Thursday, May 31, 2012

Before the After


I've taken the measurements
snapped the pictures
taken stock of what is right now
in all of its glory:
a body miraculous, recovering from its greatest triumph,
sagging where it fostered life
pulling itself together from a massive stretch.

I've developed a fabulous game plan,
picked the strategy
dedicated my waking hours

to my boy

to my love

to my work

to working out.

people lately have been asking where I am getting all of this time,
how I am making and doing so much with a little one
and here is my answer:

I have a wonderful husband, wonderful family and a calm little boy (on most days).

I have cut out anything extraneous from my life
spending my time like it's gold -
-no-
more precious, even:
platinum.

Hours that go too fast, watching my boy discover his hands, holding my gaze with a smile,
my heart wrapped in damp chubby digits

tooling while he sleeps, fantastic ideas I run for and catch like fireflies...

talking on the phone with people I love

kissing my husband, healing the thousand tiny cracks that parenthood makes in our daily lives...
.
.


Anthony told me about Navy Seals one night when I worried out loud that my work ethic is too balls-to-the-wall (in spite of the fact that I love my pace), how they are trained harder than a body ever should be in order to discover that their capabilities are greater than they knew: it's ok, he assured me, as long as I know when to take it easy.

It's been intense lately: inspiration running hot and heavy
like birthday sex and I am dancing fast just to keep up with it.

There are bags in the works, clutches
necklaces
earrings...
a giveaway to end all giveaways....oh, yes...

so.

On my tombstone it very well may read "Rested poorly"
a fitting epitaph, really
but I have my own Mama to remind me when I get too stringy-
"Stay in bed today" she says, hearing that dull edge from 2,000 miles away
and then I do.

I promise, Mom!

All this to express...something defiant to spite a fear, it would seem:

asserting my right to a natural rhythm, saying that it's okay to strive
bubbling and excited about this upcoming month ( 2 days in!) of a concentrated fitness re-set
Maintaining that I am allowed (in spite of feeling a lack of cultural permission as a new mom, but that's a whhhhooolllle 'nother post...) to claim the power coursing through my creative vein
until it dries up as it invariably does
making room for the fallow weeks ahead.

On that never-too-distant day I'll call the woman who gave me life
sounding like I ran across the Serengeti barefoot
and she'll send me under the covers with a good book

and I will obey...

but for now there is much ass to kick
and precious hours to do so!

xoxo,
A









Wednesday, May 30, 2012

My Sun


You are the light of our lives: this morning I was reminded of that fact
in such a beautiful way.


Everyone in Minneapolis was charmed by you, Orion:
your smiles are infectious, your laughter and coos just as much so
and your evening fuss has become adorable and nuanced:

you have a language for your complaints just as you do for your joys.

When you are hungry and no boob is forthcoming you say, "Iiing Iiing Iiing" in a very conversational way, trilling up and down the range of your new voice
showing your gums
until you're fed.

I liken you to a grumpy old man at a town hall meeting, complaining about the stop sign on Grant;
"And another thing!!...." 
until you fall asleep in your soup at Denny's.


I kiss your forehead right where your temple makes an indent. 
It gives as only young skin can,
 like spongecake under my lips.



Two flights under your belt now and you are a champion
mostly sleepy from the white noise of the plane's engine, ears unbothered by the rise and descent
eating and napping in my arms
getting diaper changes 31,000 feet above the earth, all smiles while we sweat
with the fearful trembling of the New Parent...

Tiny Tatey, we love you beyond love:
thank you for choosing us
.


xoxo,
Mama the happy Nomulan Milk Slave


Monday, May 21, 2012

Last Shopping Day for a Bit


My little Level 1 Human and I are getting on a plane tomorrow
for a week + of R&R, Minneapolis style!

I knew I needed to get accustomed to traveling with him sooner than later,
so I bought a direct flight ticket
and plan on lounging with little more to do than adore my family
and watch them fall even deeper in love with Orion.

Today is the last day to pick up any reserved items from the shops
or indulge in that piece you've been thinking about.

Pieces purchased will be mailed out on Wednesday by my handsome spouse.

Have a wonderful week!!!

xoxox,
Allison

Sunday, May 20, 2012

On the Wheels


Chapinite


Horse Canyon Agate


Horse Canyon Agate
detail



Kazakhstan Thunderegg


Moss Agate Thunderegg


Rhodochrosite


Some of these are final polishing sessions,
some (like the Horse Canyon) were recent slab purchases I could not WAIT to dig in to.

All in all,
a really productive time at the King!!

xoxo,
A

Saturday, May 19, 2012

One Last Ring...


The latest in the abundance series


Featuring a dreamy garden quartz


set in a hammered sterling bowl


Representing the overflow of all good things:
may they be yours.

Find it 


xoxo,
A

Friday, May 18, 2012

Uncles and Love


My bestie Jeremy and his amazing Sabin were here
today


Charming the heck out of Baby O


AND his Mama.

Then there was napping
and I awoke to the last listed item being Reserved;

THANK you.
For my livelihood and your care of it:
I could never begin to express my gratitude fully.

My family is fed by your support
and my heart is made full by your warmth.

With Big Love,
Sunny & O


Thursday, May 17, 2012

Monday, May 14, 2012

Four Generations in One Room


What a beautiful thing: what in indelible memory we made yesterday:

Great Grandma meeting her Great Grandson.


There is so much I could say here about this first Mother's Day
but
words kind of fail their ultimate purpose when something feels so big
you can't even sketch it.

If I wasn't so tired I'd at least try,
but there are things to be done, always
not the least of which is
savoring
the moments.

Amazing.

xoxo,
A

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Safety Burrito


I had to take a picture of this sweet little boy
in his baby ear protection to share here: 

Anthony says he looks like a space monkey in them
but all I know
is that his little ears are picking up on quiet under there
and that's the most important thing!
.
.
.
xo

Friday, May 11, 2012

Beauty From the Beyond...


Peridot Dragonfly Wing in Sterling Silver 

These ghostly impressions are a reminder:
leave Beauty in your wake.


Let others bask in something warm and kind long after your presence 
is gone


Mexican Fire Opal Dragonfly Wing in Sterling Silver 



from a room
from a house
from this mortal coil.


Cultivate your goodness
Nourish the seeds of compassion
God planted in you long ago:


Hammer Formed Citrine Cicada Wing Earrings

Use your power for lofty things
.
Match the joy you wish to hold


and it will settle in your palm


Bee in Sterling

like a winged thing


coming home to rest.


xoxo,
S

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Way Back


From the moment I met my son earthside
a great shift occurred in me,
one of beauty and newness.

I have struggled much over the last few months to both redefine the shape of my life
and leave myself the fuck alone because for God's sake, look at what I just DID(!).

There have been moments of such powerful sadness, loneliness and fear
dancing in overlap with awe, wonder and spectacular blisses

so much so that the idea of center, the earthy notion of grounding has
been all but lost in the emotions and thoughts.

In the last few days I have sensed a peace come over my life;
peace that came from purpose -
from a series of actions and decisions spaced
like breadcrumbs for my airy energies
to re-tether around my soul.

Here is a list of what works for me - in sharing it my greatest hope is that you find something that also creates balance for yourself, dear reader.



The Way Back

1. Scale back belongings
.
If one's life is a pie-chart full of relationships, tasks and things it's so easy to feel that bloated sense of 'too much' far too often, especially in this day of constant communication.
One way that I reduce the amount of fullness (being that relationships are of the utmost importance to me)
is to reach into cupboards, closets, drawers, chests and shelves with the sole purpose of
reducing their contents by at least half.

Maybe for your own unique life balance the 'too much' that needs culling are tasks or socializing online or in town.

Everything can be explored.

2. Get Moving!!!
.
During the last half of my pregnancy, I had the instinctual sense to stop exercising as I once had, even beyond the cautionary recommendation of "no heart rate above 140" - my body told me nightly walks were the height of exertion: I listened, and when I look at my boy I am glad for that.
After the doctor gave me the green light to exercise again, I dove in with abandon (except for abs)
and honestly I relish every drop of salty sweat that miniature Jillian Michaels bosses out of me from her tiny home in the DVD.

Sometimes our physical lethargy is a necessity, sometimes it is a choice: if it's a choice then take an evening and get on a machine, run into the hills, afro-belly-boogie until you drop and see if you don't feel a tad more like your feet are connected to the earth.

3. Give What you Want to Receive
.
Want more love? Love more! Want monetary abundance? Volunteer your services for those in need!
Want peace? Bring calm into your actions and interactions.
It sounds so simple but it can be utterly challenging to be present.
The benefits, though, are astounding and well worth the attention and intention.

4. Gratitude
.
When I feel blue and morose, a few gratitude lists throughout the day can make the biggest difference:
it sounds silly, but it keeps you accountable for your blessings
and we all have something for which we can be grateful.

What are your blessings?
*

5. Fumble Around
.
I allow myself bad days, lost days that are simply mine in which to grump, fuss
and gnash my teeth - the permission seems to lessen the need to fall deeper into despair.

Go ahead: call in sick, get in your sweats and throw yourself a pity party for one: a good cry can be just what the doctor ordered. "Tears are a river that carry you somewhere" are the wise words I read in a book after a particularly hard year and I loved that image: we are never stuck in an emotion unless we fear it or fend it off with the dull stick of procrastination.

Meet your sadness, your fear or your unrequited love where it lives: you might find that once you do it will take your hand and let you guide it up and out.

6. Change your Focus
.
If something is frustrating or limiting you in some way, do something else for a while:
answers tend to come when the mental gaze is allowed to wander
from its dog house:

"the watched pot never boils" can also apply to career success, the acquisition of wealth and the magnetism of love.

Go out, get lost in a field somewhere
throw a ball
see a good movie
call your mom

remember that there are lots of good things in life once you remove your blinders.

(This one is particularly hard for me to do, but when I unplug from my obsession, man oh man does the tide turn!)

.

.


So there you have it: my puzzle pieces for righting the capsizing ship.

What works for you when things look bleak?


Love,
Sunny






Sunday, May 6, 2012

Leap Day


This ring is a testament to the power of



And a great mother-in-law who came to love on the baby this weekend,
thereby allowing his mama time in the studio-
hours and hours and hours


and in those hours I hammered this spiculum flower out of a flat sheet of sterling.


In keeping with the abundance theme of sterling spheres and round gorgeousness,
this ring is called the Horn of Plenty
and it IS.


Sumptuously tall
Decadently deep
HEAVY with silver
and
paired with the prettiest cut of Utah Variscite you ever did see...


It practically shouts 


"YES!!!"
.
.
.


size 8

in the Metal Shop 

later this evening.

xoxox,
A



Friday, May 4, 2012

A Trio for Your Delicious Waist


I don't know about you, but this summer my go-to outfit is gonna be
cowboy boots, jean skirts and tank tops!

This fun fact got me thinking: what is the perfect accessory for that look?

eh bien, voila:

belt buckles!

But

not just any buckle:


RESERVED

These are the fancy kind


Hand stitched in sturdy thread
and lined with a colorful pop of scalloped-edge suede



RESERVED



in vibrant colors


RESERVED

for vibrant women.

In the


later today, but accepting reserves now!

xoxox,
Allison