Adorned by Morgan

The Adorned Atelier

2011-10-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

This could be a "before" and "after" post had I not been too lazy to photograph my desk in its previous state, but I'll just have to go with a "ta-da!" approach instead.

My new workstation and I first crossed paths at a secondhand store in town. It started life with a school-desk hue (you know, like an orange stain that resembles someone who's indulged in too much spray tan). During the last two summers, I stripped and sanded the piece until it was back to its natural color. It was carried up and down a flight of stairs a million times so I could work on it little by little outside with adequate ventilation. The desk even spent a winter in our hallway, waiting for the day when it would be finished and put to use.

Finally, the weather perked up few weeks ago and I spray painted the desk with a couple of cans of Krylon.

I'm thinking it'll have to be sealed at some point. I also bought a porcelain accent knob that will one day replace the original wooden one. In my mind, though, I consider the desk done and ready for use. I'm ecstatic with the results of my first "stray" furniture revamp but I learned that my artistic leanings require way more instant gratification. Taking more than a year to complete this recycling process took more time than I initially anticipated. All in all, however, I'm very proud of my project. I'm glad this desk gets a second chance, and I can't wait to make good use of it.

I kinda need this.

2011-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

This amazing terrarium by Score + Solder encompasses a lot of my recent aesthetic preferences. I enjoy the form of this piece and the mixture of the hard quartz points juxtaposed with soft succulents and fine sand. Plus, terrariums are living worlds encapsulated in glass, and I have a major attraction to glass cases with interesting contents-- whether they be wearable bubbles on a necklace, or antique shadowboxes with Victorian-era contents.

Consignment Case Example

2011-09-12T09:55:00.000-07:00

**Please note this is a post from a few years ago that I removed because I felt conflicted about sharing something negative in a blog that is supposed to be inspiring. I've purposefully excluded the name of the business mentioned because my intent is not to spread ill will in this post. Upon revisiting the piece, I do feel that there are many positive aspects to analyzing and sharing this particular experience, and I think that the tips offered may be helpful to others.**

I want to share a consignment case example that illustrates some of what I've learned in this genre of business. Although this particular happenstance has a lot of negative connotations, I've still gained valuable experience from it. Maybe it will save those just starting out in consignment a few steps along the way.

If you don't feel like reading this epic tale, feel free to skip to the bottom for some quick tips.

Case example: You may have noticed a store that used to consign my work was recently removed from my link list (what, you don't obsessively check out my blog and notice such details? Pshaw). Although I really don't want to speak ill of a business that promotes indie designers, I think it's important to analyze what happened so that I will never have to experience a repeat of the situation. As it occured a few weeks ago and I've finally been able to move past this debacle, I'm ready to rehash the story.

I had been consigning at said store, let's name it Store X, for a number of months, and had been paid only once until the day I walked in there and pulled all of my items out-- despite clear rules in the store's consignment contract that stated payment would occur on a monthly basis. There were calls, drop-ins and e-mails within this space of time, in which I tried to unsuccessfully to confirm current/sold inventory and get paid. Having a 9-5 job doesn't make it easy to just drop on by a store, but when I do, I expect it to be productive. I had even given Store X my address multiple times, which leads me to my first warning sign.

Perhaps I should have been wary the first time I finally got paid, when I went to Store X and happened to catch the owner there. She told me the check she had mailed a few weeks earlier "had come back in the mail," and yet she wrote me a new one instead of just handing this supposed check to me. But, I gave her the benefit of the doubt (along with my address again), as it is a business relying soley on indie designers and things may get lost every now and then.

As I said, since the initial (and only) payment, I had tried to get in touch again with the owner and stop by the store many times (the owner's employees were unable to help me and she was never around)-- seeking that confirmation of inventory and payment. Every time, I was put off for some reason or another. The store owner claimed she had confirmed my inventory list in e-mail (noticing a trend here?), but did not resend it when I asked. I finally got fed up with this treatment and sent her a very assertive letter (about two months ago) explaining that I wanted to see her and straighten everything out in order to continue a business relationship.

Despite all of this, call me gullible, but I was still considering working things out if the owner was able to get me the info I needed and catch up on payment. The thing is, she always acted sweet and constantly let me know customers were buying my work, so I knew it was doing well at this boutique. Also, Store X had been in multiple local and non-local publications and was getting a good amount of press as a unique place in Astoria. So, it seemed it was a prime spot to carry my work.

This all leads up to the fact that after the owner responded to my e-mail and acknowledged how annoyed I was, we set up an appointment to meet and... she missed it! Wow, right? Yeah. I got pushed off, after all of this, on to her assistant. The assistant said the owner was getting married the following week (none of which had been mentioned to me) and was unavailable. I'm ambivalent about this info in terms of being an actual excuse (how long would it have taken to meet with me?). In any case, I'm certain that it's totally unprofessional to set up an appointment with someone whom you work (and has clearly stated she has reached her boiling point) and then brush her off on her assitant-- without even telling her. I found out about this the day of my meeting.

Although the assistant had been alerted that I was to visit the store that day, all she had been told was that I wanted to see what was currently in stock. She had no idea that I hadn't been paid for months, and that I needed to get updated on what inventory they had left, so I could at least discover how much I was owed.

Sigh (if you've held on this long, congrats! we're almost to the end).

This resulted in me having to inconveniently set up an appointment with the assistant two days later and finally straighten things out, because she needed to look over records/receipts or whatnot and find out how much they owed me. She said she would contact the owner and get this information.

I get to Store X, and lo and behold I'm handed a list with maybe seven items on it. This would have been fine except for the fact that I had originally put more than 30 pieces in that store, and since there were only a few left in stock, clearly more than seven items had sold.

I was hugely frustrated because when I dropped items off, they were all tagged with my last name and numbered-- I assumed, so that the owner could keep track of to whom she owed what. As I said, the store is full of independent designers, so there's an absolute need for some kind of system to keep careful track of inventory. When I looked at the leftover items, barely any of them had tags still on them and the "special list of seven" in the assistant's hand had prices that didn't match up to my records-- oh thank goodness I made myself keep meticulous records!

If I hadn't recorded exact prices and descriptions (this is so key), I would have had no idea how much I was owed because clearly Store X had kept track of anything except the money going into its account.

So, I added everything up, got my money from the assistant who was still telling me the store wanted to feature me in a trunk show, packed up my leftover inventory and got the heck out of there.

After consulting with other local designers, I found out they had similar bait-and-switch experiences trying to get paid, and there is even a pending lawsuit. This makes me think the owner is not, in fact, as dumb as she acts but is fully aware of what she is doing. So clearly, I'm not the only Astorian to get screwed, but hopefully I will be the last.

Tips for Positive Consignment Experiences:

1) Absolutely, without a doubt, keep extremely detailed records of the items you are consigning. Include descriptions along with the consignment prices and the amounts you expect to be paid upon sale. Make a copy for your consignor to keep so s/he acknowledges the items, even if there is a store-specific system in place. I'm considering asking consignors to sign the sheet that I have.
2) Carefully read your contract (if the store has one). Are you responsible for collecting payment, or will the store automatically mail you a check each month? For how long will your items be displayed? How much notice must you give before removing items?
3) Work with a place where you can easily access the "boss" and express concerns when you have them.
4) Don't be afraid to ask who will be responsible for the cost of lost or stolen items.
5) Check in often. It's easy to sit back and relax while your items are (hopefully) being marketed and sold by someone else, but there's always the possibility that your items have been covered by the newest plush stuffed animal to enter the boutique and are just wasting away. That's inventory you could be selling in other venues. You also want to know the store is willing to work with you and give you feedback on what items have sold so you can update your records for payment and note what products are selling. Don't stalk the store, but show its owner you care about your products so s/he will, too.

Lastly, go with your gut! If you sense something "fishy" is going on, get out of there! Yes, stores will suddenly go out of business, but will they leave with your stuff (see tip number 5)? Are your products on some shelf so high up no one can see them or the pretty dust they're collecting, even though you've already asked the owner to do something about it? Are you getting a weird vibe from the owner/employees or just not clicking? The excellent part of consignment is that (with a fair contract) you should be able to walk away with no loss to you as long as you give the store the notice it requires. And there are plenty of venues in which to consign these days, including the Internet.

I haven't meant to put you off consignment by telling this tale, as I've met some lovely people through consignment and have overall had mostly positive experiences.

So, don't be afraid to give it a go. Get out there, be wise and be aware.

Mudlarking

2011-08-25T11:04:00.001-07:00

I am absolutely in love with the concept of being a Mudlark and plucking antique treasures and artifacts from the banks of the River Thames in England. The term "Mudlark" may be used to describe mud scavengers in search of discarded or lost valuables in London during the 18th and 19th centuries. While it initially had a negative connotation, "Mudlark" is now a proudly worn title by those who enjoy the sport today. ThamesArt on Etsy has compiled some delicious and creative artwork with her finds obtained from her adventures as a Mudlark.

Barring a trip to England any time soon, I'm going to keep an eye on her shop for the perfect arrangement.

Perhaps this could be a wedding present to myself? That pottery shard (top right) in particular from an 1800's Scottish shipping company has me hankering for it.

Discover more about the world of mudlarking via http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/noted-mudlarking-on-the-thames/.

Sock Drawer Spelunking

2011-08-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

When I work from home, I get to have a feathered coworker keep me company.

In order to distract Papaya from jumping onto my keyboard and prying up the keys, I let him romp around in my sock drawer, which he loves.

Lily of the Valley

2011-06-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Etsy member AmyMilor has kindly featured my newly listed Steampunk Lily of the Valley necklace in her treasury. I adore this flower, and I'm happy to be in this cutely curated group. Thanks!

Astoria and Time Out New York

2010-08-03T11:40:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Adorned by Morgan Glass Bubble Necklace)

SITE, a one-of-a-kind design boutique in Astoria and carrier of Adorned by Morgan, was recently highlighted as one of the best places to shop in Time Out New York:

http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/own-this-city/87578/best-shopping-queens-guide

Nests of Thread

2010-07-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

This image combines two of my favorite things: artist Abby Glassenberg and a Stampington & Company® publication.

I'm proud to say that Nest of Thread IX (the assemblage in the top right corner) hangs in my living room. What a thrill to see it recently featured in such a high-quality magazine! I'm also the joyful owner of Abby's Flight Path piece:

The artist turns simple pieces of fabric into personality-filled creatures and then contextualizes them in unique environments. Abby's delightful assemblages had an immediate draw for me as an admirer of all manner of birds. I also appreciate her use of layers, composition, found objects and color.

Morgan the Magpie

2010-05-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Some recent (and relatively recent) purchases about which I'm super excited! I love receiving packages of old goodies. It's so thrilling to come home from work and see a bubble mailer peeking out of a box otherwise filled with bills and boring advertisements.

1) 1892 magazine: nickandnessies, 2) Antique watch face: Sommersbreezeantique, 3) Tiny skeleton keys: missemilygene, 4) Primitive pen nibs: gardner3863, 5) 1930’s brooch: annie69, 6) Antique locket: vintageladies, 7) ca. 1886 Bird care book: ParisianDreams, 8) 1800’s The Naturalist book: curiouscupboard, 9) 1890’s watchmaker’s ledger: PrimitiveWhiteHouse*

*Items shown are via corresponding Etsy sellers.

Full Steam Ahead

2010-04-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Via: Etsy - TimeTravelTeaParty

My latest fascination has immersed me in a genre I never thought I'd consider interesting. When first introduced, my aesthetic censors registered “steampunk” fashion as rough on the eyes and, in some cases, even downright ugly.

Take, for example, those naked watch movements commonly found in jewelry on Etsy. These components, exposed after being ripped from their carefully crafted cases and pretty crystal domes, looked just like “junk” to me. Even though I’m a watchmaker’s granddaughter, I just couldn’t see understand why anyone would want to wear metallic parts meant to work behind the scenes.

So, I ignored this steampunk business, and went about my way. And, that was that, right? Oh, not even close.

Neverwas Haul via: www.flickr.com/photos/albany_tim/

Steampunk is sneaky. I was subconsciously being exposed to it in some form or another again and again. In one instance, I mildly listened to a friend talk about a working steampunk mechanism he spied at a fair. Then, while using Google Image, I stumbled across a Victorian-style moving house featured at Burning Man and around the country: The Neverwas Haul. I pored over photos of this practically life-sized house on wheels, fixated by its architecture and the antiquated-yet-modernized outfits of its drivers.

Via: Etsy - steampunksupply

As I culled online haunts for antique parts to use at Adorned by Morgan, I become increasingly more attracted to items from sellers with “steampunk” in their shop names. And all the while, in the back of my mind lurked my past love affair with a somewhat obscure computer game called Myst. More than a decade later, I can still vividly recall some of this fantasy world filled with piping systems, squeaky knobs and puzzles revolving around complex mechanisms.

Myst screen shot via www.zathras.de

So, my dislike of steampunk eventually turned into a slow and steady admiration. After a while I decided that yeah, those tiny little gears were sort of cute. And those movements? Some of them had intricate etchings, scrolled words, fascinating patinas. They looked like perhaps they had been crafted with as much care as their cases, despite the fact that they’d rarely be viewed.

Before long, I was typing “watches” into search boxes on a daily basis. I went from collecting cases and considering gears to actually buying balances and *gasp* those very movements whose value I had once questioned! Because in my mind, those movements would make the perfect airship-type hot air balloons—worthy focal points for a necklace, and I had to have them.

Via: Etsy - CheapBoutique

And now? Mere weeks after my first purchase of a collection of movements, I’ve plowed through my first steampunk novel. There’s even a tiny SciFi logo on it declaring Cherie Priests Boneshaker to be an “essential book” for science fiction enthusiasts. As a woman who grew up subjected to the SciFi channel whether she liked it or not, I can tell you that a novel with such a declaration was the last thing I’d expect to have my rapt attention for two straight days.

Cover art: Jon Foster

No, I’m not into the darker or Gothic aspects of steampunk. I don’t want to wear metal-cast skulls or super duper creepy goggles and gloves and boots. I still haven’t finished my research about it or checked out its philosophies as a lifestyle. But, I can appreciate aspects of the genre. I am drawn to its Victorian elements, its affinity for brass and fantastical flights of aviation, and yes, even a number of those once seemingly garish inner watch workings have become sources of recent inspiration.

I’m intrigued to see where this journey takes me—whether it be to a steampunk-theme bar in Brooklyn, or an art festival out West someday. For now, I’m going to take this lesson in stride, trying to remember that our experiences and perception inform objects just as much as these objects inform us.

Meet Colette

2010-04-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Introducing Colette, the newest member of the Adorned by Morgan team and flatmate to Einstein and Papaya. Of course, the boys initially grumbled about bringing in another roommate, but now they've struck an agreement. Basically, they ignore her and vice versa.

Colette is going to fulfill the position of model for my necklaces. I searched long and hard for an assistant of this nature. And now that she's on board, I'm also daydreaming about outfitting her in antique Victorian clothing for which I've previously had no use. She needs a bit of "reconstructive surgery," for Colette, I was told, is in antique condition, but that will come with time (and when motivation strikes).

Colie (oh yes, we're already on familiar terms), was spotted outside of a reupholstering shop in the midst of moving. Of course, my senses perked up the minute I saw her, and words akin to, "I just want to check and see if they're giving her away..." were being instantly propelled from my mouth as my eyes glazed over. Mr. Morgan, being the (resigned) gent he is, parked the car, walked over with me, and watched as I dorked out with the shop owner about vintage goods. I admit, the exchange was a bit weird. But the best part was:

Me: Is she available?
Fernando, exuberant shop owner: Yes. What do you want to pay?
Me: ::acts uninformed that such pieces are usually in the hundred-dollar-plus range::
Um, how's 30?
Fernanda: ::all smiles:: Sure! Are you sure that you're comfortable with that?
Me: ::ecstatic:: Yeah! I just have to go to the ATM.*

*Okay, so my memory's not photographic these days, and this is just the gist of how it went, but $30? I nearly fainted with glee. Like I said, all the vintage pieces I've come across are priced in multiples of that sum. I couldn't wait to take Colette home before Fernando came to his senses. He also threw in some 60's-ish yellow, giant pom pom trim.

And now, Colette is part of the team.

Setting Summer Goals

2010-03-04T11:30:00.001-08:00

::Taps mic:: "Is this thing on?"

Yes, I need to post more frequently. Perhaps that could be a summer goal? We'll see.

The mate, birds and I just moved into a new apartment in Astoria for space reasons. As a result, I now have my very first art studio!

For the first time since we moved to Astoria three years ago, Mark and I also have a bit of "land," a.k.a. a porch-type area (not elevated) of which we have sole use. This has opened the door to a variety of previously unattainable artistic possibilities, which leads to the topic at hand: summer crafting-related goals:

-Practice soldering.
-Experiment with resin.
-Go bead hunting in Rhode Island.
-Finally put that silk screen to use.
-Host an Astoria indie arts and crafts show (in the preliminary works)!
-Build a wholesale market for Adorned.

Some people like to make New Year's resolutions, however, I find that with the extra hours off from my day job in the warmer months and the extra motivation given to me by sunshine, summer goals are more realistic.

The winter puts me into hibernation mode. I stay inside during lunch breaks rather than explore the city. I decline invitations to hang out because of the inclement weather. I shiver and hunch for months. My mood shifts all over the place. If I were indeed a bird, I'd have flown south in November. All winter, I feel like I'm waiting with bated breath for the spring. Soon, I must remind myself: It is coming soon.

And one day, I hope to live in a state with a much higher level of warmth and sunshine: California. But for right now, I'll await my three months as patiently as possible.

(Pictured above: A custom necklace made for a friend out of hand-sawed and stamped copper.)

Of Parrots and People

2010-01-14T12:37:00.001-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of joining a really welcoming and friendly vegetarian-based Etsy group (referred to as a "team" by Etsians): EtsyVeg.

The members have been so lovely to me, and I even had the opportunity to talk about my boys in a feature for the EtsyVeg Team blog.

The Seller Connection

2009-12-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

It's been a rather hectic few days as the heat in my apartment building was not functioning and I had to flee for a bit with the flock. It seems as though things are back to normal, though, and I'm looking forward to playing with some newly acquired tools and beads in the coming days I have off from my 9-5.

Family, friends and bouts of creativity? Sounds like a plan. My parents were so sweet to get me jewelry tools for Hanukah (including a torch!), and I'm hoping to experiment with them a bunch.

The tools are partially a result from my desire to expand my skill set into the metalsmithing arena. I took a metalworking class at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn in November and learned how to saw, solder, sandblast and finish copper, brass and sterling silver. While I don't yet have photos of the Morning Glory I formed from copper and sterling silver, I do have a pic of a piece I made from a prior etching class at the same venue:

It's Papaya in copper... still waiting at my workstation to be incorporated into a necklace.

In related gifting news, I worked this past month with a fellow artisan on a pair earrings for myself: a rare treat indeed.

Being a jewelry designer with an ever-changing stash of necklaces and earrings, I rarely purchase baubles to wear. But recently, the work of Jill at JillPopowichDesigns caught my eye. I really admire how her silversmith techniques combine with unique gems and vintage glass cabs to create lovely jewelry.

Jill tweaked a pair of Amethyst earrings from dangles into hoops for me, and I am just thrilled with the end result:

(Photo via Jill's shop)

It was a really fun experience working on a custom order with Jill, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a special treat for themselves or others.

For the Win!

2009-11-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

My mood has just been boosted considerably, as I won a giveaway on the blog of one of my favorite artist's, Katie Runnels. I'm happy to have been introduced to the work of Barbara Bechtel at Floridity thanks to Katie's The Constant Gatherer blog.

A flock of Barbara's boldly colored birds in my favorite shades are flying over to me thanks to Katie's contest. These clay chickies are full of personality.

Thank you muchly to both CG and Floridity for the gifts. I can't wait to get my hands on them and start working! I'm thinking perhaps a necklace or four will be the outcome of this contest. Now, we'll just have to see if I'm willing to share any of them... You know how I love everything avian!

(Photo via Floridity).

An ode to you, perfectly faded greenish-blue.

2009-06-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

My latest color obsession, which has worked its way into the new shop banner, is a faded bluish green, with an undertone of antiqued yellow and brown. It makes my heart speed up to catch a peek of it, and while I've never "hunted" for objects with a certain hue in the past (other than clothing), I'm certainly doing so now! This is yet another way in which experimenting with mixed media work has expanded my perspective; it's only recently that I've opened my mind to all the possibilities a colorful scrap of paper or a broken bit of an chipped wood item can hold.

Here are some samples of this beloved blue hue:

An excerpt from an antique needlework book in my collection.

Victorian photo album mat via jennheuston.

Worn 1800's shutter at thespiritofcountry.

And a book I'm barely restraining myself from buying at estatesaletreasures.

Where is the sun, little darling?

2009-06-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

There's been a steady bout of clouds and rain for about three weeks now, and New York is damp and somewhat gloomy. I really miss the sun and am waiting for a chance to head out to the beach.

When I do get to take that trip, I'll probably be smiling as happily as this cheeky flapper with her pretty bob cut and shining eyes in 1927. This photo is from a series I picked up at an antique shop in the city. Like the others in the batch, it was lovingly tucked into heart-shaped photo corners on a black construction paper page. Although it's hard to see, the photo reads that it was taken at Sheepshead Bay, which I believe is in Brooklyn.

Flapper style is so fun.

Etsy Treasury Feature

2009-06-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

happysquashtoys on Etsy was kind enough to feature my Jonquil Hoop with Red Flower Earrings in her "Summertime" treasury yesterday. (The pair is the first photo in the middle row).

On another note, I came across a great resource of potentially copyright-free vintage and antique images: The Vintage Moth. The site's hostess does note that her images are intended for personal, rather than resale, use.

Aquavision Comes to Astoria

2009-06-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Our apartment just got a bit midcentury modern with the addition of our new sofa from Urban Outfitters. I've been in the market for a stylish couch for a few months now, and while the quality of this company's furniture is questionable according to some reviews I've read, the piece was decently priced and modeled in exactly the type of 50s and/or 60s-era look I've come to adore. According to Urban's Web site, the couch was inspired by vintage Danish modern daybeds.

The fact that the frame features an eco-friendly wood also appealed to me. Initially, I wanted the "groovy green" color fabric on the cushions, but this subtle gray-blue hue slowly worked its way into my favor during the months of debating whether to even get a new couch.

As a renter, I find myself constantly treading the line between wanting to nest and express a personal style, and simultaneously, save money and not invest too much in a place that I don't own. All of the HGTV watching and comparisons don't help; neither does reading magazines like Where Women Create.

The inundation of visual stimulation and nesting ideas has me daydreaming of working in an studio near a scenic outlook, with worn white, green and blue wood walls. The birds would be able to roam around a screened aviary attached to the workspace, and I could pull in a deep breath scented with leaves, earth and clear skies. (Lately, I've only been able to inhale through my nose in the city when I'm in a park).

Perhaps, someday I'll have the homestead that now lives in my head. There's plenty of time to achieve that goal, and knowing me, I may be into a totally different aesthetic by that point. I'm looking forward to the journey, and I just have to remind myself to live in this moment, and live each day (and crazy night) in this city to its fullest.

I did manage to bring a bit of an aged country look into the apartment the other day with the adoption of a small chest of drawers in a faded cream and green combination. Photos to come.

Also, current contemplating bringing some jewelry at a local flea market on Saturday.

French Antiques and Skipping Heartbeats

2009-06-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

She's back, folks!

Get ready for more frequent updates filled with enticing jewelry, beguiling birds and eye-catching curiosities. In fact, let's approach all of these topics at once.

A sneak preview of earrings destined for the shop:

A new little helper around the studio, Einstein's little brother and recently turned 1-year-old Caique parrot, Papaya:

And, a circa 1800's French watch display case, which is totally drool-worthy and way out of my price range (don't remember the photo source, will gladly credit if anyone knows it):

Hangin' with my lil' green dino

2007-11-24T13:28:00.000-08:00

This lil' guy peering out of his feathers is all tuckered out after a day chilling out on momma's knee.

We watched Mystic Pizza and Jersey Girl.

I'm loving these days off right now, spending time with my sweet birdie, although I had an extremely painful morning thanks to a certain monthly visitor. And so it was up to Einstein to take care of me. And the heating pad and some Tylenol.

I'm still trying to get the camera adjustments right as there is no "constantly roving parrot" setting on mine. So although many photos I have of Ein tend toward a bit of blur, I actually like the effect this gives them.

You can really sense his movement and personality... like in this post-spray bath pic:

When he lets us give him a rare bath, Ein looks almost like he's wearing a costume.

Which is just the most endearing thing ever, and requires much affection from his loyal subjects.

And we are more than happy to oblige.

In addition to fuzzy goodness, also wanted to share some pics I've had on my computer consisting of shiny goodness.

Vintage rhinestones that I've been using in my latest pin creations:

Likely vintage Swarovski teardrop crystals!

No other updates, although hopefully tomorrow. I actually have to start working on increasing inventory as most of my work is currently tied up in consignment.

I also have slowly been gathering elements for a mixed media project. I'll post the eventual results whenever I get to them. Time to create!

Photos, finally

2007-11-22T10:10:00.001-08:00

I finally got around to organizing my photos today, so let's play catch up!

View of the table at SITE that played host to most of my trunk show items:

Another area:

Before the show on my coffee table after being tagged:

My new hand-stamped hang tags:

Adding to my productivity levels, the Etsy shop has been updated.

Phew!

Look at what a few days off can do.

Records

2007-11-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was kinda hectic crazy: I forgot my Metro card and had to buy one for the day, there were literally at least 50 children on my subway stop (and subsequently in the cars-- who does this?) during the 9 am rush; and then the end of the day saw major delays on the L as I tried to get to an appoinment in Brooklyn.

I was weighed down by a bunch of jewelry and display pieces for a major pre-holiday drop-off at one of my consignment boutiques, and I could feel myself sweating at the mere thought of trying to get on the next train with the huge throng of people behind me. So, I got out of that situation and even asked the NYPD in Union Square if there was some sort of bus I could take to where I needed. Not sure if the officer with whom I spoke was totally accurately, but he basically gave me this really contrived route and I just ended up politely nodding my head as if I understood and walking away.

This is where I'm going to get mushy and tell you that Mark seriously saved my butt. Even though he worked a full day, and had been recruited for tagging jewelry items the night before, he still came through for me and took me to BK from Astoria (I just ended up waiting at home in between).

Anyway, the ladies at this indie store are awesome and sweet, and everything went really smoothly once we got there. I'm extremely excited and hopeful and even nervous-- it's hard just forking over 30 items that took you weeks to make in just a mere second! I know they are in way capable hands, though.

Anyway, I wanted to pop in and suggest a great link to a blog maintained by a young bostonian attempting to document the start up of her screen printing biz. There are some great tips in there, like this one, which focuses on the importance of taking stock and how to maintain inventory records-- which I was emphasizing yesterday (see below) as a key component of consignment and definitely wholesale.

It can be hard to give every item in your line a tracking number, especially if you tend to do mostly "one-off" items, but you can get as creative or as simple as you like. All you need is a way to easily identify the product through the many stages of sale.

Anyway, I'm off to go search for frozen vegan pumpkin pie at Whole Foods... these are the times when I actually miss my one-stop Wegman's in Binghamton.

My first tag and "Astoria represent"

2007-11-19T07:08:00.000-08:00

Another benefit of my trunk show the other week: I got to meet extremely talented local artist Gretchen Wagonor, whose work I have admired for quite the while now.

Gretchen makes such attractive pieces as

and has tagged me in my very first "meme."

So, here goes!

Rules for tag-ees:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog; some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well
as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Random/weird facts about Rachel M. Kalina:
1)When I was younger, I wanted to be an actress and went so far as to play a minute role in my elementary school's Annie. I also did commercials on the side, a.k.a. in my bedroom, for random products such as doll bottles. Way to sell it, Rach.
2)I'm not a fan of booth seating in diners (or diners for that matter)-- despite the fact that everyone else seems to prefer it to tables when given the choice.
3)My artistic tendencies stem directly from father-- who is like a walking encyclopedia of craft-oriented knowledge-- while my gentle and easy-going nature comes right from my mother. My grandfather, being a watch-repairman and jeweler, was also a major source of artistic inspiration for me.
4)My dad and his three siblings were all adopted and didn't find out about it until recently-- so I have a set of grandparents and a family I've never met. Having always been into history and heritage, I hope to dig into this in the future (when I figure out how) and uncover some long-lost relatives.
5)I am willing to openly trust strange animals whom I've just met more than people on the same level.

Now that you know all these fun tidbits, I'm going to spread the love to Krista, Caitlin, Elizabeth, Amanda and Amity.

Happy (belated) Halloween

2007-11-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was a child, I've loved Halloween. And I've dressed up for it each year with few exceptions (okay, maybe my teenage years were more concerned with "trying to look cool" than looking like a vampire... but still).

In recent years, I've gotten into creating my own costumes. This has resulted in the Pretty in Pink Molly Ringwald prom dress--to which I originally stapled taffeta, until my bff sighed in disgust and sewed on the filmy stuff herself--and my Thundercat costume (I was Wily Cat... or was it Wily Kit?). Throw in a homemade flapper and a Pat Benatar (this year) and you've got a pretty good sense of what my recent Halloweens have been like.

This year, Mark and I, dressed up respectively as Guns 'N' Roses' Slash and Patty B. (see above), threw our very first Halloween bash. I tried to go all out by creating my own decorations inspired by the altered art and mixed media world.

In the process of doing so, I managed to break my glue gun within the first few hours of creating-- but no, that didn't stop me!

I used fun images from those charity greeting cards, faux flowers, mini craft pumpkins, black tinsel, beads, felt, ribbon and more. I can't even tell you how much fun it was to play with so many materials at once.

It was also really a welcome change to my usual jewelry-making craft. Although I love beads as much as food (and sometimes equate the two as necessities in my crazy mind), I also love working with other mediums.

I'm a craftaholic. I see a new project to try and mentally add it to my list. It may take me weeks, months or even years to get to it-- but I know it's there in the back of my head. Sure, it gets overwhelming at times. Even now, I'm watching my DVR'd DIY Network craft shows and loading my brain up with more ideas. But most it is rewarding because I know my inspirations are there even subconsciously and being used all the time.

And what were some inspirations for my Halloween crafting frenzy?

Check out these Web sites and you'll see for yourself why I'm now slowly getting into mixed media in my head and reality:

Elizabeth Holcombe

Speckled Egg

ArtsyMama

Progress Report

2007-11-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

So, the last post was kinda random but important nonetheless. The reason there's been no Adorned by Morgan updates hasn't been to a lack of news or busy-ness-- in fact, it's been just the opposite!

Instead of boring you with a list of recent happenstances, here a brief photo log of review:

Check out my antelope earrings smack dab on the front page of Etsy.com's hand-picked items! I was blown away by this one. The day this happened, I open the Etsy page to see a pair of earrings in one of my favorite color combinations, so I immediately click on it and realize it's made by my Etsy friend, Krista. I e-mail to congratulate her, and literally within an hour she's writing me back to say I'm on the front page (Etsy switches its 12, front page items 2-3 times throughout the day). It was such an awesome and strange coincidence, and I'm glad I had someone so sweet to share it with!

Not only that, but also this treasury by TeenAngster was simultaneously featured as a gift guide on Etsy's online magazine, The Storque:

Needless to say, all of this activity really made my day, and it was a very proud moment for me. I was very much "freaking out," because my jewelry is so personal and an extension of my taste-- and to have others seek it out and enjoy it as much as I do making it... well that's really something special. Sometimes, I still can't believe any of it-- and I'm very thankful for every little bit of positive response Adorned by Morgan works hard to achieve.

I have yet to upload pictures, but this past weekend additionally saw the culmination of basically three weeks worth of me being in absolute jewelry-making mode (come home from work around 6 pm, create jewelry until burned out, sleep, repeat). My first trunk show (or any jewelry show) was held at SITE, an Astoria design boutique, during its holiday party.

(Photo courtesy of SITE)

For some reason, we didn't get a lot of traffic that day, so it was a little frustrating. On the plus side, it was a great learning experience, those who did enter the store purchased my jewelry, and I got really positive feedback. One woman was even familiar with my work! (Was I just able to say that...) Another took one of my brand new business cards (photos to come) created by the lovely Michelle Brusgaard, promising to "spread the word." It's quality and not quantity, after all, eh?

Special shoutout to Michelle, though, for working with me until we came across a design that I truly loved (it wasn't easy to choose, all of her ideas are great) and felt represented the "brand" I'm slowly building.

Yes, so! It has been nutty but wonderful over here and I'm extremely thankful for the positive response Adorned by Morgan has been getting. The running around is not over, though (just how I like it). I have other projects in the works, including my first craft show hosted by the Astoria Craft Collective on December 2, at the Waltz-Astoria. Definitely drop by!

Kakapo: Real Unicorns

2007-11-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

Last night I had one of those "life is awesome and yet tragic" moments while trying to choose a delicious silk screen print from artist Eleanor Grosch of Pushmepullyou Design.

Mark and I stumbled across this print, and he immediately pointed out the creature looked like our own little green parrot. I thought "kakapo" was just a made-up term, until we looked closer and saw a link that gave us a glimpse into the world of this adorable but extremely endangered (the tragic part) species.

(Photo courtesy of www.boppoly.ac.nz)

There's only about 86 of these "owl parrots" left in its native home of New Zealand. The birds are nocturnal and heavy, which makes them unique in the psitta (parrot) world. They also can't fly, have a specific musty odor and are seemingly very trusting animals. As far as I can tell, their decline in number has been due to hunting by local tribes and predators for food.

Needless to say, I'm in love with this fuzzy, almost-mythical creature of the night and I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of Eleanor's print-- the proceeds of which all went directly toward an organization working for Kakapo recovery. I highly suggest you look up "Kakapo" on YouTube.com to find some of the cutest clips I've seen yet. Honestly, how is so much fuzz-wonderfulness (totally a word) even allowed in one creature? Lookit those doe-y eyes and feathery face tufts!

I also felt great about purchasing from Eleanor not only because she is an animal lover like myself, but she is also environmentally conscious about the materials she uses to produce her pieces. The work itself exhibits a simple but bold aesthetic; colorful, geometrically shaped animals are contrasted with richly backgrounds-- my favorite! Pushmepullyou Design additionally carries wearables like T-shirts and dishware such as mugs.

Definitely visit Eleanor and the lovely Kakapo to sign up for some eye candy and a worthy cause.

Press and Vespas

2007-10-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

Fellow jewelry maker Christine was kind enough to interview me on her blog, The Jewelry Sweet Spot, where she also offers crafting and business tips along with other DIYer profiles.

Check it out: Adorned by Morgan at The Jewelry Sweet Spot

A trend I've recently noticed around Manhattan and even in Astoria involves the ever-adorable and sometimes-vintage Vespa. I've seen these cute modes of transport popping up everywhere, including parked on sidewalks.

I have no clue as to whether they are safer or not than motorcycles, but if you want to read up on the history of the symbolic Vespa, head on over to Wikipedia for some interesting tidbits like this one:

"Vespa is both Latin and Italian for wasp—derived from both the high-pitched noise of the two-stroke engine, and adopted as a name for the vehicle in reference to its body shape: the thicker rear part connected to the front part by a narrow waist, and the steering rod resembled antennae."

and this "...the Vespa was much more widely used in the 1950s and 60s[citation needed], when it also became the adopted vehicle of choice for the UK youth-culture known as Mods."

Although I could never see myself riding one, it seems current models are more environmentally efficient than their prototypes, and I do find Vespas to be ever so aesthetically appealing. The pale pastel colored ones are especially so.

Here's a few of my favorite Vespa Etsy pieces that I could indeed see myself purchasing:

A hand painted tile from www.maiziejane.etsy.com.

A digital print from www.etsy.johnwgolden.com.

In the News...day

2007-10-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Adorned by Morgan is on Newsday's blog today!

I was featured as "DIY-er of the Week" and interviewed by the sweet Corris Little.

Check it out at:

http://weblogs.newsday.com/features/home/cheap_thrills_blog/

A Summer in Review

2007-09-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

The warm weather is lingering but nowt here's a hint of autumn in the air. Oh, summer, how I'll miss you!

Here's some photographic highlights of the cool activities I did where I remembered to bring a camera:

Kayaking in Astoria on the East River, courtesy of the Long Island City Community Boathouse Yes, the East River. Of course my mom and Mark's mom both freaked out, but as we learned that day, there is life in that body of water.

Exhibit A:

This little guy-- a Blue Crab-- was temporarily reigned in by another community group near our kayaking session on the little strip of sand where we were located. He even got some height out of the water when Mark tried to pet him! I've never seen a crab jump before.

On our tiny corner of sand in Astoria that day a few weeks ago, there were three different activities going on at one time. The little bank was only perhaps a handful of cars long at most, and Mark and I even passed it a few times before we realized that was the kayaking meetup spot we were searching for. Growing up on Long Island, with beaches 15-20 minutes away from my home at most, this was a real eye opener. To see a child's rock-skipping contest, a kayaking class and a waterlife observation group all simultaneously making the most of this tiny bank of sand because it is the only spot like it in the area, well that gives you a real sense of pride in your community and gratefulness for the childhood you had. Yeah, the beaches on Long Island are crowded, too, but having access to them is invaluable.

I think it's great that Astoria has such free events for the community at any given time, however, and I bet those kids rock skipping and exploring waterlife will remember that day whenever they look back on their own childhoods. It just really illustrates how your environment can influence your life.

Speaking of wildlife, here's a pic of a gorgeous butterfly who was chilling just outside of my apartment stoop one day this summer:

As you can see, it was huge! I don't recall ever seeing a butterfly that big before. I caught it on my way to Astoria Park for the first time.

I guess I was still starving for the water, because all of my pictures focused on the waterfront views from the park. You can see the Manhattan skyline below the bridge here. That's either the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building there on the left (the pointy one). I can't remember. Hazy photo.

And one more:

Yeah so, summer was great. Also went to San Francisco in June (seems so far away already). Mark and I went to the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden a bunch of times with friends, tried out lots of restaurants/bars in the East Village and elsewhere in Manhattan, and generally just enjoyed our first summer in Astoria.

Hello

2007-08-29T10:57:00.001-07:00

Still here! I've recently updated my Etsy shop with new additions and took pics the other day of even more pieces. Mostly, I've been focusing on earrings but I do have a few necklaces to post. I find it more difficult to photograph them in an appealing way than earrings, I guess because it's hard to find appealing ways to pose the chain that represent the necklace.

I made my first sale at the new Etsy address! This cute vintage pear necklace was hard to part with, but I knew it would get good wear in its new home. As promised, I also gave my first buyer a pair of the Vintage Blue Berkley Button Earrings as a gift.

They're still available in the shop if you're looking to snag a pair as well.

Just for fun, here's a recent listing:

Also, I just started reading Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. Among other helpful topics, it contains specific information about nutrition, which is exactly what I'm trying to brush up on. Okay... by "brush up" I mean I really am not a science or math person and things like cups, grams, kilo-whatevers fully elude me-- so it's not like I have an extremely well-versed knowledge based to start with. I've basically done things backwards-- immersed myself in a vegan diet with some knowledge of how best to get my vitamins/minerals-- but now I want to ensure myself a solid enough foundation so that I can be a healthier vegan. I truly think that vegan diets are healthy and more than nutritionally sufficient. I just know that as a person in general I have to be less lazy about feeding myself.

Here's the thing: I've been a vegan now for almost three-ish years. (I never really had an exact start date, although I've been a vegetarian since I was about 5 years old). It was more of a transition for me. Even so, I don't cook often. I like to cook; I just don't like all the dishes or the fact that I'd rather spend my time relaxing after work than prepping to eat. I like to bake even more, but again-- I lack ambition. Anyhow, the point of this tangent is that I bought this book in the hopes of improving my ability to take care of myself in a nutritionally healthy way.

So that's my deal! I'll let you know how the book goes.

New Jewelry Ventures

2007-08-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

I've been fascinated by metalsmithing and wirework lately, and I decided to take tentative steps into these techniques over the past week. Eni Oken's work is particularly inspiring, and she even offers tutorials for purchase on her site so that others can learn from her techniques.

Although Oken primarily uses sterling silver or gold-filled components in her work and I usually don't believe in "drafts" in the writing world (that's why keyboards have "delete" buttons, eh?), I figured I should use some base metal wire for practice.

Here's my end result after many hours of wire wrapping, one full mess up, and equal amounts of experimentation:

This vintage glass cabochon is from my Cali trip in June. It reminds me of a sunset with its mix of lollipop red, Jolly Rancher orange and lemonade yellow colors.

Other jewelry designers with styles similar to Oken are Magdalena Borejko and Iza Malczyk.

Although I had fun creating the pendant this week, I'm just not sure I have the patience to do this particular type of craft on a regular basis. It's definitely exciting to try, and I love the end results.

In other news, I have been updating the shop with new items, some of which I made today. (I'm so going to miss having the extra four hours I've been getting on Fridays in the summer thanks to half days at work...)

Exhibit a:

I've never had a promotion before, but today I decided the first customer to make a purchase at the new domain name will receive a pair of these:

Anyways, that's all for now! Goodnight.

The latest

2007-08-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been updating the blog or even my Etsy shop much lately as I've been working with some new brick-and-mortar shops and creating new pieces for the fall.

I also opened up a new Etsy shop at Adorned by Morgan to reflect my business name and switched my original Etsy shop, LiteratAvian, to a supplies-only site.

Love Brigade also now officially carries Adorned by Morgan designs and has already placed another order for:

And just for fun here's a few previews of soon-to-be-listed on Etsy:

And this one I'm not sure I can part with yet:

It has vintage pressed glass cabs from our trip to Berkley, vintage filigree from the city, and vintage brass cones repurposed from a necklace I bought in Astoria. The red quartz are from an Etsy purchase. I love the fact that this pair has components from so many different places, and so it's not going anywhere just yet!

In the works

2007-07-25T08:16:00.001-07:00

So Adorned by Morgan has been busy busy busy as of late, and it's awesome. Now, if only my hands could keep up with the ideas zooming through my head! Isn't that always the case, though?

Tomorrow I have an appointment with Love Brigade in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The store sells high fashion-type clothing, and if you visit its site you'll see there are very interesting story lines that propel the clothing lines its designers create. I like that concept of linking clothing and a theme through a plot like that; it adds even more meaning to already-individualized styles of clothing.

Anyway, this is kind of monumental for me, as a member of Love Brigade actually approached me about carrying my work, instead of vice versa. I'm still relatively new to this whole brick-and-mortar deal, and I'm very happy with how it's been going so far, so I was even more blown away when someone contacted me. Apparently this girl had purchased a necklace of mine from SITE and loved it! It's really such encouragement that keeps me trying to grow and promote Adorned by Morgan, so I was totally flattered.

Needless to say, I've been working (and buying, uh oh) quite a bit since last week and hopefully I will have enough to offer Love Brigade tomorrow in terms of a range of choice for products to try out. It was funny because my contact had asked me about providing a line sheet (basically a list of descriptions, prices and sometimes photos of the pieces that you offer) and I had to explain that I don't have them. While there are certain pieces I will reproduce, Adorned by Morgan generally consists of one-of-a-kind items. I plan on keeping it this way for a number of reasons, including that it's more fun for me to explore new challenges than take on ones I've already tried, and it ensures that my clients are really getting unique pieces.

Part of the reason I decided to get back into jewelry making was that I began to find I was buying mass-produced jewelry in stores while on the checkout line just because they were readily available for the grabbing and a cheap buy. But quick and easy-- despite any shiny qualities-- kinda lacks meaning, doesn't it?

At least for me it does, especially when I see a handful of people wearing the same thing I am on any given day.

Which brings me to my obsession with vintage. Vintage items are great for jewelry making because not only do they promote recycling by giving new life to a piece that has gone by the wayside, but they also carry a story along with them. Somehow, older components like beads and findings just hold a greater meaning for me in a lot of instances that those that have also been mass produced and put on the shelf. Many bead stores carry the same new products, and so even when creating your own jewelry it can be difficult to be original. With vintage items, the chances of reproduction are fewer and far between, and they give you a link to history.

Using vintage items also allows me to keep in touch with my love of archaeology and historical artifacts. There's nothing like digging up just the right component in a fruitful search that has left your fingers blackened with decades-old dust.

Ah, the sweet, stale smell of history. And don't worry, when I get those pieces-- they'll be nice and cleaned for your wear!

The Coolest

2007-07-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

So one of the most awesome things happened to me as Mark and I were on our way back to Astoria from a friend's graduation party.

I tend to notice jewelry as a form of habit. I study it on other people (yes, even on the subway-- don't mind me). I'm a very visual learner and I like to observe what others find attractive in jewelry.

Anyhow. As we are falling asleep on the subway, I'm doing the usual glance over of the usual shiny things, and all of a sudden my eyes stop on a pair of earrings and my mind goes, Those look familiar...

A girl was wearing my creation! A pair of Adorned by Morgan earrings that she had gotten from Candy Plum. I'm really modest in general, but this is just something I had to share. It's one of the proudest moments I can ever remember having. There's really nothing like seeing something you've made with your own two hands adorning a stranger you've never met, but whom loves your design purely in and of itself.

At the time when it happened, Mark and I were exhausted, but I got a total rush and was just smiling like crazy.

Mark told me to introduce myself, but I love being anonymous right now. There's something magical about it. It's like this whole persona I have that is totally separate from everything else I do. That's really why I went with my middle name as opposed to my first when titling the business; I wanted to keep making jewelry as a fun, distinct entity from things like my writing and editing career.

Anyhow, I'll post a picture of similar earrings I recently made later on hopefully.

Beads of Paradise

2007-06-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

On my lunch break today I dragged Mark to a bead store I had been meaning to check out for a while now.

Located in Union Square (New York City), the store is great for avid bead or antique collectors. However, it's not so fitting for those of us who just want to get our hands "dirty" looking for just the right component. In fact, you can't touch about 95 percent of the beads there as they are displayed behind glass.

Now, I totally understand why Beads of Paradise would want to showcase their items in this manner; many of the bead strands, findings, jewelry and even figurines they carry are a century or more old and worth quite a pretty penny.

I even saw Chinese trade beads in the window there from between 500 and 200 b.c.-- pretty fascinating for an archaeology-inspired nerd like me.

The store was a decent size for New York city bead stores, and all of the (oooh shiny) bead strands or tiny bowls of beads in its numerous glasses were extremely well organized. I'm sure had I asked for assistance I would have easily been able to get a handle on what I wanted to see, but I wasn't really going there to buy, more to "windowshop."

Bottom line: This place is great if you are looking for a certain item to add to your collection, or a even a unique and rare bead to start one, but if you just need your basic gems and components, stick to your local store where the items are more tangible and easier to study.

Vintage Costume Sandor Jewelry

2007-06-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

I found this piece at one of my favorite local haunts and was about to repurpose it into some earrings when I had a stroke of "Why don't I see if it's signed?"

Turns out, this bracelet is from the Sandor line, which was started by Sandor Goldberger in the 1930s. The company closed in the 1970s. Even better, Sandor's enameled jewelry is highly collectible, as are those with floral themes-- most often, his flower pins.

Yay for unexpected vintage finds.

New boots

2007-06-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a long while, I actually didn't mind anticipating a rainy day. Why, you ask? Because I'm wearing a darling pair of ankle-height, kitten heel boots! Add their baby blue hue to the mix, and I'd say that's definitely cause for a casual attitude towards the rain.

I don't have a pic of them as yet, but I will!

Also, I have been meaning to post a review of the Renegade Craft Fair in BK, which took place this past weekend; so as soon as I have the time I will do so. For now it's just a quick hello and...

A resolution: no more beads until I make some more sales.

After paying some larger-than-usual bills, I've realized I've been spending way too much to justify on this part of my life. OK, OK, it's justified by the fact that some of them will be used in projects and sold, others will be given in gifts and some are too darn pretty to pass up (see the blue, vintage Czech beads in a post below)!

I've been thinking about setting up another Etsy shop just to destash all of the extras I don't use, although I have simultaneously been thinking of collecting beads just for the sake of doing so. Vintage beads can be so beautiful in and of themselves (I have to post a pic of the Swarovski pear-shaped crystals I found; they're stunning).

The thing is, I don't have room in my tiny apartment for all of the collecting/crafting I would like to do.

I've also taken to collecting whole vintage jewelry pieces. My oh my!

Anyway, just this quick hello for now, expect shop updates soon.

Best,

Rachel

p.s. I saw a brown-and-cream-colored pigeon yesterday, and it was actually really beautiful. Its colors reminded me of a vintage fabric scheme...

The Crazy Chihuahua

2007-06-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

This morning on my way to work I was approached by a flying chihuahua. I know I don't officially "wake up" until the clock hits double digits, but I was actually not dreaming. Walking by the corner store near the subway, I see this cute little puppy on a leash, sitting on a ramp that leads into a store; and as I glance over-- she is suddenly in the air. At first I was like woah, she's gonna get pulled back like some sort of ridiculous yo-yo puppy! It happened too quickly for me to react and get near her or anything, and she actually-- get this-- jumped so hard she broke free of her harness. All of a sudden there is a puzzled puppy staring up from my feet at an equally puzzled me. There was no barking or vicious lunging; I think she just wanted a hug or something.

I pointed for her to go back so she wouldn't run away and she actually headed in the direction of the store, just as her owner came out proclaiming "Sandy! You're crazy! What? Did I take too long [in the store]?"

So yeah, that's how my day started. Oddly enough, this was not the first time I've had a strange Astorian animal encounter.

The other week I saw a blue and gold macaw drinking a Snapple. Actually, he was guzzling it. I'm a total parrot freak, and it's kinda hard not to notice something so random, so I went over to inspect. The parrot was so sweet, unfortunately his owner [a.k.a. the Snapple holder] was not. I was all "Yay parrot!" and he was very I'm going to sit here and ignore you. The cute parrot let me pet him, though, so I was happy.

Uh yeah. Other than this news, I had a great week in San Francisco last week. I picked up an insanely large amount of vintage beads at this store in Berkley, vintage jewelry and some grammar and a jewelry book. Berkley was totally beautiful, San Fran was fun as always and Napa was pretty but uber boring.

Highlight, we saw the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill!

Yay conures!

Vintage Czech

2007-06-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

The fuzz

2007-06-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Einstein, 14, Quaker Parrot (myiopsitta monachus).

a.k.a., The Fuzzmuffin.

Did I mention I'm a bird lover? This little guy is my bebe.

Here's my other bebe, they hang out.

This one's mine...

2007-06-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to find this vintage, lucite pear the other day. I'm totally keeping this necklace! The good news is, I may be able to get more fruits and share. They're large, which with goes with today's fashion of long necklaces with a giant focal piece to compliment those blousy/dress tops.

I also have clear, lucite apples, which are about 1 inch.

This brown pear is about 2 inches.

Astoria Crafting

2007-05-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

If anyone out there lives in Astoria, I've been trying to start a craft group and you should come check it out! The meeting tonight will be at the Tell Astorya Cafe, 3705 28th Ave., 7pm. Bring some crafty ideas and a project to work on!

See you there,

Rachel Morgan.

2007-05-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Gentle Jellyfish

2007-05-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hi there

2007-05-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my corner of the Web.

This blog will mostly focus on my crafty endeavors and I would love to meet others who enjoy being creative as well-- so say hello whenever you like!