associated press

so i was mentioned in this article in the cortez journal. it's about what artists do to increase sales around the holidays. it talks about my guitar picks. well, it got picked up by the associated press and could potentially be in any paper in the country. woo hoo!

finger fleurs... and telluride...

introducing... finger fleurs...

these are my newest flower pieces. i am so very excited about them! i am heading out to the studio today to make some more... perhaps neck fleurs and lobe fleurs? we'll see...

with carnelian

with garnet

and with prehnite (of course, this is my favorite.)

yesterday, we went and skied the valley floor in telluride. katie came with us. it was our longest family ski ever, almost 3 hours!

katie and hazel (the girls ADORE katie!)

glenn and i joked that this little shack along the trail would be the

only property that we could maybe afford in telluride

katie and i

a rare photo of glenn and i together, one of us is always taking the pictures

we may have a new addict in the family...

thursday is the day that hazel is in school and juniper is not. it is our special day together and we try to have dates. today i took her skiing for the first time. she absolutely loved it!

it took some getting used to...

unsuccessful experiment

you may or may not remember me posting about sending my work to a new pair of galleries on the front range. well, it didn't really work out. she wanted a 50% commission (gasp!), so i had to give every piece a hefty mark up. i wanted to try it out though. i told myself i would give it three months and then reevaluate. in three months, not one single piece sold! not even during the holidays, during which i had my best month of sales ever at the local cooperative gallery i am a member of and also a fantastic season on etsy. so, i have asked her to please return my work to me. therefore, you may see some familiar pieces reappearing in my etsy shop.

this has only made me realize that i need to stick to my original plan, in which i only sell my work in places where i am receiving 100% of the profits. (i.e. etsy, the cooperative gallery, art shows...) why should somebody else get a large chunk of something that i made with my heart and soul? if i can continue to be successful this way, that is, of course, ideal. i have a list of shows in colorado next summer that i am going to apply to. i have never really done a big show and i feel i am ready to try it out. i will let you know how it goes!

more new stuff

this was the view out my window at dusk while i was photographing today's jewelry...

a new "float like a feather" necklace, with one of my fabulous vintage feathers

a new "soul maven" necklace, with prehnite and amethyst

and a "robin's bloom" ring, with artisan glass and high domed vintage turquoise

a lovely day in the studio...

i had a simply fabulous day in the studio yesterday. though you probably couldn't tell from my last post, i had a bit of an emotionally turbulent holiday. being out in my studio is often the very best therapy for me. yesterday it definitely was. i just let myself play, and explore, and i am so very happy with the results.

okay, get this, this pendant is... reversible!

one side is an amazing butterfly jasper...

and the other side is turquoise!

the "two faces" necklace is utterly unique and one of a kind. when i first had the idea, i searched on etsy to see if anyone else had had the same idea. i didn't find any evidence of it. i know that doesn't mean that no one has ever done it before, but it might.

this is my newest labradorite "be the change" necklace. it features a stunning teardrop labradorite and a fabulous, three strand chain.

the chain has a tiny box chain, several sizes of link chain, and pearls, tourmaline, apatite, smoky quartz, labradorite, prehnite, austrian crystals, and iolite. it has been heavily oxidized and it so antique-ish.

this is the "soon" necklace. to remind us that spring is on its' way.

a luscious prehnite is suspended below a gorgeous glass cab of teresa's. a tiny blue chalcedony cab is the perfect accent.

the chain is made up of long and short links, and chalcedony, prehnite, amazonite, and austrian crystal wire-wrapped bead links.

the rose cut labradorite in this ring is just stunning.

the back says "resolve". resolve is the verb form of resolution. dictionary.com defines it as "to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something)". this ring will serve as a reminder for all of those new resolutions you've made.

and, a new "as grounded as can be" ring.

this one is made with an absolutely incredible vintage turquoise cab from the royston mine in nevada. the mine has been closed for 25 years.

all of these pretties will be in the shop later today.

also, the girls have been exploring what they want to do with their lives.

juniper is considering a career in photography. she wants to start her own blog.

and hazelnut wants to be a musician like her daddy.

also, crystal and i went for a great ski on saturday.

gorgeous sky

a bit of gourmet hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps

a perfect track

and a fabulous windswept snowy landscape

i have several more projects that i started yesterday and will finish up tomorrow. can't wait to share them with you!