Annual Fall Equinox Sale!

Happy Monday morning to all of you lovely Tangleweeds collectors! I hope everyone had a weekend that was just what they were needing. I wanted to drop in here today to let everyone know about our annual Fall Equinox sale in the Tangleweeds Etsy shop. Below, I hand curated a selection of pieces I think would be perfect for fall (click on the image to be taken directly to it's Etsy page.) If you'd like to select your perfect fall piece of Tangleweeds jewelry at a 35% off discount (from now until the end of September) simply head on over to the Tangleweeds Etsy Shop and use the coupon code "fall equinox". 

And if you're wondering about the new collection that we keep mentioning, it's still in the works. I'll be photographing the new pieces this week and plan to release them next week, as long as everything goes as planned. In the meantime, enjoy our fall sale!

LWM ~ That Jumper

Listening ~ On repeat! Ashley Monroe's album The Blade. If you like your country a little bit somber (granted, this song here is not one of the more somber ones) and you love Dolly you'll love this gal!

Wearing ~ I've been practically living in this jumper dress ever since I scored it at a local Goodwill and altered the hem length. 

Making ~ This week I've been busily finalizing the fall collation in preparation for release near the fall equinox. Pictured below is one of the new pieces! I'm really excited about this bracelet design.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Full Circle ~ Doing the Work

The past week I've really hunkered down at my studio. I almost have no photos to share from non-Tangleweeds moments! Sometimes it gets like that, especially as I prepare to release a new collection, which (fingers crossed, in fact, if you're reading this, cross your fingers for me!) should be available by the end of this month. I'm shooting to time the release with the fall equinox.

In the meantime tho, I am having my annual fall sale in my Etsy shop through the rest of this month. Simply use the coupon code "fallequinox" and you'll receive 35% off your entire order! It's a great deal and a great way to get an early start on holiday gift shopping!

I hope everyone is having a lovely week! 'Til next time. . . 

(oh, and P.S. I've recently become obsessed with the Dear Sugar podcast and the corresponding collection of articles from back in the day when the column ran regularly. The title of this post comes from one of Cheryl Strayed's "themes" which is simply "you have to do the work." Meaning if you want to see the success you desire, whether you're rich or poor, busy or not, childless or have kids, etc, etc. you have to do the work to see real results. Hence the title "doing the work.")

-Jeannine

Full Circle ~ Vacation, Craft Fairs and Real Life Stuff

Recently I was given the extreme privilege of learning why you need to learn to prioritize the people and things that matter to you most while you can. Not tomorrow or once your business is up and running smoothly or once you're in the right mood. No, right now it must be done. At least  in as much a way as you are capable of doing it at that moment. And just be present. Stop worrying about "what if", stop letting fear cloud things. 

That probably seems vague and esoteric, and I'm gonna leave it vague and esoteric for now as I don't have 100% clearance to write about some of the things I'm referencing here. 

I know I've been away from the blog quite a bit this summer. Always seems to happen during the summer. A couple of weeks ago Jeff and I went up to Northern California for a much needed respite from the busyness of our lives. Some pictures below are from that trip. The rest are a round-up of small moments and Tangleweeds moments. Enjoy!

Gravenstein Apple Fair

Last weekend I vended at the Gravenstein Apple Fair in Sebastopol. This event has become one of Tangleweeds' best events, hands down. This was my fourth year, and the overall goodwill and support from many returning Tangleweeds collectors really felt great. The community there is very supportive of handmade, slow food, local community, the DIY movement and a sustainable lifestyle in general. 

Pictured below are many of the local farm animals that a couple of my friends and I schmoozed with on Sunday morning. (The cow's name is Lily.) There's also this great, relatively new space in Sebastopol, called The Barlow. I stopped there to get coffee at Taylor Maid Farms and had dinner at Zazu on Saturday night with my friend, Maggie. 

I have to admit, after this trip there is a little part of me that is quietly planning my move to this area north of the bay area. Not any time soon. My home is in Oakland for at least the next 3 to 5 years. But it did get me day-dreaming about a bit of land with room for some animals and a lovely little in-home studio. Maybe one day!

Full Circle ~ Life Lately

Summertime! Running Tangleweeds really creates such a dichotomy during the summer. Lazy summer days? Ha! One things that's been made vividly apparent to me is that July may actually be the busiest month of the year for me (even a bit busier than December.) But it's been a really great summer thus far and I'm excited for what the rest may hold. Especially my five day camping trip next week! Below are some snapshots from my days throughout the last couple of weeks.

Pictured below, some sneak peeks of new designs that are coming soon, later in September! One of the biggest challenges for me, in the last, oh I'd say year and a half, is finding the time to create, photograph and roll out new designs while keeping up with all of my current work. I have to say, it's a challenge that I didn't really anticipate when I set off down this handmade jewelry business path, but it is one that I'm better learning to rise to.

(that last photo includes some older designs too)

I'm hoping to put together a post about the Gravenstein Apple Fair that I vended at last weekend.  It was a wonderful event that I was kind of sad to see end. I'm already making plans for next year's fair! In the meantime, time for me to get some lunch. . . 

Lake Merritt Weekend

This past weekend was so lovely. I think I spent nearly every waking moment of daylight outside. On Saturday I went to Lake Del Valle with my sister and her kids for a day of sun and swimming. Then, on Sunday, Jeff and I walked around Lake Merritt, explored the gardens there, had lunch at Grand Lake Kitchen and just had a slow-lazy day. Some pictures from Sunday are below. 

LWM ~ Jumpers and Safety Glasses

I've had some long days in the studio the last couple of weeks and music is one of those things that keeps me focused and motivated. Sometimes though, it's not the high energy stuff I prefer, but more calm and melodic music, like the wonderful songs by the sisters Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Their music has been the backdrop for much of the designing of my fall collection. 

Wearing ~ summery dresses and safety glasses! Well, okay, the safety glasses pretty much get worn at some point everyday. I found this jumper dress at a thrift shop a week ago and knew it was meant for me. It was long, ankle length and a bit matronly, nothing a little hem-length adjustment couldn't fix!

Making ~ In between making sessions with my assistant, I've been a busy bee on the new collection. . . Here's another little sneak peek of some of the color and stone elements from what will be the fall collection.

Happy Thursday!

Renegade Craft Fair - San Francisco

This past weekend was the Renegade Craft Fair at Fort Masson in San Francisco. What a great weekend! I didn't take as many photos as usual, but trust me, it was a veritable smorgasbord of amazing handmade goods and independent design. This year the event was in TWO buildings (both the Festival and the Herbst Pavilions) which basically meant double the number of vendors! I can't thank my wonderful Tangleweeds collectors enough for all of the love and support at the event!

As always, I had my trusty assistant, Alice there with me (on Saturday) so I could walk around and take in the sites and pick up handmade goodies from other makers. I snagged a new dress from Make it Good Apparel (out of Portland), delicious jams from Lemon Bird Preserves and luxurious soaps from Etta and Billie. I'll try to post a Listening-Wearing-Making post with the dress the next time I wear it. 

In the meantime, I'm getting really focused on the new collection, and getting so excited to share it with you guys! I will admit, I am not quite as far along in the whole new collection process as I would like to be, but I'm trying to accept where I'm at and do what I can. So much of running a small business is about recalibrating goals and expectations around one very important and limited resource: TIME! 

With that said, I'm off to the workbench. Have a wonderful week everyone!

Full Circle ~ Time off to Play

Last week I took a few days off to have my nephew, Noah stay with me, and to simply re-charge my batteries (so to speak). It was a good reminder of how important it is to take time off to play! Pictures below are from some of our adventures. Now, gotta get back to prepping for Renegade this weekend!

top to bottom:

1. Noah in a giant chair at the Exploratorium in SF.
2. Otis on his favorite "poof."
3. Me, lounging with a good book and country music on the stereo.
4. Arlo and Otis: the best example of laziness in my life.
5. Peace sign at the Albany Bulb.
6. Two paintings of Joanne Ludwig's at her First Friday opening in Oakland. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!