Tangleweeds Giveaway - Singularity Earrings

It's been a few months since I've offered a contest giveaway here on the blog. So, it's time to bring them back! (Monthly, is the goal this year.) For February's giveaway I'll be offering up a pair of my hand-forged Singularity earrings. Whoever wins this giveaway will be receiving my LAST pair of these!

As I mentioned in a post  a couple weeks back I'll be discontinuing a few designs this month. I have several reasons for doing this. There's a fine balancing act when you're a small business owner making the product that you sell. I'll be rolling out a lot of new designs this year, and I can't possibly keep up with the making of all of them if I don't whittle the selection down a bit. Also, some of the designs I'll be discontinuing I've been making for quite sometime now, and in the interest of my creative muse I'd rather not make more of them. And, lastly, some designs have simply ebbed in popularity as is want to happen. 

As Tangleweeds continues to grow, knowing when to say "no" or to not do something will be just as important as knowing when to leap or say "yes."

On to the giveaway details! For those of you who would like to enter, simply leave a little comment here on the blog. I'm gonna go with a new year's theme with this one: In your comment mention something about your goals for the new year. I love hearing about what others hope to manifest in 2015!

I'll pick a winner right around Valentine's day and announce it here on the blog and on Instagram on the 16th. Have a wonderful week!

LWM: Old Timey

This week (and last week) I found myself listening to a lot of old timey country music, especially the dames like Tammy, Patsy, and Loretta, AND the QUEEN of country, Kitty Wells. (This song was considered rather controversial when it first came out. Many radio stations wouldn't even play it. Good thing audiences loved it tho!)

Wearing. . . Lots of texture. Texture is such a huge influence on what I wear and how I choose to pair pieces. I like contrasting texture, but simulatenously I appreciate a "monochromatic textural" outfit. While it was a bit difficult the capture the texture of each piece in this photo, I think it gives you a general idea - wool skirt, nubby knit top, lace accent cardigan. Oh, and suede booties (more texture!)

Outfit details:
top, skirt, booties - thrifted
cardigan - Modcloth
tights - Hue
earrings - really really old Tangleweeds design
ring - a gift from Jeff last year (vintage, and from Mercy in Oakland)

Making. . . Lots and lots of my Curves stacking rings. I'll be re-stocking Oak Common in Oakland tomorrow and I'm dropping off a bunch of these in lots of different sizes. If you're local and you'd like to try them on before you buy, stop by their shop on Grand Avenue (not far from Lake Merritt.) 

Well, folks! Back to the workbench for this Tangleweed. It is a busy, busy week 'round these parts. Can't wait to share more new stuff with all of you soon!

Full Circle - Slowing Down

This last week was mostly spent home sick. Boo-hoo. I have to say, the beginning of a new year is usually when I'm feeling extra-super motivated to start next projects and simply make things happen, so taking a whole week (five days) to slow down and simply care for myself was sort of going against a lot of the cells in my body. Mainly the brain cells. I drank pots and pots of herbal chai, laid around a lot, and actually managed to finish a weaving project. 

Below, is the piece I finished. I'm really really proud of her. I named her "Harvest" in honor of the harvesting that I feel like I am doing in a way in my life. I feel like this year is about harvesting the good that has come from a lot of the hard work I've put into Tangleweeds the last five years and harnessing it to fully realize my dreams. . . 

Annnnnd, lastly, a couple of great thrift finds worn once the sickies went away. One recent (the crescent moon print dress) and one that I found last year at a little charity shop in Sacramento (the coat). I am seriously in looooove with the dress.

Lastly, if you have noticed, my newest Look-Book, "Everyday Magic" is now posted on the site. It was inspired quite simply by the little things in life, the "everyday magic" we sometimes overlook, but when we slow down and allow ourselves to be present (instead of distracted and stressed to the nines) we get to marvel and wonder over. I hope you enjoy it! Many of the pieces are already available in my Etsy shop. Those that aren't yet will be in the next few weeks to come. 

Al righty, lots of jewelry work this week, lots of making and creating to do. If you like to see my daily work, remember you can always follow me/Tangleweeds over here on Instagram.

Have a fabulous week everyone!

Full Circle - New Places, Favorite Places

This last week was all about finding my groove with my work/Tangleweeds schedule as balanced out by time for self-care. As I write this I'm dealing with a nasty cold, (boo!) bringing home the importance of taking care of myself even when things get really busy. I'm working from home today, resting as needed.

This past weekend Jeff and I went to Down Home music in El Cerrito for a free music show. It's a great place if you have a love/interest in country, americana, roots, blues music. While we were over there I finally stopped by the little button shop, Exclusive Buttons. They sell vintage buttons and the selection is amazing. Be forewarned tho, they're only open on Fridays and Saturdays. The buttons I picked up may find themselves into some one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces later this year. I'll make sure to share photos if and when they do!

In the studio there was lots of work on the classics: the swoops, the featherlight necklaces (which are currently sold out in my Etsy shop, but more will be added later this month), and the full circle earrings. 

I also decided to have a little sale for the rest of the month. This season I'll be discontinuing some designs to make room for new ones. A lot of the designs are older ones that I have either re-invented at this point, or they've ebbed in popularity. Everything in the shop is 25% off with the coupon code "jan2015" for the rest of this month. I figure it's a sweet little way to pick up something you've had your eye on for a while before it's gone for good! That last photo at the bottom is an example of one of the deigns that'll be discontinued. 

Al righty, it's time for me to make a big pot of tea and go curl up in bed with a book for a bit. I'm hoping this cold runs it's course in a quick manner!

Listening-Wearing-Making: The Jeans Edition

With the new year I've been listening to lots of new (to me) music, especially country. Leslie Stevens and the Badgers are more folky than country, so if you're a country hater, don't run away! You might like these guys. I stumbled upon them thanks to Jeff a week or so ago when he was playing some old iTunes playlists. I love Leslie Steven's girly but slightly gritty voice. 

Wearing . . . Lots of sweaters! This time of the year my studio gets pretty darn cold. Sometimes I'll even start the day in not one or two, but three sweaters layered over each other for warmth. This particular one I found on a recent thrifting excursion with my mom in Livermore. I fell in love with the leaf motif. 

Outfit details:
jeans - old (from UO - proof that every now and then I actually wear jeans)
sweater - Goodwill (in Livermore)
booties - Convert (a little show shop on 4th street in Berkeley)
earrings - Tangleweeds (the Falling Leaves design w/o the green only stones)
necklace - Tangleweeds (a single Drape style necklace in cream)
 

And making: This time of year, while I am working on jewelry for my spring time fairs and local shops, I'm mainly busy with taking and editing photos, updating my website and so forth and so on (and I'm not quite ready to share a lot of the new designs that won't be coming out until April-May.) So in lieu of new work, I thought I'd share a photo from my upcoming look book, Everyday Magic. I'm actually going to get this one printed, so I'm pretty excited about it!

I don't know about you guys, but this week has simply flown by for me and I still have so much left to do. Time to get re-priortized with the rest of the day!

Full Circle - Weekly Recap

Good morning and good Monday folks! 

My first point of business 'round here: I'm going to be changing my "weekly recap" posts name to "full circle". The name feels right 'cause these posts are my way of looking back over the last week and seeing where I've been and what I've done (and sharing it with all of you), in essence coming back "full circle" to Monday from last Monday. And it's the name of one of my classic collections, yet another reason it felt right. 

This last week was my first week "back to work" with Tangleweeds. I must say it felt great. Taking a break right after the holidays always helps to re-charge my batteries, both creatively and around more practical matters. But this year I'm striving for a bit more balance, and this last week  definitely held a better balance: farmer's market shopping with Jeff, thrifting with my mom in Livermore, and time to practice my new found passion and hobby: weaving!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you've seen that this last week I was spending some time getting my studio cleaned up, including creating a small showroom space. This took the better part of Monday and Tuesday, but I was so glad I had the time to do this. I can't begin to explain how satisfying it is to look over my shoulder while I'm sitting at my desk, typing this blog post, and see my work all on display. I still have a bit more work to do to get the space completely ready for any sort of open studio time, but it will happen this year! Overall this last week was a lot about planning and laying out the groundwork to make my goals this year for Tangleweeds happen. 

Now, I gotta go prep for a small photoshoot that's happening tomorrow. I'm putting together a look-book for a tradeshow I'll be showing at in February. 

Here's to a wonderful week everyone!

Looking Back on 2014

Wow, what a year it was! I have to say I didn't realize how much fun it could be looking back on my photos from last year (mainly Tangleweeds Instagram.) I have a small personal goal that I take and post at least one photo to Instagram everyday. It's my way of making sure I stay involved with social media for my biz, but it's also my way of making sure I stop and take the time to document all that I'm doing over the course of a year. It was a bit hard whittling down the 352 photos to a manageable dozen or so, I must say!

Looking back was a really awesome reminder of just how much I did this year. I'm not trying to sound full of myself, rather I am someone who constantly pushes herself to do more. I'm rarely satisfied with what I've done, always wanting to push myself to do more (I am working on this, working on appreciating accomplishments. The hamster wheel does need to stop turning every now and then.) 

This last year was a smorgasbord: time with my nephew (in Disneyland!), visits with the neighborhood goats, hilarious cat photos, a trip to Boston with my honey, began to teach myself how to weave and more. I hired and kept on my first part-time (permanent) employee, vended at so many amazing events (highlights include the KPFA Craft Fair and the Gravenstein Apple Fair), expanded on my re-purposed tin collection, released my largest collection yet (the Essentiality collection in the spring), designed and created a series of wall hangings (more to come this year), got back to posting outfits-of-the-day (even if it was rather infrequently), and landed my first shop for Tangleweeds in Japan. 

I worked harder and longer hours than any other year in my life. I know this without tallying the hours. The counterpoint to that: I had to better learn how to slow down and take care of myself. I started seeing an acupuncturist and continued to learn about herbs and herbalism. Overall, I tried and am trying to be the best caretaker of me: the physical, the emotional and mental, and the spiritual. 

Remember how I said, up above, how I'm rarely satisfied with what I've completed. Well, looking back on 2014 I'm feeling pretty darn content and happy. 

And here's to a wonderful year to come!

Autumn, you have my heart

Thanksgiving is next week. The leaves are falling and in beautiful colors. I'm dreaming up new designs for after the holiday rush. Planning for a bunch of holiday fairs. Life is good!

Don't forget to enter my fall jewelry giveaway if you haven't already too! Here's to a lovely week everyone!

Fall Time Giveaway

Well, folks, after a few months off from offering giveaways, I'm back! This time around it's for a set. It'll arrive all gift-wrapped and ready for gift giving it's that's what you choose to do with your winnings =). But what you do with it is totally up to you! If you win you'll get one of my Egyptian necklaces along with the coordinating earrings. This giveaway is for the set pictured, with the salmon-pink accent. Read below for the deets on entering. . . 

To enter simply leave a comment on this blog post about how you take the time to honor the onset of fall and the changing seasons in your life. It doesn't have to be anything big. For example, I always buy those warty pumpkins and put them on my front porch this time of the year. I'd love to hear what YOU do to make this time of the year special. 

I'll select a winner Thanksgiving weekend and announce the winner December 1st. Good luck!

Sweater Weather, Banjo Pickin', and River Rocks

Sweater weather. Yes, it would seem that it's finally here in the San Francisco bay area. Time to layer it up with tights, cozy dresses, leggings, boots and booties, and (of course) Tangleweeds jewelry. The sweater vest in the bottommost photos I found on clearance at Anthropologie during my trip to Boston. It's one of my favorite new pieces. It has a very "grandma" feel to it. What are some of your favorite pieces this fall season?

I'm doing this installment of listening-wearing-making a bit out of order (cause I felt like it =). Here's a bit of what I've been obsessed with ever since Jeff and I went to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in October. This is the best video I could find of Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck, you just gotta get past the first few seconds/minutes of some promo stuff. If you like banjo music, you'll like this!

Making - Lots and lots and lots of the River Rock earrings from my Shapes of Fall Collection. I've been sort of flumoxed by how popular these have been. Pleasantly surprised as they're one of my favorite new designs. 

I hope everyone's week is going swimmingly! Remember, tomorrow I'll be posting about my next giveaway. A little tease for you: it's gonna be two pieces this time!