colin meloy, ayn rand...and, simon

i love a new decemberists album. i really do. because i have loved them for so long, a new album is like a long, sought after conversation with a dear friend. like returning home after a long absence. this new album, the king is dead, is no different.

this is "january hymn",

with garnet and chalcedony

the garnet (january's birthstone of course) is like a deep, dark glass of red wine;

the chalcedony is icy and cold and crisp. it's a lovely contrast.

on a winter sunday I go
to clear away the snow
and green the ground below

april all an ocean away
is this the better way to spend the day?
keeping the winter at bay

what were the words i meant to say before you left?
when i could see your breath lead where you were going to

maybe i should just let it be,
and maybe it will all come back to me
sing oh january oh!

how i lived a childhood in snow
and all my teens in tow
stuffed in strata of glow

hail the winter days after dark
wandering the gray memorial park
a fleeting beating of hearts...

(what do you think, mamabeaks?)

this is the "for those who seek it" ring,

with skyscrapers of rainbow moonstone and an amazing pavilion cut labradorite

i told you that i have been rereading some of my old books lately. and although i thoroughly disagree with some major points in her philosophy, ayn rand's the fountainhead struck a serious chord with me this time around.

this ring is about that book.

and, about simon. well, i have very sad news. i know you would never believe it from looking at his sweet face, but he can be quite aggressive. i always chalk it up to him being my "neurotic denver rescue dog", but the truth is it's gotten really bad. he is extremely protective, and he's now gone after three of our neighbors. i promised glenn that if it happened again, we would get rid of him. and it happened again. i am devastated, but i don't see any other choice. he has never exhibited any aggressive behavior towards any of us, but what if??? i can't risk it with the girls. do any of you have any experience with this sort of thing?

re: stacks

i made some new stacking rings for the gallery...

aquamarine, prehnite, labradorite, amethyst

and then i decided to list a couple too.

no wonder i can never keep the gallery stocked...

this ring is a happy accident. i think it is so cool! when it first happened, i kept it for myself. i like it so much, i thought you might too, so i made another. for wearing on your other fingers, the ones without the big flashy rings...

from the side it does indeed look like it ought to be zooming through the night sky,

attracting serious attention.

p.s. not only did the new decemberists album come out today, but my tickets to go see them next month in denver and in boulder arrived!

a good weekend...

i made all of these necklaces for the gallery...

(though i was thinking about listing a couple in the shop.

are there any here that you really love?)

...had an awesome "girls' night out" on friday...

...and went for a great family ski in telluride today...

hope you had a great weekend too!

what did you do?

skiing, grace, tranquility, and more flowers...

a few new pieces to share with you...

a new "tres flores" necklace,

with amethyst, chalcedony, a lovely brown and purple glass cab from teresa...

...a handmade, wire-wrapped amethyst chain...

... and a quote from good ol' eleanor

a new grace ring,

with an astounding, puffy, high dome chrysoprase

i took a lot of photos of this ring, trying to capture the stone's beauty

i can't quite get it...

and a new "great tranquility of heart" ring,

with a very beautiful cut of kyanite

it is the perfect pointer finger ring.

i also went for a great ski today.

it has become a thursday ritual now for juniper and i to ski together.

(cathy, your blanket is a new favorite!)

(yes, look closely; she has a sucker in each hand. i have found that the more snacks i administer, the farther i can go. today we skied for two hours!)

feeling flowery...

for some reason lately i have been really wanting to make flowery pieces. it's not because spring will be here soon; there's still almost four months until there will be any blossoms around here. and it's not because i am impatient for it to get here; i am loving winter. (in fact today i realized that i have skied five out of the last six days.) maybe because valentine's day is coming and i think of flowers as being romantic... anyway, here are my new rings...

a "without darkness" ring,

with a gorgeous marquis faceted labradorite

and a trio of handmade silver flowers

you can't really see it, but the back says "without darkness nothing comes to birth, just as without light nothing flowers" (may sarton)

a new finger fleur,

with brown speckled artisan glass

and an orange one...

also, glenn was in the paper yesterday , in durango pulling the girls in the sled again. see it here