They're Back

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  I have some shop-related news: some of my favorite bookish items are back in shop!  I enjoyed creating these bookish beauties, which showcase old book pages along with lots of handmade love and personalization.

 I created this one-of-a-kind poem on a smooth birch slice using tiny vintage book-page words cut from an old copy of my favorite text, Jane Eyre.  A sprig is stamped under the poem for a thoughtful visual contrast.  This is a delicate piece - no protective sealant, so you can see the book-page texture atop the smoothness of the wood slice.

 Small origami book-page heart bookmarks stamped with your initials - lovely for weddings and engagements, and as a girlfriend/boyfriend gift.  Each heart is cut, folded, glued, and stamped by me.  A tassel completes the piece.  Can be used as a unique door or window hang, too.

This last piece was from a customer's request: a tiny ampersand pendant talisman.  It's a twist on my tiny stamped initials pendant found here.  In addition to being a reminder of one's love, it doubles as a little good-luck memento for writers and thinkers.

* * * 

This past fall marked my Etsy shop's ninth year.  Can you believe it?  Almost a decade in business.  When I started out, I wanted to create an outlet for my artistic endeavors, which at that time was jewelry making.  Now I stamped metal, create book-page goods, and most importantly, offer writing services.  I often omit discussing the latter, but it is the work that is, in truth, my heart's work.  My soul.  

I began offering writing services after earning my MA back in 2013.  It was a time of transition, as my prolonged college years came to an end, and I also experience the profound loss of a loved one whose zest for books surpassed my own.  His vast book collection is now my own - I've documented it on this blog in posts from 2013.  I write like I think: a little different than others.  My writing style differs from others in that it is highly nuanced and sensitive, acerbic and witty.  I relish the classic works.  I think deeply.  And try to breathe deeply, too.  Motherhood.

So to you, my blog readers, thank you for reading.  The best to you in 2020.

New Work: Raw Point Pendants

Guess what?  I made some jewelry.  These three raw point pendants are the first pieces of jewelry I've made in a few years.  I'll be adding them to my Etsy shop once I finish editing the photos.  See more of these, and related work, here.

Summertime

Searching high and low for a unique piece of handmade jewelry 

to wear with your summertime wardrobe?  

Look no further--

Below are some new EmeraldCut designs in dazzling summer colors 

to be added to the shop this summer!

Pink Tourmaline

Clear Quartz

Citrine

Amethyst

Opal

Sunstone

The Creative Process: Maid of Honor Bookmark Tag

Over the weekend, I decided to try something new and create a bookmark tag with a wedding theme from a tiny manila tag and vintage Jane Eyre book pages.  I must say that the project was more tedious than the final product shows.  First, I cut out letters and/or syllables (whichever I could find) from the vintage novel to spell out "Will you be my Maid of Honor?"  Once that task was completed, I carefully glued the letter-syllable combinations onto the horizontally oriented bookmark using archival-grade adhesive, paying special attention to lining up the letters just right because it's easy for a word to begin forming a crooked line if the letters are just a little slanted to the left or right.  After the words were glued, I attached a thin strip of Japanese washi tape to towards the bottom of the bookmark to give the bookmark tag a classic-more-than-rustic feel.

The last step, besides attaching the baker's twine tassel, was to add a protective coating to the bookmark in order to preserve the delicately adhered lettering.  I used acid-free water-based sealant to do this, which I applied in one thin layer using a small brush--exactly like I do with my other sealed book page work.  However, in this particular case, the sealant took on a streaky gray-blue color in areas (the tint was from the protective foil seal that I have since removed), leaving this coloration on the bookmark tag even when fully dried.  Coupled with visible brushstrokes, that in my opinion are more prominent than the lettering itself, the final product did not look the way that I had envisioned it to.  This comes from a person who typically likes the aesthetic of visible brushstrokes on sealed surfaces, but this time, I think that the brushstroke textures are visually overemphasized due to the smoothness and expanse of the manila tag in relation to the tiny phrase.  Still, the piece is so unique and sweet!

I showed this completed bookmark tag to my husband, and he didn't notice the blue-gray streaks at all until I pointed them out to him.

I'm adding this item to my shop later on this week with a price tag of only $5.75 if you're interested in taking a closer look--it'd make a perfect little tag to attach to your Maid of Honor gift, or even presented as a bookmark slipped between the pages of a favorite book (idea!), with tassel hanging out, of course.  Completely one of a kind, it's cute in a classy, bookish sort of way!

Disclaimer: All my glues and resins are non-toxic and water-based.

New Stamped Work

I hope this blog entry finds you well.  Lately, I've been pretty busy with wedding and writing ideas (you'll see what I mean when you read on!), of which I am excited to share with you.  Here are some new favorites of mine that I dreamt up this past month, and many prototypes later, have now listed for sale:

Tell your wedding guests about your upcoming nuptials
in bookish style with these one-of-a-kind handmade bookmarks;
stamped letter-by-letter and created from vintage book pages by me,
these Save the Date Bookmarks will surely catch their eye
(and not to mention, make cool page holders)!

For the writers, a contemplative reminder to write more...and often.  
Writing takes practice, so don't give up--especially if giving up
seems like the most feasible option.
You've got something interesting to say, so write on it.
Ornament available here.

Also new to the EmeraldCut shop are custom stamped bridal seed packets

that incorporate vintage dictionary pages 

with your choice of a short four-word-max phrase-- 

and non-GMO seeds from the list below (subject to availability): 

- California Poppy (orange or red)

- Cosmos

- Petite Marigold

- Nasturtium

- Sunflower

- Sweet Pea

- Zinnia

Yes, I know the following is not new stamped work, but with wedding season right around the corner, I thought I'd include this listing, too.  Father of the Bride, Maid of Honor, Best Man...the monumental task of writing that wedding speech is not going away (especially with the wedding date coming up soon)--so allow me to help relieve the stress by writing a custom speech for you with your input!  Even if we have to start from scratch, or go through endless scribbled notes and/or ideas, I will work with you until you have a final product--your wedding speech--that contains not only the congratulatory message you'd like to convey, but also eloquently brings forth your unique tone and wit.  In other words, a speech that you are proud to give.

Custom Wedding or Engagement Speech Writing Service

Lots more fun ideas coming this Spring...check back here soon for sneak peeks!  

Or stop on by the shop to see what's new.

P.S. Free US shipping on orders over $15 is going on strong--enter FREESHIPPING at checkout!