It was a quiet evening in downtown Chicago and as beautiful as it can be, I cannot wait to get the heck out of here! I'm off to Seattle for the weekend with Mr. T. It's my first time visiting. I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to really like it there. Goodnight and have a great weekend everybody!

The universe in your hands

I saw this DIY post by Oh Happy Day and immediately thought it would be the perfect touch to add to my jewelry box packaging.

I started off with 3 different colors but felt keeping it simple was the best idea. Plus, using only the white made it feel as if each box was its own little solar system. Seeing them all together was like one giant universe!

Lucky you, future customers, you'll get to wear my jewelry AND hold the universe in your hands.

New jewelry trend?

If ear cuffs are making a comeback and can look like these sleek versions by Repossi, I'm totally in.

Daaaang...day job

I'm not normally into traditional fine jewelry (which is mostly what goes on in my day job) but every now and then something considered traditional will catch my eye...

Blam! Were you blinded? Because that is a YELLOW stone! Well technically it's a 2.01ct princess created yellow diamond. 'Created' meaning it was born in a lab as opposed to the earth. But still, very striking don't you think? I love the contrast between the yellow and grey metal color of the 14k white palladium.

Been obsessing lately over tiny shapes with a repetitive quality...but I guess that's normal for me.

Here's wishing that everyone feels the love today from everything and everyone and in all forms!


Also, I haven't been able to get this moment out of my head. That moment I watched on tv a live performance of Glycerine by Bush's Gavin Rossdale...it's Mtv's Spring Break live concerts...it started raining...the band is like 'Oh no, it's raining. It's dangerous. We can't play.'...but Gavin is like, 'Who cares, man. Screw this rain. I'm playing and no one can stop me.'...at least that's how it happened in my head...like he couldn't let the love of the music and his fans bring him down...I feel like Gavin is serenading me, and only me, through the romantic, drizzling rain. Swooooon...



If you're down because you think no one loves you (which is totally not true btw) just listen to Gavin. He'll make you feel special.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I'm calling this month Funky February because I realized since my last post, that I'm not the only one feeling grumpy and out of sorts. It's because of this month! I forget that Chicago in February is...for lack of a better word...depressing. At this point, us Chicagoans are just dang tired of the winter and are so ready for Spring. Maybe that's why we go crazy and all out for St. Patty's Day...

ANYWAY...during this funk, I've actually been able to find comfort in my wax carving. Since it's the week of love, I wanted to focus on that love I feel when carving and share with you some of the shapes I've concocted recently. These will eventually morph into earring studs and pendants. Mmmmm...boy it feels good to slide that file on that wax!

I'm not gonna lie...I've been in a grumpy, crabby, out of sorts kinda mood. I'm trying to get out of this funk and remember the wonderful things that make up my life. And since Valentine's Day is this week, I thought I'd focus on the love in my life. Not even just romantic love, but the love I feel for my friends and family, the love they give to me, that lovely feeling I get when I make jewelry, of when I bite into delicious foods, of when I observe random acts of kindness, of when I get the urge to dance in public while listening to my music...my love for EVERYTHING. I need to focus on these things and remember that love is worth way more than this foul mood I've been in. So yeah, here's to Love.

For now though, let's start the week out with a little animated love! Check out Disney's newest animated short film, Paperman.