Coming Up...

EDIT: floored -

everything sold.

When my work finds its intended keeper it feels so good inside my heart

like the quiet beauty of a walk on a silent and snowy night (Ah, Tahoe....)

I hope you can feel my gratitude.

Your support of my work is a prayer heard and answered

and helps me feed and house my family.

Thank you

so

much.

xo,

Sunny

+

4 custom order listings...

SOLD OUT

HERE

.

Xoxo,

S

The cast

January's offerings are nearing

completion...

A double-wing handbag in the loveliest periwinkle

with double scalloped edges and beautiful details everywhere.

I am really really really excited to share her with you:

she's a beauty.

fancy-ness abounds

and once these are finished and listed

I will be offering four custom slots in the 

metal shop

and then my fields shall lay a bit fallow.

On the bench are a myriad of turquoise earrings slowly being built with love and care....

the 21 days of reset are upon us in a little while!!

Please forgive the random nature of this post, I had black tea this morning and I've forgotten the humina-humina that comes when there is caffeine singing in the blood.

xoxo,

Sunny

A Feathered Waist

It is said every year, "This is the time. I am going to begin ________ now."

for some it sticks and becomes habit, for others it remains a dangling carrot that grinds the teeth down and unsettles the sleep.

If only we could get just ahead of it, there'd be time

there'd be the possibility of anchoring firmly into that juicy thing

we so want.

This belt is a magic charm

with two feathers

and a rich piece of Nevada turquoise

intended to propel you far enough ahead of that dream

to head it off at the pass

and wrap your arms around its width

shouting, "MINE!"

at the top of your beautiful lungs.

27 inches long from ring tip to ring tip,

the half-belt is meant to be threaded with a vintage scarf or sturdy ribbon.

the punching and stitching and tooling and painting and lining and edge work is all done by hand and with a tremendous amount of love.

Turquoise for grounding

feathers for flight

mandalas for prayerful living

and scalloped edges for femininity.

May it be yours

may you be bold in this new year

and righteous in your ways

more and more with each passing moment

 a part of the order of things

created by love

united by openness

and perfumed

by the burning passion

of faith.

May it be so.

xoxo,

Sunny

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