chain chain chain

Hi friends and readers, I need your help! It's time to update a Camp + Quarry classic and I can't choose between the three chains that are in the running to complete the new edition of the C+Q dipped crystal necklaces. I have my favourite, but which one do you like best?

P.S. I recently made two purchases on Etsy that I'm very excited about! Take a look at these fantastic shops and items here and here. Have a great weekend (long weekend if you're 'merican)!

crystals

Today I spent some time in one of my favourite rock and gem shops this side of the Rockies (which is to say, not the side I usually find myself on). Take a look at some of the amazing specimens that they have available. The stone that I discovered today that I find particularly amazing is this super lightweight, pure  matte black stone called "jet". According to the stuff I read about it, it comes from Australia and is a type of bituminous coal that can be polished. I also read that "it assists in entering and exploring your inner void of creation"...not exactly sure what that means, but the stone is lovely. What is your favourite type of stone? And how were your holiday celebrations?

***Just a quick note: use coupon code BOXING15 for 15% off everything in the Sadie Etsy shop today only!***

a few new things...

This weekend I'm updating the shop with some new pieces. Among them: cave explorers, rutilated quartz necklaces (one of my all time favourite stones), new pendulum pieces, and a few new vintage paddle necklaces like the one in the middle. I've taken and edited all of the close up shots, tomorrow I'll take a few more of each piece and get the listings up. There's still time to get your order in before Christmas!

I hope you're enjoying your weekend and perhaps hitting up a craft fair or two to support your local makers! Jeff and I spent a lot of the afternoon in Point Roberts, Washington, waiting in various lineups to get American Sadie orders mailed out, pick up some Christmas packages, and take advantage of cheap American gas prices. Not the most exciting afternoon, but we got a lot done. Tonight we're going to our first Christmas party. I'm hoping for shortbread and glogg. Happy weekend, everyone!

a few new things: pyrite and pink

This morning I was working on a fun wholesale order for Icon Tattoo in Portland and also made a few new things that I'll be adding to the Sadie shop after our wedding. This particular wholesale order was extra fun because I sent a lot of custom pieces their way, including pyrite and sterling silver necklaces and some amethyst core samples.

Today I've also been thinking about creativity and how I work best. The truth is, these new pieces came out of having different materials around for the custom order and having time. Having caught up on all my orders, I had some time to just play around with things and see what could work. I ended up gravitating to the combo of rough pyrite with polished, light pink rose quartz and chalcedony. And of course, I love a little turquoise, too. I have a really good feeling about this little break that I'm taking. I think that in between working on wedding details I'll find the time and inspiration to experiment with some of the materials that I've had for a while, and hopefully some great pieces will result. I'm also hoping that I'll have my hands on a new camera in the next few weeks, so these new pieces will be the subjects of improved photography, too! I. Can't. Wait.

Check back in tomorrow for a great Rad Summer post and take a minute to visit There & Here where I'm guest posting on Tuesday!

shop updates

amethyst core sample necklaces: eight and nine

green opal and vintage brass

pastel pink jasper and vintage brass

There are a few new pieces in the Sadie shop that I wanted to share with you. Luckily I took a day off in Vancouver this long weekend and was able to get a lot done...not just on the wedding front, but also updating the shop a little. I'm really excited about being able to offer more amethyst core samples just in time for the real summer weather that's finally hitting the west coast. I've also started incorporating vintage charms into the clasps of my layered pieces, so if you go for a green opal or pink jasper piece, you can look for this added detail.

Sometime I should show you all the mess that I make when I make jewelry. I can't honestly believe that Jeff doesn't freak out. Right now I'm posting these pictures while sitting in a giant pile of little plastic bags and tools and chain bits. I'm gonna have to figure out a new organizing system soon. Happy 4th, American friends!

five friday favourites

rainbow garden duvet cover by diane von furstenberg

the moon - black gold paper bowl by etco

simple geometry triangle earrings by kathiroussel

amulet no. 20 by fort

leather storage tote by gildem

Five things, almost all of Etsy origins, definitely 100% awesome. First of all, I'm looking for a bold floral print bedding set, inspired by this image I pinned a few days ago. I found this amazing Diane von Furstenberg set and would love to have this duvet cover in our bedroom. Our apartment is south facing, but we look into our building courtyard and don't get a whole lot of direct sunlight. A rainbow garden would really brighten things up this summer.

Next a beautiful gold lined paper bowl by Etco. I'm not sure what I would do with something this delicate, but I know that it would look good in my house. I just really love the texture and matte tone of the exterior of this bowl. The whole Etco shop is worth checking out, really.

I know I really don't need any more accessories, at all, but I wanted to share these two pieces. The first, triangle earrings by kathiroussel are made with textured stainless steel. The second piece is by one of my favourite Etsy sellers: fort. I already have a fort necklace made from crocheted brass chain and I can't speak highly enough of this awesome shop. The packaging my necklace arrived in was really beautiful and each piece is truly one of a kind. I love fort's new amulet series. Check fort out regularly, you'll often find one of a kind jewelry pieces, ceramics, and even handmade leather-bound journals. It's always worth a look.

Finally, who does't need a leather basket? Perhaps you'd never considered your need for such a thing. Well, you are about to be obsessed with the idea. These leather storage totes are sooooo nice and so not grandma-style at all; I just had to share. I think I'd fill mine with library books.

There you have it, a few of my favourite things from the internet this week. Please don't forget to come and see me in the real world at Blim this Sunday here in Vancouver. I'll be at Heritage Hall with some great Sadie stuff from 12 - 5. And have a great long weekend, Canadians!

weekend worship

Today was all about catching up with friends. First coffee in the awesome mug that Jeff bought at one of our new favourite Seattle shops: The Field House. We discovered this place when we were walking around Ballard this week. Ballard itself we discovered a couple of years ago when we went down to Seattle to see Richard Buckner. Lola and I met up with Emily and Hazel for a walk and ended up getting caught in a freak hail storm a few blocks from home. After our epic weather adventure I met up with Ivy to go buy CS5 (nerds) and return our studio keys for our deposit. We failed on both attempts and the crazy weather returned. A Thai lunch saved the day.

Tonight I'm looking forward to watching Tina Fey host SNL. I just finished reading her book, Bossypants, and kind of loved it. Now that I know a lot more about her I think she's even more awesome. I'm going to be making lots of jewelry tonight to fill a couple of orders and start getting ready for the BLIM market that I'm doing here in Vancouver on May 22nd. Mark the date if you live in Vancouver. It would be great if you swung by to say hi at Heritage Hall!

I should have called it "jewelry week"...the pink and green miriam necklace

the Miriam necklace

Hi everyone, here is one more fresh item that's going live in the Sadie shop now-ish. You might remember that I introduced the Miriam necklace a while back here on the blog. Well, after I did that, I was totally unable to find a source for more of these incredible pink and green agate triangles for weeks! But I got my hands on a few more and they are just as amazing as the first two that my mom sent me. So, seeing as how Mother's Day is on Sunday (don't forget! what are you doing for your mom?) I thought that I would list the Miriam necklace, which I named in honour of my own mom. I'm actually sending her one as a Mother's Day gift because she loves these stones as much as I do. I'd be worried that she's going to read this and find out, but she's in Nova Scotia right now visiting her mom (my 92 year old grandmother who I wrote about before, too), and I'm pretty sure that she doesn't have great internet access out on the farm. So, take a look at the Miriam pieces that are in the shop and have a wonderful weekend celebrating Mother's Day, whether you're a mom yourself and your kids will be treating you to a special day or you're celebrating your own mothers. I'm hoping for some sunshine and maybe a coast-to-coast phone call to my mom.

a day in the life of carla from starry eyed charlie

Today's guest post in the Day in the Life series is by Carla from Starry Eyed Charlie. If you haven't already visited her super inspirational blog, be sure to check it out. Now let's get right to her Lola and George photoshoot day...

I wake up every day at 7 A.M. Get the kids ready for school, feed them breakfast and make lunches.

By 8 A.M. they are out the door. I give myself a few moments to meditate, then tweet, facebook, read/comment on blogs and have a cup of coffee.

At 9, I leave for the gym (this might not happen every day...hehe).

10:15 run home and quickly wash the funk off my body.

At 10:30, Brandi and Mimi arrive to start makeup and hair for the first model.

While this is going on, I work a bit online and tidy up my house.

When Brandi is ready for shooting, we drive to the photographer's studio.

During this time, my only job is to hand pieces to the photographer and model. It's a nice time to take a breather.

About ten minutes into the shoot, Jaime (model number 2) arrives ready for hair and makeup.

This happens until all of the models are shot and pictures uploaded for revision.

By 2 p.m., I run home, throw a load of laundry in the washer, pet my dog Jorj and finally eat lunch.

My kids go to different schools so from 3-4 I schelp around town and wait in carpool lines.

Usually we stop by our restaurant, Due Forni, to visit Alex, my husband.

When we get home, the kids get their snack on, and gear up for bike riding. I sit in the sun and contemplate new fonts for the website.

Little man likes to take pictures of me.

And today, I have time to write down what I am grateful for (a practice I wish I were better at doing).

When we go in, there's homework, dinner and bath time.

My kids chronicle my exhausted expression during this grueling hour:)

If go to sleep on time, I watch t.v. online, drink a glass of wine and maybe make a new piece of jewelry for Fall/Winter 2011.

At around 10, I blog for 30-45 minutes.

When Alex arrives, we talk until midnight and go.to.sleep.

Ahhhh.

And this is a day 

in 

my 

life:)

Love,

C

Be sure to check out Carla's blog and amazing shop. Thank you so much for sharing, Carla! Next week's guest post will feature the lovely Lauren from Letters, She Wrote. Be sure to check back!

paint a different colour on your front door

I spent the afternoon walking around my neighbourhood in the sunshine after entertaining many of my classmates with what is apparently my new impressions routine last night. Vancouver was so beautiful today. The cherry blossoms are still holding on and Jeff and I found this tree where the blossoms are both pink and white. This happens when one type of tree is grafted to another (and for a while it may be only pink) but sometimes the tree gets damaged or grows in such a way that the part below the graft starts to produce blooms and you get these strange hybrids. Our garden is starting to happen, too, with herbs (like lemon balm, one of my favourites though I have no idea what to do with it besides just smell it) and strawberries I planted last year and a few other things well underway. 

The Sadie summer pieces are coming along, too. I might even be able to return to the shop a couple of days early if all goes as planned. Finally, just wanted to share this amazing Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris song with you. It's been making me happy for years and I have to thank my friend Camilla for putting it on a mix tape way back when. Happy belated birthday, friend! Have a great weekend everyone.

a few new things...

With the tiny bit of leisure time that I've claimed for myself this weekend I've been experimenting with some of the jewelry materials I've been picking up here and there. I want to share with you a few of the things I've been working on lately. Funny enough, they seem related to my desire to get out of Vancouver some time soon (my passport should be arriving soon!). The first one is made with an etched vintage brass pendant that has a traveller's poem embossed on the back and a rough piece of tourmaline quartz. The chain is a vintage brass box chain that I was lucky enough to come across on my explorations with my mom this weekend.

Below are my new favourite pieces. I'm calling them the pendulum necklace, after an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote that I'll share at the end of this post. They're made with vintage brass cable chain and one of a kind vintage findings and these amazing faceted opaque quartz stones. I hope you like these new things! I really can't wait to get the Sadie shop updated in May, I've got lots of new things to share with you. 

"I simply state that I'm a product of a versatile mind in a restless generation--with every reason to throw my mind and pen in the with radicals. Even if, deep in my heart, I thought we were all blind atoms in a world as limited a stroke of a pendulum, I and my sort would struggle against tradition; try, at least, to displace old cants with new ones. I've thought I was right about life at various times, but faith is difficult. One thing I know. If living isn't seeking for the grail it may be a damned amusing game."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

a day in the life of danielle from dinosaur toes

Welcome to the second post in the day in the life series here on the Sadie blog. I'm so excited that the talented Danielle from Dinosaur Toes is sharing a day in the dinosaur toes workshop with us all. Here we go!

my days are pretty uneventful and spent most offen in my pajamas, but i wouldn't trade them for the world because i can't imagine ever enjoying another job so much!

i'm out of bed by 8 and my first order of business is waking up flojo so i can catch up on all the kisses i missed while we were sleeping.  the sun rises and sets on flojo, and my day wouldn't be the same if she weren't with me every minute of it!

once flojo is awake and has done her stretching and we're caught up on kisses, we open all the curtains, water the flowers, watch the birds, and because of the time of the year, sometimes i'll go out and pick a few flowers to have around the house.  the pink flowers are rambling roses that i cut from down in the woods.  chris and i keep saying that we're going to go dig some up so we'll have one in our yard!

a little later in the morning kona and i will walk to the mailboxes and take packages for the mail lady to pick up, or we'll walk up and get the packages she left for me.  depending on how warm it is, we may keep on walking for a while so he can sniff and i can exercise.

once i come back in i get busy making jewelry, taking pictures of jewelry, adjusting pictures, updating my website, and my favorite part...eating!  while i'm working on jewelry at my desk, i keep a drawer on the left side opened as it's flojo's play drawer.  she loves shredding boxes, then tossing the bits around, all while squealing like a little pig.  it's so entertaining, and i find myself putting down whatever it is i may be working on just to watch her!

I love this glimpse into Danielle's day and the beautiful photos she chose to share! I really wish that I lived in my own forest full of rambling roses, too. Be sure to check out Danielle's wonderful blog and the gorgeous Dinosaur Toes shop! And thank you to my lovely friend for sharing! Next week will feature a day in the life of Rebecka from absynthindustries (Sweden). Can't wait!