Beauty and Worry And Underdog Houses

Tomorrow morning we are going to see this little house:

On a street of houses that sit back in nice yards it is right up on the sidewalk with a giant window into its soul. Built in the 1940s, it predated any other house in its immediate surrounding area (at least so it appears from Google Street View) and the woodworking inside is really something lovely.

Today we saw loveliness of a purely natural sort:

And, as with any change, today began my worry. On the heels of my three best months ever as a craftsperson ( and on the verge of a leathercraft book deal, too! ) I have a fear of falling sales.

I must stop reading Yahoo bylines when I check my mail.

I would like to believe that people need beauty to get by.

Now is the time to trust more than ever in my connection to the divine and just continue doing what I am doing.

Nothing is linear, no siree....

The Most Welcome Sight

Now if a rainbow over rolling pastures isn't enough to tell us we're on the right path, I simply don't know what is!!! This lovely vision greeted us on our way up to Novato.

We are here at a nice Best Western courtesy of Anthony's interview team and I just had to show you this rainbow because it was incredibly inspiring.

Being here in these rollicking green hills is so healing for my frazzled soul: if we move here I know there's a lot more frazzled where the original frazzle came from ( still with me? ) but it feels like in the end there will be more of me left to create with.

Big cities inspire, but if it's not the right fit they constrict and leach as well. 

Los Angeles is way too cool for me: I think we value different things, my current homeplace and I.... I was telling someone the other day that is was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to leave NYC...

It whispered things in my ear as I was packing for the west coast... terrible things like, "You're nothing without me.... I made you!!" and, "But where will you get good wonton soup at 12 Midnight on a Tuesday?" But mostly it was this one that did me in - 

"I will haunt you forever".

And it does.

Los Angeles is kinda like, "Hey, I totally understand... No hard feelings, come visit, okay?"

And I will.

I say this as if this has already transpired, but in my mind I'm already gone - the only ache that keeps me awake at night is how to leave my best friends, especially my brother Matt Coleman, my Terra, my angel Katherine and Powerhouse Liane and wee Seamus.

Not to mention my incredible pilates tribe at JAM...

Ouch. Such is life, best illustrated with an insightful Indigo Girls lyric -

"For every pleasure exacts its pain - how you hurt me; how you were good to me"

GETTING READY!!

Sorry to shout, but I am really really excited about our trip up North tomorrow: I will be gone for three days and I hope to write while I am there!

In preparation today I made two custom orders: a gorgeous large agate ring and a lovely mountainous stone I have not identified ( it was supplied by the lovely buyer ).

I also had the pleasure of making an incredibly intricate and druzy-filled Moctezuma Agate necklace with a free-swinging bail and a bevy of sterling granules tucked inside the agate. It is stunning and rare and will be in the shop today!
Tomorrow morning I will ship out my last orders and we will hit the open road to Northern California ( eeek!) I have set my sights on Petaluma, a little town filled with bungalows and yoga studios with a huge weekly farmer's market and a much slower pace: I have been living in major cities ( NYC and LA ) since I graduated college ( from a sleepy town in Ohio, no less! ) and I really really really want some peace in my heart.

I think a little town ( but not too little! ) could help create a peaceful feeling. 

Cross your fingers for us :)

xo,

A

Opals on Sale

If you go to my Metal Shop you will discover two of the most expensive Opal items have been significantly reduced: happy shopping, Opal lovers :)

You will see them in the 'Sale' section of the shop right HERE

Enjoy!

Light of Heart

Dearest Sunday Drivers,

Today I got up and had the pleasure of going to Pilates where I got the chance to stretch my muscles and strengthen all the limbs I am lucky enough to use every day.

I had the company of amazing women who make me laugh and I even handed out a card or two for the Etsy stores, which is something I am normally very, very shy about!

I also had the happy luck to be able to photograph two rings I made last nigh in the midst of working on several custom orders in silver.

After Monday my custom orders in leather should be well under control and I'll be making some more things that are newer ideas: if Anthony and I move to the Bay Area there shall be no custom orders for come time until we get settled, etc. So much to think about these days!!!

The first ring I made yesterday is light of heart:

A beautiful red/orange vintage plastic cabochon, high domed and light as air because it is hollow on the inside of its thick plastic walls. It might seem silly to set something like that in a material as lovely as silver, but it made perfect sense: it is my Humor Ring. It is meant to remind the person who wears it to smile, laugh and find the lighter side of the heavy we all have so much of lately. It's also gorgeously big!!

The last ring I made is a Mexican Fire Opal with the most lovely rainbow fire in an arc tucked into its rhyolite matrix. The companion stone for the opal is a lovely dot of coral.

Interesting thing I've noticed in the pattern of creativity: there has to be some small level of 'pinch' before you have a string of uninterrupted creativity: It's something I have noticed more and more - there comes a moment after you've lain fallow for a little while where you kind of blow a little steam out of your ears with the need to MAKE.

I've felt that way this week.

And now I am making!!

Be restful of heart today if you can and know that you are all in my thoughts.

Some Circles For Your Noggin

Leather Barrettes in the Leather Shop

Before Sleep Comes

Just these notes about this amazing gig tonight before I fall face first into my comforter:

Wondrous. 

Stupendous.

72 attendees!

nearly thirty CDs sold.

ZOMG it was everything we ever ever ever do this for.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Golden Girls

Blue and Red

Bathing Beauties

Preparing for their debut later today in the Leather Shop!!

One for You aaaaaaaand One For Me!!

This gorgeous Orbicular Jasper ring will be in the shop in a few minutes. It is made for a smaller finger: I make so many middle sized rings: it is time for a wee 5.5 size ring.

This looks like a Monet painting, this gorgeous stone:

I also made something that I am most certain belongs to me: Moctezuma Agate from The Agate Works: their stones are a bit more pricey and worth every penny. Come to think of it, the Orbicular Jasper is from their shop, too!!

Here is Mine:

Filled with wee granules. I am in love with this bizarre and amazing stone.

I also got to make that Captain's Log I was telling you about: no sense not giving you a picture: this will sail across the ocean blue on the Tai Taki II!

Of Note

This has been a very very very interesting month.

Below is a list of what I know:

1. Heart palpitations are amazing and cause you to reprioritize everything. I have spent so many days over the last month with my hand over my chest crying and asking my body what it needs.

I tried acupuncture and it felt really good, but drinking the herbs I've been given seems to be exacerbating the problem. So: no more herbs. I will be trying a mostly raw diet with as little refined sugar as possible.

I have already lost three pounds alone from not eating as much dessert. Oh how I miss my ice cream with whipped cream nightly!!!

2. At the beginning of next week I will be on vacay for a few days while travelling to Northern California ( Bay Area!! ) to go see about a job with Anthony. I have been dreaming about a little bungalow with a front porch.... might my dream be closer than I thought?

3. Sometimes the USPS loses things and it makes me sad.

4. I will be moving the shipping prices of very expensive things ( over 100 ) to reflect insurance and Priority Mail w/ delivery confirmation, for a total of $7.00 shipping for luxury items. I cannot afford to lose something so precious!

5. There will be a very lovely ring in the Metal Shop today

6. There will be a great custom order in the Leather Shop today: one of my lovely buyers is sailing the high seas for some months and I got to make the Ship's Log book!!!! Wow was that fun.

7. Wednesday is the biggest gig of the year for me in Redlands: The Performance Loft. If you're in the vicinity I highly recommend you come and see: two full hours and some full band stuff: tons of duets, tons of love.

8. I adore you all: tell me what is making your day great ?!

Giant Banded Agate Ring

Yummy!!!

The Sick - I Has It

Blergh.

Peacock Feather Sun Goddess Heirloom Half Belt

HERE