Christmas Bells, those Christmas Bells

For my Aunt Eleanor who called each and every time Charlie Brown was on T.V. so Gabriel could watch it.  Whether it was Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day or Snoopy Come Home, we could count on Aunt Ele's phone call.  I miss those calls...

Thank you Aunt Ele.

xoxo

Gift Cards

Etsy started offering site-wide gift cards — purchase a gift card and you can use it in all shops that accept direct checkout (credit card payments without having to sign up).

Well if you’re still trying to figure out what to get those last few people on your list, get them an Etsy gift card! They can use it in the shop, and it gives the person who receives it the chance to pick out EXACTLY what they want - now how cool is that!! 

Finish up your holiday shopping by picking up a gift card here.

Kiss to build a dream on

 Whenever I hear this song it brings these pictures to mind...

Mary & Otto - Tyler, TX  (R.H. Martin & Sons truck in the background)

My Aunt Eleanor, mom & Aunt Ann - Tyler, TX

O.J. (Otto) DiMola - Tyler, TX

From what I understand, Mr. Rowan taught my grandfather the floor covering trade. He started out making $.50 can hour in 1945.  He moved his family [back home] to Ridgewood, NY, and in 1970 started his own business: "O.J. DiMola Floor Covering" 

...years later when I started my career in the fashion industry, he was very proud to tell me how he did all the floors in Mr. Bergdorfs home (of the retail chain Bergdorf Goodman) back in TX.

Soul of a hound

Not a day goes by that I don't think about Nanuk.

She would have been 14 today...

New ~ Chain S-T-R-E-T-C-H Bracelets

Part chain, part stone, shell or pearl & spikes and 100% bad-ass!  Something new I've been working for Summer 2012 into Fall and quite possibly next Spring/Summer too; edgy chain stretch bracelets.

Top: turquoise and spikes
Middle: pearl, spikes and whistle (yes! it's a working whistle)
Bottom: abalone (paua) shell & spikes

These are three of many available in the shop

I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to basics give away

Shooting Stars Necklace from MerCurios

In honor of getting back to our roots with the MerCurios jewelry collection, I've decided to give away one of these new Shoot Star Necklaces. The blue goldstone and puffy star pendant measure about 2.75" long and hangs from 20 inches of silver plated chain.

Goldstone is made in a lab by mixing glass and copper.  Although it's man made, the metaphysical properties of goldstone are not diminished.  Goldstone represents luck and prosperity, as well helping to align the base and sacral chakras.  Personally, I just love the way it sparkles.

UPDATE July 17: simply leave a comment below to enter, no need to make any kind of guess.

To enter to win one of these Shooting Star necklaces, simply visit the listing here and then leave a comment to this post with your guess as to how we are getting back to our roots.  Here's a hint: It's all in the copy.  

Good Luck and Have fun!! 

Be sure to leave your email so I can reach you should lady luck fortune you!

One winner will be chosen on July 20.

This is open to international and domestic readers.

Please only comment once and be aware that I have to moderate my comments (we get so may spam comments!), so it will not show up automatically.

I would be forever grateful if you would 'like' our Facebook Fan page here.

Thank you, always.

Just Sleeping

May 26, 2012

I dreamed about Nanuk last night... 

She and I were walking in the neighborhood.  We stopped to rest on a curb on some green grass under a tree.  She was curled up next to me and I could tell she was tired.  A man walked by and stopped.  He was dark skin and well dressed in a casual sort of way - a deep red or burgundy polo shirt and light khakis.  He looked down at Nanuk and said: "she's so beautiful".  I replied: "you can see her?, she died".  To which he replied, petting her slowly and softly: "of course I can see her  ...She's not dead, she's just sleeping."

It is now June 21 and nearly a month has passed since I had this dream.  I find so much comfort in it that I needed to share it, hoping others will find comfort in it too...

xo,
MJ

Side by Side

Getting great jewelry shots has always been a challenge.  Just when I think I figured out the camera, and the lighting, and I think my pictures are mint; something changes and I'm back to square 1.

While I know the images are horribly close - Picnik actually cropped the sides for the collage - in your opinion, which photo is better -- left or right?

In other words, if you were shopping which background would catch your eye?  The crisper, catalog white picture on the left ~or~ the softer image on the right? 

Both pictures are actually one in the same. The one on the right is modified using only the "auto fix" function on Picnik.  Both the color and exposure levels were edited in the picture on the left.  I've always been partial to the stark white background, however, I'm wondering if it's time for a change...

Perfecting pictures is definitely an ongoing process and I welcome all opinions, suggestions and otherwise.

xo,

MJ

Etsy Success: Taking Mini-Risks

Our "Life Rewards the Risk Taker" Double Ring as seen in the Etsy Success email.

Etsy Weddings: Rock On

Our "Alternative Rock & Roll Wedding Ring" as seen in Etsy Weddings.

In the works - Studs & Spikes

Truth be told, I am a supply hoarder.  I buys lots of stuff all the time - sometimes I know what I'm going to do with a particular item - other times I see it and just "have to have it".  

That's the story behind this chain.  Believe it or not, I purchased it two years ago while on a buying trip.  It was just one of those items that I just had to have.  I didn't know what I was going to do with it - especially at almost $15 a foot wholesale!  I just knew that I wanted needed it.

Well, two years later this studded spike bracelet and flexible spike ring were born.  I'm so in love with these pieces and hope you are too.  

I need to get in touch with the manufacturer to see if that chain is still available (finger crossed!).  If not, you are looking at a limited edition of three bracelets and perhaps two rings.  Oh well, this is what happens when you sit on supplies. 

Are you a supply hoarder? I'd love any and all feedback.  Please share your tips, tricks, etc... in the comments section below.

xoxo

Sneak Peek - Dipped Arrows

There are lots of ideas swimming around in my head right now.  This just happened to the be one that was screaming the loudest - "Dipped Arrows".


These are obsidian arrow heads that I have dipped in brass to give them new life.  Now if you are familiar with my work at all, then you know that I go where inspiration takes me. As a result, everything is pretty much one-of-a-kind or very limited runs -- 5 piece tops.


However, that's all about to change with this.  I'm definitely thinking the brass dipped arrows need to be a "Collection" of sorts -- a bracelet, a necklace, and a ring. I'm still toying with ring design ideas, and believe simplicity will be best in this instance, but who knows...