Posted on My Studio Wall.....

Is this quote:

..for a long time it seemed to me that
life was about to begin--real life.
but there was always some obstacle
in the way, something to be gotten
through first, some unfinished
business, time still to be served,
a debt to be paid. at last it dawned
on me that these obstacles were my
life. this perspective has helped me
to see there is no way to happiness.
happiness is the way. so treasure
every moment you have and remember
that time waits for no one.

happiness is
a journey,
not a destination..............
--souza

Rings, anyone?

In my opinion, a girl just can't have too many rings. Of course, if you are in a committed relationship there is the wedding ring--so significant and so dominant on the left hand.

But what about the other fingers? What do they get out of the deal? There's no reason that they shouldn't get in on the game.

So I've been on a tear lately in the ring department. I cannot get enough of the gemstones. Seriously.

Boxes of bling are en route from India, Bali, New York! HEELLLPPPP!
Sunstones. Labradorite. Faceted smoky quartz. Sunny citrine.

Beeauuutiful stones that Mother Earth created from her bare hands, using time, temperature and a little squeezing! How could I not partake in her bounty? Just how could I forsake her?

I have created a new line for this fall of rings that feature beautiful stones set in bezel cups. The difference between a bezel cup and a tube setting (which is what I use for my more expensive stones and sets) is that bezel cups are easier to work with.

I pass on the time savings to my customers by offering them at a very affordable price. I still plan to offer sets this fall with tube settings, but these button rings as I call them are lovely for stacking and accessorizing.

They are so cute: they kind of look like glamorous buttons of color from the side.

Here are a few of my favorites:


OMG. Your fingers are going to be sooo happy....

Get 15% off ALL designs in my Etsy Shop Aug. 21-23!!!!

ORIGINAL HARDWARE IN ETSY'S WEEKEND DEALS!

I just love being a seller on Etsy, the place for all things handmade. The community of artists is fabulous and inspiring, and the collection of handmade goods is absolutely amazing!

Today, Original Hardware is featured in Etsy's very popular Weekend Deals email, which goes out to thousands of avid subscribers.

Get 15% off ALL designs posted in my Etsy shop beginning today, Aug. 21st and running through Sunday Aug. 23rd!

Simply choose all of your lovely items, pay for them through Paypal and await a 15% refund!

What could be easier than that? I would say making Rice Krispies, but I've tried that this week. And all I got was a very hard hocky puck of a treat stuck in a glass pan....It wasn't pretty.

Honey, I'm HOMMMEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"There's no place like home."

--Dorothy

It's such a cliche, but the saying above is so true. No matter what winds are blowing where you live, in which you live, being home is the best place.

Even though the distance and the break was good for me, I missed my hammers. I missed my stones! I missed not being connected to my customers...

My sweet son Evan and I returned from Washington state late Sunday afternoon, and I've been busy ever since. This is a livelihood for which I have endless passion. It is my life! And for that I am so grateful!

We had a great time visiting my mother, and now I look forward to the last quarter of the season with excitement and anticipation.

I've ordered boxes for the holidays, added at least 30 more new designs to my sites (yes, even MORE!) and I'll be adding more in the weeks to come. I have trunk shows to prepare for, a catalog order to get moving on. I am so excited about what the future holds for this middle-aged gal.

The three images you see here are part of my "Exotic Fern Series", all new etched works that feature a fern pattern taken from a henna tattoo.

Henna tattoos are found in some eastern cultures, particularly India, where women's hands are adorned with some of the most gorgeous designs and patterns.

This might sound strange, but I can feel my spirit in these pieces. They are me and I am them. They are what makes me great. They are what makes my work my own. They are my totems of authenticity!

Leaving on a Jet Plane....

So tomorrow Evan and I head to my mom's house for a leisurely visit in Washington state. I won't be back until the 16th.
I am anxious to see my mom and I know we'll have fun, but leaving behind a business and its momentum is very hard for me. I am having a hard time letting it go.
I will see you all on the other side, hopefully well rested and, no doubt, chomping at the bit to get working!

Just the Tip of the Iceberg....

"The Best Way out is Always Through."

---Robert Frost

So I've been on a creative bent for the past month to work on an early fall line, and I had to ultimately stop myself so I could get some of it shot and added to my Web site before I left for vacation with my son at the end of this week.

My creative energy typically comes this way: a flood of activity that gives me the fuel to create new work that just flows out of me.

When the creative ebb is over, I take a break. I know better now to push it. If I'm not feeling creative, the work just doesn't have the end result that I strive for and the result of my "forced creativity" almost never ever sells...

But such is not the case with the new work I have recently finished. I am excited about ALL of it! I have added 30 new designs to OriginalHardware.com, and when my son and I return from my trip to visit my mom on Aug. 16th, I will be adding them to my Etsy site as well. The funny thing is that this is just the beginning!

I still have 30 pieces that are finished and still have to be photographed and another 40 on the bench in various stages of completion.

I have been working my little fingers to the bone, using my passion not only to fuel new work and get a jumpstart on the busy fourth quarter, but also to keep my sanity during what has personally been a difficult time.

So here are a few of the new pieces I've added this week. Stay tuned for a deluge of new work just in time for the fall season, which I hope will be well received by my customers!

I truly appreciate each and every one of you for your support, encouragement and neverending comments and love! I so love what I do and I hope that with this new work, it shows....