Significance

The end of the year always brings more reflection for me. I like to look back and mentally note how far I've come. The challenges I've faced, the hurdles I've overcome, and the victories I've celebrated.

2014

My personal life had some major, life altering, almost life shattering events. Things I will carry with me for the rest of my days, and situations that changed me to the core.

Maybe changed is the wrong word.
More, solidified my outlook.

I've always known life is too short.
We all do.

We never know what the next year,
or day
or hour
or minute will bring.

This year made all of that so much more real.

I'm done saying "life is short."

This phrase, it's not just words.
It's not something to say when life gets you down.
It's not something to think when you're at your wits end.

No.
"Life is too short" is a verb.
It's a thought process.
It's a way of life.

I choose to live with no regrets.
I choose to live "life is too short."

__

On the business front, last year brought the skills and knowledge I need to be successful.
I took time to develop, to become this person, this artist.
Now I'm all polished up and ready to shine.

Looking back remembering where I was, and how much I've grown and changed.
I feel proud.
I feel accomplished.

As a small business, sometimes it's hard to recognize where you've come. There's no one to pat you on the back or  hand you a bonus for your hard work. Celebrating the victories can get pushed to the side.

Ultimately I can say that I've run a successful business for over 4 years.
Something I built with my own 2 hands, my head, and mostly my heart and soul.

I'm so thankful for what I have,
my job,
what I do.

This work, it's heaven.

____

2015

Next year I really hope to put my new skills to good use. To make choices that are significant, and important, and to forget the rest. Leave it on the table.

2015, I'm ready for you! Bring it!

____

JUST A LITTLE CLEANUP.

ITEM 1:
There are so many ideas I have for the new year. I'm working on pieces behind the scenes that I just can't wait to show you. In the mean time, I'm clearing out space for them in the shop by having a huge CLEARANCE SALE! The items are already marked down in price. Somethings as much as $40-$50 off! Get them before it's too late!

Shop here. 

ITEM 2:
With the changes Facebook has made over the last few years, it's no longer feasible to do free shipping for Facebook fans. This will end as of January 1st, 2015.

I do appreciate you all so much, and I'll instead be looking to put this money back to you with better pricing, more giveaways, and more!

♥ Carin

Stack It Up

I'd love to stay and chat today. I have so much on my mind. 

But unfortunately, I have more on my plate. 

Christmas crazy has taken over the studio. Tis the season for stacks of orders, coffee soaked bellies, and sleepy eyes. 

I'll have to wait to share more with you. 

_____

For now, I couldn't help but post this amazing necklace I just listed. 

A thick slice of elk antler was topped off with a stunning Peacock Mine turquoise cabochon. 

I love how the 2 layer together and play off each other. 

These two pieces were made for each other. The exact shape and size to compliment one another, but not overwhelm. 

I hung 2 sterling silver feathers which have been pressed with an actual feather impression. 

The back is adorned with a howling wolf silhouette. 

Available here. 

BLACK FRIDAY - CYBER MONDAY SALE

Jonesing for Jewelry shop here.

J4JCharm shop here. 

Cultivate Positivity

Many of you read my recent post about continuing to swim, despite the challenges, working hard and never giving up.

I feel like I've continued to choose to not give up, but having a hard time making any real progress.

I have been putting the effort in.
It's never been about the effort.

It's about the rewards and what is being produced from all the effort. That is where my frustration lies.

In the past, a little effort has pushed the a business a long way. Right now it feels more like sprinting on a treadmill. No matter how much effort I put in, I'm not going anywhere.

So last week I spent some time wondering how I can be more productive. See more rewards with the same amount of effort.

As always, nature had the answer.

Recently, I've been letting such negative energy enter my space. Negative thoughts about myself and my abilities.
Words and ideas that are far too harsh for anyone to be having.

And then I realized, when a seed is planted in such harsh, infertile ground very little will grow.
Just like poor soil, I was planting my ideas and putting all my energy into growing in a bad pasture.
My negative energy and thoughts were smothering any good ideas I was having. And no matter how much energy I was putting in, now matter how hard I was trying, growing something in that type of environment rarely reaps rewards.

To benefit from a bountiful harvest, I needed to be planting my seeds in a nutrient rich and fertile ground. Planting here, will set me up for success. My energy and effort will not be wasted, and the chances of growing something beautiful surrounded by good and positive energy are astounding.

And so I cleaned....
... literally and figuratively.

I spent the weekend in my studio cleaning and organizing every square inch. Getting rid of any unwanted or old stuff that I no longer use, and made a ton of space for new work and tools.  Now when an idea comes, I can be much more productive.

In the same way, I gave myself some breathing room.
I cleared out all the negative thoughts and energy I was having.
I gave each idea one last glance, and then let them go.

 By clearing out old baggage, I cultivated space for new things.
New life, new ideas, new positive energy.

These earrings were born from this idea.

Large hoop like earrings. I resisted the urge to fill the void in the middle with anything.

You may see an empty hole in the middle,
but I see space for goodness to be planted. 

May you too clear out any negative energy, and only make room for good. 

Cultivate positivity.

Earrings available here. 

♥ Carin

Shop Small

I'm joining the bandwagon to get the word out about shopping small!

Every gift you buy this holiday season is really 2.  The obvious, the person you are gifting the item to, but there is a less noticeable first one. That is to the person you are buying from. 

Every purchase you make from an artist or small business is like a little present for them. The money and support is directly used to pay their bills and put food on the table. 

The alternative, buying from a big corporation is like giving a present to someone on Santa's extremely naughty list. Even the jolly old man himself would only give them coal.

So make the decision.

Join the movement.

Make the effort. 

Happy Holidays.

♥ Carin

And So It Goes

Just as I'm feeling down.

Just as I feel as though I have nothing left to give. 

Just as I'm ready to give up.

My eyes shoot open. Acutely aware of my surroundings. 

My senses grow keener. 

My ideas snap into focus and are no longer clouded by the haze of self doubt. 

And once again, I find myself stumbling out of bed in the middle of the night. 

Drowsy, but too excited to sleep. 

Again, I pull on warm clothes while half running down our dark hallway. 

I have to create. The urge is here. 

I have to take advantage of it. 

As the house sleeps, I work. 

Saw

Bend

Solder

Polish

Set

Finish

And she is born.

This one of a kind piece can be found in my here.

________________________

On a side note, I've been working diligently for the past few months on my photography. 

You  may have noticed my product photography change.

New skills bring new inspiration.

I have lots of plans for this other wonderful work in the future, but for now, I've created a way to share it with you! 

I've created a Flickr page where you'll find some sick shots I've taken here and there, and I've sprinkled in a few bits of my metal work too. 

I've also created easier ways to get there in that column over there ---->>>>

You'll now find a Flickr button AND a button to my YouTube stop action video. 

Enjoy! 

♥  Carin

Gus

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Gus. 

I don't think I need to say much more. 

Photo courtesy of S. McCaffery

♥ Carin

To Sink or To Swim //

My whole life, creativity has been on the sidelines. 

Not even the sidelines, the water boy.

It was always a small part of my team, but I never had the confidence to make it a major player. 

I remember facing my college years, and wondering where to go.

On one side of me, I had a love for the earth, for nature, for biology. 

I always have and I always will.

On the other side of me, I had this urge to create. To make things and be artistic. 

I stood at the top of the stairwell, on the Northern Arizona campus, and looked down on the art department. I shook as I slowly walked down the stairs. 

I wondered if I was good enough. Because art was always on the sidelines, I never made the effort to develop my skills or abilities. I couldn't draw. I could barely take a picture. 

What the heck was I doing there? 

Could I hack it? 

After my 30 minute tour I felt alive. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of that. Whatever magic was happening there. Where students were making, and building, and bringing to life wonderful things. 

But instead I ran.

The story goes that I let the self doubt take over. 

I choose a biology degree over art thinking I would go into medicine or some other well known career. 

I loved bio. I loved studying it and learning. I still do. 

But it wasn't enough. It will never be enough. 

I was looking for more.

A part of me wasn't fulfilled. 

I wasn't happy. 

After a few failed attempts in the biology field. I realized art and making was missing.

I had to let my creativity be a major player.

It demanded it. 

And so I changed life paths. I dropped the biology craze and I started the jewelry business. 

I was happy.

Just a few weeks ago, I sat down with a friend. And I told her, I know what I'm supposed to be when I grow up. 

I'm a maker.

Plain and simple. A short, but powerful word. I am supposed to bring beauty in this world. In whatever form it may bring at the time. 

I need to work with my hands.

With my heart.

With my soul.

To produce... 

anything and everything.

But this career path isn't for everyone. In many ways, the stable life of a surgeon would have been much simpler.

Easier. 

There are days when I feel as though I'm back looking at colleges and wondering if I can make it in this artistic world.

There are days where I'll put my everything into a piece and it still not be good enough.

So here I stand, on the verge of letting the doubt take over once again.

Looking for an easy way out.

And I ask myself,

"Will I sink? or will I swim?"

I CHOOSE TO SWIM. 

I CHOOSE TO SWIM.

I CHOOSE TO SWIM.

Every time. 

I will not give up.

I will push harder.

I will dig deeper.

I will do whatever it takes.

This is me.

I am a maker.

May you too, choose to swim when an unfriendly current comes your way. 

Be true to yourself. 

Stand your ground.

And swim.

Items available here. 

♥  Carin

Mandala Monday

♥ Carin

Life is Always Preserved //

I woke up in the middle of the night with a faint idea in my head. 

My best ideas always seem to arise when I'm sleepy. 

A blurry image of a circle of life. A basic idea introduced in elementary school, but the details of the concept are also very complex. My dreamy mind can barely wrap my head around it.

As I come into consciousness, the idea develops. A predators and prey. A wolf, the top most predator of the forest and his prey. 

As I blink my eyes open a few times, the desire to create it grows stronger and more details be come clear. 

The layout and final images appear before me. 

I know I can't ignore the pull. I must answer it's call.

My body is tired, but it surrenders to the creative spirit. 

I'm out of bed now, and find myself bundling up as I head down to the studio. Toting with me nourishment and tea. 

As I saw away I find my mind drifting back. To my childhood, to my young adulthood. 

I was always terrified of death. Something about the loss of life. The last few moments, and the finality of being. Death always tortured me. Friends, pets, wildlife that have passed flashed before my eyes. 

I feel my shoulder stoop lower. 

My posture loosen.

My head hang. 

I am consumed by the death before me. 

As I continue sawing rabbit, then hawk, then wolf, I came to an epic realization.

IN THE SANCTITY OF NATURE,

LIFE IS ALWAYS PRESERVED.

No matter the prey, the being is providing life to the next. An energy transfer if you will. The life itself cannot be taken. It cannot be created nor destroyed in this moment. 

Instead one soul feeds the next. 

No small drop, no tiny piece is forgotten. All is used in nature.

Consumed by a predator or detritivore. 

As life pours from one being to the next, no drops are lost. 

And that is beautiful. 

Wall hanging available here. 

♥ Carin

A Northwest Nature Moment

I get a lot of crazy ideas. 

Most of them never work out.

But some do. 

If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably noticed these amazing nature inspired almost mandala pictures. I've been really into creating them. I'm loving every aspect of them, from collecting the elements to setting them up to photographing them.

The emotional release of the imagery is almost cathartic. 

Recently I got one of my crazy ideas. 

To video the set up, stop-motion style. 

Not only did it work, but the idea grew into something so much more amazing than I could have ever hoped for. 

I got the opportunity to include work from an amazing, local singer/songwriter. We've been admiring each other's work for years, and this opportunity to include Allison Preisinger's work couldn't be passed up. 

I hope you love it! 

 ♥  Carin

From The Bench

The bench has been keeping me so busy these days. 

My inspiration cup is overflowing and it seems that all the coffee in the world wouldn't be enough right now. I'd love to stay and chat with you, but at times like this, I have to keep moving, keep working in hopes that I get it all out before I lose focus. 

Here's a few things I've posted over the last few days. Stay tuned because there is more to come! 

Shop here. 

♥ Carin

Earn Your Wings

Proud doesn't begin to describe how I felt the past few days.

About a week ago, as we approached Kaleb's 7th birthday, I asked him what his goals were, what he wanted to be when he grew up, anything he wanted to accomplish over the next year.

His immediate response was, "I want to parachute."

And so, because we will do anything to make his dreams come true, we took him indoor skydiving.

He was the youngest one there by far, yet his fearlessness put him years beyond anyone in his group. I was amazed by his ability to go with the flow, follow instructions, and do something new on his own. 

As a parent, you hope that they flourish in this crazy life. The things I've seen from him in the past few weeks have blown me away. He'll go so far, and I'm so grateful to be able to stand by him on this journey.

Here's a few shots of my little champ flying. 

 ♥ Carin

Home

I've been eyeing a new cameral lens for awhile now. Pondering the exact right one to get. Taking lots of pictures everywhere I go, and experimenting with what I wish my current lenses were capable of doing. 

A few weeks ago I narrowed down my choice to the Tamron 17-50 2.8  

For those of you that are newer to the photography field, this lens is very similar to the lens that comes with the purchase of your camera body, called the kit lens. 

It is heavily debated if purchasing the lens is worth it considering their similarities. However for me, it's the idea of purchasing canned peaches vs. driving to Eastern Washington and picking them fresh during their  peak. No doubt in my mind, the quality and sharpness of the new lens was so worth it. 

I'm so lucky to live in such a beautiful place, that as soon as the mail man delivered it, I ran out to snag these shots. 

The inspiration around me is so saturated with beauty, color, and form. I can't wait to bring this back to the studio!

♥ Carin

To My Son //

He was born.

I blinked.

And now he's 7. 

I can't believe it. I'm not just saying that because that's what parents do. No, deep down inside me, way down in the tips of my toes, and deep inside my belly, I can't believe it.

He's so big. He's grown so much. He's changed so fast. How did that happen? Where did the time go? 

7 feels so different than 6 did. 

It's no longer, "don't touch that," "don't put that in your mouth," or "don't climb that." 

The parenting is different. He's so smart. He knows so much.

He's got an opinion now. A mind of his own. 

I thought the terrible 2's (or 3's as it was in our case) was hard, but seems harder in a much different way. Now I can't just say "because I say so." 

He wants to know the hows and the whys and most importantly, the why nots. 

He asks questions I can't answer.

He does things I can't do.

He's growing up.

I'm thankful to say, that he's turning into quite the boy. I could brag for days, but basically he's the best. He's smart, and witty. 

He's generous and kind.

He's so inquisitive.

He loves to learn about anything and everything. 

He's got big ideas, and his goals, oh his goals are so magnificent.

Yesterday I asked him what one of the goals he wanted to accomplish in his seventh year of life. 

He said, "I want to parachute." 

He doesn't know it yet, but Saturday we're taking him skydiving (ok, ok, indoor skydiving, but it's what you can do at 7) because we'll do anything to make his dreams come true. 

BIGGEST BESTEST HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST WONDERFUL, AWESOMEST, RADICAL DUDE THAT I WILL EVER HAVE THE PLEASURE OF CALLING MY SON.

I love you.

 ♥ Mommy

Under the Same Moon //

We rise up from this Earth, from ashes which meld together. They combine effortlessly as they have done so many times before. Dancing and intertwining, the molecules bond with one another fitting like puzzle pieces. Eventually taking the physical shape of our human selves. We are all all made from the same dust. Those that have come before us, and those that are still to come. We are all particles of the same stars that exploded long ago. 

What makes us unique is how we live our days on this Earth. Our spiritual selves, our souls, our minds. What we think and how we feel. How we interact, and how we impact those around us. 

Our spiritual selves allow us to become more than just our bodies. We become sons and daughters, friends and lovers, parents and grandparents. We are now capable of feeling emotions. Hope and despair, courage and bravery.

But the biggest of all is love, and therefore loss. 

All of us have felt it. Maybe it's a soul gone away briefly. 

Maybe it's someone you've lost forever.

For me, I find peace in knowing that all the special souls that have impacted my life over the years, each and everyone of them, are still with me today. 

We will always and forever be on this Earth. We will always look up at the same moon at night. Wish upon the same stars. And, when our souls leave our bodies our physical form will return to the dust from which it came. The energy released to something else. 

Will will always be here. Always be together. United forever UNDER THE SAME MOON. 

Items available for purchase until sold here.

♥ Carin