Party Re-Cap and Updates

Me and guests at the Open Studio + 1st Friday

Friday, September 7th was my first night participating in Pacific Grove's First Friday event. The weekend was a fun and busy one for our small, sweet little town: in addition to First Friday, it was also the Art and Wine Walk, and the weekend of the Pacific Grove Triathlon. I had a great turn out, and cannot thank everyone enough for coming out to support me and my fellow artists here in town. What a treat it was to have yummy cookies fresh from the oven from Carolyn's Cookie Company, as well as the delicious party-hit sweet potato and date tea biscuits (yum!) from my dear neighbor, Lydia.

There have been lots of lovely people wandering around town and poking their heads in to the studio the past few weeks. The weather has been warmer (for our 'summer' standards) and I have seen tale-tale signs of the sun for longer and longer hours of the day. As the days advance, I keep looking forward to the great indian summers we have here on the coast.

Things in the studio and in my life outside of jewelry-making have been very busy lately. I have been easily caught in the 'daily grind' as it were, so I've had to remind myself that there is so much beauty and peace all around me--if I'd just hold still a moment, I could see it! I don't know about you, but if I find myself doing nothing, I begin to feel guilty or lazy, so I rarely give myself a break. Perhaps it is the peril of owning and running your own business. There is so much to do, and so many things that could be better than they currently are. Not to mention so many new ideas and things to try out for the first time, which are always exciting and tend to take precedence over the rest, pushing the other stuff onto a longer and longer list of to-do's.

To 'take a moment' I forced myself to a few trips to the shore, wiggling my toes in the freezing cold water, taking in the breeze and the sweet ocean smell, and admiring the tide pools. I'd like to share that with you if only in the hopes that you might find some beauty and marvel, too.

Sea Anemone Rings with sea glass and shells
© Erica Freestone

From these various adventures to the ocean, I couldn't help but be inspired by the fantastic creatures and textures found on the shore. I knew the 'moments' wouldn't last forever so of course I had to make some sea anemones for finger-wearin'. This collection was a joy to create because it helped me see the wonder of the world as it is, and appreciate each difference and idiosyncrasy as perfect as its imperfection is...



I hope this update finds you all well, loved, healthy, and creative.

Sincerely,

Erica

Hot Off The Bench!

This, my friends, is what 12 hours of my time looks like.  :)

Love,

Erica

Etsy Treasury

Good morning everyone!

One of my limited edition turquoise rings was featured in an Etsy Treasury!

Thank you so much Danu Jewelry for including me in this awesome collection!

More about this ring

This ring is handmade from sterling silver round wire (for comfort) that is hammered on the outside to give it a wonderful texture. Two bands are then soldered together, and a hand-picked turquoise stone from my collection is set in a custom made fine silver bezel which is then soldered onto the double bands. I file out one or two small slivers of the bezel to mimic all the lovely matrix in the stone to complete the look and bring out the character of each individual stone. I then dip the ring in liver of sulfur to oxidize just the right parts and then give it a high polish. The last step is to engrave my signature on the back of the stone.

This ring is made to order to size and is a gorgeous addition to any collection!

Much love as always,

Erica

Quick Update

Hello everyone!

I am busy preparing inventory for the Monterey Peninsula College Mother's Day Sale which happens May 3, 4, and 5th in the student center. I am working on a bunch of new things, and wanted to quickly share the new ring that is almost finished! 

It still needs some polishing and a few perfectionings (I made that word up), but, it's pretty much finished. I love how it turned out! And, I went with a larger size, I believe it's a size 7. I have a bunch of new stones and I can't wait to get back in to the studio!

Now I'm off to Pacific Grove's Good Old Days festival to enjoy this beautiful sunny weather! Hope everyone's having a great day! Come see me at the MPC jewelry show! I'll give more information in the next posting.

Also, if you haven't already, come find me and 'like' my page on Facebook! You can get up-to-the-minute updates and see projects like this in the works all the time! Go to: 

http://www.facebook.com/ericafreestonejewelry

Much love,

Erica