an ode to a gma

this weekend, i get to celebrate the 80th birthday of the most fabulous grandma in the world. she's a hilarious woman, who is stubborn, cheerful, hilarious, positive, loving, stylish, and an overall inspiration that i look to every single day of my life for strength to go on. she's had quintuple bypass surgery, she's lost the love of her life and strong armed forward into her own amazing and fulfilling life; she's been through the marriages and seperations of her children, illnesses, medical emergencies and celebrations of those same children; she's watched her grandchildren be born, raised, and then give birth to their own children; she is the most positive person i know, and continues to laugh at her own jokes, play in a band, wear jewelry that matches, and shoot us with hilariously sarcastic remarks.
and dear God - I love that woman more than myself i think.
so this weekend i'm spending it with her. she doesn't know it yet, but she'll find out tomorrow. and i'm surprising her with boxes filled with jewelry i've made her. she'll be surrounded by her 7 amazing and wonderful children (my dad is one of them), grandchildren, and her brothers and sisters that remain. i'm hoping she'll sit down long enough for me to ask her a few questions... i want to know what her secrets are to a fulfilling life - because, in all honesty, if i live a life half as incredible as she has, i'll be over the moon.
happy birthday gma - i love you to pieces.
have a great weekend everyone - and if you're still lucky enough to have a grandmother in your life, call her!
// birthday image from kate spade (via a pair of pears)

2012 plans & goals

this year, i set some goals for myself... to motivate me, and keep me going.
here's how i'm faring so far.
1. to seriously research a get away in India that will help me with my back pain.
research
flight booked
trip taken
writing completed
2. to focus 25% of my attention on building my jewelry and online brand.
3. to hold 3 shows in the year 2012.
Show #1
Show #2
Show #3
4. to submit one piece of writing a month, to an online publishing site.
january  4 down - 2 published here and here! // february // march // april // may // june // july // august // september // october //november // december
5. to write every day. about something. anything.
see new blog - when she wrote a tragic love story. My experiment in 365 days of writing.
6. to get my jewelry in at least 1 shop this year. yippee! completed as of January of this year. thank you birthia for taking my jewelry in.
7. to save 25% of my net income every month, to pay off debt, and save for travel.
8. focusing more on me. making decisions for my happiness - and no more doing things, saying yes, making plans for everyone else's happiness. example: i was asked by a coworker to go for drinks the other night, after work... and, though i wanted to, i said no, so that i had time to go grocery shopping, and write. seemingly insignificant, i know. but worth the early bed time, and the money i saved.
9. to craft once a week. and focus on giving only handmade gifts.
10. to stop comparing myself to others. to ignore numbers on everyone else's etsy, blog, etc. and focus on the depth and work i am producing in my own life. and to garner happiness from those individual things.
want to play?

"precious pieces. ordinary to exceptional. coexisting. day after day"

when i first stumbled upon summerland... i was in heaven. i constantly find these stores that are exact replications of stores that i want/long/yearn to own. and summerland is no exception to that.
with sections of their store for apothecary (the simply fact that they use the term 'apothecary' makes me swoon), home, and vintage and new.
yet another item on the list of reasons that i need to make a trip to portland VERY soon - if only to meet megan. and read 'fugitives and refugees' before i go.
a few of my favourites from summerland....
awesome tea towels by makelike
best fuckin' friends necklace. what more could you want?


scamper skirt. so. awesome.


this. belt. makes me want to wear belts.

these 'sweet nothings' necklaces - i'm sorry. they have the options of  'one sick bitch', 'crazy sexy cool', 'sweet tits', 'hot mess' and 'eat a dick'. were these not made specifically for me to give as gifts?
 specific shop favs are olo fragrances and their amazing gift packs, and custom scents; winifred jewelry, whom i love; makelike - and their forest collection & cactus collection; twenty-seven names and their drool worthy clothing; fieldguided, and their fab totes and photography (love Anabel's stuff - love love love it. can't wait to meet her in toronto one day) in their store.
enjoy it all.... i do daily.

'they shake their heads, they say i've changed'

One of my first moments of being completely and utterly enthralled with a girl, was hearing ‘both sides now’ by joni mitchell. Her voice. The song. The haunting lyrics. I don’t remember how old I was (I believe probably 7 or 8), but I do remember thinking, ‘this is what sadness sounds like’ (I was an extremely emotionally intelligent child). It’s followed me through life… and maybe that’s part of the reason I have a cynical ideal of love, life and all things in between.
Nevertheless, joni is an incredible song writer. Incredible. And this song just gets it. Speaks the truth about so many things. She has said… “I was reading Saul Bellow's "Henderson the Rain King" on a plane and early in the book Henderson the Rain King is also up in a plane. He's on his way to Africa and he looks down and sees these clouds. I put down the book, looked out the window and saw clouds too, and I immediately started writing the song.”
To write freely and honestly. To write from the heart, and with integrity of inspiration. That’s what joni does. And that’s why I love her.
Rows and flows of angel hair | And ice cream castles in the air | And feather canyons everywhere | I've looked at clouds that way | But now they only block the sun | They rain and snow on everyone | So many things I would have done | But clouds got in my way | I've looked at clouds from both sides now | From up and down, and still somehow | It's cloud illusions I recall | I really don't know clouds at all | Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels | The dizzy dancing way you feel | As ev'ry fairy tale comes real | I've looked at love that way | But now it's just another show | You leave 'em laughing when you go | And if you care, don't let them know | Don't give yourself away | I've looked at love from both sides now | From give and take, and still somehow | It's love's illusions I recall | I really don't know love at all | Tears and fears and feeling proud | To say "I love you" right out loud | Dreams and schemes and circus crowds | I've looked at life that way | But now old friends are acting strange | They shake their heads, they say I've changed | Well something's lost, but something's gained | In living every day | I've looked at life from both sides now | From win and lose and still somehow | It's life's illusions I recall | I really don't know life at all | I've looked at life from both sides now | From up and down, and still somehow | It's life's illusions I recall | I really don't know life at all
And Rachel. Oh Rachel. rachel yamagata does it oh so well.