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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

Abundance //

I can barely hear my thoughts.

It's so loud now. 

It's hard to hear anything but the rain drumming down on the rich green earth, as I sit on my porch sipping tea. 

Millions of tiny drops, each with their own unique sound. As they pitter patter away, they meld together like a choir singing its most powerful ballad.

The noise is deafening, but beautiful. 

I'm focused on the rain now, as the wind blows a few stray drops towards me. Several of them landing on my uncovered face. 

They are colder than I expect. Piercing my skin with their frigidness, a foreshadowing of the winter to come. 

With no other distractions, I let myself sink into the rain, into the noise.  I notice subtleties about the day. It's fresh scent and the dampness of the air around me. 

I'm reminded of all the good the rain brings. 

How plentiful it is this time of year. 

The streams are rushing now.

The valleys splashing in mud.

The mountain tops getting their first blanket of crisp white snow.

It makes me happy to know there is an ample amount to go around.

Everything is prospering in it's glory.

And I think to myself, what a life it is to have and abundance of resources. 

Enough to prosper, but not in excess.

Enough to grow into your fullest, but not enough to spoil on the riches. 

What would the world be like? 

Would we see less loss? 

Less heartache? 

Maybe I'll know one day, but for now, I'll settle for a good rain, and the rest of my tea.

These one of a kind items are available in the here until sold.

♥ Carin

Yellowstone //

Thought I might share with you an amazing custom piece I just finished. It was such an honor to be able to make this piece in honor of her love of Yellowstone. 

Such a beautiful, magnificent place. Such a wonderful person. 

I hope I did both of them justice with this piece. 

♥ Carin

Introspection //

There is a place inside you.... A place inside all of us. 

It's beautiful and mysterious. Only the bravest of us will ever get to see it and behold it's grandeur. 

The journey there can be frightening. There is no road, no path, and it's frequently dimly lit if not pitch black.   But in your heart, you know the risk is worth it. The payoff will be big.

Some people call this place, this thing, your soul while some prefer your true self. No matter the vocabulary, it is special.

Only you have a key. 

With no light to guide you, the journey seems impossible.  

The first steps are taken with caution. You stumble along the rocky landscape, and frequently you find the terrain too hard to manage. The steep slopes and sharp drops feel unconquerable.  So you search for a path to walk on, a place someone else has been. 

You find a place where the grass is slightly trampled, maybe there is even a trail. Your steps seem smoother now, it seems easier to manage. 

Your pace quickens.

Although you start to feel refreshed and rejuvenated with the new terrains, this feeling is temporary. An overwhelming sense of tired washes over you. 

After a few more steps, you realize you've been walking someone else's path. It did seem easier at first, but becoming someone else's true self will never quite fit. 

The journey will be harder, but you make the conscience choice to go back to finding your own way.  In the end it will be worth it.

Sometimes your soul is one needle in a whole forest. You might pick up 1,000 needles thinking it's the one. 

It can take days

months

years,

 some people give up before they find it. 

But you know it's not about the timeline. It's about the journey and the reward.

You are courageous.

Tenacious.

You will get there. 

____

 These pieces are glimpse into my soul. With no plan or layout, I let my hands work and my heart guide me. 

A snapshot of my true, authentic self. 

Misshapen circles, as I myself am always a little asymmetrical and different.

A thicker design for my depth, strength, and heightened awareness. 

Gold leafing showing my ability for continuous growth and change.

Perfect white pearls for clarity and truth.

Serious texture and dimension conveying the chaotic, passionate and creative being I am.

Plus overall beauty.

We are all beautiful.

You are beautiful.

♥ Carin

You can shop this jewelry here. 

And the Winner Is //

Thank you so much everyone for entering the contest! I'm so happy that I'm able to send some good energy your way, and hopefully perk your day up a little!  You guys do so much for me and my family that it's good to be able to return the favor. 

Without further ado... 

THE WINNER OF THE OCEAN JASPER NECKLACE IS: NICHOLE UNGER

THE WINNER OF THE $50 J4JCHARM ITEM IS: KRISTI FISCHER

Please email me at jonesingforjewelry@gmail.com to claim your prize! 

♥ Carin

____________

RULES:

1. You must use the same email address you used to "follow" that you email with.

2. You can only choose one of the giveaways to enter per email address.

3. You may complete the entering process with more than one email address. One enter per email. 

4. Entering ends Monday 10/13/14 at midnight PST. Emails received after this time will not qualify.

5. Drawing will be held 10/14/14 and be posted to www.jonesingforjewelry.blogspot.com

6. Winners must claim their prize no later than 10/17/14. 

7. Winners much choose their options by 10/31/14. 

8. If the winner of the charm necklace chooses, they may purchase any amount above and beyond the $50.00 limit.

9. Entries will be accepted for U.S. domestic and international customers. Domestic customers will receive free first class shipping. International customers must pay $8.00 to cover first class international shipping. International customers will forfeit their win if they choose not to pay the $8.00 fee. 

Spread the Love //

UPDATE: WINNERS POSTED HERE: http://jonesingforjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/10/and-winner-is.html

_________________

Things have been going so smoothly over here that it's almost scary. I've gotten more done in the past 2 weeks than I did all summer! Everything seems to be turning out as I had planned or even better, and I am just loving the good karma coming my way. 

I'd love to share some of it with you guys, so I'm doing a giveaway! 

Here's the deal, just follow this blog by entering your email address in the "FOLLOW" box. 

(Hint: it's over there ---> )

Then shoot me an email to tell me which item you want to be entered in. 

SEE SPECIFIC CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS BELOW PICS. 

OPTION 1: OCEAN JASPER DROPS OF JUPITER NECKLACE

OPTION 2: CUSTOM CHARM NECKLACE, UP TO A $50 VALUE

ENTERING: 

Step 1: Follow this blog, by typing in your email address in the "Follow" box on the right hand column.

Step 2. Email me at jonesingforjewelry@gmail.com with one of the following in the subject line:

"GIVEAWAY: OCEAN JASPER"

OR

"GIVEAWAY: CHARM"

RULES:

1. You must use the same email address you used to "follow" that you email with.

2. You can only choose one of the giveaways to enter per email address.

3. You may complete the entering process with more than one email address. One enter per email. 

4. Entering ends Monday 10/13/14 at midnight PST. Emails received after this time will not qualify.

5. Drawing will be held 10/14/14 and be posted to www.jonesingforjewelry.blogspot.com

6. Winners must claim their prize no later than 10/17/14. 

7. Winners much choose their options by 10/31/14. 

8. If the winner of the charm necklace chooses, they may purchase any amount above and beyond the $50.00 limit.

9. Entries will be accepted for U.S. domestic and international customers. Domestic customers will receive free first class shipping. International customers must pay $8.00 to cover first class international shipping. International customers will forfeit their win if they choose not to pay the $8.00 fee. 

GOOD LUCK! 

♥ Carin

As the Salmon Return //

It is time now, the summer heat is slowly consumed by the crisp fall air. The days are growing shorter.

A nearly impossible mission. Absolute death. 

But it's in their nature, their deepest being. It is written in their DNA.  

They must go. They have no choice. 

They will go as the generation before them did, and as their offspring will.

This journey will be their hardest, but most important.

Against all odds, nature knows best. 

As the salmon make their way back, swimming up-stream, going against the current, everything seems to be against them. 

Fighting for their lives. Fighting for their species. 

They use every ounce of energy they have to return to the stream from which they came.

A beautiful, miraculous journey, as they lay their eggs in 

one last triumphant roar. 

Custom sterling silver and turquoise ring made in honor of the beautiful fish. 

♥ Carin

October //

 Something about how the cold air feels as it enters your body. 

Slides down, slowly warming as it brings you life. 

The first breath is shocking to your system, but after a few moments it becomes easier to breath. That first portion of each sip of October air, remains piercing, and awakens you. 

It stirs every part of your being, and makes you thankful to be here. 

The breath remains nourishing for just a moment. Your body takes what it needs from it, and almost instantaneously the same air that gave you life, is now toxic. 

As you exhale you can see your breath escape you. Expelling the toxic elements creates the necessary space for a new fresh perspective.

Huddled up in the crisps morning air watching the sun peek over the horizon. 

You start noticing the little things around you.  How the air feels against your warm skin.  

The birds just awakening and giving  their morning chirps.  

 You notice that the trees around you are also exhaling in a similar pattern as yours. 

As the October air colors their leaves, they start to turn. 

A vibrant display of the change happening deep within themselves. 

The leaves and blooms that once proudly conveyed their health are no longer useful. They must prepare for the changes that are coming. 

So much energy was used during the last season. 

So much growth. 

The pessimist might see it as a shame, 

a waste of life, 

but the optimist.. the optimist knows the true beauty hidden beneath the dying leaves.

The amazing wisdom the tree must have to know when it is time to shed it's leaves and let go of something once so valuable. 

To know that changes is good, 

change is necessary, 

change brings life. 

The leaves will go on and be something valuable for the Earth and plants around. 

The tree will also go on,  and it will now have the room and energy to accept new life. 

Something better and more magical will happen this year.

Just as the tree, we must shed the negative, 

make room for the positive. 

Change is scary, 

but the opportunity for new life and growth is too beautiful to pass up. 

new items available here.

♥ Carin