You Are Not Your Mistakes // A Home Decor Series

Sometimes I can't stop thinking, thinking about all the mistakes I've made.

The things I've done or said that I shouldn't have.

The times I should have spoken up.

The times I should have taken the higher road or made a different decision.

Sometimes I feel like my mistakes have driven my life.

That they have defined who I am today and had the power to direct me.

This series is all about healing.

About letting go of mistakes and chalking them up to lessons.

About realizing I, you, we are human.

About reminding myself that those lessons I have learned are what propelled me forward and allowed me to make some incredibly wonderful and incredibly right decisions.

Each of these babies start from silver from previous mistakes.

Pieces that didn't work.

Solder and ideas that didn't flow.

Melted bezels and broken saw blades.

I've melted them all down to their elements.

Turned them into lessons, and used them to grow something new and beautiful.

I can't tell you how healing it is.

To be able to turn that torch up to screaming high and just let the heat burn away your mistakes.

Let it melt it down until it's no longer recognizable.

Until you've forgotten how painful it was when it happened.

---

Cast succulents.

Shed antlers.

Weathered cow vertebrae.

To adorn your home.

To remind you.

\

Carin

Woman Up //

 And just when you feel yourself settle into comfort,

just as your muscles are able to relax, 

just as your soul feels settled.... 

Reach strongly for something beyond your fingertips.

Desire the challenge.

Seek it out.

Grab it confidently with both hands.

Don't drag it behind you or carry it haphazardly. 

No, pull the weight of that sucker square onto your shoulders.

Strive to make the new discomfort manageable and then eventually make it look effortless.

Because woman, you are the most beautiful when you bravely and vulnerably tumbling forward in pursuit of life. 

When you are answering the question, what am I capable of? 

I want to know the strength of this body... and this soul.

I want to know I can wo-man up to any challenge.

I want to feel uncomfortable in contentment, and twitchy when I'm still.

I want to see the vastness myself and therefore also my boundaries.

And most of all I want to break them.

---

Guys I've been pushing myself hard lately. Stretching and reaching for more in almost every aspect of my life. It's super exciting, but it also feels incredibly overwhelming.

I keep wondering if I'm capable to rise to the challenges I've laid out for myself.
I keep asking if I'm really capable of what I hope for.

And I keep trying to remind myself that this is who I am. That I am a strong capable woman, and I've rose to every challenge before this. That I've built this business up with just these 2 hands.
I keep trying to remember I've taught myself these skills before, and I'll keep trying to do it again and again and again.

No matter what.

Available here until sold.

♥  Carin

LURE - SMALL FRY

REPOST FROM ORIGINAL LURE BLOG:

I keep thinking about how luscious & tempting things in this life can be. 

Intriguing us with beautiful forms,

pungent perfumes,

bold, stunning colors. 

All things that promise rushes of dopamine through our blood stream.  That addictive, powerful flow which excites each and every one of our cells. 

It makes us feel alive.

It makes us feel happy.

Often when we speak of these types of things, we talk about how indulgent they are. Each of them carrying a sense of negativity with them. We hope we are strong enough to evade their pull, and somehow that ability would make us better human beings. 

__

It brings me back almost 20 years, neatly sorting seed beads into their own little compartments. I'd pick up a few, gently sliding my fingers back and forth across their glassy surface. Letting a few of them at a time all back into their designated spot. 

That's when the tug began for me, I got sight at what I consider my life long lure. A glimpse at what a dreamy, sexy life this career would be. 

But as with most things that bring us happiness, as a good strong human, I stopped myself from daydreaming too long or too hard.  I'd think about how much fun it was as a hobby, but never, ever would I allow myself to dream beyond that. 

Perhaps, I thought, too much daydreaming would somehow get in the way of "real" work. 

But oh how wrong I was.

How wrong we are.

My only regret is how long it took me to allow myself the freedom to explore. 

Explore my truth,

Explore my passion,

Explore my life. 

I regret so much, how long and how hard I struggled against the urge. 

Now, when I daydream, it's more frequently about the past than the future.

I remember my 18 year old self standing at the top of a set of stairs that led to an art department. 

A set of stairs I was too coward to walk down. 

An 18 year old too afraid to speak her truth and too fearful to take the leap. 

Now as I daydream, I find myself telling that youngster this,

"Now is always the time for happy." 

___

NOW IS ALWAYS THE TIME FOR HAPPY.

NOW IS ALWAYS THE  TIME FOR HAPPY.

NOW.

I challenge you this, why not indulge? 

______

These beasts are meant to be big and bold.

For those of us willing to take the bait.

Go against the norm.

Take the less worn path.

To you, I applaud.

I send my highest praises.

They are more than that though.

A side story if you will. 

Of a friendship that started while sorting those seed beads 2 decades ago. 

A person who, despite what she says, was by far one of the biggest artistic influences of my life. 

She gifted me a pair of articulated fish earrings over a decade ago.

They were my favorite.

I rarely took them out.

But then there was that one time I did, and sadly they were never to be seen again.

I've thought about those earrings for 10 years.

So I bring you my, bigger, bolder version all these years later.

I think appropriately, they are sized to represent my unwavering announcement that I will not follow the well worn path. 

I will embrace my indulging, dreamy, sexy career with all it's ups and downs.

I took the bait. 

will you? 

___

Available for purchase here for just 1 week. At which time I will close the listing and fulfill all orders at one time.

Carin

A STIRRING //

I'm starting to feel some stirring in my sits bones. For so long now my hands and mind limited my abilities, but 2015 brought such tremendous growth. Budding at at my tips, I'm ready for more. But like the plant primed to bloom, I've realized that I need more than just a deep desire to flower. There are elements that can help a girl get there, and tools I need to take it to the next level. I've discounted these lovely pieces to help fund some of the big purchases I feel coming around the corner. A rare chance to snag something lovely at a lower price. A gift to you for supporting and helping me shine my light a little brighter. 

I've discounted a hand full of items in the shop today, I'd love it if you took a moment to check it out. 

I can't thank you enough for all your support. 

Happy Monday friends.

Carin

Naturalist // A Shop Update

The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark. -- John Muir

Two Naturalist Bangles will be available. Both size med/small. 7 1/2" inner circumference and about 2 3/8" diameter.

One Ocean Jasper Drop Ring will Be available. US Size 5 1/2.

Spring is coming. I can feel it. My fingers are still mind numbingly cold, but the marrow in my bones is starting to twitch.

I'm excited for this next season. I love to take the winter to reflect, to learn and to make peace with the previous year. But with the sun warming the ground, those goals I've set look delicious and achievable. I feel like I have the energy of a pup, ready to take on this crazy world.

I can't believe how much I've learned in just a year. Looking back feels crazy. Crazy I've come so far, but also crazy grateful for all you've given me.

I don't want to waste any of it. I want to soak it all in and keep going. I want to show you what I have, and that you've invested your time and attention wisely.

I've got some serious goals this year. I'm so content with where the jewelry is headed and can't wait to produce more. It's falling out of my mind and hands quickly these days. My heart and head know where it's going, and I've learned to trust those instincts.

I've also taken the time to assess my flaws. Give recognition to them and address how I can do things better. 

Some of what I'm working on: 

WRITING: I struggle to find words. I've always been better at speaking with silver than letters. So I'm working on it, and until then I'll look to those that have them. That have already spoken how I'm feeling and what I think. I'm grateful that they can help me communicate while I find my own.

DRAWING: I'm also working on drawing and lettering. I think these are two key elements in any art form that can help with overall design. I've always been so-so at both. I bought a sketch book. I'm jotting words, but also sketching plants and things I find. 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Always, always, always, but more specifically I've never been good at photographing myself posing with jewelry. Those of you good at the jewelry selfie, I commend you! I've tried all sorts of things, timers, remotes.... but if you could see the outtakes I get, and the time I spend to get just one half decent shot of a piece... well then you'd really understand.

I've always toyed with the idea of hiring a model, but honestly that just feels really strange to me. It's like hiring someone to cast my pieces or getting an assistant.  Luckily my friend Emily has offered to help out when she can. She's a kick-ass outdoorsy, rock climbing, mama. 

I could go into all the details of our friendship, but I'll just tell you this one quick story of how we met. 

It was 1990. I was in Kindergarten. It was 1/2 way through the school year.

This little blond comes walking in with her mom. Her eyes full of tears. She was transferring to a new school, a new state, and a whole new life. She was scared and lonely.

As the teacher and her mom tried to console her, I walked up and introduced myself, and said "It's ok, you can be my friend."

Fast forward more than 2 decades and we still are. 

Shop update goes live on Tuesday 2/9 at 7pm PT here. 

I really hope you can make it!

♥ Carin

Clean Out the Cobwebs / A Shop Update.

It's funny how it happens.

The cycle of the year.

The end of so many things.

Sometimes the celebration of accomplishment, but all too often the feeling of failure.

Then the fresh start and the newness of being.

Juxtaposed in just a span of a few seconds.

I came back from Holiday renewed, but not ready.

I spent my first week deep cleaning.

Preparing my space and myself for 2016.

I was just mentioning to someone that this year feels so different than the last January.

I feel confident.

My skills honed.

I have a lot to learn.
I'm not trying to sound cocky, but I'm also recognizing how far I've come.

I'm allowed to do that.

I should do that.

I can't wait for this year, but first I had to deal with the past.

Remove the scars from my soul and the stains from my bench.

Store away the lessons I've learned, and organize the unused pieces.

Clean my soul and my studio.

... 

This shop update is the result.

Things I've had around.

Bits and pieces I found in the deep clean.

And ideas I felt I needed to try before moving on.

I hope you enjoy!

Available at 7pm PT until sold here. 

You can see more photographs of this piece here. 

(Please note, this surfite piece does not have the stone set. You'll be able to choose to have it completed in your ring size or as a necklace) 

♥ Carin