Studio Tour

This blog often gets neglected because I'm also blogging over here. Today I posted a studio tour that you can read here, but here are some highlights in photo form:

This last photo is by Hollie Pocsai, and I love it:

Wow

I know it's usually quiet around here, but that's because I'm been holding on to a secret for a while. As of last night, Rare Specimens are now for sale at www.freepeople.com

Pretty exciting stuff!

You can see them all here. They started with 4 styles; Pyrite, Herkimer Diamonds, Citrine and Aqua Aura Quartz. I'm not sure why the citrine studs aren't online yet, but the others look like beauties.

I was approached by this possibility in January, and it's taken until almost May for it to be real and legit and something that I could say out loud. Last night was the first time I've seen them for sale on the website, and I totally did a happy dance around my living room when it happened.

In what seems like perfect timing, there's a Rare Specimens giveaway going on right now over at A Beautiful Mess. This was planned months ago, but I'm so happy that the timing coincided with my other big news. This week feels pretty unreal.

Go win yourself $100 of Rare Specimens goods. I want you to. I'm rooting for you to win!

I Quit

Last week I quit my part-time job to work on the two things I like most full time: Rare Specimens and White Elephant. It's a really good feeling, but so far I'm having a little trouble getting used to all this free time. It's hard to be disciplined at home when you have an adorable dog wanting to go for a walk instead. Any one have any good "get to work" tips?

There's more about me quitting on this blog here.

Pepper

This is my dog, Pepper. She's a 6 year old basset hound I adopted from here. She's lovely.

Sometimes when I read other people's work blogs I get a little bored that it's all about what they've made and sold lately and not about anything else. So, here you go.

I've had her for about 2.5 years and she's a very big important part of my life. She howls when I put on youtube videos of other dogs howling, loves cuddling every second of the day, and will lie in front of our fireplace for hours.

So now you know.

SALE

Everything in the Etsy shop is 25% this weekend with the code HOLIDAY.  I'll try to add more as the days go by!

Style Me Pretty

A super tiny glimpse of rare specimens pyrite earrings are on Style Me Pretty today. You have to squint to see them, but I'm pretty excited to have a bride sporting them for her big day.  They're in pretty good company too... Sweetie Pie Press made the buttons for the wedding. Hurrah!

Keeping Busy

My studio is in the attic of my non-air conditioned house, so trying to get work done during these 40 degree days has proven difficult. I've started smashing my rocks on a concrete pad in my backyard, and the way the light bounces off the overhead trees and the galena is beautiful.

I'm slowly getting back into production. I took a bit of a break after Puces Pop, but now it's time to work hard again. That means lots of pod casts and lots of water breaks, as I'm sweating away up stairs. The above earrings are making their way to Lunenburg today, to Dots & Loops Handmade. Exciting!