adorn jewelry

Inspiring Stop-Animation

2010-03-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

With the popularity of Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox, stop animation videos have been getting a lot more attention as of late. Enter Angela Kohler, who is responsible for the dreamy Kindle commercials.

Angela Kohler Kindalicious

To me, the commercials sell her aesthetic more than they sell the product itself, which may be part of their branding. All I know is they seem a throw back to an older, less polished technology which is more in line with reading a good book rather than curling up with a cold Kindle.
Needless to say, the videos stand alone as an example of her beautiful art work. If you have reservations about loving advertising, check out her short video "Lost Things."

Angela Kohler Lost Things

Bands have been utilizing stop animation to create videos for years, often because they can do it on a relatively small budget. Here is one of my favorites, Oren Lavie's 'Her Morning Elegance.'

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

Now that I have you hooked, you should really watch this incredible commercial for natural gas. I will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Guaranteed.

Aardgas Commercial

Three Shows, Three Cities

2009-12-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

With emptier wallets this year, many folks are hand-making gifts and cards. But not everyone is that crafty. So, local crafts shows are the next best thing to find affordable, well-made items imbued with hand-made goodness.

I will be doing three holiday shows this year in three different cities.
Two are happening this weekend in Minneapolis and Chicago and I will be sharing a booth with my sister, Jenny, of Orange Peel Enamel.

No-Coast Craft-o-rama, headed up by the super crafty group Crafters Local 612, will take place this Friday and Saturday at the Midtown Exchange building. Hours are Friday from 3 to 8p and Saturday from 9a-5p. The lovely Miss Allysen Hoberg will be running the booth so stop by and visit her.
Download a vendor map here. Our booth is E26.

The second is Renegade's Chicago show which will be held at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse. Saturday and Sunday, it will run from 11a-7p. Plan to spend some time here as they have filled three floors wall-to-wall with crafty goodness!

Download a vendor map from here. We will be Booth 124 in Room 207.

The final show, 3rd Ward Handmade Holiday Craft Fair, I will be flying to Brooklyn to participate in. With over 120 artisans, free coffee, and live demos, this is a must-visit! It is one day only so don't miss it!

Most of the shows will be giving away swag bags to the early birds so make sure to check out the details of each event to get your hands on some free goodies.

Good Things Come in Threes

2009-11-27T18:03:00.001-08:00

Adorn Jewelry can now be found in three local shops in Minneapolis: the Walker Shop, Soo Visual Arts Center, and Patina's new Shoppe Local. All three are awesome places to pick up some holiday gifts, so go for a little drive around town and get your shopping done!
Some of my favorites I stumbled upon at Shoppe Local: Lake Calhoun topographic cards, mohawk baby hats and jars of honey with honeycomb.

And at Soo VAC, I found creepy doll buttons, Ashidashi paper and pencil socks, and matroyshka measuring cups.

Exclusive Jewelry at the Walker

2009-11-27T16:00:00.000-08:00

If you were to walk to the Walker, as I do since I only live a few blocks away, you would notice the circles of turf that emerge from the cement walkway out front. When I first moved to Loring Park, the circles caught my eye. I felt inspired to create a piece that utilized the grass but also incorporates the flush cement. Working together with Nancy Gross of the Walker Shop, I created rings and pendants that will be carried exclusively in the shop.

Go and visit the museum to see the newest exhibit, Benches and Binoculars, and do a little holiday shopping while you are there. There are many great gifts to be founds, including
Melissa Borell's Pop-Out Jewelry, Cardboard Safari taxidermy and Tokidoki blind box Cactus Pup figures.

Moss Rings Down Under

2009-09-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

Adorn Jewelry has gone global! While many of you lovely customers from around the world have purchased Adorn from my shop online, this is the first time that Adorn Jewelry will be available for direct sale outside of the United States.
Heaven in Earth is shop in New South Wales that specializes in garden accessories. The new addition to their shop? Garden Jewellry!

Check out some of my favorite items that they carry:
Gift Tags with Seeds Imbedded $1.50
Paper Potter Tool $31
Handblown Glass Droplet $4

Jocelyn, the shop owner, does a fabulous job of promoting all of the items that she carries, as evidenced by her impressive list of press she has received.

And already the jewelry has begun to create a little buzz down under, with the Circle moss ring being featured on Magnolia Square's blog Snippets.

Midwest Living

2009-09-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been too long. You are right. What have I been doing in all this time? Well, for one, I moved across the country. I am now back in Minneapolis, after a 7 year stopover in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. This required a lot of down-sizing since I moved from a large 2 bedroom that I shared with my sister into a tiny studio apartment just off of Loring Park. I will post pics soon of how I fit my studio into my studio.

Here are some moments of the past months to get you caught back up to speed...

Before I moved, I was part of a local feature about Etsy on Komo 4 News. From the Komo 4 page, click 'Watch the Story' to see the interview.

Many bike rides down to the Minneapolis Farmer's Market since I moved. I love my market bag from a great little find in Queen Anne called Eat Local (read: $1 Stumptown lattes my Seattlite friends!). I giggle to myself that I am carrying a 'local' bag from Seattle. All of their designs are done my Nikki McClure, a artist who can wield an X-acto knife like nobody's business.

Inspired by the brick apartment buildings I now find myself surrounded by, I am working on a new mossy brick pendant. Coming soon to my shop!

Moss Line Available for Wholesale

2009-02-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

I finished my wholesale packaging today for the 'Living Jewelry' that will be carried in retail shops. What do you think?
I am enamored with the clear little boxes because they remind me of little terrariums encasing the "growing" moss rings and pendants. And if you know me or read my blog, you will know that I love terrariums.

Are you a shop owner interested in carrying the line? You can check out my terms and download a Line Sheet here http://adornjewelry.blogspot.com/2008/03/wholesale-and-consignment.html .

Settling Back In

2009-02-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

I am finally settling back into the everyday swing of things. For some weeks, I was getting prepared for my Etsy feature, building up my stock of jewelry and packing/shipping supplies. But when the feature was finally posted, no matter how prepared I thought I was, those 48 hours were a roller-coaster ride.
Getting all of the orders out on time didn't end up being a problem, but I wasn't able to catch up on e-mails and inquiries for quite some time. The thing that came most unexpected to me were the e-mails that people sent just to say how happy they were for me and how beautiful they thought my work was. It was very touching and I felt supported by a community that I didn't really know I had. So, even if I didn't get a chance to write back to you, thank you for all of your accolades.
Below is a short video of me getting all of my packages ready to go to the post office. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Pickled Red Onions

2009-02-08T23:23:00.000-08:00

I happen to love pickled foods. There is a local cafe here in Seattle that makes their own pickled red onions and every time I go, I find myself thinking about those delicious onions for days. So, I finally got around to looking up a recipe and making my own. I made two full jars today so hopefully they will last me awhile. The other thing about them is that they take on a brilliant pink color when they pickle. Don't they look beautiful in their jar here? But not too pretty to eat them all.

Open for Business

2009-01-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

I opened the doors of Adorn Jewelry back up a couple of weeks ago after a much needed respite. It was quite lovely. Below is a photo of the seaweed growing on the rocks on the beach below our room in Jamaica. The bright green reminded me of my moss rings. Now, with a light dusting of snow on the ground, all I can think of when I look at the photo is how I wish I could go swimming in the sea again...

I hope your holidays were fantastic as well.

Adorn Jewelry Closed for Vacation

2008-12-20T22:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for a fabulous year! I hit 1000 sales this month which was a huge milestone for me. My shop will be closed while I am vacationing until January 10th. Please feel free to browse around in my sold items and come back to shop in January. Take care and have enjoy your adventure into the coming year. See you soon!...

Holiday Shows

2008-11-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

This year I will be in two holiday shows, one in Seattle and one in Portland.
Urban Craft Uprising is happening December 6th and 7th and is celebrating its fourth year. You can get there early and wait in line to try to get one of the swag bags or stop by later to avoid the line. But don't get there so late that you miss out on some great deals; there will be 120 vendors but many of them sell one-of-a-kind goods so come early for best selection. See here for pics of previous years. You can download a map with the all of the vendor booths here.
We will be directly to your right as you walk in the main doors.

Crafty Wonderland is happening in Portland the following weekend. It is one day only so don't sleep in late and miss it! While the monthly Crafty Wonderland happens at the Doug Fir Lounge, the Super Colossal Holiday sale will be featuring three times as many vendors so it will be happening at the Oregon Convention Center. Everything you need to know about how time and location can be found here.

I will be sharing a booth will my sister, the illustrious Orange Peel Enamel, so stop on by and finish your holiday shopping!

Bluebottle Art Gallery

2008-11-13T11:54:00.001-08:00

Adorn Jewelry and Orange Peel Enamel are now available at Bluebottle Art Gallery. So, head on down to Capitol Hill for some local shopping.

While you are there, check out the new exhibition of prints by Julie West and the beautiful plush creations of Abby Glassenberg.

November Featured Designer

2008-11-10T23:31:00.000-08:00

Tarah Prater Perini of Urban Fashion Network contacted my a few weeks ago and asked me to be the featured designer of the month. How fantastic! You can read the interview and get the inside deal (10% off) the featured item by purchasing through the site.

Resin Rings Finally For Sale

2008-11-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

My resin rings which I said were coming soon way back in June are finally available for purchase in my Etsy shop. Come take a look!

Miniature Mania

2008-09-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

When I was little, I used to collect miniatures. There was a small group of my girlfriends, and we would all save up our allowance to purchase what would be a fleeting moment of cherished envy from the other girls. One of us even had the requisite dollhouse within to place the objects while the rest of us had a sectioned box that hung on the wall, our mini-dioramas confined to 1x2 in spaces.
As I grew, the obsession with tiny things remained, perhaps in spite of it or, more likely, because of it. I dreamed of becoming an architect, only because I wanted to play with the tiny people that walked along the sidewalk next to the building being designed.
A couple of years ago, I discovered the work of Akiko Ida and Pierre Javelle. Their miniature world Minimiam is one filled with life-sized pastries and miniature-scaled people and the intriguing, oft amusing, collision between the two worlds.
Then, surfing on Flickr, I came upon the world of Tilt-Shift photography. Wow! Real life turned miniature; what at fascinating concept. I played around with some photos I already had but I obviously need a lot of practice to emulate the effect... (it looks a bit better if you click on it and look at a larger view)

More recently this preoccupation has expressed itself in my creation of micro-succulent societies and terrariums, little worlds of landscape and towering vegetation.

So, with the advent of my latest Moss rings, the discussion of tiny people keeps resurfacing. I love the reaction I get when I wear a ring around town. Most people has something to say and everyone wants to touch it. A lot of comments revolve around putting tiny objects upon it, like a chair, lawn mower, or sunbather. I am fascinated by this desire to create a world that would make sense of the existence of this tiny land upon my finger.
Finally, after months of searching the N-scale world of model trains, I decided upon a few sets of characters. They arrived yesterday and I had such fun setting them up and photographing them. I foresee a whole series of adventures for these tiny guys.

In Love with Moss

2008-09-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

I love moss. So its good that I live in the Pacific Northwest where moss is quite abundant. However, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the whole landscape covered by moss as in this photo by Billy Currie for sale on Etsy.
I am quickly discovering that many people have an affinity for moss and so my Cenote and Gather Moss Rings have been having a little heyday in the limelight as of late.

Cenote was discovered on Flickr and featured on the CRAFT blog.

And the Gather Circle ring was featured on Gayla Trail's blog 'You Grow Girl'. I nearly swooned...

My pal Julie Jackson emailed me about the living jewelry created by Adorn Jewelry rightly thinking that they were perfect for gardeners. I ordered one almost immediately.

The rings come with fake moss embedded inside but you can put real moss in there if you prefer. The price has gone up a few bucks since I got mine but they’re still very affordable and well made. I don’t like to wear rings that can’t stand up to a bit of wear and tear and mine has survived through some recent rough and tumble. Although, somewhat ironically, I take it off in the garden. If rings aren’t your thing the designer also makes moss embedded pendants ...
Thanks, Gayla!

Etsy Find

2008-09-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

I have been looking high and low for the perfect dress for a wedding in October and I have to tell you it has been a difficult process. This season, everyone is carrying short jersey dresses that cling to you in all the wrong places and short shifts that fit you like a paper bag. I searched through my favorites on Etsy and re-discovered this absolutely dynamite dress made by
missbrache .

You could wear it fluffed up with a petticoat and a complimentary shrug over the top for the chilly weather that is fast approaching. Stunning!

My Moss Rings are Trendy!

2008-09-11T19:29:00.001-07:00

My new moss rings have been a real hit! Following is an article in Trend Hunter about my line of Living Jewelry...

Tiny Putting Green Jewellery
(TREND HUNTER ) These mossy pieces of ‘Living Jewelry’ are just part of a unique collection by Adorn Jewelry from Seattle, Washington. The silver plated rings are the second design in Adorn Jewelry’s ‘Living Jewelry’ line and are aptly called ‘Gather’; as in ‘gather no moss’. However these rings have apparently stayed still too long and have sprouted some of the green matter right on top.
Adorn Jewelry notes, ‘Gather’ rings are “easy to care for as this moss has no need for sunlight or water!” The faux moss is made of latex ‘sprouts’ which have been hand-cut, backed by foam and ‘planted’ into the bezels of the rings. They look like adorable tiny putting greens.

The globe shaped ring was the first in the ‘Living Jewelry’ line called ‘Cenote’. “The dome atop the ring features a hole that leads to a miniature canvern in which to plant a bit of moss or lichen.”

The rings are available on Adorn Jewelry’s Etsy shop at an affordable cost of $22 for the ‘Gather’ series and $48 U.S for the ‘Cenote’ rings.

The rings were also blogged about on etherealwear by Marya of electronrings, strawberrykitten , and creativadoration by Janick of neawear. Thanks you guys!

And to top it all off, I was also lucky enough to have them grace the front page of Etsy a few times since they came out, including this morning when I woke up. What a great way to start the day!

Adorn on Trunkt

2008-09-09T22:46:00.001-07:00

Come check it out.
Stop by and sign my guest book so I know you were there!

Etsy at Bumbershoot

2008-09-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

Etsy came back this year to attend Bumbershoot, Seattle's annual local music and arts festival. Miss Batch and Objecked were there, joined by two EtsyRain (the Etsy Street Team) sellers for each day of the 3-day festival. The weather and music were great and the booth was such a success that they ran out of promos the first day and had to have more cards and buttons created! Passersby were invited to create an Etsy account, chat with Etsy admin or sellers, or to just jump on the computer and check out what Etsy is all about.
I was lucky enough to have been invited to sell my jewelry in the booth alongside my sister of OrangePeelEnamel and to share our Etsy experience with the shoppers.

The Indie Market section of the festival was sponsered by Readymade magazine this year and was filled with local indie crafters, many of whom are also Etsy sellers. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit.
Here are all of the shops that were selling their wares in the market. (Please let me know in the comments if I forgot to include you as a seller or if you stopped in to the booth.)

Etsy Booth:
adornjewelry
Orange Peel Enamel
Greenbelts
Maluhia
Finny's Funny Fleece
imakecutestuff

Flatstock:
Strawberry Luna

Other Indie Market Booths:
slow loris shirts
smackofjellyfish
akrobotics
oneupdesigns
populationone
Noxenlux Chapeaux
gothfoxdesigns
boring sidney
Dandelion Blu
Carmacazzi
cleowolfus designs
theastarr
appetite
greg delaney
monseiurt
olveradesign
puckish
revivalink
souldier
20twenty
crawsister
patricecake
sydney designs
pdxsoftgoods

Bumbershoot 2008

2008-09-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was Bumbershoot, Seattle's annual local music and arts festival. The music lineup this year included Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Horses and M. Ward. Comedians from near and far graced the stage and One Reel Film Festival again held their Fly Filmmaking Challenge, showcasing the indie filmmakers' process. And of course, Flatstock is always a must-see.
The two highlights this year for me were "Words and Music" presented by Sherman Alexie and The Stranger and the performances of Australia's Strange Fruit.
Words and Music featured a medley of performances centering on the theme of influential books and music but most notably included a tribute to Hall and Oates. The exciting news? Alexie announced that this was only the first of a series of homages to legendary artists.

Strange Fruit is a performing arts group from Melbourne. The performers stand atop 15-foot poles and sway back and forth like stalks of wheat in the breeze. The music and costumes coupled with the expressive, mesmerizing movements of the show serves to straddle the intersection of dance, theatre, and circus. It reminded me of a dance performance that I saw in Minneapolis years back where the performers were suspended from the ceiling and hung in climbing harnesses. Their fluidity of movement created the illusion that they were swimming underwater. It was breathtaking. Strange Fruit caused the same desire in me to run away and become a circus performer. Then perhaps I could finally force myself to learn to play my musical saw in an eerie circus-music band. Hmm, I wonder if I could just install one of those poles in my backyard.

Letterpress on Etsy

2008-08-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Along the theme of letterpress, I found some beautiful nature-inspired letterpress on Etsy.
1. paperedtogether 2. satsumalynn 3. ilee 4. satsumalynn
5. 12fifteen 6. sycamorestreetpress
Ilee is a local Seattleite who makes beautiful calendars every year. Make sure to pick yours up as soon as they come out because they go fast!

Wayzgoose

2008-08-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

I went to the School of Visual Concepts' 7th annual Wayzgooze this past Saturday. There was a poster design challenge amongst multiple local design firms whose posters were then printed in the parking lot with a two-ton steamroller. There was a gallery exhibition, a tour of the printing studio, local artists' and print press' wares, along with juggling and refreshments (local hot dog stand Dante's Dogs and Dry Soda).

Interested in getting your hands dirty? Bonnie Thompson Norman teaches classes and has an open studio on Wednesday nights in her garage-turned-studio called Windowpane Press. People at all different stages of their projects stop in to work and chat.

Photo of my Day

2008-08-20T00:32:00.000-07:00

new growth.

Photo of my Day

2008-08-18T22:28:00.001-07:00

Air plants from Fremont's Indoor Sun Shoppe in the window.

Tres Terrariums

2008-08-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today was my day to spend some time attending to the garden so I decided to make my Centrifugal Terrarium while I was at it. I also have several other beakers and so I made a couple more; one for a friend of mine as a graduation gift.

Well, I just adore them! I seriously want to make dozens more of these little miniature landscapes. I just might look into how involved it is to sell plants in Washington...
Would you buy one?

Centrifugal Terrarium

2008-08-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

I bought this great old jar today from the Goodwill in Ballard with the intention of planting a terrarium inside. I looked on the Bellco website to find out what the pointy pyramid-shaped jar was for and found out it is a Centrifugal Bottle.

I did an Etsy search for Terrarium and came up with some beautiful finds. Enjoy these creative terrariums from MadebyMavis and TheOakLeaves!

Dapping, Doming, and Drilling

2008-08-04T22:05:00.001-07:00

I have always wanted a drill press. Ever since college, when in the metals studio, I could walk over to the huge press and with one turn of the wheel BAM! I've got a hole through my metal.
Since then, wielding a heavy drill in one hand while trying to steady your piece with the other to achieve a clean hole has seemed almost ridiculous in comparison. However, I haven't really been able to justify splurging on one. Lucky for me, I share studio space with my sister, Orangepeelenamel, who drills even more than I do. So, we finally came to point where we decided to bite the bullet and buy one. Now I can't imagine how we managed for this long.

Add this to the new doming/dapping set that we just got and you've got an exciting new line of jewelry.

Shown above are some new additions to the Living Jewelry line I have been working on and below are the Dom ring and Linse necklace that Jenny has created. Stay tuned to our shops to
purchase your very own...

New Rings Arriving Soon

2008-07-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! The ring bases that I ordered arrived yesterday. I placed the images in there to give you an idea of what they will look like. You will have to imagine the glassy resin over them for now. Feel free to leave me a comment or send me a convo on Etsy if you are interested in one. They are adjustable so one size fits most! They will be available for purchase very soon.

Heart Cupcakes

2008-06-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

I saw these lovely little numbers on yumsugar.com and knew instantly that I wanted to make them. Well, my massage students had their final practical last night and what better way to celebrate than with homemade cupcakes decorated like anatomical hearts. The recipe actually calls for jam that you scoop into the center so that they ooze sugary goo but I didn't have the time for that laborious process.

Eat your heart out!

Triangle Bag

2008-06-22T20:36:00.001-07:00

I got the itch to sew today. I hadn't created anything with fabric in some time and so I gathered the IKEA fabric that I bought a few weeks ago and made a bag. I also got to use my new magnetic clasps for the first time. I don't have the patience for patterns so I just winged it. And I love how it turned out! A bit bigger than a purse, it will be a carry-all when I need extra things for an afternoon outing, like a sweatshirt and waterbottle.

Vertebra Rings are Here!

2008-06-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

They are all cast from polymer clay models that I sculpted to resemble thoracic vertebrae. I made two-part silicone molds to reproduce them. They still ended up needing a great deal of clean-up work so I may end up creating new molds but here are the first ones. I love 'em! They are just what I had in mind. Keep an eye on my Etsy shop if you want one.

PetitOiseau in Chicagoist

2008-06-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Heather of Petit Oiseau was recently featured in the Chicagoist. Congratulations, Heather! I own several of Heather's lovely bakelite pieces; they are so yummy it's addicting. Check out these luscious finds.

Wear Your Chair

2008-05-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

This mod chair pendant was featured on the front page of Etsy this morning alongside other striking red and blue items. Created by Jenny of OrangePeelEnamel, this oversized pendant is a
conversation starter. It is one from her line of Mid-Century Modern pendants; a couple of others are pictured below. Okay, you got me; she's my sister. So sue me.

Skeleton Jewelry

2008-05-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

As a massage therapist, I have an affinity for anatomical objects. If you have been to my Flickr page, you may have seen my Plush guts. A couple years ago, I bought a small articulated skeleton from a rummage sale which was being held by a fabulous local artist who owns Common Object. My thoracic pendant was made from a photo taken of the skeleton.
Well, now I am working on a wearable line of Vertebrae jewelry. Pictured is one of the prototype rings that I made out of polymer clay. I am now in the process of creating a 2-part silicone mold to reproduce the ring in resin. Wish me luck!

Wear your Fat Plants

2008-05-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am working on a new line that will combine my love of jewelry with succulents (or fat plants) and moss.

The prototype ring is one that I cast about eight years ago but I just filled the recesses today with moss from the back garden. The pendant features the same bezel setting that I use for my
collage resin pendants but has been planted with a miniature garden.

Collage Birdy Pendants

2008-05-17T20:19:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the new ones that I created that I have slowly been adding to my Etsy shop. The new settings are silver plated but they are significantly deeper than the sterling ones. This allows me to apply the elements in layers, giving the piece a unique 3d effect.

Spring Seduction

2008-04-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

A beautiful front page appeared on today on Etsy for an hour. How fitting; a fleeting moment in the spotlight just like spring, the theme of the page. Yesterday was a glorious Spring day, 70 degrees here! Now today is only a high of 50. Thanks sisicata for featuring me!

Jenny's Junco

2008-04-01T17:53:00.001-07:00

Juncos and Chickadees have been visiting the yard by the dozen and their chirping fills the air. There was one junco in particular that sat still on a branch for hours, puffing his feathers out to keep himself warm. Now he is immortalized in a pendant called Jenny's Junco. He comes in a square or the circular setting shown here and just listed new in my shop.

Wren and Crow

2008-03-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

Wren from thewren.etsy.com featured one of my pendants in her blog today. Check it out at thewren.wordpress.com and while you're at it, check out her lovely handbags in her shop. Thanks, Wren.

Hyacinth Bean Vine is Winning

2008-03-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the Gomphrena were winning until the Hyacinth Bean Vine poked its head out the soil. Within three days it shot up taller than all the other seedlings and now, 14 days after germination, stands about 9 inches tall. Here you can see them at Day 5, 6 and 7. Crazy!

Seedlings

2008-03-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

In only three days, some of my little seeds have germinated and shot up into the world. Echinops were first and still winning in height but a couple of Craspedia and Hollyhock seeds are not far behind. The first image shows Day 1, the second Day 2 and the third Day 3.

Crow Royalties

2008-03-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

I chased a crow from by bird feeder today but my sister scolded me and told me that I should be feeding them because I owe them royalties for all the photos I take of them. Well, one of my pairs of earrings from my line 'As the Crow Flies' is being featured today as an Etsy find .
So, thank you, Ballard crows.

Wish List meets Paper Dolls

2008-03-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

Do you cringe every time you page through a cute clothing catalogue or a dynamite design magazine because your budget is tight? Well, if you can afford a bit of real estate on the front of your fridge you are in luck. Instead of clipping out that mod chair or artichoke lamp that you yearn to buy some day and sticking it in your sketchbook, laminate it and turn it into a magnet.
That way, you can create vignettes of the furniture and room accessories that you drool over. By cutting out some heads from photos, you can have a huge wardrobe in a matter of a couple hours! Never worry again about having too many handbags or throw pillows because all that limits you now is how large your refrigerator is!

Succulent Societies

2008-03-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

During the Seattle winters, the rain will keep you from going outside to thoroughly enjoy the lush green in the garden. So, I like to bring some of the green inside in the form of what my family has coined "Succulent Societies." A variety of sedum and succulents all gathered together in little pots of various shapes and colors. Most of the pots are custom made by my mom on the pottery wheel but the image on the bottom shows a Goodwill find.
It is a shallow dish with a raised center upon which perches a little house.
The piece of blue tile was found on the beach and works here as a little lake surrounded by mini boulders. They are my vibrant microcosms to enjoy year round!

I Heart Rummage has a New Home

2008-03-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

I Heart Rummage is Seattle's longest-running arts and crafts exhibit, featuring many new and oldstanding artists from all mediums. For the past six years it was held at Crocodile Cafe in Belltown but with the closing of the beloved music venue, so too went the home of IHR. But after a short respite, the IHR has settled into a new venue at Chop Suey in Capitol Hill.
The next IHR will be on Sunday April 6th. If you are in Seattle, come on down!

Monteverde Motmot

2008-03-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Over the holidays, I had the privilege of being able to travel throughout Costa Rica and see dozens of beautiful birds. Some of them were common to the United States, but many of them were not. One of the most spectacular birds was the Blue-crowned Motmot. I was walking behind Stella's bakery in Monteverde to take a photo of the house where my friends used to live when I saw a flash of blue flitting around in the tree. He sat there until we finished taking his pictures and then he flew away.

Adorn Jewelry Has Gone to the Birds

2008-03-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

Natalie Broulette from the Seattle Times contacted me some weeks ago to let me know that she wanted to feature my shop as The Daily Find in their online version of the paper. She asked me various questions about my imagery and items, in particular my Bird Nest necklace. I got to read the lovely article for the first time when it ran yesterday. Check it out at http://www.nwsource.com/shopping/adorn-jewelry-has-gone-birds .

Bird Tray

2008-03-13T00:38:00.000-07:00

Three Potato Four is a great online boutique that makes me wish I some extra money to spend. Beautiful accessories and textiles to dress up your home. Check out this adorable tray or this beautiful mug set. Just lovely...

Front Page

2008-03-13T00:27:00.000-07:00

Cute bird theme on the front page of Etsy the other day. My earrings are in the bottom row.

2008-03-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

There have been a multitude of birds visiting the yard lately. Today, I had a flicker that was hanging out in the trees. Then all of a sudden I spotted him digging around in the grass while nervously looking about. He kept ducking up and down; it was quite amusing. Check it out...

Wholesale and Consignment

2008-03-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

For Current Wholesale / Consignment Clients:

When placing an order, you can refer to my portfolio on Trunkt for photos and descriptions. The catalog will always reflect the most up-to-date products and prices.
Underneath the main photo, there is a drop down menu for viewing different Collections. Select "Wholesale Ava i lable " to view all jewelry available for wholesale and consignment orders.

Use the catalog in tandem with my line sheet for placing your order.

Online Portfolio

Line Sheet

Options for Sending in Your Order:
You can simply write out your order and send it via e-mail. Please include quantity, order number and name of each item.
Alternatively, you can print out the line sheet and mail it to the address below.

The shipping price will be added to your subtotal and I will contact you with the total and a time estimation for fulfillment of your order.

....................................................................................................................

For New Wholesale / Consignment Clients:

If you are a brick-and-mortar that is interested in carrying my line, you can contact me by e-mail or if you have an Etsy account, via an Etsy conversation . Please include the name and location of your shop.
Consignment is considered for established local shops only (Twin Cities area). Feel free to contact me if you are interested.

You can view my terms in the Wholesale Contract below. Please print out and complete the following forms before or with your first order.

Wholesale Contract

Resale Certificate

...................................................................................................................
All forms can be mailed to:

Amy Mueller
adorn jewelry
201 W 15th St Apt 404
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Branding

2008-03-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

I completed my first step toward my new branding: I bought a typeface and created a new banner for my shop. Let me know what you think!

Spring has Sprung

2008-03-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, not exactly. But it has been in the 50's here in the Pacific Northwest. So it got me excited thinking about my garden this year. I ordered unusual plants to add some color to the greens of the herbs and succulents that make up most of the garden currently. Here are some photos:

My sister, OrangePeelEnamel, works with a lot of pod shapes in her jewelry and I must say that I am a fan. So, this summer, our garden will be full of pod flowers... which when dried will then be placed in the pod vases (see the previous blog about the vases)..

Flower Pods

2007-11-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

Take a look at these fabulous flower pods that my mom created. They have pin frogs inside of them to hold the stems of the flowers. The other thing that you can't see from these views is that the bottoms of the whitish ones have little feet that hold the sphere up. Just darling. And useful to boot!

New Pendant Line, As the Crow Flies

2007-11-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

I have a new line of Crow pendants out entitled "As the Crow Flies." The pendants feature the crow as he travels from city to city. Join the adventure!

"Crow Flies to Vancouver" available now in my shop.
"Ballard Crow" coming soon...

Vinyl Dinette Chairs

2007-05-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

I have a 50's dinette table with two chairs which I adore. I salvaged them from a garage sale and spent tedious hours scrubbing the chrome with steel wool , replacing the worn out pads on the chairs, replacing the caps on the legs, etc.
Well, now the small tears in the vinyl have cracked and torn after years of use. It is time to have them reupholstered. I considered having it done professionally but have avoiding doing so knowing it would cost a pretty penny.
So the DIY part of me was elated when I discovered the Pink of Perfection website where they have a video tutorial of how to reupholster your vinyl chairs. And they make it look so easy! So now I am shopping for the perfect vinyl. I don't think that it's pink but we'll see.

2007-05-23T22:25:00.000-07:00

There is a prevalence of plush and stuffed tasty edibles these days. I have scoured through many to find my favorites. And here they are... Betzwhite's delightful cupcakes that she crafts from sweaters, My Paper Crane's anthropomorphic sweets, and the breakfast creations of LoveForever. They make me hungry just looking at them.

Bugs

2007-05-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Creepy, Crawly Bugs. Gotta love 'em. I adore this colorful assortment of glasses from Paper Source.

And this display of bugs by Aquakej mounted on polka dots is ingenious.

2007-05-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Come and take a look at some of my favorite screenprinters...

Perfect Children has Perfect Photos

2007-05-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

Addicted to plush animals but don't have any room in your family? The perfect solution to your problem is here. PDX seller Perfect Children is now selling colorful and affordable portraits of your favorite quirky animals. Visit the menagerie in his Etsy shop, PerfectChildren.etsy.com.

2007-05-22T00:45:00.001-07:00

There is a new burst of recyclable bags popping up on the heels of the plastic bag ban. Trader Joe's is selling one of the best priced and hottest bags out there. And it's strong and durable as well. Snag one while you can.

Hedgehogs

2007-05-22T00:37:00.000-07:00

They are so darn cute...

2007-05-21T19:30:00.001-07:00

Look at this cute little ring made by Petit Oiseau. I love it! Only problem is that I seldom wear rings because of all the work I do with my hands.
Her shop is filled with all sorts of yummy Bakelite goodies. Check it out at PetitOiseau.etsy.com.

2007-05-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Come and visit my Flickr page!
See my plush body parts... I made made a thoracic cavity filled with organs.

My plush fruits...

Some of my Bird Nest Necklaces...

2007-05-21T13:36:00.001-07:00

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Adorn Jewelry

These sterling and resin collage pendants speak to me... that's what I love about collage in general, it can be so narrative, without being in your face.
She also does custom photo collage pendants, see her Etsy site for more details.
www.AdornJewelry.etsy.com

Daily Candy, Isn't she lovely?

2007-05-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

My custom photo pendants got featured on Daily Candy, Philly edition. What a fabulous opportunity it has been. I have received so many orders for custom photos of fathers, babies, puppies; you name it!
Check it out http://www.dailycandy.com/article.jsp?ArticleId=30580&city=13

Isn’t She Lovely?

If forgetting Mother’s Day were a career, you’d be senior management.

Which is to say, you probably haven’t given it a moment’s thought till right about now.

Make it up to her with a photo pendant from Adorn. The customized necklace features a photograph of your choice in a beautiful sterling setting. And while it won’t arrive in time for Mother’s Day, it’ll more than make up for your belatedness with its charm and significance.

First, scan a meaningful image (Mom’s wedding, you as a baby, her beloved Yorkie, a photo of her parents) and e-mail it to Adorn designer Amy Mueller (you can also drop it in the mail). She’ll set it under clear resin and cast it in silver. The result is a keepsake Mom will cherish forever.

And good news: Mueller’s extending this order period from May 11 to the 25 for forgetful types like you. When the necklace is completed, it’ll be shipped out to you on June 11.

Just in time to remind you about Father’s Day.

adorn jewelry

Inspiring Stop-Animation

Three Shows, Three Cities

Good Things Come in Threes

Exclusive Jewelry at the Walker

Moss Rings Down Under

Midwest Living

Moss Line Available for Wholesale

Settling Back In

Pickled Red Onions

Open for Business

Adorn Jewelry Closed for Vacation

Holiday Shows

Bluebottle Art Gallery

November Featured Designer

Resin Rings Finally For Sale

Miniature Mania

In Love with Moss

Etsy Find

My Moss Rings are Trendy!

My new moss rings have been a real hit! Following is an article in Trend Hunter about my line of Living Jewelry...

Tiny Putting Green Jewellery

Adorn on Trunkt

Etsy at Bumbershoot

Bumbershoot 2008

Letterpress on Etsy

Wayzgoose

Photo of my Day

Photo of my Day

Tres Terrariums

Centrifugal Terrarium

Dapping, Doming, and Drilling

New Rings Arriving Soon

Heart Cupcakes

Triangle Bag

Vertebra Rings are Here!

PetitOiseau in Chicagoist

Wear Your Chair

Skeleton Jewelry

Wear your Fat Plants

Collage Birdy Pendants

Spring Seduction

Jenny's Junco

Wren and Crow

Hyacinth Bean Vine is Winning

Seedlings

Crow Royalties

Wish List meets Paper Dolls

Succulent Societies

I Heart Rummage has a New Home

Monteverde Motmot

Adorn Jewelry Has Gone to the Birds

Bird Tray

Front Page

Wholesale and Consignment

Branding

Spring has Sprung

Flower Pods

New Pendant Line, As the Crow Flies

Vinyl Dinette Chairs

Bugs

Perfect Children has Perfect Photos

Hedgehogs

CRE8IVE JUICE

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Adorn Jewelry

Daily Candy, Isn't she lovely?