Taking the Leap!

Today is my last day of work for someone else.  Wow, that seems crazy when I write it down, or say it out loud.  But it's true!  My last day!  After today I will be devoting all of my time, energy, and love to making a living and living a life centered around my art.  I have worked so hard to get here, and yet it still seems unbelievable that I've done it.  I am feeling so many things today.  Blessed, scared, excited, ready, sad, hopeful, grateful, accomplished, and oh-so-very free! I will most certainly be sharing my challenges and successes with you along the way.

Wish me luck!

The Alberta Street Fair 2012

[caption id="attachment_1045" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption] First off dear readers, I apologize for the delay in this post.  There are always so many things I want to share with you, photos and stories, but alas life seems to get between me and my computer.  These days that isn't a bad thing though, as life has been full of old friends, outdoor time, good food and lots of laughter.  Mid August is always a really hectic time for me, and I have been struggling to find balance and take care of myself.  That is a story for another time though, so on to the Fair!

[caption id="attachment_1047" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1048" align="aligncenter" width="467"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1070" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

The Fair was a blast, a success, and a learning experience.  The Photographer and my fantastic mother (AKA Mama Bear, AKA my right hand woman, assistant, BFF, etc...) accompanied me for the day and helped get my display all set up, then hung out and helped run the show.  A few Portland friends stopped by to visit, I ate multiple amazing shave ice, and we generally had a great time.

[caption id="attachment_1051" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1052" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1054" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1056" align="aligncenter" width="467"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1057" align="aligncenter" width="467"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

It was (to this coastal creature) a blistering hot day in the city, which generally makes me want to melt into a whiny little puddle on the ground.  Despite this, I managed to persevere, and to sell some jewelry.  It was really fun to interact directly with the people who are buying my creations and to get feedback, most of which was overwhelmingly positive.  Even though I've been doing this for awhile now, it still never ceases to feel so good when someone really likes my work or connects with it in some way.  I hope this never changes, and I look forward to doing more of these kinds of events if only for that reason alone.

[caption id="attachment_1060" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1061" align="aligncenter" width="529"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="467"] © Justin Bailie[/caption]

Preparing for the Alberta Street Fair 2012

I'm very excited to share with you that Roots & Wings Jewelry will have a booth at the Alberta Street Fair in Portland this weekend!  Alberta Street is a hip, fun little neighborhood, and the Street Fair is an annual event full of music, art, handmade creations, beer, food and fun.  With over 300 vendors, covering 20 blocks, it's quite the event! Needless to say, I've spent the last few weeks working my little jewelry-making-butt off to create a ton of bling for the day, as well as put together a display, packaging, pricing, and all of the other little details that inevitably come up.  Now that the day is drawing near and most of the work is behind me, I'm starting to get really excited.  For those of you who are local, I'd love to see your face at my booth on Saturday!  Here are the pertinent details:  11:00 AM-7:00 PM, Sat. 8/11/12.  I will be on the North side of Alberta St. between 14th Pl and 15th Ave.  Hope to see you there! *All photos (except the last two) by The Photographer, AKA Justin Bailie.  Check out more of his truly amazing work here.

New Shops!

I have been extremely busy these summer days, working on jewelry orders for new shops who will be carrying Roots &Wings!  These past couple weeks found me hunkering down at my jewelry desk at every possible opportunity-for a few hours in the early morning, between day jobs, and after dinner with a cup of tea. I am SO excited to have my work in some new locations, and I want to share a little bit about the shops with you!

My friend Zoe, who I grew up with here on the coast, has recently opened a lovely little shop with her partner called The Woolly Bear Cafe, in Nehalem, OR.  It is a warm, light-filled space where she is selling local art and handmade creations as well as delicious sandwiches, wraps, and drinks.  It feels very much about community, and I am honored to have my jewelry there.

Atlas Decor is a brand new shop in McMinville, OR, the brainchild and dream of Ashley Sexton, where she is selling a lovely selection of home decor, jewelry, accessories and beautiful creations.  To see more, check out their facebook page here.

Aubrey's Earth Duds is located in Charlottesville, VA and sells an earth-friendly selection of USA made natural fiber clothing, accessories, and handmade jewelry.  I am going to a friends wedding this September in Charlottesville and I'm excited to check out Aubreys' shop in person!

Etsy Shop About Page

Etsy recently added a great new feature called the About Page.  It allows you to share some photos and a bit of the story behind your creations.  One of the things I love about Etsy and the current movement back to handmade goods is getting to know the person behind the art.  It makes it so much more personal and special and the item in question becomes more than just a thing. As you know I have been insanely busy lately, but last night I finally found a moment to create my own About Page and I'm pretty excited with how it came out.  Check it out here.