Tucson Gem Show Time

  This year, I get to cross off one of my bucket list items and am going to the Tucson Gem Show!

The plan is descend upon the desert that is waaay warmer than it is here in Portland and just stand in the sun-only for a few minutes though, with my freckly skin...I probably have about 5 minutes before I burn.  

Then, I have a few days of shopping the motherlode. I am primarily looking for a solid source for turquoise. If you have a hankering for a certain gem for a custom piece, please let me know before February 11th. I'm happy to oblige. After that date, I am working on several wholesale orders for Mother's Day so it may be a while before I am able to work on custom pieces.

In the meantime, I am working on some rings! Lots and lots of rings. I am loving the bench, sore fingertips and all. I feel incredibly lucky that this is my job. Thank you for your support!

Beads for Days

Guess who just purchased a ton of new beads? This gal. 

I'll be updating the shop accordingly over the next couple of weeks as pieces become available. You should follow me on Instagram for behind the scenes photos, timely shop updates and heads up on sales!

Crafty Wonderland!

Ahhhhhhhhhh Yeeeeaaaahhhhhh! It's that time again! Mother's Day is around the corner and I just so happen to be part of Crafty Wonderland's super dooper spring sale! With friends graduating and all of those spring birthdays, you are sure to look like the world's best gift giver by getting those gifts at this show. 

Come on down and check out the kitties and the plant sale too! I'll be in booth #44, towards the plant sale side of the room. I look forward to seeing you there! I have oodles of new jewels to debut. 

P.S. Mention this blog post and you'll get 20% off of your Kenton Beadworks purchase at the sale.

Chasing Sun

Sorry for my absence lately. I'm happy to say it was for a good reason. My husband and I have been traveling a lot for fun. We both recently changed employers (I'm making jewelry for a local jeweler) and had a couple of weeks off in between. Rather than the usual staycation agenda, we decided to choose a couple of cities that have warm weather, were close enough and had nice folks who make good beer.

We visited sunny San Diego, CA and Austin, TX and had a great time. We're glad to be back in Portland though, our water and crisp, fresh air cannot be beat. I literally miss those things when I travel, but there is something to be said about the way the air smells when you get off of the plane in a sunny local. It seems so sweet and inviting.

As far as the beer goes, I have to say that Stone Brewing is like the Disneyland of beer. Their facility was amazing- well landscaped and they didn't spare any expense on making a solid brewery. In fact, it didn't feel like a brewery-more like a nice restaurant. Try the brussels sprouts if you go!

The ABGB in Austin won my heart for sure. I loved everything about their whole set up. Every beer that I had (we both had a flight of tasters) was well balanced and deelish! They also had a GREAT crew of people working there. We chatted with the owner/brewer there and he was just so nice!

Additionally, we went to Wright Bros. Brew & Brew in Austin, where they have both espresso and beer! Heaven!! They have a great selection of beers, knowledgeable staff who truly seem passionate about what they serve. We tried this Jester King Saison that blew my socks off.

I could totally see myself living in Austin, but Texas itself kind of scares me. I'll stick to the greenery of Portland...for now.

Time to refresh!

It's almost spring here in the NW. For me, that means it is time to refresh the ol' wardrobe. I've got the Spring Fashion Fever! After purchasing about what seems like 27 "Spring Fashion" magazines in the last week or so, I feel that it safe to put a label on it.

Since I have been working from home in the past year or so, I have been living out of jeans and comfy cardigans paired with hiking socks. I mean it when I say it is time for a little refresh.  It's been almost 6 months since I have purchased a pair of shoes and those shoes were for a halloween costume.

I like to dress pretty simple but really put my focus on bags, shoes and other accessories.

Enter "The Bag". Here are a handful of wonderful totes and bags that I think would be perfect!

Appetite

ByMART

Emmieshop

I am so torn on which one to pick. Which one is your favorite?

Nordic Love

I am seriously in love with all things Scandinavian these days. I have always been inspired by primary colors as a whole. Pair that with my obsession for minimal, geometric vintage things and we have a marriage made in heaven as far as working some of these gorgeous prints into the existing decor in our house:

Did I mention that I just happen to be decorating our guest/craft room at the moment? I'll be sharing some of my pics for decor as I move along the project. I have already painted the room...but neglected to take a 'before' photo. I took it from a color we've dubbed "grandma panty beige" to Martha Stewart's Nimbus Cloud. A nice calm pale gray that doesn't make you grab for the Prozac in winter. Which, for those of us in the NW is only 7 months out of the year!

Valentines or BUST!

A little something that I put together on Etsy to make your Valentines Day gift perusing a little easier.