Messy Apartment, or, That time I wrote a blog post just to tell myself it's ok to have a messy apartment.

I always get a pang of jealousy when I go into someone's apartment that is....how do I say this.....empty? Nothing on the floors, tables nice and clear, bags upon bags not hanging from the backs of chairs. My brother lives somewhat like a minimalist, with carefully chosen furniture and design pieces. I think I live like the opposite of a minimalist, and Ben is just along for the ride (though slightly begrudgingly).

There are lots of reasons for the excess in things. A) I work from home, and while I could have a huge studio with a room for packing and shipping and stations for every single aspect of jewelry making, the whole operation is more or less jammed into the very edge of the living room. Therefore, things tend to spill over into the rest of the room. Like boxes. And pliers. And stones. And beads. (Yes, beads. I know. What's happening to me.)

And B). We got married! And got lots and lots of (wonderful and plentiful) gifts!! So at the moment I'm attempting to rearrange the living room in order to fit all of our new tables and lamps and bowls and vases.

I'm going to show you some pictures. Don't be disturbed- they make the apartment look WAY more hoardier than it is. I hope, at least. Let's go on a tour, shall we?

This lovely little end table will now serve as my tiny packing station. That big ol' box of envelopes used to be in it's place, up until 2 minutes ago. I think the table looks better- no?

But now where do I put this enormous box of envelopes??

All I need to do is clear off this stool, and I wouldn't have to stand over the workbench hunched, working. Why don't I clear it off? i don't know. 

Ahhh. My beautiful new book shelf. I can't wait to decorate the edges of the shelves and paint a chalk board on the side where that bag is hanging! 

This is where sh*t gets a little crazy. ( I still haven't decided if I can swear on here. I probably can.)

Note the little gym in the left corner, consisting of a stationary bike I have yet to use more than twice, and a stability ball that I fantasize about doing sit ups on. I love the new giant clock (CB2, wedding gift). All of the pictures in that vertical row are Etsy related (either bought on Etsy, or bought from craft fairs from vendors who are on Etsy). We got that old school map at a yard sale a while ago. That magazine rack all the way on the right is one of my favorite additions (also wedding gift, also CB2- (thanks Emily and Chris, if you are reading this!)

My parents bought that record player on top of the book shelf, with the speakers, instead of going on a honeymoon. I love that. Ben and my dad made that record stand peaking behind the magazine rack when we were home sometime last year. Daniela and Sam got us that cool blanket on top of the hideously upholstered (but free) recliner! 

This is where things get scary looking. I just need to move those cardboard boxes, and things should look slightly more sane. Hi House!

This bigger shot REALLY makes it look crazy.

I do love these though. The little stack of plates was a wedding gift from a small town in France where a famous writer spends time, who came to our wedding. I LOVE them. The vase was also a gift (thanks Josh!) And that TABLE. Ben's friend Bender made it from wood salvaged from NYC water towers! How cool is that?? He makes furniture in New York.

Another glorious view of my little staged set up. That there is soy milk in my coffee. Something crazy is happening to me I think.

This morning I woke up and decided to stop eating dairy for a week and see what happens to me. What if I transform into a different person?! I think I might.

Okay. If you are still reading this, you truly are a champ. Also funny, this is how I look right now as I write this:

My mom got it for me. I don't think I'll ever wear anything else again. It is the PERFECT stay-at-home jeweler uniform. 

So. That's it. I'm off to chance (because today is the one day I have to go work in public. At Ginger Root! Now with online store!!)

Later gators! Next post might be an adventure in making espresso with a stove top...espresso maker. Scary! 

Some new biddies

Oh, boy. I started Gossip Girl from the beginning (to watch while I work, of course) and it is soooo annoying and bad and good. I can't stop watching it.

I also made these:


Purple Geometry

I do believe I am in love. 

And these: Desert Drusy Studs

Hello!

Hi kiddos! Guess what! I got a big new shelf to put up by my work bench! Now all I want to do is decorate it. Paint a chalk board on the side, stick rhinestones along the edge of the shelves. I took this picture of all of my drusie's with the earring cards I'm slowly putting together:

And then I made this! 

Meanwhile, I'm catching up on orders, working on some soon to be sort of major orders, and already stressing out about craft fairs and the holidays! What are you up to?

Some wedding pics!

Wedding pictures are slowly trickling in...here are some of my faves!

Hey hey hey!

Hi!

Last night I walked in Ginger Root's runway show for Ready Set DC's Fashion: District. It was pretty wild. I wore my own Lady Bloomers that I had bought from them a while ago, and an amazing yellow and blue shirt, which I ended up buying. I wore it home from the fashion show, and am actually wearing it right now! I can't wait to see the real pictures, but here's one we took on my friend Sadie's phone, who I wrangled into walking too. 

I ALSO bought a new nail polish product which I am very excited about. Haha. So excited though, really. It's Esse and it's a matte top coat, so it makes whatever polish you use have a matte, non shiny finish. Which I'm kind of obsessed with right now, for some reason. 

Also I made some things yada yada yada, but I'll post those later! Tuna calls! (Ben just seared some tuna.)

Tripod!

guess what? i got a tripod for my camera!! SO MUCH EASIER TO TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING. but mostly of me. Here are some of my faves, most of which were mess ups. 

I love this picture SOOOooo much. i dont know why. i just love ben in the background. 

It's been a while since I took a pic of the honey knuckles. Maybe it's time for a new one in the shop?

This necklace photographs so nicely. also I got that t shirt for 2.50 in urban outfitters.

 I love my hair in this picture. Jeez I'm concieted. 

And finally, I made a new Ultra Bow Ring!!! In the store now. 

New Earrings

I've been hankering for a new style of earrings as of late, and came up with these little ladies.

Sleep High Five

The other night, Ben and I were sleeping, both facing away from each other. At the very same second, we each started to roll over, extending our outer arms to spoon each other, and in the process high fived.

That's right. We sleep high fived. We both woke up and laughed for half a second, and then went back to sleep.

Sleep high five. Think about it. 

Stars

I just finished this custom made constellation ring for a lovely gal in The Netherlands. 

GLORIOUS

Purple:::Pink:::Green

Felicity

Well, I can't stop watching Felicity on Netflix instant. I never watched it before, and just started with the first episode.

I. Am. Hooked.

I'm halfway through the first season- THE BEST JEWELRY MAKING TV SHOW EVER. EVER.  i love it so much. as everyone else does, I guess. who couldn't?!

Also, I just made a ring that I am obsessed with.

I'LL BLOG MORE I PROMISE

HI kiddies!

I'm all amped up on coffee and ready to BLOG. so. what's doin?  I'm going a little wacky over here- we miss the honeymooning life! And now I have all sorts of wholesale projects to get done within the next couple of weeks, not to mention it's basically christmas. I know, it's not, but in my brain it is!

So now I'm wearing a onesie, sitting on the couch, about to try to design a label for little plastic pouches to pack jewelry in for the craft fair! Andddd I'm editing some pictures to list some new drusy bits- wanna see??

I want to make all sorts of little drusy necklaces that can be worn together in different ways! Like stackable rings, but necklaces. Cute?! CUTE.

Ok I'm gonna go before I make you not want to come back to this blog ever again.

I'm wearing a onesie.

Did I say that?

Oh, here's something I need to get off my onesie-clad chest. I went to Target yesterday, (where I bought a pretty little peasant top and a hilarious cropped long sleeves grey shirt with a giant heart?!) (and a scarf I definitely don't need) and I found the VERY LAST Missoni article of clothing I think- it was a blue thin puffer jacket with blue zig zags. I got super excited, tried it on, realized it wasn't that flattering.But I was still swept up in everything. So I took it in my cart and fantasized about selling it on Ebay. Then I realized, I probably wouldn't do that. Then I thought, maybe I'll just wear it? Then I thought, it's not that flattering on. Then I thought, why do I want it so badly? SO I put it back!! Biggest mistake ever?! I DON'T KNOW!!!

tell me its ok. 

I'm married!

Greetings from honeymoon land!

We are in beautiful NYC this fine morning.

We both have the worst colds, but those didn't start until after the wedding.

Here are two teaser photos until we get the rest.

Some highlights from New York so far:

Eating lunch at Balthazar's, and having a waitress ask me if I looked familiar because I was an actress.

Eating at Momofuku Ko.

Also eating across from Alan Alda the next night.

Obviously this trip has focused on eating.

REMEMBER ME??

The crazy girl getting married on Saturday with a super pimply chin??? Who is stressed out and keeps touching it?? and it just keeps getting worse?!

Anyway, you haven't heard from me for a while because i'm going a little crazy. The seating chart is done though, the goody bags packed, my dad is working hard on making all of the little wooden/test tube vase/ escort card holders. Parents are the best.

Oh! And I went on a hilarious bachelorette adventure to Atlantic City!! The highlight had to be dancing in a swimming pool to Paulie D from Jersey Shore dj's. And then a guy started throwing singles into the pool at us. And then we started grabbing. And then we ended up with $96 of the $100 (we saw the money band that said it was a stack of a hundred). And then we went to get pizza with it.

I'll post more pictures later, but here is a taste!

We had a limo!!! 

We dressed up.

We had pringles and drank wine!

And then we danced in a pool!

Anyhoo, it was clearly a pretty big hoot. Now I'm going to take a bath and pretend that it's not a crazy busy night! 

Farewell

This is the last video post for a while.

Oh, and it is so boring you will want to poke your eyes out.

But enjoy!!

Lazy Friday Morning

Well, not too lazy. I went to the Post Office, and joined the panicked masses at Safeway. I bought loads of hurricane essentials, such as Annie's Fruit Snacks, Sun Chips, pears, and refried beans.

And milk?

And then I listed this necklace:

And for breakfastlunch, I made coffee, and ate it with a strawberry toaster thing (Nature's Path, my addiction).

I also took a chocolate mik, to make a mocha. Or something that resembles a mocha. Either way, I got this super amazing gif out of it:

Hah. Why does this please me so much??

Elephino

Last night, I went to a DC Fashion Blogger Meet Up at one of my favorite stores, Violet Boutique, in Adams Morgan.

I wrote an elephant dress I got from there, and was sporting my polished new hair do. I also became BFF with jewelry designer Diamente!  It was great fun to meet another jeweler and we had a blast talking to blogger, but mostly gabbing about post office visits and chain types.

Aaaaanyway, we had wine and talked and it was quite wonderful. Some pictures of me getting ready:

And then some shots from the event, courtesy of Alina Gonzalez for the Feast:

Myself and new friend Libby of Diament! 

Honeymoon Earrings

Two things:

Ben and I are now obsessed with the show Damages. Did I mention that? Does anyone else watch it? This second season I'm pretty confused, but that's ok. I'll play along.

Secondly, I made these super fun pyrite fringe earrings for my boss/friend/awesome designer Kristen of Ginger Root Design of DC. She got the stones on her honeymoon in West Virginia!

I am prettttty smitten with them. 

Crazy day

Today, my friends was a crazy day. It started off great, I got free sunglasses with my contacts, got all amped up on coffee...

And then Sadie came over and yada yada yada, I was showing her shoes I ordered for the wedding (which I hope fit)..

And lo and behold, the couch starts shaking! And the tv starts wobbling!! and it doesn't stop! So, we open the door (which was slightly jammed), and sprinted down the stairs. I didn't even have shoes on, I left the apartment door wide open, no phone, no nothin'. I never ran so fast. I honestly thought the building was crumbling. 

Earthquake! Crazy stuff. 

So after wandering around dazed, with everyone asking everyone in the street if they had cell reception (which they didn't), we went back up, had water and frozen strawberries, and then had drinks on a rooftop of a bar. Here is Sadie wearing her pair of silver heart studs in her second hole (darling).