Jewelry For The Heat Wave!

Look at me--writing more than one blog post in a single week! I guess maybe things are starting to get back to normal after all....

So I have totally been on a gemstone kick lately, as you can see in some of the recent jewelry I've been making (like my super chunky and fun Priscilla necklace on the left. See more about it HERE). Which is partly because gemstones are awesome, and also partly out of necessity. My boutique has been open extended hours over the past month, which means I've been at the store almost 50 hours a week. I just haven't had the time or the energy to do too much new work in my home studio, which means my current collection is limited to what I can make at the mini studio I have set up at my store. And thus, more beading and less metal work!

I miss doing all the soldering that I used to have time to do, but I will eventually hire someone to take over for me at the store at least a day a week, so I can start getting back into it. My Open Book necklace (find it HERE) is now by special order only! And I used to always have them in silver, gold, and mixed metals at my store. But it's been two months probably since I've been able to make new ones. I could, of course, do some super late at night when I get home, but that just seems too crazy. I really like finishing my work day at 8 and not going home to do more. So, next month maybe! Or the store might be cutting back to regular Thurs-Sun hours, which could be nice. I will keep you updated! In the meantime, please enjoy all the new beaded work I am making! Beading is nice for summer too, especially with the crazy heat wave we've been having here in NYC. Nothing too "heavy" with lots of metal--light, colorful, funky and fun. That's been my jewelry motto lately! Come visit my boutique if you'd like to see it all for yourself--you can find me at 12 Lions Studio from Thursday to Sunday, 11-8. The address is 684 Broadway, on the corner of Great Jones St. Hope to see you soon!

Back to Work (sort of!)

So. As you may have noticed, I haven't written a single blog post now in a really, really long time. A person I love very much has been struggling with a very serious addiction lately, and I just haven't had the heart to write about or think about much else. Finding out someone you love is addicted to heroin is a sad and painful experience, and it has resulted in me doing some serious reflecting on my life and on the choices I have made. For a few weeks this past month, I was starting to wonder exactly why I had gotten involved in this whole jewelry business in the first place. Working in a field like jewelry--a field that is so tied up in commercialism, in the buying and selling of things, can feel a little hollow sometimes, a little bit incomplete. When I used to work in theater, sometimes I felt the same way. As satisfying and rewarding as it can be to create art (in the case of jewelry, little wearable works of art), it is also important to keep things in perspective. Making art, you know, does not directly save lives. It does not contribute to people's basic needs, like food and shelter. This doesn't mean, of course, that art has no place in the world or isn't worth making. I have spent the past decade of my life as a working artist, and I will probably (hopefully!) spend the next decade doing the same. I do think that art is important. It's important, useful, etc., for a myriad of reasons that I won't go into here. But I also know that it isn't everything. The world is full of so many things, sometimes, that matter more.

I have literally been trying to finish this post now for almost a week. I just can't figure out how to end it or what conclusions to draw. I mean, I guess there is a lot to feel hopeful about. The person I know who has been struggling just celebrated 30 days clean. Which doesn't mean that it's the end of the story, or that everything is perfect now and back to normal, but it is something to celebrate. I have a lot to celebrate in my own life too. Things are far from perfect, but I am happy in many ways. I do love creating jewelry that other people also love and want to wear. I love working for myself and making decisions for my business. It's not the end of the story for me by any means, but I can (and do!) still enjoy all of the wonderful people and things that I have in my life right now.

And hey, maybe I will be starting some kind of charity jewelry line very soon.... Or create a signature necklace, maybe? Something to help provide support to the families and friends of addicts? Help addicts with the cost of going to treatment? Something else, maybe mental health related? Any ideas, anyone?? I am feeling like I want to find a way to put my jewelry skills to use for a good cause.....