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

Ride The Waves - A Surfite Shop Update

I often find myself dreaming of more peaceful days. The chaos of this time of year never fails to overwhelm me, and right now, more than ever I wish to set sail on a smooth glassy lake. 

I suppose it's hard to appreciate the rocky, tippy nature of life. Just as you catch your breath, you can feel the tides changing, the white water bubbling, and another big roller is coming your way. 

But I've made a change recently, rather than allow the waves to swallow me whole and sink me deep, I'm gonna surf. Like a world champion I'll sail across them with grace and poise, I'll make it look easy. 

Available at 7pm PT here. 

♥ Carin

Reclamation // A shop update.

For those times when we feel undervalued and under appreciated.

May these nuggets of beauty remind you to reclaim your spirit.

Stay true to your bold, beautiful and unique self.

Orientate yourself towards positivity.

Seek a haven where you can shine just like you always knew you could.

___

Reclaimed.

Recycled.

Renewed.

From trash to treasure these surfite stones have found their haven.

___

More on those stunning special stones: 

Surfite is a brand spankin' new material! These are some of the very first ever pieces made with it. It is the resin and epoxy that has gathered after glazing surfboards. It was collected and cabbed by a lovely artist couple out of California!

It is a similar idea to Fordite, which is left over car paint that artists have been cabbing for years. This is so much prettier though! The coloring for one is spectacular. Bright glittery pinks, olive greens and bold blues. The clear portions of the resin allow the back of the sterling silver setting to shine through.

Available on 5/11/15 at 1pm PST at www.jonesingforjewelry.etsy.com

Carin

Progression // A Shop Update

This past year I've really taken notice of the community around me. 

I played a small part in a the "Cab it Forward" project in which fellow smithies pass on stones to one another as a sign of support, I made a few friends during my first smithing classes, and I've reached out to some fellow artists that I really admire.

All this to say, the community is real. And I'm happy to be a part of it.

I imagine us as a giant robot, my fellow artists and me. Each of us playing a part, but needing to work together as a whole to function properly. And I think of the structure built to hold this art community up. The bones and the frame on which we stand. Built bolt after bolt by those that came before us.

Entrepreneurs, 

boundary pushers,

artists.

And I bow to their bravery and creativity.

This summer, after studying up on some more traditional native american work, I fell in love with silver in a way I hadn't before. A deeper more intense relationship with the metal. I was inspired by the way the silver pieces and forms nestled the stone. Making a sanctuary for it to thrive, and highlighting it's natural beauty.

I, the apprentice, really wanted to pay homage to those master's work. So after tinkering with it a bit, my "In Tradition" series was born. A thank you to all the artists who went before me.  A realization of all their sweat and tears that went into their work.

While making the "In Tradition" series, I felt as though I was embodying the masters, and in ways emulating their moves. The swings of their hammers, the chattering of their saws, the grinding of their files.  But what was born of this process was something more than that, something completely my own.

And so, although this leaf shape was born out of replication, I can't rightfully package it the same. It no longer belongs in the "In  Tradition" series, where my heart was looking to the past. 

These leaves, might take the same shape, but they were born out of individuality and progression. They look to the future. 

They are a mark, my mark, my bolt in the art community robot.

Until someone else builds upon this work, and together we move in unison. 

All pieces and more available here: www.jonesingforjewelry.etsy.com

on Thursday October 29th at 5pm PT.

Hope to see you there!

♥ Carin

A Shop Update //

For those of us who stood in the shadow of the giants.

Their grandeur intimidating us from taking the next step.

For those of us who felt like fragile, innocent saplings in their presence,
And because of their success. 

But despite the odds, chose to soak up any ray of sunlight that came our way,

And refused to give up on the potential.

For those of us that stood a little taller, stretched a little wider and rooted a little deeper each day until we stood head to head amongst them.

---

Bear in the Moonlight Series

---

Mediation Stone Series

        All available in the shop, here, at 8pm PST today, 9/22/15.

♥ Carin