My new line is called:
Wrap·ture
n.1. To cover, envelop or encase in something that gives way to feelings of ecstasy.

I've been pretty wrapped up in it too! For 2 weeks I've had my sewing machine crankin' and piles of leather and fabric scattered around. I made 7 to start and through them have learned so much about how I want these pieces to work.

I've always loved getting 2 for 1's or items that reverse or transform (including transformer's as a kid!). So it was important to me that these pieces be really versatile. They can be worn so many different ways which really adds to their value.

I see this as being great adornment for the global nomad. A piece of jewelry that you can move from arm-to-boot-to-calf, maybe head, depending on your mood, outfit, desire. The thin wrap even detaches from the thick wrap and can be worn separately as a wrist wrap or anklet. Such a great travel piece.

Made of Silver and stones, brass, upcycled leather, feathers, silk, tribal fabrics and lace. These designer wraps are bigger, bolder and brighter than typical jewelry and can adorn many places on the body. Yet they are more substantial then a mere accessory. Hand made, with silver hand stitched, each one's a unique work of wearable art.

I love this look. Very Warrior Goddess.

My boots are really simple and I love the idea of dressing them up, and being able to change them up.

Which made me realize, you don't need the boot! In warmer weather this would make a great calf cuff.

The Wrap is made up of 2 components and the inner wrap can detach and be worn on it's own on the wrist. It fits 3 times around.
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Or it could be an anklet, wrapped twice around.

Just wanted to share where I'm at with this so far...I'll debut them this spring. Gotta figure out pricing and such, but for now I'm really excited!

2011 Commemorative NYE NYC MSG Token

~A Collectible Token, or A Wearable Pendant

Let the collection begin, with my 2nd token. This year there are many fish and they play a more active role in the design - poised to take a bite out of the big apple. Not only does it commemorate the New Year's Run with all 4 dates etched along the edge, but it is a true sign of the times with the letters "OCCUPY MSG" subtly spelled out among the fish. We might be small but our numbers are strong. From a distance the image resembles a flower... we come in peace.

Token is the size of a quarter. Makes a great holiday gift for your favorite fan! This is a limited edition of 100 tokens, numbers are engraved on the back. My signature can be found on the bottom edge.

Available in Sterling silver:
as a Pendant on cord for $38
or as a Token $25
or Pendant on sterling chain $48

and NEW THIS YEAR - BRASS

as a Token $15
or as a Magnet $20

Once again, I'm donating 10% of every sale to the Mockingbird Foundation.

Item comes nicely packaged and ships Priority Mail. Shipping is a flat $5.00 for as many items as will fit in the box :)

These were on Pre-order but as of 12/9 they are ready to ship! (Priority mail takes 2-3 days).

Just click on any of the above Token links and you will be connected to purchase them through my Etsy shop!

2010 token was featured on: ~ Phish.net ~ PhanArt ~ OnlinePhishTour ~ Coventry Music Blog ~ Glide Magazine's Hidden Track

Holiday Show Schedule

It's that time again...



I'll have these magnets at the last market. I'll also have them at my holiday shows. If there's a piece someone really likes I'll tell them the name of it and hand them a permanent marker and they can fill in the blank and stick it on their fridge. :)