Winged Soul Love Clutch

In between this glorious, deeply tooled leather wingspan is a white quartz cabochon of considerable size, representing the soul in love.

Flying through even the heaviest of moments with relative ease, this is a soul in good company.

On the back, a soaring heart; an excellent traveling companion if there ever was one.

Deep cuts, muscles tired from beveling.... over fifty rivets firmly holding the lining.

And ohhhhh the lining: edges hand-frayed which is becoming a signature for my clutches, the lining is a truly vintage fabric featuring swirls of exuberant colors and Hawaii's energy coursing through its cotton veins.

Nearly 13 inches long, 5 inches tall and 2 inches wide: this will hold everything you need for a night out or a lunch with the ladies.

Warning: you will receive complements and they will be many.

In the Leather Shop later today.

To Be Loved Like That

The other night Anthony and I were talking in bed, me with my head on his chest, his arms around my back...

I remembered thinking, "You have to let a love like this IN..." and so I opened my heart and felt the full weight of what it is to love him fully in one moment:

it was so beautiful and big that it was painful.

Sometimes love so huge makes you want an impossible guarantee:

I want God to give me a contract stating without any stipulations that Anthony and I will live long lives together and when we're 101 on a warm summer night we'll pass away in our sleep simultaneously.

Hand in hand, flying on our way to the Great Adventure above.

I really wish that contract existed somewhere.

I would like similar contracts drawn up for my parents, my sister and her husband and all of my friends... love is a brave endeavor and truly (I believe this with all my soul) the purpose of life itself.

To Love.

That moment with my Beloved Husband inspired the design for an extra-long clutch:

In between the two gorgeous wings will be a white quartz cabochon, set in sterling and stitched into the leather with care.

The back - a soaring heart!

And ooohhhhhhh the lining: you may recall this pattern from a Hawaii blog post where I picked up the fabric from a fabulous vintage shop on our honeymoon...

This design felt like the right time to finally use it, considering how much it makes me think of the man I was with when I purchased it:

my Anthony, my Schmilly....

On April 9th we will celebrate the fourth anniversary of our first date and I am thrilled and honored to say that I love him more than I could ever have imagined- and that I am still IN love with him in a schoolgirl-like way, complete with butterflies in my belly.

his incredible presence has been the most marvelous surprise of my life.

Up Up Up!!!

Sprout forth from the earth, little sterling shoot!!

You were born of the richdeeptawnybrown earth of an incredible tigereye... lush in its shocking chatoyance, generous in its monochrome rainbow from toffee to dark chestnut...

It is so luminous that perhaps it caught a bit of sun inside its sizable heart and never let go.

And you, my sweet sprout, will be worn by a vivacious, elegant woman with a patch of dirt in her backyard and creative seedlings in her heart.

VIVA LA SPRING!!!!!

Freshly planted in the Metal Shop this evening.

Pearls in Fire Canyon

Oh, my dear.... it is time to dive.

You can think of it any way you'd like: pretend it's like snorkeling, like jumping from that rock ledge into the waterfall... anything you can use to make it easier will make it easier in the long run....

The truth of the matter is that you're being required to grow into a bigger version of yourself, the self you always knew you could be:

tougher

more compassionate

rich in patience

persistent

and

stamina...

But here's the thing, Lovely Woman: it requires you dive into Fire Canyon to retrieve the pearls of wisdom and knowledge.

Oh, my sweet Girl it's going to burn, it's going to hurt and there are going to be days where you are convinced that your only option is to give up as though it were your profession

BUT

you won't. 

You will walk through those moments with as much grace as you will allow as your guide and a sense of adventure for your future and your path

for you see,

as much as it will burn and cause you to grit your teeth over the pain, it will bring joys bigger and wider than any you have ever experienced.

The cruelty you suffer at the hands of others

.

The slings and arrows of fortune, outrageous or otherwise

.

The moments of pouring sweat on a determine brow

.

.......

These are the moments that will give you a heart big enough to forgive your detractors, a soul wide enough to weather any storm and a constitution strong enough to climb anything you've set your goals upon....

So descend the crystal spires and reach down beyond all the pain and frustration

and you'll find in your hand

two pearls:

.

wisdom

.

knowledge

and you'll find in your heart there will be a third:

wild, sweet courage.

Pearls in Fire Canyon Necklace in the Metal Shop tomorrow morning, inspired by the deepest, most crystalline druzy I've ever seen and all of my most amazing friends in the midst of big big big

challenge.

I promise it's worth it.

Day 23

xoxoxoxox,

Allison

Climb

I went out to get coffee this morning with a dear friend whose husband is leaving her and her two boys.

In spite of the sadness of the situation, she looked beautiful: grounded and dewy despite -or- maybe even because of the grieving.

I am so proud of her, so at a loss for words and so I listened with my whole heart.

I came home and suddenly the boxes, the fear of upheaval and the unknown all felt like dear friends to whom I should acquaint myself often and openly:

we never known when we might be the ones to climb.

this is not ominous:

this is

life

for us.

Rich with dips and curves that don't show on any maps we may purchase...

Epic and yet completely pedestrian in its normalcy...

Remember today: everyone with whom you are interacting has a mountain that they are in the process of climbing: none of us are exempt...

so hug a little tighter

forgive a little more readily

and laugh at all the silly things that you can find embedded in your day

flex your feet

stretch your arms over your head

and climb.

The Climb ring is set around an incredible cabochon of pyrite and quartz, the natural curve and rough edges of the pyrite evident and proudly emulating a larger mountain.

Size 8.25 and in the Metal Shop tonight.

Free Shipping!!

Free Shipping on everything in the Metal Shop for this whole week - 3/12 - 3/19

Enjoy!

(refund given through paypal after purchase.)

Lovebirds Deluxe

She has arrived!!!!

Two birds, forever joined with the symbol for modern love betwixt their adorable and multi-hued little heads...

Exuberant, scrolly love, the kind we all seek in our lives, whether it be with a mister, sister, a lover, a Deity, ourselves...

Big Love.

Generous love.

Lined to the gills with the softest suede, riveted until my hands bruised from pushing the weight of the press handle down hundreds and hundreds of times....

Riveting is the most solid construction I know, and this is built to last until there is nothing more to last in this world.... multigenerational heirloom material.

Made in the year 2010 by Sunny Rising Leather

Born of my mind

wrought by my hands

loved by my very soul.

In the Leather Shop tomorrow morning. It may be reserved already - we'll all see tomorrow!

xoxoxox,

Allison

Collaborations and Connections

I am sitting here munching on almond filled Chocolate (with a capital C!) from a dear new friend (thank you!), enjoying the feeling of deep satisfation that comes after a day of hard work.

Silver has been very patient with me lately: 

leather has taken most of my time with projects nearing completion and the near zeal that takes over in those moments.

First, the belt I am making as a part of a collaboration with my dearest Jillian:

Kelp, sea sponges, coral, sea grass and a luminous pearl are the features on this underwater belt: 

the plants are all reversed and doubled on the other side - each side leaning in towards the pearl that sits at the back center of the belt.

It is going to be so amazing to see the two pieces together when the belt is finished: belt and buckle, once ideas from separate brains now joined in camaraderie

and sisterhood.

It kind of feels like Christmas morning all over again!

Secondly, today has been simply RIVETING!!! (nyuck nyuck nyuck)

Literally, I have been putting hundreds of rivets on my Lovebirds Bag.

I cannot stop.

Every piece is lined in the softest suede, buttery and pale.

I know at this point it will be done by Friday or Monday at the very latest: it is a force of nature, demanding its own completion.

I hope your day was full of rewarding hard work and support all around you.

xoxoxoxox,

Allison

It's Complicated and also...Koi(!)

I am kind of all over the map today: please bear with my pre-moving self, for she is randomly grieving, celebrating, worrying and throwing caution to the wind at any given moment:

I do not claim responsibility for her written words!!

First order of business: the Leather Shop is receiving an update this afternoon: two new koi and a new customizable initial necklace!

The chain I used for the yellow Lucy koi? Thick and heavy and perfect, nickel-free cast brass, just the way I like it!

In the Soon to be Finished Long Term Projects folder is the Lovebirds Big Bag: do you remember this?

Well, it has become this!!!

And this!!! I love these two, and I love how they remind me to snuggle my Schmilly as often as possible.

I am really pulling to have this bag available before we move in the Leather Shop: it's going to be so joyous to behold: kelly green is the color of the soft leather that will make up part of the bag body.

It looks like spring!

.

.

Then there's the moving and the worrying and the stuff.

I am aching a bit over the changes that are upon us; watching your living space pile up with boxes has never done wonders for the psyche, methinks...

I will be taking a bunch of pieces out of the silver shop to put in some of my brick and mortar carrier stores, so if you love something, now would be the time to make it yours: quite a few pieces will be leaving.

That is really the general wash of my day. Today is day 18 in my yoga challenge, and I will be walking down the same lovely street

to do the same amazing poses

that have given me the one rock (besides the Anthony) that I am holding to in this time of upheaval.

Asanas.

Breath.

Focus.

Just writing those words is soothing.

Love to you all,

Allison

Day 16

Simplicity.

Mountain pose inside and out.

Gratitude and pure adoration -

 your emails and suggestions and convos were received and even though the moving and working process has not allowed me to respond to them I am overwhelmed in the best ways by their intent.

I am healing well :)

xoxoxoxoxox,

Allison

Day 13

Sciatica.

It blossomed red and angry at around 3:00 in the afternoon, a roadblock to a deeply productive day and the promise of a muscular, striving yoga class.

I know this condition to be partly emotional, partly pinch for me, and so I stretched and tried to lay off of it as much as possible, which was only partially successful, what with packing orders and such: I hurt.

That's the bottom line, and that is really OK -

let me repeat - I am ok with this pain:

it is a reminder and Heaven knows I truly love me some reminders.

My heart palpitations remind me to slow down, to look at a situation with calm eyes, to choose wisely and carefully what influences surround me.

My emotions remind me that far beneath their tempest of joy and confusion lies true calm, and I can find it even in the wildest chaos - it exists.

Tonight my sciatic nerve reminded me to take it easy: this was both amazing and deeply challenging....

while the other students swept gracefully from Warrior 1 to Warrior 2 to side angle pose I opted for pigeon stretches.... while others leapt forward as I usually do for sun salutations, I did a funny baby crab walk to the front of my mat.

I cried hot tears while my heart opened with deep compassion for the state of my body.

I was embarrassed.

I was deeply and reverently humbled by my newfound limitations.

I don't know if I've had a day in this journey yet that has been so awe inspiring...

 it is simply this: in our greatest vulnerability can be found our greatest opening, our most compassionate part.

Invaluable lessons are being taught by our bodies if we can only listen

well and truly take the knowledge

to heart.

Namaste with all my might,

Allisunny

Fly Away Home

It's been way too long since I have made a sterling peacock feather - I had to remedy that yesterday:

The prescription will be in The Metal Shop today!

A short note on leather: you may notice there has been such a small amount of pieces going into the shop: I have been working my way through a small mountain of custom orders and making bigger things, like clutches and bags:

I will no longer be taking custom orders in the leather shop effective immediately, and the same goes for the metal: there is simply not enough of me for all of everything and I have to honor my tired arms and my desire to make what is purely coming to mind:

like this: a super long clutch (15 inches) featuring two wings, an inlaid cabochon, soft cotton lining and a removable strap. 

Holy Lord of the Dance!!!!

xoxoxoxox,

Allison

Filled with Intention

Sometimes I like to pray over my silver work (I always do so with my leatherwork with respect to the animal involved): 

to fill a piece with some sort of intention for the soul who will be wearing it.... 

Yesterday I finished two pieces in progress and they are most assuredly packed with pure love and a specific series of thoughts.

The first is a Sunset Trinity ring in size 6.25: it features one cabochon each of rose quartz, coral and a very rustic, irregular and gemmy slice of rhodochrosite.

The overarching theme of this piece of jewelry is flight: two seagull silhouettes fly past the clouds and into the sun. The three stones are the vibrant clouds above the shore.

As I worked, I filled my heart with thoughts of love, soaring, giddiness and total self-reliance.

The first flight of a winged soul.

Next I worked on something a bit more visceral than my usual design:

It is modeled after pictures of the human nerve, and the small circles represent red blood cells: my inspiration was the blood red Carnelian and the unusual deep red Mexican Fire Opal.

The ring fits a size 10 finger and will be discounted: there is a small scratch on the opal which I noticed before I set it: every once in a while I prefer to make something that will be more affordable simply by being imperfect: everyone should be able to put a bit of beauty on their finger.

While I made this one I pictured a more muscular striving, a sense of bad-ass-ness that comes from rising time and time again out of the ashes of despair.

It represents the inner workings of our hearts and our emotions, constantly changing and 

growing supple and stout.

It is for a human Phoenix.

Both of these pieces will be in the Metal Shop today...

I don't know if I've told you lately quite how much you mean to me: the love and friendship you have shown me are so important - as I prepare to move again and delve into the loneliness that entails, I know I am never truly without friends - you are far away, yet as close as a mouse click.

Thank you for touching my life and letting me be a part of yours!

xoxoxoxo,

Allison

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In the Metal Shop Now!