Happy New Year!!!

I’m so excited about 2008!!! How about a wish or my sentiments for the year in TinyPics. Why not?! Let’s start it off w/the new! Before we get to that I wish you all a wonderfully healthy, happy and certainly prosperous new year!!!

First…

Remember…

Reap….

Enjoy the Small Things

Love Life!

Create!

Keep it FAB!

(with accessories by Ansley Parker, of course! :p)
My fav quote of the moment: Life is too short to wear a bad outfit. Word.

**If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere!**

Party!

Love. Hard.

On a final note….

and…

Love Ya! The Ansley Parker kids.

Ring Update!

I almost forgot to tell you!  Yesterday we did a private sells event and I had a request for rings just as I was heading out to the studio.  I’m working on an onyx ring, but there’s nothing exciting to see yet (as if that has ever stopped me before, lol).  It’s a bezel set, so there’s really nothing to see yet.  I changed the design and decided I’d do 3, rather than one piece of onyx.  It’s so boring sitting all alone.  So until that happens, I polished and sanded for a few hours yesterday and have something nearing completion from the lost wax rings I casted early in the semester.  I’ll make time this weekend to take a few pics and upload them.  I’m so pleased with how they turned out since I’m a newbie at this technique.  Both are far from ‘finished’ but they are wearable.  I had to pry them from my fingers yesterday. ^.^  In playing with them though, I had a new interesting design concept.  We’ll see how it plays out.  I’m not so sure now that I’m going to set a stone in them at all.  I’ll post them and get some feedback from you!

TTYL!

The Week of Depth (Nov. 3-11)

Scorpio II
The Week of Depth, November 3-11
Mode: Feeling

The Scorpio II period takes Depth as its central image. This period can be likened symbolically to the time in a middle-aged individual’s life when deeper areas of the personality make their demands and a new, profound sources of power may be uncovered. In the Scorpio II period, contact is made with unconscious and chthonic forces capable of effecting transformative changes in a person.

The days that comprise Scorpio II symbolically reveal the more serious side of human life, and the ability to go beyond ordinary experience through a revelation, metamorphosis and probing of the internal and external world. As when oil is struck and a geyser explodes, tremendous energies can be released from the deep layers of the unconscious. Such energies must, of course, be well directed, or destruction could easily result. Ideally, powerful new insights may result at this time.

-from, The Secret Language of Relationships

Chain Choker

Better late than never. Once again, my apologies for the photo quality. I was rushing off to a meeting with this necklace and didn’t supervise the shots. So I’ll photograph these again so that you can see more of how it fits and the changes to the rest of the piece. There’s also a dangle that’s caught in the chain that you’ll notice. Again, I’ll take more pics. It fits almost like a choker, but rests more on my collarbone. Next time rather than using a toggle clasp, I’ll try an adjustable clasp so it fits a range neck sizes.

I added a few Swarovski crystals, which really made all of the difference. Photos really aren’t doing this piece any justice. Honestly, I’m having a hard time parting with it, but I’ll go ahead and show it. Over the next few months I’ll make a handful more. Maybe those will be less time intensive, but it was certainly worth the effort!

Necklace Changes

Well today I was finally able to get my supplier. Tried not to get into too much trouble, but I found a beautiful strand of large slabs of jasper in various tones. Bracelets began dancing in my mind. ^.^ I also found some improved finishes for the chain necklace project. Bought some shepard hooks too for earrings. Earrings are probably my least favorite thing to make, but I’ll grind them out for people who appreciate the “matchy-matchy thing”.

I was lukewarm on the necklace when I finished it but I’m in love with now. It’ll probably become a short series, because I’m having a hard time departing with this one. The chain making is very time intensive. Anyway, I spiced it up today w/Swarovski crystals. Though I try to avoid them, b/c they are so overused among the handmade jewelry types, it really made the difference. That’s how they should be used, imho, sparingly. I will show you the final product once I change the remainder of the necklace. For now though, it’s bedtime! Ciao!

MySpace

Today was hectic, but much was accomplished. Premieres this weekend!!

Please visit our MySpace page & send a friend request!

Purpose

Yesterday I neglected to detail exactly what purpose this blog will serve. Primarily the focus will remain upon the jewelry I create, but it will be peppered with some general fabulousness as I encounter it in the world. In a bit I’ll return w/the treasures I found in my inbox this morning. Namely, the updated Tiffany’s site and *shreeek* new designs from Frank Gehry®!!!!! For those of you who might not know I’ll introduce you to my “man on the side”, John Hardy. Fabulousness on a whole other level. *heart* What else, oh yeah, I love fashion in general, not much of a shoe girl, but handbags I LOVE. Right now I’m smitten with the whole Dior campaign and the current design team. Bottega Veneta is also topping my adoration list, probably b/c the necklines are perfect for jewelry, no necessarily necklaces b/c I love a bare chest look. There’s some about that hobo chic thing that I like. The Spring ‘08 line is very Mary Kate & Ashley. Maybe I’ll do a list of fav designers one day. Rachel Roy and Tracy Reese just jumped to mind.

My life is pretty much centered these days around art in some form or fashion, so you’ll hear some chatter about shows we’ve seen, events we’ve attended, etc. Anticipate some general bragging about the hubby and whatever he’s working on or where he maybe showing. You’ll hear Ansley Parker biz developments of course, like where we’ll be showing, stores that pick up the line along the way, etc. Whatever is going on, you’ll get it here first!

So settle in, look around and enjoy! Please feel free to leave comments and let us know what you think!