New Listing

A new listing available in shop.  A new listing that keeps up with my commitments as a mother, conscious consumer, and precision-loving jewelry maker.  Meet custom name US-made stamped baby spoons (in nickel-free 18-0 stainless steel):

Each spoon is stamped imperfectly by me with a custom name up to 10 letters.  For consumer safety, the letters aren't darkened.  

My toddler has been using Baby Liberty spoons since her first meal at six months old.  We, her parents, love their quality craftsmanship, durability, and commitment to keeping jobs in the US.

Simple, uniquely customized, and functional, these baby spoons will last for years to come.

And baby A. agrees. 

* * *

Available in soft-bite coated or uncoated.
Find them in my shop here.

Upcycled Book Page Goods

My mind has been going a million miles per minute with new and unconventional ideas.  Below is one of them: The Catcher in the Rye upcycled book page confetti.  I hand punched each tiny little dot myself.  (I told you these new ideas were unconventional.)  This week, I will be creating additional upcycled book page goods to satisfy this interesting bookish urge, in the likes of Plath and Salinger--the latter of which is from the exact same copy shown below.

Don't worry about the dematerialization of the written word here.  Book pages are merely repurposed and re-invisioned as something new, with the written word left fully intact while being cut apart, lined up differently, and glued.  As is the unflinching creative spark behind my handmade items.  My upcycled book page goods are all created from second-hand books, meaning the selection is neither brand new nor perfect: book pages are yellowed, corners earmarked, and paper delicate and age worn.  In many instances, these books can be designated as in "lovingly read and re-read" or "on the way out" condition--sans water and storage damage (i.e.: mildew and mold).  Have a book or book title that you'd love to be made into envelopes?  See here.

The Catcher in the Rye Upcycled Book Page Confetti

Next up: reading.  My current to-read book pile has tripled in number since the start of this year.

NEW Hypoallergenic Earrings

This past week, I've been going through my shop inventory and noticed that I have been very behind in creating--and adding--hypoallergenic niobium ear-wire earrings to my shop!  Particularly ones with pretty gemstones in a variety of shapes, textures, and colors.  So please forgive me--I have not forgotten about my customers with sensitive ears (myself included).

Why is niobium so wonderful?  

Firstly, niobium is a naturally occurring metal.  Secondly, it is hypoallergenic--which means that people who cannot wear most earrings can safely wear them--and is even used in select laboratory and surgical applications.  Thirdly, the natural color of raw niobium is a dark matte slate-gray that visually compliments most color palettes.  In my shop, for instance, I pair niobium ear wires with plain sterling silver (argentium or non-argentium) wire, as sterling silver itself develops a natural patina over time--and the gray metal contrast between sterling silver and niobium is, in my opinion, fairly subtle and unique.  

Niobium (left) vs. silver-plated (right) ear wires--
these hypoallergenic niobium ear wires are
currently in-stock

Lastly, I've received extremely positive feedback regarding niobium ear wires from customers, family members, and from my own experience wearing them.  Give them a try--they'll certainly keep your ears pretty and pain-free.  Also, they're easy to clean.  To clean raw, non-anodized niobium ear wires, use household hydrogen peroxide.  I highly recommend niobium ear wires for those who cannot wear sterling silver or even titanium earrings.

Please check back here in mid-October, or instead go straight to my shop, for some new niobium designs.  If you have a custom order request, please contact me to see if a pair (or two) can be made especially for you.

Adore Golden Earrings 

Attention, brides: Are you looking for hypoallergenic earrings for yourself and/or for your bridesmaids?  Contact me for exclusive bridal pricing for your special day.  

Click here to see current niobium earring offerings in my shop. 

April: Ode to / Week in Photos

April, oh April, so glad you came my way.  Sun reaching like faint heartbeats into my workspace is like honey dripping against the soul, warm and decadent, soothing my harried mind.

April, oh April, I need to once again relearn what time of (Spring) day is best for photography, so that my listing photo sessions can be done in one afternoon instead of three--

a yearly recurrence this particular learning is; one that keeps me on my toes as I delete photographs with too much saturation (orange and yellow tints), as well as ones with too little color (blue tint).  Wise note to self: Finding the right lighting will keep you from taking 50+ over saturated and under saturated photos of a single item to be listed.

Seriously, what is going on with the lighting here?

And lastly, April, oh April, I think I may the be only one who keeps chives as a houseplant--in a used pill bottle container.  It's amazing how the changing of seasons from Winter to Spring allowed this here chive plant to rebound.

Hope you all have a lovely upcoming week!

Oak Slice + Words

Immediately after applying water-based sealant over the front of this oak slice poem three weeks ago, there was left a beautiful matte finish, rich and textured, as shown above.

However, knowing from experience that water-based sealers tend to "age" over short and long spans of time, especially when applied on natural material, I allowed this very oak slice poem to sit on my workspace desk by the window, where it would collect wintertime light.  The result is shown in the above image: the once-rich finish has now mellowed to a more natural state, which is still slightly glossier than the pre-sealed oak slice.

This is the final result, a full three weeks after creation.  A noticeable layer of matte sealant is visible, yet the natural oak slice texture is still there.  I think this is a good mix of Mother Nature-made and human made.

If you're curious, this is the back of the oak slice, which has the original finish;
I've lightly sanded the slice for a softer texture. 

I love creating these oak slice poems, and have found that the process of making each one is different, depending on my frame of mind.  If I'm in a hurry, the poem lines are uneven and the words are not lined up properly; glue tends to be visible on the wood around the letters and phrases.  (Mind you, these letters, words, and phrases are hand cut directly from a vintage copy of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and are therefore teeny tiny in size!)  If I'm calm and collected, the poem looks so, too.

Such an interesting creative process, these oak slice poems are, as are my other wood-slice ornaments seen here. 

News + Thanks

Rainbow moonstone lovers, rejoice!  I finally ordered some large rainbow moonstone nuggets to create into pendants for my shop.  The last time I had created rainbow moonstone pendants such as these was way back in 2012, which doesn't seem too long ago--but it's been two full years.  Seems almost crazy how quickly time flies, doesn't it?  My shop's (expanding) rainbow moonstone collection can be perused here.  I'm excited to add more as soon as winter gives me adequate lighting for photography.

Continuing on the subject of excitement, I would like to give a huge thanks to the following blogs/websites that have featured an EmeraldCut item in their Valentine's Day gifts list: BOOK RIOT, Eco Manu Faktura, and LekaArt.  I highly recommend that you check them out because each list is so unique and different from the others.  Thank you does not fully convey how I'm feeling right now.

As for what else is new in the EmeraldCut shop, I am always creating and test driving new items (the latter of which includes the "stress test" that I place on each item to test its durability--this sounds worse than it actually is), so please check back often for freshly hatched items and designs.