The Jackpot

I haven't won the lottery. It is hard to if you don't play. (Let us just pause here for a moment and imagine what I would do with 60 million dollars. Would I continue working? I would like to think so. Maybe just doing whatever I wanted, crazy, expensive, time consuming projects that probably wouldn't sell! But that would be fine, because I would be swimming in money, Scrooge McDuck style. Maybe I would go back to school (glutton for punishment?) and get a degree in art history and maybe one in literature, or history, or radical feminist theory? Or perhaps I would buy a vineyard and spend my days among the vines, steadily getting fatter and fatter on a diet of fine goat cheeses and tender French bâtard? Well, I know that I would like fund a scholarship at a women's college (or maybe high school?!?). Can you imagine how fun it would be to read the application essays?! Especially while I'm sipping on wine from my own vineyard?! But maybe I would just bake cupcakes all day long. And on the days that I didn't bake cupcakes, I would do all the yoga that I could ever want at all of the expensive yoga studios in town.)

Okay. Enough of that. Please feel free to fantasize about how you would spend your 60mil in the comments section. I find it fascinating what people would do.

So, no, I didn't win the lottery, but I did hit the jackpot with this here book:

Please ignore the cheesy 80's style cover (check out that pyramid in the center!). I love it that it looks so much like a textbook! Concepts and technology! It's a real goldmine (har har!) for the relentless jeweler who loooooves to slog through things like this on her lunch break:

(yeah yeah!)

Thus far I have made it through filigree. Remember that I am planning on making some little filigree pieces for a wedding necklace? I figured I had better read up a bit on the finer points of filigree construction before letting myself loose at the bench. I knew the basic idea, but now I REALLY know. This is the most instructive book I've found. (Tim McCreight's The Complete Metalsmith is a total joke compared to this book. Sorry, Tim.) I really feel like I can go out and do filigree after reading the filigree chapter. It was very thorough (am I the only person who can't spell thorough? Other toughies: necessary, beginning, and accommodate) and as far as I can tell it is worth every last expensive penny that it cost. Can't wait to read the the section on granulation!

No Post, Just Pugs

Oh the joys of newly shorn head!

(I'm a bit of a ham...)

Bold move, I know, since I will be wearing a pretty-pretty-princess dress at my upcoming wedding, but I just couldn't stand my long hair any more. And since I've had this haircut for the majority of my life since I was in the second grade, I just feel that is more authentically me. I would rather get married looking like myself (even if it will look slightly ridiculous with a big fairy dress), than have hair that doesn't suit me. I should be married as myself, not some hair-sprayed be-lipsticked version. (Not that there is anything wrong with lipstick and/or hairspray.)

What have I been up to in the studio? Well, the wedding rush is upon me and it is only March.

I have to admit, I have the most awesome job in the world. Sure, sometimes I am tired and my back hurts from sitting hunched over some project...or I feel that I just can't deal with answering any more emails...

But then I look down at my sweet little studio from my perch in the loft, and I just feel so incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to make things. And to define my life however I want to. To keep my own hours, and to have the work of my hands and brain benefit me; I'm so thankful that I'm not working to line the pockets of the people who own the company. I love working for myself, I can't imagine working for someone else. I have the chance to explore my own interests (which happen to revolve around jewelry and art in general...luckily enough!) and follow my own pursuits. Many (most?) people don't get to do this, and I am lucky. Extremely lucky. (I also don't think I could take orders from someone else (5 years in the Navy taught me this) so it is probably for the best all around that I take orders only from myself!).

And I get the chance to make beautiful, meaningful things. How sweet is that? I know (or at least I am fairly confident...fingers crossed!) that when the little black box is opened, happiness comes out of it! That people are reminded of those that they love when they look down at their hands. And I MADE that thing that reminds them! It's a great job, and when I'm feeling worn down about my work I need to think about that.

Have a wonderful weekend!