Creative Reset

I wouldn't so much call it burnout: that sounds too simple to name what this passing year's gift has been.

There was some frenzy in it, some high peaks of boundless energy and deep lows that ended in some sort of malady or freeze, putting me out of commission for days and days.

There was the fear, the bone-crushing fear as sales dropped and I wondered about my path or purpose

forgetting that it had already changed to include a job so big I won't really ever finish it.

And oh my heavens the LOVE. From friends, family, new souls I am owned by, souls departing and winking from The Mystery...so much love.

Two thousand and twelve schooled us down to the cells and here we all are, about to graduate toward another year with all its possibilities and growth rings poised to etch themselves in our flesh.

The realization has been dawning for some time that things need to change here in this body, that more tenderness and pause needs to find its way into these days somehow so help me God!

This January I am going to offer a few pieces in both shops toward the beginning of the month (think sweet winged things!)

and then four custom slots for the metal shop because I miss the art of bowing to someone else's wishes,

I really and honestly do

and then

I am going to do a creative reset.

21 days of journaling and exploring in order to find some balance and equilibrium. 21 days to a new habit of gentle and fierce.

I wish for you to join in if you are so inclined: I will be posting the daily instructions here for myself and for anyone who wants to walk with me.

I will be creating a Facebook page (more info to follow) for anyone interested, a safe place where we can share our thoughts and experiences and do a fun swap at the end of each of the three weeks: knowledge, supplies, tendernesses.

There will be some recipes as well, because when things start unfurling I tend to hit the kitchen like what(!).

Orion and I are going to comb through the city and sleep during naptime and read and write (well I will, anyway!) and the grand hope is that on the other side there is a self driven not by a ceaseless cracking of some invisible whip

but instead that there may be room 

in which to fall apart a little, lay fallow and bloom again when the season is right.

Who's with me?

xoxo,

Sunny

A Little Gift for You

Starting in January I have something super special to share with all of you,

(some real and lasting refreshment)

but in the meantime I want to offer my Facebook followers and blog readers the first shot at a post-holiday gift:

Enter coupon code EOYB12

for 20% off 

in both

the 

LEATHER

and

the 

METAL

shops

.

Sale goes public on the 29th and ends on the 31st.

Thanks again for a wonderful year!!

xoxo,

Sunny

We Love You

Thank you for making this year one to remember

not just in terms of Sunny Rising,

but for the friendships and loving kindness you've shown our family.

We are surrounded by it

basking in it

and so very much looking forward to the deepening bonds

that 2013 will bring.

In Peace and Joy

and fa-la-la-la-laaaaahhh,

Sunny

Classics Return

two classic and beloved creature pieces

are back!

To meet them head over 

to the 

LEATHER SHOP

later today!

xoxo,

Sunny

Portrait of a Gentleman

A year.

It's been a year since I buried my face in Jones' bunny fur and told him that nothing could be wrong with him,

that I would never survive losing him before he was old and smelled and had dandruff.

"It's just that you have to stop eating so much!" I cooed and petted, to which he replied with his well-oiled-machine purr

and a head-butt, back when he was still well enough to give them in spades.

.

It's been

one year since we realized that the weight gain around his middle was getting bigger faster than food could ever affect

A year since I fumbled around trying to balance third trimester pregnancy with caring for a dying animal body

.

A year since a piece of me traveled into The Mystery with him

.

A request for a pet portrait saw me beginning this painting last December

before we thought anything of anything at all.

It remained three-quarters finished all year

until yesterday

during Orion's afternoon nap

.

"Why not?" I shrugged

since the last few months have found me remembering him with a smile only

no tears welling

no regret at the details (why do we torture ourselves so?)

and so I am finishing this painting, stroke by stroke

and recalling all the things that made his eyes sparkle just so

and oh those stately whiskers

 a poised stance that spoke of being ready for anything

of the hunt

and love for us, his humans

.

Oh, Jones....

my magnificent bastard, my first baby boy...

it's so nice to have been yours.

.

I am offering a limited number of pet portraits:

I have several gallery-style 11 X 14 canvases

and the desire to capture a drop of spirit

in black and white acrylic.

If you are interested, please 

CONVO

me

.

xoxo,

A

Mini 'Canos

Layered ballet pinks and carnelian mini 'cano necklace

18.5 inch sterling chain

rusticated bezel

Flame orange and Vintage repurposed Coral Mini 'Cano

a burst of joy

a mere three quarters of an inch in diameter -

and to think I though I'd gone as small as I could with the one and one quarter inch size...

good things come in tiny packages.

Inquire 

HERE

xoxo,

Sunny

Modeling Spoon Tutorial for Edges

Want to know how to take your freshly tooled object edges 

to a new level of polish and care?

The modeling spoon!

It's a wonderful way to give your tooled leather a warm finish, lightly burnishing the high ridge of the cut design while it works the edge down into a rounded shape that's mighty pleasing to the eye.

There are two ends, one larger and one smaller spoon

which you can use to polish your edge work

for various sizes of cuts and bevels.

I find myself consistently partial to the larger edge.

I also think this tool would be awesome to eat ice cream with: tiny dainty bites.

ahem.

Where were we?

yes:

To round and smooth the raised design, simply place the top edge of the spoon against the 'wall' of leather to be worked and pull it towards you at a slight angle:

the lower the angle, the lower the dome 

(i.e., if you hold it at 75 degrees you'll have a less pronounced change than if you hold it at 30 degrees)

before

during

after

.

Having a bright lamp is a good thing here - holding your piece at an angle will show you the places you need to touch up to get an overall graceful curve.

See the warm smooth edge where before it was all angular and cold?

Voila, the modeling spoon.

Tool on, my friends - TOOL ON!

xoxo,

Sunny

Sweet Love

We've survived almost ten months as parents

and I still want to shmush those cheeks

and get all fuckered-up together on fancy whiskey at parties...

oh my Schmilly (!)

We are doing this man, we are doing this.

xoxo,

S

The Stuff of Stars, A Volcano Vessel for Space amidst Form.

We are the stuff of stardust, you and I: the very same things that make our favorite constellations

are in our atoms.

This design is built to be a balm for holiday season madness - overwork,

too much stimulation, food, things...

where is the space in the overfull?

Well.

If you take fifteen minutes after everyone is asleep in their beds

to just observe your breath and the stillness of the night

the pause between the swish of cars passing

curls of steam from the filled tea cup

you'll find it

and if in that space you begin to

contemplate the magnitude of the universe

and the miracle of the very next inhalation

you can tuck that wonder in your pocket

for the next moment of overwhelm

and breathe in the peace

amidst the rush.

.

.

The coloration of this volcano cone is that of a clear winter sky just past sunset, where the horizon maintains a cobalt glow

that fades up into the dark

peppered with stars.

In the center, a sweet cut of prehnite is the moon

and a dot of warm carnelian fire anchors the feather

.

Find her

HERE.

xoxo,

Sunny

Softly....

RESERVED

Carved grey moonstone with vintage coral beads and vintage coral carved pikake flowers

A soft kiss for your shoulders

in their holiday finest

coming in at three and one quarter inches long

.

Vintage mother of pearl beads and carved pikake flowers

with a hammered silver top

stunning in any light

but have you tried mother of pearl by candlelight?

Oh, you must!!

Lucin Variscite wrapped in sterling and fine silvers 

cascade of sterling and mother of pearl flowers and beads...four inches of sweet elegance

so delicate and luminous.

Onyx and vintage carved coral pikake flowers

the perfect length for everyday

with just enough grit in the aging to temper the honey-sweetness of the 

many-years-old carving.

Inquiries welcome for all pairs

HERE

.

xoxo,

Sunny

Anger he smiles tow'ring shiny metallic purple armour. 
Queen jealousy, envy waits behind him. 
Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground. 
Blue are the life giving waters taking for granted, 
They quietly understand. 

Once happy turquoise armies lay opposite ready, 
But wonder why the fight is on. 
But they're all, bold as love. 
Yeah, they're all bold as love. 
Yeah, they're all bold as love. 
Just ask the Axis. 

My red is so confident he flashes trophies of war 
And ribbons of euphoria. 
Orange is young, full of daring but very unsteady for the first go 'round. 
My yellow in this case is no so mellow. 
In fact I'm trying to say it's frightened like me. 
And all of these emotions of mine keep holding me 
From giving my life to a rainbow like you. 
But I'm a yeah, I'm bold as love, 
Yeah yeah. 

Well, I'm bold, bold as love. Hear me talkin', girl. I'm bold as love. Just ask the Axis. 

He knows everything. Yeah, yeah. 

-- "Bold as Love", Jimi Hendrix

The word 'love' written indelicately as one might on a wall...

two enameled copper volcanos in colors that would make a maiden blush

set in fine and sterling silvers.

Glowing perfect sterling spheres surround

a centerpiece of the clear amethyst.

Tapered band, size 7.5

In every way rooted in being 

bold as love.

HERE

xoxo,

Sunny

The Work of Others: Shearin Abdel Monem of Kerdan

Every so often I come across artistry that needs to be championed: I love sharing the work of others here on my blog.

One of the many beautiful things about being a designer is seeing and appreciating what fellow artists are able to do with the raw materials of the chosen medium.

Shearin's work is something that the world is richer for seeing.

When I wear my Kerdan ring I am protected, enveloped and feminine all at once-

It feels tailor made to my finger, substantial and yet completely accessible for everyday wear.

It's been my luck to have exchanged words of friendship and mutual admiration

with this talented artist.

I posed a few questions to Shearin about Kerdan and this is what she had to say:

When did you start creating jewelry? 
I’ve been imagining and visualizing rings and things in my mind for a long time, but it wasn’t until two years ago that I decided to do something about it. I feel right at home, like this is what I should have been doing all along. 

What inspires you?
Bold, intricate patterns deeply connected to my North African roots always pull me in, longing to be pierced. For some reason, I’m always taking the orderly symmetric route. It just makes sense, and as hard as I try to move away from it, it beckons me back. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Spreading my wings and doing this full–time…

If you could chat with any artist dead or alive who would it be? What would you talk about?

Azza Fahmy, and she’s very much alive. She’s a mother, artist, author and designer. She pours her heart and soul in everything she makes. Even though she is based in Cairo her art transcends national boundaries. I have a thing for rings, and have been collecting her work for some time now. She incorporates the Egyptian landscape, culture, filigree, pierced components, and Arabic calligraphy in many of her designs. Wearing her rings is empowering. The closest to my heart bears the words, “contentment comes to those who are content.” I’d love to be a fly on the wall, and just watch her in action for a day. 

Where can one find your work?
At the moment I can only be found on etsy at

www.etsy.com/shop/Kerdan

I encourage you, my reader to take a peek into Shearin's work and world at her Etsy shop,

a destination where color and shape come together

to create timeless and nuanced pieces.

Tell her Sunny sent you!

xoxo,

S

Discarded Heart

If I could go back I'd thank you,

standing there with a snotty nose and my pride somewhere knocked down south.

I'd thank you for leaving, for revealing my weak spots to sad ears

and I'd really and truly wish you well.

Like really really.

As it was I cursed your name and decided that I'd dedicate the coming months to moping and storytelling

because that is what you do when you are young,

before the businesses and babies

before the weight of years piles up like bricks.

When you are young there is time to revel in mud for mud's sake

.

Ah, 

but the universe had other plans for me

including but not limited to:

being lifted

synchronicity abundant and outrageous

reciprocity

solitude

stillness

wonder

and

knowing

.

I look back on that leg of the journey with a sense of awe:

I thought I'd lost my whole world

but instead your absence left a golden key

to the skies.

And that space to the left of my shitty mold-cold apartment where you tossed my bleeding heart?

A tree grows there now with leaves as big as love

born of hard work and 

unshackled thought.

.

.

This Discarded Heart necklace

and a Volcano Vessel in the prettiest greens with a shining labradorite center

will be in the 

Metal Shop

in just

a little while.

With love,

Sunny