settling in

Do you ever have those days (days, weeks, or even months) when you feel like you are running to catch up? That is what my life has been this past month.

Our secretary at my day job (JFF Jeweler Supply) was diagnosed with cancer. It was all very sudden, she knew something was wrong, she went to the doctor and they told her she had multiple meyloma. She began treatment immediately. She is a wonderful woman and definitely a fighter.

In the meantime it has left a huge gaping hole at JFF. Not only because we are missing a working member of the business (our secretary/bookkeeper), but she is a life-long friend (as she was our neighbor when I was growing up). In the meantime, I have been working longer hours at JFF to get all the work done then move to work in my studio.

But I can't dwell on the negative. We must push forward. So here are the things I am working on in my studio in the next few weeks :
I am working on a men's line.
I am sending my jewelry to Beehive New York. (which will be for sale beginning Feb 1)
I am making some new rings.
I am working on making a main web page.

In personal life news, Dan and I will be celebrating our 2 year anniversary February 10. Things have been wonderful with us and I'm super excited because we have a reservation at Craft to celebrate!

Also, Dan and I are taking another trip up to New York/New Jersey, February 12-14. I know it's going to be SUPER cold but I am excited for the trip. We are going primarily to celebrate Dan's father's 75th birthday. But we have also scheduled in time to visit the Beehive New York store! I am so excited to go check it out! We will also sneak in a quick visit with Dan's friends, who I now consider my friends as well. :)

You never can expect the bumps in the road. But I think I'm finally settling into 2010.

sweet talk

What is your favorite part of Valentine's Day?

Is it the heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates? A romantic evening to spend with your special someone? The love filled cards? The cozy, romantic restaurants? Or the excuse to send your secret crush a valentine?

Personally, my favorite part of Valentine's Day isn't romantic at all. My favorite are the little conversation hearts, you know the ones, the candy shaped hearts with the cutesy phrases on them like "be mine," "i love you," or "text me."

Last year, just after Valentine's Day passed, I had the idea to make a necklace with little silver conversation hearts on them... just like the candy. Immediately, I stopped what I was doing (eating candy hearts no less) and began working. Nearly a year later, I finally get to spill the beans!

These little sterling silver conversation hearts are just as sweet as the real thing, but no calories! They are $74 for the plain heart without the stone, the heart with the emulated garnet is $84. The conversation hearts are only available for a limited time in my etsy & big cartel studios, and available on the beehive co-op website. So hurry before they are all gone!

I really think I have a thing for "food" jewelry... fortune cookies and now conversation hearts?!