Chat…Just Because

I finally picked out some items from IKEA for my jewelry studio a few months ago. Remember, I was trying to figure out what to do in my newly finished area? Unfortunately, the closest IKEA to St. Louis is in the Chicago area, and cost of shipping was more than what items cost! So I backburnered the plan for a while, making due with the kitchen table again as the makeshift workbench.

Then we found out a few weeks ago that Don’s ex was traveling to Chicago and would be heading to IKEA. What luck! I told her what I was looking for, and she offered to pick up the items and bring them back to St. Louis. Sweet!

So on Sunday, she dropped off my brand new work table and drawer cabinet. I’ll get to work on the table in the next day or so, but I was able to put together the little cabinet that will house some of my jewelry supplies.

This piece went from this (oh my)

to this, in just under two hours.

AND, I did it by myself!!! Yep. Don is out of town for a few days, so I decided I would just dive right in. Of course I could have used his brawn to help take the box it was packed in to the lower level (this sucker weighs 74 pounds!), but since it was just me and Elyse home with no brawn in sight, I had to take it downstairs myself, basically one piece at a time. That alone took about 10 minutes with all of the up and down! I was already sweating by the time I started.

But it was worth it. Turned out so cute. Of course, IKEA makes it pretty difficult to mess up. Even the directions have only pictures, no words. So unless you can’t interpret a picture, the piece should go together pretty smoothly. Now I just need to clear a space so I can set up the table. I’ll be so organized! … I think.

Keep you posted!

Did you know that the 2009 color of the year as reported by Pantone.com is Mimosa?

Also known as Pantone 14-0848, the color authority states, “Mimosa embodies hopefulness and reassurance in a climate of change. It is a warm, engaging yellow, which exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance.” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute explains that, “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovations.”

I noticed yellow and green accessories were big last season, so it appears yellow has some staying power. Depending on the shade, yellow can work with many other colors, but looks amazing with shades of purple (its complementary or color opposite) and green (its analogous partner or ‘neighbor’ on the color wheel).

Personally, I am a big fan of yellow, and would totally use yellow accessories to punch up an outfit. Remember my yellow scarf from last summer? On the gemstone side, I have several beautiful yellow-hued beads I’ve used in past designs, including arogonite, citrine and honey jade. I look forward to creating some new, sun-kissed pieces in the coming weeks.

Does yellow bring out the sunny side in you?

One of the things on my to do list this year is to set up and furnish my in-home jewelry studio. We did a bit of remodeling over the summer and now I have a room of my own dedicated to all things jewelry. First up was figuring out a way for me to have easier access to my bead inventory. So my solution was to purchase this nifty display grid.

This only represents a portion of my bead strand collections. I’ll need to purchase a few more hooks and baskets, and possibly another grid if I decide to display all of my inventory. I chose this particular display item because it helps me to see the colors and types of beads I have available at a glance. For a long time, I had beads contained in plastic Ziploc bags or trays, and although easy to spot color, it was a bit of a drag to go through each bag every time I had an idea about what color/type of beads might look good together. Being able to just look at the hooks and go right to the colors I need will definitely save time.

Next up was figuring out the actual work surface area. Here’s where I hit a wall. I stalled out on making a decision because I was hovering about whether I wanted a workbench specifically designed for metalsmithing, or something on which I could lay out all of my beading/wirework materials. I hemmed and hawed for a few months about it, while my beautiful beads sat in their trays on the floor. (Sometimes I get hung up considering a decision about one thing for so long that I become paralyzed to do anything else! Doesn’t happen too often, but when it does … grrr.) Ultimately, I decided to hold off on the metalsmithing aspect for a while, and instead focus on finding the perfect table/desk is conducive to my work style. I’ve still not found what I wanted, but I’m on the hunt right now.

Anywho, once I finally find that work surface and organize the space a bit , I’ll give you a nice tour of where I create Just Because Jewelry.

In the meantime, can you believe it’s already the middle of January?! I think another item on my list to do this year will be to slow down a bit and savor the little moments.

Without so much as a sideways glance, it appears summer is moving on and fall is knocking at our door already. You can tell by the explosion of art fairs, festivals, cooler evenings and brisk mornings. Won’t be too much longer and the leaves will begin their vibrant display of changing colors! Don’t you love the smell of firewood burning on a cool autumn evening? Loving this time of year!

But back to the fairs and festivals. We’ve hit two of them already. So much fun to see all of the amazing creativity that comes out of those. Check out this pair of silver earrings I bought from my metalsmithing teacher, Nikki Nation. She had a booth at one of the art fairs and I was able to see all of her terrific pieces. Aren’t these great?!

She’s in the process of moving to Colorado, and I wish her much success. I hope to showcase her Web site when it’s up and ready (plus I’m sure her photos will do these earrings justice!).

In the meantime, I’ve been putting together some great autumn-inspired pieces that I hope will be ready very soon. Lots of bronze pearls and beads, the gorgeous reds and oranges of carnelian, agate and gold coral. I can’t wait to show these to you!

What is it about fall that you love or inspires you?

I like to follow fashion and accessory color trends for upcoming seasons, especially now that I create jewelry. I greet the latest fashion ads and magazines with genuine curiosity and a healthy dose of excitement to see what’s coming down the pike in the next few months.

But for all of that energy and enthusiasm I expend, I find when it comes to my personal buying decisions, I pretty much stick to the palette of colors in my wardrobe that I know complement me. I don’t do this on purpose, mind you. I have every intention of donning that sexy wrap in the color du jour or splurging on that amazing pair of outrageously dyed shoes. Oh, I’ll occassionally add those trendy splashes of color with a new something or other, but I’m still drawn to that handful of colors I like.

Case in point: I’ll see a sweater in a great new color promoted all over the place, and think, “I’m totally getting that. Looks hip, fun and flattering.” I figure I’m going out on some crazy color-style limb and being daring by getting it. Then I get home, all atwitter, and realize my new rockin’ hip sweater is just a different shade of two other sweaters or tops I already own! So much for being controversial with my color choices. Am I ahead of the curve, five seasons behind, or just forgetful that I already own the latest in fashionably hip color items?

It’s like nothing has the power to draw me away from my comfort zone. I always somehow manage to bring home the colors I already love which freely hang out in my closet. But now that at least I’m aware of my color challenges, I’m becoming more at peace with the whole process.

For example, I like yellow, and I also know that it was one of this summers colors to have.

Trends aside, when I saw this scarf at Urban Outfitters this weekend, I didn’t think, “whoa, now this little number is going to completely revitalize my accessories collection because I don’t have anything yellow.” No. I thought, “This sassy scarf can accetuate so much of my wardrobe, that it should be included in my growing supply of scarves,” … even though I already own one or two scarves that feature yellow … hhh, well my point is, while it’s fun to see what the color forecasters predict for the season, I usually wind up buying something I like in a color I love, that I know I will enjoy for a few seasons - regardless of whether it’s the latest ‘in’ color.

What about you? Are you a fashion fanatic when it comes to color or do you lean toward your own classic colors that get you through, season after season?